Just before the Sunday 21st October celebrations the house at Ballencleroch received an unexpected visit. A couple turned up asking to see the house explaining they were related to the MacFarlane clan who built and ran the original Ballencleroch house for almost 400 years. Mr Ian Robertson explained that his mother was a MacFarlane the niece of the last owner of the property before it was sold off in the middle of the 20th century. The house then became an up market hotel for many years.

The only part of the original house to be saved from the insurance fire that destroyed it in 1982 is the marriage coat of arms dated 1662 showing the united arms of the Macfarlane and Keith families. This is now attached to the outside wall near the entrance.

Mr Robertson and his wife now live down Devon. They had never visited the property until now. He explained that there is now very little left from the period the family owned and ran Campsie Glen, although he did say that a sword that was used for a duel in the late 1600s still remains.

In the grounds of the house there are two ancient trees called the duelling trees where one of the Macfarlanes fought a duel with the son of another local estate owner. The story goes that MacFarlane killed his opponent and had to flee the country for some years.

[back]