Ben Venue
Standing proud at the heart of the Trossachs, Queens, Dukes, poets and outlaws have all paid homage to the small but majestic peak of Ben Venue. Surrounded by Loch Katrine, Loch Achray and Loch Ard, its prominent position belies its 727m height.
Ben Venue is part of the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, whose 41,500 acres were designated a National Forest Park to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. In 2002, it became part of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, Scotland’s first Ben Venue. Prior to that, Queen Victoria, possibly inspired by Sir Walter Scott’s poem based in the Trossachs, had a holiday house overlooking Loch Katrine, visiting in 1859 and 1869.
The legendary outlaw Rob Roy Macgregor was born at Glengyle on the banks of Loch Katrine in 1761.He and his adversary James Graham, the 1st Duke of Montrose, had a near 30 year feud following a loan from the Duke to Rob Roy.
The money was allegedly stolen, preventing Macgregor paying it back.
The Duke outlawed Macgregor, taking his land. Macgregor then retaliated by stealing the Duke’s cattle. History has made a hero of Rob Roy, while casting the Duke as an enemy of the people.
The 4th Duke of Montrose built the impressive Duke’s Pass road from Aberfoyle to Loch Katrine in 1829, with tourists paying a toll to use it. When it finally stopped levying tolls in 1936 it was the last toll road in Scotland, possibly making the 4th Duke almost as unpopular as the 1st.
Today Ben Venue attracts more hillwalkers than cattle rustlers or royalty, but it is still as popular as ever.