Kilted fortnight holiday in scotland & france

[Jimmy]

Don't be greedy Paul, you have cute little Laura

[Mael Coluim]

Ern! Malcolm!
I NEED that lamb. It's so cute.
and I'm being serious! though - aslong as it doesn't turn into a big ugly sheep

Sorry Paul, Duff is not mine to give. I'll bring you one of the stuffed ones my wife Sharon has on my next trip over.

[Paul]

Don't be greedy Paul, you have cute little Laura

I need a pet as well!
Thanks Malcolm I'm hoping I'll have a pet by them. Duck, turtle or lamb

[Redshank]

Sorry ................. Duff was very nice with a bit off mint sauce


(Sharon.... not really, I was only joking)

[Dixiecat]

Thank you very much Mael to post your pictures. It's almost like being there with you!

I had to laugh to see Clann an Drumma. I stumbled across their music on the internet one day and loved their videos, especially the one drummer who really gets into his drum! I told all my dance friends about the music and later that spring one of them went to Scotland and as her dance group was running to their place to perform, ran into Clann an Drumma unloading their gear from their van and bought me a CD! Small world!

[Mael Coluim]

Redshanks picked me up early Tuesday morning. Our day with Malcolm MacCallum Clan would not start till to 2 PM with a tour of Chief Robin’s home Duntrune Castle.
We had six hours till then. Here is the link to Electric Scotland’s history of the Malcolm Family.

We pass by Carnasserie Castle near my B & B


Even though this was my third visit to this area of the Argyll, there was a sense of familiarity and being home. My travels through the northern Ireland in 2003 after the Voyage of St. Columba gave the same feeling of that area.

We rode through the village of Kilmartin by Temple Wood and through Kilmartin Glen. Chris would point out the various land holdings of the Malcolms’. I had no idea how vast it was. Chris pointed out the various gates houses positioned that guarded the Malcolm’s Poltalloch Estates.

Chris suggested we look at St. Columba’s Chapel near the ruins of Poltalloch House. Neither I had seen before. After the tour of Duntrune, our Clan Society was to hold its Annual General Meeting at the chapel. Chris rightly called now would be a good time for us to tour by ourselves. We stopped by the Gate House to open the gate and entered the Estates.

From the road I could see St. Columba’s Chapel. This was still an active church of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Although I would soon see it really was a ‘family’ church. I was familiar in Virginia with the Episcopal Church have local churches sponsored/supported by one influential family.



These woods of ‘Scottish Pines’ were everyone. Planted to be harvested for wood and paper. Chris noted they were not the indigenous Scottish Pine.

[Mael Coluim]

Opening another gate we took the road to the chapel.


Approaching the chapel, Poltalloch house can be seen in the background.

We arrive at St. Columba’s Chapel.

[Mael Coluim]

We walked around the church studying the grave markers and the outside of the church.

[Mael Coluim]

The tombstone of Chief Robin’s late wife grave. She was a strong supporter of this church. I remember my departed friend, Donald MacCallum speaking meeting here one Sunday, years ago.

[Mael Coluim]

Here are some standing stones that have early Christianity crosses etched in to them.




Chris points out lettering on this stone.


It appears the name Malcom is etched in to the stone.


As noted on this marker these stones were re-located to the church.


Chris is wearing his family tartan, Taylor kilt this day. Here's a close up of his kilt pin. Where have I seen that before?