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Clan MacFarlane 49th AGM At The Loch Lomond Gathering & Tour of Scotland

June 28, 2022 - July 7, 2022

Clan MacFarlane 49th AGM At The Loch Lomond Gathering & Tour of Scotland

JUNE 28 – JULY 7

JOIN US AS WE GATHER IN-PERSON IN SCOTLAND THIS SUMMER!**

All International Clan MacFarlane Society members are cordially invited to attend the Clan MacFarlane 49th Annual General Meeting and Loch Lomond Gathering at the Luss Highland Games to be held June 28 – July 2 in Arrochar & Luss, Scotland, followed by a historical tour of the country lasting until July 7th. Pricing includes all hotel accommodations, transfers/busses, bed & breakfast, attendance to the Clan MacFarlane AGM banquet and tickets/admissions to the all Loch Lomond Gathering/Luss Highland Games events & clan activities.

Not only will we be coming together to gather as MacFarlanes but as part of our membership in the newly formed Loch Lomond Initiative, we will attend the inter-clan Loch Lomond Gathering in celebration of Clan Colquhoun, Clan MacFarlane, Clan Graham and Clan Buchanan. We will celebrate the impending installation of the new Chief of Buchanan. The BBC will be on-hand as they profile his journey in becoming the first Buchanan chief in over 300 years! Also joining the gathering are special guests Clan Hunter & Clan McEwen. This is your chance to experience clan heritage in your native homelands, go inside the castles of our neighboring clans and to rub shoulders with chiefs and leaders of all these ancient families!

At the Luss Highland Games, Clan Colquhoun, Clan Graham, Clan MacFarlane, Clan MacEwen, and Clan Buchanan will first march in the Luss Highland Games parade, then will come together, in the spirit of camaraderie and friendly competition, for some modern warfare during the event’s “Clan Battles” competitions where members will compete to win best clan. Make sure you are there to carry the MacFarlanes to victory!

We will visit our ancient islands of Inveruglas and I-Vow. We’ll hold our Annual General Meeting in the ruins of our castle. Afterwards, we will head north to visit the Hebrides and the Highlands. It is truly the trip of a lifetime!

**All Covid testing requirements for traveling INTO Scotland have been lifted. Please check the re-entry requirements for your country of origin. We HIGHLY recommend obtaining your own travel insurance.**

*AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED

You must be an active International Clan MacFarlane Society member in order to attend this event.

You must be logged into your member account in order to access the above registration link.

50% Deposit is due at booking. Remaining 50% due by May 13th, 2022. Or pay in full upon booking.

:: Read booking Terms & Conditions here ::

:: REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED ::

📍LOCAL TO SCOTLAND?

Even though registration for the tour is closed, if you are an active Clan MacFarlane member local to the UK and you would still like to join the Gathering at Luss, contact us below!

ITINERARY AND SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

TUES 28TH JUNE

DAY ONE

AM | Arrive In Glasgow & Transfer To Arrochar

Fly into Glasgow International Airport. Coach transport to Arrochar, the seat of Clan MacFarlane. Check into hotels.

Hotels

While in Arrochar, you will have the option of requesting one of 3 hotels. All rooms are first come/first serve and are subject to availability. Upon booking, we will contact you to get your hotel preference.

Arrochar Hotel ⭐⭐⭐

The Arrochar Hotel boasts loch views free WiFi. Situated at the foot of the Arrochar Alps, it also has a traditional Scottish restaurant. Set in a former coaching inn, the Arrochar features spacious rooms with modern en suite bathrooms. All rooms offer tea and coffee making facilities, flat-screen TVs, and many have wonderful mountain views. The restaurant serves a traditional menu, featuring local specialities from the Scottish Highlands. The cosy bar area offers a wide selection of fine malt whiskies.

Claymore Hotel ⭐⭐⭐ (formerly the home of the MacFarlane chief)

The Claymore Hotel features a restaurant, bar, garden, and free WiFi. All units in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV. Guest rooms include a private bathroom, a hairdryer and bed linen. The Claymore Hotel offers a à la carte or Full Scottish breakfast.

Village Inn ⭐⭐⭐

With breathtaking views of the Arrochar Alps, the Village Inn offers en-suite rooms and free WiFi in all areas. The building’s character is complemented by individual room features including a TV, tea/coffee facilities and a private bathroom. Some rooms overlook the loch. Seasonal, locally sourced produce, including seafood, is served in the restaurant. Refreshing drinks and afternoon tea are served in the bar, which has 2 log fires. Guests can also relax in the beer garden, which overlooks Loch Long. There are many walks and trails stopping off in local villages.

PM | Explore Arrochar

As everyone arrives and gets settled, you will have free time to spend the evening on walkabout exploring the heritage of the MacFarlane village of Arrochar. Arrochar is very small so most sites are walkable from every hotel.

Overnight in Arrochar.

WED 29TH JUNE

DAY TWO

AM | Visit In Glasgow

A day in Glasgow that includes such sites as Dumbarton, Clyde shipbuilding, mural trail, St. Mungo’s Cathedral & Necropolis, Battle of Langside Memorial and free time for shopping on Buchanan Street or a visit to the Kelingrove Art Gallery & Museum.

PM | Clan MacFarlane 49th World Gathering Formal Dinner & Banquet

We will return to Arrochar to freshen up in time to attend the Clan MacFarlane World Gathering Formal Banquet. Formal Highland dress requested.

Overnight in Arrochar.

THURS 30TH JUNE

DAY THREE

AM | The Trossachs & Rob Roy Country

We will go on a beautiful country drive through the Trossachs National Park via Duke’s Pass to Rob Roy Country – the village of Balquhidder. A visit to the Rob Roy grave where Rob and his family are buried. We will return via the town of Callandar passing by Doune Castle (filming location for Game of Thrones, Outlander and Monty Python and the Holy Grail) and the William Wallace Memorial.

PM | Loch Lomond Gathering/Luss Games Informal Meet & Greet

To kick off the Loch Lomond Gathering, we will attend an informal meet & greet at the Loch Lomond Arms in Luss with members of Clan Colquhoun, Clan Buchanan, Clan Graham, Clan Hunter and Clan MacEwen followed by a whisky tasting from Loch Lomond Distilleries. Finger food & appetizers will be served.

Overnight in Arrochar.

FRI 1ST JULY

DAY FOUR

AM | Islands of Inveruglas & I-Vow, Clan MacFarlane AGM, Arrochar Parish Church

We’ll travel by speedboats to visit the MacFarlane strongholds of Inveruglas and I-Vow. We will land on I-Vow (Don’t forget your wellies!) and hold our Annual General Business Meeting in the ruins of our Clan MacFarlane Castle. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to walk in the footsteps of your ancestors!

Visit to Arrochar Parish Church to see MacFarlane antiquities.

PM | Loch Lomond Gathering Drinks Reception at Buchanan Castle

We will return to Luss to attend a cocktail reception with heavy d’oeuvres at Buchanan Castle. This is your chance to mix and mingle with clan chiefs and leaders! Highland dress preferred.

Clan Chiefs of all Clans and special guests in attendance.

Clan Colquhoun – Sir Malcolm Colquhoun, Lady Colquhoun & Patrick Colquhoun, Younger of Luss

Clan Graham – The Duke of Montrose & the Marquis of Graham

Clan Buchanan – The Buchanan & the Lady Buchanan

Clan MacFarlane – President Michael MacFarlane

Clan Hunter – Madame Pauline Hunter of Hunterston

Overnight in Arrochar.

SAT 2ND JULY

DAY FIVE

AM | Loch Lomond Gathering & Luss Highland Games

With the BBC on-hand to film the event, the day begins in the village of Luss with a Clan parade through the village. Clans MacFarlane, Colquhoun, Graham, Buchanan, Hunter and MacEwan will march alongside their chiefs and the Clan Colquhoun Pipe Band through Luss to the location of the Luss Highland Games adjacent to the village.

We will then attend the 147-year-old Luss Highland Games. Enjoy the games, spend time in the Clan tent hosted by our Commissioner Scotland, George Macfarlane, or compete in the members “Battle of the Clans” (more info on that coming soon!). A day of Highland dancing, heavy athletics, piping and tug o’war.

PM | Loch Lomond Gathering Reception & Banquet at Luss

All Loch Lomond Gathering clans will come together at Luss Estates for a dinner, banquet and program to be followed by a ceilidh. Formal Highland dress requested.

Overnight in Arrochar.

SUN 3RD JULY

DAY SIX

AM | Inverary & Ancient Standing Stones, Drive to Oban

We will say good-bye to Arrochar and begin our drive west to the village of Inverary, the seat of Clan Campbell. We’ll visit Inverary Castle, the home to the Campbell chief, the Duke of Argyll. Known for it’s well maintained period decor, the house itself is a museum that tells the story of Clan Campbell. Its exterior and interiors have been used in productions such as Downton Abbey.

We will continue on to the Danadd Iron Age hillfort and the ancient Gaelic capital of Dál Riata (Dalriada). (Ireland is viewable from here!) Bring some sturdy hiking shoes. These ancient mounds are steep and slippery!

Just a few miles north, we’ll journey to the village of Kilmartin to see (but not touch – least you get transported back in time ;-)) ancient standing stones. Kilmartin is the location of several important Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age sites.

We’ll continue on to the seaside resort town of Oban. Known for it’s Oban Distillery (founded in 1794). Oban is a jumping-off point for ferries to the Hebridean Islands. Oban offers a picturesque bayside setting. Take in the town’s stately Victorian architecture, bounty of seafood restaurants, and good pubs.

PM | Oban

We will arrive in Oban, check into our hotel and rest up. Free time to explore Oban’s sites restaurants and pubs.

Our Hotel

The Perle Oban Hotel & Spa ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This property is 1 minute walk from the beach. Built in the late 1800s, The Perle Oban Hotel & Spa is an iconic, historic building on Oban’s seafront. The hotel is a 5-minute walk from Oban Railway Station and the Cal Mac ferry terminal. Guests can relax at the spa place, which creates an escape from everyday life.

Many rooms at The Perle come with views looking onto Oban Bay and the mountains of Mull, Ardgour and Kerrera. All rooms feature Bose sound systems, Nespresso coffee machines, flat-screen TV and free WiFi. The bathroom includes bathrobes, slippers and luxurious toiletries.

The Michelin awarded on-site restaurant offers grilled dishes and local Scottish seafood with vegetarian / vegan options.The bar offers cakes, pastries and barista style coffee all day. In the evening guests can enjoy cocktails and Scottish spirits.

The hotel is located a minute’s walk from Oban Whisky Distillery. You can enjoy Argyll and the nearby Isles’ beautiful scenery, castles and coastline.

Overnight in Oban.

MON 4TH JULY

DAY SEVEN

AM | Islands of Mull and Iona

We will take a short ferry across the sea to the Hebridean isle of Mull. We’ll then journey across the Ross of Mull to Fionnphort where we’ll catch a ferry to the isle of Iona. On Iona, we’ll walk half a mile to the Iona Abbey. We’ll return to Oban and if there’s time, we’ll raid the Oban Distillery MacFarlane style!

PM | Oban Nightlife

Home to the Oban Live Festival, Oban is known for its great music scene. Pubs and band venues are plenty! You’ll have free time so explore everything the city has to offer. Food, music & nightlife.

Overnight in Oban.

TUES 5TH JULY

DAY EIGHT

AM | Glencoe, Ft. William, Loch Ness, Castle Urquhart

We’ll begin our drive to the Scottish Highlands as we tour Glencoe, Glenfinnan, Ft. William, the Appin Murder site & memorial (the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Kidnapped”), the Caledonian Canal, Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, one of Scotland’s oldest and largest castles.

PM | Inverness

We’ll arrive in the town of Inverness, known as the “Capitol of the Highlands” and famous for its role in the story of Outlander. After getting settled in our hotel located right on the Inverness river, you’ll have time to explore Inverness by taking in it’s shopping, restaurants and nightlife and historic sites such as Inverness Castle.

Our Hotel

Glen Mhor Hotel ⭐⭐⭐

The Glen Mhor Hotel offers Victorian townhouses and apartments located on the banks of the River Ness, a 3-minute walk from Inverness city centre. Accommodation is divided between 11 charming Victorian town houses. Many rooms have wonderful views across the river to Inverness Cathedral and Eden Court Theatre.

Overnight in Inverness.

WED 6TH JULY

DAY NINE

AM | Culloden Battlefield, The Cairngorms, Dunkeld Cathedral and Battle Site

We will visit the site of the final battle of the Jacobite Rising of 1745. You will learn a bloody fight that lasted only an hour changed life in the Highlands forever. A visit to Culloden is a poignant experience. Headstones mark the graves of hundreds of clansmen who gave their lives for the Jacobite cause; a 6m-high memorial cairn honours the fallen; and an eerie silence often falls across wild Drummossie Moor – there is no escaping the emotions Culloden evokes.

We will also visit Dunkeld Cathedral & battle site. The Battle of Dunkeld was fought between Catholic Jacobite supporters of the deposed king of scotland, James VII (the Bonnie Prince’s father), and Protestant supporters of William of Orange, the reigning King of Scotland.

PM | Drive to Glasgow

With more to see along the way, we will depart the Highlands and take a scenic route back to Glasgow. You’ll have free time to explore Glasgow on your own and to experience it’s unique nightlife or restup to prepare for the next day’s departure.

Our Hotel

Hampton by Hilton Glasgow Central ⭐⭐⭐

Boasting a 24-hour front desk with express check-in/check-out, a bar and a restaurant, Hampton by Hilton Glasgow Central also features a fitness center. Centrally located, the hotel is a 6-minute walk from Glasgow Central Station and less than 9 miles from Glasgow Airport.

From the property, the SECC Glasgow is 1.4 miles away and Princes Square Shopping Centre is a 10-minute stroll away. Hampden Park is 3 miles away and the University of Strathclyde is 13 minutes’ walk away.