Inverlochy Cemetery
Inverlochy cemetery is small, graves scattered on a rocky hillock. It looks out of use today. Locals say only people who fought in the Battle of Inverlochy were entiteled to be buried here. There are many later burials in the cemetery though, the rules were obviously not strict. (Canmore, Inverlochy cemetery)
Inverlochy Castle
Many men died here. There were two Battles of Inverlochy, the burial restriction refer to the second one, fought in 1645. The battle site, the ruins of Inverlochy Castle, can be seen in between the foliage from the graveyard.
Battle of Inverlochy
The first Battle of Inverlochy was fought on Candlemas Day, 2 February in the Scottish Civil War. James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose commanded Royalist troops and Irish Allies. His opponent was the 1st Marquess of Argyll, Archibald Campbell, and the Covenanters who were camped at Inverlochy castle, determined to fight off Montrose who had marched his soldiers 36 miles in 36 hours through the rough terrain after spending an uncomfortable night on the braes of Ben Nevis.
Montrose lost only a few man, the other side more than 1,500. Montrose’s men pursued the fleeing soldiers and killed them, a brutal act but common in warfare during the time. The blood of many was spilled where this very graveyard speaks of death and memories.
An archeological dig at Inverlochy castle produces a number of human remains, possibly from this battle or even the first one, which took place in 1431 and was fought between Highlanders and Royalist forces. This battle cost the lives of about 1,000 soldiers and King James I led an army through the Highlands afterwards to end rebel power. He managed to keep them at bay until his death six years later.
Liked the read? Scotland for Quiet Moments is available on Amazon!
Scotland is a country full of history, stories and secrets. Often, the three cannot be separated. That is what makes this country so wonderful and unique. The stories of this book have been discovered and gathered for Erkenbach’s blog, Graveyards of Scotland, over many years.
Her main sources were historical travel guides from the 18th and 19th centuries, where the finds were scary, beautiful, funny, and sometimes, cruel.This unusual approach to a country’s history has produced amazing results. You don’t have to share the author’s passion for cemeteries to enjoy this book; only a small number of the stories in this collection take place in graveyards, though they do all end in them, so perhaps it helps.
The fairy hill in Inverness, a nitrate murder on Shetland, a family of left-handers, wolves, Robert the Bruce and William Wallace shown in a new light, the secret bay of the writer Gavin Maxwell, a murdering poet and so many things you didn’t know about Scotland, its clans and its history.
Scotland for Quiet Moments is available on Amazon.
Graveyards of Scotland 