Memories =) x
One memory of you & me together... It doesn't matter if I know you a little or a lot, anything you remember. Next, repost this bulletin on your own blog and see how many people leave a memory about u..

SOLDIER

I was that which others did not want to be. I went where others feared to go. And did what others failed to do. I asked nothing from those who gave nothing, and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness, should I fail. I have seen the face of terror, felt the cold sting of fear, and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment of love. I have cried, pained and hoped, but most of all I have lived times others would say were best forgotten. At least someday I will be able to say I was proud of what I was!"

Killin was one of the main strongholds of Clan Campbell, one of the most ancient clans of Scotland. It's origins are in Clan Alpin, named after Kenneth MacAlpin who was the first ancient king of the early united Scotland. The earliest traceable ancestor of the Breadalbane family, and first of the house of Glenorchy, was Sir Colin Campbell, the third son of Duncan, first Lord Campbell of Lochow. The Campbells were a powerful Clan with a burning desire to expand their lands, indeed the ambition of the 16c Black Duncan Campbell of the cowl was to be able to travel on his own lands from the east to the west coast of Scotland. It was an ambition he achieved to the cost of many of his neighbours.

The Campbells acquired their lands mainly through guile and legal process, largely with the support of some of Scotlands kings. It was the Campbells who hounded the MacGregors, the McEwans, McNabs and many other unfortunate clans to the verge of extinction.

The Campbells were also great castle builders, owning at one stage castles spread over the full width of Scotland, included were: Dunstafnage and Barcaldine near Oban, Kilchurn on Loch Awe, Lock Dochart Castle, Finlarig at Killin, Ardeonaig castle on Loch Tay and Balloch castle (later known as Taymouth) at Kenmore. Sir Colin Campbell, born about 11577 was probably the most notorious of the Campbells and it was he who hounded the unfortunate MacGregors of Glenstrae and their successors.

The fortunes of the clan slowly changed and the last straw was the curse invoked by the 'Old Woman of Lawers' who predicted the extinction of the Campbells. The final problems for the Campbells started in the 1920s with taxation and the lack of direct descendants. They sold off their lands to meet debts until 1948 when the last land was sold. Sir Colin Campbell the great expansionist had built Finlarig Castle at Killin, and behind it the family mausoleum. The mausoleum was a ruin when the last of the Campbells of Glenorchy died early in the 20th century.

Beyond the ruins of the mausoleum and facing the ruins and the evils of Finlarig castle are two graves with Celtic crosses inscribed for Sir Gavin Campbell, Marquess of Breadalbane, and his wife of 50 years, Lady Alma St. Fillan. The Last of the Breadalbanes!

Breadalbane
The name Breadalbane refers mainly to the lands owned by the Campbells from Oban to Aberfeldy. The Name Breadalbane derives from the old celtic words signifying "high Albane" or "the high part of Scotland in the kingdom of Albany". The area is steeped in history, much of it recorded in ancient records, much recorded in ancient pictish carvings and before that, evidence of early occupation lies in 'cup and ring' markings which are found carved in the rocks all over Breadalbane.

Breadalbane is a beautiful part of Scotland, boasting some of the highest mountains and most beautiful and stunning scenery in Scotland. Along it's length we have loch Awe, Loch Dochart and Loch Tay as well a many minor lochans. Mountains like Ben More, Stob-binnian, Ben Lawers and the Tarmachan range line both sides of the river valley. Sparkling little jewels of villages like, Killin, Kenmore and Fortingall are spread along the length of Breadalbane.