The Lamont Clan has it's base in the west coast of Scotland with it's ancestral base being located in Toward Castle near Dunoon. However there are many places all over the world with Lamont connections from Dunoon, throughout Scotland and across continents to the home of the current Clan Chief in Australia .
Below are some of the places with special significance to the clan:
Toward Castle / Ascog Castle / Kilfinan Church / Knockdow House / Ardlamont House
Inveryne / Inverchaolain Manse / Dunoon Memorial / Chief's House Edinburgh
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|---|
Toward Castle was built in the 14 th – 15 th centuries. All that remains of this ancestral seat can be found in the grounds of Castle Toward, seven miles south-west of Dunoon. The ruins consist of an ancient keep, courtyard, gateway arch, and what was probably once a kitchen and great hall.
The keep was probably about four stories high and contained a two level cellar, though only one wall now survives with the faint outline of a battlement at the top. The larger cellar also has what would have been a garderobe, and a small mural chamber which may have been a ground level entrance at one time.
The gateway arch is still intact and is very good example of early renaissance carving. The gateway projects to allow for shot-loops giving flanking fire along the wall, whilst within the gate is a vaulted passage with guardrooms on either side.
Most of the other buildings are virtually gone, though signs of the fireplace added when Mary Queen of Scots was entertained at the castle in 1563, can still be traced amongst the ruins. In 1646 Toward was the scene of a bloody tragedy when it was besieged by the neighbouring Campbell clan and it's inhabitants were tortured and killed.
If you decide to visit this site then please take care. The ruins whilst very picturesque do have a lot of loose masonry (especially in the keep area), and the paths leading to and from can get quite muddy in bad weather.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
 |
 |
|---|
The road from Tighnabruich to Kilfanan passes by Ascog Loch, on the far shore of which stands the ruins of Ascog Castle . This was the ancestral home of McInnes Lamonts, who were bound to provide an escort for the chief's galleys when they sailed forth of Cowal. It was built during the 15th century.
This was the other castle destroyed by the Campbells during the 1646 massacre. After a three-day battle on the moor above the loch, the Lamonts withdrew to the castle. The defenders were persuaded to surrender when their chief was brought before the walls by his captors. No sooner had they agreed to surrender and left the castle, when it was ransacked and burned.
Gazing on the present shattered and much neglected ruin only the most vivid imagination can depict it as it once was. The colour photographs above were taken in 2003. The outline of an archway, some steps and a doorway are still visible, and it is said that when the water of the loch is low, traces of other dwellings can be seen. When the Society paid a visit to the ruins in 1898 it was decided to re-point the walls, but the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 postponed the project. Shortly thereafter, a hard frost caused the whole of the North East corner to crash to the ground. If steps are not taken to preserve it soon then the wild ash trees will make short work of the remaining walls.
If you decide to visit this ruin then a good pair of hiking boots (or at least sturdy pair of wellies) is need to follow the footpath. Though the walk isn't overly strenuous it is a little unclear in places and during the height of summer, the drone of flies can be a bit overpowering. Also take great care at the ruin itself, as there are lumps of masonry from the fallen walls hidden amongst the long grass.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
|---|
Kilfinan Parish Church figures prominently in the history of Clan Lamont. The earliest surviving written record of the clan, and one of the earliest of any clan, is a charter signed in 1235 by Sir Laumon, first Chief of Clan Lamont, and his uncle Duncan, giving the church to the monks of Paisley . Many of the early chiefs, including Sir Laumon's son Malcolm, are buried here. It is still an active parish church
It is located on the western side of Cowal, near the shore of Loch Fyne , almost due west of Dunoon. It's ongoing a restoration project has partly been funded by donations from Lamonts around the world. The Lamont burial vault is at the back of the curch beneath what used to be the Lamont gallery. Nothing of the gallery remains but the vault is still intact and is well worth a visit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
|---|
Seat of the McGorrie Lamonts of Knockdow, the house is located on a 6,000 acre estate, southeast of Dunoon, about 11 miles by route A 815. Located on a large wooded estate, it was built in 1817, and enlarged and remodeled by the last Lamont of Knockdow, Sir Norman Lamont, in recent times. The estate was sold in 1990. Fortunately, most of the contents pertaining to Clan Lamont, were bequeathed to the Clan Lamont Society by Sir Norman's heirs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before Castle Toward was built, on the southern end of the East Cowal penninsula, the home of the chief of the Lamonts was at Inveryne. Inveryne is near Kilfinan, on the eastern shore of Loch Fyne, looking across to Knapdale. Nothing now remains of the original ancestral seat except some mounds of grass which might point to where some buildings may have been.
One of the old legends pertaining to Inveryne goes something like this: During one of the many conflicts between the Lamonts and the Campbells, the Lamonts managed to capture 15 Campbells , and held them at Inveryne, in a high tower room reached only by a narrow stair on which a guard had been placed. After several days of captivity, the Campbells hatched an escape plan. That evening, they began to sing, and they continued to sing until it was far into the night. But their singing was simply subterfuge: while they sang they took their blankets, ripped them up and tied them together to make a rope. The guards on watch gathered at the bottom of the stair to listen to the songs, and were not able to see what the prisoners were doing. The prisoners secured one end of the rope and threw out the other end out the single window. One by one, they lowered themselves to the ground and melted into the evening. The guards on watch noticed that fewer and fewer voices were joined in song, but must have believed that the prisoners were going to bed. Finally, they heard but one very sweet voice, so beautiful that they listened raptly to his song. When he had sung his song to the end he said in a loud voice, "since you have all gone to bed, I shall go to bed also," and off he went out the window, down the rope and followed the rest into the mist. The next day, when the Lamonts went to see their prisoners, there was not one of them left to be found.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
 |
|---|
At Inverchaolain, on the shores of Loch Striven stands the Old Manse and cottage. The manse was built in 1730 and faces south down the loch with outstanding views of the Isles of Bute and Arran. The Society is currently working on restoring the interior of the manse, whilst the cottage is now available for holiday lets. See the News page for further details.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Lamont Memorial at Dunoon was erected in 1906 by the Clan Lamont Society, to commemorate the 1646 massacre of 200 Lamonts by Clan Campbell .
The memorial was placed near the spot where so many met their deaths. It can be found near the southern limits of Dunoon, adjacent to route A-815 next to MacColl's Hotel. It is located on the left of the hotel and raised above the road, in a small park. Because of it's high location, it is easy to miss, so look sharp. It's weight of over three tons, caused the lorry that was transporting it to Dunoon, to break down, and it finished the trip by ship. The unveiling was done by Chief John Henry Lamont, on September 29, and the principle address was given by Rev. John Lamond. The Society will celebrate the memorial's centenary in 2006.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An exquisite 18th century town house in Edinburgh 's New Town, designed by master architect Robert Adam. The house is beautifully furnished, with collections of beautiful china, shining silver, paintings and furniture all reflect the domestic surroundings and social conditions of when the house was opened in 1796.
Around the end of the 18th century prosperous natives of Edinburgh began to leave the cramped conditions of Edinburgh 's Old Town to build new, imposing townhouse residences, like Georgian House, in New Town.
Visitors to the house can view a video presentation which explores the history of New Town and the living conditions of those who inhabited Georgian House. Visitors also have a chance to see what life was like "below stairs", with access to the restored kitchen, as well as the wine cellars and china closet.
The house was built by John Lamont, chief of Clan Lamont. In 1815 the Lamont's sold the house, and it passed through several prominent Scottish families until it passed to the National Trust for Scotland in 1966 upon the death of its last private owner, the 5th Marquess of Bute.
The Georgian House fronts onto Charlotte Square , just a few minutes walk west of Princes Street .