General Notes

from Clan Lamont web site;

In the early 1300s, came a great down turn in the Clan's fortunes. Laumon's grandson, Sir John, supported the MacDougalls of Lorne against Robert the Bruce.

The Lamonts of Ardlamont, however, who held their land as vassals of the High Steward in Bute , may have fought in Bruce's bodyguard at Bannockburn. When Bruce was secure on the Scottish throne the Lamont Chief suffered with the House of Lorne and the Clan's land was claimed by the king's loyal supporter, Campbell, Black Knight of Lochawe.

It was a few years after this that an event occurred which throws a vivid light upon the chivalric character of these old Highland chiefs. The incident took place either in 1602 or 1633 . The tradition runs that the son of a Lamont chief had gone hunting on the shores of Loch Awe with the only son of MacGregor of Glenstrae. At nightfall the two young men had made their camp in a cave, when a quarrel arose between them, and in the sudden strife Lamont drew his dirk, and MacGregor fell mortally wounded. Pursued by MacGregor's retainers, the aggressor fled, and, losing all idea of his way in the dark, and at last espying a light, applied for shelter at MacGregors own house of Glenstrae. The old chief was stricken with grief when he heard the tale, and guessed it was his own son who had been slain. But the Highland laws of hospitality were inexorable. "Here, this night," he said, "you shall be safe "; and when the clansmen arrived, demanding vengeance, he protected young Lamont from their fury. Then, while it was still dark, he conducted the young man across the hills to Dunderave on Loch Fyne , and procured him a boat and oars. "Flee," he said, "for your life; in your own country we shall pursue you. Save yourself if you can!"

Years afterwards an old man, hunted and desperate, came to Toward Castle gate and besought shelter. It was MacGregor of Glenstrae, stripped of his lands by the rapacious Campbells, and fleeing for his life. Lamont had not forgotten him, and he took him in, gave him a home for years, and when he died, buried him with all the honour due to his rank in the little graveyard about the chapel of St. Mary on the farm of Toward-an-Uilt, where his resting place was long pointed out.

As is well known, the Campbells had been engaged for over a century in making themselves masters of the ancient lands of Clan Gregor, and it may be that this act of hospitality to the old MacGregor chief formed the last drop in the cup of the ancient feud which brought destruction upon Clan Lamont.

Toward Castle was the Lamont family seat for many years beginning in the 15th century.