Off to where stories start,
find the heart of Luss
Well done! You’ve arrived in the heart of beautiful Luss, a conservation village and area of outstanding beauty with 76 listed buildings and monuments.
From Darkness to Herbs
Luss was originally known as Clachan Dubh, Gaelic for “dark village” because it sits in the deep shadow of the surrounding hills. It was later renamed Lus, which is Gaelic for “herb”, after 6th-century Irish missionary St. Kessog was martyred. His body was reportedly wrapped in sweet herbs which then magically grew over his grave.
Badger of Honour
The eccentric Arthur ‘Boofy’ Gore, 8th Earl of Arran, and his wife, Fiona Gore (Countess of Arran) of the Colquhoun family were passionate supporters of animal rights. Fiona in particular was heavily involved in badger conservation, campaigning for the protection of their habitats and opposing the UK’s badger culling policies. They even had a pet badger and could often be seen walking him around the village of Luss on a lead.
Yes Sir, Yes Sir!
In 1747, everybody’s favourite breed, blackface sheep, were introduced to Glen Luss. They did so well that it spurred the Highland Clearances, where many tenants were evicted for sheep farming. Today, you can spot “Tupp Bridge” (tupp means ram) in the village — built in 1777, it features a sculpted sheep’s head on the stonework.