Achnacarry is the family seat of Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel, XXVII Chief and Captain of Clan Cameron. The building itself replaces the original wooden building destroyed during the 1745 uprising. It sits on a very pleasant plain by the river Arkaig, near Spean Bridge. Near the house is the famous line of beech trees heeled in by the Gentle Lochiel - a job he was undertaking when he heard that Prince Charles Edward had landed at Glenfinnan. Not far away, near the entrance to Loch Arkaig, is the Dark Mile made famous in D K Broster's Jacobite trilogy.
Clan History
THE CHIEF OF CLAN CAMERON
Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel is the heriditary Chief of the Clan Cameron having inherited the title on the death of his father in 2004. He was born on August 5th 1946 to Sir Donald Hamish Cameron and Lady Margaret. In 1974 he married Lady Cecil Kerr and they have three daughters, Catherine Mary, Lucy Margot and Emily Frances and a son Donald Andrew, is styled Yr of Lochiel. Lochiel was educated at Harrow and Oxford, subsequently training as a Chartered Accountant, and was latterly a Director of J Henry Schroder & Co. He is currently Lord Lieutenant of Inverness-shire.
THE EARLY YEARS
Donald Dubh, born c. 1400, is generally accepted as being the first authentic Chief. Sir Ewan Cameron (1629-1719) was probably the greatest of the Cameron Chiefs and Donald Cameron - the Gentle Lochiel (1695-1746) is known for his loyal support for Prince Charles Edward Stuart in the 1745 rising. In recent years, Sir Donald H. Cameron, KT, XXVI Chief (1910-2004), will be remembered for the Commando’s training at Achnacarry, for his fine military and leadership career, and for his encouragement of worldwide Clan Cameron participation.
** See “Archives” under www.clan-cameron.org for an extensive history of Clan Cameron.