Origins of the Club Name

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Legends abound about the origins of the club name. The simplest explanation given by founder members is that it simply had a suitably Scottish feel, and that by the time it was suggested, the meeting was more interested in adjourning to the bar.

Much has been made of the historical inconsistency of the early club meeting in the Covenantor bar. To be fair, despite their differing political and religious agendas (not to mention a century gap), both the Covenantors and Jacobites are remembered for taking to the hills. The former did so to escape religious persecution (a more serious proposition than escaping a stressful city job), but made an early claim on Loudon Hill, now a favourite rock climbing venue.

On the Jacobite side, Bonnie Prince Charlie's escape route from Culloden took him through the Window on Creag Meagaidh and across to the West Highlands. Once there, he travelled extensively through Moidart, Knoydart and Kintail, before heading over the sea to Skye. Despite his political naievity and military failings, he cannot be faulted in his choice of landscape, but life back in Paris must have been dull afterwards. The number of features marked on modern maps as Prince Charlie's Cave suggest that he was a keen proponent of bivouacing, long before Goretex bivi-bags.

It should be noted that, despite the name, the club has no agenda to return a Stuart king to the throne, by armed rebellion or any other means. Those of Hanoveran or republican tendencies are equally welcome to join.



The Jacobite Monument at Glenfinnan with the mountains of Ardgour beyond.

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