Aye Poltalloch House is a sad shadow of it's former self, it's the kind of place that your imagination can get lost in, knowing a wee bit about it's former life, one can imaging Royalty discreetly visiting, grand parties, the citrus trees growing in the orangery at the back of the house, the Laid puffing on his cigar whilst consuming the finest single malt at the head of a grand table, the list goes on, one should also spare a thought for the numerous people that would have been employed to make the house run smoothly, cooks, butlers, cleaners, housemaids, again the list goes on, it is said that the great house was the heart of the glen, meaning that nearly everyone that lived in the glen was connected in some way to the house, with its demise all those people either had to move away or seek employment elsewhere, at the end of the day you have to ask WHY ?

As Jock pointed out this isnt the place to discuss taxes/death duties, but did the bean counters in power ever consider the consequences of their demands, NO of course not.

I commented to Ern as we walked up the steps in the garden to the house, that I recall seeing a photo somewhere of clan chief Robins father sat kilted in a chair at the top of the steps, a Laird not to be messed with but a bloody nice man by all accounts, if I can trace where I saw that photo I will certainly post it here.