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Dist:0.4km<br/>The lands of Caldarvan and part of Wester Finnary were acquired in 1802 by Robert Mackenzie. His grandson, R. D. Mackenzie (Robert Duncanson Mackenzie) of Caldarvan was born in Cardross in August 1812, and graduated with an MA from Glasgow University in 1830. His career as a writer (i.e. lawyer) began in Dumbarton in 1836, but for the bulk of his career he worked in Glasgow, where he joined the firm of Couper, Mackenzie and Innes, which later become Mackenzie, Robertson and Co. He was also involved in public administration; as early as 1834, he served as Commissioner of Supply; later he was Convener of the Town Council. He retired from the council in 1894. He succeeded to Caldarvan on his father's death in 1825. The listed building report for Caldarvan House describes it as mid- to later nineteenth century, and lists some architectural features, but does not name the architect or give any details about its occupants (for the building's former west lodge, see [[2666673]]). However, R. D. Mackenzie's obituary, published in the Lennox Herald newspaper, in its issue of the 27th of March, 1909, provides some additional details: he added to and greatly beautified Caldarvan Estate, and was particularly keen on planting trees, transforming what had been bare countryside. The obituary notes that Caldarvan "had a wide reputation for the excellence of its collection of rhododendrons". R. D. Mackenzie rebuilt the mansion house in 1840; it had to be rebuilt again in 1905, after being burnt down. He also became owner of Cambusmoon, Easter Finnary, the Mill and Mill Lands of Mavie ([[2884122]] – see also http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1153458 on the name Mavie Mill), and part of Blairquhomrie ([[NS4282]]). He was a senior partner in the firm of Mackenzie, Gardner, and Alexander, Glasgow (probably a continuation of the company that was mentioned above under two different names). He was, for almost fifty years, a member of the board of the City of Glasgow Life Assurance Company. In 1842, he married Susan Campbell, daughter of Sheriff Alexander Campbell of Barnhill (on that family connection, see [[2693112]]). The couple had five daughters, and one son, Robert Mackenzie, junior (who also became a partner in the firm of Mackenzie, Gardner, and Alexander). R. D. Mackenzie died in his 97th year (on Friday, March 19th, 1909) at his home in Caldarvan. He was buried in the family burial place in Dumbarton Cemetery (see link, above, for the Campbells of Barnhill). In the afternoon, a service was conducted at Caldarvan, conducted by the minister of Kilmaronock Parish. There is a portrait of R.D.Mackenzie in the third volume of Joseph Irving's "Book of Dumbartonshire" (1879). Much of the above information was drawn from the second and third volumes of that work. The Pont/Blaeu map of the Lennox (surveyed in the 1580s-90s) includes the name Caldarvan (as Kaildaruan), with Cambusmoon to the north (as Kammezmore) (*). In Roy's Military Survey of Scotland, these two places appear as Kildervan and Camismoon, respectively. On a 1777 map by Charles Ross, they are Culdervan and Campsmune, while John Ainslie's map of southern Scotland shows Culdervan (by itself). By the time of the first-edition OS map (surveyed in 1860), they have their present-day names: Caldarvan to the south, and Cambusmoon ([[2666893]]) to the north (flanked by East and [[2666813]]). The name Caldarvan is now associated with some other features in the area, but these were earlier known by other names. For example, Caldarvan Loch had, at an earlier period, been called Loch Breach (or similar). By the time of the first-edition OS map (c.1860), it was known as Lochend; although R.D.Mackenzie insisted that it be renamed Caldarvan Loch, and that this name be shown on the OS map, locals still call it Lochend: see [[2666468]] for the details. Likewise, [[1449059]] was earlier called Kilmaronock Station (Kilmaronock is the name of the parish), but it was also renamed, again at the insistence of R.D.Mackenzie; see the last-cited link for further details. - - • - - (*) On the changes undergone by the name Kammezmore (to Cambusmoon), compare Camis Eskan ([[NS3281]], near Helensburgh): that name was formerly written as one word, Camiseskan, and, on the Pont/Blaeu map, it is called Kammezeskan (very similar to the Kammesmore that appears, for modern Cambusmoon, on the same map). On subsequent maps, the changes in its name were almost parallel to those of Kammezmore/Cambusmoon. For Camis Eskan, The Lennox Cartulary gives a couple of other old forms: Camceskanys (1333-1364) and Camseskaines (1680).
©Lairich Rig
Dist:0.5km<br/>Strathendrick grassland with cattle. View northwards towards the Highlands and Ben Lomond.
©Richard Webb
Dist:0.5km<br/>The farm is located beside [[2666645]], which leads from the Horseshoe to the village of Gartocharn. According to a lady whom I met on the day, the name of the farm was changed to avoid confusion with nearby [[2666563]]. This is borne out by early OS maps: the first-edition map (surveyed c.1860) calls this farm West Caldarvan, and it is shown by that name until at least the 1950s (although it is possible that the name change took place earlier, and that the maps did not immediately reflect it). After that, the present-day name Ardgate is shown. For another view of the farm, see [[2105379]].
©Lairich Rig
Dist:0.5km<br/>This small, unnamed stream flows beneath the road (from which the picture was taken), passes Cample Plantation (the trees that are visible at the right-hand edge of the photograph), and flows into the Gallangad Burn. Its total length is less than 2km.
©Lairich Rig
Dist:0.5km<br/>
©Stephen Sweeney
Dist:0.6km<br/>From Auchencarroch Road.
©Stephen Sweeney
Dist:0.6km<br/>The road leads from a route that is known locally as the Horseshoe, towards the village of Gartocharn. In this view, [[2666481]] can be seen ahead, and [[2666563]] is further away, on the right.
©Lairich Rig
Dist:0.6km<br/>Wet grassland before a small wood.
©Richard Webb
Dist:0.6km<br/>This small road links the Caldarvan Station area to the comparatively large Gartocharn.
©Stephen Sweeney
Dist:0.6km<br/>Private road for the local farmer.
©Stephen Sweeney
Dist:0.7km<br/>Together with [[2666755]], which just to the north-west, this forms a horseshoe-shaped area of woodland. See the link just cited for nearby sites that were recorded on early OS maps, but which have now disappeared.
©Lairich Rig
Dist:0.7km<br/>The photograph was taken from the same point as [[1726688]], but is a view in the opposite direction; see that item for more details. The few trees visible nearby, on the left, are at the northern end of Crosshill Plantation. The trees in the distance are part of Blairdennan Plantation; Caldarvan Loch lies just beyond them.
©Lairich Rig
Dist:0.7km<br/>Small deciduous woodland.
©Richard Webb
Dist:0.7km<br/>A short track leads from [[2666645]], past [[2666673]], to this house, which is called Ben Ard. West Lodge was associated with [[2666563]], and the track is a small surviving stretch of a road that once connected the two. The wooded hill behind Ben Ard is the Dumpling ([[NS43558591]]), as it is always known locally.
©Lairich Rig
Dist:0.8km<br/>Path into forest plantation near Caldarvan Station.
©Stephen Sweeney

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