Rest and be Thankful

If you come to Halftown from Glasgow you will cross the Erskine Bridge then drive down Loch Lomond side. These are the Bonnie Banks of history,song and folklore.You come to the small village of Arrochar.You are now only about a fifteen minute drive from Halftown. First however you must go over the mountain pass called the Rest and be Thankful. It is 2000 feet above sea level,so do not be surprised if you ears start to pop.Look down below into the glen,but not if you are the driver or you might end up down there. You will see the remains of the old road into the highlands. This was built in 1745 to bring troops into the highlands incase there was another Jacobite rising.The soldiers would march up that road and when the got to the little loch at the top ,called Loch Restil,they were allowed to stop and rest and would say Restil and be thankful. That is how the name came into being.