Scottish Clan Events Map for 2011
View 2011 Highland Games in a larger map
Border Reivers- Hobbie Noble of the Crew in Bewcastle
Hobbie Noble of the Crew in Bewcastle, Cumberland was disowned by his own folk but found favour across the English Scottish Border in Liddesdale with the mighty Armstrongs of Mangerton. He would be betrayed back to the English by an unlikely source, the Armstrongs of the Mains.
Multi-million pound makeover for Carbunkle Award winner
Highland Council has given the go ahead for John O’Groats to receive a £6.5 million face lift from the Manchester based Natural Retreats. Work is expected to start sometime next year and the company are looking to remodel the Journey’s End cafe as well as transform the derelict John O’Groats hotel into a visitor centre […]
Shetland Island named in top 10 places on earth to visit
One of the world’s leading travel guides has named the Shetland Islands as one of the top 10 regions on earth to visit. The Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2011 places the islands at number six in the world. You can see some of my photos from when I visited the Shetland Islands in 2014 […]
Inuits could be saviours of seal skin sporrans
A ban on the trade of seal products by the European Union put an end to the continuation of the sale of traditional seal skin sporrans which are a vital part of Highland dress. However, a loophole in the ban could see the skin make a return with the help of the Inuit people in […]
Border Reivers – the ‘Great Cause’
The Scottish Wars of Idependence, nomonally over by 1328, would haunt the relationship between Scotland and England for another two centuries. They were kick-started by the unfortunate death of an innocent little girl.
Border Ballads – Fair Helen of Kirkconnel
On the western edge of the village of Eaglesfield in the Scottish Borders lies the ancient church and churchyard of Kirkconnel. There one can find the remains of a medieval church. It is tiny; probably the remnants of a much larger building have long disappeared: the stone, fine and ready cut, having found a better […]
James V of Scotland and a Border Widow
James V of Scotland was determined to subject his Border subjects to his rule. His visit to the Scottish Borders in 1530 would see the end of not only Johnnie Armstrong but also Cockburne of Henderland and Adam Scott, known as the King of Thieves.
Edinburgh Fringe best joke announced
Tim Vine has one the award for the funniest joke at Edinburgh’s Festival Fringe. His one liner, “I’ve just been on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. I’ll tell you what, never again.” was deemed the best joke this year by the public after a shortlist of 24 jokes were selected by a panel of eight comedy judges. […]
Rossyln Chapel’s new roof revealed after 14 years
After 14 years of work, the canopy has finally been removed from the roof of Rosslyn Chapel. The canopy was put up while major work was done to the roof of the chapel which, for hundreds of years, had been letting in rain water leading to structural decay. It took six weeks to carefully remove […]