Tartan is one of the most distinctive and recognisable textile in the western world and Scotland has become one with it. The earliest reports we see about tartan come from the Roman writers Virgil and Tacitus who wrote that the Picts/Celts were wearing striped, sometimes across, cloaks, shiny and bright. Tacitus also says they were […]
The kilt has a proud history especially in the Highland regiments, however, it also has a dark side. Especially when fighting abroad. During the Boer war 1899 – 1902 Highland soldiers had their legs scraped up by thorns as they struggled through the African bush. You might think to yourself that this shouldn’t be a […]
The Flag of Scotland is called the Saltire or the St Andrews Cross. It is a white diagonal cross on a blue field. The legend of it’s origins as the national flag go all the way back to 832AD. A joint force of Picts and Scots under King Angus (or Óengus) of The Picts met […]
It’s interesting to learn that until 1996 the bagpipes were classified as a weapon of war. This does not simply mean an instrument played in battle, or a tool used to direct troops, it actually means a physical weapon, like a sword or a musket. The origins of this take us all the way back […]
Throughout Scottish history there have been many battles fought on Scots soil, many have been fought on English soil, however a few battles between Scotland and England have taken place on French soil. Few have been as important as this one though; the Battle of Baugé Background: The Battle was part of the ‘Hundred Years War’ […]
In the fraternity of the super wealthy there are many very expensive indulgences that help proclaim the owner’s status; The massive yacht, the exotic cliff top villa, maybe a private jet? However no matter how far up the fortune 500 rankings you go the Duke of Atholl has something that beats every oligarch hands down. […]
While clearing out a few things the other day I came across a very interesting scrap of paper. It was an old sheet of A4 lined paper and on it was a scribbled map and some text. It was given to me by Jeff Henderson who served beside my father in the Kings Own […]
