I recently came across a book called My Favourite Place, where various writers discuss their most-loved places in Scotland. The book was available free from libraries throughout Scotland in 2012 as part of Book Week Scotland. Monty Python’s Michael Palin is featured in the book, discussing the Falls of Dochart in Killin. Killin is the […]
While touring recently around the islands of the Outer Hebrides we came upon this strange story. In 1830 people were busy cutting seaweed at Sgeir na Duchadh near Grimnis on the west coat of the island of Benbecula. One woman spotted a creature several yards out in the water. The creature looked like a woman in […]
Our wee series of articles on Edinburgh continue today with a look at some of the symbols that have become synonymous with the city, their origins and what they represent and we’ll start off with what must be the most famous of them all, the Luckenbooth…. The story of the Luckenbooth begins on the Royal […]
There is an old Clan Donald legend which dates back to the early 1800s telling of a large dog with a rough grey coat and an unearthly wailing bark that appears to descendants from the Morar MacDonalds at the point of death. The tale begins with a young Highlander called Dugald MacDonald, the young man […]
At Stirling Castle they have just unveiled the recreation of the lost tapestries of James V , this completes a 14 year project. The seven tapestries were commissioned by Historic Scotland, work started in 2001 as part of a wider effort to restore the king’s palace to its 1540s style. A team of 18 expert weavers from […]
An awe inspiring new mural depicting the Battle of Bannockburn has been unveiled at the Bannockburn visitor centre just outside Stirling. The work, painted by the Edinburgh based artist Chris Rutterford, was started last year just before the celebrations of the 700 year anniversary of the Battle. The artist has said that the aim of the […]
Scapa Flow is one of Britain’s most important historic stretches of water, located within the Orkney Islands, off the northeast coast of Scotland. It’s a natural harbour which has been used over many centuries, from the Viking fleet of King Haokon in the 13th Century, to the present day. It formed an important northern base […]
We have just returned from spending a week near to Hadrian’s wall. The wall was built by the Romans under the orders of Emperor Hadrian in AD122 and runs from coast to coast for 73 miles. This remarkable feat of building marked the northern edge of the mighty Roman Empire. By the late 4th century […]
Some time ago Dr Bruce Durie, former professor of Genealogy at Strathclyde University and a very good friend sent me this article…. Enjoy: Clans and Families Clans are a consequence of the templating of the Anglo-Norman feudal system onto pre- existing territorial holdings, but with certain specific features (such as a military elite), and were […]
Intrinsically linked like bread and butter, whisky and the Clans are about as all things Scot as you’re going to get. Here are our top five links between the water of life and Scotland’s oldest families. 1. Dalmore In 1263, an ancestor of Clan Mackenzie saved King Alexander III of Scotland from being gored by […]
