I came across this article in an old copy of Celtic monthly : a magazine for Highlanders (1893). An article by J. G. MACKAY, Portree looks at the physical differences between the average Scot and Englishman. Thought I’d share it: “It is long since I noticed in the course of business that the sizes of […]
The capture and rescue of Kinmont Willie Armstrong brought together three of the most colourful characters in the history of the Border Reivers. The impasse that existed between Sir Walter Scott, probably the most notable person to live on the sixteenth century Border, and Thomas Lord Scrope, English West March Warden, is a story of a clash of personalities of awesome proportions. Kinmont Willie? He was lost in the diplomatic wrangling. His capture changed nothing. He went on to reive until his death in about 1603.
On the 4th of March, two of the ScotClans team (Amanda and Donald) went on a resource finding trip down and around the south west of Scotland. We took in a number of castles and places of interest along the way, as well as enjoying some beautiful scenery. When we set off from Edinburgh it […]
Tuesday saw the sad loss of Iain MacNeil, chief of The MacNeils of Barra. He was 80. A popular Chief he will be missed greatly, especially by the people of Barra. He was a remarkable man who led one of the oldest Clans in Scotland. Born in New York, Iain was also educated in the […]
By the middle of the sixteenth century the Border Reivers had a strangle hold on the lands on each side of the English Scottish Border. None more so than the Elliots and Armstrongs of Liddesdale. Murder, theft, arson, blackmail and feud were the canker of the Border Marches. Whatever resources, initiatives or amendments to the […]
The 25th of January, 2010 is the 251st anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, Scotland’s Bard. On this day all around the world, there will be people celebrating his life and work with a Burns supper. At these suppers poetry by Burns is recitied and people will enjoy the traditional Scottish dish of haggis, […]
With temperatures plumetting, a low of -22°C is expected, with some saying that parts of Scotland will be as cold as the South Pole. However, it is currently mid-summer for the southern hemisphere, and -22°C is probably considered as balmy by the penguins. The coldest temperature ever recorded in the UK was -27.2°C on the […]
By 1593 the feud that had existed between the Maxwells and the Johnstones, the two most powerful families in south-west Scotland, was to reach its zenith. The feud was long-standing as it had existed for over a century. Whilst the culmination of the feud would result in the Battle of Dryfe Sands which has already […]
A portrait thought to be of Bonnie Prince Charlie, purchased by the Scottish National Portrait Gallery back in 1994 for £22,000, is in actual fact ‘probably his brother’, Prince Henry, the museum has conceded. After a two-year debate with London art dealer, Bendor Grosvenor, the National Galleries of Scotland have back down from its initial […]
As part of the Homecoming Scotland celebrations, a poll was held by STV to see who the public believes the greatest ever Scot is. Thousands of people were said to have voted from the list of 35 nominees, with Robert Burns, perhaps aptly, generating the most popularity. Homecoming Scotland 2009 has Burns as its focus, […]
