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The popular time-travelling fantasy drama Outlander returns this month for the Season 7, part 2 over eight episodes. Coming off the first half of Outlander Season 7, we find Claire, Jamie and Young Ian leaving the colonies and arriving in their beloved homeland: Scotland. The perils of the Revolutionary War force them to choose between standing by those they love and fighting for the land they have made their new home. Meanwhile, Roger and Brianna face new enemies across time, and must battle the forces that threaten to pull their family apart.

As loyalties change and painful secrets come to light, Jamie and Claire’s marriage is tested like never before. With their love binding them over oceans and centuries, can the MacKenzies and Frasers find their way back to each other?

The Outlander television series is inspired by Diana Gabaldon’s international best-selling books, which have sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide, with all nine of the books gracing the New York Times best-seller list. The television series has become a worldwide success with audiences, spanning the genres of history, science fiction, romance and adventure in one amazing tale.

Outlander Season 7 Part 2 will premiere in the US on Starz on Friday 22 November. Outlander Season 7 Part 2 will premiere in Australia on Foxtel on Saturday, 23 November. Also available in other regions and please check listings.

Images courtesy of Starz.

In September we looked at some of the curiosities and lesser-known attractions of Glasgow. Fair’s fair; now for a similar look at Edinburgh.

Edinburgh’s other castle

Everybody knows Edinburgh Castle, one of the most recognisable (and busiest) attractions anywhere in the world. But Edinburgh has other castles and one of them is also in the care of Historic Environment Scotland (HES). At Craigmillar Castle you won’t have to queue to photograph anything. The castle is about three miles southeast of the city centre, from which several bus routes run from to Old Dalkeith Road, a short walk away. Parking at the castle is limited.

Any building of any age in Scotland seems to have been visited by Mary Queen of Scots and she knew Craigmillar Castle well, and enjoyed a lengthy stay there in 1563. In June 1567 she gave birth to the future James VI in Edinburgh Castle and that November Mary and little James sought peace at Craigmillar Castle. The Queen enjoyed hunting and falconry in the surrounding countryside, now a country park where we’re all free to roam where Mary did.

Two impressive yew trees grow in the gloom of the castle’s inner courtyard, outside the original tower. The later parts of the castle were built in the 1660s. The Gilmour family bought the estate from the Prestons in 1660 and built these new ranges. Craigmillar has something for everyone; small children will love the spooky dark passages and spiral staircases; even sullen teenagers will giggle at the long-drop latrine closets.

Dunbar’s Close

The Royal Mile suffers from overtourism, and it can be exhausting just walking through the crowds. The historic closes that lead off it are often fascinating and none more so than Dunbar’s Close which opens on the left as you walk down the Canongate towards Holyrood. It’s probably named after David Dunbar, a lawyer who owned properties here in the 18^th century.

The close leads to a small green space designed to resemble a 17^th century garden. It’s small but endlessly fascinating. When the lavender is in bloom there’s a sleepy buzzing of bees. In its present form, remarkably, the garden only dates to 1976, when a charity called the Mushroom Trust acquired the ground, employed the landscape architect Seamus Filor to design a garden, and gifted the result to the city on completion in 1978.

Drop into Dunbar’s Garden to enjoy peace and greenness. But not all at once. Let’s preserve the atmosphere.

The Old Botanics

Another corner of Edinburgh, another garden. Hopetoun Crescent Garden is just off the grand thoroughfare of Leith Walk, near MacDonald Road tram stop. It is partly a relic of what is now the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The city’s first ‘physick garden’ appeared in the 17^th century near Holyrood Abbey, moved to what’s now Waverley Station (just imagine that!) and then to the area around Hopetoun Crescent in the 1760s.

It made its final move (so far…) to the present Inverleith site in the 1820s but this lovely little garden remnant survived. It’s impossible to be sure which trees survive from the Botanic Garden era, but there are some surprisingly large examples for a city garden. Great credit is due to the Friends of Hopetoun Crescent Garden who have transformed a site that was a neglected eyesore by the 1990s into a beautiful community greenspace.

The other Scott Monument

The Scott Monument in Princes Street Gardens has now been demoted to the world’s second largest monument to a writer (the Jose Marti monument in Havana has replaced it) but the city has plenty more memorials to Scott. He’s commemorated in the Writer’s Museum in the High Street, quotations from his work bedeck Waverley Station (named after his first novel, of course), and you can see paintings and sculptures of the man himself in the city’s galleries. But there’s another Scott Monument, on Corstorphine Hill; and it’s nearly as tall as the one in Princes Street.

Corstorphine Hill Nature Reserve lies to the west of the city centre, a quick bus run (12, 26, 31) from Haymarket or Princes Street. A path begins from Corstorphine Road near the zoo, climbing steeply, but the angle soon eases. You reach a viewpoint, the Rest and be Thankful; this is the spot where Alan Breck and Davie Balfour part at the end of their hazardous journey from Mull in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped.

On the heavily wooded summit, you find an impressive tower that’s just the sort of thing a wandering hero in a Scott novel might come upon in a thunderstorm as hostile redcoats close in upon him. It has the alternative names Corstorphine Hill Tower, Scott Tower or Clermiston Tower and was built in 1871 for the 100^th anniversary of Scott’s birth. Thanks to volunteers from the Friends of Corstorphine Hill you can go inside and enjoy the view from the parapet on summer Sunday afternoons.

Trinity House, Leith

Trinity House, Leith, is just a short distance from the Foot of the Walk tram stop and is another HES property. It was the home of the Incorporation of Mariners and Shipmasters, an organisation that collected port dues and worked in the interests of the local seafarers; incredibly, the Incorporation dates from 1380. It was based on this site from the late 1500s and when the present late Georgian building was constructed in 1818 some parts of the older buildings were included: the north wall incorporates a stone with the date 1555.

It’s now a museum celebrating Leith’s maritime history featuring many original fittings and items of furniture with artworks and other exhibits. It usually closes for winter at the end of September but in October 2024, to mark Black History Month, there was a special exhibition on Leith’s Black History.

These are just some of the lesser-known features of Edinburgh. There are of course, many more, and the same is true for Glasgow. Seek them out for yourself, and tell the Scottish Banner about them.

Text and photos: David McVey.

Alex Geddes has never been somebody to shirk a challenge. And that’s just as well given the scale of the project which he accepted more than a decade ago. After working with Grampian Police for many years, he left the force the day before the creation of Police Scotland and wondered what next might be on his radar.

However, just a few weeks later, he received a phone call from Score Group, the company which had originally purchased the former Peterhead Prison – which closed in December 2013 – to ask if he was interested in converting it into a museum.

And, though there were many issues to resolve while transforming the former Hate Factory – a place which kept many of Scotland’s worst criminals behind bars for decades – into a venue which tourists might love to visit, Alex knuckled down to the task. In the role of operations manager, he dealt with different agencies, sought help and advice from local and national bodies and the consequences were extraordinary when the venue opened its doors in the summer of 2016.

As he said: “The task of taking it from an empty shell to a five-star visitor attraction within three years had me facing various challenges, along with many ups and downs. Yet the day that the grading officer from VisitScotland announced we had secured our five-star rating saw the tears flow as my dream from day one was finally achieved.”

Incredible stories

Alex and his colleagues have worked with everybody from Robert Gordon University to Westhill Men’s Shed and the producers of the Channel 4 drama series Screw, and have been involved in a diverse range of exhibitions, forays into what’s described as “dark tourism” and educational initiatives with schools in the region.

He said: “One visitor I met on week one of our opening summed it up when I asked him if he had enjoyed his visit. He stopped and gazed at the main halls and said: ‘I’ve always wanted to see in it, but never wanted to be in it’. The one thing which has given me most satisfaction is speaking to former officers that worked here and hearing their stories converted onto our award-winning audio tour. Too often in the past, their incredible stories were never heard, but I hope we have given them all a voice for future generations to enjoy and learn from.”

It’s now time for Alex to hand over the day-to-day running of the popular museum to a new business manager while he moves into a public relations role. But there’s no question of this redoubtable fellow stepping away entirely from his cherished site.

He said: “As you may imagine, for a small charity with huge overheads, funding is always a challenge as we try to keep the former prison intact. Given that the prison was originally built in 1888 and only closed in 2013, we have to do a lot just to keep the place wind and watertight alone. So, I do hope I can now focus mainly on ensuring our good name is maintained while securing funding to keep the museum alive and moving forward.”

For further information on Peterhead Prison Museum visit: www.peterheadprisonmuseum.com

Text by Neil Drysdale.

Did you know?

-Peterhead Prison opened in 1888 and closed as a working prison in 2013.

-HM Convict Prison Peterhead was the only convict prison in Scotland.

-Britain’s first state owned passenger carrying railway transported the convicts between the prison and granite quarry, for Peterhead Red Granite, for their daily work between 1888-1958.

-The prisoners also helped in building Peterhead harbour’s breakwater.

-The early cells of 1888 were just 5 ft x 7 ft x 7 ft high, and hung with a hammock-style bed.

-Over the years Peterhead has housed some of the hardest and most violent criminals in Scotland including serial killers, thieves and gangsters.

-A five-day prisoner riot broke out in October 1987 which resulted in the inmates taking over part of the building and holding guard’s hostage.

-Peterhead Prison Museum is open year-round in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

The Pipes of Christmas is proud to announce its first-ever performance in Boston, marking a major milestone in the concert’s 26-year history. The Boston concert will be held in loving memory of Brian O’Donovan, who hosted the beloved Christmas performance A Celtic Sojourn for Boston audiences for more than 20 years.

“Boston has long celebrated its Irish and Scottish roots through music, culture, and community, and Brian was a veritable institution in this endeavor,”said Pipes of Christmas producer Robert Currie. “While we can never replace the ‘Celtic Sojourn’ experience, we honor Brian’s legacy and love of Celtic traditions through our Boston performance. We are thrilled to join this vibrant tradition by bringing the Pipes of Christmas’ unique blend of music and storytelling to the city.”

The Pipes of Christmas: Bringing a 26-year tradition to Boston audiences

Since 1999, “The Pipes of Christmas” has captivated audiences in New York and New Jersey, becoming a cherished annual event for many. The concert blends traditional instruments such as pipes, drums and harp with ancient carols, original compositions, and spoken readings, offering a Celtic Christmas experience that’s both joyful and reverent. The concert is also a fundraiser. All proceeds support the Learned Kindred of Currie’s cultural outreach programs, scholarships, and preservation initiatives. By attending, concert-goers enjoy a beautiful evening of music and support efforts to keep Celtic traditions alive in the United States and around the world. The Boston performance will take place at the historic Old South Church on December 12. Additional performances will take place in New York City on December 14 and Summit, NJ on December 15.

Tickets will be available starting November 8, with a special pre-sale for GoFundMe donors started on October 25. Since its debut 26 years ago in 1999, The Pipes of Christmas has played to standing-room-only audiences. Now a cherished holiday event, the concert gives audiences a stirring and reverent celebration of the Christmas season and the Celtic spirit. Audience-goers return year after year to experience the program, many reporting that the Pipes of Christmas has become part of their family’s annual Christmas tradition. The concert has been lavished with critical acclaim. In his review for Classical New Jersey Magazine, Paul Somers wrote, “The whole evening was constructed to introduce gem after gem and still have a finale which raised the roof. In short, it was like a well-constructed fireworks show on the Glorious Fourth.” The Westfield Leader described the concert as “a unique sound of power and glory nowhere else to be found.”

International concert highlights

In addition to the live concert experience, the Pipes of Christmas can be enjoyed globally through the concert highlights webcast which will be available by subscription over the Christmas holiday.  Further, the Learned Kindred of Currie is offering some special donor perks including primary access to ticket sales and a specially produced EP album featuring remastered concert selections.  The Society is also offering an exclusive Yule Log video showcasing beautiful Scottish scenery with music selections from past concerts.

The Pipes of Christmas will take place in Boston on December 12, New York City December 14 and Summit, NJ on December 15. A global webcast will also be available to view online December 20-31^st. For full details see: www.pipesofchristmas.com.

 

A ‘remarkable’ Pictish ring with an intricate setting has been uncovered at a Moray fort previously thought to have been ‘archaeologically vandalised’ by the construction of a new town. The kite-shaped ring with a garnet or red glass centre had lain undiscovered for more than a thousand years at the Burghead fort before it was uncovered by a volunteer in a dig led by the University of Aberdeen.

Although known as a Pictish site, its historical value was widely assumed to have been lost when the town of Burghead was constructed in the 1800s, covering over much of the fort and dismantling the stone that remained for building. Among the families encouraged to relocate to the new town to support the fishing industry were the ancestors of John Ralph – a former engineer and graduate of the University of Aberdeen. When he retired, John signed up as a volunteer for the Burghead digs after seeing a social media post by the University’s Professor of Archaeology, Gordon Noble.

Something really exciting

Professor Noble has led excavation work, funded by Historical Environment Scotland, over the last three years which has shed new light on the importance of the site and enabled the development of 3-D reconstructions of how it might once have looked. John, who describes himself as an ‘enthusiastic amateur’ had many moments over the two-week excavation – his third dig at the site – where he thought he had discovered something, only to for the experts to tell him he had a knack for finding ‘shiny pebbles’. So when, on the last day of the final dig, he found something that looked interesting, he didn’t hold out much hope. It was only when he showed it to a fellow volunteer and his eyes lit up that he realised he might ‘have something’.

Professor Noble says that what he was presented with was ‘truly remarkable’. “John was digging and then came over and said, ‘look what I’ve found’. What he handed over was incredible,” he added. “Even before the conservation work, we could see it was something really exciting as despite more than a thousand years in the ground we could see glints of the possible garnet setting. There are very few Pictish rings which have ever been discovered and those we do know about usually come from hoards which were placed in the ground deliberately for safekeeping in some way. We certainly weren’t expecting to find something like this lying around the floor of what was once a house but that had appeared of low significance so, in typical fashion, we had left work on it until the final day of the dig.”

The ring is currently with the National Museum of Scotland’s Post-excavation Service for analysis and John, who grew up in Burghead, is delighted to have added his own piece to the puzzle in understanding the region’s Pictish past. “It is a real thrill to dig up an artefact in the knowledge that you are probably the first person to see it for 1,000-1,500 years,” he said. “It becomes a real guessing game of who owned it, what did they use it for and how was it lost.”

Scotland’s remarkably rich history

Professor Noble and his team will use the ring and other evidence uncovered on the dig to start to answer those questions. Professor Noble added: “We will now look at the ring, evidence of buildings and other artefacts to consider whether the ring was crafted on the site and who such an important piece of jewellery might have been made for. We have some other evidence of metalworking and the number of buildings we have uncovered is quite striking. This further indicator of the high-status production of metalwork adds to the growing evidence that Burghead was a really significant seat of power in the Pictish period.”

Susan O’Connor, Head of Grants at Historic Environment Scotland, said: “Given Scotland’s remarkably rich history, it shouldn’t be surprising that that we are still uncovering important pieces of Scotland’s past, even where we least expect it. We are proud to have funded and supported the excavation work conducted by the University of Aberdeen, and are delighted that volunteer John Ralph played such a pivotal role in bringing it to light – literally! Whilst the materials used themselves are not particularly valuable in today’s monetary sense, this find is hugely significant for what it tells us about Pictish lives and society. We’re excited to find out more once our colleagues in the National Museum have finished their investigations.”

2024 marks Stirling’s 900^th anniversary as a Royal Burgh with a variety of events taking place until April 2025. The city is steeped in history and with some impressive buildings and stunning landscapes and it is a photographers dream. Stirling local, and photographer, Fraser MacDonald loves his home town and shares with us just some of the amazing places to visit when next in Scotland.

Text and all images by: Fraser MacDonald

Nestled between the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, Stirling is a city steeped in history and surrounded by natural beauty. As a photographer, I’ve found that there’s no better place to explore with a camera in hand—its cobbled streets, medieval architecture, and breathtaking landscapes offer endless inspiration. This year marks the city’s 900^th birthday. Stirling inspired me to take up photography. I’ve lived here all my life and can’t see that ever changing. I’d often snap photos of the picturesque city using my iPhone.

One day I decided to buy a camera, and I have never looked back. Stirling acted as the perfect training ground for me. It’s a place often overlooked by passing tourism. But I think it has more than enough beauty to rival popular stops such as Edinburgh and Glasgow. Stirling was granted city status in 2002, but don’t let that fool you. It still very much has that small-town vibe. There’s something unique about this place. It’s pretty hard to explain. It offers something rare: a place where time feels suspended, and yet every moment is fleeting and ready to be captured. It’s a city that invites you to slow down and appreciate the beauty of its environment.

A pivotal location in Scottish history

Stirling Castle stands proud on a volcanic rock, its elevated presence visible from every corner of the city. Many battles of time gone by have been lost and won here. When the sun sets, the soft light dances off the castle’s ancient walls, creating a photographer’s dream. This is my favourite subject in Stirling to shoot. There are so many different angles you can capture, each one offering something unique and magical.

The misty mornings over the old bridge evoke a sense of reverence. If you get there early enough, you can capture the stunning reflection that bounces off the River Forth. Every inch of this bridge is steeped in history. It was an integral part of Williams Wallace’s victory during the first war of Scottish independence. A pivotal location in Scottish history that reverberates through the ages.   The National Wallace Monument was built in 1869 and stands 220ft tall. Towering over the River Forth, it really is a sight to behold. There’s no better place in Stirling to capture the sunset. There is something so majestic when the golden rays shine perfectly through the monument’s crown. It reminds me of a solar eclipse and that the world is trying to tell us something.

Something magical about this sleepy old town

Pretty backdrops are an essential part of every photo. In autumn, the Ochil Hills burn with golden and red tones, while in winter, the first frost turns them into a winter wonderland. This ever-changing landscape offers photographers new perspectives with each passing day. In the morning, you can tell how the weather will play out just by looking into the mountain’s soul.

Stirling’s people bring the town to life. Whether it’s the lively gatherings at the annual Stirling Highland Games or the vibrant energy of the university campus, capturing the spirit of the town’s residents adds depth and warmth to the historic backdrop. In every face, you can see a connection to Stirling’s rich past and hopeful future. In every photograph, I aim to encapsulate Stirling’s narrative, celebrating both its historical brilliance and modern ambition while sharing my passion for photography with a broader audience.

I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to some incredible places over the years. I’ve hiked the Hollywood Hills and shot the famous sign, I have stood in the shadow of the Empire State Building and captured its greatness and I have also flown over the Nevada desert and photographed the dazzling lights of Las Vegas. But nothing compares to my hometown. I’ve never taken it for granted and never will. There’s something magical about this sleepy old town…

Follow Fraser MacDonald’s photo journeys across Stirling and beyond at: www.instagram.com/thecanonkid

 

Stirling 900

 

It is thought that the original creation of the burgh of Stirling by David I was given as a verbal instruction so no written record exists. The earliest charter is held by Stirling Council archives issued by David II in 1360 that confirmed an earlier charter of King Alexander II given on 18 August 1226.

Burgh status elevated an existing settlement into something more distinctive. The king granted his burgesses or freemen privileges. These included: holding their land and property directly from him, having the right to elect a council, holding their own court, levying local taxes and holding markets. The Stirling 900 celebration will take place between April 2024 and April 2025, to coincide with the coronation of King David.

For more information on Stirling 900 and the list of events visit: www.yourstirling.com/whats-on/stirling-900

 

Did you know?

Stirling

-The name Stirling probably comes from the Gaelic or Cumbric for “land enclosed by a stream or river” Sruighlea. The origin of the name is uncertain although others claim it comes from a Gaelic or Scots word meaning “Place of battle/Struggle.” It also may come from the Brythonic name for “dwelling place of Melyn.”

-Stirling is the smallest city in Scotland and a former ancient burgh. The town was originally created as a royal burgh by King David I in 1124 which it remained until 1975. In 2002 Stirling was granted city status as part of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

-Stirling was originally a Stone Age settlement as suggested by the presence of the Randolphfield stand stones and the Kings park prehistoric carvings. Stirling has always been a strategically important place in Scotland due to its defensive crag and tail hill and its position at the foot of the Ochil hills on the border between the lowlands and the Highlands.

-Stirling is dominated by the castle and the medieval old town. The city was the location of several major battles during the wars of Independence. You can still visit the site of the battle of Stirling Bridge (1297) and Bannockburn, where Robert the Bruce defeated the English in 1314, is a nearby town.

-In 1507 the first attempt of flight in Scotland took place at Stirling Castle. An Italian believed he could fly using feathered wings and jumped from the castle battlements, breaking his thigh in the process as he fell to earth.

– Mary Queen of Scots was crowned at Stirling Castle in 1542.

The Central Florida Scottish Highland Games, the largest community event in Seminole County, is organized each year by the Scottish-American Society of Central Florida. This event was created to promote and preserve the area’s strong Scottish heritage. Each January, the two-day gathering welcomes thousands of visitors to Central Winds Park in Winter Springs, Florida (just north of Orlando) for a celebration of tradition, community and culture.

In 2025, the festivities will begin on Thursday evening with the annual whisky tasting, where visitors are welcome to sample from an array of expertly curated spirits. Presented by, The Whisky Cabinet, a group of dedicated local whisky enthusiasts, with an emphasis on unique and rare whiskies to engage, educate and entertain whisky newbies and connoisseurs alike. Things take off on Saturday with several competitions including in traditional heavy athletics, Highland dance, bagpiping, and shortbread and scone baking. There is also the popular Boulder Boogie event, where contestants vie for bragging rights of carrying the heaviest stone the farthest distance.

The best of Celtic

The weekend also hosts several cultural activities, including border-collie demonstrations, a gathering of Scottish clans, musical performances, a medieval camp, axe throwing, and much more. Our festival is a family friendly event featuring non-competitive “Kids Games” versions of the traditional heavy athletics, arts and crafts and loads of other activities for the wee ones. Both kids and adults can enjoy the unique shopping opportunities. The Central Florida Scottish Highland Games draws some of the best Celtic artisans presenting jewelry, clothing, artistry, weaponry and more. Get yourself a kilt or new sporran. Add to your Celtic jewelry or purchase unique Celtic inspired gifts typically found only in Scotland and the UK.

There is plenty of food and drink. Come out and have a beer, wine or whisky with your haggis, scotch-egg, or fish and chips. Finally, there is the Ceilidh, a Scottish and Celtic gathering featuring the music of Albannach, and others performing on the “Loch-side” stage. Whether you are looking to explore your heritage enjoying a stroll through the clan village or cheering on the displays of strength and skill on the athletic fields, or simply enjoying food and drink with friends while listening to the music, there is something for everyone at the Central Florida Scottish Highland Games.

Tickets are now on sale for the Central Florida Scottish Highland Games which takes place January 18-19, 2025, Winter Springs, Florida. Visit www.flascot.com for details.

Huge wild cattle could be ‘back from the dead’ to rewild Highlands near Loch Ness.

Trees for Life has launched a project which could see the first introduction to the UK of a breed of huge wild cattle called tauros – effectively reintroducing the aurochs, the wild ancestor of all domestic cattle, four centuries after its extinction. The muscular, long-horned tauros have been bred to be as similar as possible to the ancient aurochs – a mega-herbivore which for millennia played a vital role in shaping landscapes and boosting biodiversity across Europe, including Scotland. The rewilding charity aims to introduce a herd of up to 15 tauros from the Netherlands to its 4,000-hectare Dundreggan estate near Loch Ness in 2026, in a scientific research project to boost biodiversity and create opportunities for people, including education and eco-tourism.

“Introducing the aurochs-like tauros to the Highlands four centuries after their wild ancestors were driven to extinction will refill a vital but empty ecological niche – allowing us to study how these remarkable wild cattle can be a powerful ally for tackling the nature and climate emergencies,” said Steve Micklewright, Chief Executive of Trees for Life. “Our Tauros Project is about looking forwards while learning from the past as we restore nature-rich landscapes that support wildlife and people, and are resilient to future environmental challenges. We also want to give people the chance to experience in a safe way the awe and wonder of getting close to an animal that feels really wild.”

A keystone species

Aurochs once roamed much of Europe as a keystone species, ensuring a rich mosaic of habitats including grasslands, forest, and wetlands. The animals are depicted in petroglyphs of the Côa Valley, dating back 30,000 years.  One of Europe’s largest land mammals – and the heaviest after the woolly mammoth and woolly rhinoceros – aurochs disappeared from Britain around 1300 BC. They later became globally extinct through habitat loss and hunting, when the last aurochs died in Poland in 1627. But aurochs DNA has survived in a number of ancient original cattle breeds. Uniquely, tauros have been ‘back-bred’ to genetically replicate, resemble and behave like the aurochs as closely as possible.

Scientists in the Netherlands have sought to bring aurochs back to life since the early 2000s, by interbreeding ancient cattle breeds that are genetically and physically closest to the aurochs. This has been aided by the first sequencing of the aurochs’ complete genome, in 2011. While classified as domestic cattle, tauros have no equivalent among other breeds. Bulls can reach up to 180cm and cows 150cm at the shoulder, similar in size to aurochs. They can live in a wide range of environmental conditions, with minimal human intervention. Research in Europe shows these modern-day successors to the aurochs can help create exceptionally rich habitats for wildlife through their size and behaviour – being bigger and more active than other cattle, and interacting with their environment more dramatically.

Herds of tauros move across landscapes in social groups, naturally grazing some areas intensively while leaving others untouched. This creates a mosaic of habitats that benefit a wide range of plants and animals, boost species diversity, and soak up carbon dioxide. One ecological game-changer is tauros’s creation of ‘bullpits’– bowls in the earth carved out by rutting bulls using their horns and hooves, or through strengthening their neck muscles by bashing their heads against one side of a pit. Bullpits form micro-habitats that support invertebrates, small mammals and birds, and allow pioneer plant species to establish.

Rewilding benefits

Tauros dung helps ensure healthy soils, and supports invertebrates which in turn are eaten by birds, small mammals and reptiles. Seeds are dispersed via the cattle’s fur. There are already several hundred tauros in mainland Europe, in The Netherlands, Czechia, Croatia, Spain and Portugal. While no large animal – from deer to other cattle breeds – is entirely risk-free, people can coexist safely with tauros given appropriate precautions, public education about respecting their space, and good herd-management. Tauros are known to be placid, especially towards people, and have been bred from cattle breeds that are not unnaturally aggressive.

Being a cross-breed of cattle, tauros can be legally imported to Britain. Trees for Life intends to release the small herd in a way that lets the tauros behave as naturally as possible, and that balances rewilding benefits with conservation of recovering ecosystems. The five-year project will strictly adhere to the legal and animal welfare requirements of keeping cattle. The tauros will be treated as farm animals but live as wild a life as possible. Signage and safety protocols will allow people to encounter them in a managed way. The release will follow a further year of project development, including research, detailed habitat assessments, and securing full funding.

For more information, see: www.treesforlife.org.uk/tauros.

All images courtesy of Grazelands Rewilding.

 

The 2024 Scottish North American Community Conference (SNACC) will take place on December 6^th -7^th, during the weekend of the Alexandria Christmas Walk at the Sheraton Suites, Alexandria. SNACC organizers are delighted to share further details of the upcoming panels and discussions for the 2024 Scottish North American Community Conference.

Friday conference highlights

Friday afternoon will begin with keynote remarks. Sir John McEwen will be in conversation with Gus Noble, President of the Chicago Scots and Maggie McEwan, discussing the Royal McEwen Exhibit and giving a reading from his play. Growing upon the introduction to the Clan Chiefs Heirs Project in 2023, a panel discussion will take place, led by Iain Cochrane, Earl of Dundonald, his son Lord Cochrane, and John Cochran as “Sennachie to the Chief”, moderated by John Bellassai, president of the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations (COSCA).

“Now in its 22^nd year, the SNACC conference has evolved into a real sharing of useful information about what is happening today–both in Scotland and here in the North American Diaspora. This extends not only to heritage-related topics but information about current cultural and artistic happenings and other events. I believe we’ve struck a good balance between the two, as we both look backward on heritage formation and history, and forward on current affairs and cultural evolution. Attendance these days can be either in-person or remotely. This allows for the widest possible audience to attend and participate in SNACC, regardless of location” said John King Bellassai, President of COSCA.

‘Scottish Connections’ was introduced last year by the Scottish Government as a tool for the Scottish Diaspora. Taking part in this Panel will be Eilidh MacKinnon, Deputy Head of Scottish Government USA, together with Ian Houston and Gus Noble, president of the Chicago Scots. This will then continue into a panel looking at Youth Engagement, with Rory Hedderly, head of Business Development at the Saltire Foundation. The day will conclude with a wine and cheese reception with a chance to mix and mingle.

Saturday conference highlights

Following the Alexandria Christmas Walk, the afternoon session of the second day of the SNACC will continue with remarks from The Rt. Hon. Henry Baird McLeish, former First Minister of Scotland, titled “Moving Scotland Forward in Turbulent Times”. We will then have a Roundtable discussion, “Meeting our Challenges”, with the St Andrew’s Society of Detroit, St Andrew’s Society of LA, Chicago Scots, American-Scottish Foundation (ASF), Scottish American Women’s Society, St. Andrew’s Society of Washington, DC, and St. Andrew’s Society of Toronto. The next panel is “Youth Involvement: Growing our Young Scot Platform”, led by Cameron Steer, ASF Youth Ambassador. Camilla Hellman, ASF President and Brendan Fyfe, of St Andrews Toronto will then moderate “Highland Games; Challenges and Ways Forward” with leading organizers of Highland Games in the US and Canada.

Scotland in 2025 is a year of many celebrations, Camilla Hellman, President of American-Scottish Foundation, will lead a roundup on, spotlighting key milestones in Scotland in 2025. “All of us involved in the Scottish North American Community Conference are excited to once again return to Alexandria and to hold SNACC during the weekend of the Alexandria Christmas Walk. Through the introduction of Hubs, we hope to encourage and develop the conversation, bringing the community together and sharing ideas” added Camilla G Hellman, President, American-Scottish Foundation. The day will end with a reception and book signing by the Rt. Hon. Henry Baird McLeish. We invite organizations to look to gather members to act as a hub, joining us online and adding their voice to the conversation.

You can join SNACC 2024 in person or from anywhere remotely to add your voice. To register as a hub, go to:  www.scottishleadershipconference.com/home

A Scottish Parliamentary reception was held recently, hosted by Michael Marra MSP and the Unicorn Preservation Society (USP), to mark the bicentenary of Scotland’s oldest ship, HMS Unicorn.  MSPs and other VIPs were invited to the evening reception to hear about the ship’s incredible 200-year history and, going forward, the ambitious plans to secure her future.

HMS Unicorn was launched on 30 March 1824, originally constructed as a 46-gun frigate at Chatham Royal Dockyard. The ship was moved to Dundee in 1873 as a training ship for the Royal Naval Reserves and has been moored on the city’s waterfront ever since and is now one of the six oldest ships in the world.

Project Safe Haven

A much-loved Dundee tourist attraction and accredited museum, those gathered at Holyrood were told of the exciting plans for the HMS Unicorn’s future, Project Safe Haven, a major development which will secure the future of HMS Unicorn, ensuring she doesn’t succumb to the wear and tear of time. Project Safe Haven will also improve the tourism experience in Dundee, bringing more economic benefit and helping those within the city to thrive through the creation of more jobs and opportunities.

A significant injection of funding is required for major preservation work on HMS Unicorn to ensure its existence for future generations. Work has already begun on phase one of the work, to restore strength and robustness to HMS Unicorn’s hull and thereby improve her resilience at her current berth and ready her for her projected move to the nearby East Graving Dock.

The vision and mission of the Unicorn Preservation Society, established in 1968 to protect and preserve HMS Unicorn, is to deliver a world class museum experience, safeguard the future of the ship, inspire those who visit and work with the charity and offer lifelong learning and engagement opportunities for the charity’s local communities and beyond. Project Safe Haven, which will see the development of a Maritime Heritage Centre at the heart of Dundee, is the vehicle through which this will be achieved. Project Safe Haven will see a purpose built, environmentally sound Heritage Centre for visitors, learners and the community and will house collections, events and larger group activities.

Astonishing 200-year history

Michael Marra MSP said: “HMS Unicorn is a precious, beautiful and beloved artefact in our nation’s maritime history. She deserves the care and attention that outstanding volunteers and professional museum staff are now providing. I was glad to be able to bring her unique story to the attention of fellow members of parliament on this 200^th anniversary. In common with so many Dundonians HMS Unicorn played a part in my childhood with days out with grandparents and I am glad to still be able to take my own children along to enjoy learning about our past. The challenge we must all now rise to is to secure HMS Unicorn’s future as an asset for the city and the country.”

Museum Director, Matthew Bellhouse Moran, said:  “A Scottish Parliamentary reception to celebrate HMS Unicorn’s bicentennial year seemed a fitting tribute to mark an astonishing 200-year history as one of the oldest ships in the world still afloat today, and certainly the oldest ship in Scotland still afloat today. HMS Unicorn has been part of the fabric of life in Dundee over the last 151 years and is held in great esteem. As we move forward, we are now looking to secure the future of HMS Unicorn for the next 200 years. As a charity we have made good progress towards raising the necessary funds, but we need more significant funding to secure the much-needed preservation work to fulfil our vision of Project Safe Haven. Without this her existence for future generations is in serious question.”

To support the preservation of HMS Unicorn and to help Project Safe Haven come to life by becoming a ‘Shipmate’ of HMS Unicorn, please visit: www.hmsunicorn.org.uk/hms-unicorn/supporting-us

Glorious weather across the Cairngorms boosted a huge crowd for the annual Braemar Royal Highland Gathering on the first Saturday in September. More than 15,000 folk headed to the highland village and the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar, the permanent home for the Gathering, amongst them their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla, and some stars of stage and screen.

A warm welcome

And, they were all in for a few treats as above the normal track, field, heavy events, dancing, piping, tug-o’-war and massed pipe bands the afternoon’s programme included the first ever visit of the Band of the Royal Marines Scotland along with the Atholl Highlanders and their pipe band. The Atholl Highlanders are Europe’s only surviving private army and were attending the Gathering to present their Colours to HM King Charles, in doing so pledging their allegiance to The Crown.

By lunchtime there was barely an empty seat in the stands surrounding the main games arena and there was plenty vocal support for the athletes in heavy and other events. Traditionally noon marks the first march of the massed pipe bands, selected from towns and institutions across the north east of Scotland and as they entered the arena through the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Arch they were greeted with loud applause. The King and Queen received a warm welcome from their Scottish neighbours when they arrived at the Gathering mid-afternoon – the band of the Royal Marines Scotland leading the crowd in the national anthem.

Heavy events

Welcoming them to the event the Gathering’s commentator, Dr Robert Lovie, reflecting on the health issues that had faced the Royal Family over the past year, said “I know I speak for everyone here when I say how much we have thought about our Royal Family this year. Please know that the communities at home and around the country and all those who take part in the Highland games, send you all our best possible wishes.” The massed bands led off what was the busiest part of the day’s programme which saw the Royal Couple in jovial mood as they watched youngsters in sack races and their own tug-o”-war team from Balmoral in action against neighbouring estate Invercauld.

The heavy events, in particular the Caber and 56lb Weight over the Bar competitions were attracting enthusiastic support from the crowd and cheers went up as Czech athlete Vlad Tulacek broke his own Braemar record he set back in 2019. Earlier in the summer, at the Drumtochty Highland Games, Vlad set a new world record in the same event. He attempted to even better that record at Braemar but a great attempt was later discounted on account of weight regulations.

The next Braemar Royal Highland Gathering will take place on Saturday 6^th September 2025. For further details see: www.braemargathering.org

Main image: Huntly & District Pipe Band enter the arena through the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee archway.

All images courtesy of the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering.

 

The 13th Hororata Highland Games promises vibrant blend of traditional festivities and family-friendly fun that will whisk people away to the Scottish Highlands right here in New Zealand! This Scottish celebration, thought to be the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, offers a captivating blend of sports, culture, music and heritage.

“Our community loves welcoming people from all over the world for the Hororata Highland Games. You don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy the Games, but we find most people leave feeling a bit of Scotland in their heart,” explained Cindy Driscoll, Executive Officer of the Hororata Community Trust, the charity behind the festival.

This year’s celebration will feature an emphasis on music, showcasing the deep-rooted musical traditions of Scotland with performances from the Southern Celtic Fiddle Orchestra and a sing-along with Willie McArther. The Massed Bands March will be a highlight as part of the Chieftain’s welcoming ceremony.

A Scottish gathering would not be proper without a Chieftain. The role of Chieftain is steeped in Scottish history, with each clan led by a strong leader. At the Hororata Highland Games, the Chieftain embodies this tradition, seeking the strongest individuals to stand by his side in battle.

Richard Lang, founding Trustee and former Chair of the Hororata Community Trust has been named as the 2024 Chieftain. Richard has been instrumental in supporting the Hororata community since 2013. As a Partner at Duncan Cotterill law firm, his specialized skills helped the Trust regain ownership of the historic Hororata Hall. Committed to preserving the hall’s legacy, Richard highlighted its history, noting that it was established in 1890 by Sir John Hall to serve as a community gathering space. “It’s an honour to continue Duncan Cotterill’s legacy of supporting the Hororata community,” he stated.

Traditional Scottish competitive events

In the heart of this festival are traditional Scottish competitive events. “We have an impressive lineup of strongman athletes coming to Hororata to compete in the Oceania Heavyweight Championship. Additionally, there will be 19 bands, making this the largest gathering of bands outside of the Nationals in New Zealand. Along with 100 highland dancers, this event is shaping up to be one of the biggest Games we have ever hosted,” said Cindy.

Visitors will have the opportunity to not only watch the competitive events but they can also participate in a variety of activities, including tossing cabers, hurling haggis, Tug O’ War, running a Kilted Mile, and competing for the title of best-dressed lad and lassie in tartan attire.

This festival also offers a delightful Scottish farmyard, sheep shearing, woolcraft demonstrations, medieval Knight exhibitions, a fairground, and over 120 unique market stalls.

The Hororata Highland Games will take place at the scenic Hororata Domain, just 45 minutes from Christchurch. Gates open at 9 am, with a full day of activities running until 4:30 pm.

Discounted tickets are available online now and numbers are limited, with no gate sales on the day. Children under 16 years are free. All profits from the event will be reinvested back into our rural community.

Please note that mobile signal can struggle and EFTPOS machines can struggle to get signal, please make sure you bring cash for purchases. The Games also have ATM machines situated in Event Information Building (entry at rear of building).

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.hororatahighlandgames.org.nz

Discover some of the traditional ways Hallowe’en, or Samhainn, has been celebrated in Scotland.

Traditionally a Celtic festival which divided the year between the light and the dark half, Samhainn, pronounced ‘Sa-wayne’, was the celebration of the end of the harvest and a time where the boundary between our world would become weaker allowing ancestors and fairies to roam. Samhainn in Scottish Gaelic, was celebrated on 1 November with the festivities starting the night before.

The festival is known as Samhain in Irish and Sauin in Manx. As religion changed in the British Isles with the arrival of Christianity, Samhainn was possibly purposefully assimilated in the 8^th century when All Saints Day or All Hallows Day was moved from 13 May to 1 November. Hallowe’en became the name for the night before All Hallows Day and in Scottish Gaelic Halloween is called Oidhche Shamhna as an t-Samhain is the month of November.

Scottish Samhainn traditions

Bonfires-The folklore leads to the belief that bonfires, or samhnagan (‘sa-ow-nag-in’) in Gaelic, were lit as a form of protection from evil spirits that could be lurking on the night of Hallowe’en. The fire was meant to repel those with ill intentions and hold them at bay until the sun rose again. On the islands there were competitions between neighbours with each household trying to build the biggest fire. On the mainland it was common to put bonfires in prominent points on the landscape so that they could be seen from far away.

Turnip lanterns-We may now be more used to carving pumpkins for Hallowe’en, it was once turnips (or “tumshies” in Scots) that would have been carved with evil looking faces in order to scare off fairies and ghosts. Candles were placed inside to illuminate the faces so they could be seen from far away.

Guising-Guising is the original form of trick or treating. Parents would disguise their children to deter the roaming fairies and spirits from stealing them. On a night of mischief the children could play tricks on friends and neighbours or they could go from house to house telling jokes in order to earn treats. Perhaps one of the most famous guisers in Stirling could be James V who liked to dress up and visit his subjects in the villages near Stirling Castle.

Divination

Nut Burning–On the bonfires that were lit on the night of Samhainn couples could question whether their relationship would last. Each would place a nut on the fire and if the nuts hissed then it would be turbulent however if the nuts quietly and evenly burned then it was a good match.

Pulling up stalks-This is a fortune telling method mentioned in Robert Burns’ poem Hallowe’en. Those that wished to know the height and shape of their future partner waited until it was dark then with their eyes closed would pull a kale stalk from the ground. The shape and length of the stall would answer their query. If your stalk had lots of soil in the roots that was an added bonus! It symbolised a wealthy partner.

Fuarag na Samhna-A tasty combination of toasted oats and whipped cream called Fuarag na Samhna was made on Samhainn. Tokens would be folded in to predict what the next year would bring. Each person would eat a spoonful of the fuarag and if they found a token then their future had been foretold. If you found a coin then you would receive money, a ring represented an engagement, a button meant you would lose money and a thimble would mean another year without finding love.

Oidhche Shamhna sona dhuibh uile! Happy Hallowe’en!  How will you be celebrating this year?

Historic Environment Scotland is the lead public body established to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment. For more details see: www.historicenvironment.scot

Text by: Lucy Rodger

Main photo: A young boy and girl dooking for apples. © The Scotsman Publications Ltd. Licensed via Scran.

 

A new drive has been launched to revive the ancient Gaelic healing properties in the heartland of the historic kingdom of Dál Riata – the coast of the Gaels – also known as Argyll and the Isles, on Scotland’s west coast. The importance of connecting to nature to boost our wellbeing has been well documented through numerous studies in recent years, but the Gaels have known and embraced these healing properties for thousands of centuries, as recorded throughout history and through Gaelic language and place names. More recently, the 2021 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey revealed that 70 per cent of those learning Gaelic believed it contributed to their wellbeing.

Ancient Dál Riata heartland

Now members of the Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative have come together to ensure that visitors and locals alike can experience Dál Riata’s ancient and unique naturally restorative properties for themselves. Launching the drive, Cathy Craig, CEO of the Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative (www.wildaboutargyll.co.uk) said: “With our breath-taking natural environment, exceptional fresh air, rich flora and fauna, and outstanding array of water sources – from the Atlantic Ocean and lochs to rivers and waterfalls – it is easy to see why the Gaels would make our destination the capital of their ancient Dál Riata heartland. We’ve joined forces with our members in a bid to put these ancient restorative properties and our important Gaelic heritage back on the map. We would encourage visitors to follow in the footsteps of the ancient Gaels to really discover the wellbeing benefits that connecting with nature and Gaelic culture can bring. And with a wealth of truly blissful wellbeing experiences for visitors still to experience in Argyll and the Isles to this day, there are so many ways to do this. Argyll and the Isles is truly Scotland’s Wellbeing Coast.”

Open water swimming coach, Emma MacDonald agrees. Having been a visitor for over two decades she now calls Tobermory on the Isle of Mull home. Drawn by its outstanding natural beauty and the warmth of the local community, Emma moved to the island with her husband John, who is a native “Muileach” (the Gaelic name for people from Mull) and their two sons. In 2023 they launched Wild Hebridean Swimming providing wild swimming retreats on the Isles of Mull & Iona, where Saint Columba, who was highly regarded by the Gaels and the Picts, established a monastery that played a key role in the spread of Celtic Christianity throughout northern Britain.

On her retreats, Emma arranges for her swimmers to visit local Ardalanish Weavers where they can see a traditional working loom. And new for 2024 is a visit by Cuigeal, a Sgioba Luaidh (a waulking group) consisting of members of Còisir Ghàidhlig an Eilein Mhuilich (the Isle of Mull Gaelic Choir), where guests are treated to a re-enactment of waulking, or ‘fulling’, the process by which tweed is shrunk in order to make it waterproof. This process was long and wearisome and was accompanied by singing many rhythmic songs to lessen the boredom. Speaking on the launch of the Argyll and Isle’s Tourism Cooperative’s drive today, Emma said: “I am delighted to be part of an initiative that raises the awareness of the Gaelic language and culture. As well as enjoying the landscape, people really appreciate seeing how people used to live and of course still do.”

Drink from the Gaelic cultural well

Àdhamh Ó Broin, Gaelic Culture Officer for the Culture, Heritage & Arts Assembly, Argyll and the Isles (CHARTS) added: “In a world where people find themselves cut off from the rhythms of the natural world, it is increasingly important to return to the practices of our ancestors and to the land in which we experience symbiosis with nature. Argyll is choc-full of opportunity for this. Whether people have Gaelic roots or not, exposure to Gaelic language and culture allows people to think about and explore their own cultural legacy. Drawing from the ancestral well can bring enormous health benefits as we channel thousands of years of wisdom which has often become lost in the modern, western world. There is nothing quite like the feeling of bare feet on the living earth and Gaelic language in Argyll has been a descriptive tool of this relationship for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Come and visit, take off your socks and shoes, walk in sacred places that have held spiritual resonance for centuries, invest your energy here and drink from the Gaelic cultural well.”

The new ‘maitheis’ or wellbeing drive by The Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative also recognises the wide range of studies over the years (such as the Nord-Trondelag Health Study) that have evidenced the real difference that culture, museums, heritage sites, galleries and art workshops can make to boosting mental wellbeing.

Welcoming the drive and encouraging more tourism businesses to celebrate Gaelic culture, VisitScotland Regional Director David Adams McGilp said: “We know our history and culture are among the main reasons people choose Scotland as a destination and the Gaelic language plays a distinct role in our heritage, identity and culture. Visitors are also looking to connect with local communities and immerse themselves in our culture to boost their wellbeing. Gaelic can provide an extra layer to the authentic Scottish experience and we would encourage businesses in Argyll & Isles to consider maximising the opportunities that Gaelic brings and adding an element of Gaelic language to their offering.”

For more information about wellbeing experiences and connecting to Gaelic culture in Argyll and the Isles visit: www.wildaboutargyll.co.uk

 All images courtesy of Phil Wilkinson.

 

Members of the Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative offering visitors unique opportunities to boost their wellbeing or connect to nature or Gaelic culture or heritage include:

• The Royal National Mòd (11 to 19 October) – festival-goers can relax and unwind to the soothing sounds of Gaelic songs and voices at Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival, which takes place in Oban again this year. Organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach (The Highland Association), which was founded in Oban in 1891, The Mod represents ‘an annual opportunity for Gaels and non-Gaels to gather and renew old friendships as well as forging new ones’. The event features competitions across a range of disciplines, including music, song and dance, and performances from some of Scotland’s top traditional musicians and Gaelic singers.
• Heathery Heights leads sustainable foraging adventures, guided walks and outdoor experiences across Argyll & the Isles – from the less frequented hills and stunning rugged coastal paths with the chance to see a wide range of birds and sea life to ancient historical sites; and A’ choille-uisge Cheilteach (The Celtic Rain Forest). Due to its unique position on the Gulf Stream, Argyll is known for its special habitats of Atlantic temperate rainforest.
• Kilmartin Museum (Cille Mhàrtainn in Gaelic) – situated close to what was once the centre of Gaelic civilisation (Dunadd Fort – thought to be the capital of Dál Riata), Kilmartin Museum reopened in 2023 after a multimillion-pound refurbishment in one of Scotland’s richest prehistoric landscapes. Kilmartin Museum houses a nationally significant collection, which includes some panels describing the ancient belief in the restorative power of nature.
• Historic Kilmun (Cille Mhunna in Gaelic) – Historic Kilmun is a small village located on the shores of the Holy Loch, just north of Dunoon on the beautiful Cowal Peninsula. Founded by Gaelic monk St Fintan Munnu, the village was a monastic community in the 7th century. It is surrounded by Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which are rich in wildlife, including otters, eagles and ravens, bats, roe deer, red deer, red squirrels, pine-martens, seals, eider ducks and many other species. The perfect place to unwind.
• Auchindrain Historic Township – Sheltered in the hills of Mid Argyll lies a hidden gem, a sole survivor of a kind of rural settlement where many residents spoke Gaelic and worked the land together. Up until the 1800s most people in rural Scotland lived in places like Auchindrain. In 2012, part of a much-thumbed Gaelic Bible was found in Auchindrain, tucked into a gap in the wall above the kitchen sink along with some sheets of newspaper from 1937. Today visitors can reconnect with the site using guide tablets in many different languages including Gaelic and English.

 

Did you know?

• Most of modern-Scotland once spoke Gaelic. It’s still spoken today by around 60,000 Scots.
• Gaelic has been preserved through literature, arts and folklore from across the ages. It plays a vibrant role in the modern world. It features in the hugely popular TV series Outlander, as well as in other radio, television and theatre productions.
• There are three types of Gaelic language still spoken today: Scottish, Irish and Manx. These are grouped under the term Goidelic.
• Goidelic languages are also regarded as Celtic, an umbrella designation including another three tongues which can also happily be thought of as sisters to one another; Welsh, Cornish and Breton, often referred to as Brythonic languages.
• Celtic languages arrived in Britain from the Continent somewhere in the region of a couple of millennia ago. Although there is debate about whether Brythonic or Goidelic came across from Europe first, there is no doubt that Celtic languages represent the oldest spoken “vernaculars” in the British Isles.
• The people from whom the Gaelic language sprung are known as Gaels, and today they are indigenous to Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
• The Gaelic language has been preserved through literature, arts and folklore from across the ages, despite over 400 years of suppression.
• It is still spoken in some areas of Argyll and the Isles, for example on the Isles of TìrIdhe (Tiree) and Ìle (Islay) where it is still possible to hear the language in shops, community centres and at Gaelic cultural events.
• Gaelic culture and language is celebrated through events and festivals in Argyll and the Isles, including the Royal National Mod which takes place in Oban this year.
• The Gaelic community has supplied Scotland with many of the country’s national icons, including the kilt, tartan, sporran, bagpipes, ceilidhs and Highland games.
• VisitScotland research shows visitors are interested in Gaelic origins, areas spoken and heritage – four in five users who viewed Gaelic content on visitscotland.com were from outside the UK

Scotch whisky is one of the world’s favourite spirits, with a global reach to every continent. No trip to Scotland is complete without a distillery visit to learn how your favourite ‘drams’ are produced. As of May 2024, there were 151 operating Scotch whisky distilleries across Scotland, with more in the pipeline.

The Scottish Banner has teamed up with VisitScotland, Scotland’s national tourism organisation, to offer just a taste of what’s in store for whisky lovers at some of the many distilleries old and new across the country’s five whisky producing regions.

Highlands

Mainland Scotland’s most northerly distillery, 8 Doors Distillery located in John O’Groats opened in September 2022. The team here create whiskies from the very edge of Scotland that reflect the location and the local climate, and the distillery and visitor centre have been carefully designed to make the most of the amazing coastal views-www.8doorsdistillery.com.

If you like stunning views with your whisky, then don’t miss Scapa Distillery’s amazing new Scapa Noust tasting room in the Orkney islands. Noust is Scots for a boat-shaped hollow, and the tasting room ceiling is shaped like an upturned boat. The cliff top location provides spectacular views over the vast natural harbour of Scapa Flow and the landscapes beyond-www.scapawhisky.com.

A visit to a Scottish island is always a magical experience, and if you follow the Hebridean Whisky Trail, you’ll discover seven varied island distilleries including the newest addition: North Uist Distillery-www.hebrideanwhisky.com.

Back on the mainland, Nc’Nean Distillery, named after the ancient Gaelic goddess Neachneohain, is located on the beautiful Morvern Peninsula. The distillery has a strong sustainability ethos – it’s powered by 100% renewable energy, and only organic Scottish barley is used in the production of their smooth and elegant whiskies-www.ncnean.com.

Speyside

The famous Malt Whisky Trail takes in Speyside’s wealth of well-known distilleries and includes Speyside Cooperage where visitors can experience the precision and expertise required to produce Scotland’s iconic casks-www.maltwhiskytrail.com, www.speysidecooperage.co.uk.

Although opened just a year ago, the team at Dunphail Distillery near Forres is committed to crafting their full-bodied whiskies using traditional distilling methods. Located in a former farm steading in stunning Moray countryside, Dunphail offers visitors the chance to learn how the methods of the past are shaping the whiskies of the future, and to sample fine whiskies that have been specially selected for their Dunphail Distillery connections-www.dunphaildistillery.com.

Lying at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, Cairn Distillery opened in October 2022. Although their first whiskies won’t be ready until the 2030s, they offer a range of CRN57° blended malts to give visitors a taste of what’s coming. Distillery experiences are available, there’s The Gathering for tasty food and refreshments, browse their shop, or just take a walk along the River Spey on their outdoor trails-www.thecairndistillery.com.

Islay

Islay’s oldest licensed distillery is Bowmore Distillery, taking its name from the island’s main town. Bowmore is a pioneering distillery, where the traditions, skills and expertise crafted in 1779 during the earliest days of Scotch whisky continue to be handed down. In one of the world’s oldest Scotch maturation warehouses, Bowmore single malts have been meticulously matured and transformed for over 240 years-www.bowmore.com.

In contrast, one of the newest distilleries on Islay is Ardnahoe Distillery – a family run business borne from decades of experience in the blending and bottling industry. The distillery takes its name from the Scots Gaelic for ‘heights of the hollow’, perfectly describing its setting, with views across to the Isle of Jura-www.ardnahoedistillery.com.

Fèis Ìle – The Islay Festival – is an annual gathering of whisky and Islay fans from across the globe. The event celebrates Islay, her culture and her spirit. The 2025 event will take place from 23^rd to 31^st May-www.feisile.co.uk

Lowland

The town of Falkirk is enjoying a whisky renaissance with the reopening of Rosebank Distillery, originally opened in 1840, and which recently restarted whisky production after a 30-year hiatus. This cherished distillery is well regarded by whisky connoisseurs and should be on the itinerary for any whisky lover coming to Scotland-www.rosebank.com.

Leith was once an important whisky trading port, and the opening of the Port of Leith Distillery in 2023 saw the return of the spirit to this historic part of Edinburgh. The UK’s first vertical distillery, it sits adjacent to The Royal Yacht Britannia. Whisky will be created using a vertical production process, and visitors will enjoy bird’s eye views from the chic top floor bar-www.leithdistillery.com.

Lying in a hidden glen at the foot of the Campsie Hills between Glasgow and Loch Lomond, Glengoyne Distillery has often been described as the most beautiful distillery in Scotland. Fully powered by renewable energy, Glengoyne offers visitors the unique opportunity to create your very own single malt in the Sample Room-www.glengoyne.com.

Campbeltown

Established in 1828, Springbank is the oldest independent and family-owned distillery in Scotland and is the only distillery to carry out the entire whisky production process on its premises-www.springbank.scot.

Springbank’s sister distillery is Glengyle, reimagined in the early 21^st century, and today producing Kilkerran single malt-www.kilkerran.scot.

Glen Scotia Distillery has been producing distinctive single malts since 1832. The distillery maintains much of its original design, including the fermenters, stillhouse and warehouse. A dram of Glen Scotia offers is a window through time to a traditional Campbeltown signature whisky-www.glenscotia.com.

The Kintyre Peninsula is also home to Beinn an Tuirc Distillers, named after the nearby highest point in Kintyre, translating from Scots Gaelic as ‘hill of the wild boar’. The distillery produces gin, vodka, rum and brandy, and you can even enjoy a stay at the distillery owners’ home – Torrisdale Castle Estate-www.kintyregin.com.

For more information to help plan your visit to Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com

Main photo: Speyside Cooperage. Photo: North East 250/Damian Shields.

Building upon the hugely successful Maitland Tattoo in 2022, and the 75th Anniversary of the Band’s creation, the City of Maitland Pipes and Drums Band with dozens of Pipe and Drums Bands from across New South Wales. The event will feature some of New South Wales and Australia’s most experienced and talented Piping and Drumming players. The day will also feature a large collection of classic and vintage cars and a variety of food and retail stores.

“We have been planning this event for nearly 18 months,” said the Band’s Secretary, Greg Queenan, “We have had great support from the City of Maitland Council, local residents and many local clubs, organisations and businesses.”

There a number of bands already confirmed to be competing for the crown of State Champion in their Grade, including the United Mine Workers Pipe Band, Knox Grammar School, Scots College, City of Blacktown Pipe Band, NSW Police Pipe Band, Tamworth District Pipe Band and of course, the City of Maitland Pipes and Drums Band who will be the duty band on the day.  A number of other bands have verbally confirmed their attendance – City of Newcastle RSL Pipe Band, Governor Macquarie Pipe Band, NSW Highlanders Pipe Band, Canberra Burns Club Pipe Band, North Ryde RSL Pipes and Drums, Sydney Thistle Highland Pipe Band with entries closing on the 13th October.

Two of our local schools with be in attendance with the Hunter Valley Grammar Schools Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Concert Band and Irrawang High Schools Drum Corps performing.

“We are very excited to bring so many great bands to Maitland and the Hunter Valley,” said Greg, “there will be plenty of entertainment for all ages.”

The NSW State Pipe Band Championships will take place Sunday November 3, from 9am, at Maitland Regional Sports Ground, entry: $5. For more information see: www.maitlandpipeband.org.au

Billed as one of Scotland’s best days out the finale of the 130^th Cowal Highland Gathering lived up to its reputation. Thousands of people from across the world gathered in Dunoon for the final day of the world’s most spectacular Highland Gathering with competitors, entertainers and spectators joining forces to make sure super Saturday was a day to remember.  Crowds watched as over a thousand competitors fought to secure some Cowal silverware.

Dancers, pipers, heavy athletes and wrestlers were joined by entertainers including cyclists, axe throwers, stunt runners and musicians to ensure the Gathering’s crowds were wowed from early morning until the end of the day. The standard of competition was world class, with every athlete and competitor giving their all to leave the Stadium as a Cowal Gathering winner.

The biggest Highland Dancing competition in the world

Then came the biggest Highland Dancing competition in the world – the World Championship finals – with dancers from Australia, Canada and the USA pitting their skills against the best the UK has to offer. In the end, it was Aisla Gocan-Wright from London, Ontario who emerged victorious in the World Juvenile finals, followed by Rebecca Acob of Coldstream and Ellie Murgha of Townsville, Queensland.  The trophy for best Scottish Juvenile Dancer went to Cody Fong from Kirkcaldy and the best Overseas Juvenile Dancer was Aisla Gocan-Wright.  In the World Junior championship, Eilidh Gammons of Helensburgh, defended her title and held off the challenge of Katjana Bruinsa from Leduc County and Maria Monk of Glasgow.

The best Scottish Junior Dancer was Eilidh Gammons, and the trophy for the best Overseas Junior Dancer went to Katjana Bruinsma.  The Adult World champion was Rebecca Thow from Aberdeen, followed by Marielle Lesperance from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, with Chloe McClean from Edinburgh in third.  Marielle Lesperance is taking home the Mary McHarg Quaich for best Overseas Adult Dancer.  The cup for best Scottish Adult Dancer went to Rebecca Thow.

Wonderful competitors

Speaking on behalf of the Board of Cowal Gathering, Fraser McCowan said: “On behalf of the Gathering’s organisers, I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make sure the 130^th Cowal Gathering goes down in history as the best party in town! I’d also like to thank the thousands of people who have come out to support the Gathering over three days.  We’ve welcomed spectators not just from Argyll and Bute and Scotland more generally but from right around the globe, and the feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive. Of course, we wouldn’t have a Gathering at all without the wonderful competitors, who excelled themselves this year. Those of us lucky enough to have been here witnessed levels of performance never seen before. We all know how popular the traditional Highland Games events such as the piping, dancing and heavy athletics are, and of course they remain the main draw.”

The next Cowal Highland Gathering takes place at Dunoon Stadium from 28 – 30 August 2025. For details see: cowalgathering.com

Main photo: From left to right: Aisla Gocan-Wright, Rebecca Thow and Eilidh Gammons. Photo: Cowal Gathering

The Learned Kindred of Currie salutes the 2024 US National Scottish Harp Champion, Rhiannon Ramsey-Brimberg. The event was held in September at the Ligonier Highland Games in Pennsylvania.

Learned Kindred of Currie is the Title Sponsor of the US National Scottish Harp Championship and this month The Learned Kindred of Currie is proud to sponsor the Scottish harp event at Scotland Connecticut Highland Festival & Games as well as the Young Adult Literature Prize at the Royal National Mòd in Scotland.

Learned Kindred of Currie also supports events like The Pipes of Christmas, Tartan Day on Ellis Island and scholarships to young people around the world.

Even with the heavy rains and a change in venue due to flooding, history was made in Annan, Dumfriesshire on the 24^th August, 2024 on what was to be a fine but windy day. The Annan Festival and Gathering of the Clans, was well attended and a great success.

The Festival consisted of a parade of the chiefs greeted by Fiona Armstrong, Lady MacGregor, Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries, performances by the Teviotdale Steel Bonnets and the Time Bandits covering Reiver history and weaponry. There were highland games, piping and dancing and a performance by the Scottish tribal group Clanadonia. Clan tents were available offering information on the history and genealogy of the respective clans and families present.

The final part of the programme was the inauguration of the Chief of Carruthers. The last stage of the process initiated in 2007 by the Clan Shennachie, Dr George Carruthers, FSA Scot, was about to be completed. A petition was presented to the Lord Lyon in 2017 to bear the chiefly arms of Carruthers, first registered along with all other Scottish arms in 1672 by the petitioner’s ancestor. As such in 2019 and after 210 years of dormancy and analysis of the documents and proofs accompanying the petition, Dr Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains was confirmed Chief of the Name and Arms of Carruthers.

Ancestral lands

The inauguration on our ancestral lands to name him Chief, began with a procession led by the Convenor, Mr Michael Carruthers carrying the Society banner. He was followed by those Chiefs and Commanders in attendance, the Shennachie and his banner, the Chief’s Household, the Inauguration Chaplain, the Lord Lyon’s representative and the Chief and his heir with their banner. They were welcomed to the stage area by Dr George Haig, Advisor to the Chief, who handed the proceedings over to the Shennachie. He welcomed the Chief onto the stage and explained the importance of a confirmed chief to the official status of Carruthers as a Scottish clan and family.

The Lord Lyon’s representative Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, Albany Herald Extraordinary presented the Chief’s Letters Patent from the Lord Lyon on behalf of the Sovereign. He spoke of the Chief’s lineage being 22^nd of his line, his legal right to bear the chiefly arms, the 1587 Act of the Suppression of Unruly Clans in which Carruthers are named and reiterated the importance that a Chief brings to the official recognition of any clan, both in Scotland and overseas. Sir Crispin Agnew finished with his best wishes and congratulations.

The presentation was followed by the Shennachie presenting the Chief with his symbols of office: A family bible, embossed with his arms, a Balmoral bonnet with the three eagle feathers of a chief, a gold ring with his arms upon it and finally a Cromach. Proudly wearing his three feathers, oaths were taken. Firstly, an oath by the Chief to his clan to preserve, protect and defend the name of Carruthers to the best of his ability.  Secondly an oath of fealty and loyalty to the Chief by the Shennachie on behalf of all the elders and stewards of Carruthers. Finally, the oath from the clan to the Chief, who loudly pledged fealty and loyalty and a willingness to honour the traditions of their name.

Ancient custom

Following ancient custom and in line with the Chief’s faith, the Inauguration Chaplain, the Reverend John Pickles, minister of the Church of Scotland for the parishes Annan, Brydekirk, Dalton and Hightae, gave readings from Psalms and the Gospel of St Luke. The Reverend led all present in prayers and according to ancient tradition as a member of the kirk, gave his blessing to the Chief and then to all those gathered.  The other Chiefs present were invited to give greetings.

The Chiefs of Clan Irving; Rupert Irving of Bonshaw, Hunter; Madam Pauline Hunter of Hunterson, Hanney; Dr David Hanney of Kirkdale, MacArthur; John MacArthur of that Ilk and the Commander of Clan McEwen; Sir John McEwen of Marchmont and Bardrochat gave their warm best wishes and Ross McEwen Esq, FSA Scot gave greetings from the Buchanan Chief; Michael Buchanan of Buchanan.

The Chief himself gave a heartfelt response to all greetings, all those from both the UK and overseas who had attended and to Annan the History Town Committee mainly Graeme MacGregor and Neil Carruthers for helping make it happen. He also thanked those who had worked in the background and supported him through his journey, namely George and Michael Carruthers and finally to his family, for their continued love and encouragement.

The Shennachie closed the proceedings, by declaring Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains, Chief of Carruthers and commented on the fact that this was a culmination of a great many years of hard work and effort, and that by ensuring the legal process to have a Chief named was followed to the letter, today marked the final piece in a very long and arduous process. The celebration continued at the Annan Distillery with speakers, an inauguration dinner, appointments by the Chief and a ceilidh. He apologised to the latecomers, who sadly couldn’t attend.

Text by: George Carruthers.

Main photo: Dr Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains.

Meet the Buchanans, a feature documentary from BAFTA award-winning producer Barbara Orton, has made its world premiere at the Tartan Film Festival in Los Angeles. For 300 years the Clan Buchanan has been without a chief. That is, until now… Historical fact and historical fantasy collide in Meet the Buchanans, which observes the coming inauguration of millionaire Scottish landowner Mike Buchanan as the newly confirmed Clan Buchanan Highland Chief, along with his wife Lady Paula and their teenage family.

Join the family in real Outlander style as the Buchanans attract tartan-mad enthusiasts from around the world. We meet characters drawn to Scotland by kinship, connection, and the excitement of the Clan’s first chief in over three hundred years – from two American sisters who wear the Buchanan tartan proudly, to Mexican Pedro Buchanan.

Cemented its place in Scottish history

The driving force behind his claim to the title, Mike’s determined wife Paula planned the inaugural three-day bonanza and ceremonial regalia on their magnificent Highland estate in 2022. She is now the chief architect of his ‘coronation’ (well, much of it, if an ancient source can’t be found). Following in the footsteps of famous Buchanan house guest, the nineteenth-century Scottish writer Walter Scott – ceremony and ritual are being freely invented. This unique event took place at Cambusmore, Callander, the modern seat of Clan Buchanan and the chief’s ancestral home.

The ceremony cemented its place in Scottish history as the first for many hundreds of years, and the new chief swore an oath to protect and champion the Buchanan Clan. A hidden world of British wealth and privilege unfolds as the family uncover and invent fresh entitlements of the new role: revealing not only whether they can pull off this event, but also how history is made (up). Meet the Buchanans raises important questions around identity, historical values and traditions, belonging, and the place of Clans in the modern world.

The newly-completed feature-length version began its festival circuit in August with the world premiere at the Tartan Film Festival in Los Angeles, organized by the St. Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles. A shorter version of the film was originally commissioned by BBC Scotland. The feature version which premiered at the Tartan Film Festival is supported by Screen Scotland.  The film premier took place at Lumiere Cinema in Beverly Hills and was followed by a Q&A with the Clan Chief, Lady Buchanan, and producer and director Barbara Orton, hosted by BBC Correspondent Sandro Monetti. Following the week of the premiere, the film was screened at the Pleasanton Highland Games hosted by the San Francisco Caledonian Club where Mike will be the Honored Clan Chief.

A Clan story that’s not stuck in the past

Barbara Orton, producer and co-director, says: “Now the feature version is finished, I can’t wait for festival and cinema audiences to see it and witness a contemporary view of Scotland, in a story about Clans originating in the modern world. It’s a Clan story that’s not stuck in the past.” Anthony Arnello, Events Director of the Tartan Film Festival added: “So often in America, people are fixated on dreams of discovering a long-lost connection to Robert the Bruce or a hope that they might in fact become a Clan Chief by some forgotten cousin. This film brings that fantasy to life, taking the viewer into the fold of becoming a Chieftain and along the way finding meaning, creating tradition, and building a legacy.”

Clan Chiefs must be approved by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. The Lord Lyon has full judicial powers to enforce use of heraldry and coats of arms in Scotland through the Lyon Court, the last surviving ‘Court of Chivalry’ in the world. As well as those with the surname Buchanan, clansfolk also include those with Scottish roots and surnames such as Bohannon, Coleman, Colman, Cormack, Dewar, Dove, Dow, Gibb, Gibbon, Gibb, Gibson, Gilbert, Gilbertson, Harper, Masters, Masterson, Morris, Richardson, Rush, Rusk, Walter, Walters, Wasson, Waters, Watson, Watt, Watters, and Weir. In the modern day, these are known as affiliated families but were previously known as septs of the clan.

The Hamilton and Districts Pipe Band celebrates, this year,120 years of continuous service to the Hamilton community. The sound of bagpipes and drums have been synonymous with Victoria’s western plains since the earliest Scottish and Irish settlers sought to continue their own ancient culture in a new land. In 1904 the Hamilton Pipe Band was formed through the merger of the existing Caledonian Pipe Band and other players.

Amazing milestone

To celebrate this amazing milestone, on Saturday 26 October, the Pipe Band is reviving what was once an annual event and holding the Hamilton Highland Gathering 2024 in the Botanical Gardens.  “The Pipe Band is just one of the many clubs and volunteer groups that make Hamilton a great place to live, work and play”, says Band president, Richard Murphy. “The Pipe Band is going to begin the event with a Street Parade made up of visiting pipe bands and local clubs”, Richard explains.

Southern Grampians Shire have sponsored the Pipe Band performances in the Botanical Gardens. Wannon Water has sponsored the Street Parade. Anyone wishing to contact the Hamilton and Districts Pipe Band can phone Ken on 0437 711 444, Richard on 0407 516 532 or see www.hamiltonpipesanddrums.org.au.

Main photo: The Hamilton and Districts Pipe Band, 1912.

The Sons of Scotland Pipe Band from Ottawa, Canada assembled another great group of musicians, dancers, and friends that joined them on their 20^th trip to Scotland in August and it was just terrific. With daily practices in Edinburgh and guest players from Liverpool, Australia, France and across Ontario and Quebec, the band had a great time preparing for the World Pipe Band Championships where they had a great play.

The band performed at shows at Edinburgh City Chambers for Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, at the Palace of HolyroodHouse – where MC Matt Taylor set a new standard for audience experience engagement, then onto Tennent’s Brewery in Glasgow, and the final stop at Glencoe where the mist covered the mountains added to the atmosphere, but we played on.

More great trip opportunities

The band’s international Drum Major Brian Wilson invited the pipe band to travel to Ireland just 10 days later, so PM Bethany Bisaillion and guest players from Ontario and Quebec made the trip to play in the 10^th annual Belfast International Tattoo at the SSE Arena.  As part of a pipe band of 100+ and alongside many other musicians and dancers, the band was honoured to receive this opportunity and truly enjoyed visiting Belfast.

With more great trip opportunities ahead of us, including playing at the Invictus Games in Vancouver in 2025, the band welcomes players to visit their website and see how they can join in and be part of their great travels.

For more details on the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band, or to get in touch, please visit: www.sospb.com.

By: PM Bethany Bisaillion

You certainly can’t accuse Alan Cumming of being stuck in a rut. On the contrary, the Scot’s CV is a thing of wonder; a bewildering variety of films, TV series, voiceovers, musical roles, cameos and compelling comic turns. He has been in a James Bond film – Goldeneye – and illuminated successful movie franchises such as Spy Kids.

He has won a Tony award for starring on Broadway in Cabaret, gained Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his work in the drama series The Good Wife and presents the American version of the Emmy winning hit show The Traitors. Some people approaching 60 – Alan reaches that milestone in January – might consider slowing down, but if anything, the opposite seems to be the case with this multi-faceted performer.

Never looking back

Currently he’s making a film with Brian Cox, creating a stage version of the cult TV series The High Life with Forbes Masson and flitting between the United States and Scotland so often that he must have racked up plenty of frequent flier air miles. Anybody who lives a nighthawk existence and channel-hops around old TV programmes from the 1980s and 1990s will have caught up with Alan at some stage, whether in Scottish staples Taggart and Take the High Road or such eclectic offerings as Rik Mayall Presents, Black Beauty, Blind Date or The Invasion of the Comic Tomatoes.

So, one can understand why he “hated” being asked to name his favourite performances from a career which prides itself on never looking back. Yet, as he said: “I’ve played so many people and creatures and I also don’t ever hang on to them, but am always moving on to the next person I am going to inhabit. It’s actually more important the kind of experience that I have on a set. That’s what I remember. Hopefully, it was a happy one, with kind people and it felt fun to come to work every day. But I suppose the characters from The High Life are in my mind again because we are working on a musical of the show for the National Theatre of Scotland and revisiting them has been such fun. I also really like Mr Floop from the Spy Kids movies. He touched the hearts of so many kids who are now young adults and so many people approach me in such a different way if they have watched those films. I’m very much enjoying the character I play on the US Traitors. I know that I’m officially the host of the show, but I’m acting my socks off and I love being the castle daddy.”

How vital the arts are to our lives

Alan isn’t somebody to throw in the towel in arguing for his beliefs. He might be frustrated at how arts and culture organisations always seem to be an easy target for parties of all political persuasions whenever they need to trim their budgets. But that doesn’t mean he won’t keep championing the need for greater investment and for youngsters from all backgrounds to have access to opportunities.

He said: “It’s sad that the arts is the first area to be hit by cuts when we need to pull in the purse strings, but is also the first area we turn to in times of crisis. Look at Covid, and how much we relied on artists and performers to entertain us, help raise money and try and make sense of what was happening to all of us. We constantly have to remind everyone how vital the arts are to our lives, and I find that really annoying. I guess because it’s worth can’t be quantified in spreadsheets, but rather through imagination and inspiration, people find it difficult to remember.”

And yet, despite these concerns, Alan has hardly been busier and is continuing his transatlantic sojourns to be involved in a diverse range of new ventures. He explained: “Right now, I am making a film near Glasgow with Brian Cox. He’s directing and we are playing brothers who have a family distillery. It’s a lovely film about the way you can’t run from your past, and how Scotland is a sort of siren, pulling you back home. I know that’s how it feels to me too. After that, I am doing some concerts in America and making another film in Scotland about the poet Jorge Luis Borges. The latter’s the fellow who once memorably described the Falklands conflict as being “a fight between two bald men arguing over a comb”.

It’s the sort of witticism which you can imagine Alan delivering on stage. He’s living his own High Life at the moment and there’s no sign of him being grounded any time soon.

By: Neil Drysdale.

The Isle of Rum has been designated as Scotland’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary by DarkSky International. The designation recognises the efforts of the Isle of Rum Community Trust and NatureScot to protect and promote the island’s special starry skies and nocturnal environment, as well as acknowledging its scientific and cultural importance. While Scotland has five designated International Dark Sky Places, the Inner Hebridean island is the first area to be designated as a Sanctuary following stricter night sky quality criteria to reflect its remote location and naturally dark night skies.

There are just 20 other International Dark Sky Sanctuaries worldwide, with only one other in Europe – Ynys Enlli or Bardsey Island in Wales.  Over the past few years, Rum’s small population has been working to ensure that all lighting on the island is dark sky-friendly, as well as hosting astrological and educational events for the community, the local school, and visitors.

Importance of dark skies

Amber Harrison, the Dark Sky Places Program Manager, said: “This certification represents the hard work and dedication of advocates, residents, and community officials who recognize the value of Rum’s natural and cultural resources and are dedicated to safeguarding them against human impacts into the future. Rum is home to a significant breeding population of Manx shearwaters and these efforts will ensure that their habitat is protected for years to come.”

Future aspirations include the establishment of a Dark Sky Tower in Kinloch village with telescopes available to all to view the night sky and views of the island’s dramatic mountain ridges. An all-sky camera and weather station in the village is also planned to provide round-the-clock online viewing worldwide. A year-round program of astronomy events and informative signs around the island will be put in place to educate visitors and locals alike on the importance of dark skies both for human health and for nature.

Alex Mumford, who led the Dark Sky bid while visitor services manager on the Isle of Rum, said: “We are thrilled to become Scotland’s first Dark Sky Sanctuary and relish the prospect of the impact we can have far and wide. It has been a long process and a lot of hard work has gone into this and we hope to provide inspiration around the world for other small communities to do the same. The work now begins to put our exciting plans into motion and we cannot wait.”

Nationally important natural heritage

Fliss Fraser, a director for the Isle of Rum Community Trust, said: “As a small Scottish island with a resident population of 40, we are really proud to have achieved Dark Sky Sanctuary status. Along with all the benefits for our natural heritage, we hope to encourage visitors to enjoy our dark skies as part of our ongoing sustainable approach to tourism.”

Most of Rum is designated as a National Nature Reserve (NNR), recognizing its internationally and nationally important natural heritage. Rum National Nature Reserve is managed by NatureScot as a special place for wildlife and people. In spring and summer, the island’s mountain tops are home to one of the world’s largest breeding colonies of Manx shearwater. More than 120,000 pairs descend on Rum each year, representing around 25% of the world’s breeding population.

Lesley Watt, NatureScot’s NNR manager for Rum, said: “Dark skies are vital for many species to thrive, and this is especially so for Rum’s population of Manx shearwater. Along with many birds, light pollution can have a really negative impact on these amazing seabirds, particularly for fledglings who are active at night and are attracted to artificial light. When it is time for the Manx shearwater fledglings to leave Rum and make their first flight out to sea, light pollution can disorient them causing them to crash on land and never reach the sea or their destination. This designation is excellent news as by protecting our night skies we can ensure the island remains a safe haven for these birds and the many other species that make Rum so special.”

Main photo: Rum house with starry skies ©Steven Gray Cosmos Planetarium.

The Williamstown Highland Celtic Gathering is thrilled to announce its upcoming event, a vibrant celebration of Highland Scottish and Celtic culture. This much-anticipated gathering will be on Saturday, 26 October 2024, at the historic Seaworks precinct in Williamstown, a short train ride from Melbourne Central. Join in for a day filled with the stirring sounds of bagpipes, the grace of Highland dancers, and the strength of athletes displaying their skills in a mini-heavy games event. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a variety of stalls offering authentic Celtic food, drink, merchandise, and crafts, with plenty of activities to amuse the children all day.

Highlights of the Williamstown Highland Gathering:

• Celtic Music: Immerse yourself in the playing of the bagpipes and Celtic folk music on the stage and all day in the Pirate Bar.
• Celtic Dancing: Watch dancers of forms of Celtic dancing & all ages perform traditional and modern Celtic dances.
• Heavy Events: Cheer on athletes as they showcase their skills in classic and traditional events.
• Cultural Displays: Learn about Scottish and Celtic history and heritage through interactive exhibits and demonstrations.
• Unique Merchandise: Take home a piece of the Highlands with crafted goods.

The Williamstown Highland Gathering is a family-friendly event that celebrates the rich cultural tapestry of the Celtic people. It’s a perfect day out for anyone interested in experiencing the warmth and excitement of Highland Scottish hospitality. Tickets are available for purchase online. For more information, please visit the website or contact our event coordinator. The Williamstown Highland Gathering is an annual event that brings together the best of Scottish and Celtic culture in Melbourne. The Melbourne Highland Games and Celtic Festival Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation of dedicated volunteers giving access to all who identify with and want to celebrate Scottish heritage and culture.

Event details:

• Date: Saturday, 26 October 2024
• Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Location: Seaworks, Williamstown, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• Cost: Children under 16 FREE, All concession holders $20.00, Adults $25.00

Contact: Event Coordinator: Secretary; Alistair MacInnes

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.melbournehighlandgames.org.au/williamstown-highland-celtic-gathering

Jamie Lees, an Amherstburg, Ontario resident and co-owner of Jank Words & Pictures, has curated a unique historical exhibition titled: Left at The Wellgate: The Untold Story of Mary Petrie Smith at the Central Dundee Library in Scotland. On now the exhibition delves into the enigmatic story of Jamie’s great grandmother, Mary Petrie Smith, who, on September 14, 1911, left her two young sons in their pram outside a pub in The Wellgate, before leaving for Canada (her journey spanned several Canadian cities, including Montreal, Perth, Kingston, and Collingwood, where she rebuilt her life). Through a meticulous collection of artifacts, documents, photographs, and personal stories, Jamie presents an emotionally charged and historically rich narrative.

Dedicated to her great grandmother, the exhibition Left at The Wellgate: The Untold Story of Mary Petrie Smith allows Mary to finally share her side of the story that remained secret; untold for 113 years. Jamie’s journey to uncover the truth behind this family mystery has profoundly affected her, leading her from deep sorrow to a sense of peace as she felt her great grandmother’s spirit guiding her throughout the process. The exhibition invites visitors to explore various possibilities of what really happened that dark day in 1911 and what drove Mary to make such a drastic decision, encouraging them to form their own opinions based on the artifacts, documents, and personal stories presented. Jamie Lees said: “Left at The Wellgate: The Untold Story of Mary Petrie Smith has been an emotional journey of discovery and connection for me. It is a privilege to share my great grandmother’s story with the people of Dundee and to highlight the resilience and strength of women like her.”

Understanding of the historical landscape

Collaborating with The Wellgate Project and leveraging her expertise in visual storytelling with her husband, Jamie brings a deeply personal yet universally resonant experience to the audience. Frank D’Angelo, co-owner at Jank Words & Pictures, praises her dedication to preserving and sharing this heritage thoughtfully with a broader audience, fostering a stronger cultural connection between Canada and Scotland. In addition to the exhibition, there will be a series of related talks by guest speakers and interactive events to further engage the community with the historical themes and the stories presented.

Dr. Erin Farley, Project Lead and Library & Information Officer, Central Library, Dundee, Scotland, where the exhibition will take place, notes, “We’ve collaborated with Jamie in Canada from Scotland to create an immersive experience that sheds light on the social and cultural context of early 20^th century Dundee. This exhibition not only honours Mary Petrie Smith’s legacy but also enriches our understanding of the historical landscape in which she lived.”

The public are invited in celebrating this remarkable transatlantic connection and discover the compelling story of Left at The Wellgate: The Untold Story of Mary Petrie Smith, a story that peels back the layers of the life of a complex woman—abandoner, immigrant, bigamist, survivor, enigma. A paradoxical maternal path that shaped a family’s history.

Left at The Wellgate: The Untold Story of Mary Petrie Smith runs to October 14, 2024 at the Central Library, The Wellgate, Dundee. For more information, please contact Jamie Lees at [email protected] or visit The Wellgate Project’s website at www.leisureandculturedundee.com/event/33287.

Main photo: Mary’s passport photo, 1911.

On 17-18 August 2024, Clans Buchanan, Edmonstone, Fraser, MacDonald, MacGregor, MacKinnon, MacNichol and McPherson gathered and struck their tents at Kryal Castle, Ballarat. The haunting sound of the lone piper from the 5/6 Royal Victorian regiment calling the crowds to gather within Kryal’s mighty walls.  A sizeable proportion of those attending were from the large Scots diaspora residing near Ballarat and in the Central Highlands region of Victoria.

This year’s event was also celebrating the 750^th anniversary of the birth of King Robert I of Scotland. On both days the event was opened by the burly lads and lasses from Highland Muscle, who kept the crowd entertained with feats of strength including caber tossing, hammer throw and other expositions of superhuman strength. Crowd participation was encouraged and great fun was had by all.

This was followed on the Saturday by the official opening of the event by our Chief of the Day, Simon Abney-Hastings, the 15^th Earl of Loudoun. Mayor of Mirrabool Shire, Councillor Ally Munari also gave a great speech in support of the event. The Earl presented a mighty claymore known as the ‘Tarskavaig Toothpick’ to be awarded to the winner of the England versus Scotland joust. Shortly thereafter the massed bands including members from 5/6 Royal Victorian Regiment Pipes and Drums, Golden City Pipe Band, and the Ballarat Pipe Band regaled the crowd with many classics Highland tunes. Special mention to Malcolm Edmiston, Armiger and High Commissioner for Australasia for the Edmonstone Clan Society, who took the salute on Sunday the 18^th in remembrance of those who served in the Australian Armed Forces with honour in Vietnam, including himself!

The castle walls were filled with lots of other attractions

The Highland Dancing by the Victorian Scottish Union Highland Dancing with performers from Geelong Scottish Dance wowed the crowd with their Highland dancing demonstration and the tiniest dancers stealing the show. This year “Who is the real William Wallace?” with the real versus the woad covered imposter, again attempted to educate the crowd about how the historical William Wallace would have looked and sounded. It did seem that the woad covered comedian proved the most popular of our William Wallace’s. Following, was a joust between the knights of England and the mighty knights of Scotland. Andrew McKinnon, armiger of Clan MacKinnon and Commissioner for Australia for the Clan MacKinnon Society, jousted with his own heraldry and proved too good for the English taking victory and winning the might claymore for Scotland!

The castle walls were filled with lots of other attractions including Highland cows and the magnificent Scottish Deerhounds and lots of fabulous vendors selling Scottish food and wares.  As the dusk drew in, the audience enjoyed the individual band performances from all band participating in the massed bands performance. As part of the action packed program, there was a Highland themed feasts held with haggis and delicious Scottish food served and a whisky tasting narrated by Craig Merson from the Whisky Company. The hungry attendees were royally entertained by Auld Alliance, a two-piece band playing stirring Scots classics who also called a few enthusiastic patrons up to dance at the post feast ceilidh.

Due the success of 2024’s event another one has been confirmed for 2025 with an announcement about the date to follow.

Main image: Andrew McKinnon leads Scotland to victory against the English in the Joust.

Scientists’ search for the source of Stonehenge’s iconic Altar Stone has intensified, with a new paper ruling out Orkney as where it came from.  The new findings follow last month’s news (Scotland’s link to Stonehenge, the Scottish Banner, September, 2024) that the largest “bluestone” at the heart of Stonehenge came from the Orcadian Basin of north-eastern Scotland, and not from Wales as previously thought. Construction at Stonehenge began 5,000 years ago, with changes and additions to the ancient site happening over the next two millennia. Although it is unclear when the Altar Stone arrived at Stonehenge, it may have been placed within the world-renowned central horseshoe of stones during the second construction phase at around 2620 – 2480 BC. With many Neolithic monuments, and having the right geological features, Orkney seemed a likely candidate for the source of the Altar Stone.

North-east of Scotland

Published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, the new research examined both the five exposed Neolithic-age stones at the Stones of Stenness and seven others at the Ring of Brodgar on mainland Orkney, similar in size and rock type to the Altar Stone.   The research concludes that the six-tonne Altar Stone at the heart of the ancient site was not sourced from Mainland Orkney but elsewhere within north-eastern Scotland.

Professor Richard Bevins from Aberystwyth University, the lead author of the new study, has been investigating Stonehenge for the last 15 years. He said: “The mystery of where the stone came from is becoming clearer and clearer as we begin to rule out specific areas in north-east Scotland. This research is radically changing our thinking about the origins of the Altar Stone. It’s thrilling to know that our chemical analysis and dating work is slowly unlocking this great mystery. The Altar Stone is anomalous in many ways to both the bluestones and the sarsens at Stonehenge. Whilst, at six tonnes, it is nowhere near the size of the sarsens, it is substantially larger than the bluestones, with which it has previously been classed. It lies in an unusual position at the monument, occupying a near central location and not within either the Bluestone Circle or the Bluestone Horseshoe. It is also grey-green sandstone, unlike all the other bluestone rock types. As an academic, I have been fascinated by Stonehenge for decades. I and my other colleagues in the team will continue to work to pin down where exactly in the north-east of Scotland the Altar Stone came from.”

The new research adds to findings by Aberystwyth University and other UK and Australian scientists published last month in Nature that concluded that the Altar Stone came from north-eastern Scotland. In turn, this built on previous Aberystwyth University research that ruled out its Welsh origins and suggested that it should no longer be classified as a bluestone.

Main photo: The Altar Stone, seen here underneath two bigger Sarsen stones. Photo: Professor Nick Pearce, Aberystwyth University.

The 63^rd Scottish Gathering and Highland Games held in Salado, Texas, is the oldest Scottish festival in Texas and hosts the largest gathering of Scottish Clans in the state. The landmark event has been sponsored continuously by the Salado Museum since 1961 with all proceeds benefitting the museum, a nonprofit organization (www.saladomuseum.org).

Heralding all things Scottish, the 3-day event (November 8-10) highlights bagpipe band, Highland dance and heavy athletics competitions and features a Clan Village with some 40 Scots Clans represented. Weekend activities also include performances by Celtic musicians, Bonniest Knees and Shortbread contests, and a multi-vendor Celtic marketplace.

Events begin Friday afternoon with an educational presentation on Scottish music history in the museum. A special Calling of the Clans torchlight ceremony takes place that evening on the banks of nearby Salado Creek. Festival grounds open Saturday morning with opening ceremonies held at noon that include a Bands and Clans Parade through the streets of Salado and a massed bands presentation on the grounds.

Sunday activities begin with the Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan and include pipe band and dance performances, live Celtic music, and a Dog Costume Contest. The Wee Scots Gift Shop is open all three days in the Salado Museum.

For more information on the Salado Scottish Gathering and Highland Games see: www.saladoscottishfestival.com

Islanders on the Hebridean Isle of Barra have launched an ambitious fundraising effort to replace the statue of the saint who gives the island its name which is in danger of being lost to the sea.  The statue of 6^th century Saint Barr, which stands on a small island in Barra’s Northbay area, was erected in the mid-1970s. However, over time its condition has deteriorated badly. It is showing extensive damage and is in danger of disintegrating completely.  A campaign to raise £100,000 is now underway to have it replicated and replaced, with £10,000 already donated to the campaign.

The sculpture was created by local artist Margaret Somerville, who died in 2018, using concrete moulded around a steel frame. It depicts the Irish saint holding a shepherd’s crook aloft as he looks to the heavens.  In Gaelic, Barra is Barraigh which translates as Barr’s Island. It takes its name from Saint Finbar of Cork who is believed to have been a follower of Saint Columba and introduced Christianity to the island.  The exposed sea location and the Hebridean weather has meant that since its erection it is showing signs of extensive damage. The metal frame has become exposed and is rusting due to sections of concrete becoming brittle and falling off, mainly around the statue’s hands, arms and feet.

The fundraising campaign, which is expected to last several years, is led by a community group that came together due to the increasing concern over the statue’s condition and the danger of it being lost completely. They have engaged experienced sculptor Stephen Tinney to use the existing sculpture as the basis for the new statue. Stephen lives on the Isle of Skye but has family connections to Barra and is a regular visitor to the island.  A mould of the existing statue will be taken so that it remains true to Margaret Somerville’s original work and recreate it in hard wearing bronze. It is also proposed to increase the statue’s size by 50% so that it is more prominent and visible from the shore.

A symbol of the island

Michael MacNeil of the Saint Barr Statue Fundraising Group said: “For almost 50 years, the statue has been a symbol of our island and its rich heritage. It would be a huge loss if Saint Barr was to crumble into the sea completely without any effort to preserve Margaret’s work and her gift to the community. We know her family, who are supportive of the campaign, will not want that to happen. This project will see the statue recreated in a material that will withstand the worst of Hebridean weather and cope with its exposed seashore location.”

Increasing the visibility of the statue will enable greater public engagement and understanding of the statue through greater interpretation and storytelling. Fundraising group member, Michael MacKinnon added: “Margaret was a very popular and respected member of our community. She contributed so much to the life of Barra in so many ways from public artwork to teaching the clarsach (harp). It is important that we recognise her impact on Barra and ensure her main public artwork is visible, enjoyed and understood by future generations of islanders and visitors.”

The fundraising campaign has been kickstarted with a £10,000 grant from the Crown Estates Scotland. Theresa Irving of Northbay Community Council and member of the fundraising group welcomed the donation. She said: “We are so grateful to the Crown Estates for this funding towards replacing Saint Barr. This is a very welcome boost and a positive start to our fundraising. We know this is an ambitious campaign, but we are confident that islanders at home and away and those who visit will back it so that our saint remains in place.”

To help erect a new statue of Saint Barr in Northbay, Isle of Barra visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/saintbarrstatuefund

Main photo: L-R Michael MacKinnon, Theresa Irving and Michael MacNeil.

Glasgow’s visitor attractions are often world-class; think of Kelvingrove Museum, The Burrell and Glasgow Green. But there are visitor attractions that are lesser-known as well as other quirky and intriguing features that only locals are aware of – and often not many of them. Here are a few Glasgow surprises.

‘Partick’ Thistle?

Everyone has heard of Glasgow’s alternative soccer team, the much-loved plucky underdogs Partick Thistle. Sport-inclined visitors may well want to go along and take in a game, but if you get hold of tickets the one thing to not do is head for Partick. The club was formed in 1876 and did occupy several home grounds, mostly in Partick, a former burgh now very much part of Glasgow that’s a couple of miles west of the city centre on the banks of the Clyde. However, in 1909 the club moved to their present home, Firhill, in Maryhill, to the north-west of the city centre. Thistle are noted for their distinctive if garish red and yellow colours; yet until the 1930s they played in blue, so even their look isn’t as traditional as you’d think.

Jenny Lind

Jenny Lind (1820-1887) was a soprano known as ‘The Swedish Nightingale’. She debuted in her native Stockholm at 18 and eventually taught singing at the Royal College of Music in London. Apparently (it’s a musical so I’ve never seen it) she appears as a character in the blockbusting film The Greatest Showman. So, what does she have to do with Glasgow? Well, remarkably, there is a small neighbourhood that is actually called Jenny Lind south of the river.

The homes there stand on what used to be part of the Pollok Estate and it is believed that Lind stayed in a cottage there during a visit to Glasgow. Subsequently, an inn was named after her and when the houses were built, the area took on the name of the inn. I wish it were a bus terminus; I would love to see the name ‘Jenny Lind’ on the front of a bus! Lind was a superstar in her day and there is also a beach in Queensland and an island in Canada named after her. But a district of Glasgow is surely the ultimate accolade?

The Sculpture that Disappeared

Back in the 1970s, Buchanan Street was pedestrianised and one of the items of street furniture that appeared was a mysterious, abstract sculpture entitled Concept of Kentigern. It was the winning entry in a competition and was the work of artist Neil Peter Livingstone. It is an imaginative, symbolic envisioning of one of Glasgow’s patron saint’s miracles; St Kentigern (or St Mungo) restored a robin to life. It was unveiled in October 1977, the very month that I started at the University of Strathclyde, so I was in Glasgow daily and saw it a lot. I rather liked it but, sadly, in a city that prides itself on being a centre for art, much of the media and public response was hostile and mocking. I remember one local was quoted in the Evening Times as saying ‘It’s got nae heid!’

The sculpture was removed in 2000 and spent nearly two decades in storage. Happily, when City of Glasgow College’s magnificent City Campus opened in 2016, a new home was finally found for Concept of Kentigern outside one of the entrances. For more art inspired by St Kentigern/Mungo and his robin, head to High Street for street artist Smug’s wonderful gable-end mural.

Rottenrow Gardens

During my time at Strathclyde, there was an enormous hospital building on the hill opposite the McCance Building in Richmond Street, where I spent most of my time. This was the Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital which operated on this site from 1860 to 2001. The main entrance was on Rottenrow and this became the shorthand name for the facility; Glaswegians will say, ‘Aye, I was born in Rottenrow.’ When it closed most of the hospital was demolished and the site was developed as a green open space by the University, something Strathclyde lacked in my day.

As such it now promotes mental health. There’s a typically quirky George Wyllie artwork on site; entitled Monument to Maternity, it’s a giant safety pin – how many safety pins did Rottenrow Hospital use in its lifetime, I wonder? The entrance to the hospital has also been retained as a grand gateway to the gardens.

Wild West Glasgow

In 1891, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show came to Glasgow, setting up camp in Dennistoun in the East End. Thousands of Glaswegians enjoyed seeing sharpshooter Annie Oakley and real live Native Americans. There was a sour aftertaste, though, as many of the Native Americans were effectively prisoners of war who had been given the choice of being locked up or becoming circus acts.

In any case, in 2006 a statue of Buffalo Bill was placed on the site of the show, becoming the focal point of a garden in a new housing development. Glasgow has always loved its Wild West. Roy Rogers’ horse Trigger famously was photographed inside the Central Hotel climbing the grand stairway! In the Southside you will also find Glasgow’s own Grand Ole Opry where there are weekly country gigs and other western-related activities. Howdy, y’all.

Bud Neill Remembered

Continuing on from the last subject, Bud Neill (1911-1970) was a much-loved Glasgow newspaper cartoonist whose best-known character was Lobey Dosser, the Sheriff of Calton Creek, a town in America’s Wild West populated entirely by Glaswegians. The humour ranged from pawky, to clever wordplay, to Pythonesque surrealism, though I suspect much of it would be incomprehensible to non-Glaswegians. Lobey Dosser’s horse, El Fideldo (or ‘Elfie’ for short) was remarkable for only having two legs; Neill claimed he could not draw four-legged horses.

So, the statue erected in 1992 in Neill’s honour, featuring Elfie with Lobey Dosser and sworn enemy Rank Bajin on his back, is said to be the world’s only two-legged equestrian statue. Perhaps it is. You’ll find it in Woodlands Road, just west of Charing Cross. To finish where we began; a regular character in Lobey Dosser strips was the GI Bride, who usually appeared carrying her child and trying to thumb a lift back to ‘Pertick’. In 2011, a statue of bride and baby appeared on the concourse at Partick Station. The two Bud Neill statues probably baffle many non-natives who see them. Well, now you know.

Text by: David McVey

Main photo: Rottenrow Gardens and the George Wyllie artwork.

Developed in the 1950’s as the Scottish rival to the legendary Austin Mini, the Hillman Imp began production in Linwood just outside Glasgow in the early 1960’s. The innovative car, and modern new factory which employed thousands of Scots,  sadly never was the success it was made to be as the project was plagued with poor build quality,  unreliability and low sales. The icon of Scottish motoring is still however fondly remembered as Eric Bryan explains.

In 1955 the British Rootes Group inaugurated a small car project with an eye toward designing a vehicle which would compete with the bubble cars of the time. The petrol shortages created by the 1956 Suez Crisis increased the British demand for small, economical cars and further sharpened Rootes’ determination to develop a viable entry into the compact car market.

Engineers Mike Parkes and Tim Fry produced two different prototypes of a model called the Slug, but the Rootes board members condemned the designs for their outward similarities to bubble cars. Instead, the board pointed to the Austin A30 and Ford Poplar as representing a more fitting direction in design for the proposed Rootes car. This decision instigated Project Apex.

Innovative design           

The Apex design was fitted with a rear-mounted aluminium 875cc Coventry Climax engine, and a newly-designed Adrian West transaxle. Both were considered excellent and ahead of their time. The Apex body shape, particularly the front end, took some inspiration from American cars such as the Corvair, and the now-familiar Imp lines emerged. Various factors caused Rootes to rush the Apex/Imp project in 1962, preventing the engineers from perfecting some features.

The Hillman Imp went into production at the Rootes factory in Linwood, 14 miles west of Glasgow, and burst onto the British automotive scene in 1963. Published road tests of the Imp praised its splendid gearbox, engine and handling qualities. But due to the hurrying of the project in its final stages, the Imp initially suffered mechanical difficulties and earned a reputation for unreliability. Rootes ironed out these problems, but the Imp’s rear-engine arrangement was overshadowed by the BMC Mini’s front-engine-front-wheel-drive design. However, this new compact saloon became the least expensive British car of the period. Though not reaching the iconic status which the Mini achieved in the mid-1960s, the Imp was an innovative design, and production as well as competition versions of the car had some famous wins in the Tulip Rally and at Monte Carlo.

Some basic specs

The original Imp four-cylinder 875cc engine had a Solex 30 PIHT-2 carburettor, a compression ratio of 10 : 1, and produced 39 hp. The engine was positioned behind the rear axle at a 45-degree angle in order to fit. The aluminium gearbox had synchromesh on all four gears and was considered perhaps the best of its time. The Hillman Imp had a wheelbase of 208cm, a length of 353cm, a kerb weight of 698kg and a turning circle of 9.3m. The car’s top speed was about 122 km/h. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h was approximately 23 seconds, and the average fuel economy was 12.7 km/l. The 1966 Imp Sport variant had 50 hp and offered 0-100 km/h in 18 seconds and a top speed of 138 km/h.

One of the car’s innovative features was an opening rear window-hatch, which gave access to a small luggage area that could be increased by folding down the rear seat. Though not an actual hatchback, the Imp was a predecessor to that design and the first car with this option.  The De Luxe version of the Imp, also introduced in 1963, was slightly heavier but had similar performance. Extras available for the De Luxe included radio, whitewall tyres, heavy duty shock absorbers, ventilator (opening wing windows), seat belts and reverse lights. The Imp Series I Saloon was replaced by the Series II in 1965 and the Series III in 1968. Production continued until 1976.

The Imp in competition

In races and rallies from January 1964 to April 1966 Imp competitors achieved over 60 team prizes, class wins and outright wins. Some of these Imps had an 875cc engine; others were powered by a 998cc motor. Competition Imps could be tuned to deliver from 75 to 110 bhp, depending on carburetion. By late 1965, Imps had beaten all but a handful of the highest-performing Minis, and in 1966 every high-profile club race was won in an Imp. Imps achieved outright wins in the 1965 Tulip and Tanzania rallies.

In the 1965 RAC Rally, Imps took 16 first places and made seven lap records. More Imp outright wins were achieved in the 1966 International Saloon Car Race at Silverstone, and the 1966 Nairobi Rally. The 1966 Swiss Tessin Rally saw another outright win accomplished in an Imp.

Imp Monte Carlo Rally results and controversies

In January 1964, Imp team Ernie Hunt and R Mac (competition number 249) won the best performance by a British private owner and best performance from the Glasgow start at the Monte Carlo Rally. In the 1965 rally, Imp team Rosemary Smith and Margaret McKenzie (number 113) finished 22^nd overall, fourth in the up to 1000cc GT class and second in the Coupes des Dames. David Pollard and Barry Hughes (number 95) driving an Imp achieved second in the up to 1000cc GT class and 15^th overall. Rosemary Smith and Valerie Domleo drove Imp number 107 in the now-notorious 1966 Monte Carlo Rally. Though winning the ladies’ class and placing sixth (in the up to 1000cc unmodified production touring car class), number 107 was disqualified due to a last-minute rule change which declared halogen headlamps illegal. The competition number 35 Imp apparently suffered a similar disqualification in this rally.

Amongst other Imp teams competing in the 1966 rally, Tiny Lewis and Timothy Bosence (number 146) won the up to 1000cc modified production touring cars class, while Philippe Simonetta and Bernard Dirren (number 162) took second in the same category. Patrick Lier and Henri Vuarraz, number 136, took first in the up to 1000cc unmodified production touring cars class. Andrew Cowan and Brian Coyle drove Imp competition number 77 in the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally. In this car, Cowan and Coyle took first place in the production cars up to 1000cc class and 22^nd overall, while Patrick Lier and Silvio Vaglio took first in the up to 1300cc GT cars class in an Imp. Peter Harper and Robin Turvey drove another Imp in this rally which, while running second in its class and 46^th overall, fell out of the race on the rally’s last night with a carburettor failure. Imp team Smith and Domleo were likewise in this race, but crashed and were out, also on the last night. More Imps gave strong showings in the 1968 Monte Carlo Rally. Cowan and Coyle (number 45) took first in the 851-1150cc production touring cars class and 22^nd overall, while Smith and Lowrey (number 169) took second in the Coupe des Dames.

Variants and more

The Imp was the basis of several other designs, such as the Imp Commer Van which appeared in late 1965. There was a boom for small vans in Britain created by a tax loophole, and this Rootes entry was designed to compete in that market. The cargo bed’s interior dimension was high enough to accommodate milk churns, had a 350kg capacity, and was required to be able to climb curbs while fully-laden. Rootes almost landed a Commer Van deal with the Royal Mail, but joy-riding postmen spoiled negotiations – the van was considered too fast! Rootes brought out the Sunbeam Imp Sport in 1966. This model’s 875cc engine, fitted with duel Zenith-Stromberg carburettors, produced 55 bhp and powered the car to a top speed of 145 km/h. The Hillman Imp Californian was a fastback coupé version of the car, which went on the market in early 1967. Also in 1967, Rootes introduced an estate version of the Imp, the Hillman Husky, often referred to as the Imp Estate. The Sunbeam Stiletto, which married the coupé design with the Imp Sport power-plant, began production in October 1967.

There were quite a number of other Imp variants, and many vehicles of other marques which used the Imp motor. These included the Probe 15, the TVR Tina, the Bond 875 Mks I and II, and various striking Costin-Nathan and Nathan creations. There were also the Blimp, the KVW Imposter and the Zagato Zimp. The famed Coventry Climax engine was further used in speedboats, hydroplanes (including in a world record holder), motorcycles, street-sweepers, and even in a go-kart and a hovercraft!

Text by: Eric Bryan

Main photo: A competition Hillman Imp Super at the 2011 Blenheim Palace Classic Car Show. Simon Q, CC by 2.0.

The International Clan Cameron Gathering was held from the 1^st to the 4^th of August at the seat of the Cameron chiefs, Achnacarry, in the west Highlands, near Fort William.   This was the first gathering for 15 years, and the first hosted by the new chief, Donald Andrew Cameron of Lochiel, 28^th  Chief of Clan Cameron. The Covid pandemic delayed the planned 2020 gathering.

Hundreds of attendees came from all over the world, with major contingents from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, and of course, Scotland.   There were tours of the Achnacarry estate, a welcome reception, talks on various topics, a main day with all sorts of highland and agricultural displays, a ceilidh and a farewell BBQ on the final day to finish.  Old clan bonds were re-established and new clan bonds formed, and it was truly a memorable time for attendees.

Main photo: The Australian contingent at the Gathering.

Vikings in the far north of Scotland prospered through handing in their swords and swapping raiding for farming and fishing, a new study has found. Research by a team of University of Aberdeen archaeologists has shown that despite their reputation as brutal plunderers, Viking settlers in Orkney found that ‘the plough was mightier than the sword’.

The study, published in the Journal of the North Atlantic examined archaeological evidence for Viking cemeteries from both Viking homelands in Scandinavia and Viking colonising sites in Britain, Ireland, and Greenland in order to better understand Viking populations, their size and composition.

Norse colonies

Researchers were intrigued to find that the Viking communities that had settled in Scotland, particularly in the Orkney islands, had relatively good rates of fertility and higher rates of natural population increase, particularly when compared to settlements in Greenland. The first known Norse colonies are believed to have been established in the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland in the 9^th century as bases for raiding activities in Great Britain by Vikings from Southern Scandinavia.

Professor Marc Oxenham, from the University of Aberdeen, said: “The Norse met very different conditions when settling in the diaspora. Scandinavians who settled in Scotland and Ireland were immigrants into existing communities and had to negotiate their way into these communities, whilst colonisers of Iceland settled a previously uninhabited land and settlers in Greenland were concentrated in isolated communities with what seems little interaction with the native inhabitants of the island and in ecologically very challenging conditions.”

Orcadian Islands

The study, which is part of a much larger British Academy funded project titled Human Stress, Resilience and Adaptation in Ancient Ireland and Scotland, examined these differences and the impact on population growth. They investigated Viking fertility rates – the average number of births per woman – and rates of population increase or decrease. Researchers found a very different demographic pattern in the Northern and Western Scottish Isles compared to other regions with a much higher proportion of children.

Professor Oxenham added: “Interestingly, we found the demographic health of Viking settlements in Greenland was relatively poor. Greenland was a challenging environment in which to seek out a living, and the Viking settlements were eventually abandoned by the 15^th century AD. On the other hand, the research team was intrigued to find that the Viking communities that had settled in Scotland, particularly in the Orkney islands, had relatively good rates of fertility and higher rates of natural population increase. This suggests that a long history very effective of land management in Orkney – including the use of seaweed and manure, an increased focus on fishing, which along with evidence for good Pictish-Viking relations in the Orcadian Islands, likely contributed to a much healthier and vibrant community. Ultimately, the Vikings in Orkney found that the plough was mightier than the sword.”

Main photo: The Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae, Orkney. Photo: Kenny Lam/VisitScotland.

Experience the vibrant culture of Scotland right in the heart of Arkansas at ScotsFest 2024, Independence County’s largest annual festival. During the weekend of Oct. 18-20, the Lyon College campus will come alive with the rich sounds of bagpipes, the thrill of Highland athletics and the warmth of homecoming celebrations. Whether you’re a fan of Scottish heritage or just looking for a weekend filled with unique entertainment and camaraderie, this festival offers something for everyone.

Rooted in Lyon College’s Presbyterian heritage, ScotsFest is a celebration of the Scottish traditions that have been integral to the college’s identity since its founding in 1872. The college was established by Presbyterian ministers, whose Scottish ancestry inspired a deep connection to Scotland’s culture and values. This heritage is proudly honored each year through the Arkansas Scottish Festival, which has grown into one of the most significant celebrations of Scottish culture in the Southern United States.

The vibrant display of Scottish culture

Dr. David Hutchison, vice president for advancement at Lyon College, said, “Lyon College is honored to be a part of the rich tapestry of Arkansas’ cultural heritage, and the Arkansas Scottish Festival stands as a testament to our commitment to preserving and sharing these traditions. Through music, dance and the vibrant display of Scottish culture, the Arkansas Scottish Festival demonstrates the power of community and the enduring partnership between Lyon College and our surrounding region.” The festival, which began in 1979 as a modest event on the intramural field, has evolved into one of Arkansas’s preeminent cultural celebrations. This year’s festivities are expected to attract over 6,000 attendees and generate significant economic impact for Independence County. Cindy Barber, executive director of alumni relations, highlighted the festival’s appeal. “ScotsFest is the perfect weekend to enjoy reconnecting with fellow alumni, faculty and staff, family and friends. Enjoy fun, delicious food, dancing, and yes, bagpipes! We can’t wait to see you.”

The weekend’s events kick off on Friday with open classes, a Founders’ Day choir reunion, convocation, a rocket-building workshop, and an alumni awards celebration and alumni social. Saturday will feature traditional Scottish activities including Highland heavy athletics, a dog show, Scottish dancing, a British car show, sheepdog demonstrations and pipe band exhibitions, alongside homecoming events such as student organization reunions, tailgating and a pep rally. Entertainment throughout the festival will include the internationally-known Celtic Rock band Barleyjuice. Formed in 1998 by pipers Kyf Brewer and Keith Swanson, the band has released seven albums of original and traditional Celtic songs, many of which have seen usage in movies and popular TV shows.  Fans of Celtic radio and various music formats like Spotify, Apple Music and Pandora will recognize such popular songs as Weekend Irish, Get Your Irish On, Celtic Girl and Nancy Whiskey. Barleyjuice presently consists of Brewer (vocals, guitar, accordion, harmonica and bagpipes), Keith Swanson (vocals, bouzouk and bagpipes), Tucker Hill (bass and vocals), Chris Shepherd (guitar, mandolin and vocals), Johnny Benson (fiddle and vocals) and Jim Seamus Burkhardt (drums).

Scottish culture alive

Celtic songstress Misty Posey, entertainer and bagpipe educator Patrick Regan, and the award-winning Central High School Kilties of Springfield, Missouri, also will perform at ScotsFest. Jimmy Bell, director of the Scottish Heritage program, said, “This year we will have several pipe bands from around the region and great opening ceremonies with all the favorites: Amazing Grace, Scotland the Brave and others. It’s an experience that brings Scottish culture alive right here in Batesville.”

No Scottish festival would be complete without authentic Scottish cuisine, and ScotsFest 2024 is no exception. Attendees can indulge in a delectable array of traditional foods, including savory meat pies, flaky Scottish pastries, and other mouthwatering goodies that pay homage to the rich culinary traditions of Scotland.  The festival culminates on Sunday with a Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan worship service and the annual Club 50 luncheon, ensuring a weekend rich in both cultural immersion and college spirit. Pam Palermo, senior director of conferences and events and festival director, encouraged attendance. “General admission to the festival is free, and we welcome everyone to join in celebrating our Scottish roots and Lyon’s strong community connections,” Palermo said. Some alumni and festival activities, including the Friday evening Alumni Awards Banquet and Saturday evening cèilidh feast and entertainment zone, are ticketed special events.

For more details see: www.arscottishfest.com 

The most expansive and best example of blanket bog in the world, the Flow Country in the far north of Scotland has joined the Serengeti, the Galapagos Islands and the Great Barrier Reef in securing prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site status for its globally important nature.  This is a global first, as the Flow Country is the only World Heritage Site inscribed specifically for its peatlands. The World Heritage Committee approved the bid at its annual meeting in New Delhi awarding the designation, reserved for places of special natural, cultural, historical or scientific significance, for the Flow Country’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) in ecosystem quality.  This makes it the UK mainland’s first World Heritage Site inscribed for the global importance of its natural ecosystems, and the country’s sixth site inscribed for natural criteria overall.

Globally rare

The Flow Country is a vast peat bog that covers much of Caithness and Sutherland in the north of Scotland and stores approximately 400 million tonnes of carbon – more than all the UK’s forests and woodlands combined.  It is called blanket bog because it covers the landscape like a blanket and is a type of habitat that is globally rare, but one that is ideally suited to Scotland’s climate and maritime location. The 4,000 sq. km area is home to a hugely complex and fragile ecosystem with a vast array of plants that act as an important defence against climate change. The carbon stored by a 9,000-year accumulation of dead vegetation in the form of peat acts as a carbon sink. This sequesters (traps) and stores carbon, preventing it being released into the atmosphere, helping to prevent further emissions. It is also an internationally important place for wildlife, including upland breeding birds like red-throated diver, golden plover and greenshank. World Heritage Site status is predicted to help realise a wide range of environmental, social, cultural and economic benefits for the north of Scotland including the creation of skills and job opportunities in landscape restoration and conservation, growth in sustainable tourism and hospitality, and the potential of added value to new green finance models to attract global investment to the area.

Momentous moment for Scotland

Bid lead for the Flow Country World Heritage Site project and NatureScot Head of Operations for the North of Scotland, Graham Neville, said: “World Heritage status for the Flow Country is a momentous moment for Scotland’s people and their beloved landscape. This successful bid is testament to the hard work and determination of the Flow Country World Heritage project team as well as community members, scientific experts, businesses, landowners and public bodies from across the Flow Country who have been so generous with their time, knowledge and expertise to shape the bid for the benefit of the whole area. World Heritage Site status will lead to greater understanding of the Flow Country and raise the profile of Scotland’s peatlands globally for their value as biodiverse habitats and important carbon sinks. It is wonderful recognition of the expert stewardship of farmers and crofters in maintaining this incredible ecosystem as a natural legacy for future generations.”

Main photo: Blanket bog at The Flows National Nature Reserve ©Lorne Gill/NatureScot.

The Fergus Scottish Festival delighted attendees in August with its 79^th annual celebration, showcasing the rich tapestry of Scottish culture in a vibrant display of heritage, athleticism, and community spirit. The Festival grounds buzzed with excitement as thousands of visitors immersed themselves in a weekend filled with heavy events, Highland dance, music, and more.

The Festival also showcased an impressive array of attractions including clan displays, delicious Scottish fare, and fine whiskies from local distillers. The event hosted 50 Clans, 300+ athletes, 150 vendors and saw great attendance, with 23,000 visitors immersing themselves in the weekend’s festivities, which included standout moments such as the Professional Heavy Events Competition, the featured guest events with Outlander actors Maria Doyle Kennedy and Duncan Lacroix, and the Tattoo’d in Tradition ceremony.

80^th anniversary next year

“We’re thrilled with the entire weekend including attendance given the very Scottish weather” says Executive Director, Elizabeth Bender “Although it had a minor impact, it did not deter guests from joining the festivities. We are incredibly grateful to our volunteers, partners, sponsors and everyone who attended for making the 79^th Fergus Scottish Festival another success.”  She adds “Stay tuned for exciting announcements coming for the 80^th anniversary next year”.

Amidst all the busyness of this year’s event, the Fergus Scottish Festival team is already deep into planning for their 80^th anniversary next year. Save the date for August 8-10, 2025 for a magical experience celebrating 80 years of heritage, music, athletics, education, and all things Scottish.

Stay on top of announcements and updates by signing up for the Festival newsletter and following the social media channels. Further details and news are also available on the Fergus Scottish Festival website at: www.fergusscottishfestival.com

To mark the 750^th anniversary of Robert the Bruce’s birth, a new 3D model, produced from a cast of his skull,  displayed to the public for the first time at Dunfermline Abbey. The 3D reconstruction is the most realistic likeness of Robert the Bruce to be produced to date, and was created as part of a collaboration between the University of Glasgow and Liverpool John Moores University Face Lab, which released the digital model a few years ago. Dr Martin McGregor, Senior Lecturer in History at University of Glasgow, first conceived of the model after the discovery of King Richard III of England’s skeleton in Leicester in 2012.

The model was produced using a combination of historical research and scientific analysis with advances in facial reconstruction techniques. The team used a 3D laser scanner to scan the cast of Robert the Bruce’s skull held at the University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum, which allowed the team to accurately establish the muscle formation from the positions of the skull bones.

Using CGI technology, realistically textured skin was then layered over the muscle structure. The nose is the least accurate feature of this facial depiction due to the bone deterioration. Historians have long debated whether Robert the Bruce suffered from leprosy. The team created two versions of the digital reconstruction, one without leprosy and one with a mild representation of leprosy. For the 3D physical model, only the version showing no visible signs of leprosy was portrayed.

Scotland’s greatest monarch

Dr Martin MacGregor, Senior Lecturer in History at University of Glasgow, said: “In a lifetime of only 55 years, Robert Bruce achieved the impossible and restored peace and freedom to a war-torn and colonised kingdom. Contemporary sources tell us much about his remarkable life, but virtually nothing about his appearance. This is what persuaded a team of historians, museum curators, geneticists, forensic scientists and medical artists to combine to create a new 3D depiction of the head of the hero-king, based upon the skull-cast taken from a skeleton in a tomb discovered within the ruins of Dunfermline Abbey in 1818. The head is dressed in a helmet surmounted by a crown, as worn by Bruce at his most famous victory, the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. 750 years after his birth in 1274, it is fitting that Dunfermline Abbey, where Robert Bruce was buried in 1329, should host an exhibition which brings us face-to-face with Scotland’s greatest monarch.”

Alasdair Campbell, Interpretation Officer at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), said: “We are delighted to host the most accurate model of Robert the Bruce’s face to date. Robert the Bruce’s story is an important part of Dunfermline Abbey, and we are excited for visitors to be able to visualise this story in a new way, particularly as we celebrate his 750^th birthday.”

The model will be on show to the public for the first time at Dunfermline Abbey until Saturday 7 December. To learn more and book your tickets, please visit the Historic Environment Scotland website. Other events are also taking place across Historic Environment Scotland to celebrate Robert the Bruce’s 750^th anniversary. A full list can be found at www.historicenvironment.scot/bruce. To find out more about the history of Bruce’s likeness and the leprosy debate, visit www.hes.scot/bruce-faces.