Scotland Magazine Issue 37

Off the beaten track

Sally Toms enthuses about Scotland’s tucked away treasures.

Hello again and welcome to another packed edition of Scotland Magazine. In this issue you will find an assortment of treasures; we’ve got whirlpools and Cold War bunkers, mysterious Iron Age structure...

By Sally Toms in the section From the Editor

It’s a small world

The mobility of Scots during the past two centuries never ceases to fascinate me. While researching my latest book project, I have discovered that, around 1842, Joan Carfrae, a relative of my great-gr...

By Roddy Martine in the section Roddy Martine's World

Scotland Events

Word Festival 9th-11th May 2008 Aberdeen Aberdeen’s book festival, Word, is a packed weekend of readings, music, art exhibitions, and film screenings featuring a starstudded line-up of writers and ...

By Sally Toms in the section Scotland Events

Scotland's showpiece

Charles Douglas visits Castle Fraser, near Inveruie in Aberdeenshire

Castle Fraser, in the Grampian Region, is one of Scotland’s showpiece castles, and yet another memorable treasure in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. Long ago the land here was acquired b...

By Charles Douglas in the section Scotland Houses

Northern delights

John Hannavy explores historic churches, abbeys and cathedrals in Scotland’s north east.

When a group of Benedictine monks arrived at the remains of Pluscarden Priory in Kale Glen near Elgin 60 years ago, it must have taken an enormous amount of belief, and considerable vision, to ever im...

By John Hannavy in the section Scotland Churches

A suitable distraction

Rob Allanson discovers a haven of French flair in the capital.

It may have been Burns night, yes one of the biggest nights of celebration throughout Scotland with piles of haggis, neeps and tatties, but instead of following the drunken hordes of revellers into th...

By Rob Allanson in the section Best of Scotland

Corryvreckan whirlpool

Hannah Adcock takes a cruise to see one of Scotland’s natural wonders.

Corryvreckan is one of the world’s most powerful whirlpools, located between the Islands of Jura and Scarba. Although notorious for its near fatal attempt to drown George Orwell and its gelatinous app...

By Hannah Adcock in the section Scotland Treasures

Iron Age mysteries

The Scottish landscape is dotted with ruined stone towers known as brochs, Christopher McCooey looks how and why they were built.

In shape, and from a distance, it would have looked something like a small cooling tower. But up close, this was no smooth concrete concave structure. It was a dry-stone hollow-walled tower, entered a...

By Christopher McCooley in the section Scotland Archaeology

The ghosts of Greyfriars

Gary Hayden takes a walk round Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh's old town

On a summer’s day, Greyfriars Kirkyard is a very pleasant spot. It boasts a fine view of nearby Edinburgh Castle; encloses a well-preserved section of the Flodden Wall; and is surrounded by ornate and...

By Gary Hayden in the section Scotland Hounts

Caithness, Sutherland & Ross-Shire

Exploring the Northern Highlands The region of Caithness and Sutherland and over to Ross & Cromarty is stunningly and exhilarating. Dominic Roskrow reports. There is no feeling quite like it. It’s a...

By Dominic Roskrow in the section Regional Focus

Regional Focus

Where to visit Assynt Visitor Centre Lochinver Sets the scene for the geology and wildlife of the area. Tel: +44 (0)1571 844 330 Badbea Clearance Village Nr Helmsdale A walking trail round a deserted...

By Dominic Roskrow in the section Regional Focus

Capture Scotland in your home

Scotland Magazine has scoured the Highlands and Islands to find an artist who best captures the mood of the country. We have discovered Ian Gray, of international renown, and asked him to produce a limited edition print exclusively for Scotland Magazine readers

How many times have you wished you could experience the real Scotland? Or seen the most beautiful view and just wished you could bring it back home? Well, Scotland Magazine has sourced one of the most...

By Sally Toms in the section Scotland Magazine Promotion

The Stone of Destiny

James Irvine Robertson turns his attention to the most contested artefact in Scottish history.

Alongside the Honours of Scotland – the Scottish Crown Jewels – in Edinburgh Castle, lies a large chunk of red sandstone. On one surface is a roughly incised cross and rusting iron carrying-bolts are ...

By James Irvine Robertson in the section Scotland History

America's navel hero

John Paul Jones was one of America’s greatest battle commanders during the Revolution. Not bad for a poor boy from Kirkcudbright.

John Paul Jones was born plain old ‘John Paul’ on the estate of Arbigland in Kirkcudbright on the 6th July 1747, and went on to be come America’s first naval hero in the American Revolutionary War. J...

By John Paul Jones in the section Scotland Legends

X marks the spot

Scotland's Treasure Trails are a great way of getting out and about discovering something new. Susan Nickalls reports.

There’s nothing quite so intriguing or exciting as coming across a crumpled map offering the prospect of a glittering treasure trove if you can only find that elusive ‘X’ which marks the spot. Althoug...

By Susan Nickalls in the section Scotland Magazine

Going it alone

In the latest of our series on accommodation is Scotland, Richard Goslan looks at self catering.

To cook, or not to cook? That’s the question concerning most people when it comes to their choice of holiday accommodation. There are two schools of thought here – whether to go for the full hotel pa...

By Richard Goslan in the section Scotland Accommodation

Cakes and bakes

Sue Lawrence considers some classic Scottish treats.

There is an old-fashioned little tea shop at the corner next to my bank, every time I go there I have to stand still and sniff the air. The smell coming through the door is so reminiscent of my childh...

By Sue Lawrence in the section Scotland Food

The clan Gordon

James Irvine Robertson examines a successful clan from the far north of Scotland.

Any researcher of history in the far north of Scotland cannot avoid tripping over the Gordons. They were the region’s most successful family and attracted the opprobrium that goes with such success. ...

By James Irvine Robertson in the section Scotland Clans

Ones not to miss

With so much to offer the visitor, how do you select the best places to visit during your travels in this wonderful country? Liz Pickering selects 10 of the best.

A northern retreat Nestled around a harbour on the northeast coast of Scotland, the pretty village of Helmsdale has many attractions for those staying in the village or using it as a base to explore f...

By Liz Pickering in the section Scotland Attractions

A day in the life of a ghillie

David Fleetwood looks at the role of a ghillie on a traditional Highland estate.

The day starts early for a Highland ghillie. To get everything done, it is vital to take advantage of every single shred of daylight, including dawn. As the dawn chorus begins, the ghillie is pushing ...

By David Fleetwood in the section Scotland Lives

Artistic outpost

Roddy Martine visits The Pier Arts Centre, an artistic gem on Orkney.

The south west tip of mainland Orkney is not where you would might expect to find a major collection of contemporary British art, but all becomes clear when you discover that the founder of this sceni...

By Roddy Martine in the section Scotland Galleries

Donald Trump

The American tycoon is currently and somewhat controversially re-establishing a link with Scotland. And he is from Scottish family.

It’s hardto image the brash loud and very American businessman Donald Trump being rocked to sleep while listening to a soothing Gaelic lullaby – but it might well have happened. Aglance back through ...

By Sally Toms in the section Scotland Genealogy

A country spring

Fortingall Hotel Perthshire Tel: +44 (0)1887 830 367 Fortingall is one of the most beautiful little villages in Scotland and it holds more than one fascinating secret... Fortingall Hotel, named ...

By Sally Toms in the section Best of Scotland

Scotland Events Calendar

With so much happening in Scotland throughout the year, it’s hard to keep track of what’s going on where. Here’s our pick for 2008.

March 21- April 13 Edinburgh’s Ceilidh Culture, Edinburgh Ceilidh Culture is Edinburgh’s annual showcase of traditional arts, featuring the best of home-grown talent alongside acts from across the wo...

By Sally Toms in the section Scotland Events

Everything you need to know about... sporrans

Sporan is the Gaelic word for a purse or pouch, and the sporran, as we know it today, is a relatively ‘modern’ and largely decorative addition to Highland dress. The outfit of long ago was the belted ...

By Sally Toms in the section Scotland Life