Our Vote for Scotland’s National Tree

Our Vote for Scotland’s National Tree

Canada has the instantly recognisable maple tree, Japan has the whimsical cherry blossom, and England has the mighty royal oak. However Scotland seems to have missed the proverbial national-tree boat, as it was recently discovered that poor old Scotland is without a tree to call its own. After furious campaigning by a Glasgow tree campaigner, […]

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Bobby Update – Police Launch Investigation

Bobby Update – Police Launch Investigation

Last week we reported that Edinburgh’s famous Greyfriar’s Bobby statue had undergone restoration work after years worth of tourists rubbing his nose for good luck. Less than 48 hours following the painstaking work to turn his shiny nose back to black, an abrasive material was “intentionally used” on the nose, stripping the repaired area. Police […]

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Lord Sempill to Attend Stone Mountain Games

Lord Sempill to Attend Stone Mountain Games

Every year during the third week of October, you’d be forgiven for thinking a little piece of Atlanta was in fact a little piece of Scotland. Over one weekend, the picturesque grounds of Atlanta’s Stone Mountain Park meadow resound with the sounds of bagpipes, fiddles and harps, as it plays host to one of the […]

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Kilt Like an Egyptian

Kilt Like an Egyptian

It seems wherever you travel around the globe, you can’t miss signs of Scottish influence. From bagpipes being played in far off antipodean lands to Ceilidhs taking place in South America, the Scots have sure spread themselves far and wide. I recently traveled through Egypt, eyes peeled for any evidence of these great wanderers. Today […]

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Council Weighs In On Bobby Rubbing

Council Weighs In On Bobby Rubbing

Edinburgh’s world famous pup Greyfriar’s Bobby got a facelift earlier this week, following a successful Facebook campaign by Bobby enthusiasts. On Tuesday sculpture conservation and bronzework specialists enlisted by Edinburgh Council worked to restore the black on the dog’s snout after years worth of passerbys rubbing his nose for good luck. Bobby campaigners had resorted […]

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Battlefield to Become ‘Park and Ride’ Interchange

Battlefield to Become ‘Park and Ride’ Interchange

Fife Council have been given the green light to build a transport hub on the site of one of Scotland’s decisive battlefields. The Battle of Pitreavie (1651), was one of the key battles during the War of the Three Kingdoms. It marked the end of Scotland’s last hold-out against subjugation by Oliver Cromwell’s New Model […]

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‘Tossing the Caber’ Too Easy

‘Tossing the Caber’ Too Easy

Organisers at this years Pitlochry Highland Games were forced to replace the caber with a heavier pole when complaints were received after last years event. Traditionally only top heavyweight athletes competing in Highland games have the strength and technique to manage to toss a caber. However almost every single burly competitor at last years event […]

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Home to Hume

Home to Hume

Earlier in September Amanda and I traveled to the Scottish Borders to spend an afternoon at Hume Castle, where part of this years Clan Hume/Home gathering was taking place. Held every five years, the gathering provides a way for clan members to connect in person with one another, while learning about their heritage and exploring […]

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The Flodden 500 Service at St Giles, Edinburgh.

The Flodden 500 Service at St Giles, Edinburgh.

On Monday Amanda and I were privileged to be able to attend the service in commemoration for the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Flodden held at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. Over 40 Clan Chiefs were in attendance and you will be able to read the list of names below. The service included lessons […]

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