Camouflaged within the Highland forests and moors roams a predator, a lonely predator seeking shelter and food amidst thousands of years of persecution, a Scottish icon with a fierce reputation surviving through the most harsh conditions, a mysterious animal known as the Scottish Wildcat. The Decline of the Scottish Wildcat It is said today that there are only 400 pure Scottish wildcats left within the Scottish Highlands, once also populating England and Wales they are now only found in the wilds of Scotland, surviving in only remote areas. The cat is now facing extinction and could be lost … [Read more...] about Scottish Wildcat, The Highland Tiger
Robert Burns – Scottish Genius
January isn't exactly the most heart-warming of months; it’s cold, snowy, dark and full of post-festive blues. Still, there is one bright light shining amid the gloom, navigating us through the murk to cheerier shores – Burns’ Night. Every year, on the 25th of January, Scots the world over gather in celebration of our national poet, Robert Burns, and dinners are hosted from Moscow to Miami, Aberdeen to Auckland to honour this, our most prodigal of sons. Toasting the bard is more than enjoying clever poetry and pithy observation; it’s a once a year stare-in-the-mirror look at ourselves, our … [Read more...] about Robert Burns – Scottish Genius
Orkney and Shetland Islands, Scotland
Orkney Stretching out into the North Sea among strong winds and rough seas, Orkney and Shetland are Scotland’s most northern isles. The most southerly of them and a short distance from the northern Scottish mainland is Orkney, also referred to as Orkney Isles, rising modestly from the sea, this cluster of more than seventy islands is a sparsely populated but very fertile land ideal for farming. During the long summer days the land is awash with wild flowers covering the meadows with enormous bright skies, with the sound of millions of sea birds along its stunning coastline. Shetland … [Read more...] about Orkney and Shetland Islands, Scotland
Loch Awe, The jewel in Argyll’s crown
Loch Awe and Kilchurn Castle I hate to start this article with an obvious Cliché but the word most used by visitors to describe their time by Loch Awe in Argyll is “Awesome” and however cheesy it sounds it pretty much hits the nail on the head. The facts speak for themselves; at 28 miles in length it is the longest fresh water loch (or lake) in the UK, it holds the current record for the largest Brown Trout caught in the British Isles and has, Kilchurn Castle, arguably Scotland’s most impressive & Iconic ancient building and ancestral home of clan Campbell, at its … [Read more...] about Loch Awe, The jewel in Argyll’s crown
What to Pack for a Winter Hiking Holiday
Winter Clothing: A Guide for Hikers Who Want to Stay Warm Keen hikers will know that, in order to complete a successful and safe hike, a range of equipment and clothing is needed, whatever time of year the trip. When it comes to clothing, certain items - such as boots, waterproof jackets, lightweight base layers, hiking socks and more - are needed all year round, but in winter, there are additional extras that are needed to keep you protected from the elements. Where’s Your Head At? When hiking in the winter, you will also need to ensure that your head and face are well protected. In … [Read more...] about What to Pack for a Winter Hiking Holiday
Battle of Culloden
Fives miles east of Inverness, the windswept moorland of Culloden, saw the last great battle on British soil on April 16, 1746, a turning point in the history of the Scottish nation, when the Jacobite cause was finally defeated. The Jacobite rebellion The second Jacobite rebellion had begun on August 19, 1745, when the standard was raised at Glenfinnan on the west coast shortly after Edinburgh had fallen into Jacobite hands, and Bonnie Prince Charlie had started his march on London. The English however, had appointed the well respected Duke of Cumberland to command their forces, and this … [Read more...] about Battle of Culloden
Recent Comments