Unique Scotland – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this Podcast, we are going to travel from Edinburgh down to the Borders passing through some medieval villages on route. We will be travelling on roads built by the Romans in the 1st and 2nd   centurie and we’ll be looking at some scintillating castles and other fascinating buildings on our way. You will hear of true Thomas or Thomas the Rhymer whose prophesies were uncannily accurate and also of Maiden Lilliard, the warrior lady who had her legs chopped off during the battle of Ancrum and continued to fight against those who had killed her lover. We will also look into the ruined Border Abbeys at Dryburgh and Kelso and take a look at Roxburgh castle ruins where James 2nd of Scotland was killed by one of his own cannons. The ruins stand in the grounds of the fabulous Floors castle, home to the Duke of Roxburgh. And as dramatic historical events have ebbed and flowed, the gentle waters of the river Tweed, which gave its name to the famous Tweed fabric, continues to meander throughout the Border region although most of the woollen mills have now closed.  If you wish to contribute a small sum towards the creation of my Podcasts, please go to.

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Let me take you on a tour down one of the most famous streets in Edinburgh, the Royal Mile, popping into all the Places that tourists tend not to go, the alleyways or Closes as we call them in Scotland. It gives a fascinating insight into medieval Edinburgh with murder, ghosts, crime and disease emanating from every crevice of the ancient stone walls that remain today.

I’ll touch upon the reason for Old Edinburgh being so tightly packed together and why it was so easy for disease to spread. Fortunately we still have one of the 16th Century buildings standing on the Royal Mile, Gledstanes land, beautifully restored by the National Trust for Scotland and wedged between two famous closes, James Court and Lady Stair’s Close. We will hear from Will Evans, one of the managers at the property.

You will hear about the more famous characters of Edinburgh such as Adam Smith, David Hume and Patrick Gedes as well as the infamous characters such as Deacon Brodie. With over 80 Closes to choose from, I will give you a flavour of life in a few of them from both a rich and a poor person’s perspective. Old Edinburgh is a place where hundreds of witches were burned to death, only a stone’s throw from one of the most prestigious restaurants in the city.

We will be heading back, in some cases, to the 16th century, venturing into the darker recesses of Old Edinburgh where, I think, even angels might fear to tread. Come and join me on this journey into Edinburgh city’s past and meet some of the characters that lived there in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Scotland’s North Coast 500 was opened in 2015 and this 516 mile route has become a popular travel destination. This, Part 4, of our tour will take us from Bettyhill in Caithness to Durness on the north western corner of Scotland. This is Mackay Country. At Bettyhill we will hear of the renovation of the Strathnaver Museum and the Clan Mackay artefacts held within.
We will pass through the town of Tongue and take a walk up to the old Castle Varich, the Mackay stronghold for hundreds of years. We will cross the Kyle of Tongue and drive around loch Eriboll which, for centuries, has been used as a safe anchorage from the often stormy seas of the North Atlantic Ocean. Tales of Viking massacres and German U-Boats will be told.
We then head west to Durness, dropping into Smoo Cave on the way, a wonder to behold. At Durness we will find out why there is a memorial garden to John Lennon, one of the famous Beatles and why is one of his songs dedicated to this area? The north coast is a really beautiful rugged coastline with fabulous sandy beaches and spectacular views to the far north.
Come and join me on another Unique Scotland adventure!

Scotland’s North Coast 500 was opened in 2015 and this 516 mile route has become a popular travel destination. This, Part 3, of our tour will take us from Wick on the east coast of northern Scotland to Bettyhill in Caithness. We will pass through the ancient Viking town of Wick and onto John ‘O Groats, one end of the longest distances between two inhabited points on the mainland of Britain. Enjoy the view over the Pentland Firth to the Orkney islands beyond.

We will then head West along the top of Scotland and call in to see the fabulous Castle of Mey, the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother’s home. We will stop for a picnic at Dunnett Head, the most northerly point on the British Mainland and walk the 300 feet cliffs to see the nesting birdlife among the rocks. We then pass through the town of Thurso whilst also enjoying the fabulous white sandy beaches of the North Coast before arriving at Bettyhill where we find the old Strathnaver church now housing a super Museum and is also home to the Mackay Clan display.

Scotland’s North Coast 500 was opened in 2015 and this 516 mile route has become a popular travel destination. This, Part 2, of our tour will take us from Dornoch to Wick on the east coast of northern Scotland. You will cross Loch Fleet and see an old Thomas Telford bridge (early 1800s) which has an incredible sluice gate system to allow the river to exit but stops the sea water from entering the river Fleet. You will visit the attractive seaside town of Golspie and, as lovely as it is, the Golspie Inn was witness to the iniquities of the Highland Clearances. Soon after Golspie you will see the ‘Mannie’, a monument to the 1st Duke of Sutherland and why some would like to see it knocked down. The Mannie stands on a hill overlooking the fabulous caste Dunrobin which we will visit on our travels.

We will pass through Brora with its wonderful sandy beach and links golf course before going on to see a 2000 year old Broch at Ousdale. Soon afterwards we will visit Dunbeath which holds the secrets of King George VI’s younger brother, the Duke of Kent, who died in mysterious circumstances when his plane crashed into a hill some 3 miles from the town. Of course, George VI was the king who replaced Edward VII when he abdicated to marry Wallace Simpson. We’ll retire for the evening in the Wick area and enjoy a sumptuous dinner in an exquisite Victorian Villa. So exciting…..

Scotland’s North Coast 500 was opened in 2015 and is one of Britain's best coastal touring routes. Just over 500 miles long, this route provides some stunning scenery from Inverness (Capitol of the Highlandsd) up to John 'O Groats in the far north, along the north coast of Scotland and down the west coast returning to Inverness. You will enjoy stunning coastal scenery, towering mountains and deep blue watered lochs. We will visit castles, palaces and neolithic sites along the way. You will hear about the history of the area and clan battles that raged in the 16 and 17th centuries.

This, Part 1 (of 6 parts) is a virtual tour that will take us from Inverness to Dornoch on the east coast of northern Scotland. We will cross the Kessock bridge and the Black Isle to Tain, the oldest Royal Burgh in Scotland. A visit to Glenmorangie distillery may tempt some before crossing the Cromarty Firth with its wonderful wildlife and superb views. On our way north there is another Firth to cross at Dornoch and we will be passing a fabulous Indian inspired monument built in the late 18th century before arriving at Invergordon. You will be told the extraordinary tale of a Royal Naval mutiny that still reverberates down the decades. Dornoch is a lovely village with a castle and a famous Cathedral at its centre. Why were witches being burned here in the 18th Century and what was Madonna doing here in 2000? Join me on this wonderful tour to find out.

It is a mixed bag this week and this newsletter starts off with reports on the COVID situation in the UK and Scotland in particular, including the political ramifications on the different priorities of the Devolved Governments that make up the UK. Exciting news as this Newsletter was being recorded that a working Vaccine has been found with 90% efficacy. Fantastic news for the travel industry and for those who have been locked down for too long. This Newsletter also mentions the Outlander series and the possibility of fans to work alongside Sam Heughan and Catriona Balfe (Jamie and Claire). Shock, Horror! Could it be possible that Meghan Markle could become the next President of the United States of America (after Biden or Trump – Mr Trump hasn’t conceded as this goes online) and  that her Royal husband Harry becomes the First Gentleman? All this and a few other stories from the Scottish Media.

In this episode, you will travel from Gruinard House and Gardens and follow the coastal road hugging the sea loch Ewe and loch Gairloch before returning to Inverness, via Loch Maree, on this last leg of our journey. The Island of Gruinard on Loch Ewe has a dark secret to unlock while the loch itself has an amazing past connection with the ill fated PQ Russian convoys. The glorious INVEREWE Gardens returns some semblance of peace and normality to the area.

As you arrive in Altbea, there is a hidden scandal to discover and a local girl tells of the shenanigans of an absentee hotelier.

You will stroll along the wonderful Gairloch beach, miles of golden sand with views to die for. The return to Inverness also has much to offer and you will be returned to your starting point of 3 Podcasts before. Enjoy!

Touring from Inverness to the Gairloch on Scotland's rugged west coast is an absolute delight. This is the third part of Inverness tours. In this Podcast, we leave the city and head north over the Kessock Bridge onto the Black Isle then west towards Loch Ewe, passing amazing sights such as the Corrieshalloch Gorge. We pass a man made lake, now part of a hydro scheme and hear how a lost world has re-appeared due to the dry weather in the Highlands. We will walk the white sandy beach of Gruinard Bay and hear about Gruidard House and Gardens. And why was Gruinard island so dangerous and is it really safe today?

Inverness part 1 gave you an overview of the area and history of the town. In this Podcast Inverness part 2, you will walk the streets of Inverness to hear about the prominent historic buildings and be told of some of the stories behind these iconic structures. From St Columba in the 6th Century to Lord Lovat (Simon Fraser) executed after the Battle of Culloden in the 18th Century – as they say if the walls could talk. There is, however, enough historical evidence to give you a real feel for what went on within the walls of these fascinating buildings and, as you walk down the old medieval streets, you will get a real sense of what it would have been like to live in those times.

Today Inverness is a thriving city but you never get a feeling of being overwhelmed. It is charming in itself with the river Ness flowing right through the middle and it is a delight to walk around and take in the sights - come an join me on this meandering podcast.