Our Scotland: A Fantasy 24 Hours in Scotland – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams. 

My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places and my guests are people just like me.

In this episode I’m joined by writer James Merron, aka AJ Merron. James lives in Edinburgh but is originally from Lancashire. 

James describes himself as a hopeless romantic at heart who tends to live in a fantasy world of his own making. 

He writes poetry, has a YouTube channel of video essays delivered like letters of the romantics era, and a podcast where arts, media and philosophy collide. 

He’s currently working on plans for a creative retreat in a Highlands castle and researching the history of female monsters and demons for a fictionals book.

James’s links:

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ajmerron_writes 

Instagram: instragram.com/ajmerron_writes

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ajmerron_writes 

Website: ajmerron.co.uk 

Places James took us:

Edinburgh Waverley Station https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/our-history/iconic-infrastructure/the-history-of-edinburgh-waverly-station/ 

Greenock, Gourock, Inverclyde https://discoverinverclyde.com/ 

Loch Fleet https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/visit-our-nature-reserves/loch-fleet-national-nature-reserve 

South Rona https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Rona 

Shiant Isles https://www.shiantisles.net/ 

North Harris Eagle Observatory https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/north-harris-eagle-observatory-p530121 

Huisinis https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/huisinis-beach-p523511 

Food and drink:

The Cove, Gourock https://thecovegourock.co.uk/ 

Eteaket https://www.eteaket.co.uk 

Music:

Nina Nesbitt: https://ninanesbittmusic.com/

Seals singing: https://youtu.be/WYlLPyIeapg?si=MtFDUinWQOFGMW49 

Machair

Machair is a Gaelic word meaning fertile low lying grassy plain. This is the name given to one of the rarest habitats in Europe which only occurs on exposed western coasts of Scotland and Ireland. There are Machair habitats on the western shores throughout the islands.

Here sand, largely made up of crushed shells, is regularly blown ashore by Atlantic gales. 

Over time the calcium rich shell sand and traditional Outer Hebrides crofting land practices have led to the development of a mosaic of fertile Scottish grassland habitats renowned for their Outer Hebrides wildflowers, Western Isles birds and insect life.

https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/wildlife/machair 

If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. 

You can email alison@alisonfraser.co or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/ 

Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams. 

My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places and my guests are people just like me.

In this episode I’m joined by Eoin Smith. Eoin is a multi-award-winning magician and author based in Aberdeen.

As a magician, Eoin's performances have taken him across Scotland to five-star hotels, comedy and cabaret clubs, and beyond – including the stage of the 500-seater Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen.

As a writer, Eoin has had short stories and humour writing published around the world, including by Popshot, Two Fifty One and SANS. Press. He has also had features published by the likes of The Guardian, Q and Magic Magazine.

Eoin is also an Explorer Scout Leader, and has been volunteering to provide 14-18 year olds with incredible experiences across Scotland for over 15 years.

Eoin’s links:

https://linktr.ee/eoin.smith 

Places Eoin took us:

Aviemore https://www.alltrails.com/scotland/highlands/aviemore 

St Nicholas Kirkyard, Aberdeen, the grave of magician John Henry Anderson

http://www.openspacetrust.org.uk/?p=646 

Road to Applecross https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTN46Rv6DVs 

Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig https://www.highlandwildlifepark.org.uk/  

Edinburgh Fringe Festival https://www.edfringe.com/ 

The Tunnels, Aberdeen https://www.facebook.com/tunnelsaberdeen/ 

Food and drink:

Butteries from The Bread Guy https://thebreadguysbakery.co.uk/ 

Harry Gow bakery https://www.harrygow.co.uk/ 

Restaurant Martin Wishart https://restaurantmartinwishart.co.uk/ 

Music:

Little Kicks https://www.thelittlekicks.co.uk/ 

Frightened Rabbit https://www.frightenedrabbit.com/ 

Eoin’s playlist: 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3bHExnyMo9IigA3ovmQXI4?si=40447c9d72294ebc 

If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. 

You can email alison@alisonfraser.co or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/ 

Joining Alison is Edinburgh tour guide Gareth Davies from Edinburgh Expert Walking Tours. Gareth operates tours in and around Edinburgh, taking in the main sites and the lesser known. Gareth moved to Edinburgh for university in 1998, but as you’ll hear, has never left. Thank you Gareth for sharing what would make your perfect Scottish day. Gareth’s links:  Website: https://www.edinburghexpert.com/  Gareth took us around Edinburgh, including Dean Village and the Royal Mile, as well as out to Sandwood Bay in the Highlands. Dean Village: https://www.chasingthelongroad.com/scotland/dean-village-edinburgh/  Sandwood Bay: https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/sandwood-bay-p2570711  Our Scotland is a podcast about Scotland for people who love the country, regardless of where they live or how often they’ve visited.

Our Scotland facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourscotlandpodcast

Joining Alison is Tide Lines' front man Robert Robertson.

Robert is a gold medal winner at the Royal National Mod, Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival and a former member of the band Skippinish. 

We chatted on the back of Tide Lines trio of sold-out gigs at Glasgow’s Barrowlands venue, and just before a stripped back tour of Scotland. 

Robert’s links: 

Website: https://www.tidelinesband.com/  

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSX39m6HKC8pSzNrUkedNDQ 

Bruichladdich Rock’ndaal festival: https://festival.bruichladdich.com/ 

Robert took us to the following places:

Lochaber: https://discoverhighlandsandislands.scot/en/visitor/region/lochaber 

Partick: https://www.glasgowworld.com/best-in/partick-back-in-time-over-100-years-of-glasgows-west-end-history-heritage-in-27-pictures-4508683 

Ross of Mull: https://visitmullandiona.co.uk/guides/ross-of-mull/ 

Our Scotland is a podcast about Scotland for people who love the country, regardless of where they live or how often they’ve visited.

Our Scotland facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourscotlandpodcast 

Email: scottishatheartpodcast@gmail.com

Joining Alison to share their perfect Scottish day is Orcadian fiddle and mandolin player Graham Rorie.

Graham is an award-winning folk musician based in Glasgow. 

Nominated for ‘Musician of The Year’ at the 2023 Scots Trad Music Awards and a finalist in the 2021 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, Graham has been making a name for himself as a performer, composer, session musician and producer since he graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Traditional Music Degree.

Graham’s links: 

Website: https://www.grahamrorie.com/ 

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoi-Y9FRbL2BSuoexDf8BlQ 

Gnoss: https://gnossmusic.com/ 

Graham took us to the following:

Old Man of Hoy: https://hoyorkney.com/attractions/hoy-geography/old-man-of-hoy/ 

Lochinver Larder: https://www.lochinverlarder.com/ 

Old Fruitmarket: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/arts-music-and-culture/venues/old-fruitmarket 

Our Scotland is a podcast about Scotland for people who love the country, regardless of where they live or how often they’ve visited.

Our Scotland facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourscotlandpodcast 

Email: scottishatheartpodcast@gmail.com

Scottish History Podcast host Owen Innes has been interested in history since he was a youngster and for the last eight years has been working as a tour guide bringing history to life.

His podcast means he can share his love of Scottish History with more than just the folk on his bus trips.

You’re going to hear about his first history trips, the history at your doorstep and more, as we discover where Owen would spend his ideal 24 hours in Scotland.

Owen’s links: 

https://scothistorypod.com/

Orkney travel books: https://amzn.to/3THrBqI 

Skara Brae books: https://amzn.to/3THrBqI 

Our Scotland is a podcast about Scotland for people who love the country, regardless of where they live or how often they’ve visited.

Our Scotland facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourscotlandpodcast 

Email: scottishatheartpodcast@gmail.com

In this episode we are going to hear from musician and radio presenter Gary Innes.

Gary has been performing and composing music for over two decades. Born in the village of Spean Bridge in the North of Scotland, Gary is one of the founding members of award-winning Scottish super-group Mànran,

Gary is also host of longest running radio show on BBC Radio Scotland – the world renowned Take the Floor, and an ex-Scottish Shinty captain and internationalist.

Gary’s links: 

Website: https://www.garyinnes.com/

Mànran: https://manran.co.uk/

Take The Floor: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07y72yv

Gary’s perfect day

Where: Lamlash, Isle of Arran

Food and drink: Cullen Skink, Speyside single malts, such as Glenlivet and Macallan

Music: Runrig and Capercaillie

Read up on Arran here.

Books on traditional Scottish music

Our Scotland is a podcast about Scotland for people who love the country, regardless of where they live or how often they’ve visited.

Our Scotland facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourscotlandpodcast 

Email: scottishatheartpodcast@gmail.com

Paige Daley is the registrar of the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register and the owner of the Loch Ness Monster Fan Club TikTok account.

The Loch Ness Monster, otherwise known as Nessie, is a topic that has been talked about for as long as I can remember. 

Growing up I watched a cartoon series called the Family Ness and a family holiday to visit cousins in Inverness wasn’t complete without a visit to Loch Ness to go look for Nessie.

Whether you believe in Nessie or not, I think you’re going to learn a lot about the mystery from Paige. 

Paige’s links: 

Loch Ness register 

Loch Ness Fan Club TikTok 

Other Loch Ness links:

Webcams

Family Ness

Nessie books and merch 

Visit Scotland: Loch Ness

Paige’s perfect day

Where: Loch Ness, starting at Dores Beach, visit Drumnadrochit, Urquhart Castle and finish at Fort Augustus

Food and drink: Haggis, coffee and cake at Dores Beach

Music: Peat & Diesel, Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris also got a mention

Our Scotland is a podcast about Scotland for people who love the country, regardless of where they live or how often they’ve visited.

Our Scotland facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourscotlandpodcast 

Email: scottishatheartpodcast@gmail.com

Welcome to season 2 of the Our Scotland podcast, with me, your host, Alison Fraser. We have a new name but the passion for all things Scotland remains.

Going forwards you can expect to hear more about the perfect days in Scotland, you might get some ideas for a future holiday, add some Scottish fayre to your shopping list and discover some Scottish artists to listen to.

We’re starting this season with a conversation with writer Barry Hutchison. Barry is a prolific author having published more than 100 titles for both children and adults. 

He’s known by crime fiction fans as JD Kirk, the creator of DCI Jack Logan, and today his 19th Logan novel is published.

That’s called Where The Pieces Lie and links to that are in the shownotes.

You’re going to hear about much of that and more, as we discover where Barry would spend his ideal 24 hours in Scotland.

Barry’s links: 

Books by JD Kirk: https://jdkirk.com/ 

Books by Barry Hutchison: https://barryjhutchison.com/ 

Buy Where The Pieces Lie https://amzn.to/43UJxCF 

Barry’s 24 hours:

Isle of Islay: https://www.islayinfo.com/ 

12 of the best seafood shacks in Scotland: https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/food-drink/best-seafood 

The Proclaimers https://the.proclaimers.co.uk/

Skippinish https://www.skipinnish.com/ 

Our Scotland is a podcast about Scotland for people who love the country, regardless of where they live or how often they’ve visited.

Our Scotland facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourscotlandpodcast 

Email: scottishatheartpodcast@gmail.com

If you could design your perfect day in Scotland what would it look like?

Where would you be? What would you do? What food, drink and music would you enjoy?

These are the questions I ask my guests in Our Scotland.

My name is Alison Fraser and I’m on a quest to find the best places to visit Scotland, from the eyes of the people who have experienced them for themselves.

Our Scotland is a podcast about Scotland for people who love the country, regardless of where they live or how often they’ve visited.

In Season 1 we heard stories of connection, in this season we’re delving more into the country itself and the people who live there.

As well as hearing about their perfect days you’re going to learn about the Loch Ness Monster, traditional music, the history at your doorstep, Scottish literature and so much more to give you a deeper connection to Scotland.

I cannot wait to share these with you, please give this podcast a follow so you don’t miss an episode and tell your Scotland loving friends all about it too.