Wigtown Book Festival

We’re just home from a short stay in Wigtown in ‘The Machars’ in the west of the south of Scotland. I’m pleased that we’d arranged some accommodation and were able to spend  time just looking round and taking in the atmosphere because it’s a strangely remote  point of land which gives you a feeling of [...]

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Brightwater Holidays – Scottish Ancestral Trail

The idea of putting ‘genealogy’ into a group tour itinerary seemed difficult but we have cracked it! We have come up with an entirely new concept of using an actor to portray a fictional character to illustrate how his life is recorded through his major life events. While enjoying a tour of central and southern [...]

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American Scottish Foundation

I enjoyed attending a reception hosted by the American Scottish Foundation held in Edinburgh last night and it was great to see so many people interested in promoting and maintaining the links between our two countries.  The fabulous building where the reception was held was originally Edinburgh’s oldest Victorian public baths. It has since been [...]

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The ‘Clearances’ – Scotland north and south

Throughout the evolution of Scotland’s history her people have moved in search of work and prosperity. Sometimes they moved through choice and sometimes they were moved by the owner on whose land they lived. It is often thought that what is know as the ‘Clearances’ occurred only in the Highlands when in fact the land [...]

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Homecoming Results Published

This news is just in …….. Independent research published today sets out the positive impact of Scotland’s first ever year of celebration, with Homecoming delivering a string of benefits to the country and bolstering Scottish tourism during one of the toughest economic downturns.The key findings in the report from EKOS, a leading economic and social [...]

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Scottish Politics

In the UK we have a new Prime Minster and for the first time in 70 years a ‘peace time’ coalition government.  (Of course there was a coalition government during the 2nd world war.)  Today the new Prime Minister, David Cameron is in Edinburgh talking to our Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond.  Scotland defends her [...]

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Scotland Quiz – Question 1

Our first quiz question is going to be an easy one! When was the Battle of Bannockburn fought and between whom? Answers, left here or on our Facebook page.  No prize this time just the glory of getting the answer right!

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Scotlands Places

I have just heard about a new website which will help ancestor hunters and researchers. So often you will have the name of a farm or hamlet, which is possibly now extinct and it seems impossible to uncover any records or pictures. Your search is now over!  This is a facinating site which newcomers to [...]

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What a weekend! 25 and 26th July 2009

We have had a great week welcoming visitors from overseas.  Members of the Livingstone/McLea Clan and members of the Douglas Clan before the weekend and then many for the Clan Gathering event itself who were going to tour Scotland afterwards.  As I write we have visitors staying in Inverness, Thurso, Edinburgh and Liverpool! and others [...]

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Caledonian MacBrayne

History has been made by the company which provides the ferry service to the Outer Hebridies.  Caledonian MacBrayne will start a service from the Island of Lewis to Ullapool on the mainland which will run on a Sunday.  There has always been resistance from the islanders about the possibility of this change – a ferry on the Sabbath.  The demand [...]

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