Articles

The Scottish Banner speaks to Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross

Glasgow band Deacon Blue are celebrating 40 years of incredible music with an upcoming tour to Australia and New Zealand. Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross spoke to the Scottish Banner on 40 years of the band, their new album and just what audiences can expect with the upcoming tour.

Deacon Blue is celebrating 40 years of incredible music. Can you tell us how the band formed and could any of you have ever considered the band would still be playing to audiences around the world four decades later?

RR: We have a kind of floating anniversary, because Dougie the drummer and myself got together for the first-time round in 1985 and over the course of time, over the next year and a half, everyone else came in. We started recording late 86 and put out our first record in 1987, so it’s one of these things that took a little while to get together and then once we started the recording with that first record in 1987, and the second one in 1989, we just kind of hit the road and did a lot of live shows. It was not until 1989 that we came to Australia, and oddly enough we never came back until 2019 and then came back two years ago again. As we have come back over these last two tours, the audience has grown enormously, and it’s been really exciting to see.

I think the second part to the question is easy to answer, we could not have even considered it back then.

Deacon Blue formed in Glasgow in 1985 during a time some incredible Scottish bands were on the scene such as Texas, Simple Minds and Hue and Cry. What was it like to be making music at such a golden age for Scottish music?

RR:  It certainly was an exciting time, lots of people were putting bands together then. People were coming up from London to see the Scottish bands.  People were making records, sometimes independent records, getting money to make more expensive records and going abroad to record. There was a lot of exciting things happening back then and musicians were getting a chance to work in different environments, and there were good studios to work in as well which was great.

When you were in a studio you bumped into other musicians as well, so it felt like Glasgow was a great place for music. You mention Simple Minds, we didn’t know them. They were above our station at the time, they were just zooming ahead and had become huge and played Live Aid in America and that kind of stuff. They were definitely an inspiration for us. And I think the big inspiration at the time was that bands like Simple Minds didn’t always go down to London, they made people come to see them. And that was the mantra we had that we would not go anywhere and would let people come and see us in Scotland. And that’s kind of what happened and that’s how we got started.

Deacon Blue is synonymous with the city of Glasgow where you signed your first record deal from a car bonnet on the banks of the Clyde. What is it about Glasgow do you love and how much has the city inspired you creatively?

RR: Glasgow is a unique city and has its own character. As a post-industrial city, it’s got a great humour, it has a kind of humility, but it also has a great warmth. There is also an attitude in Glasgow, it doesn’t look elsewhere for it, it just knows what it is. The city does not try to import culture as there is enough there. There’s a lot of artists, from musicians, painters, theatre, to film makers. There’s a lot of stuff going on in Glasgow, because it’s a big enough city to carry that, and there are a lot of stories to be told.

For me Glasgow is a place where I’ve always written songs and has been a place I have found the stories to write those songs. For example, the song Dignity, the song is set in the south side of Glasgow, and I would look out my window and see council workers walking down the street with brushes and it inspired me to write it. That story and song basically started from looking at the world out the window and then you have a dream. 

Some may be interested to hear you were once an English teacher, do you think that background helped you write such great and timeless songs?

RR: No, I think I’ve wrote these songs despite being a teacher. I enjoyed teaching but I was working away in the background on my music. I was growing up in the atmosphere of The Beatles and Bob Dylan and these people that were all song writers. To me song writing was a sexy thing, I had no interest in making videos or dressing up and all of the paraphernalia that surrounds pop music.  I had no interest in any of that stuff; I was interested and still am interested in the business of song writing.

How songs kind of seep into your heart and change the way you think and make you want to turn around to go into a different direction.  That’s what has always captured me, and I think that’s what I have always tried to chase really.

Deacon Blue have just released their new album The Great Western Road. How does it make you feel to still be able to share with audiences not just iconic classics like Dignity and Real Gone Kid but also the great new music the band is still creating today?

RR: The funny thing is when you start off with a song, sometimes you start off with very little. Then suddenly emerges a whole idea of a record and suddenly a song comes together and before you know it a couple of songs come together. The basis of an album starts to form and it’s lovely just to let that happen, that creative exercise to take its own course.  Of course, you just hope it connects with people, you know that basically the audience is yourself. You think if I’m interested in this, then maybe someone else will be.

Then the next audience is the rest of the band, and if they think the songs have some value then maybe the audience does, and it’s as simple as that really. It is lovely when it connects, and I think we’ve had an amazing reaction to the songs on this record from our audience. People tell us they are enjoying this new album and that has been a lovely thing for us.

Australian and New Zealand audiences can join in the Deacon Blue 40^th anniversary as you tour in January and February. How much are you looking forward to playing in the Southern Hemisphere and what can audiences expect from the upcoming shows?

RR: Well, we have loved this part of the world, we loved it back in 1989, we loved it in 2019, and we loved it in 2023. As I said before that audience has grown and that’s been really exciting to watch.  People can look forward to the songs they know as well as songs from the new record. We try and mix it up a bit, we try to make each night special. Whatever we do one night wouldn’t necessarily be what we do the next night, we try to make that the best night for that audience.

We have just finished a UK tour and that was an exciting time, and a different tour than we’ve done before, but was again a creative one. We are very excited to come over and the whole band looks forward to playing to audiences in Australia and New Zealand.

Deacon Blue tour Perth, Adelaide, Thirroul, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane between January 28-February 10. For full information and tickets: www.daltours.cc/deacon-blue

Deacon Blue tour Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland between February 12-15. For full information and tickets: livenation.co.nz.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

The sound of pipes and drums will once again ring out this holiday season as the 27^th annual Pipes of Christmas returns with performances in Boston, New York City, and Summit, New Jersey.

Presented by the Learned Kindred of Currie, the beloved concert celebrates Scotland and Ireland’s rich musical and spiritual heritage through a vibrant program of traditional carols, hymns, and readings that tell the story of Christmas through a distinctly Celtic lens.

The true spirit of the season

Audiences will experience stirring performances by world-class musicians on bagpipes, brass, fiddle, harp, and organ, alongside the majestic voices of the Pipes of Christmas Choir. Narrations drawn from the works of Scottish poets, scripture, and classic holiday literature bring warmth, reflection, and inspiration to the stage. “For more than a quarter century, The Pipes of Christmas has brought together people of all backgrounds to celebrate faith, heritage, and the true spirit of the season,” said Robert Currie, producer of the concert and Commander of the Name and Arms of Currie.

Since its founding 27 years ago, The Pipes of Christmas has earned rave reviews and industry awards from audiences and critics alike for its majestic blend of music, history, and message. Over the years, The Pipes of Christmas has become a cherished tradition for families across generations, drawing capacity audiences from across North America and abroad. Beyond the stage, the concert has raised thousands of dollars to support educational and cultural initiatives, including music scholarships in Scotland, the United States, and Canada—helping nurture the next generation of artists and scholars.

This year’s program will feature new musical selections alongside cherished favorites such as Highland Cathedral, Wexford Carol and Silent Night, performed in the rich Celtic style that has captivated audiences for over two decades.

Performance Schedule:

• Boston, MA – December 5-6, Church of the Covenant at 7PM and Noon
• New York, NY – December 13, Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church at 2PM
• Summit, NJ – Central Presbyterian Church at 2 and 7PM

Global webcast of Concert Highlights to follow

For those unable to attend in person, concert highlights will once again be shared with audiences around the world through the Pipes of Christmas Global Webcast, premiering on December 19 for subscribers. The broadcast brings the magic of the live performances to homes across six continents, allowing friends and families everywhere to share in the music, message, and joy of the season.

The Learned Kindred of Currie is an international Scottish heritage society dedicated to celebrating Scotland’s history, language, and culture. The organization sponsors the annual Pipes of Christmas concerts and a variety of educational programs, including scholarships for young musicians, writers, and scholars.

Complete information and tickets are available on the concert website at www.pipesofchristmas.com.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Scottish solicitors and legal writer Joshua Julien Brouard explore Scotland’s quirky laws, from Not Proven verdicts to freedom to roam.

From the courtroom to the countryside, Scottish law reveals just how closely rules can be tied to the way people actually live. Whether protecting open landscapes, shaping marriage ceremonies, or even governing farm work after a few too many drinks, these laws showcase a culture that prizes both practicality and freedom.

Curious? Read on as we explore five Scottish laws that will make you say, ‘Only in Scotland!’

1. No Strings Attached: Contracts Without Consideration

“In Scotland, contracts don’t require consideration to be binding; a reflection of the practical, straightforward nature of Scots and the country’s civil law heritage. It’s a system that prioritizes intent and agreement over formalities.” – Phulah Pall, Head of Immigration at Jones Whyte Solicitors.

In English law, contracts typically require ‘consideration’ – a benefit or exchange between the parties involved. Scotland, however, takes a different approach: here, simply having the intention to form a contract is generally enough. So how did this distinction arise? The answer lies in Scotland’s civil law traditions, which were heavily influenced by Roman law. Roman law placed a strong emphasis on obligation and mutual intent, rather than strict formalities, and these principles carried over into Scots law. This means that Scottish contract law can feel more practical and flexible than its English counterpart. Rather than getting caught up in the technicalities of what counts as a benefit, the focus is on the genuine agreement between parties – a reflection, some might say, of the straightforward and pragmatic nature often associated with the Scottish people. It’s a subtle but significant difference that highlights how legal systems evolve in ways that mirror the societies they serve.

And if contracts show Scotland’s pragmatic side, criminal law reveals an equally fascinating quirk.

2. Guilty, Not Guilty… and the Mystery Verdict

Did you know that in Scotland, criminal trials have historically included more than just ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’? There’s a third verdict: ‘Not Proven.’ While it functions much like a ‘Not Guilty’ verdict, it carries a slightly different meaning – it signals that there wasn’t enough evidence to fully exonerate the accused, leaving an air of ambiguity. The ‘Not Proven’ verdict has long been a subject of debate. Critics argue that it can be confusing for juries and the public alike, while others see it as a uniquely Scottish safeguard against wrongful convictions.

After years of discussion, the Scottish Parliament finally voted in September 2025 to abolish it. The aim is to simplify the system, remove uncertainty, and make criminal trials clearer and more straightforward for everyone involved. This change marks the end of a centuries-old legal quirk and reflects an ongoing effort to modernize Scottish law while balancing fairness, clarity, and justice. Yet not all of Scotland’s quirky laws are about the courtroom or contracts; some are about the great outdoors.

3. How Scots Can Legally Wander Almost Anywhere

“The freedom to roam embodies Scotland’s respect for personal responsibility and connection to the land. It allows people to explore and enjoy nature while balancing freedom with respect for property and the environment.” – Charles Brown, Partner at Jones Whyte Solicitors.

Scotland is often hailed as one of the most progressive countries in the world when it comes to public access to land. Thanks to the Land Reform Act of 2003, the public has the right to access most land and inland water, and in certain circumstances, this can even include private estates. This approach not only benefits locals, allowing them to enjoy Scotland’s natural beauty, but also supports tourism by making the country more inviting for walkers, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts.

Of course, this freedom comes with responsibility. Whether you’re camping in the Highlands, cycling through a scenic trail, or simply taking a stroll, the principle of ‘Leave No Trace’ is key. Visitors are expected to respect the environment, wildlife, and the land itself, ensuring that Scotland’s landscapes remain beautiful and accessible for generations to come. And when it comes to freedom, there’s perhaps no moment more personal than marriage; which, in Scotland, comes with its own legal twist.

4. Your Wedding, Your Way: The Scottish Legal Twist

Scotland has long been known for its people-first approach to the law, and few areas reflect this better than how it allows couples to marry. While England and Wales enforce strict formalities, including notice periods and requirements for licensed venues or registrars, Scotland takes a much more flexible approach. Couples can marry in a wider range of settings and be officiated by a broader variety of people. The focus is on genuine consent rather than rigid formalities, making Scottish law uniquely accommodating and practical for life’s big moments. And speaking of life’s practicalities, some laws are less romantic; but no less important.

5. Tipsy and Tending Cows? Better Not Be in Scotland

“Quirky historical laws, like the prohibition on being drunk while tending livestock, showcase Scotland’s practical approach to everyday life and safety. They may seem amusing today, but they reflect a long tradition of balancing personal freedom with community responsibility.” – Ross Anderson, Partner at Jones Whyte Solicitors.

While potentially reflective of times past, Scottish law prohibits getting drunk while handling livestock. Peculiar? Perhaps. Practical? Most definitely. Livestock can be unpredictable, and even the most experienced handler can be put at risk if impaired. This law isn’t just about enforcement; it’s about protecting both people and animals alike.

In Scotland, a tipsy farmer is no laughing matter. Being under the influence while tending to cows, sheep, or other livestock is not only dangerous but also against the law. It’s a reminder that, in rural Scotland, responsibility and care are taken as seriously as tradition and hard work.

Celebrating Scotland’s legal quirks and wisdom

Scotland’s laws, quirky, practical, and often steeped in tradition, from progressive freedoms like the right to roam to the now-abolished ‘Not Proven’ verdict, reveal how a nation’s character and values are woven into its legal system. Ultimately, these legal quirks tell the story of a country where law, life, and tradition are inseparably intertwined.

Main photo: Picture sourced from Pexels. Photo: Katrin Bolvtsova.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Archaeologists from the University of Glasgow and the National Trust for Scotland have recovered more than 100 projectiles, including lead musket balls and cannon shot, from Culloden Battlefield. The discoveries were made by a team of archaeologists and volunteers led by the Trust’s Head of Archaeology Derek Alexander and the University’s Professor Tony Pollard.

The battle, fought on 16 April 1746, saw the decisive defeat of the Jacobite army led by Bonnie Prince Charlie by government forces commanded by the Duke of Cumberland’s government army.

The last battle fought on British soil

The new findings, from an area of the battlefield that had not previously yielded any archaeological discoveries, is fresh evidence from the last battle fought on British soil. The most striking result from the investigation, which took place between 13-18 October, was the recovery of over 100 projectiles, which included lead musket balls and cannon shot, the latter of which included what is believed to be a three-pound cannon ball fired by the Jacobite artillery.  This collection of artefacts not only proves that archaeology from the battle has survived in this area but, the project leaders believe, it has provided evidence for one of the most dramatic episodes in a battle that from beginning to end probably lasted less than an hour.

A variety of techniques, including metal detector survey, trial trenching and test pitting were used to examine a portion of the battlefield which, on 16 April 1746, sat between the government and Jacobite lines. This area had failed to produce archaeological material in the past, possibly due to disturbances caused by a 19^th century forestation, which created acid soils, and tree clearance in more recent times. The area is also boggy, which has provided further challenges for archaeologists. On the importance of these discoveries to the wider understanding of the battlefield, Derek Alexander said: “We are delighted with the results, especially as the ground we investigated didn’t appear to hold out a great deal of promise. Our volunteers did a fantastic job of enhancing our understanding of the battle and the battlefield as it exists today. This new evidence adds to earlier findings, which include the scatter of objects related to the hand-to-hand fighting on Cumberland’s left, to the south of the present site. We now have a clearer picture of where the various actions that made up the battle took place, and this will assist the National Trust for Scotland in enhancing on-site interpretation and the long-term management of the battlefield. We look forward to bringing the team back together to carry out a more detailed examination of the finds.”

The fate of the Jacobite cause

Professor Tony Pollard added: “We’ve only had time to make a rapid assessment of our results, but musket balls fired by Jacobite and government troops, including pistol balls fired by government dragoons, likely relate to one of the last actions in the battle. This fight took place between the initial battle lines, at a location where boggy ground slowed the Highland charge, and this in combination with heavy fire from Cumberland’s line helped to seal the fate of the Jacobite cause.  As the Jacobites retreated, a battalion of Irish troops in French service, fighting with the Jacobites, made a brave stand against hundreds of mounted men from Cobham’s Dragoons and possibly Kingston’s Horse, advancing from the right of Cumberland’s line. The job of these horsemen was to cut down the disordered Jacobites, and we have recovered some of the shot fired from their heavy pistols. The Irish troops, numbering about 150 men, under their commander Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Stapleton, blocked this advance and according to an account by Adjutant General John O’Sullivan, one of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s senior officers, fired volleys into the approaching cavalry. The red-coated Irish Picquets then found cover behind the walls of Culloden Parks but their surrender, after suffering heavy casualties, with Stapleton among the dead, was the only alternative to total annihilation. Being regular troops in French service, they were treated as prisoners of war rather than rebels, but none-the-less they suffered the privations of confinement on a prison hulk in the Thames before being repatriated to France in early 1747. This valiant action helped thousands of Jacobites get away from the field, but it gets only brief mentions in most of the history books. A more detailed analysis of the artefacts and their distribution pattern will be required before we can make a definitive statement but at present there are no obvious alternative interpretations.”

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

History has officially been made at Fed Square in Melbourne. On Wednesday 12 November, hundreds of pipers gathered at Fed Square for The Great Melbourne Bagpipe Bash, together setting a new world record for the largest ever bagpipe ensemble. Presented by Fed Square and supported by City of Melbourne and ABC Radio Melbourne, the record-breaking performance saw a sea of tartan and kilts fill the city’s heart as 374 bagpipers played AC/DC’s legendary It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll)  in thunderous unison.

The event paid homage to the band’s iconic 1976 music video, filmed on Swanston Street by Paul Drane for ABC’s Countdown. Nearly fifty years on, that moment was brought roaring back to life, this time louder, larger, and led by pipers from all across Victoria, around the country, with some even travelling from New Zealand to take part.

Creative spirit and music legacy

The previous world record of 333 pipers, set in Bulgaria in 2012, was officially surpassed, confirmed onsite by adjudicators from The Australian Book of Records with the sound of the pipes echoing across the CBD. Katrina Sedgwick OAM, Director & CEO of MAP Co said “The Great Melbourne Bagpipe Bash was pure joy, bringing together musicians of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate our creative spirit and music legacy. Hundreds of bagpipers, an AC/DC anthem, and the heart of the city alive with music. Fed Square has always been the place where Melbourne comes to celebrate. Today, we made history together.”

Afterwards, the pipers played Happy Birthday to Scottish actor Gerard Butler who was in the crowd of thousands to witness the world record performance, followed by Amazing Grace.

Photos courtesy of Tobia Titz.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) awarded a prestigious honorary doctorate to international bestselling author Diana Gabaldon at its graduation ceremony in November at Eden Court, Inverness. The honorary doctorate is one of the highest honours the university bestows. It recognises her outstanding contribution to literature and entertainment, celebrating how her work has brought Scottish history and heritage to life, and promoted the Highlands to a global audience.

Diana Gabaldon is best known for her Outlander novels, that blend of historical fiction, romance and fantasy that has sold 50 million copies in 39 languages across 114 countries. Her storytelling has inspired renewed international interest in Scotland’s history, landscapes and traditions, and her work has been credited with boosting Scottish tourism through the so-called ‘Outlander effect.’

The series now spans nine volumes, with a 10^th in progress, as well as spin-off novels and short stories. It also inspired the award-winning television adaptation of the same name, and its prequel Outlander: Blood of My Blood, both filmed in Scotland. Fittingly, the UHI graduation ceremony took place in Inverness, the same location where the Outlander heroine, Claire, begins her time-travel journey in 1946. Gabaldon said: “I’m honoured and excited to take part in this year’s graduation ceremony and very happy for all the new graduates. Congratulations!”

Also graduating on the day is Dr Alexandra Dold (32), originally from Germany and now living in Glasgow, who will receive a PhD for her thesis examining Outlander as public history. Her research explores how Gabaldon’s historical fiction uses narrative strategies such as intertextuality and the representation of historical research methodologies to shape perceptions of Scottish history, and how her storytelling invites readers across the world to engage emotionally and critically with the past. There is no one else in the world who has solely focused on the novels and the specific narrative strategies, making Dr Dold quite unique as ‘Doctor of Outlander’.

Dr Dold said: “I’m incredibly excited to be a ‘Doctor of Outlander’. UHI Centre for History, has been fantastic in supporting my research… even though it is slightly unusual for a degree in History. My hope is that this research helps others see how stories like Outlander can make history more accessible, showing that learning about the past can be emotional, personal and inspiring.”

Vicki Nairn, UHI Principal and Vice-Chancellor, added: “We are delighted to award Diana Gabaldon an honorary doctorate of the University of the Highlands and Islands. Through her remarkable storytelling, she has shared Scotland’s history, language, and landscapes with audiences around the world, inspiring a deep appreciation of our culture and heritage. Diana’s work has also brought real economic and educational benefits to our regions, and we are proud to recognise her extraordinary contribution today.”

Images courtesy of the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

The Scottish North American Community Conference (SNACC) will be hosted in Alexandria, VA on December 5^th, both online and in person. Now in its 23^rd year, this annual conference brings together the Scottish American diaspora community for a collaboration of experience and knowledge.

This year’s theme, “Connecting Hearts and Minds: The Way Forward,” will focus on strengthening our collective Scottish heritage. As the community faces technological and generational change, the conference aims to bring together the Scottish American community as an anchor of shared challenges and experiences, promoting collaboration and mentoring for future generations. Charles, Lord Bruce, the new Convenor of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, will deliver the keynote, offering insights into his plans of strengthening the connection with the Scottish American community.

A panel from The Heirs Project, an initiative of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, will explore the importance of mentoring. The panel will feature John Cochran FSA Scot, Vice President of the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations (COSCA) joined by heirs, The Hon. Alexander Fraser, Master of Saltoun, and Lord Archibald Cochrane. Young leaders from the Council of Scottish Clans and Association (COSCA),the Scottish American Women’s Society (SAWS) and the Clan Campbell Society NA will discuss their shared experiences as they emphasise the importance of mentoring

‘Scottish Connections’ brings together exciting opportunities open to the Scottish American Community, with Rory Hedderly, Head of Business Development, Saltire Foundation USA, joined by Brian Smith, Trustee of the University of Strathclyde, and Jonathan Jack, NA Opportunities Manager at the University of St. Andrews.

Knowledge to the community

Among the many engaging panels are ‘Women in Scottish Societies, Associations, & Organizations,’ ‘Heritage and Culture as a Tool for Connection,’ and ‘St. Andrews Societies.’ Gus Noble, OBE, President & CEO, Chicago Scots, will introduce The Rt. Hon. Henry McLeish who will highlight the work of Alzheimer Scotland, introducing a later thread of how the Scottish American Community can contribute to a better society with philanthropic engagement. The conference organizations will discuss the challenges they face in the changing social landscape, giving their valuable insight and knowledge to the community.

Camilla G. Hellman, MBE (American Scottish Foundation) will be joined by Gus Noble, OBE (Chicago Scots); John King Bellassai (COSCA); Bob Giles (St. Andrews Society of Detroit); Susan Bryant Thomas (Scottish Heritage USA); and Aliana Shephard (Scottish American Women’s Society),

Together, Leaders and Organizations from across the Scottish American Community, come together in collaboration to share, mentor, and secure the way forward for the future. This educational and inspiring day will be followed by whisky tasting and reception.

For further information visit: www.scottishleadershipconference.com

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Clans gathered once again at Kryal Castle in Ballarat, Victoria to the rousing sound of a lone piper calling all kin within the mighty Castle walls, as the Highland Spectacular returned for its third year in August. The weekend was a celebration of Scottish heritage and culture with the Chief of the Day Simon Abney-Hastings, the 15^th Earl of Loudoun, returning as the Chief of the Day and special guest Malcolm Murray the 12^th Earl of Dunmore.

The crowd favourite joust between the knights of England and Scotland returned to the main arena with the Scots, surprisingly taking the win. Proving once and for all that Scots are indeed the superior warriors of the burly lads and lasses from Highland Muscle.

For those who have never been to Edinburgh for the Tattoo, this was as close as you can get outside of Scotland. The massed pipes and drums celebrating the music of Scotland in the main arena with the fabulous Highland dancers with their wee’uns stole the show yet again.

Displays of Scottish culture in a Castle setting

On Saturday evening a traditional Highland Feast was held at the Castle with haggis and other fine Scottish culinary delights. Accompanying the delicious food were selected whiskys from Kinglake Distillery. After dinner the crowd jumped up for the stirring Hebridean tunes of Auld Alliance, who called traditional dances.

Highland Spectacular creative director, Andrew McKinnon, was excited to see the event grow in 2025 and said:  “We saw thousands of people attend last year from the huge Scots diaspora around Ballarat and the Central Highlands region of Victoria. This year was the biggest turnout to date. I hope that we can attract more proud Scots from wider afield. Kryal Castle is only an hour from Melbourne. To see all the amazing attractions and displays of Scottish culture in a Castle setting makes this the closest thing to being in Scotland. Let’s not forget Ballarat has its own tartan!”

The Highland Spectacular was proudly presented by Kryal Castle.

The 2026 Highland Spectacular will take place August 29-30, 2026.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

The BBC quiz show Pointless often features questions where the answers are cities in the UK. It’s surprising how many contestants offer ‘St Andrews’ as an answer. Or perhaps it isn’t, after all, St Andrews has a university (Scotland’s oldest, dating from 1413), a ruined cathedral and is by common consent the world capital of golf. It even has a prominent street called ‘City Road’.

All the same, it’s not a city. If it were, it would be Scotland’s smallest city by a long way, its population just 17,000. However, the year-round influx of tourists, and the seasonal population of students mean that it has the retail, commercial and catering facilities of a rather bigger community. It can feel like a city.

Golf

Now, golf; St Andrews is home to several famous courses and to the Royal & Ancient (R&A), one of the sport’s governing bodies. Confusingly, these days the R&A is a separate organisation from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, whose clubhouse stands near the modern building that is the R&A World Golf Museum.

A wonderful PG Wodehouse story called The Coming of Gowf tells of a distant kingdom whose king sees a gardener swinging a hoe to hit small round stones. ‘It seems a hard thing to say of anyone, your majesty,’ explains the King’s vizier, ‘but he is a Scotsman.’ It turns out that the man had been captured at a place called ‘Snandrews’. Eventually he teaches the King, and his people, the joys of golf.

Beyond the golf courses are the West Sands, a fantastic beach, a glorious destination if you can find a hot summer’s day. They are now inextricably linked with another sport because of their role in two of the most memorable sequences in British cinema history.

A group of athletes in 1920s running kit (played by actors including Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nicholas Farrell and Nigel Havers) pound along the West Sands as they train for the 1924 Paris Olympics, accompanied by Vangelis’ soaring music. Lump-in-the-throat stuff. It’s Chariots of Fire (1981), of course, and the sequences, which open and close the film, are supposed to take place in Broadstairs in Kent. It’s very obviously St Andrews, though. Apparently there had been no longer term plan to shoot there. Apparently the crew were in Scotland shooting scenes in Perthshire and Edinburgh anyway, and St Andrews was thriftily chosen for the Broadstairs sequences. With unforgettable results.

Cennrigmonaid

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) care for both St Andrews Castle and St Andrews Cathedral, both mostly in ruins. They’re well worth seeing, though, and there’s a modern visitor centre at the castle which tells much of the St Andrews story. The first, early medieval settlement here was called Cennrigmonaid which, besides being a real mouthful, is said to mean something like ‘Church at the Head of the King’s Mount’. Over the years it was shortened, thankfully, to Kilrymont. There was a monastic settlement at an early date, and it gained royal connections from the time of Kenneth Mac Alpin in the 9^th century. But it was during the 11^th century that stories began to spread of a 4^th century figure called St Rule or Regulus (who may not have existed) taking the relics of St Andrew (who had existed) and lodging them at Kilrymont.

A shrine developed and became the focus of pilgrimage. Queen Margaret famously instituted a ferry – the Queen’s Ferry – from Lothian to Fife to help pilgrims reach the site. Already the seat of a bishop, St Andrews (as it was becoming known) was chosen as the site of an ambitious new cathedral, with David I giving the go-ahead sometime around 1140. The building took many decades, and rose beside the existing, smaller church dedicated to St Rule. In 1270, the west end of the building was destroyed in a storm, just as it approached completion.

The resulting cathedral became the seat of the Archbishop of St Andrews and was effectively the headquarters of Scotland’s medieval church. It was a massive building, perhaps larger than it needed to be as the flow of pilgrims to the shrine of St Andrew was never as large as had been hoped. It certainly had an interesting life, with the invading Edward I of England residing there, holding a parliament, and even stealing lead from the roof. It was only after the English had been removed from Scotland, in 1318, that the cathedral was finally consecrated in full. Robert the Bruce was in attendance.

Historical and cultural depth

In the cathedral’s heyday, St Andrews could legitimately call itself a city. The cathedral fell out of use after the Reformation; you’ll sometimes read that the building was destroyed at the time by the reformers. In fact, the building was mined over the centuries by local people for building materials. What’s left still does give a sense of the enormous scale of the building in its pomp. I recommend taking one of the regular tours led by HES staff. Your tour finishes with an airy visit to the top of St Rule’s Tower – the remaining bit of the church which preceded the cathedral.

You can’t escape St Andrews’ golfing history even here, though. The precinct has continued to be used for burials and a modern object of pilgrimage is the tomb of Young Tom Morris, a St Andrews lad who won the British Open at the age of 17 – he’s still the youngest to have done so – and died at the tragically early age of 24. There’s a well-worn path to his shrine (for, really, it is a shrine) which is easily identifiable by the bronze statue of Young Tom, complete with club and ball.

St Andrews Castle was highly bracing on the wet and windy occasion of one of my recent visits. It has a dramatic setting, just a stone’s throw from the cathedral, protected from the sea by dramatic crags. It was the seat of the Bishops and later Archbishops of St Andrews, but it saw many other distinguished guests. James I celebrated Christmas here in 1425 and it’s thought that James III may have been born in the castle.

Nowadays, especially if you visit in term time, the university rather sets the tone of the town. It’s an intriguing thought that St Andrews had a university 400 years before London. The distinctive red gowns add a unique flavour to the place. In recent years, there has been a trend for the younger members of the royal family to study at St Andrews a dream come true for the university’s student recruitment!

One thing St Andrews doesn’t have is a railway station but buses run from Leuchars Station every few minutes so it’s perfectly accessible even without a car. You could call it a seaside resort, but that description does no justice the town’s historical and cultural depth. What it isn’t, not anymore anyway, is a city.

Text and photos: David McVey.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

The Scottish Banner speaks to Paul Gallagher, Chairperson, The Caledonian Society of Sydney

The Caledonian Society of Sydney is fairly new Scottish organisation. Can you tell us about the Society and its goals?

PG: Upon returning to Australia two years ago, I noticed a gap—a lack of a dedicated business network for Scots seeking to establish themselves in Sydney. Recognising this need, I joined forces with fellow members of the Scottish Government’s Global Scot program. We saw, especially with the number of young Scots relocating to Australia, that such a network could be highly beneficial.

The Caledonian Society was thus formed, aiming to provide a welcoming community for individuals of Scottish heritage or anyone who feels a strong affinity with Scotland. Our mission is to support members in their business and professional endeavours by organising events that foster networking, encourage the exchange of ideas, and facilitate mentorship. We are particularly committed to helping young Scots get settled and thrive in Sydney.

Inclusivity is at the heart of our Society. We consciously maintain a balanced representation across age groups and gender—half our committee is female and half are under 35 years old. This reflects our dedication to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported. While we are still in the early stages of development, we aspire to introduce a charity component to our mission within the next 18 months, further strengthening our commitment to the community.

The Caledonian Society is this month hosting its inaugural black tie St Andrews Dinner & Ceilidh. Can you tell us more?

PG: Promoting Scottish culture and tradition in a way that resonates with contemporary audiences is central to our mission. To ensure that our celebration of St Andrews Day would be meaningful and inclusive, we consulted our younger members, seeking their input on how best to mark this significant occasion. The overwhelming preference was for a black-tie dinner paired with a ceilidh, blending formal elegance with lively Scottish tradition.

Accordingly, on November 14^th, we will gather at the Fullerton Hotel in Sydney for an evening that captures the spirit of Scotland. Guests will be treated to a ceilidh band, the iconic haggis, and, undoubtedly, some fine whisky—creating an authentic Scottish atmosphere. The event will also feature a charity auction, generously supported by one of our sponsors, Pickles Auctions. Funds raised from this event will go to the Women’s Housing Company, an organisation dedicated to providing safe accommodation and support to thousands of homeless women across New South Wales each year.

The Society also plans other events throughout the year, can you tell us about them and how people can get involved?

PG: Since launching just five months ago, the Caledonian Society of Sydney has grown to over 600 followers.  It has already brought together members for three vibrant midweek networking events. Each gathering has been filled with lively conversation and genuine connections, with attendees sharing how these opportunities have opened new doors for them professionally and personally.

More than just a place to swap business cards, these events have sparked valuable mentoring relationships—a key part of our vision for the Society. We’re delighted to see members supporting each other’s journeys, whether it’s offering advice over coffee or helping navigate new challenges. This spirit of camaraderie and mutual uplift is at the heart of what we do.

We’re excited to keep the momentum going, with plans to host these networking evenings every quarter. If you’d like to join us or stay up to date on future events, simply follow The Caledonian Society on LinkedIn, where you’ll find all the latest news, updates, and ways to get involved. Everyone with a love for Scotland or a desire to connect is welcome—we look forward to meeting you.

The Society is an avenue for professional Scots to not only connect but also allows for mentorship. Why is it important for you to offer that to new Scots relocating in Australia?

PG: We are actively working towards developing a formalised mentoring program within the Society. Beyond simply facilitating professional networks, this initiative will provide structured support for members, allowing mentees to clarify their goals, enhance their skills, and build the confidence needed to overcome challenges. By offering guidance and encouragement, mentors will help participants better navigate both professional and personal obstacles.

Importantly, a formal mentoring program will also foster greater diversity and inclusivity throughout the Society. By extending support to those who may feel less confident or underrepresented, we aim to ensure that every member feels empowered to participate fully and achieve their potential.

Can you tell us where in Scotland you are from and what brought you to Australia?

PG:  I was born in Edinburgh but grew up in Dumfries and Galloway.  I first worked in Australia from 1998 and was proud to work with amazing clients such as the Sydney 2000 Olympics.  Having returned to the UK in 2001, I now find myself back in one of my favourite places, Sydney.  This time I have my family with me having relocated from Edinburgh.  Our three sons attend Scots College here in Sydney.  It is quite something to witness when the school comes together and sings Flower of Scotland!

For more information visit: thecaledoniansociety.com

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

There’s a moment before the pipes strike when the field holds its breath. In those heartbeats, you can feel whether a gathering remembers what it is. In Tallahassee, after so many silent years, the answer has been yes, clear, stubborn, resonant. Celebrating year four, the Games here weren’t relaunched as a spectacle; they were rebuilt as a gathering. That distinction matters to anyone who cares about where our traditions are headed next.

This isn’t an article to explain Highland games to the uninitiated. It’s an invitation to those who already know the sound of a clean pick on a heavy caber, who can tell by the hands whether a thrower will shy the stone or drive it like their ancestors are watching. It’s written for people who can sense when a festival is slowly becoming a theme park, and who still believe a chief’s gathering, even on new soil, can light the old fire while being as unique as the host themselves.

Recover the heartbeat

Why bring a dormant Games back at all? Because in the diaspora you either let the flame gutter, or you shoulder wind and keep it. You don’t watch your kin on their deathbed saying “do it” and not take on the task.  The Tallahassee Highland Games returns year four, not to replicate a standardized program, but to restore the older logic of the field: a host sets the tone; the land and its people shape the tests; and the gathering serves the community that carries it… clans, families, and the young who need to see strength up close. That is why this revival has felt less like a product launch and more like a promise kept.

The first principle was simple: recover the heartbeat. Stones. Not props, but trials that carry the weight of the land itself. In the beginning, we poured our own, concrete atlas stones and honest, because if you’re reviving a tradition, you start with your hands, not a shipment. Each of those early stones was cast in the same spirit as the old masons: shape what you have until the real one’s answer.

Now we’re hunting for them… the old white anchors that lie half-buried along country drives and fence lines, the quartz and limestone boulders that once marked roads and homes in Leon County. Those are the ones we want to lift, the ones that have already held their ground for a hundred years. We’ve even found some at Apalachee Regional Park. Perfect to pull from the soil and make our own challenge stones, unique to this field and to this land. Because every true Highland gathering deserves a stone that remembers where it stands.

The second principle: guard the caber. A caber toss is the great truth-teller of a games. Technique without courage is useless; courage without discipline is chaos. Hosting the International Highland Games Federation National Championship (IHGF) means inviting the standard to test you instead of you pretending to meet it. It’s a statement to athletes and to Scotland alike: when we say “Highland,” we mean it.

Third: put the clans back at the center. That means more than tents and signage. It means removing barriers, so culture isn’t pay-to-play and making room for actual teaching – genealogy, language, music, and the quiet work of transmission. In Tallahassee, clan and society presence isn’t a bolt-on; it’s the spine. Free participation for clans is not our charity; it’s alignment with the first principles. The point is to convene a people, not monetize a backdrop. To give them space to step out of the tent, show their tartans with pride and invite those who become kin and our next generations who honor the call.

The fourth principle is harder to talk about because it asks us to be honest about drift. Many events, especially successful ones, end up smoothing their edges until one looks very much like the next. But the older pattern of the Highlands ran on difference: river stones here, sea-wind there; a chief who prized his 400lb challenge stone more than the hammer; a glen with no wood for a truly monstrous caber and so a different trial altogether. That refusal to be interchangeable is part of what made the tradition durable. Tallahassee’s organizers have been explicit about resisting the temptation to become yet another “festival format.” They’re choosing curation over bloat, athlete-first fieldcraft over prop-work, and a hospitality culture that looks more like a feast than a VIP upsell. (Yes, there is a proper gala and whisky dinner—because hosts should host, and a night’s table can do more for a community than a month of posts.)

That feast mentality carries onto the field. When Francis Brebner is on the mic, seven-time world caber champion and President of the IHGF… the crowd doesn’t just get noise; they get standard, story, and pace. Announcing becomes stewardship. It’s a subtle difference, but you can feel it in how athletes respond and how children watch. Even the spectators roar as “the loudest crowd I’ve ever seen” delights in this new, yet oh so old tradition. The layout has been redrawn to serve that experience; clear sightlines, flow that respects the throw, and vantage points where new families can catch their first goosebumps without being jostled out of it.

Strength Without Borders

If the field is the heart, the year is the body with the soul of our loved ones quite literally imbued in it. Plenty of gatherings light a weekend and vanish. Tallahassee built a structure around the Games to keep the muscle working when the banners come down. Team Tallahassee (our nonprofit arm) coaches, equips, and funds athletes year-round. In practical terms, that pint you buy isn’t disappearing into a pit; it becomes fuel for the next thrower, the next travel stipend, the next kid who realizes they’re built for this. “Strength Without Borders” isn’t a line… It’s our policy. It signals to Scotland that this corner of the map understands stewardship.

There’s also a decision here to take heritage seriously without taking oneself too seriously. Three stages run music, dance, and heritage programming that teaches as it entertains. Children design tartans, build beards, test themselves at the Wee Highland Games area, and learn that culture is something you do with your hands. If you’ve ever worried that the next generation will inherit a Pinterest board instead of a living craft, the antidote is watching a kid heft a mini-caber with that stubborn set of the jaw we all recognize.

Some will ask whether television coverage and modern marketing dull the edge. Whether our partner podcast and unique branding signal something else. They can confuse, if you forget who you are. But when you treat the camera and mic as a witness rather than a judge, it amplifies what’s real. Stones of Strength filmed for cable isn’t dilution; it’s proof that the fire still burns hot enough to be seen from far away.

And when the co-branded Ology Brewing Company; Scottish red ale turns up in a Florida grocery, it may raise an eyebrow… until you realize that every can is an echo, carrying the name of the Games into new hands. The point isn’t to make the tradition fashionable; it’s to keep it fluent. When the field and our people stay honest, the signal will travel.

And then there is the matter of honor. Hosting the Clan Graham Society’s Annual General Meeting isn’t just calendar business; it’s a declaration that this revived gathering is honored to carry our ancestral weight. A chieftain’s presence changes the air. It anchors the weekend in lineage, in obligation, in that particular silence before the toast when you remember who you stand for. For a diaspora games, that is not small. It’s a sign that the old structure recognizes itself in the new and holds value in their people wherever they may be.

Place matters. Apalachee Regional Park is famous for cross-country… thin spikes on red clay, wind across open ground. Turning it into a Highland field isn’t a gimmick; it’s a metaphor for how tradition migrates. The same terrain that measures endurance at the World Cross Country will now measure courage under a caber. The same terrain now honored by the very sports like modern Track and Field, events that our great heritage inspired. That juxtaposition says what needs saying about diaspora culture: the roots can travel if the hands are willing.

The field is calling again

So, what should those of us in Scotland make of this American revival? Judge us by the old tests, not facade.

Does the field honor the athlete and the throw?

Do the stones belong to the place?

Are the clans convened to teach and to welcome, not just to decorate?

Is the feast a real feast, the hospitality real hospitality?

Does the year between the weekends matter? Coaching, building kit, and the quiet work of keeping people in the sport.

Does it resist becoming generic? Yes, and all on purpose, driven by the heart of our Team.

There are things to watch, always. Standard must be held. Craft must be taught. Commerce must be kept in harness. Cows, horses and folk didn’t just show up without driving economy. But if you’re looking for signs of life, you can hear them in Tallahassee, Florida. The pipes come in, the athletes square, the crowd shifts forward. The field breathes again.

For those of us who worry that the tradition is dwindling, maybe the answer isn’t to harden into nostalgia or chase novelty. Maybe it’s to remember how our ancestors built gatherings that felt like themselves and recalling that difference, not uniformity, was part of the genius. The Tallahassee Highland Games have chosen that path: not bigger for its own sake, but truer for ours.

If you come, don’t come to be entertained. Come to stand where the old and the new shake hands. Come to watch a kilted stranger pick a length of timber and make a promise with it. Come to see whether your own hands have been idle too long. The field is calling again. Answer how our people always have… by showing up, lifting what’s in front of you, celebrating our culture and uniqueness while leaving the ground better than we found it.

Experience the 2026 Tallahassee Highland Games at Apalachee Regional Park February 7 & 8^th, 2026. For further details visit: www.tallyhighlandgames.com

Text by: Ryan May.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Most conventional histories present the Norse invasions of Britain as a flash in the pan, an intense if fleeting period when the island’s kingdoms were carved up by seaborne raiders and their great axes. Bloody and swift as some raids were, in Scotland the picture is much more complex – there simply wouldn’t be a Scotland as we know it without centuries of Norse influence. So, where and when did Scotland’s ‘Viking Age’ begin and end, and what traces of it remain?

Fury of the Northmen

Immortalised in countless books, television shows, and history books, the Viking raid on Lindisfarne in northeast England in 793AD is commonly referred to as the very first appearance of the Northmen in Britain. We now know, however, that Vikings were plundering and setting down early roots in Shetland, Orkney, and the Outer Hebrides several decades before the ‘fury of the Northmen’ visited Lindisfarne.

The Northern Isles of Scotland are, after all, a mere two days’ sailing from northern Denmark or southwest Norway, barely a weekend trip for a Viking warband. Many Norse sagas mention raids in northern Scotland and the Hebrides as casually as we might mention going to the shops to buy groceries. There is evidence for Viking sea battles on Scottish shores as far south as Bute from the mid-780sAD, and no doubt some intrepid Norsemen ventured west significantly earlier than that.

Norse

One important thing to note is terminology. ‘Vikings’ were the raiders and plunderers who first struck British shores and did not intend to permanently settle upon them. Once they established communities and buried their dead in the new-won lands, they are referred to as ‘Norse’. The key difference is that ‘Viking’ is a verb, not a noun. There is no ‘Viking’ tribe or single culture. To go ‘a-Viking’ was to go raiding during the summer, so it really describes an occupation (raiding) rather than a cultural identity. A group of 9^th century Norwegians, Swedes, and Danes would have had far more to fight over than to agree on, and they often did!

By the early 800s AD significant Norse settlements were founded in places like Birsay in Orkney and Stornoway in Lewis. At Westness in Rousay, Orkney, the earliest Norse settlers buried their dead alongside the Pictish dead in the local cemetery. Perhaps this was one way of stamping their ownership upon the land, or of symbolically declaring that they were the new locals. These earliest settlers were known as landnamsmen, the ‘land-taking men’.

Perhaps unexpectedly, they seem to have respected many existing monuments like the ancient chambered cairns, and many Norse families would have included people of mixed Norse and Pictish or, in the Outer Hebrides, Gaelic heritage. Indeed, the Outer Hebrides became known in Gaelic as Innse Gall, the ‘Isles of the Strangers’, and a hybrid Gall-Gael culture emerged in subsequent centuries along Scotland’s western seaboard. This culture survived well into the Middle Ages in the form of Somerled’s Kingdom of Argyll and the Isles.

Lochlannach

It’s from the 830sAD onwards that things got rather more dire for those living in Scotland. Iona, a shining seat of Celtic Christianity, was repeatedly sacked. In 839AD a Norse army destroyed an army of Picts and slew the kings of Fortriu (in the central Highlands) and Dál Riata (in Argyll). Ancient power centres like Dunadd were abandoned due to constant raids. In 870AD a Norse host under Ivar the Boneless besieged and sacked Dumbarton Rock, capital of the Strathclyde Britons. They carried hundreds off as slaves and any survivors fled to their kinsmen in Wales. Native strongholds and kingdoms fell like autumn leaves to the Norse, while Norse realms like the mighty Earldom of Orkney ascended and gobbled up the leftover pieces of the resultant power vacuum.

The 10^th through 12^th centuries saw these Norse realms continue to expand until checked by increasingly assertive kings of Scots, who made forays into the Isles and clawed back territories in the northern mainland. During this time Norse culture largely replaced Gaelic culture in the Western Isles, with many place names there today still containing Norse elements. Gaelic folklore reflects this, with many folk tales centred on Irish and Scottish heroes resisting the ‘Lochlannach’, men from across the eastern sea who assumed mythological proportions and powers.

Norse folklore also imprinted on the Scottish landscape. In Orkney and Shetland many large boulders are attributed to Norse giants throwing them at each other, and in the Outer Hebrides many of the ancient ruins of chambered cairns and brochs were attributed to supernaturally strong Norse builders. The Norse left hogback gravestones along the banks of the River Clyde, carved runes into standing stones at sites like the Ring of Brodgar, built longhouses from Shetland to Kintyre, stashed away or abandoned valuables like the Galloway Hoard and the famed Lewis chess pieces, and – slowly but steadily – began converting to Christianity.

Role in Scotland’s story

The height of Norse activity in Scotland may have been behind them by the 13^th century, but pivotal events were still to unfold. In 1230 a Norse fleet assailed Rothesay Castle in Bute, temporarily wresting it away from its Stewart lords. In 1263, led by no less than the King of Norway himself, Håkon IV, a Norwegian army swept through the Isles and landed at Largs on the Ayrshire coast. Checked by a Scottish host, the Norse were forced to abandon their plans to retake the western seaboard and Håkon died in Kirkwall that December. This was to be the final military incursion of the Norse in Scotland.

However, it was not for another two centuries that, in 1472, Shetland and Orkney were pawned to Scotland by Norway and simply never purchased or taken back. Those archipelagos were part of the Norse world for over 600 years, longer than they have been part of modern Scotland and the UK. There are even whispers today of a desire for them to re-join Norway, and even a brief venture to them will instil a strong sense of how culturally intertwined the islands are with their Norse past.

Many people think of Scotland’s Viking and later Norse history as a brief, albeit bloody and dramatic, flash in the pan, and no doubt the victims of Viking raids and early Norse conquests are a testament to the brutality of the times. Zoom out, however, and we see a period of no less than four centuries when Norse armies, politics, material culture, folklore, and settlement patterns were central to the stories of huge swathes of Scotland. New discoveries emerge from soils and shorelines every year which shed further light on their role in Scotland’s story – and with any luck, someone walking on a storm-swept beach this winter might just happen across another long-lost piece of the puzzle.

Text and photos: David C. Weinczok

Main photo: Norse ruins at Birsay, Orkney, including a possible sauna. © David C. Weinczok.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner

The Learned Kindred of Currie is proud to recognize excellence within our global family through the presentation of the Inspire Award. This honor is given to members of the Kindred who embody the very best of our shared heritage – those who inspire through their service, creativity, leadership, and dedication to strengthening the Currie legacy.

The 2025 Inspire Award has been presented to Pipe Major Stuart Currie of Dumfries, Scotland. A gifted musician and composer, Stuart has shared the rich traditions of Highland piping with audiences at home and abroad. His leadership and artistry were on full display at the 2024 Pipes of Christmas concerts, where he performed his stirring original composition The March to St. Giles, commissioned by the Kindred to commemorate the 900^th anniversary of Edinburgh. The march enjoyed its Edinburgh premiere as part of the 2025 Riding of the Marches event to mark the closing of the Edinburgh 900 celebrations.

Traditions are living things

Through his music, Stuart Currie has inspired countless listeners while honoring Scotland’s history and culture. His dedication exemplifies the spirit of the Inspire Award—uplifting others, strengthening our bonds, and showing how the Currie legacy continues to flourish in the modern world.

This is the second tune composed by Currie and commissioned by the Kindred. In 2017, he composed the rousing Curries are Coming which was first performed as the Kindred processed to Edinburgh Castle as an Honoured Clan for the Splash of Tartan celebrations for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

In announcing the award, Robert Currie, Commander of the Name and Arms of Currie, remarked: “Pipe Major Stuart Currie has brought great honor to the Kindred through his music, creativity, and leadership. His work reminds us that our traditions are living things, capable of inspiring new generations. He is a most deserving recipient of the Inspire Award.”

The Learned Kindred of Currie

The Learned Kindred of Currie – operating as the Clan Currie Society – is an international cultural and educational organization dedicated to preserving the proud heritage of the Currie/MacMhuirich family. For centuries, the Curries were Scotland’s learned kindred of poets, historians, and chroniclers, entrusted with safeguarding the history, language, and traditions of Gaelic Scotland. Founded in 1959, the Clan Currie Society was established to celebrate and share this extraordinary legacy. Today, the Society has members across Scotland, North America, and beyond, carrying forward the Currie heritage through cultural, educational, and musical initiatives.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Whisky is ‘the water of life’ but in one of the driest starts to a year seen in Scotland, distillers are turning to researchers to improve access to the crucial water supplies for their unique products. Scientists from the University of Aberdeen are leading a project funded by Chivas Brothers, the Pernod Ricard business dedicated to Scotch whisky and maker of Ballantine’s, The Glenlivet and Chivas Regal to develop innovative nature-based solutions that could help to mitigate water scarcity but also slow down water run-off following rapid downpours.

Nature-based solutions

The issue has been brought into sharp focus in recent weeks with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) issuing country-wide alerts for low water levels. The dry soil a long dry spell leaves in its wake can repel water rather than letting it soak in as damp soil would, meaning it is harder to hold water when and where it is most needed. In areas like Speyside – home to half Scotland’s malt distillers – ensuring a continuous water supply, both now and in the future, is essential as temporary closures can cost the industry millions of pounds. Chivas Brothers is funding new research led by the University of Aberdeen and working with the James Hutton Institute, following a successful project in 2022 which focused on The Glenlivet distillery. There the team demonstrated the benefits of a series of small leaky dams installed in channels to slow water flow by holding the water in that location in temporary mini reservoirs. This allows it to soak into the subsurface so that more water is available at times when it is needed.

The new research will broaden the geographic scope of the project across Speyside and explore a wider range of possible nature-based solutions for water management.

Benefits beyond the whisky industry

Project lead Dr Josie Geris, a lecturer in hydrology at the University of Aberdeen, said the techniques they are investigating, including soil and vegetation management, could bring benefits beyond the whisky industry as around three percent of people living in Scotland rely on vulnerable private water supplies. Dr Geris said: “First, we will take a comprehensive look at data gathered from across Speyside and carry out detailed monitoring at The Glenlivet and two other distillery sites to develop understanding of how surface water and groundwater are connected, and how this varies across the different locations. This will help us to assess how resilient different water resources in Speyside are to drought and to understand what causes certain water resources to be more vulnerable whether it is driven by geology, land use or other issues. We will then use modelling to help future planning and our understanding of which nature-based solutions might work best where to mitigate water scarcity across the region.”

Ronald Daalmans, Sustainability Director at Chivas Brothers, added: “This important work will help inform the whisky sector on how it can adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change for this critical resource. It forms part of a wider programme, called The River Within, which aims to support river restoration and enhancement in North-East Scotland.” In addition to supporting research projects, Chivas Brothers’ The River Within, a long-term programme in partnership with three Scottish river trusts – the Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Charitable Trust, Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Rivers Trust, and the Spey Catchment Initiative – aims to support the delivery of habitat restoration projects to ultimately preserve, protect and improve the health of Scotland’s rivers and waterways.

Main photo: Glenlivet landscape dams.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Hillwalkers setting out to bag a Munro are being asked for their help to bag a meteorite too, as scientists race against time to recover precious samples of a space rock which lit up the skies over Scotland this summer. In the early hours of Thursday 3^rd  July, a meteor exploded as it entered the atmosphere over the north of the country. The fireball it created quickly went viral on social media, with users sharing footage of its trail captured on their mobile phones and home security cameras. 

Scottish Highlands

Researchers from the UK Fireball Alliance have combined data from public videos with images taken from their own dedicated meteor tracking cameras including the Global Meteor Network, UK Meteor Network and Global Fireball Observatory to reconstruct the meteor’s path and estimate where the meteorite fell. They are appealing to hillwalkers to keep their eyes peeled for fragments of the meteorite when they are out and about across three Munros in the Scottish Highlands. If a hiker is lucky enough to find a piece, it would be the first time in more than a century that a meteorite has been successfully recovered in Scotland.

Fragments of the rock may be scattered across around 20 km of the Highlands, according to the team. Their analysis of the footage suggests that smaller fragments of up to 100 grams were dropped to the west as it travelled across Stob Coire Easain and Chno Dearg, before larger chunks up to 10 kilograms fell over Ben Alder. The team expect the majority of the meteorite’s mass to have landed on Ben Alder’s plateau, where exposed granite could make the dark space rock more visible to visitors. A team of 14 volunteers from the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews and Manchester as well as several citizen scientists recently spent several days scouring the western side of the fall line. Their efforts were cut short by bad weather before they could recover any of the meteorite fragments, so they are turning to hillwalkers to ask for help.

Jigsaw of our Solar System’s history

Professor Luke Daly, of the University of Glasgow’s School of Geographical & Earth Sciences, was co-leader of the search party. In 2021, he led the team which recovered the largest intact fragment of the Winchcombe meteorite, the first of its kind to be retrieved on UK soil in nearly 30 years.

Professor Daly said: “Meteorites are time capsules of the early Solar System, which hold a wealth of information about how our Solar System formed and developed. This is a very exciting opportunity to learn more about where this rock came from and where it has been and fill in a bit more of the jigsaw of our Solar System’s history. We know from intensive analysis of the Winchcombe samples that meteorites are very quickly affected by contact with the Earth’s atmosphere. The longer these pieces sit out on the Scottish hills, the more they will be weathered and the less we’ll be able to tell about their composition. The clock is very much ticking on our chances to learn as much as we can from these rocks, so any help that hillwalkers can give us could make all the difference.”

The School of Geographical & Earth Science’s Dr Aine O’Brien also led the search team. She said: “We’re asking hillwalkers to keep an eye out for rocks which stand out from everything around them. Meteorites are black and shiny with an almost glassy appearance, and they are heavy for their size. Since it could be about 30% iron, it may also look slightly rusty after all the rain we’ve had recently. If someone is lucky enough to bag a meteorite while bagging a Munro, we’re asking them to take a photo and take a note of their GPS location and send it to the UK Fireball Alliance. If it’s small enough to be picked up, please try not to handle it directly – wrapping it in aluminium foil or a clean sandwich bag would be very helpful. If it’s too big to carry, the GPS location will help us recover it later.”

The UK Fireball Alliance, or UKFAll, is a collaboration of camera networks which monitors and tracks meteorites as they enter Britain’s airspace. UKFAll volunteers used footage drawn from 14 different cameras to reconstruct the meteorite’s path and how it fragmented as it fell. Jamie Shepherd of the UK Meteor Network said: “I’ve had a life-long fascination with meteors and meteorites, and for a school project I asked the National Museum in Scotland if they would let me take pictures of the last recovered meteorite seen to fall here in 1917. They kindly took all four pieces out of the cabinet and allowed me to hold them and take pictures. The next one to be found will be history-making and it’s very special to be part of the recovery team.”

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Since 1852, when the initial Scottish pioneers set foot on the Australian continent, the vibrant tapestry of Scottish culture has flourished Down Under. The roots of the Highland Games trace back to the 11^th century, where they emerged as a platform for testing endurance and strength while showcasing the artistic flair of dance and music to esteemed clan chiefs, kings, and queens.

In Australia, the legacy of this tradition lives on, as Saltire Winery continue to organize this spirited event, fostering unity within the Scottish community. Beyond a mere showcase of physical prowess, the Highland Games serve as a cultural celebration, inviting individuals of all ages to engage with and embrace the Scottish way of life.

From the exhilaration of caber tossing to the savoury delight of tasting authentic Scotch pies, the Games provide a multifaceted experience, encouraging everyone to immerse themselves in the diverse and lively tapestry of Scottish culture.

Join the Hunter Valley Highland Games at Saltire Estate on November 22^nd and witness a blend tradition with the contemporary, creating lasting memories and strengthening the bonds that connect us to our Scottish roots.

For details see: www.huntervalleyhighlandgames.com.au

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Imagine this: the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot whilst on a woodland walk; a fresh breeze blowing in from the sea on an island excursion; pulling a warm coat around oneself for a walk around an historic building; or simply going out for an afternoon stroll after the rain has cleared to blow the cobwebs away.

Few things can be as good for the soul as an autumn break in Scotland. With rural, coastal and urban locations all showing off the colours of the season and historic sites to explore, as well as thrilling tales to warm up those darker evenings, there is an autumn adventure waiting around every corner.

Walk this way

Scotland is quite the treat in autumn: rich golds, burnt brown, oranges and reds cover the land as the leaves change. It’s also a great time to spot wildlife as hedgerows are filling up with berries, and tree nuts and seeds are ripening. Check out some choices for a short, or longer, walk to really take it all in.

Wood of Cree, Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere-The UNESCO Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere is an ideal place to start an exploration of Scotland’s autumn palette, whether visiting the area as part of Scotland’s UNESCO Trail or just looking to escape for a stroll. The RSPB Wood of Cree is home to wildlife and offers the perfect autumnal woodland walk. Similarly, head for the Biosphere’s Cairnsmore of Fleet National Nature Reserve for the chance to be immersed in nature.

Deuchny Woods, Perthshire-Perthshire is a popular choice for those looking to experience Scotland’s autumn, with spots like Loch Faskally and The Hermitage. However, Deuchny Woods is a real hidden gem and favourite for dogs looking for plenty to sniff out under piles of damp leaves. At 5.5km, the circular route is manageable for a range of abilities and takes less than two hours to complete. An uphill start, it’s worth it for the incredible views over Kinfauns and the River Tay. With gorgeous botanicals, check out the bright yellow gorse, the unusual jewel-red tones of the fox-and-cubs (it’s more commonly orange) and millions of juicy brambles to forage safely (for foraging rules and guidelines in Scotland, see here).

Roslin Glen Country Park, Midlothian-Roslin Glen Country Park is a great location to explore for its diverse range of habitats and associated wildlife. With pathways to woodlands, riverside and weir, wildflower meadows and historical features, it is particularly eye-catching in autumn as trees explode with colour; beech, oak and sycamores provide an incredible canopy. There are path links to the Penicuik to Dalkeith Walkway, Roslin Village, Castle and Chapel and Springfield Mill. The lower Glen and Car park area is partially accessible to wheelchair users via a river looped path.

Ness Bank, Inverness-Ness Bank in Inverness is a feast for the eyes in the later months of the year with swathes of golden leaves. To add to this, the Ness islands are a collection of natural islands that sit in the middle of the River Ness, connected to the riverbanks and throughout by beautiful Victorian footbridges. Just a short stroll away from Inverness city centre, it is a place of natural beauty to take a breath, get some exercise or just watch the world go by.

Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve, Lanarkshire-Located just an hour from both Edinburgh and Glasgow, the reserve is famous for its spectacular waterfalls and scenic woodland walks. It is also home to New Lanark UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over 100 bird species have been recorded including dipper, raven and kingfisher. It is particularly magical in autumn, for all to enjoy (although visitors should read the access guide here) with beautiful colours on arrival. Do as much (or as little) of the full circular walk; there are waterfalls to observe, areas where dogs can enjoy the water safely, a visitor centre and plenty of history to uncover.

Craigellachie, Moray Speyside-Situated at the meeting point of rivers Spey and Fiddich, the village of Craigellachie offers a veritable riot of colour come autumn time. The village sits at the foot of Ben Aigan which offers a five-mile hike and a rewarding view of the Moray coastline when reaching the summit. It is a moderately difficult walk and will take around 2-3 hours from the car park at the bottom of the hill. Speyside Way, one of Scotland’s long-distance routes, skirts the town and is ideal for walkers and cyclists. (for more information on the long-distance route, see here).

See also:  www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/landscapes-nature/forests-woodlands/autumn 

Main photo: Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve, Lanarkshire. Photo: Kenny Lam/VisitScotland.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Performers from across the globe and here in Australia have been announced to perform as part of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo as it comes exclusively to exclusively to
Brisbane and Auckland in February 2026 in celebration of its 75^th anniversary, including Brisbane Boys College Pipe Band (which is the only school in the country invited).

Announced at Brisbane Boys College (BBC) in Toowong by Alan Lane, Creative Director of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, who flew in from Scotland for the moment, over 30 bands and cultural groups from more than 12 countries will perform in The Heroes Who Made Us from 12 -15 February as part of a record-breaking run of shows at Suncorp Stadium (four consecutive stadium shows).

Renowned for stirring music

These include UK Military Bands from Royal Navy, The Army and Royal Air Force alongside The Combined Military Bands of the Australian Defence Force (Air Force, Army and Navy), Queensland Police Pipe Band, Western Australia Police Pipe Band, Australia’s Federation Guard, His Majesty the King of Norway’s Guard Band and Drill Team, Japan Air Self-Defence Force Central Band, His Majesty’s Armed Forces The Royal Corps of Musicians Tonga, and The Brisbane Boys’ College Pipe Band, with more to be announced.

The news was celebrated by Brisbane Boys’ College Pipe Major, grade 12 student, 18-year-old Nicholas Shelburn, who has been playing the bagpipes since Year 3 at BBC, and has been to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo with BBC twice.

Renowned for stirring music, military precision, cultural displays, and dramatic performances, the Australian and New Zealand event will see a total of over 1,100 performers descend on Brisbane and Auckland with international performers including Scottish actor Terence Rae as narrator and fan favourite Switzerland’s Top Secret Drum Corps.

The announcement follows the close of the Tattoo’s spectacular 75^th anniversary season in Edinburgh, which attracted near sell-out crowds to Edinburgh Castle Esplanade throughout August 2025. Over 220,000 spectators attended, travelling from across the world to experience one of Scotland’s most iconic cultural events, with millions more watching the TV broadcast.

From royalty to sporting legends and stars of stage and screen, The Heroes Who Made Us attracted a host of notable attendees, including The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Scottish tennis champion Andy Murray, and Outlander actor Sam Heughan.

A truly world-class line-up

Alan Lane, Creative Director of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the cast we’ve assembled for Australia & New Zealand. This is a truly world-class line-up that brings together the best of music, pageantry and performance. The Tattoo has always been about celebrating culture, connection and spectacle, and to be able to share that spirit with Australian audiences is a real delight. We can’t wait to light up Suncorp Stadium with the colour, energy and precision that makes the Tattoo so iconic.”

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said: “Brisbane is proud to welcome the world-renowned Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo to our major events calendar in 2026. This iconic celebration of artistry, tradition and excellence will be elevated by the involvement of local performers, including the Brisbane Boys’ College Pipe Band, who will share the stage with international talent at this truly world-class event. It’s a remarkable opportunity to showcase Brisbane on the global stage, while delivering a significant boost for local businesses and further reinforcing our reputation as Australia’s lifestyle capital.”

Queensland Minister for Tourism, Andrew Powell, said: “Brisbane is buzzing with anticipation as we prepare to host The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for the very first time in 2026. This event is a true celebration of both our local Queensland talent and extraordinary performers from around the globe. We’re serious about cementing Queensland’s reputation as the events capital of Australia and this is no exception, with the Tattoo set to inject $39 million into the state’s economy.”

Making its return to Australia and New Zealand for the first time since 2019, this will be the Tattoo’s first-ever performance in Brisbane – and one of its most ambitious international Stadium productions to date. Blending the timeless traditions of the British Armed Forces with modern performance and world-class production, the Tattoo continues to evolve, while remaining rooted in history. Cutting-edge lighting, immersive sound design and stunning visual imagery will elevate the performance experience, all set under the stars at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

One of the world’s most spectacular and iconic live events is also set to dazzle New Zealand audiences at Auckland’s Eden Park, February 19-21.

For further details visit: ww.edintattoobrisbane.com.au or www.edintattooauckland.co.nz

Initial cast announcement:

-UK Massed Military Bands including The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland, The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Duchess of Edinburgh’s String Orchestra, Royal Air Force Central Band and more
-The Combined Military Bands of the Australian Defence Force
-Australian Defence Force Pipes and Drums
-Auckland Police Pipes and Drums
-Queensland Police Pipe Band
-The Brisbane Boys’ College Pipe Band
-Australia’s Federation Guard
-The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Performers – including Pipers, Drummers, Dancers, and Fiddlers
-New Zealand Army Band
-His Majesty the King of Norway’s Guard Band and Drill Team
-Top Secret Drum Corps, Switzerland
-Japan Air Self-Defense Force Central Band
-His Majesty’s Armed Forces, The Royal Corps of Musicians Tonga

Main photo: Alan Lane with members of Brisbane Boys’ College Pipe Band. Photo: Luke Marsden.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

An archaeology student from the University of Aberdeen came face-to-face with Scotland’s past when she unearthed an incredibly rare, carved depiction of what may be a human face. Jodie Allan was a volunteer on a dig at East Lomond in Fife, led by Professor Gordon Noble and Joe Fitzpatrick of the Falkland Stewardship Trust, when she spotted what she initially thought was a piece of slag while sieving soil excavated from an early medieval building identified at the major hillfort.

But on closer inspection it turned out to be an incredibly rare schematic carving which experts say could be the face of a Pict.

Pictish kingdom

Professor Noble, from the University of Aberdeen, has been co-leading excavation work with the Trust at the site near the Falkland Estate for the last four years. The hillfort and surrounding settlement are located in what is thought to have been the southernmost part of the Pictish kingdom, which ruled a large part of what became Scotland. This major hillfort and settlement has been the focus of a joint university and community project run by the Falkland Stewardship Trust and the University of Aberdeen from 2022 onwards, building on earlier Heritage Lottery funded excavations.

Digs at the site bring together community volunteers, students and University experts for excavation work. Previous work has unearthed Roman imports such as Oxfordshire Ware pottery and E ware from northern France – a continental style of pottery used to hold exotic foodstuffs or dyes – usually found at high status sites.

Jodie said: “I had no idea I was holding anything significant. But I took a closer look because of its size and because the colour – a sort of oxidised coppery green – caught my eye. I showed it to Professor Noble who took one look at the stone and his reaction told me it was something special – with what appears to be a carved face on it.”

Incredibly rare

Professor Noble said the find adds to the growing body of evidence that East Lomond was an important Pictish settlement and added: “This is an early schematic carving with two eyes, a nose and what appears to be a hairline at the top. We need to get this fully analysed but it appears to be a carving of a face, and resembles some of the human faces you see in early medieval manuscripts. It is incredibly rare to have a representation of a human face in this time period. We’ll have to look at all the parallels, but if it really is a human face it’s nice to think it could be a rudimentary portrait of a local Picts who lived at East Lomond. The building we found appears to be from the final phase of activity in the annexe settlement which would place it in the 5^th-7^th century phases. The discovery could offer new insights into how Picts understood themselves and represented their own identities through crafting and stone carving. The face suggests that Pictish people here were making more expedient carvings, perhaps something for family members living at the site rather than public display like the more famous Pictish symbol stones. East Lomond is turning out to be such an amazing site. In addition to the face we found a complete mattock head, an iron tool from the floor of a building right next to the building with the carving, and from other parts of the site fragments of weaponry and other rare objects are beginning to illuminate the development of this settlement from the late Roman Iron Age through to around the 7^th century AD.”

The archaeologists will now work to make sense of the face through radiocarbon dating of the floor layers and settlement deposits associated with the building and examination of other art historical parallels to understand more about the character and context of the small carved stone object.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Scottish pop-rock icons Deacon Blue are thrilled to announce their return to Australia in January and February 2026, and New Zealand in February 2026, marking their first shows down under since 2023.

The tour will celebrate the band’s 40^th anniversary and the release of their latest studio album, The Great Western Road. Known for their emotionally charged performances and enduring hits like Dignity, Real Gone Kid, I’ll Never Fall In Love Again and Fergus Sings the Blues, Deacon Blue will deliver a dynamic live experience that spans their full career — from the soulful grit of their acclaimed groundbreaking debut album Raintown to the energy of The Great Western Road.

Their new album reflects the band’s journey with honesty, warmth, and a renewed sense of adventure. Australian fans can expect a specially curated setlist, including all the hits you know and love, blending arena-sized classic anthems, tracks off their latest album, mixed with intimate surprises.

With a reputation for crafting unforgettable live moments, Deacon Blue’s 2026 tour promises to be a celebration of fan connection, nostalgia, and musical brilliance.

Deacon Blue tour Perth, Adelaide, Thirroul, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane between January 28-February 10. For full information and tickets: www.daltours.cc/deacon-blue

Deacon Blue tour Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland between February 12-15. For full information and tickets: livenation.co.nz.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Gathering, Piping & Drumming Competition, Concert, and Workshop.

Friday, November 14, 7:30pm – Join in at the Pitch on Butler, 4717 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA, for a celebration of piping while enjoying food and drinks. The Pittsburgh Piping Society is partnering with the Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming to host an Opening Gathering the evening before the competition. Pipers of all levels play their tunes before an enthusiastic, and supportive audience. The evening will finish with tunes and a piobaireachd from our piping judges.

Saturday, Nov. 15, 8:30am to 4:00pm – The Balmoral Classic: US Junior Solo Bagpiping & Drumming Championships, will be held at the CRC Understory, Cathedral of Learning, 4200 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. Pipers will compete in MSR and Pìobaireachd events, with the Overall prize decided by a combination of scores from the two competitions. The overall piping winner will receive a set of MacRae bagpipes donated by McCallum Bagpipes. Additional prizes, trophies, medals, and scholarships will go to the top five winners. Drumming trophies will be awarded for MSR, Hornpipe/Jig, and Overall winners. Prizes for the Overall Winner of the Drumming contest and all other prizes to be announced. Drumming judges, Gordon Bell and Miles Bennington, join piping judges Bruce Gandy, Lezlie Webster and Glenna Mackay-Johnstone. The awards ceremony in the Scottish Nationality Room would follow at about 5:15pm. These events are free to the public.

Saturday, Nov. 15, 7:30pm – On Saturday evening we are presenting Carnegie Mellon University Pipes and Drums, Live in Concert at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Pipe Major Andrew Carlisle and Drum Sergeant Miles Bennington will lead the band in an evening of Scottish and Irish music on bagpipes and drums joined by special guests Bealtaine, and Scottish and Irish dancers. Don’t miss this unforgettable performance! Tickets may be purchased at Showclix.com/event/cmupipes-classic-concert

Saturday, Nov. 16, 10:00am – There will be a free Piobaireachd workshop with Bruce Gandy —open to all 2025 applicants and former Classic competitors at the Courtyard by Marriott Pittsburgh University Center.

The Balmoral Classic Weekend is presented by the Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming. Established in 1979, the school celebrates and teaches traditional bagpipe music, as well as more recent compositions in the traditional style, including the competition repertoire.

For more information visit: www.balmoralschool.org

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

A care technology consultant from Norway has been crowned 2025 World Porridge Making Champion, following the competition held in Carrbridge in the Scottish Highlands. Sven Seljom from Mandal in Norway, made his porridge from Norwegian Black Oats, an ancient grain which used to be grown all over Europe, but disappeared in the 1800s, together with Norwegian sea salt, and water which he brought with him from home.

First time entrant, Sven, said: “It’s a great honour. I’m lost for words. It has been such great fun to be here – the welcome in the village, the hall arrangements, it’s just been tremendous. I heard about the World Porridge Making Championship many years ago on Norwegian radio and thought it sounded really different, and I’ve wanted to enter ever since. I started experimenting with different types of steel cut oats. I really love the texture. The oats I used came from an organic farm, and I soaked them for 24 hours before the competition.”

The very best in traditional porridge-making

Now in its 32^nd year, the Championship celebrates the very best in traditional porridge-making, attracting contestants from around the world. Contestants prepare traditional porridge using only three ingredients – water, oatmeal and salt. This year, 30 competitors representing 14 countries including the USA, Canada, Norway, Australia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Finland took part.

Judges included Neil Mugg, former pastry chef at The Gleneagles Hotel, who now mentors the next generation of chefs at the University of the Highlands and Islands; award-winning chef, artisan baker, and author, KJ Gilmour; and Scotland’s best-selling cookery book writer, Coinneach Macleod, aka The Hebridean Baker. The judges scored each entry on taste, texture and colour.

Highly coveted title

The Championship welcomed its largest ever audience, with a packed Carrbridge Village Hall and other satellite venues around the village, and thousands more watching via livestream on Facebook and YouTube. In addition to the traditional World Porridge Making Champion title, a second award for ‘Best speciality dish’, which can include any recipe made with oatmeal, was presented to Australian food stylist, Caroline Velik. Caroline’s Porridge Jaffles, a yogurt flatbread, were filled with Caroline’s mother’s recipe for rum bananas, with Bundaberg banana toffee rum liqueur, bananas, oatmeal and waffle seeds, tossed in Davidson plum sugar.

Highlights of the day included clips from the recently released documentary film, The Golden Spurtle, guided tastings of local malt whiskies and gin and during the heats, and fun selfie photo opportunities with a giant 6-foot spurtle named Muckle Spurtle. Porridge Chieftain, Alan Rankin, said: “Congratulations to Sven on taking home the highly coveted title of World Porridge Making Champion and the Golden Spurtle trophy. The standard this year was exceptional, and it’s wonderful to see the event continuing to go from strength-to-strength. The event relies on spirited competitors, our sponsors and the legion of local residents who volunteer their time each year.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Stirling Castle has all sorts of ghost stories to tell. Laurie Risk began working for Historic Environment Scotland (HES) as an Admissions Assistant at Stirling Castle and shares some of the castle’s spooky tales in the lead up to Halloween. As an evidence-based organisation HES cannot say if these tales are true, but if you like a good story this is the article is for you!

Nothing beats a ghost story from Stirling Castle, which is notorious for the tales of who – or what – haunts its walls! Castles are rich with the weight of history. After all they’ve witnessed warfare, murder, births and deaths. It’s no surprise these events should pass into the frightening folklore of our favourite places. I’m a bit of a sceptic when it comes to ghosts, but there is a type of phantom that fascinates me – the female ghost.

The figure of the female ghost has cropped up at historic sites across the world for centuries. Nearly every culture has its own legend of this irresistible maiden. She even comes in a handy array of colours to help us identify her! For instance, there is a ghost known as ‘The White Lady’. Typically, a destitute figure dressed in a flowing white gown, her afterlife activities have been reported all over the world.

In Medieval England she was seen as an omen of death. One of the most famous examples is Henry VIII’s wife Anne Boleyn, said to haunt the Tower of London. In Scotland, she has been seen as the desperate soul of a girl who threw herself from a tower. She’s even been spotted in Malta, where she is said to have thrown herself to her death to escape an unwanted marriage.

A ghost of many colours

We don’t have any White Lady ghost stories at Stirling, but other phantoms are available. There is said to be a ‘Black Lady’ who haunts the back walk. We don’t know much about her, or why she lingers in this spot. However, it is said she creates a foreboding atmosphere for anyone wandering the path at night… We’ve also had reports of a ‘Pink Lady’ – or rather a ‘pink aura’ permeating the Kirkyards around the castle.

This lady manifests as a sense of longing or unrequited love felt by people walking there. Some think she was a woman whose sweetheart died prematurely in battle. The poor soul is now doomed to roam the earth full of all the passion unfulfilled in life. Our most notorious shade of female ghost though, is the infamous ‘Green Lady’.

Stirling’s Green Lady

We’ve heard several versions of the ‘Green Lady’ ghost story at Stirling Castle. In one tale she appears at the top of the steps to what used to be the military base of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. She was seen gliding down the steps in flowing green finery, devastatingly beautiful. Luckily she seems to have been in a benevolent mood that day, and simply passed through the young soldier who spotted her!

There are different tales of her origin, but the one that stems from some historical evidence is that she was a young Highland girl who attended the castle as a servant of Mary, Queen of Scots. She was said to be highly superstitious, and convinced that a terrible fate would befall Mary on the night of 13 September 1561.

The story goes that the girl was sure a terrible fire would break out in Mary’s room at the castle. She vowed to remain awake all night to guard the queen, but couldn’t quite manage it.  In her drowsiness, she accidentally set fire to the queen’s bed-curtains with a candle. The queen survived, but the poor girl fell victim to her own vision and died that night in the fire.

We have records to show that this fire took place. But there is no written evidence of the existence of the girl, or her foretelling of her own terrible death. Still, her story has become legendary. Her tragic ghost is said to haunt the castle, a bitter spirit who brings misery and doom to those unlucky enough to find themselves in her company…

Dark and grisly past

When I heard this tale from a colleague, I didn’t think I’d ever run into her. But one day I descended the stone steps towards the room at the base of the Prince’s Tower where he said she resides, and the door handle mysteriously turned by itself. A few months later, I returned to find some of our uniform rails had tipped over. When I went to investigate the windows began to rattle, which did make me wonder – albeit briefly – if I had overstayed my welcome in the Green Lady’s domain!

I suspect these female phantoms are simply the result of the dark and ghostly perceptions we all hold about castles. If a place has a dark and grisly past, our imaginations are bound to run wild. Who doesn’t love a romantic tale of the tormented figures who once stood between these ancient walls? For me, there is something irresistible about phantoms who don’t conform to our standard conventions of femininity by meekly going off to eternal rest. Perhaps they represent women who have been oppressed throughout history, only now able to express their rage of life’s restrictions? Perhaps death is their chance to finally make their stories heard.

In any case, the legend of the Green Lady and her colourful counterparts will continue to terrify and enthral us in castles, palaces and other historic nooks and crannies all over the world for years to come.

Do you have any favourite ghost stories, from Stirling or farther afield? Share your story with us!

Historic Environment Scotland is the lead public body established to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment. For more details see: www.historicenvironment.scot

Text and images courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

A former carer from Motherwell who once lived in his car with his dog is now body slamming his way to stardom in the United States.  In a few short years Luke Scouler, better known to fans as Crixus, has gone from sleeping in a gym car park to cage fights and casket matches in the same wrestling promotion that launched the careers of John Cena and Batista.

The “Scottish War Machine” is now one of the breakout stars at Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), the cult American brand featured in the hit Netflix documentary Wrestlers. Luke was the first ever Scottish OVW champion.

Luke had previously been a fitness instructor before working in residential care with young people at Inspire Scotland, a social care organisation that supports children and young people. The 33-year-old said: “I really loved that job. But it was tough emotionally. I’ve always had a bit of a Batman complex – I thought I was going to save everybody. I was in a bad place with it. I knew it wasn’t for me and I was burned out. I was in a bad place and I remember sitting in my house in Newmains watching TV with my dog, Odin, when wrestling came on and I just thought: ‘Screw it. Let’s go. Scots have made it big in this business – why couldn’t I?”

That night, he jumped in his car to enroll in a wrestling academy in London run by former WWE star and current OVW head trainer Al Snow. The ‘Scottish War Machine’ continued: “I drove through the night with no plan and no place to stay. Me and the dog slept in the car for a bit. Eventually the guy who ran it asked if I was serious. I told him I’d already quit my job and left my house. That was it. We moved into the gym and didn’t go back.”

Battle-ready

He first landed a place at OVW in 2019, after placing first at a 300-person wrestling combine. But just as things were taking off, COVID hit and he was stuck in the UK for two years. Now based in Kentucky full-time, he’s one of the promotion’s biggest stars – something which he thinks his upbringing prepared him well for.  Luke commented  “We’ve got thicker skin, especially in Glasgow. You’re battle-ready by the time you leave primary school, so wrestling comes naturally to us. I’m cheeky, and the accent helps too. Over here in the States, people already think we’re mental which helps. I just turned my personality up to 11. I wasn’t pretending to be someone else- just the version of me you probably wouldn’t want to sit next to in a pub. I get to act up and they still love me. They boo you, but they’re cheering underneath.”

His rise comes as Scots are “having a moment” in the world of wrestling according to Al Snow, who has shared a ring with the Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Edinburgh’s Joe Hendry made his WrestleMania debut this year while Ayrshire’s Drew McIntyre – an OVW alumnus – became Scotland’s first WWE Champion in 2020.

Former WWE Hardcore and European champion Al Snow, who made his wrestling debut in 1982 against Kerry Von Erich, the wrestler portrayed by Zac Efron in the Hollywood movie The Iron Claw,  commented: “With the success of Joe Hendry and Drew McIntyre, Scotland is increasingly a potential source of talent. ICW did amazing things. I know Grado  – though don’t tell him I said this – but he’s incredibly charismatic and doing so well across TV, radio and stage.  With Crixus, we may have another superstar on our hands. His dedication has been incredible. To make it in this business, you have to sacrifice and do things out of the ordinary. And that’s why I think he’s got what it takes.”

Crixus appears weekly on OVW TV. You can follow him at @war.crixus.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

As thoughts turn to Hallowe’en and all things spooky and supernatural, what could be more sinister than that horror movie favourite location – a graveyard? But while many of Scotland’s cemeteries and churchyards teem with ghosts and grisly tales, many are also places of beauty and tranquillity, reflecting the changing times of the country’s history in their tombs, carvings and mausoleums.

There’s no doubt though that some of the most chilling features of Scotland’s cemeteries, particularly those around Edinburgh, date from a dark period in its history. The body snatchers who dug up freshly deceased cadavers to sell to medical schools for anatomical study in the 18^th and 19^th centuries have left a physical mark on the cemeteries they tried to plunder.

Watch over the graves

Watch houses were often erected either at the entrance or within the kirkyard, built for the family or the community to literally keep a watch over the graves at night when the graverobbers would be most likely to commit their illegal acts. Unsurprisingly Edinburgh, with its famous medical school, has several examples including the magnificent three-storey circular watch tower at New Calton Burial Ground in the city’s centre. Most watch houses are circular or square but there is a quirkier example at St Kessogs graveyard in Callander on the banks of the River Teith. The old medieval church that was the kirk for this kirkyard is long since gone but the picturesque cemetery – which has been restored over the summer by the community – has a small 19^th century octagonal watch house.

Mort safes were another method of trying to thwart the body snatchers – metal cages put over the graves to stop them being dug up. As they were re-used once bodies were no longer fresh and therefore no use to the medics, or melted down for the metal at later dates, they are quite rare. Logierait Churchyard in Perthshire has three, two adult and one child,  but the most famous are two in what is probably also Scotland’s most famous kirkyard, Greyfriars in Edinburgh. Located in the heart of the capital city’s  Old Town, just yards from the National Museum, the churchyard is a favourite with tourists, mostly due to the grave of Greyfriars Bobby, the faithful dog who kept watch over his master’s grave for 14 years, and the tombstone of Thomas Riddell, supposedly the inspiration for the Harry Potter villain.

But deeper into the kirkyard is the site of the Covenantors Prison, a gated area, now lined with 18^th century tombs, where hundreds of Covenantors – religious rebels – were kept prisoner after being defeated by the king’s forces in battle. For four months they were held without shelter and only a meagre ration of bread. Many died. The ghost of Lord Advocate George Mackenzie, the man responsible for the king’s policy of persecuting the Covenantors, is said to haunt the place, his poltergeist biting and scratching visitors – his grave, known as the Black Mausoleum, is one of the more ornate out of the 700 graves dating as far back as the 16^th century.

Final resting place

The most famous names associated with Scotland’s resurrectionists are William Burke and William Hare, although the pair bypassed the business of waiting for someone to die and digging them up by murdering their victims and selling their bodies to Edinburgh surgeon Dr Knox. When they were caught in 1828, Hare turned King’s evidence against his former partner – Burke was hanged while Hare went free, whisked out of the city by mail coach to Dumfries. There he was recognised – pamphlets with gory details of the case and sketches of the villains were best-sellers – and set on by a mob. He was extricated by the authorities but there the trail goes cold.

The most popular legend is that he ended up in London, was recognised again and quicklime thrown in his face, ending his days as a blind beggar. There are also stories that he sailed for Canada or Australia but one story has him living in the remote Applecross peninsula under the name William Maxwell.  He is said to have appeared there in 1840 and lived in the hamlet of Camusteel, working as a weaver. His house became the local “ceilidh house” and he became known as breabadair teine or the fiery or fire weaver – perhaps because he was said to have burns from a work accident. He married a local woman and was said to be an upstanding member of the community. And when he died in 1864 he was buried in Clachan cemetery, next to a drowned tramp called Clochan.  It would be fitting if was Hare who found refuge in Applecross as the church and graveyard are said to be on the site where Irish saint Maelrubha established a monastery in 673 AD and the six-mile area around the church became a holy sanctuary, safe for anyone fleeing from pursuit.

More noble notable figures have found their final resting place at Reilig Odhráin (St Oran’s Graveyard), the cemetery next to Iona Abbey on the sacred island off Mull. It is reputed to hold the bones of 60 kings, including the real MacBeth, and was a royal burial ground between the 9^th and 11^th  centuries. While there are no markers for the kings’ graves, visitors can still walk along Sràid nam Marbh – the Street of the Dead – where the pallbearers would have processed with their royal burdens. Another sacred island is Eilean Munde in Loch Leven, where several Highland clans – Camerons of Callart, MacDonalds of Glencoe and Stewarts of Ballachulish and Ardsheal – buried their dead.

The island is uninhabited by the living; among its 300 or so deceased residents are Alastair MacIain, 12^th Chief of Glencoe, who was killed during the massacre of 1692, and Big Duncan MacKenzie, a Jacobite fighter from Ballachulish. Each clan had its own “port of the dead” when they arrived with a body and legend has it that the island is guarded by the spirit of the last person buried there.

Symbols of eternal life

And not all famous connections are real. Abercorn graveyard, near South Queensferry and just a mile from Midhope Castle which stood in for Lallybroch, featured in Outlander as the site of Frank Randall’s grave in season 4 of the hit show. You have to time travel a fair way further back to the origins of this beautiful spot – St Ninian is said to have visited in the 400s and a church was established on the spot sometimes afterwards.

The gravestones date back to the 1600s and have some great examples of carvings, such as skull and crossbones, and hourglasses, reminding us that life is fleeting and death comes to us all. There are also yew trees in grounds, trees that, because of their longevity, became symbols of eternal life. They’re often found in graveyards, with the most famous in one of Scotland’s most beautiful churchyards at Fortingall in Perthshire. The yew tree there is believed to be between 3,000 and 8,000 years old and is one of the oldest living things in Europe.

And for the plain and simply quirky, Old Town Cemetery in Stirling is hard to beat. The Star Pyramid, built in 1863, is a memorial to martyrs for civil or religious liberty and the Martyrs Monument contains an angel looking over two girls, Margaret and Agnes Wilson.

Both were arrested for their Covenantor beliefs and sentenced to death by drowning in 1685. Agnes was saved but Margaret died. The cemetery also contains the elaborately carved Service stone, dating from 1636 and complete with musket ball dents thanks to Cromwell, and the reinterred remains of a Dominican monk who died 700 years ago.

Text by: Judy Vickers.

Main photo: Abercorn Church Graveyard. Photo: Wilmm, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

East Linton is an East Lothian village with a certain old-world appeal; picturesque cottages and town houses with distinctive orange-red pantiles, quiet corners, narrow wynds and open green spaces. It must be a great place to live; just off the A1, good local bus services and a new railway station which opened in 2023. It even has a small bookshop! But what really makes it stand out is a sense of history, both within the village and in its immediate surroundings.

I suspect that many people have visited East Linton without quite knowing it, for its visitor attractions tend to be very much on the periphery (unless, like me, you view bookshops as visitor attractions in themselves). There is one relatively recent tourist draw, though, that runs right through the village. The John Muir Way (JMW) is an increasingly popular long-distance walking trail that runs right across the waist of Scotland, from Helensburgh in the west to Dunbar in the east.

Dunbar is the usual starting-point as it was the birthplace and childhood home of the man it commemorates, the John Muir who emigrated to America and became a nature writer and early pioneer of conservation. If you’re walking east-to-west (towards the sunset), East Linton is the first refuelling stop after Dunbar. Just about the only thing the humdrum commuter village near Glasgow where I live has in common with East Linton is that the JMW goes through both!

Preston Mill

Perhaps the best-known local feature is Preston Mill. It sits by the River Tyne (a different, smaller river than the English one that runs through Newcastle) just north-east of the village and is run by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS); the JMW, following the Tyne, runs right by.

There’s been a mill on the site since the 1500s but the current buildings date from the 1700s. The mill operated commercially until 1959, but the buildings were restored to working order when the Trust took over in the 1960s. The buildings often feature on Scottish calendars, perhaps because of the eye-catching conical structure in the distinctive East Lothian pantiles. This is actually the kiln, where the grain – usually oats – was dried before milling. Visitors from Kent will spot the resemblance to their famous Oast Houses (unique agricultural buildings), which were, after all, designed for a similar purpose, drying hops. You can also see the mill pond, the wheel which powers the mill and there’s an informative display in the visitor centre.

It’s an amazingly green, peaceful and scenic location for what is, after all, an industrial site. Various paths (including the JMW) offer pleasant, easy walking nearby but the most popular runs around 500m to Phantassie Doocot, an astonishing 16^th century survival that is also preserved by the NTS. Shaped like a gigantic beehive, this dovecot is thought to have housed around 500 pigeons which were used as a cheap and convenient source of meat. The dovecot is not managed for this now, but apparently local pigeons do nest there, happy that they won’t end up as dinner; not for humans, anyway.

The remarkable and exotic name is supposed to be derived from the Gaelic fàn taise which means, unremarkably and very much not exotic, ‘damp slope’! The legendary Scottish engineer John Rennie was born at nearby Phantassie Farm so presumably was raised partly on pigeon-meat from the doocot.

You won’t be in East Linton long before you notice the frequent express trains hammering past on the East Coast Main Line. The railway arrived in the village in 1846 and enabled East Linton to become a centre of agricultural trade with an impressive hexagonal building being provided as a venue for auctions. The Mart, as it became known, continued in this role until the 1960s when the original East Linton Station closed. However, in recent years it has been repurposed as a community venue with shops, places to eat and event spaces. A Sunday market is also held there. The new East Linton Station is nearby and brings central Edinburgh within around twenty minutes of the village.

History doesn’t stop

The history doesn’t stop. Just upstream from the village, on the banks of the Tyne is Hailes Castle. Based around a 13^th century tower with later additions, the castle is associated with the Hepburn family, but has been in ruins since the 17^th century. It’s cared for by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and is normally open to the public However, HES has been conducting a programme of safety surveys on its properties. At the time of my visit, it was Hailes’ turn and it was closed, so if you want to visit, check HES’s website in advance.

A couple of miles south of East Linton is Traprain Law, a northern outlier of the Lammermuir Hills, which reaches 221m/725ft. That isn’t high, even by the standards of the Lammermuirs, but it’s a short, sharp climb on steep paths, and the views to the Forth over East Lothian are astonishing. A really active walker could walk from East Linton to the summit of Traprain Law by way of Hailes Castle using footpaths and quiet roads. Even if you just start from the car park at the foot of the hill, stick to the path; the slopes on the south (crags) and east (quarrying) should be avoided. However, Traprain Law isn’t just about walking and the outdoors. Here’s where The History Village moves into prehistory.

Traprain Law has a number of archaeological features and may have been an occupied site from the Bronze Age until Roman times. The later dwellers seem to have come to some arrangement with the Romans, co-existing and trading with them. In 2019 the Traprain Hoard, a cache of Roman silver, was found there. You can see it at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

If you have travelled between Edinburgh and London by train you have probably sped through East Linton at 100mph. Or you may have driven past on the A1, in neither case giving it a second thought. It’s worth slowing down, though, and taking time to explore in and around ‘The History Village’.

Text and photos by David McVey.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Many people who live in houses today may not be aware that they inhabit the same space that prehistoric peoples once inhabited. Two new publications reveal that archaeology that spanned over 10,000 years, from traces of Late Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic hunter gatherers, to Neolithic farmers, Bronze Age metalworkers, Iron Age Fort dwellers and medieval kiln burners, once lay where new houses now stand.

The discovery was made by GUARD Archaeology during archaeological excavations between 2017 and 2021 commissioned by Persimmon Homes North Scotland prior to construction of new houses at Guardbridge, located just outside St Andrews. Before the excavation began, the ditches of a fort in the north-east corner of the site had already been identified on aerial photographs.

Bronze Age

While most of this fort was left intact, the excavation revealed that it likely originated during the Late Bronze Age and continued through much of the Iron Age until the early centuries AD. Spindle whorls and loom weights attest to the weaving of woollen cloth by the fort’s inhabitants while fragments of shale bracelets demonstrate personal adornment. But what was really surprising about this site was all the other archaeology found outwith the fort, not just Iron Age but much earlier too.

From earlier in the Bronze Age, the remains of substantial roundhouses were discovered, from which an assemblage of pottery sherds and animal bones were recovered. Metalworking was also carried out here during the late Bronze Age as rare casting moulds for a sword blade and a socketed gouge – a tool used in carpentry – were found. From the porch of one of the roundhouses was found evidence that one of its occupants had once sat there knapping flint for tools. 

The earliest occupation of Scotland

The site was also used before this, during the Neolithic by some of the first farmers of Fife who left many pits across this site, containing burnt cereal grains, saddle querns and pottery sherds but no trace of their houses. And before even this, were traces of a temporary Mesolithic campsite. A fire-pit, radiocarbon dated to around 4320-4051 BC, was associated with a cluster of burnt lithics arranged in a distinctive star-shaped pattern, indicative of a tent or shelter, where a small group of hunter gatherers once camped to hunt and fish in the nearby estuary. And below this was a scatter of flints from around 10,000 BC during the Late Upper Palaeolithic period where some of the very earliest inhabitants of Fife once sat knapping flint tools.

While settlement at this site seems to have drawn to a close around the end of the Iron Age, several medieval corn-drying kilns were also found, dating to between AD 900 and 1300. These kilns were presumably worked by labourers of ‘Segy’ farm. The different construction techniques apparent shows how these kilns changed over time, improving in design and size to meet the growing demand from the growing medieval population of Fife. These were the last traces of archaeology with origins stretching back in some form or another to some of the earliest occupation of Scotland.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Barra Castle is located in the Garioch district of Aberdeenshire beside B9170 road that leads from Inverurie to Meldrum. It is about two miles, or three kilometres, south of the village of Meldrum (called Oldmeldrum on modern maps but “Meldrum” to its inhabitants).  Although called a castle, correctly Barra Castle is a fortalice or fortified house. It was built originally in the early 1200s and was then the seat of the King family who served as lairds of the surrounding Barra Estate. It served that purpose until 1596, when the Kings were forced to leave.

Since 1600 the castle has been home to several families, recently the Ramsay family whose later generations the Bogdans made major renovations in the 1970s. The current owners are Sir David and Lady Sarah Stephen, who live in the castle and operate a produce shop and a wedding venue onsite. The Stephens also renovated the castle more recently.

A Scottish fortified house

The castle has been renovated several times and stands now as a fine example of a Scottish fortified house, or fortalice. For defence, there are no windows or doors other than the main door at ground level. The plan of the castle is a variation on the L-plan, with the main block of the castle lying north to south. There is a circular tower at the south-west. A D-plan tower at the south-east, corbelled square at the top to give a watch room, links to a large square wing. At its north-west angle, this wing has a second circular tower. The castle’s entrance is in the main re-entrant angle: it contains the entrance door and main stair, which has a trip-step for defence. The towers have conical roofs. The main gables are crow stepped.

The buildings around the courtyard are three storeys high and built of pinned boulder rubble. This type of construction has stood the test of time. All additions made over the centuries have copied the original so that the castle today looks as if it was all built at the same time. The older parts of the structure date from the early 13^th century, when Barra Castle was built to be the seat of the King family. These older parts include the kitchen which still has the large stone open fireplace at which the King ancestors would have warmed their hands in the 1200s.

Fine symbol of Scots history

Barra Castle has been acclaimed by many historians and architects. Nigel Tranter, the Scottish historian of the twentieth century, wrote in his book on Scottish fortified houses, “Barra is assuredly one of the most attractive of the lesser castles of this great country”. From the 1940s on, Mrs. Mhaire Bogdan (née Ramsay) lived in Barra Castle. Her eldest son Nicholas was an architect and he lived in Barra Castle all his life, from 1947 until 2002. Nicholas undertook extensive restoration of the castle to make it a comfortable family home.

Sir David and Lady Sarah Stephen who live there now renovated the castle further when they took over and they developed the barn as a glamorous wedding venue with B&B accommodation. Thanks to their care, Barra Castle will go into the 21^st and succeeding centuries as the fine symbol of Scots history that it is.

Text by: Wade King

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands, offers the visitor a captivating blend of history, nature, and charm that makes it a must-visit destination. The neighbouring waters of Loch Ness are world famous for not just a monster but also incredible beauty. The Scottish Banner’s Sean Cairney recently visited both and shares just some of the many highlights this Scottish must-see travel destination offers.

I recently had the opportunity to revisit one of my favourite parts of Scotland and jumped at the chance to again visit Inverness, the northernmost city in the United Kingdom. Inverness began as a Pictish stronghold in the 6^th century and is today one of Europe’s fastest growing cities.

Nestled along the banks of the River Ness, this compact city which has been named as one of the ‘50 Best Places to Travel in 2025’ offers a walkable centre filled with cozy cafés, lively pubs, and independent shops, all set against a backdrop of Highland beauty.

Inverness Castle

One of the biggest attractions for the city this year will no doubt be the opening of the Inverness Castle Experience. Inverness Castle is set to reopen this year with a transformative visitor attraction, celebrating the spirit and stories of the Scottish Highlands.

Once a courthouse and prison, the castle’s red sandstone towers are being reimagined into a vibrant cultural hub that blends history, storytelling, and immersive design. I managed to get a sneak peek tour of the castle and really got to see how the unique blend of historic architecture, with creative modern building techniques, interactive spaces and innovative exhibits are being blended.

The castle will open with an exhibition on Scottish super group Runrig, which looks at their incredible career and developed, and designed alongside the band members themselves. The castle sits prominently above the city and River Ness and will become a year-round visitor experience for the city and region and it so great to see what they have done with this iconic space. Inverness Castle is getting ready to open and it should be on your list on your next visit to Scotland.

Loch Ness

One of Inverness’s greatest draws is its proximity to the legendary and world-famous Loch Ness. Whether you’re chasing the myth of Nessie or simply soaking in the tranquil scenery, the loch offers boat tours, castle ruins like Urquhart Castle, and stunning photo opportunities. Urquhart Castle is one of Scotland’s most iconic ruins, perched dramatically on the banks of Loch Ness. Its strategic location made it a key stronghold during the Wars of Scottish Independence, changing hands between English and Scottish forces, including Robert the Bruce.

The castle’s turbulent history includes raids by the MacDonald Lords of the Isles and its eventual destruction in 1692 to prevent Jacobite use. Despite its ruinous state, Urquhart’s silhouette against the loch evokes centuries of conflict, resilience, and mystery. The castle is also linked to the legend of the Loch Ness Monster, adding a layer of folklore to its allure. You can get to the castle by road or boat, and the setting is the most famous on the loch.

Nature is the star of Loch Ness, and the cold dark waters are not only the most famous in all of Scotland, but it is also the largest body of water in Scotland by volume and contains more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. The Loch Ness monster still holds the imagination of many around the world and there have been several reported sightings already in 2025. Many still come to the area just to see if they too can catch a glimpse.

Getting on the loch gives you a great perspective of the water and allows you to take in the surrounding nature. I hopped aboard a Jacobite Cruises vessel, who have been plying these waters for 50 years, and enjoyed the commentary about Loch Ness and watching the unfolding nature surround us, however I did not spot any famous residents!

Culloden Battlefield

I was fortunate to spend the day with Grant Driving Tours whose local knowledge helped to create a great day in the region. We started at Culloden Battlefield a sombre and historic location which marks the site of the final pitched battle fought on British soil, on 16 April 1746. It was the brutal end of the Jacobite Rising, where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s forces, largely Highland Scots, were crushed by the government army led by the Duke of Cumberland. The defeat not only dashed hopes of restoring the exiled Stuart monarchy but triggered sweeping changes across Scotland. In its aftermath, the British government imposed harsh laws to dismantle clan culture: banning tartan, Gaelic, and Highland dress, and disarming the clans.

Culloden is an active war grave and anyone who visits will be moved by the experience which is so well told by the team at the National Trust for Scotland who manage the site. It was slightly odd to see the clan stone for Clan Fraser now has to be roped off for protection due to the popularity of the main character in Outlander. Culloden today stands as a solemn reminder of Scotland’s struggle for identity, faith, and sovereignty. The battlefield’s haunting silence and preserved landscape offer a powerful space for reflection on the cost of rebellion and the resilience of Scottish heritage.

Clava Cairns

Just outside of Inverness are the Clava Cairns which is an interesting Bronze Age burial site near Inverness, dating back over 4,000 years. The complex includes passage graves, a ring cairn, and standing stones, all carefully aligned with the midwinter sunset.

These cairns were likely built for elite individuals, reflecting deep ritual significance and astronomical awareness. The site’s layout and solar alignment hint at a sophisticated understanding of time and cosmology. Clava Cairns remain a powerful testament and link to ancient Scottish people’s and beliefs, and the fact you can freely walk amongst them is something special.

It has been a few years since I have walked the streets of Inverness and I was so glad to have returned. Inverness is such a walkable city and a stroll along the river is a must. I was fortunate to also be able to spend some time in MacGregor’s Bar where traditional music blends with friendly locals and where some may already check in with their live-streaming traditional music sessions which take place each week and have a large international following of Celtic music lovers.

Inverness and Loch Ness have much to offer the visitor with natural beauty, incredible history and Highland culture. The surrounding country side is beautiful and if like me you are lucky you may just get up close and personal with Highland Coo, or two…

I visited in late July and the area was busy with people from all over the world, the heather was just coming out and the nights were long. However, the area can be enjoyed year-round and a visit here is a must, or as it was for me a must come back…

VisitScotland can help you plan your trip to Inverness and Loch Ness at: www.visitscotland.com

Plan your Inverness trip:

Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa offers a relaxing break in Inverness city centre on the banks of the River Ness, opposite the Castle, with a lovely selection of rooms. www.invernesspalacehotel.co.uk

Grant Driving Tours offers great tours from Inverness filled with detailed knowledge and passion for the area. www.grantdrivingtours.scot

Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises is celebrating 50 years of taking passengers out onto the world’s most famous loch. They offer a range of cruises at: www.jacobite.co.uk

The Inverness Castle Experience will be a new visitor attraction in the centre of Inverness, celebrating the ‘Spirit of the Highlands’ through its stories of past, present and future and is due to open this year. www.invernesscastle.scot

Culloden Visitor Centre and Battlefield is open year-round. www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/culloden

Urquhart Castle sits dramatically on the banks of Loch Ness and is open year-round. www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/urquhart-castle

The Caledonian Sleeper – A unique way to travel

This year marks the 200^th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway. If you are combining your next visit to Scotland with a stop in London, the Caledonian Sleeper is a unique travel experience. The Caledonian Sleeper is a luxurious overnight train connecting London with destinations across Scotland, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, and Fort William.

The Scottish Banner recommends the private en-suite rooms, which includes comfortable handcrafted mattresses, private en-suite with shower and Club Car access which allows you to meet fellow travellers and serves Scottish cuisine. Guests enjoy priority boarding, exclusive lounges and a very warm welcome from staff. Whether travelling for business or leisure, the service transforms travel and lets passengers sleep through the journey and wake in the heart of the Highlands or London. With sustainability at its core, it’s a romantic, efficient, and distinctly Scottish way to explore the country.

For details, or to plan your next Scottish adventure, visit: www.caledoniansleeper.scot

Main photo: The city of Inverness. Photo: VisitScotland.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

An online dictionary which has rediscovered lost Gaelic phrases and word meanings is one of 12 projects set to benefit from Scottish Government funding.  Faclair na Gàidhlig (the Historical Dictionary of Scottish Gaelic) seeks to provide a better understanding of Gaelic’s history and culture. It is the first dictionary of the language which aims to detail the origins and meanings of every known Gaelic word. Compilers expect that it will contain more than 100,000 entries.

As part of the initiative, researchers have investigated historical manuscripts dating back to the 12^th century.

Rediscovered phrases and word meanings include:

-The phrase “Ciod fo na rionnagan” (“what under the stars”), which was used in the early 1900s to emphasise a point similar to “what on earth”.

-The Gaelic word for prickly pear fruit, “peur stobach”, was first used in a letter documenting a visit to Saint Helena in 1900.

-“uircean”, which is the Gaelic word for “piglet”, also used to mean “whale calf” in the 1800s.

Gaelic is a core part of Scotland’s culture

The investment will build on 20 years of work by helping Faclair na Gàidhlig to reach new audiences including learners, researchers, writers and speakers of Gaelic. Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic Kate Forbes announced the funding as part of a wider £500,000 package to support the language’s growth across Scotland. The investment will also support the publication of Gaelic language books, local mòd events throughout Scotland and Gaelic cultural activities including a summer school and musical events.

Ms Forbes said: “The dictionary initiative is providing researchers, writers, speakers and learners of Gaelic with new insight into the language and it will be a valuable resource for future generations.  Gaelic is a core part of Scotland’s culture, heritage and history. To support the language’s growth across Scotland, I am announcing funding for a range of Gaelic publishing, education, arts and community projects today. This will build on measures set out in the Scottish Languages Bill to strengthen Gaelic education provision and our investment of £35.7 million in initiatives to promote the language in 2025-26.”

Ola Szczesnowicz, Senior Editor of Faclair na Gàidhlig, said:  “Faclair na Gàidhlig will be the most comprehensive dictionary of Scottish Gaelic compiled on historical principles, similar to the Oxford English Dictionary. This is a big undertaking, and we welcome the Scottish Government’s funding to help continue our work. Our dictionary entries are already going online, freely available to Gaelic speakers and everyone interested in the language.”

Faclair na Gàidhlig is available to read online at: www.faclair.ac.uk

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

A pioneering scientific research project using GPS collars has been launched to track red deer movement and behaviour in the west Highlands to help land managers take informed decisions about how to manage deer health, numbers and habitats.

The study is a partnership project between charity Affric Highlands and Durham University, supported by the Association of Deer Management Groups. The study area includes a diverse network of landowners with different land management practices, such as sporting estates and conservation organisations.

Iconic and ecologically important animals

By strengthening understanding of how red deer move through and use the landscape, the initiative will provide scientific evidence to support future decisions and collaboration between landholdings on managing deer densities and restoring habitats such as native woodlands and peatlands.

“Red deer are a vital part of Scotland’s upland landscapes and rural economies – but increased populations have led to challenges in balancing ecological health, biodiversity, and land management objectives,” said Nicola Williamson, field officer for Affric Highlands. “Strengthening our understanding of how these iconic and ecologically important animals move across estates and habitats is key to recovering ecosystems and improving deer health. This in turn supports rural economies and livelihoods through skilled deer management, and sustainable sport and nature-based tourism.”

Innovative research

While deer management is a much-debated topic in Scotland, limited scientific data is available to help inform and support approaches to practical management and achieve biodiversity goals at landscape-scale. The research in the South Ross Deer Management Group area will deploy GPS collars on 22 stags from Glen Affric to the west coast. Twelve stags have already been collared, to be followed by a further 10 this winter. Six GPS ear tags have been deployed on deer calves to provide data on hind movements, with a plan to tag more calves next spring. The collars allow researchers to analyse where red deer prefer to be, and how they interact with the environment, including their habitat preferences during rutting, calving and foraging. Data will be stored on the collars, but also sent via satellite to EarthRanger – an app which allows deer stalkers to view deer movements and manually add their own observations.

Researcher Dr Eilidh Smith from Durham University said: “Through this innovative research, we’ll be tracking and mapping red deer movements to assess their seasonal migrations, home range sizes, and responses to human activities such as fencing, culling and commercial stalking. We’ll also conduct habitat surveys in areas where the GPS data reveal that deer have been foraging or sheltering, to analyse their environmental impacts.”

Scotland’s largest surviving terrestrial mammal

The project team will work closely with landowners and deer managers to support collaboration across landholdings for better-informed and sustainable deer management. So far, 18 deer stalkers from 14 sporting estates are involved, bringing invaluable knowledge of deer behaviour, built over decades of experience. The team at Affric Highlands is currently working to secure additional funding for the initiative, to enable more GPS collars to be deployed and to fund the collation of the two years’ worth of data for use by land managers.

The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is Scotland’s largest surviving terrestrial mammal, and a keystone species that plays a crucial role in natural processes, shaping the landscape by grazing grasses and sedges, browsing tree shoots and shrubs, and trampling and wallowing. But high red deer populations are a major barrier to the large-scale natural regeneration of native woodlands – continuing centuries of human-driven deforestation and negatively affecting deer health and welfare. Including roe deer and non-native sika, it is estimated there are around one million wild deer in Scotland, up from around 500,000 in 1990. Deer populations can range in densities, sometimes exceeding 40 deer per square km. Deer management is the UK’s single largest terrestrial wildlife management operation.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

Come to Salado the second weekend in November and step back in time to discover the world of ancient Scotland. Listen to the bagpipes play. See athletes Toss the Caber. Watch graceful Highland dancers. Hear a fiddler play and voices raised in ancient Scottish song.

The Salado Scottish Gathering and Highland Games, a 3-day, family-friendly event, has been held the second weekend in November since 1961 and sponsored continuously by the Salado Museum and College Park. The 64^th Scottish Gathering will be held November 7-9 on a beautifully wooded property beginning at 108 Royal Street.

Oldest Scottish festival in Texas

The Salado Scottish Gathering is unique in three ways: it’s the oldest Scottish festival in Texas; all its competitive events are internationally sanctioned; and all proceeds from the entire three-day event benefit the Salado Museum and College Park, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Events begin on Friday afternoon, with a live presentation in the Salado Museum on the history and music of Scotland. That evening the Calling of the Clans takes place at dusk on the banks of Salado Creek…a solemn torchlight ceremony that recreates the coming together of the ancient Scottish clans at Bannockburn in 1314 to fight with Robert the Bruce for Scotland’s freedom.

On Saturday morning, everyone gathers at the festival grounds for a day of Scottish history, heritage, music and merriment. You can visit the Clan Village, the largest gathering of Scottish Clan members in Texas, to find out how Scottish you may be.

Sound of bagpipes

You can watch heavy athletics just as they were played in Scotland in ancient times. Enjoy the graceful movements of Highland dancers. Listen to pipers and drummers playing in competition. Or join in the fun of the rousing Bonniest Knees contest. At high noon bagpipe bands and clans with banners flying parade the streets of Salado from Main Street and South Pace Park Road to the festival grounds for the official opening ceremonies which includes the stirring sounds of the massed pipe and drum bands.

Saturday activities also include live Scottish singers and musicians, the traditional Scottish shortbread contest, local and Scottish food vendors, and everywhere…the sound of bagpipes and those men in kilts! Sunday starts quietly with the Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan, a traditional devotional service in which people carry tartan banners and ask blessings on their families. Activities continue till early afternoon with more bagpipers, dancers, musicians, shopping, a delightful Dog Costume contest and parade, and new this year, dog sheepherding demonstrations.  There’s nothing else like it in Texas! If you’ve never been, make this your year.

For complete details and ticket prices, go to saladoscottishfestival.com or contact the Salado Museum at 254-947-5232.

By: Liz Houston Patranella

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

 

In a tale worthy of a romantic fiction bestseller the first ever wedding has taken place at the Open Book Airbnb bookshop. Located in Wigtown, Scotland’s National Book Town and home to its world-famous annual festival, the Open Book is rented to people who adore the idea of spending their holiday running a bookshop. But recently it had a very different role, becoming the focus for the fulfilment of a love story that stretches back over the decades and which crosses continents.

During a small and intimate ceremony in the heart of the tiny rural Galloway town Aubree Williams and David Casey from the USA finally became husband and wife – 35 years after first meeting in Norman, Oklahoma, and falling in love. David was a 23-year-old from Texas, attending the University of Oklahoma, and Aubree was 18 and came from Norman. Aubree said: “We met 35 years ago, it was our first proper adult relationship. But after a while we realised we were in over our heads. It was just too much for a couple of young kids, so we went our separate ways.”

Both married other people, with David returning to his home town of El Paso, Texas while Aubree stayed in Oklahoma where she has a career in marketing. The pair reconnected through social media after 20 years but the connection was distant for a long time, simply exchanging birthday and Christmas greetings.

The Scottish town where the bride feels part of her soul resides

But later, when going through a divorce, Aubree found she needed someone outside her family and social circle – with a fresh perspective – to talk to and the friendship with David was truly rekindled. “It was so good to have someone to really talk to again,” she said. In 2024 Aubree, an avid reader since the age of three with a particular taste for books about human endurance, found another, very different love – The Open Book.

She says: “It had always been my dream to run a dusty little bookshop, to not have to care about making a ton of money, but just to share my love of books and reading. And there it was, this Airbnb that let you do that, and in my favourite country in the world. I followed what people said about it on Facebook and couldn’t believe it. No place could be that lovely, that magical. My sister and I booked it in 2022 and came over in March of 2024. When we arrived we found it was true. I just fell in love with the people and the place, and I left part of my soul there.”

When Aubree and David (a keen fantasy and sci fi reader) decided to wed the question came up of where to have the ceremony and David had a great idea. He said: “We had thought about just a register office, or perhaps Las Vegas, but I knew she felt that part of her soul is in Wigtown so that seemed the obvious place – I want to marry Aubree in her entirety.” They contacted Wigtown Festival Company (WFC), which runs the Open Book (established more than a decade ago as the world’s first Airbnb bookshop), to ask if it would be possible.  Because the Open Book is booked up for a long time in advance, the company contacted the people who were due to be the tenants at the time the couple wanted to wed and asked if they minded hosting the special event.

Anne Barclay, WFC operations director and one of the bride and groom’s witnesses, said: “The Open Book has a very special magic and has become the bookshop at the heart of stories rather than just selling them. It simply couldn’t be more romantic – a teenage couple who were too young to make it work coming back together after decades and travelling thousands of miles to wed in the Scottish town where the bride feels part of her soul resides. It’s a wonderful love story and we were delighted to be able to help Aubree and David fulfil their dream. We all wish them every happiness for the future and hope they will return to visit us again in the future.”

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

 

Robert Marshall completes his 100^th walk – championing the future of the West Highland Way.

Robert Marshall made history recently by becoming the first person to complete the full 96-mile West Highland Way 100 times. What began as a personal challenge over 30 years ago has evolved into a lifelong passion.

Robert first attempted the 96-mile route in 1993, abandoning the walk at Rowardennan on the first day due to heavy gear and unsuitable footwear. Just weeks later, he returned, determined to succeed, and completed the route in three days with only trainers and a lighter pack. Since then, the West Highland Way has become his “keep fit walk,” keeping him healthy both physically and mentally.

Landmark achievement

Over the years, Robert has walked the trail in all seasons, camping, bivvying, and sometimes using baggage transfer services. He has carried on despite health challenges, including two heart operations in 2017 and 2023. Now retired, he has been walking the route almost every month, determined to reach his 100^th journey before his 70^th birthday in November 2025. For his 100^th walk, Robert was joined by his six children, Kirsty, 46, David, 43, Jennifer, 40, Yvonne, 40, Ciaran, 25 and Ross, 22, by his side. “I’ve had so many special moments on my walks. No two days or journeys are ever the same, but walking this time with all the family can’t be beaten. I’m pleased that this walk has helped raise attention to the need for all of us to support the maintenance along the 96 miles,” he said.

This landmark achievement is not just a personal triumph – it is also a fundraising mission. Robert has already raised thousands of pounds for the West Highland Way Trust, the new charity dedicated to protecting and maintaining the trail. Climate change and increasing visitor numbers are placing growing pressure on the route, making ongoing investment essential to keep it safe and accessible. Funds raised will support vital work, including drainage, signage, bridges, gates, vegetation management, and environmental care.

Scotland’s most loved trail

Carol Matthews, a trustee of the new West Highland Way Trust, joined the crowd at Fort William to cheer Robert and his family across the finish line. She said: “Robert’s commitment is inspirational. We are so grateful that he has chosen to support the new West Highland Way Trust with this remarkable 100^th walk. His efforts will help raise thousands of pounds to safeguard the future of Scotland’s most loved trail.” She added: “The West Highland Way is a global hiking icon, contributing around £20 million a year to Scotland’s rural economy. Its popularity brings huge benefits but also constant wear and tear. The Trust has been set up to fund the essential, often unseen work, renewing signs, maintaining drainage, repairing bridges, that keeps this 96-mile journey safe, sustainable and spectacular for the next generation.”

Opened in 1980, the West Highland Way stretches from Milngavie to Fort William, linking Scotland’s largest city to its highest mountain, via its largest loch. It is one of the UK’s best-loved trails, completed in full by over 45,000 people annually and enjoyed in sections by thousands more.  On 6 October 2025, the West Highland Way celebrated its 45^th anniversary.

Donations can be made at www.westhighlandwaytrust.org.

Main photo: Robert Marshall at the start of the West Highland Way in Milngavie.

Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication  and website visit: The Scottish Banner

 

There were smiles from HRH King Charles III and Queen Camilla as the royal couple and their guests received a resounding welcome as they arrived at this year’s Braemar Gathering staged in the Princess Royal and Duke off Fife Memorial Park in the Highland village of Braemar.

King Charles was in kilt for the annual event, while Queen Camilla wore a blue coat with tartan collar. The Gathering was the third that the King has attended as monarch although he frequently attended while he was the Duke of Rothesay and with family as a youngster.

Other guests alongside the Royal couple included Absolutely Fabulous actress Dame Joanna Lumley and her conductor husband Stephen Barlow as well as peer and human rights lawyer Helena Kennedy-Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws.

The Gathering is perhaps the most famous event on the Highland Games circuit. Held close to the Royal Highland residence, Balmoral, it takes place every year on the first Saturday in September.

Traditional Highland Games

The popular event has been running in its present form since 1832. It is believed to have originated from ancient games held by King Malcolm III. It has been attended regularly by the reigning monarch and other members of the royal family since 1848, when Queen Victoria was a guest. At that time, it was held at Invercauld estate and Balmoral castle on a rotational basis. In 1866, by command of Queen Victoria, Royal was added to Braemar Highland Society title and, in 1906, the Duke of Fife presented 12 acres of ground in the village to create the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, the current home of the Braemar Gathering.

The event features a host of traditional Highland Games contests, including tug-of-war and the caber toss, along with performances from pipe bands and Highland dancers. The programme this year featured more than 80 individual events. The reigning monarch is patron of the Gathering and takes on the title of Chieftain.

The next Braemar Gathering will take place Saturday 5^th September 2026. For details see: www.braemargathering.org

Main photo: King Charles and Queen Camilla in the Patrons Pavilion with Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws.

All images courtesy of the Braemar Gathering Annual.

This year’s Cowal Gathering was again full of fierce competition, as thousands of spectators from across the globe descended on Dunoon to witness one of Scotland’s most iconic and family-friendly events. Regarded as one of the country’s best days out, the Gathering’s grand finale more than lived up to expectations. From Highland dancing and pipe bands to daredevil ducks, live music, and traditional heavy athletics, ‘Super Saturday’ delivered non-stop entertainment from early morning until nightfall.

More than 1,000 competitors showcased their skills, with dancers, pipers, wrestlers, and heavy athletes battling it out for coveted Cowal silverware. Adding to the excitement were this year’s Chieftains—renowned stars of STV News Sean Batty and Laura Boyd, who oversaw the day’s action. The event culminated in the World Highland Dancing Championship Finals—the largest competition of its kind globally. Dancers from the UK, Australia, Canada, and the USA competed for international glory.

World Juvenile Champion – Aisla Gocan-Wright from Ontario

• 2nd: Ellie Murgha from Queensland
• 3rd: Lucy McMaster from Carluke
• Best Scottish Juvenile Dancer was Lucy McMaster
• Best Overseas Juvenile Dancer was Aisla Gocan-Wright

World Junior Champion – Eilidh Gammons from Helensburgh

• 2nd: Katjana Bruinsma from Alberta
• 3rd: Maria Monk from Glasgow
• Best Scottish Junior Dancer: Eilidh Gammons from Helensburgh
• Best Overseas Junior Dancer: Katjana Bruinsma from Alberta

World Adult Champion – Marielle Lesperance from Nova Scotia

• 2nd: Rebecca Thow from Aberdeen
• 3rd: Rosey Watt from Macduff
• Best Overseas Adult Dancer: Marielle Lesperance from Nova Scotia
• Best Scottish Adult Dancer: Rebecca Thow from Aberdeen

Cowal Gathering Chairman David Mitchell MBE hailed the 2025 event as one of the most memorable yet: “We’ve just experienced a Cowal Gathering that will go down in history. From outstanding performances to electric crowds and family-friendly fun, it’s been a celebration of everything that makes this event so special. I want to thank the people of Dunoon and the wider Cowal community, as well as our fantastic competitors, sponsors, and visitors from around the world. This year’s event has been marked by world-class talent and incredible support, and we’re already looking forward to welcoming everyone back in 2026.”

A full list of the results is available at:  www.cowalgathering.com

Photo: This year’s World Highland Dancing Championships with World Juvenile World Champion Ailsa Gocan-Wright 5^th from left back row, World Junior Champion Eilidh Gammons 6^th  from left and World Adult Champion Marielle Lesperance 7^th from left.

 

For the first time, two Australian national pipe band championships will be staged together in regional New South Wales, with the Australian Solo Championships and the Australian Juvenile Championships taking place from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 October 2025 at The Scots School, Albury.

The event will feature more than 300 performances across the weekend, as competitors aged from 12 through to over 70 take to the stage in a celebration of music, culture, and competition.

Australian Juvenile Championships

The Australian Juvenile Pipe Band Championships shine a spotlight on the next generation of pipers and drummers. Held every second year in rotation with the Australian Pipe Band Championships, the Juvenile Championships provide a stage for young musicians to perform in both solo and band settings, with opportunities that extend beyond traditional contest elements.

This year’s event continues that mission by creating a friendly, supportive environment for players who may be new to competition, while also showcasing the incredible talent and commitment of Australia’s youth pipe band community.

Australian Solo Championships 

The Australian Solo Piping Championships have a proud history dating back to 1961, In 2025, the Championships return to New South Wales. Over three spectacular days, Australia’s top pipers and drummers will compete head-to-head for national titles across multiple disciplines; from marches, strathspeys and reels to hornpipes, jigs and the classical piobaireachd. This event represents the pinnacle of solo performance in Australia, crowning champions who are recognised as leaders of their craft worldwide with many performers either returning from or planning for competition in Scotland and Europe more broadly.

For further details see: www.pipebandsaustralia.com.au/championships

 

Three Scottish brothers have set a new world record after completing the fastest human-powered crossing of the full Pacific Ocean.  Rowers Jamie, Ewan, and Lachlan Maclean arrived in Cairns, Australia on Saturday August 30 , following a mammoth 139 days 5 hours and 52 minutes at sea as they rowed 9,000 miles across the world’s largest ocean.  The Edinburgh-born trio are the first team ever recorded to row from South America to Australia.  The previous fastest time to cross the full Pacific Ocean was 159 days 16 hr 58 mins, achieved by Fedor Konyukhov (Russia), who rowed 7,393 miles (6,424 nautical miles; 11,897.9 km) from Chile, to Australia in 2014.

The trio took on the epic challenge to raise awareness and fund projects that provide clean water for life to people living in Madagascar through their Maclean Foundation, and have so far raised more than £1 million as supporters from around the globe – including megastars Ewan MacGregor, Mark Wahlberg, and Flea – rallied behind the campaign.  The voyage, which began on April 12,  threw significant challenges at the rowers, including Ewan and Jamie facing crippling seasickness for the first two weeks; a terrifying scare with Lachlan thrown overboard during a night shift only to be pulled back on the boat by his older brother Ewan; and a race against time to complete the row as extreme weather conditions stalled their progress, and caused a fast-depleting food supply to complete the row. The adventurers also had to deal with a broken water maker, faulty auto helm, and countless injuries as they spent up to 14 hours per day on the oars.

Once-in-a-lifetime adventure

The Scots were reunited with more than 50 friends and family who made the trip from the UK,  including their mum, Sheila, as well as hundreds of fans at Cairns Marlin Marina.  Middle brother Jamie (31) said: “Things got tough towards the end and we seriously thought we might run out of food. Despite how exhausted we were, we had to step up a gear and make it before supplies ran out, but now we get to eat proper food. Ocean rowing has given us newfound appreciation for things we used to take for granted – like going for a shower, lying in bed, or simply leaning on something stationary. It was the most incredible, relentless and often surreal experience of my life. While I might miss the routine, the solitude, the sunsets, and sunrises and so much more, right now I’m just very glad to be back on land with my friends and family who I’ve missed so much. The whole thing will take a while to sink in.”

While the mid-Pacific, from California to Hawaii,  is well travelled, relatively few have attempted the full Pacific from South America to Australia. Earlier this year,  Lithuanian solo rower Aurimas Mockus had to abandon his Pacific crossing attempt due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Ewan (33), who left his job as an engineer at Dyson to take on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, added: “The days have been long and yet the weeks have flown past, it’s strange to think of the time that we’ve spent out here.This has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I couldn’t have even contemplated it without my brothers. There have been countless setbacks to overcome, some leaving us lost, but we’ve always lifted each other up. We’ve shed tears of joy and laughed till our cheeks hurt. And at times we’ve cried with sadness and with fear, but our spirits have been lifted, time and time again, by the support of so many rallying behind us.”

Global attention

The row captured global attention, with Wahlberg – who said he wanted to play the trio in a movie – keeping especially close attention, even joining the brothers for an Instagram live to wish them luck in the others prior to arrival. Jamie played bagpipes to Ewan McGregor from the ocean, while Sam Heughan and Flea from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers were also among those calling in to the boat to show support. The All-American Rejects invited Jamie to join the band’s performance at Comic Con in San Diego live from sea, playing the intro to their hit Swing-Swing on the bagpipes.  As well as online donations, many have been inspired to take on a charity challenge of their own, from Chamberlain Care Home’s weekly physio rowing sessions to a five-year-old running a mile every day of his school holidays.

Youngest brother Lachlan, who marked his 27^th birthday during the five-month voyage, was inspired to support clean water projects in Madagascar after visiting the country following university.  He said: “We’ve completed the row, but the journey isn’t over. We have a charity target of £1 million ($2.06m AUD) which will provide clean water for life to 40,000 people living in Madagascar, and we won’t stop until we get there. Clean water is the most basic of needs, and it’s too often taken for granted. While we’re looking forward to getting back to Scotland to see our dad, and to enjoy life back at our croft in Nedd in the Highlands, we’re also very excited to get back out to Madagascar as it’s a very special place for us.”

The brothers’ boat, Rose Emily, was named after the sister they never knew, as their parents lost her during pregnancy. The boat, which the brothers built alongside ocean rowing legend Mark Slats, is believed to be the fastest and lightest ocean rowing boat ever made. The brothers first caught the bug for ocean rowing in 2019 when they set out to row the Atlantic Ocean. Despite being relative novices to the sport, the trio broke three world records when they rowed from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in 35 days.

The expedition was in support of The Maclean Foundation, which funds clean water projects in Madagascar and beyond. To donate and keep up with The Maclean Brothers, visit www.themacleanbrothers.com.

 

The Australian Highland Games Championships returns to CelticFest Warwick 2025, bringing world-class traditional strength events, cultural celebration and exciting international opportunities for athletes.

 A future for Highland Games in Australia

Organised by Highland Muscle, Wollongong, this year’s championships will feature more than twenty athletes across men’s, women’s, masters and, for the first time, junior and teen divisions “This year is about growth,” said Rob Mitchell, Highland Muscle’s Australian representative. “From juniors through to masters, there are now clear pathways for Australian athletes to step onto the world stage. This event is not just about competition; it’s about building a future for Highland Games in Australia.”

The event serves as an official qualifier for the International Amateur Highland Games Championships in Norway, with winners of the open divisions receiving invitations and financial support to compete overseas.

Plans are also underway for Masters champions to qualify for the International Highland Games Federation Masters World Series in the United States in 2026. Juniors and teens will be part of the Australian Championships for the first time, marking a major milestone in the sport’s national growth. Australia’s top performers, such as Oceania champion Terry Sparkes and rising star Brock Ridsdale will compete alongside emerging talent. In the women’s field, Queenslander Lily Riley, and Red Windle are among the names to watch.

Traditional Scottish strength

CelticFest Warwick visitors can expect to see the full slate of traditional Scottish strength contests including putting the stone, hammer throw, caber toss, weight for distance and weight over the bar. This year also introduces the Manhood Stone Challenge, a historic test of strength adapted into a timed lifting and carrying event, offering both men and women the chance to qualify for future international competitions. The return of the championships follows the successful Melbourne International Highland Games earlier this year, which attracted 50 athletes from six countries.

The Australian Highland Games Championships are a highlight of CelticFest Warwick, a vibrant celebration of Scottish and Irish heritage in Queensland’s Southern Downs. Alongside the Highland Games, festival-goers will enjoy Celtic music and dance, artisanal markets, medieval re-enactments, workshops, and animal encounters featuring Highland cows, Shetland ponies and Friesian horses, and Irish wolfhounds.

The Australian Highland Games Championships will be held during CelticFest Warwick 2025 at the Warwick Showgrounds on October 4–5, 2025. Tickets and further details are available at www.celticfestqld.com.au.

Highland Muscle is the official Australian representative of the International Highland Games Federation (IHGF), dedicated to reviving and expanding Highland Games nationally and creating opportunities for athletes to compete on the world stage.

 

Against the iconic backdrop of the Ross Fountain and Edinburgh Castle, The United States Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps enjoyed a tour of Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens during their recent performances at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Making their Tattoo debut in 2025, and wearing uniforms dating back to 1784, the United States Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps brought a wealth of history to help celebrate the 75^th Anniversary Show this year.

 

The United States Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps brought a wealth of history to help celebrate the 75th Anniversary Show this year. As the U.S. Army’s oldest active infantry regiment, their performance paid a special tribute to the U.S. Army’s 250 years of service, proudly honouring the traditions that accompanied the birth of the United States of America.

The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps is the only unit of its kind in the US Military, and is part of the 3^rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). They have performed at key events across the USA from sporting to the Olympics and have also performed at the arrival ceremonies at the White House for foreign heads of state and have been a part of every Presidential Inauguration Parade since President John F. Kennedy. The Fife and Drum Corps is based at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Virginia.