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We’re excited to bring you another edition of ‘Hidden Scotland Weekly’. As always, we hope you enjoy reading and find inspiration for your next adventure.

We have just launched our pre-order for Issue 10! click here to find out more

Each magazine is wrapped by hand with bookmark and print included. Available for a limited time only.

Enjoy this week’s edition, and have a fantastic Sunday!

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It brings us enormous pleasure to welcome you to Issue 10 of Hidden Scotland Magazine, our Spring/Summer 2025 edition.

As an independent publication, the fact that we’ve now reached a double-figure landmark is a source of huge pride – and as such, we wanted this issue to be a celebration.

All pre-orders will come with:

→ Neidpath Castle bookmark
→ A5 print of the front cover image

Each magazine is wrapped by hand with bookmark and print included. Available for a limited time only.

If you are a subscriber to Hidden Scotland magazine, then your order will also arrive with the bookmark and print.

We hope that you enjoy issue 10 and as always, thank you for your continued support.

We will begin shipping from Scotland early April.

The Honourable Sergeant Mòr

John Cameron was a Scottish soldier famous for his great size and strength and known simply as Sergeant Mòr. He was a proud Jacobite and even after the rising ended at the Battle of Culloden, this warrior wasn’t ready to give up. Instead, Sergeant Mòr took to the hills around Loch Lomond and lived the life of an outlaw.

A band of equally patriotic Jacobites formed around the Sergeant and he became a Robin Hood figure. He stole only from supporters of the British Government, while making sure to guard the local Jacobite sympathisers from any repercussions. In return, the people protected the group when the soldiers came searching. While Sergeant Mòr might have lived the life of an outlaw, he was still known to be an honourable man.

One day, a British Army officer carrying a large sum in soldier’s wages found himself lost amongst the mountain passes when he came across a friendly looking man. He confessed that he was on his way to Fort William but had no idea how to get back on the right road. He had heard stories about outlaws in the area and was terrified of running into the dreaded Sergeant Mòr while carrying such a huge amount of money.

The stranger smiled and agreed to escort him back to the right track. As he led the way to safety, the pair talked, and conversation inevitably turned to the legends surrounding the leader of the outlaws. The officer cursed the man and his crimes, robbing and murdering innocent people at will.

At that, the stranger stopped in his tracks, spun around, and confronted the soldier. He declared that the Sergeant might lift cattle from those who supported the government, but he would never kill an innocent person. Without thinking he added that there had been one death at Braemar, but that was an accident and he had left the spoils behind as compensation!

Seeing the look on the officer’s face, the stranger knew he had said too much. It was now evident that this was the notorious Sergeant Mòr and his travelling companion had gone very pale. He was standing in the middle of nowhere, carrying an awful lot of gold, with the man he had been warned to avoid right after gravely insulting him.

The big Sergeant laughed. He might have been an outlaw, but he was also an honourable character. It wouldn’t be right to rob somebody he had promised to escort to safety, especially not a fellow soldier. He pointed him to the right road and watched the officer run for his life.

In 1753, somebody finally tipped off the troops as to where the outlaws were hiding. Half a dozen men grabbed the Sergeant while he slept in a barn, but the big man threw them off as if they were children. Running outside, he was met with the barrels of loaded muskets and found himself completely trapped. He was executed for his crimes but lived on as a folk hero in an old poem written to the tune of the popular Loch Lomond song:

"Wi' the men o' Sergeant Mòr shall I work to pay the score,
Till I wither on the wuddy in the sun, lad!"

Written by Graeme Johncock Greame has recently written a book called ‘Scotland's Stories by Graeme Johncock’ Grab a copy here.

The Outlander Itinerary

Graeme Johncock, the travel blogger and storyteller behind Scotland's Stories, is now bringing his adventures to us in a weekly column. He will journal about his explorations around Scotland, sharing fascinating stories and highlighting unique places to visit. Accompanied by his dog Molly, Graeme continues to uncover and share the rich history and beauty of Scotland.

The Outlander effect on Scotland has been immense with thousands travelling here every year thanks to their love for the TV show. Set between the mid-1900s and the turbulent 1745 Jacobite rising, a tour around Outlander filming locations makes a great day out. However, it’s important to remember that these are more than just TV sets and each location has its own fascinating true history worth exploring!

Midhope Castle

Begin your day at one of the most iconic Outlander locations – Midhope Castle, better known as Lallybroch. In the show, this was Jamie Fraser’s family home although in real life, it’s an inaccessible ruin. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting and the love for Lallybroch has breathed new life into the place.

Dating back to the 15th century, this small towerhouse was remodelled by Alexander Drummond and you can see his initials in the famous archway. It became home to Sir John Hope, an up-and-coming industrialist whose family would become the Earls of Hope, moving to nearby Hopetoun House!

Blackness Castle

Known as the Ship That Never Sailed, Blackness Castle juts out into the Forth like a pointed prow. Used as Fort William in Outlander, the rocky courtyard where Jamie is flogged is unmistakable. The castle was originally built to be a comfortable home but quickly became a royal stronghold and impenetrable prison instead. While the central tower held more respectable figures, the pit in the northern prison slowly filled with seawater for more unfortunate souls.

Linlithgow Palace

A short distance inland, Linlithgow Palace was a comfortable residence for Scottish monarchs halfway between Edinburgh and Stirling. Enormous halls and numerous bedrooms surround the courtyard with a lavish 500-year-old fountain in the centre. It couldn’t be further from its TV portrayal as Wentworth Prison! This was the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and a favourite of her grandmother Margaret Tudor who is said to haunt the halls. Keep your ears open for the rustle of her silk skirts while admiring the view from the ramparts.

Lunch At Aran

Located in the square just outside Linlithgow Palace, Aran serves up delicious Scottish lunches and probably the best coffee in West Lothian!

Doune Castle

Doune Castle is one of Scotland’s most famous fortresses, a real no- nonsense place with strong stone walls. It’s hardly changed since it was home to Robert Stewart the Duke of Albany, younger brother to King Robert III.

This is one of my favourite castles in Scotland where you can easily imagine life here in the 1400s. No wonder it’s so popular for historical dramas! Immediately recognisable as Outlander’s Castle Leoch, Doune is also famous for its role in Monty Python and Game of Thrones!

Culross

On the banks of the Firth of Forth, the village of Culross stands in for the fictional village of Cranesmuir. This is the most authentic 17th century settlement in Scotland and somewhere I love to walk the cobbled streets between quaint coloured houses.

You could easily spend half a day here if you wanted, wandering around the mercat cross, ruined abbey and down to Culross Palace. Despite the name, this was never a royal residence, but it was home to George Bruce who brought huge wealth to the village through the coal and salt industries.

Falkland

Right in the heart of Fife, the tiny village of Falkland was briefly used in Outlander as 1940s Inverness. Mrs Baird’s guest house beside the fountain is immediately obvious, but there’s a lot more to find here. I grew up just a few miles away and would regularly hike up Falkland Hill that looms above the village or take the much shorter stroll through Maspie Den.

While it didn’t feature on the show, Falkland Palace is the reason the village is here at all. A favourite of the Stuarts, this was where Mary Queen of Scots shocked courtiers by playing tennis in trousers because it helped her win!

Dysart Harbour

Finish off your tour of Outlander locations by stopping off at Dysart Harbour. If you imagine a sprawling French city where the cliff-face stands, then you should recognise it as Le Havre.

Once a small but busy trading port, large ships regularly sailed between Dysart and the Low Countries. As ballast, they brought back orange tiles which can still be seen on lots of the roofs, especially in Pan Ha. Coal was one of the largest industries here and if you look on the beach, you’ll even find piles of the stuff washed up!

Written by Graeme Johncock Greame has recently written a book called ‘Scotland's Stories by Graeme Johncock’ Grab a copy here.

Back in Stock! 50 Shades of Scotland Print

Elevate your space with Emily Mackenzie's "50 Shades of Scotland" A3 print. This vibrant and playful poster captures the essence of Scotland with its unique colour palette, including hues like Nessie, Thistle, and Smoked Salmon. Whether as a gift or a cherished reminder of your Scottish adventures, this print adds a pop of personality to any room.

Spotlight: Fingal Hotel

When it was first launched in 1963, Fingal was a Northern Lighthouse vessel, ferrying lighthouse keepers, essential supplies and maintenance staff to lighthouses, as well as undertaking repairs to navigational aids. How times have changed. Today the ship has become a luxury floating hotel, moored 10 minutes away from sister ship The Royal Yacht Britannia and boasting not only the AA Hotel of the Year Scotland 168 2023-24 and an AA five-star rating for its accommodation, but also two AA rosettes for its dining. There are 22 cabins, including several duplex rooms and the Skerryvore Suite, which comes with a private deck area. The Lighthouse Restaurant and Bar specialises in fine dining (its salmon is smoked on board) and also does an indulgent afternoon tea.

View more here

For more Isle of Edinburgh recommendations check out our latest guidebook.

Upcoming Events Across Scotland

Beltane Fire Festival

When - 30th April
Where - Edinburgh
Price - £8.88 - £17.45

This year’s Beltane festival seeks to celebrate the onset of summer by asking the question; “what does it mean to truly rewild our community?”. With this theme run- ning throughout the merrymaking, you may discover a refreshed perspective upon rewilding through a spiritual lens with this ancient Celtic ritual. Beltane invites you to cross the seasonal threshold from decay into growth by exploring your connection to the deep past through the sharing of traditional stories and the joy of renewal.

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Dee To The Sea

When - 12th April
Where - Banchory - Greyhope Bay
Price - £20

Dee To The Sea is a 31.5km sponsored walk hosted by Aberdeen’s Greyhope Bay charity, to raise funds for its programme of community projects located at the inter- section of the River Dee and the North Sea. Enjoy a variety of scenery whilst strolling along the footpaths which straddle the Dee as it flows from shire, through city and harbour, out to sea. With mellow gradients, and a mostly off-road route, this event aims to be an achievable challenge for all the family while raising money for a local charity.

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International Tartan Day

When - 6th April
Where - Everywhere
Price - Free

On the 6th of April, you can participate in celebrating Scottish heritage from any location in the world. Originating in Nova Scotia, Tartan day rose out of a desire to cel- ebrate intimate connections between Canada and Scotland. Now, the celebration is more popular than ever, with the largest Tartan Day parade happening in New York City. Some countries, such as Australia, do however organise their Tartan Day events on different dates but if you needed a sign to dig out the old kilt this April, here it is! Read more about the fascinating history of the day from the American Scottish Foun- dation at the link below.

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Falconry Friday

When - 11th April
Where - Scone Palace
Price - Free - £65

As we see spring take off in April, so too does flying season at Scone Palace. The Rap- tor World team from the Scottish Deer Centre will present the first instalment of the Falconry Friday series on April 11th. The front lawn will play host to a flock of vari- ous Falcons and Owls which you can see and learn about from the experts followed by a fantastic flying demonstration of the superb aerobatics of these creatures. The display is included with the price of admission.

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