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We’re delighted to be back with a new ‘Hidden Scotland Weekly’. We really hope that you enjoy reading.

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Have a great Sunday!

Discover the nooks and crannies of Caithness

Snippet from the magazine…

Viking history, fishing harbours and a sense of faraway adventure. To the average traveller, John O’Groats is a more famous name than Caithness itself, which says something about the region’s place in public consciousness. But for those who make the effort to journey here – and its position on the North Coast 500 route means there are plenty who do – the rewards are substantial.

To read the full article you can purchase issue 06 here.

Hunterian Museum

Glasgow

Housed within the University of Glasgow, the Huntarian Museum and Art Gallery is Scotland’s oldest public museum and one of the country’s most important cultural assets. It was spawned by the death of renowned anatomist and physician, Dr William Hunter who, upon his death in 1783, stipulated that his extensive collections should be donated to the university. 24 years later, the museum opened within the university’s original city centre campus and alter relocated, along with the University of Glasgow, to its present site. The Huntarian Museum today is spread across several buildings, best showcasing its distinguished collection of works, which include Rubens and Rembrandt, as well as scientific instruments used by James Watt.

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Duffus Castle

Moray

Amid the vast expanse of the Laich of Moray, where the remnants of Spynie Loch whisper tales of bygone days, stands the formidable relic of Duffus Castle. Once a beacon of medieval architecture, this stronghold traces its origins back to the age when mottes adorned Scotland's landscape. For half a millennium, this castle stood as both fortress and home, evolving from timber to stone, bearing witness to centuries of power struggles, allegiances, and societal shifts. Although abandoned since the early 18th century, its silent walls still resonate with echoes from the past, beckoning visitors to journey back in time and embrace the legacy of the Moray family.

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Pladda Lighthouse

Isle of Arran

Pladda Lighthouse, a stoic fixture off the Scottish coast, carries tales as varied as the ships it's guided since 1790. In a world where lighthouses were the GPS of yesteryears, Pladda's innovative dual-lantern design was its signature, helping seafarers discern it from its peers. Over the decades, the beacon witnessed transitions: from adopting paraffin's steady burn to sounding a fog siren, echoing safety across the murky waters. The 20th-century saw another twist with the introduction of a group flashing light. While supplies once arrived by boat, 1972 brought the hum of helicopter blades. Though automation in 1990 ended its manned era, this nautical relic, now managed from Edinburgh, remains a vital chapter in maritime lore.

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Dunure Castle and the Roasting of the Commendator

Once the most important stronghold of the powerful Kennedy family, the abandoned Dunure Castle still dominates this Ayrshire clifftop. While the old walls, combined with their spectacular view across to the Isle of Arran, make a popular visitor attraction today, this picturesque ruin hides a much darker story.

It was from this foreboding fortress that the Kennedys spread their control over much of southwest Scotland. Each generation was smart, ambitious and eager for advancement, but none were as power hungry as Gilbert Kennedy, the 4th Earl of Cassilis.

Gilbert inherited his father’s titles at the tender age of 17, often described as a greedy man who cared little about how he obtained more land, as long as he got his way in the end. His morally dubious actions paid off and the young Earl would eventually become so powerful that he was known as the King of Carrick.

Early on, he set his sights on the rich lands controlled by Glenluce Abbey, bribing a monk to forge the documents needed to sign everything over to the Kennedys. To cover up his deception, Gilbert paid a peasant to murder the monk and then just to be safe, had the assassin hanged for false charges of theft.

The Earl decided Crossraguel Abbey would be his next target but soon discovered that things wouldn’t be so straightforward this time. Allan Stewart was the Commendator in charge and he refused to bow down in the face of Gilbert’s insatiable appetite for land. In response, a force of Kennedy’s captured Allan and brought him to Dunure Castle, under strict orders to avoid any violence.

Gilbert treated him like an esteemed guest to begin with, but the Commendator was clearly little more than a prisoner. After days of polite flattery, there was still no change in Allan’s steely resolve and no signature on the necessary papers. The prisoner was going to need a more forceful method of persuasion, so they dragged him down to the Black Vault of Dunure.

While a great fire was being stoked, Allan was stripped and bound, covered with oil and then tied to the chimney. The poor Commendator was slowly roasted over the flames, an excruciating form of torture that few men could have resisted. Before long, Allan understandably caved to the Earl’s demands.

With the documents in his possession, Gilbert left both Dunure Castle and the badly burned Commendator in his servant’s hands. The prisoner would most likely have been disposed of at some point if it wasn’t for a timely intervention from an unlikely source. Another rival Kennedy, the Laird of Bargany had heard about Allan Stewart’s fate and stormed the castle to rescue him.

Still suffering from his torture, the Commendator made it safely to the Privy Council to report the Earl’s evil deeds. Gilbert was summoned to explain his actions, forced to apologise and pay Allan an annual pension. However, he still managed to secure the abbey lands in the end, getting his way just like always.

Words by Graeme Johncock, Photographs by Simon Hird

Feeding the soul: Narture’s fusion of fine art and fine bread in Ayr

Through their work, Narture aims to showcase the talents of local artists and artisans, promoting their work and supporting their livelihoods. By intertwining food and arts, the collective intends to create unique experiences that engage both the senses and the community, attracting visitors and fostering cultural tourism in the process.

Can you start by introducing yourselves and telling us about Narture.

Narture Community Interest Company is an artist collective formed in 2020 by myself, Robert Singer, and daughter Saskia Singer. We are both graduate artists committed to the regeneration of the historical area of Ayr town centre as a Cultural Quarter, through food and arts.

Our objective is to generate creative employment and sustainable income sources with a unique vision straddling the boundaries of gastronomy, arts, and commerce. To form a new creative economy promoted by artisan producers, crafters and multidisciplinary artists, to establish vibrant, dynamic environments encouraging experiential retail and cultural tourism.

What are your backgrounds and what has led you to running this unique business?

There are three principle attributes to my professional career – catering, wellbeing and art. Art has been my passion since I was a child, but it took until my mid-forties to realise my aspiration of a place at Glasgow School of Art, graduating in 2001. I initially trained as a chef/baker then worked through to city centre concepts development manager for a national catering company. Working long hours in the catering industry led to burnout and I turned to natural health practices re-training as a yoga teacher and wellbeing therapist, before gaining a place at GSA.

Saskia graduated from Fine Art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in 2019, whilst always working in hospitality to sustain herself whilst studying and upon leaving University. Collaboration is integral to Saskia’s socially engaged practice, initiating a project called Dain Hing’s whilst at DJCAD, hosting a number of exhibitions, workshops, residencies and events, bringing people together ‘tae dae hings’. During lockdown in 2020, Robert and Saskia set up Narture CIC fusing their combined knowledge and passion of food and art through a number of experimental projects at home whilst being stuck at home during the pandemic. This playful exploration developed into the bakery and café over the past 3 years, along side running pop up exhibitions in various empty shops in Ayr town centre.

Can you tell us a bit about the bread making process, and your favourite part?

Bread and dough are metaphors for income generation, bread is the original food made that could neither be foraged not hunted. Our products are naturally fermented sourdough, baked for taste and the health of the gut.

Your tagline is ‘Nurturing the arts, respecting nature’. Firstly can you tell us about some of the incredible projects you’ve been able to run through Narture?

Narture is a word play of nurture, nature and art, which evolved out of series of pop up events of taking over empty spaces and activating them with cultural activities that can be viewed on our website as past projects. Our objective is to create sustainable income sources to support a collective of artisan producers, crafters and multidisciplinary artists, to establish vibrant, dynamic environments promoting experiential retail and cultural tourism.

Your next project on the horizon is Peoples Art School, what can we expect to see from this?

The Peoples Art School is a context particular project that aims to bridge the gap between graduation and professional practice where artist across disiples and genres can make creativity accessible to all members of society. In different spaces that provides studios, exhitibitions, events, print studio and darkroom with cafe/deli facilities to nourish the body as well as the mind, the project is currently under development- watch this space!

To read the full interview click here and check out their website and Instagram.

Interviewed by Eryn Inglis

David McDiarmid is the creative force behind David McDiarmid Studio. A fun-filled, food-focused art studio located in Glasgow's East End, specialising in crafting affordable, handcrafted artworks and gifts specifically designed for food enthusiasts and cooking aficionados. David offers a diverse array of pieces, ranging from original oil paintings featuring his beloved ingredients to distinctive ceramic pasta magnets and meticulously handcrafted coasters and placemats. Beyond his artistic talents, David is also a keen cook and enthusiast of food history and culture.

Visit our shop at the Milton of Crathes, Banchory to discover a selection of David's handmade espresso coasters, available now!

Crovie Preservation Society 60th Anniversary Celebration - 12th August 10am-4pm Artists creating work in the outdoors, art exhibition and sale, historic tales, walking trails, music and entertainment.

Bowhouse August Market - Their August market weekend will be held on the 12th & 13th of August and will feature an array of Scottish food and drink traders and the Tea Green craft traders. There will be a variety of talks, tastings and demos from different makers and producers.

SeaFest Peterhead - Peterhead’s bustling harbour will provide the backdrop for new north-east food and drink event, SeaFest Peterhead, which is set to take place later this autumn. The one-day festival celebrating the region’s seafood sector will take place on Saturday September 9 from 11am to 4pm and organisers are already hailing the new addition as a date for the town’s social calendar.

Would your business like to feature in the Hidden Scotland Weekly? e-mail [email protected]