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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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Our 2023 Christmas Gift Guide

As we continue our journey of discovery through Scotland, we find ourselves incredibly lucky to have come across some of Scotland’s most incredibly creative and talented people who make, sell & design the most beautiful and unique products, prints & gifts.

The Brownie of Bodesbeck Farm

Bodesbeck Farm just outside of Moffat used to be home to a hard working Brownie. This little creature wanted nothing more than to work at his chores and take a small meal in return. The Brownie rarely showed himself and his only signs were the chores that were mysteriously completed overnight.

Over the years, with the Brownie’s help Bodesbeck became one of the richest farms in Southern Scotland. One night, the farmer decided to leave his little helper a much fancier meal than he would normally take. It was his way of saying thanks.

The farmer had completely misunderstood his Brownie though. To him, it seemed like the farmer was trying to decide what he should or shouldn’t eat. The Brownie didn’t need anybody’s permission to eat a finer meal, he took whatever he wanted. He worked because he was proud of his abilities and not for any kind of payment.

When the farmer woke in the morning, the food hadn’t been touched and the usual chores hadn’t been completed. The days went on and it was obvious that the Brownie had disappeared for good. Without his nightly activities, Bodesbeck Farm began to struggle and the farmer had learned the hard way that you should never try and reward a Brownie.

Words by Graeme Johncock and Illustration by Jo Mclaren

Brodick Castle

Isle of Arran

The former seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, this National Trust for Scotland property is sandstone towers and turrets on the outside. Inside, dark wood and a sumptuous Victorian palette showcase artefacts such as a dodo claret jug acquired by the 12th Duke of Hamilton who had a fondness for animal-themed tableware and a Bezoar stone believed to clarify poisoned drinks. There’s an old-fashioned games arcade and the gardens tantalise with ravishments of waterfalls, woodland and rhododendrons. Look out for the Bavarian summerhouse on the clifftop.

More info

King's Cave

Isle of Arran

History says it’s unlikely, but we like to believe that Robert the Bruce sheltered here before the Battle of Bannockburn and saw the spider that taught him to try and try again. True or not, it’s the kind of place that inspires stories, with its deep, dark, inscribed caverns that open onto shingle beach with views of Machrie Bay and the massive columns of Drumadoon cliffs. It’s a pretty woodland circular of around two hours to the caves and back, with a few steep sections.

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Arran Whisky

Isle of Arran

Arran has two distilleries – Lochranza, where single malt starts life as rainwater at Loch na Davie then cascades down the Easan Biorach burn; and Lagg, where for hundreds of years illicit homemade ‘Arran Waters’ were smuggled out to the mainland. Lagg’s stylish modern distillery, now perfectly legal, seeks to meld contemporary and traditional methods of producing peated whisky. Both are in eyecatching buildings and run brilliant tours.

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Eastside Cartshed

‘Architecture meets Agritourism’ is the tagline for this stylish accommodation located on a working farm in the Pentland Hills Regional Park near Edinburgh. The Cartshed and Wash House are the latest parts of the 18th-century farmstead to be converted into self-catering units for short-term holiday lets. The clean-lined, contemporary interiors feature open-plan living spaces that are slotted into the existing buildings and divided using level changes, handcrafted ash screens and bespoke cabinetry instead of walls and doors. Guests can relax in front of a log-burning stove or spend an evening unwinding in the farm spa’s enchanting woodland yurt sauna.

Interested in appearing here? email [email protected]

Issue 07 Article Spotlight - Truly Scottish Sporting Traditions

Is there anything that embodies the traditions of Scotland quite as much as the Highland Games?

The Skirling of pipes alongside crashing drums. Flashes of tartan as Highland dancers leap over swords. The sight and sounds of powerful figures throwing enormous objects. A visit to the Highland Games offers a wide range of spectacles beyond the famous heavy events, each one united by a very long history.

Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran - Taken by Simon Hird

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