Issue 43

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

As always we welcome you to provide feedback, you can find this at the bottom of the email.

Have a great Sunday!

A weekend away to the Royal Deeside

Alice Nicol, co-owner of Ballogie Estate in Aberdeenshire, details her life managing the estate's diverse offerings, from Potarch Café to accommodations and land conservation. Emphasising the estate’s commitment to sustainability and biodiversity, she shares her passion for the local landscape and offers insights for visitors to experience Aberdeenshire’s natural beauty and culture.

Read more within issue 08, find out more here.

The Mermaid of Dunnet Head

There was once a beautiful Mermaid frequently spotted around Caithness, appearing on the beaches near Dunnet Head. She would just sit quietly on the rocks, combing her long blonde hair and minding her own business. If anybody tried to approach, the mysterious figure would quickly slip into the water and disappear without a trace.

One afternoon, a young lad turned a corner on the beach and stumbled upon the mermaid while she was daydreaming. Nobody had ever been this close and before she could escape, the boy managed to strike up a conversation. It went against all of her instincts, but something convinced the mermaid to stay and talk.

The intruder turned out to be very charming indeed and the pair made an agreement to meet at that same spot every day. Over time, they grew close and the mermaid began bringing gifts along to impress her human companion. There were countless shipwrecks along this coast and she had built up a stash of shiny artefacts from their cargo.

Little did the Mermaid know that her lover was using her gifts of gold and jewellery to woo the girls on shore. The man started to forget about meeting the mermaid some days and when he actually was there, seemed more interested in what she had brought than actually spending time with her.

When she eventually discovered what her gifts were being used for, the Mermaid was furious. She waited until the man came to visit her and began his usual questions about what presents she had for him today. This time, the mermaid asked if he’d like to see where she kept these treasures.

He was delighted at the thought. This way he could help himself whenever he pleased rather than relying on the mermaid to bring them to him. He was going to be rich!

The mermaid led him in a little boat around the coast to a tiny cave, hidden away near Dwarwick. Inside, the man was gazing at the enormous stash of wealth before him with eyes wide and mouth open. He didn’t even notice when the mermaid clasped a solid chain around him until it was too late.

There she cursed him for his greed. He would forever be a prisoner there, surrounded by all the gold and jewels he could ever want, but never able to leave. When the seas were calm and the tide was low, the foolish boy could peer out and catch a glimpse of his hometown that he would never walk in again.

Words by Graeme Johncock Photograph by Simon Hird

Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk

Where: V&A Dundee
When: Opening Saturday 4th May
Tickets: £7.00 - £15.00 (£2 Discount for advance booking). Members and 18’s & Under go free.

From samurai style and geisha chic, to Jedi knights and rock stars, explore the fascinating story of the significance, appeal and influence of this iconic garment.Showing the kimono as a dynamic, ever-evolving icon of fashion, the exhibition traces its evolution and influence from 17th century Japan to today’s cutting-edge couture and street fashion across the world.This is the final chance to see these rare works together on the last stop of the exhibition’s international tour.

https://www.vam.ac.uk/dundee/whatson/exhibitions/kimono

Guardswell Farm Market

When: Wednesday 8th May
Where: Guardswell Farm,
Time: 15:00 - 20:00

The Guardswell Farm Markets are back for another year, and as always they are designed to create an alternative to your weekly shop. Bring your punnets, tubs and tupperwares and stock up on fresh produce to fill your fridge or freezer for the month ahead. Also this year, Guardswell Farm have introduced an incentive for active travel. they encourage wherever possible, to choose car sharing, walking or cycling to their farm, where they promise to share some good routes. So keep aneye out on their social media for these ahead of the event.If you can't make it on this date then don't worry there are more markets to come this Summer, taking place on 12th June, 10th July, 14th August and 11th September.

Braemar Nature Festival 2024

When: 10th - 19th May
Where: Upper Deeside, Various Locations
Price: A mix of free and priced individual events ranging from £0 to £135

Discover the incredible world of life of which you are a part through this diverse programme of nature and wildlife events across multiple locations in the region of Upper Deeside. The festival is comprised of a broad range of events suitable for many interests and abilities, these include guided wildlife walks, trail camera & photography workshops, moth counting, rare bird spotting, film screenings and much more.

https://wild-discovery.com/wild-diaries/braemar-nature-festival-2024

BAR SNACKS! with Aeble & Baern

Where: Aeble, Anstruther, Fife
When: Saturday 25th May
Time: 18:00 - 22:00

After the success of their collaboration last year, Aeble Cider Bar are teaming up with the wonderful Baern Café & Bakery once again for an evening of BAR SNACKS!Baern join Aeble in their brand new bar, providing a very relaxed and delicious selection of snacks that perfectly accompany Aebles ciders. Jaye and team will be recommending their favourites on the night but welcome to try anything you like. (Even wine and beer)No need to book but if you are a large group get in touch with Aeble. Children are also welcome until 8pm.

https://aeble.co.uk/

The second largest of the Scottish islands, the Isle of Skye was bestowed with the Old Norse name sky-a – ‘cloud island’ – by the Vikings, an allusion to the mysterious mists that invariably envelop the Cuillin Hills. Stretching for 50 miles to the west of the Scottish mainland, Skye is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, featuring shimmering lochs, narrow peninsulas, spectacular mountains, and untamed moorland.

Stay tuned for an Isle of Skye Guidebook coming soon!

The Oyster Shed

You can’t visit Skye without sampling some of the local seafood – and the Oyster Shed is the perfect place to do it. Don’t worry, it’s not just oysters on the menu (though they are excellent!). Just a minute’s walk from the Talisker Distillery, the specialities here include mussels, scallops, game, meat and smoked salmon, all freshly caught or sourced from the nearby land and coastal waters.

Giant MacAskill Museum

‘Giant’ Angus MacAskill was a man and a half. Born in 1825 in the Western Isles, he grew to a height of 7 feet 9 inches (2.36m), weighed around 510 pounds (230kg) and was once described by the Guinness Book of Records as the strongest man who ever lived. He moved to Canada as a young boy, eventually joining PT Barnum’s infamous touring circus on the back of feats of strength that saw him pick up barrels and ship’s anchors with apparent ease (some have gone so far as to claim he also lifted horses over fences, but we give that neeeigh credence). More certain is the fact that he performed at Windsor Castle in front of a suitably awed Queen Victoria, living into his late thirties before passing away at home in Nova Scotia. Today, the (ironically rather small) Giant MacAskill Museum in Dunvegan remembers a man with one heck of a story to tell – you’ll find a scale model of Angus himself, as well as replicas of his oversized furniture.

Knock Castle

The Skye shoreline isn’t short on crumbling castles. It takes an effort to reach this one-time base of the MacDonalds, but the rewards come in the form of battle-scarred masonry, quiet cliffs, and stirring views from the Sleat coast.

Bearreaig Bay

Outspread below the hulking contours of the Storr, Bearreaig Bay provides a glorious panoramic view across a host of different islands and headlands, from Raasay and Rona in the foreground to Wester Ross on the mainland. To appreciate it from road level, head slightly north of the Storr parking lot to a smaller car park and coffee stand located on the right.

Caisteal Maol 

Looming over the coastline east of the road bridge – and walkable from Kyleakin when the tide’s right – these tall fingers of masonry are what remains of a 15th-century fortress that controlled activity on the strait of Kyle Akin.

Sutherland - Loch Loyal - Taken by Simon Hird

The Best of Edinburgh: A Hidden Scotland Guide

Our first ever guidebook is still available from our online shop here, and also some shops including, Toppings and co, Waterstones, WHSmith, Lifestory, Tartan Blanket Co, The Blue Magpie, Typewronger Books, Meander, Royal Botanic Gardens, Beech & Birch and from our shop at Milton of Crathes in Banchory.