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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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Last Chance to Pre-Order Our Skye Book.
^{Free gift with every order.}

Be the first to get your hands on The Best of the Isle of Skye, Curated by Hidden Scotland and receive a free gift.

The Isle of Skye is a place of rare wonder, a wildlife-rich spread of bays, peaks, cliffs and ridges. The views are big, but the prospect of adventure is even bigger. We hope this curated Hidden Scotland guide – which takes in everything from the best walks to the finest restaurants – helps you to have your own unforgettable island escape.

Dispatching soon so be quick if you would like the free gifts.

A weekend exploring the CAIRNGORMS
a local's guide

Polly Cameron, Nethy Bridge resident and owner of The Dell of Abernethy, offers her insight into the area's top attractions, activities, food and drinks. With advice on what to see and do, this guide provides a local's perspective on exploring the Cairngorms.

How long have you lived in Nethy Bridge and what brought you here?

The Dell has been in the family since the 1960s, operated and deeply loved by my grandparents first and then my uncle John. Twelve years ago the timing was just right for all of us when my uncle was looking to move on and we were looking for a new project and a different lifestyle that would create a little space for a family. I spent every holiday here as a kid so it was very much like coming home.

What is it that you particularly enjoy about this part of Scotland?

I am very grateful for our easy access to truly wild landscapes and all the pleasure and real therapy that this can offer. Quiet places where your ears ring in silence, loch dipping with just the birds for company or staring down a deer in the woods. Also, community is a huge part of living in this neck of the woods and I feel it's never been so strong following the last few years. It feels vibrant and exciting and full of possibilities.

What advice would you give to anyone looking to explore the Cairngorms?

Slow it down and take your time. Life can be busy and noisy and relentless. I would first suggest finding a very quiet spot; put your feet in the water, breathe deeply in the woods, get in sync with your surroundings. Consider covering the ground on foot or by bike rather than car; this gives a great pace to experience the landscape better. With endless trails and wonderful e-bike hire options around you can cover great distances with ease. Don't over-programme your time.

Can you give us a rundown on what the Cairngorms is like as the seasons change, and in your opinion when is the best time to visit?

The Cairngorms are breathtaking in any season. Spring always feels like a welcomed lengthening of day with budding trees after the dark snowy months. Early summer is filled with calm warmer days, where the lochs are warming up and the swallows return. Autumn has to be my favourite time around The Dell as the huge deciduous trees start to turn. Although famed for the Caledonian Pine forests, there are also some incredible pockets of birch and beech in this area and at this time of year the air is crisp and the colours are on fire. There is always great excitement at the first snowfall of winter as we welcome the cosy nights, huge skies full of stars and the buzz that surrounds the winter sports season in this area.

Polly's Top Picks

Eat & Drink ~ daytime:

• The High Street Merchants, Grantown-on-Spey

• KJ's Bothy Bakery, Grantown-on-Spey

• Nethy House Café, Nethy Bridge

• Alvie Forest Food & Cabin Coffee, Dalraddy Caravan Park

• The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore

• Tarmachan Café, Crathie

• Inshriach Gin Distillery

• The Copper Dog, Craigellachie Hotel

Relax:

• Katie White Yoga, Available throughout the valley and at The Dell

• Wild Swim Scotland, Various lochs

• Soundscape, The Dell

• Carrie Wilde Massage, The Dell or Killiehuntly

Shop:

• The Bookmark, Grantown-on-Spey

• The Whisky Castle, Tomintoul

• Fiona's Wholefoods, Grantown-on-Spey

To read the full article, pick up a copy of issue 07 of the Hidden Scotland Magazine.

The Blue Men of The Minch

There is a stretch of water between mainland Scotland and the Outer Hebrides that’s more treacherous than most. It’s not just unpredictable weather or unseen rocks that make the Minch so unsafe, these waters hold something far more dangerous. Sailors looking to take this passage through the Hebrides must contend with the Blue Men of The Minch.

These creatures of folklore aren’t found anywhere else in the world, making their home in hidden, underwater caves somewhere around the Shiant Isles. They look similar to humans, but with blue skin, long arms and the capacity for incredible feats of strength. Locals know better than to risk the Blue Men’s wrath and the possibility of being dragged down to a watery grave.

If the Blue Men are displeased for any reason, then they have the power to cause destructive storms and turbulent seas. Sailors feel their ship being violently rocked while their assailants speed along the waves around them. Muscular torsos rise out of the Minch to chase them down, while a churning mass of blue arms swarms the ship’s hull.

All isn’t lost if travellers do find themselves being preyed on by the Blue Men, there is one unusual way to fend them off. Their chief will often lift himself out of the water and challenge the ship’s captain to a battle of wits. Once he shouts out a rhyming couplet, the captain must then respond appropriately without hesitation.

Line after line is thrown back and forward in a relentless stream of poetry. If the mortal can match this peculiar sea creature, then he has earned their respect and will be allowed to pass through safely. If he fails, then the Blue Men are released and the ship will inevitably be dragged to the depths of The Minch.

If a crew is feeling brave and the captain subtle, then they might get lucky on their passage. When the weather is fair, the Blue Men can sometimes be spotted quietly sleeping, just under the surface. With a gentle wind on their side, they could hopefully slip by without even being noticed.

One particularly foolish group once decided to kidnap one of these sleeping figures, lifting him onto their deck. To be extra safe, they tied up their oblivious captive with every length of rope they could find on board. All they could think of was the fame and fortune that would come with being the first people ever to capture one of the famous Blue Men of The Minch.

They weren’t home and dry yet though, they’d been spotted. Two more Blue Men burst from the waves and quickly gained on the now terrified crew. The first cried out “Duncan will be one” with the other responding “Donald will be two.”

Their shouts woke up the prisoner, who stood up with a big yawn and effortless stretch. The mass of coiled rope snapped like old string and fell in a heap to the ground. Laughing to his companions, the Blue Man shouted “Big Iain needs no help” before diving back overboard into the Minch.

Words by Graeme Johncock

Around Scotland with Graeme Johncock

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.

Recently, while exploring the beautiful Isle of Skye, I was lucky enough to escape the busy roads for somewhere much quieter. Just across the strait of Kyle Rhea lies the peaceful wee community of Glenelg. It’s one of my favourite areas anywhere in Scotland, partly because the journey there is a lot of fun, no matter which option you take.

Reaching Glenelg from the mainland takes you from the main route through Glen Shiel up a narrow, winding road over the Ratagan Pass. No matter how often I drive this way, I always stop at the top to admire the view of the Five Sisters of Kintail. Legend says there were once seven sisters, not mountains but real daughters of the chief of Kintail.

The youngest two were allowed to sail away with a couple of Irish princes who had promised to send their brothers back to marry the others. Those five remaining sisters spent so long waiting, gazing out to sea, that their father made a badly worded wish that they would keep their beauty until their Irishmen arrived. The next morning, he awoke to find his daughters transformed into these incredible mountains.

If you travel to Glenelg from Skye like I did on this trip, you have the pleasure of a trip on Scotland’s last turntable ferry! The community-run Glenelg ferry has no timetable, it just putters back and forth across the narrow gap all day long. Up to six cars drive along the ramp onto the platform before the crew manually swing it around 180 degrees so that when they reach the other side, you’re ready to drive straight off

For centuries, that crossing was the main route onto the Isle of Skye from the mainland and I was reminded of that on arrival into Glenelg village. The overgrown ruins of Bernera Barracks stand just outside the main street, built in 1723 to guard this strategic spot. It’s an almost carbon copy of the more famous Ruthven Barracks seen from the A9 near Kingussie.

While the barracks aren’t very accessible, I knew of two important historical monuments in Glenelg without any barriers. A quiet, winding drive led to Dun Troddan and Dun Telve – the Glenelg Brochs. Roughly 2000 years old, these are two of the best-preserved examples in Scotland and just a few hundred metres apart!

Brochs are drystone, Iron Age towers with a spiralling stone staircase fixed between inner and outer walls. More commonly found in Caithness, Sutherland and the Northern Isles, we don’t know much about how they were used, but at Glenelg I could ponder that question in the most peaceful of surroundings!

Written by Graeme Johncock

Glen Rosa - Taken by Simon Hird

Have you read issue 08? It’s still available to purchase.

We’re delighted to share with you the eighth edition of Hidden Scotland magazine. Welcome to our Spring/Summer 2024 issue. 

It’s now been four years since our first issue appeared, back in the fateful early months of 2020, and it’s a source of real pride that the magazine continues to find a growing audience. But while four years can be seen as a long time in some contexts, in the case of Orkney – captured beautifully by seasoned National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson on pages 10-17 – such a timescale is a mere grain of sand in the hourglass of history.

As Jim explains, the distant past is still very much in evidence on the Orkney archipelago, and its islands now showcase a unique blend of tradition, modernity and prehistory. The concepts of ‘Auld and New’ also underpin another guest article in this issue – on pages 148- 153 – in which interior designer and online personality Banjo Beale discusses his love of collecting beautiful things.

Between these two absorbing features you’ll find pages packed with all manner of Scottish tales and topics, from whisky, folklore and regenerative farming to a focus on some of our most impressive botanic gardens. We also look at the reintroduction of wild beavers, take a deep-dive into the wonders of Fife and spotlight the remarkable Ploterre, a creative business inspired by nature.

Elsewhere you’ll find a fantastic recipe for foraged kelp miso ramen from Café Canna in the Inner Hebrides, as well as an overview of Scotland’s Little Free Libraries and a tour of the remarkable Royal Deeside – you’ll even learn more about our own Hidden Scotland Shop, set in an old farmhouse on the Deeside Way. And as ever, there’s more to discover too.

Thanks for reading. If you're interested in our brand new Isle of Skye guide, pre-order today to receive our Isle of Skye postcard set and pull-out illustrated map by illustrator Emily Hogarth. Pre-order here.

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