Hi 👋

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

Have a great Sunday!

Our Online Store is Launched!

In a stone farmhouse on the Deeside Way, where the River Dee connects Banchory and Drumoak, the Hidden Scotland Shop curates small-batch design pieces from across Scotland. It offers a fresh take on tradition, with the style familiar to readers of the magazine.

The shop is also now online, “and it gives us great pleasure knowing that we can help spread the word of these makers and have their items shipped all over the world.”

Product of the week - Caledonian Forest Candle

Immerse yourself in the enchanting essence of Scotland with the Caledonian Forest Candle from Cairn Candle Co. Inspired by the country’s former temperate rainforest, this beautifully tranquil fragrance evokes the serenity of long woodland walks beneath a lush canopy.

Experience a harmonious blend of pine, herbal, and green leaf notes, elegantly fused with warm hints of orange and raspberry. Each candle is designed to bring the serene beauty of the outdoors into your home, creating a peaceful ambience that invites relaxation.

View the full Cairn Candle Collection

Aberdeenshire’s Castles

The sheer number of castles scattered across every part of the Scottish landscape is astounding. With each one in a different condition and dating from a different time, no two castles are remotely the same, and each can tell its visitors a new story. Perhaps more than any other area, Aberdeenshire plays host to countless strongholds that are ready to be explored by eager visitors.

Crathes Castle

Construction of the surviving Crathes Castle began during the turbulent reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, a period reflected in its defensive capabilities. The land, given to the owners by Robert the Bruce, was partly bogland, making it a difficult area to navigate especially for large numbers of soldiers. The castle was built upon a set of timbers placed in the centre of this marsh, ensuring the terrain itself was turned to the family’s advantage. However, the fort’s focus on impenetrability belies its cultural historicity – excavations in 2004, for example, uncovered lunar calendars believed to date 5000 years earlier than the then-considered oldest time-keeping devices of Mesopotamia.

Dunnotter Castle

In its stunningly rugged location on a rocky outcrop high above the North Sea, Dunnottar Castle’s prominent role in Scottish history should come as no surprise. Walking the bridge, surrounded by the choppy blue void below, is a breath-taking experience no matter how many times you do it. Clan Keith gradually constructed the estate between the 13th and 17th centuries, although only a haunting set of ruins remain. Visitors should note that, given its severely defensive placement, Dunnottar is a relatively inaccessible castle, although the views are more than worth the effort.

Balmoral Castle

Perhaps second in fame only to Edinburgh, the preferred residence of Queen Elizabeth II has been a staple of Scottish tourism since it came under royal ownership in 1852. The estate comprises a staggering 50,000 acres that are organised in such a way to make them microcosmic of the wider Caledonian highlands. Moors, farmlands, and forests are populated by Highland cows and deer herds, with the incredible palace standing as the space’s centrepiece. Much of the castle’s architectural design was directly overseen by Prince Albert soon after his and Queen Victoria’s acquisition of the estate, strengthening the inseparable bond between royalty and Balmoral.

Braemar Castle

Clan Farquharson’s ancestral home stands surrounded by the luscious greenery of Aberdeenshire at its most beautiful. This scenery, as well as the architectural grace of the fortress itself, belies the extensive military history that brought Braemar Castle into the limelight of Scotland’s development. Of course, violence is not the only thing that made Braemar into such a culturally significant location – the grounds also hosted Queen Victoria during the traditional Highland Games, which quickly became a keystone of the nation itself.

New Slains Castle

New Slains’ status as a muse for writers and cinematographers should come as no surprise to anyone who comes across it. Built from remarkably well-preserved 16th century stone, its extensive surviving buildings stand upon high, rugged clifftops that look down upon the choppy North Sea below. Bram Stoker, famed for writing the seminal gothic novel Dracula, frequently visited nearby locations such as Cruden Bay, leading many to speculate that the imposing structure inspired the eponymous vampire’s own fortress. However apocryphal that tale may be, it does not diminish the haunting, almost ethereal atmosphere that clings to every brick of New Slains Castle.

Craigievar Castle

Possibly the most instantly recognisable in the country, the fairytale pink stonework of Craigievar Castle has enchanted visitors across its multi-century life. With the layered hills of the Grampians stretching far beyond and the various intricately carved structures adorning the walls, the pink castle is simply breathtaking. Inside is just as impressive, as the former owners bequeathed a mass collection of art and historical artefacts to the National Trust when they took ownership of the property. Every aspect of Craigievar could be taken straight from a fantasy novel, including the wonderous lands that surround it, which visitors can navigate via several unique woodland trails.

The Blacksmith’s Rescue

A blacksmith and his teenage son worked together in their forge on Islay every day, until out of nowhere the boy fell mysteriously ill. He was incapable of leaving his bed and even though he had a ravenous appetite, seemed to be getting weaker and weaker. After days with no sign of recovery, the smith was distraught at the thought of losing his only son.

News reached the forge that a wise, old traveller had arrived in the village and the smith wasted no time in seeking his advice. The wise man nodded gravely as he heard the story. He informed the smith that it wasn't his son lying in that bed, but a fairy Ωchangeling.

The fairies were known to steal children away to their kingdom, leaving an identical fairy imposter as a replacement. It wasn’t easy to tell the difference, but there was one trick that might convince the father of the truth. All he had to do was pour water into dozens of empty eggshells, carry them into the bedroom as if they were incredibly heavy, before arranging them on the floor.

As the smith carried out the instructions, the figure in the bed burst out laughing and shouted, "in all my 800 years I've never seen anything as strange as that!" Now he was certain that this was a changeling, the smith picked the fairy up and threw him into the fire where it shot up and away through the chimney.

The smith wasn't finished though, he was still determined to get his child back, so returned to the wise man for more advice. He was told to go to a nearby hill that same night and the entrance to the fairy kingdom would be open. To rescue his son he must bring with him a bible, a little knife, and a cockerel.

As the smith approached the hill, he saw a shine of light and the sound of music coming from a strange hole in the hillside. Before passing into the fairy realm, he stabbed the knife into the ground to stop the entrance from closing behind him. Then holding the bible out as protection, he marched through the onlooking fairies until he found his son slaving away over a forge. The smith demanded that the fairies let them leave together, but the gathered crowd shrieked with laughter.

The sound of all that laughing woke up the cockerel which started crowing over and over. The fairies couldn't stand the sound, so they dragged the father and son to the entrance and kicked them back out into the open. The smith plucked his knife out the ground and the hillside suddenly went dark and quiet behind them.

It took the boy a long time to recover from his ordeal and the smith had to struggle along with his work alone. One day, the son was watching his father struggle to forge a sword that would be fit for a clan chief. With a sigh the boy pushed the smith aside and in no time at all he had crafted the most elegant blade they had ever seen. It seemed he had picked up a few tricks during his time in the fairy kingdom.

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.

After my personal trip last week, it was back to the grind again. However, instead of showing visitors around Scotland, I was staying put to share stories from one of our most iconic locations. As part of the Contour Connections festival, I’d been asked to talk about Glen Coe while standing in front of Buachaille Etive Mor.

Hundreds of thousands of people visit Glencoe every year, but most just snap a few pictures of the Three Sisters without realising the stories hidden in the landscape. High up on one of those sisters, Aonach Dubh, there’s a huge split in the rockface that looks like a giant keyhole.

That’s Ossian’s cave, easily missed if you don’t know it’s there. Son of the legendary Fingal, Ossian is a hero from Gaelic mythology whose name means young deer. His mother had been transformed into a white hind while pregnant and she fled to safety in Glen Coe to give birth in that cave.

At the foot of the mountain lies Loch Achtriochtan, a small and easily ignored pool of water. It was once home to a Tarbh Uisge or Water Bull, great black beasts without any ears. These creatures of folklore weren’t considered dangerous, but they crept out of the loch by moonlight to mate with cows in the glen. Their offspring were considered unlucky but easy to spot thanks to their half-ears.

Other stories from the area can be found in the Gaelic placenames. Towering over Ballachulish, Beinn a Bheithir can translate as Mountain of the Thunderbolt, but could also refer to a beast or serpent. That gives us the story of the Ballachulish Dragon.

This monster would bound down the hillside and snap up passing travellers, causing mayhem in the area. That came to an end when Charles the Skipper sailed into Loch Leven. Binding together barrels fixed with spikes to make a bridge out to his ship, he lured the dragon onto his trap by roasting meat. Cutting the barrels loose, he watched the dragon sink into the loch, ending its reign of terror.

Of all the stories from the area, the most famous tale is as tragic as it is true - the Massacre of Glencoe.

In February 1692, Scottish government soldiers arrived in the glen asking for shelter from the MacDonalds. For almost two weeks, the two groups lived side by side, sharing food, stories and songs. Then orders came from headquarters. At 5am, the soldiers were to murder every MacDonald as revenge for joining the first Jacobite rising.

Over 330 years later, it’s still a difficult story to talk about but it’s important not to forget the people who lived here. Without them, we wouldn’t have any of these tales to tell.

Written by Graeme Johncock

Chris Walker - The Selkirk Arms

These were the lines written by Scotland’s Bard on one of several visits to the Selkirk Arms Hotel in Kirkcudbright. With the hotel going strong since 1777, its 14th landlord Chris Walker explores the Robert Burns connection and shares why Kirkcudright, Scotland’s ‘Artist’s Town’, is also the “Jewel in the Crown” of Dumfries and Galloway.

Chris Walker’s favourite space in Kirkcudbright’s Selkirk Arms Hotel is The Burns Room. “It was in this room, that we currently use as a cosy lounge, where Robert Burns wrote the famous Selkirk Grace in 1794 whilst visiting the Earl of Selkirk who had a home in Kirkcudbright,” explains Chris, who bought the hotel 18 years ago with his wife, Sue. “It’s a room that honours his stature as Scotland’s National Poet and is steeped in tradition and authenticity.”

Burns was a frequent visitor to the hotel, which opened as an inn in 1777 on Kirkcudbright’s famous High Street. These days, nods to tradition materialise as cosy rooms with tartan accents, a warm-toned lounge with a crackling fire, and a restaurant serving Scottish fare – the likes of pan-fried Kirkcudbright King Scallops and Galloway Black Welsh Rarebit.

“After dinner, take a stroll around the town and pop your head into the Masonic Arms for a wee dram and to chat with the locals before wandering around the lovely colourful streets of Kirkcudbright,” says Chris, of the perfect evening in town. Before heading to the Dark Space Planetarium to do some indoor stargazing once it’s completely dark, he continues, “look up to the night sky in all its glistening beauty”.

Chris’s top five things to do in Kirkcudbright

1. Kirkcudbright Galleries

Opened in 2018, Kirkcudbright Galleries is a modern art space with a range of exhibitions, including works by local and contemporary artists. The galleries celebrate the town's artistic legacy (Kirkcudbright is known as Scotland’s Artist’s Town for its connection to art world greats such as Edward Atkinson Hornel, Charles Oppenheimer, The Glasgow Girls and Boys, and Jessie M King) and provide insight into its connection with Glasgow School of Art.

2. St. Cuthbert's Church

The church site was given by the Earl of Selkirk and the foundation stone was laid on the 22 April 1836, with construction costs totalling approximately £7,000. The original church clock and bells were gifted by James Lennox of Dalskairth near Dumfries. His family originally came from Kirkcudbright and made a considerable fortune as merchants in America in the later 18th century. The parish church is dedicated to St. Cuthbert (c.634-687). The original 'Kirk of St. Cuthbert' from which the place-name ‘Kirkcudbright’ almost certainly derives, was located in St. Cuthbert's Kirkyard just east of the town. As early as 1162, the church was described as “ancient”; it was still an important spiritual centre for the area.

3. Harbour and Riverside Walk

The picturesque harbour area is perfect for a leisurely stroll, with beautiful views of the water and surrounding hills. The waterfront is lined with charming buildings and offers opportunities for photography and relaxation.

4. Broughton House and Garden

This historic house was once home to the painter Edward Atkinson Hornel (1864-1933) and is now a National Trust property showcasing his life and work. The house is furnished with period pieces, and the beautiful garden is a highlight in itself.

5. Kirkcudbright Fringe Festival

On the first weekend of September, Edinburgh Fringe comes to Kirkcudbright with music, comedy, debates, live music, magic, street vendors and buskers.

Find out more

www.selkirkarmshotel.co.uk

Dunnottar Castle by Simon Hird

Our 2025 Calendar – Limited Stock!

We are delighted to be back with our wall calendar for 2025. Enjoy a selection of stunning photography that captures some of Scotland's best bits throughout the year.

The A3 landscape wall calendar is printed on a beautiful matt art paper stock that makes the images really stand out. The landscape layout allows for an A4 image on one side, which can be utilised as a print afterwards.

As well as a square for each day for you to add those all important events and special dates you have coming up in the new year. There is also a notes section for any additional information you need to jot down for that month.

Do you enjoy these weekly emails? we would be very grateful if you’re able to write a review for us, please do so here.

If you would like to email us about any suggestions or feedback please email [email protected] with the subject feedback. Thanks!