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

Have a great Sunday!

Product of the week - Cairn Candle Orange Spice

Introducing the Orange Spice Candle Tin by Cairn Candle Co, a captivating fragrance that brings warmth and zest to any room, no matter the season. Originally a festive favourite, its blend of spiced notes and fresh nectarine has become a year-round staple. The cosy, uplifting scent combines cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove with a burst of bright orange to create a comforting and joyful atmosphere.

£10 for this weekend only.

Amazing Places to stay in Scotland this winter

Scotland in the winter is truly a sight to behold – and often, one of the few places in the UK where you can guarantee plenty of snow. If you’re ready to brave the colder weather and experience the majesty of Scotland in winter, here are some of the top places to stay, wherever you decide to visit.

Glen Glack

Glen Glack, a secluded hideaway on the banks of Cally Loch, offers five luxurious, bespoke cabins set within the stunning Atholl Estate. Designed to blend seamlessly with nature, these cabins provide the perfect Scottish retreat, where guests can enjoy hiking, fishing, and breathtaking views.

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The Treehouses at Lanrick

The Treehouses at Lanrick offer an eco-friendly retreat on the banks of the River Teith in Perthshire. These five luxury treehouses, built with locally sourced timber, provide a peaceful escape within private woodland just a short drive from the Trossachs National Park.

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Tigh an Tobair

Tigh an Tobair, nestled on Skye’s Duirinish Peninsula, offers an enchanting retreat overlooking Loch Dunvegan. With luxurious interiors, stunning views, and a beautiful garden featuring a hot tub, it’s the perfect sanctuary for relaxation and adventur

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Big Sky Lodges

Big Sky Lodges offers a unique retreat in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, just ten miles north of Inverness. Nestled on a 17-acre family croft, the lodges are surrounded by lush meadows where Highland cows and horses graze, set against a backdrop of natural birch woodlands and forests. This serene setting provides an ideal base for exploring the Black Isle and the extensive beauty of the Highlands.

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Stonechat Bothy

A one-bedroom, architecturally designed home amongst indigenous trees, the Stonechat Bothy is a secluded spot for anyone truly looking to escape into Skye’s rural idyll. Best enjoyed during the winter when the skies deliver millions of stars, the bothy is surrounded by local wildlife, including a significant number of birds.

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Ainster House

Behind its restored coach doors and glass screen, Ainster House offers breathtaking views of Anstruther harbour from every angle. Two terraces overlook the beach and Dreel River. Perfectly located for coastal walks, historical sites, dining, and over 20 nearby golf courses, including St Andrews Old Course, 18 minutes away.

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Dell of Abernethy

The Dell of Abernethy, nestled on the edge of Abernethy Forest in the Cairngorms National Park, offers six charming cottages and a lodge within three acres of secluded grounds. Perfect for peaceful holidays, retreats, or events, it’s a gateway to forest trails, wildlife, and the beauty of Scotland’s wild landscapes.

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Do you have any accommodation recommendations? send us your tips by replying to this email.

How The MacIntyres Got Their Name

The stories surrounding the Norse-Gaelic warlord Somerled might make him seem like a mythical character, but he was a very real 12^th Century figure. Through cunning ploys and military might, he became Lord of the Isles, and his sons went on to found some of the best-known clans on the west coast.

The MacDonalds, MacDougalls and MacRuaris can all trace their ancestry back to Somerled, but the MacIntyres owe their name to him in a different way.

Somerled was an impressive figure, and his achievements were legendary, but even he wasn't considered good enough to marry the daughter of Olav the King of Man. Ragnhild was smart, beautiful, and of royal blood, so her father eyed a more lucrative match than a mere island warlord.

The two men continued to work closely together, even though Olav had to constantly turn down his ally’s proposals. It was heart breaking for Somerled’s men to watch their chief, evidently in love with Ragnhild, be rejected over and over again. Then the night before a joint raid on Skye, Maurice MacNeil had an idea.

He crept into Olav's boat and carved a dozen holes through the wooden bottom, filling them with just enough tallow to keep it afloat for a few miles. The King of Man suspected nothing as the fleet cast off the next day, eager to reach the island. However, once the larger waves of the open sea began to hit, he noticed the water pooling his feet.

The boat was filling up fast and Olav was beginning to panic, envisaging a watery grave. Maurice made sure that he and Somerled were sailing alongside so that the King would shout to them for help first. Olav promised anything if they saved him, even offering his daughter's hand in marriage to Somerled.

That was what Maurice had been waiting to hear and he nimbly leapt aboard the sinking ship. The cunning character was carrying just the right number of perfectly sized wooden pegs to fill the holes he had made the night before. If Olav was suspicious, he was too relieved to show it.

Somerled went on to marry Ragnhild, rewarding Maurice handsomely with both land and a new name. He became known as The Carpenter which translates as “an t'saoir” in Gaelic and his sons would become the Mac An t'saoir or the MacIntyres.

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.

Rather than physically travelling around the country last week, I was doing some research that took me virtually around the length and breadth of Scotland’s coastline. I’d been asked aboard the ship Fingal in Leith to give a talk about the Stevenson family and even if you don’t know their names, you’ve probably seen some of their work.

Over the course of 150 years, four generations of Stevensons built almost every one of Scotland’s lighthouses. With 11,000 miles of coastline to cover, much of it rocky and dangerous, the Northern Lighthouse Board kept the family of engineers busy!

Some of these beautiful buildings have become icons of Scotland, like the picturesque Neist Point on Skye or the famous Mull of Kintyre. Others aren’t quite so easy to reach, but they have fascinating stories that put them high on my list to visit one day.

11 miles off the coast of Arbroath, the Bell Rock Lighthouse was constructed over 200 years ago by the progenitor of the Stevenson family. It was a difficult task for Robert Stevenson, constructing a tower that could withstand the full force of the North Sea on a tiny rock only visible for 2 hours at low tide.

At one point, one of the construction crew’s transport boats drifted away just as the tide was changing. There wasn’t space for everybody in the remaining vessel as the water level rose, but they were saved by the timely arrival of a ship carrying mail for Robert!

The Stevenson lighthouse on the Flannan Isles isn’t as physically impressive, but it holds a mystery that’s made it one of the most famous in Scotland. In December 1900, the three lighthouse keepers on the island disappeared without a trace.

When the relief keeper arrived to investigate, he found the doors closed, with everything neat and tidy inside. The only sign that something was amiss inside were the two oilskins that had been taken from their pegs. The island looked like a monstrous storm had hit, but the three men should never have been outside at the same time.

The official report decided a giant wave had swept the men over the cliff edge. However, the rules stated that at least one keeper was to remain in the lighthouse at all times. If they had all gone outside during the storm for some reason, then why did one of them leave their waterproofs?

Nobody has ever solved the mystery of the missing lighthouse keepers of the Flannan Isles, but it’s a fascinating story worthy of the most famous member of the Stevenson family that you might be more familiar with – author Robert Louis Stevenson!

Written by Graeme Johncock

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.

Looking for more amazing places to visit in Skye? Check out our guide book.

The Isle of Staffa

Wallpaper by Simon Hird

Issue 09 Limited Gift Edition

We are back with our gift wrapping service for our autumn/winter edition of Hidden Scotland magazine. This year we are very proud to have collaborated with Scottish illustrator Joy Nevada to create this festive wrapping paper. The gift wrapped magazines will also come with an A5 print of the front cover image as well as a bookmark.This gift is dispatched in our custom-designed Hidden Scotland box, sent directly to the recipient or to yourself.

You can also choose to add a personal message with a handwritten note.

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