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We’re delighted to be back with a new ‘Hidden Scotland Weekly’. We really hope that you enjoy reading. Wednesday is the last delivery date for UK orders, so if you would like to order from our online gift shop, please place your order before Wednesday at 10am. We really do appreciate every order, this helps us to keep this email going every week. We still have a very small batch of 2025 Calendars remaining, pick one up here if you would like one. They are on special offer for this weekend only.

Have a great Sunday!

Last UK delivery date approching

As we near closer to Christmas we just wanted to remind you all of the wonderful options we have available for gifting this year.

From our own gift boxes, books and magazines to some of the wonderful Scottish makers and creatives that we feel lucky to work with.

Please order by Wednesday 18th December in the UK for gifts to arrive before Christmas.

We're also offering 15% off our Christmas gift wrapped Issue 09 today, redeem by using code EMAIL15 on checkout.

The Red Battle of Harlaw

Scotland seems to have a particularly brutal history. When the Scots weren’t fighting the English or the Vikings, there were always plenty of internal power struggles to keep the warriors well-practised. Small-scale, local clashes were common, but at the start of the 15^th century, a much larger conflict was brewing.

Scotland had been burdened with a weak King followed by a King in captivity. While James I was spending his teenage years as a forced guest in England, his uncle the Duke of Albany had been steadily increasing his power as the de-facto ruler of Scotland. Now he had decided to add the Earldom of Ross to his collection.

This was a huge area of northern Scotland and one man who was particularly unhappy about the scenario was Donald of Islay - The Lord of the Isles and chief of Clan Donald. He had his own claim to Ross and so in 1411, he gathered most of the west coast clans together to do something about it. This great fleet sailed around the north of Scotland and quickly captured Dingwall to prove they were serious.

Somehow, Donald even managed to coerce the local fighting men from his freshly captured territory to join him, swelling his ranks to almost 10,000 men. This vast force began to march further east, planning to capture Aberdeen but they were stopped in their tracks near Inverurie. The Earl of Mar had scraped together around 2000 heavily armoured warriors from up and down the east coast.

The sides seemed imbalanced, but the fighting was fierce. Donald’s lightly armoured Islanders swarmed their enemy, struggling to break through the disciplined ranks of the Lowlanders. Hundreds would be cut down, just to be replaced by a fresh wave of warriors. Eventually, the daylight began to wane and the two sides broke off, neither sure who had gained the upper hand.

During the day’s fighting, the nobility of Aberdeenshire was decimated, with between a quarter and half of the men slain. Their dwindling army camped that night, believing that the next dawn would probably be the last they would ever see, but when they awoke, they were alone on the battlefield.

Donald had disappeared back to the Isles and given up his claim to Ross. He had lost many of his best warriors as well and it seems likely that his new recruits had abandoned the cause after witnessing the previous day’s carnage. Both sides proclaimed victory and the battle became famous across the country.

13 years later, once King James had returned to rule for himself, the Earldom of Ross was officially granted to Donald's son anyway. Maybe if they had just been a bit more patient, Scotland wouldn't have lost so many good men fighting what became known as the Red Battle of Harlaw.

Written 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.

I was following in the footsteps of another story last week, one that I think should be better known. It took place in a beautiful part of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park at Aberfoyle. That’s where Robert Kirk the Fairy Minister lived and mysteriously died.

I began my trip by visiting Aberfoyle’s old, ruined church, where Kirk’s grave lies, adorned by flowers left by those interested in his story. He was the local minister here in the 17th century, but it’s his passion for the fairy folk rather than the bible that he’s remembered for.

As a seventh son, it was thought that Kirk had the second sight – an ability to see the supernatural. He wrote down local folk stories and interesting beliefs but would never see his work published. One day, Robert Kirk was found dead on the side of the local fairy hill.

Locals believed that the fairies had take him away as a punishment for sharing their secrets. Some even think that his spirit is trapped in an old Scots pine at the top of that fairy hill. It’s an entertaining walk through the woods there today, with faces carved into the trees and fairy houses perched between the branches.

Leaving Aberfoyle behind, I drove along the stunning Duke’s Pass deeper into the Trossachs and around Loch Achray eventually stopping to take in the view at Loch Venachar. Legend says there was once a particularly ferocious Kelpie in the loch, but Molly the dog wasn’t about to let a shape-shifting water horse stop her from splashing around!

Fortunately, there are signs to let the informed traveller know that this Kelpie is lurking beneath the surface. Its movement causes great waves to roll across the loch and even though the day was overcast, the water was reasonably still!

Thankful to escape in one piece, the road comes out at Kilmahog and even when I don’t have any tour guests with me, I struggle to drive past the Highland Cows there without stopping to say hello. Even this late in the year, there were still plenty of people around to feed Honey, Baxter and Hamish Dubh!

Then it was time to feed myself before heading back home and that took me a couple of miles down the road to Callander. My top tip for anybody travelling through this way is to stop at the Main Street Bakery and grab a traditional Scottish pie.

This is a no-frills place for the locals and while there’s plenty of choice, you can’t go wrong with a steak & haggis. For me, it’s the perfect way to start or end an adventure!

Written by Graeme Johncock Greame has recently written a book called ‘Scotland's Stories by Graeme Johncock’ Grab a copy here.

Spotlight: V&A Museum

Local curiosity was piqued when acclaimed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma was appointed to design an outpost of London’s V&A Museum in Dundee. Happily, Kuma – also responsible for the sleek National Stadium at the Tokyo Olympics, and recently named the world’s most influential architect by TIME Magazine – more than justified the hype. "The big idea for V&A Dundee was bringing together nature and architecture,” he said of the project, which was completed between 2010 and 2018, “to create a new living room for the city."

The end result is a glorious one. The country’s first design museum sits on the banks of the Tay and resembles, intentionally, an angular Scottish cliff face. Its horizontally layered external walls – all 21 sections of which have a slight curve to them – are made from 2,500 pre-cast rough stone panels, creating a monumental venue in which to showcase the exhibits inside. Thanks to the creation of thirty boreholes, meanwhile, the building runs on geothermal energy. It now sits at the heart of a £1 billion, three-decade initiative to regenerate the wider waterfront area.

Inside, the museum’s permanent galleries focus on the global impact of Scottish creativity, from furniture and fashion to video game design. Alongside these collections, a series of excellently curated temporary exhibitions run throughout the year. The schedule for 2022 includes the first ever major exhibition on pioneering Scottish dancer and choreographer Michael Clark – running from February 26 to September 4 – while the later part of the year sees the opening of Plastic: Remaking Our World, which takes a challenging look at the material’s history, and Tartan, a radical new exploration of this familiar fabric. “Design,” says V&A Dundee director Leonie Bell, “is a critical part of everyone’s lives.”

For more please visit here.

Stewart Morrison - Sculptor and Painter

In Scotland’s ‘Artist’s Town’ Kirkcudbright, in Dumfries and Galloway, sculptor and painter Stewart Morrison says he finds inspiration everywhere.

"Every piece of wood has a function, a purpose and a destiny,” says Stewart Morrison, who received a tool set for his fourth birthday and has never looked back. Now, he specialises in making chairs from local green hardwoods, based on the philosophy of “upcycling, sustainable living and making use of the materials to hand”. And his customers include the actor Joanna Lumley, who bought a piece during his five-year tenure at Drumlanrig Castle in the early 2000s.

The full-time artist and sculptor also paints – a talent spotted when he won the Christian Aid Painting Competition in 1970. “First prize was a £1 premium bond, which back then would have bought you 25 bags of chips from the chippie!” says Stewart.

He grew up on the Rhins of Galloway but is now based in Kirkcudbright, where, he says, inspiration is everywhere. His portfolio spans low tide on the harbour, texture and tone brought out in biro; his red-sailed clincher rowing boat at local Brighouse Bay, delicate in pastel-y watercolour; and a rainbow over Ailsa Craig, the iconic humpbacked island in the outer Firth of Clyde, rich and dark and foreboding.

“The more I simplify the subject to tones, the more intuitively I use colour,” explains Stewart. “With watercolour, most people strive to preserve the white of the paper, but it is not the end of the world if you accidentally cover an area. Whenever something goes wrong, I like to turn it to my advantage.”

Kirkcudbright has long inspired artists – including S.J. Peploe, one of Stewart’s favourite painters. A member of the Scottish Colourists, he “would visit and stay with Jessie M. King and her husband E.A. Taylor at their home, Green Gates, in the High Street”, says Stewart.

His own work is available in The Garden Gallery (appointment only), and every Sunday from 2 to 3 pm, from June until the end of November, he runs a ‘Walk, Talk, Draw’ event in the town. Of his work, Stewart says he paints loosely, allowing the viewer’s imagination to fill in the blanks. He also hopes to give buyers “a reminder of their visit to Kirkcudbright, to bring happy memories flooding back when they look at the piece”.

Stewart’s Kirkcudbright

Kirkcudbright Galleries is of national significance, with a historical and contemporary exhibition programme. My great-grandfather, who was an artist, did a beautiful oil painting of Threave Castle near Castle Douglas, which can be seen on the Galleries’ website.

Whitehouse Gallery has a constantly changing series of exhibitions and I highly recommend a visit. Kirkcudbright Tolbooth and Art Gallery is also well worth a visit.

Find out more Instagram: stew.art.kirkcudbright

Profile by Emily Rose Mawson Photography Simon Hird

Product of the week
Hidden Scotland 2025 Calendar

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.

This weekend only for £17.00 £20.00

Isle of Harris - Taken by Sam Rogers

News and Offers

Kinloch Lodge - 3 nights for 2 offer. 

This winter, guests staying at Skye’s landmark hotel for two nights will be able to add on a third night’s stay for free, including dinner and full Scottish breakfast.  With an extra day, and night, there’s the time to savour that extra nip of whisky at the Bar, enjoy a dusk hike on Kinloch hill, or book onto one of Kinloch’s packages, taking in everything from foraging and bushcraft to wildlife spotting and whisky tasting. Or, thanks to the sun reaching its solar maximum, head out into the cool air of Kinloch’s grounds and keep eyes peeled to the sky for the Northern Lights.

Price: from £500pp based on 2 sharing including 3 nights’ half-board accommodation. Valid from 1 November 2024 to 17 April 2025 (excluding 28 December to 2 January inclusive).  For more information on Kinloch Lodge visit Kinloch-lodge.co.uk, or call 01471 833333.

A String of Perles

Scottish luxury hotel group Perle Hotels that took its name from the French spelling for Pearl, is introducing a new six-night touring holiday called A String of Perles. The hotel-to-hotel package in the Highlands and Islands connects Skye, Oban and Glencoe and will include half board and some drinks.

Price: from £2,422 for two people.

Have something you would like to share? get in touch.

Thanks for reading, Wednesday is the last delivery date for UK orders, so if you would like to order from our online gift shop, please place your order before Wednesday at 10am. We really do appreciate every order, this helps us to keep this email going every week. We still have a very small batch of 2025 Calendars remaining, pick one up here if you would like one.

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