Issue 07 is here!

We are excited to announce that our Christmas gift wrapping service is now live. Available for you to send direct to the recipient, where a gift note option is also available. The magazine will be gift wrapped by hand in chocolate brown tissue paper, sealed with gold foil stickers, closed with a beautifully designed kraft paper wrap and then finished with a reindeer gift card. An A5 print of the front cover image and bookmark of the Old Man of Storr will be included in the parcel. These are back only for the gift wrapped option. The gift wrapping option is available for issue 05 only and this year the gift wrapped service will be available for a limited time only.

All pre-orders will come with:

→ A 'Glen Coe' bookmark
→ A5 print of our front cover image

This will arrive wrapped in kraft tissue paper and sealed with a sticker. Available for a limited time only.

If you are a subscriber to Hidden Scotland magazine, then your order will also arrive with the bookmark and print too.

We hope that you enjoy issue 07 and as always, thank you again for your continued support!

WHAT’S IN ISSUE 07

Made in Crovie

“Growing up on the edge of the ocean - Crovie perches perilously between cliffs and sea, a solitary row of houses huddled gable-end to the waves in an Aberdeenshire bay. Its fishing days long gone, people come and go, but this tiny salt-worn village retains an unparalleled magic. Here, local lad Jamie Ellington recalls growing up on the edge of the ocean…”

Living in the past

“The ceiling is low and the walls are bare, the air is thick with peat smoke while the sound of cattle comes from the next room. This was life in a traditional Scottish Blackhouse…”

Your Essential Guide to Up Helly Aa

“If you’re looking to experience a wild northern winter, punctuated with a dash of culture, fire and Viking tradition, then Up Helly Aa is an unmissable experience in Shetland’s cultural calendar. Laurie Goodlad explains the best way to make the most of Shetland’s festival of fire…”

Spinning a good Yarn

“A tale of Scottish textiles from tartan to tweed. At the V&A in Dundee a thought-provoking exhibition ‘Tartan’ explores one of Scotland’s most famous design icons, while across the Highlands and Islands there is a resurgence of artisan weaving, a cultural revival and economic success story…”

Truly Scottish Sporting Traditions

Is there anything that embodies the traditions of Scotland quite as much as the Highland Games?

The Skirling of pipes alongside crashing drums. Flashes of tartan as Highland dancers leap over swords. The sight and sounds of powerful figures throwing enormous objects. A visit to the Highland Games offers a wide range of spectacles beyond the famous heavy events, each one united by a very long history.

The Wintering Geese of Islay

“Autumn is a season of change: leaves are shed, fires lit, fungi flourish, ghost stories are shared, and our skies buzz with migrating birds. Here in the Inner Hebrides, tens of thousands of geese journey back to us. Travelling from Greenland each year, these noisy birds make their annual pilgrimage back to the Isle of Islay, escaping the harsh winter of their artic breeding grounds for a milder Hebridean one…”

A roundup of some of Scotland’s best whisky distillery experiences.

“Malted barley, water and yeast. Three simple ingredients that unlock a world of stories, memories, aromas, seasons and flavours. Malt whisky isn’t so much a product of Scotland as a part of it - a heady distillation of the country’s soul and soil. More than 140 malt and grain distilleries are dotted around the national map, collectively forming the world’s greatest concentration of whisky producers. Each one, in its own way, conjures magic in a glass…”

Discovering the Nooks & Crannies of Perthshire

“Perthshire’s location on the Highland Boundary Fault makes it a land of genuine scenic drama, drawing those in the know to its craggy peaks, ancient woodlands and dark lochs. Adrenaline thrills are easy to find, whether you’re biking, hiking, rafting or even bungee jumping, but this is also a region stuffed with art, culture, food and history - big-name attractions such as Scone Palace, Blair Castle and the Fortingall Yew are just the start…”

Signs of the Times - Meet traditional signwriter Thomas Payne

“Walk down any typical high street in Scotland today and you will no doubt notice the overwhelming number of signs vying for your attention with their gaudy colours and eye-catching fonts. It wasn’t always this way, however. Photographs of town centres that pre-date the availability of cheaply printed signage depict beautifully painted shops decorated by skilled signwriters who used a limited number of lettering styles and traditional techniques to present basic information about a a building’s occupants…”

A Hidden Scotland Guide - Experiencing Scottish traditions through local events

“Scotland might be famous for its spectacular scenery and dramatic history, but there’s much more to enjoy here if you look a little deeper. A rich cultural heritage can be found that goes far beyond haggis and bagpipes, especially for those willing to head off the beaten path…”

The Art of Self Catering

“Hotels are great, but sometimes on holiday it’s important to have some extra space to spread out and properly relax. Self-catering accommodation is the perfect solution for stays when you want a bit more autonomy than a hotel typically offers, including the option of rustling up a hearty meal in the kitchen or breaking out a board game to play with friends in the lounge…”

Recipe: Cast Iron Cullen Skink with Trout & Wild Herbs

“A rustic, fire-based version on a classic Scottish dish. Cullen skink is a speciality from the north-east corner of Scotland, originating in Cullen, just up the coast in Moray…”

This issue also includes

• A Weekend exploring the Cairngorms - A Local’s Guide

• Folklore, Myths & Legends - The Fiddlers of Tomnahurich

• Wild Kabn Kitchen - from the embers

• More recipes from Wild Kabn Kitchen

• Meet the Makar, Kathleen Jamie - A conversation with Scotland’s national poet

• What’s on in Scotland: Autumn/Winter

• Bare Bones Chocolate Profile and recipe

• And more

We’ve also just launched our 2024 Calendar, check it out below.

We are delighted to be back with a new wall calendar for 2024. This A3 landscape wall calendar is printed on a beautiful matt art paper stock that will make the images really stand out. Enjoy a selection of beautiful photography that captures some of Scotland's best bits that were photographed throughout 2023.