Yaldi Tours

15/04/2024

Great little write up about the new tour!

Fans of the hit TV series Outlander can learn more about the real history behind some of the show's most iconic scenes with a new walking experience.

21/03/2024

Training is underway for this years high season. The boys where out in full force today learning all the new material for our newest tour. To book see the link in bio.

05/01/2024

Today's Herald newspaper gives a generous space to talking about "The Battles of Bonnie Prince Charlie".

03/11/2023

Somewhere Frankenstein’s monster is sh****ng his pants

20/10/2023

Check out the fun we’re having over on the the other side at Edinburgh Pub Crawl.

Tickets: www.edinburghpubcrawl.com

20/10/2023

I'm happy to say I approved the final proofs of "The Battles of Bonnie Prince Charlie" last night, so by happy chance it is heading off to the printers just as I'm following the Jacobite army through Cumbria today!

03/10/2023

We did a with this is probably the most infuriating interpretation of the Scottish £ versus English £.

01/10/2023

28/09/2023

The Haggis gives Scots super human powers... Haggis is rich in vitamins and minerals and makes Scottish soldiers feared worldwide - The largest domesticated Scottish haggis herd to ever exist was raised in the town of Selkirk, nestled in the Scottish Borders their faces were much cherished for use as Sporrans on Burns Night.

For more on the Haggis please visit Mythical Scotland https://folklorescotland.com/

Image (c) Haggis Wildlife Foundation

27/09/2023

Go big or go home. One of the many consolidated prison lists that records biographical details about captive Jacobites in 1745-6. This one’s from Edinburgh Tolbooth and is held at National Library of Scotland's Archives & Special Collections.

13/09/2023

A Spanish long gun, basket hilt sword and dirk - plus a leather purse said to have belonged to Rob Roy MacGregor are on display at Abbotsford, the Borders home of Sir Walter Scott. These are mentioned In Herbert Grierson’s ‘The Letters of Sir Walter Scott’ and in Mary Monica Maxwell Scott’s ‘Abbotsford the Personal Relics and Antiquarian Treasures of Sir Walter Scott’.

In a letter from 1811 to Joanna Baillie, Scott signs off saying ‘I have a very important matter to settle-no less than to close a treaty for the gun and arms of old Rob Roy”.

In 1812 Scott mentions Rob Roy’s gun having fallen into his possession. He describes it thus: ‘I have got Rob Roys gun a long Spanish barrel'd piece with his initials R. M. G. for Robt. Macgregor’

Unfortunately Scott fails to signpost us towards who he is actually acquiring the pieces from, hence we can’t really be 100% sure of their authenticity.

25/08/2023

Tongues oot for ! 😜 Have YOU spotted a cheeky coo like this one on your travels in ? 😍🧡

📍 Balgavies Loch, Visit Angus
📷 Instagram.com/gabrielarudyk

20/08/2023

20/08/2023

Dinners in Skye .

13/08/2023

Rainy days off are opportunities to hone our skills and make repairs. Adi here is making repairs to our blades so they are safe to user and deadly to the opponent. Our entire team are more than just tour guides, all of our guides are trained in proper weapon and prop maintenance and we few this makes our guides better educators, better role models and increases our wider appreciation of the history. That, said we are grateful for power tools. .

07/08/2023

31/07/2023

28/07/2023

You can follow the clan all over your social media. On instagram, YouTube, TikTok and right here on facebook. Give us a follow and show us some love.

28/07/2023

Fantastic article on painted over portrait of the Bonnie Prince.

The portrait shows Charles wearing tartan, a white cockade in his bonnet, and the Order of the Thistle.

14/07/2023

05/07/2023

Today we went on to our stomping ground of the royal mile to see a moment in history. Today was the ‘National service of thanksgiving and dedication’ which was basically the Scottish coronation, King Charles III was presented with the Scottish Crown Jewels first worn by James V in 1540, then by his daughter Mary Queen of Scot’s, then her son James VI, followed by his son Charles I, finally by his son Charles II before it was then hurried into hiding from Cromwell. The Crown Jewels were then lost for 168 years until found in 1818 and presented to George IV on his visit to Scotland in 1822. The last time the jewels were used in an official capacity was when they lay atop the late Queen Elizabeth’s coffin at St Giles last year.

The king was also presented with a brand new sword of state. The original is over 500 years old and was made by Italian goldsmith Domenico da Sutri as part of 3 swords ordered by the warrior pope Julius II in 1506. The original had lead mixed into the silver alloy which unfortunately crystallised over the centuries and has made it too brittle to be used in ceremony. A brand new blade by Scotlands very best bladesmiths has been made for ceremonial use in Scotland known as ‘The Elizabeth sword’ and I urge you to Google this thing the Damascus is so beautiful and unlike anything we have seen before.

People’s views vary on royalty and we have a wide range of views on monarchy here at Yaldi. That said, pomp, ceremony and jubilance is intrinsically a part of our culture on the British isles, and this is the Scottish side of that tradition and culture, however we did try to find a balance by photographing protestors as well as those there to enjoy the event.

07/06/2023

Yaldi got a wee feature by The National Newspaper

A PAIR of new walking tours in Edinburgh are guiding people through a history of rebellion in Scotland.

26/05/2023

Highland clan chiefs were revered leaders who oversaw their clans' affairs, upheld order, and safeguarded their people's interests for centuries in Scotland.

There are customs and laws associated with Scottish clans and heraldry that we are deeply respectful of and so our “clan” is purely educational and performative and our Chief is more of a nickname like a term of endearment than a title. Assigning a chief to our operation is another part of that educational endeavour and a part of Justin’s ego who is currently pretending he’s not writing this post. Our “Chief” put the clan together earlier this year and personally trained it’s members in the history and the warcraft.

Introducing the first Chief of Clan Yaldi Justin Davis.

25/05/2023

Research reminder: CORRECT POSITIONING OF BELTS ON MEDIEVAL SCABBARD: (1080-1380)

One of the most common mistakes about making modern scabbards I see, is incorrect placement of both belts on scabbard. Preserved original examples show correct belting position. At the same time, almost every depiction in medieval art also explains how it should be placed on scabbard. However, for unknown reason, many modern scabbards repeatedly place it on wrong height...
Let me explain:
First thing: The upper belt (wrapping) should be placed just under the scabbard`s collar / slot or very close to that area.
The reason is simple:
If it will be placed lower, then the sword will not be stable, especially the longsword, because you cannot place the suspension too close to the balance point of the sword. That`s why they originally always make it as high as they could, also to keep the sword under a slight angle to the ground in a stable position on the hip. Also, that`s why the lower belt is placed lower.
If you place the upper belt on scabbard too low and closer to the balance point of the sword, then it begin to swing and follow the balance when walking / running / horse riding (the counterweight will be felt too much). This can be uncomfortable and cause the sword to come loose, moving and slide from the scabbard in time.
Of course the bottom belt will keep it more or less on its place depending on the blade length, but the whole thing will be simply not historical.
Additionally: If the upper belt is too low, a place is created where today we often find coats of arms and other signs, as if it were a "representative" place on the scabbard. Nothing like that happened. We will not find any decorations anywhere in this place.
(note: I am writing here about historicity, facts and reality. I personally don't mind seeing such decorations there, but it's just a modern invention).

Second thing: the lower belt. The modern problem is again with placing it sometimes much too low, even very close to the scabbard`s center area. I could repeat all reasons from above again. But we can simply check and understand medieval examples, again.

Supplement:
The above remarks refer to the specific style of belting shown on the examples. Other styles of belting, in other periods, can be found sometimes at different areas, but also have their positions related to practical use.
.............

Additional note:
Correct positioning of belts in this 13th century belting style, is not a matter of individual style or custom choice, if we are recreating the historical scabbards. We should follow original examples and understand the reason / purpose. Especially when we have plenty of them and we can easly study and find out how it should be done. Next reason to make it right, is for sure: correct, safe and convenient use of old and proven solutions ;)

https://artofswordmaking.com/gallery/belt-position-on-scabbards-1050-1380

25/05/2023

"A sword is never a killer; it is a tool in the killer's hands." - Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Learn about the very weapons of war that shaped Scottish history and hold them in your hands. Forged for battle, yet masterpieces of art and craftsmanship.

24/05/2023

Torture was a specific method of violence used to subjugate women over the centuries in Scotland. Here the women of Yaldi turn the tables and show the brutality endured by women during the witch trials.

22/05/2023

Introducing a’ the Yaldi men, heartthrobs everyone of them! The men’s tour is at 2pm and traces the Jacobite rebellion of 1745 and it’s origins. The tour also includes a full weapons display!

22/05/2023

Introducing the ladies of Clan Yaldi! The women’s history tour is the first of its kind in Edinburgh and features all of the capitals best rebel women and a full torture display! .