Seòras Outlander Tours

11/06/2024

There's a place in Scotland called Dull !!

And it's twinned with Boring, Oregon 🤣😂

08/06/2024

A rare day off so I'm at the Strachur and District Shinty Club v Uddingston match in beautiful, but rainy, Argyll.

I sponsor one of the Strachur players so hoping for a big home win today!

15/05/2024

No prizes for guessing where I am!!

14/05/2024

Cawdor Castle located in the Scottish Highlands near Nairn, is known for its picturesque gardens and tenuous links to Macbeth

01/05/2024

Did an Outlander tour yesterday, as usual the team at Culloden Battlefield NTS outdid themselves with a wonderful presentation on life as a Highlander in the 18th century

29/04/2024

Today we concentrated on the MacRae lands with visits to Glenelg, Clachan Duich, Eilean Donan Castle.

Also Bernera Barracks, the Glenelg Inn and a few other stops on the way.

28/04/2024

Things I saw today

My guests had a morning boat trip to see the wildlife of Skye and the Inner Hebrides so I took the chance to walk down to the point south of Elgol.

28/04/2024

My guests got the best weather for their trip on the AquaXplore to Canna this morning. Thanks to everyone at Bella Jane Boat Trips

The view from Elgol across to The Cuillin 😍

27/04/2024

Things I saw today...

Touring from Edinburgh to Skye with a lovely couple from Texas

06/04/2024

Picked up a lovely couple in Edinburgh this morning and they are spending 3 days in the Torridon area with visits to Skye and Applecross on the itinerary.

The stark contrasts between Edinburgh City centre and the village of Shieldaig 😲

08/03/2024

In Outlander we see Jamie and Claire settling in what would become modern day North Carolina in the USA. I think everyone in North America is aware of the pivotal roles played by Scots and their descendants in the formation of the US and also Canada.

On my travels this week I visited the cairn at Dalmore, dedicated to Sir John A. Macdonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada. This monument is located near the village of Rogart, about 50 miles north of Inverness.

"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞: 𝐀 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐢𝐫 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐀. 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐝

Text from the Rogart Heritage Society

𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐨𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐭

Although Sir John A. Macdonald was not born in Rogart, this Highland parish maintained a close affiliation with his pivotal role in establishing Canada as a nation. His Macdonald ancestry was regarded as being “of the parish.” The cairn was erected on the site of his grandparents’ house at Dalmore, using local stone.

Sir John’s father, Hugh Macdonald, was said to have been born at nearby Rovie Craig, where the family resided before moving to Fourpenny in Dornoch and eventually embarking on their journey to Glasgow and, ultimately, Canada. The very location of the cairn at Dalmore was where Sir John A. Macdonald's grandfather had lived. Interestingly, there is no historical record indicating that Sir John A. Macdonald himself ever recognized this connection to the parish.

𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥

The idea of a commemorative cairn had been discussed for years. In 1922, Colonel Gilbert Gunn of Inchcape advocated for one, drawing upon information from local historian Andrew Mackay of Dalmore. However, it was another Rogart man who had ventured to Canada in the 1920s and achieved success that truly catalyzed the project. This man was Hugh Macpherson, whose roots were in Blairmore. Hugh wielded influence both in Canada and the world of pipe music. His famous tartan shop in Haymarket, Edinburgh, and his service on the City Council made him a respected figure.

Hugh Macpherson rallied support from the Sutherland County Council, with Councillor George Murray of Morvich backing the cause. Additionally, Joyce Rawstorne, the landowner of the cairn site, lent her support. Another influential Rogart figure, Captain John Mackay of Corry, played a role. Captain Mackay, a distant relative, had a mother who was a daughter of Macdonald, the last tacksman of Dalmore. She recalled stories of Hugh Macdonald’s presence in Rovie.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲

On July 13, 1968, the cairn’s grand opening ceremony drew over a thousand people. The Bonar and Ardgay Pipe Band paraded, and the 13th Canadian Prime Minister, John Diefenbaker, took center stage. Diefenbaker’s own people had been cleared from Kildonan in Sutherland, adding a poignant layer of history to the event.

𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

As time has passed, we’ve come to recognize the complexities of Macdonald’s legacy. His premiership, marked by achievements and controversies, now stands in a more nuanced light. While we honor his role in Canadian Confederation, we also acknowledge the darker aspects of his tenure—the treatment of indigenous peoples, the Chinese Immigration Act, and the scandals. Today, building a cairn in his honor would likely spark deeper conversations about history and responsibility."

And so, nestled in the Scottish Highlands, the cairn at Dalmore remains—a testament to a leader whose impact reverberates across time and continents.

06/03/2024

20/02/2024

In these days of equality you might notice how it's all women taking part in the waulking. My 93 year old Grandmother explained to me why this is the case:

Only women waulked the tweed - men were not allowed anywhere near this social gathering. This is because it's was a chance for the women of the village to congregate and gossip, if you like, and to also have fun whilst singing their songs.

It's like there's a basic chorus which was mostly nonsensical and one of the older ladies would sing a few lines and the rest will join in. The opportunity to ad-lib is allowed and perhaps they'll sing about one of the younger women and which of the men in the village they might be courted by!

Granny will never go into detail but she says sometimes the added verses might get a bit racy!

13/02/2024

In Highland Scotland most of the signage is not bilingual as the "English" part is usually just phonetics of the original Gaelic name. Take for example, Portree. In Gaelic it's Port Rìgh, in English it's King's Port and on a signpost or a map it's Portree.

Adding to the mix are all the other languages of various invaders, settlers and visitors and we can see their influence in many of the place names all over Scotland.

That's why this sign on the outskirts of Inverness is a fantastic reminder to the incredible history we have in this part of the world with no less than 5 languages on show:

Inbhir Pheofharain - Gaelic for Mouth of the River Peffery

Dingwall - From the Norse Þingvöllr which means Meeting place of the "Thing". A Thing is akin to a tribal council or even a parliament. One of the oldest parliaments in the world is the Icelandic Althing which was located in modern day Thingvellir National Park.

A' Mhanachainn - Place of The Monks in Scottish Gaelic. There's the ruins of a magnificent 13th century priory in the village.

Beauly - A corruption of the French "Beau Lieu" which means a beautiful place. So named because when Mary, Queen of Scots arrived here in 1564 she exclaimed "Ç'est un beau lieu". Mary had been brought up in the French Court from the age of 5.

An Gearasdan - Gaelic for The Fort. A loan word from the French "garnison"

Fort William - Named by the British after William of Orange who ordered a fort be built to control the local clans. There had been another fort here since Cromwellian times. The settlement that grew up around it was called Maryburgh, then Gordonsburgh, then Duncansburgh before finally being renamed Fort William. Most Highlanders simply call it The Fort.

Ceann a' Mhìlidh - Gaelic for The Place of the Warriors.

Kinmylies - Scots variation of the above. The first recorded use of "Kinmyly" was in a Royal Charter from 1232

An Leacainn - A Gaelic word for the side of a face which, like many body features, has also become a landscape feature.

Leachkin - Although it's pronounced "Lark-in" by Invernessians this phonetic spelling was an attempt at representing the Gaelic pronunciation.

New Craigs - The name of the hospital.

With Gaelic, Scots, Norse, French and English appearing on Scottish signposts we should not be simply calling them bilingual. I've not even touched on the "Welsh" in places like Abriachan and Aberdeen but that's a story for another day!

11/02/2024

Whilst interacting with visitors who'll be arriving this summer at the Port of Invergordon I've seen a growing demand for tours that cater specifically to families with children. While exploring castles and breathtaking landscapes might captivate some, it's essential to acknowledge that these experiences may not fully engage younger minds. Recognizing this, we can facilitate tours around Inverness that seamlessly blend history, nature, and interactive experiences to delight guests of all ages.

In planning an Inverness and district tour, we've made sure to incorporate diversions tailored to our younger guests. Picture this: a stop at Chanonry Point offers the chance to spot playful dolphins dancing in the waves, a sight sure to enchant even the most discerning child. Additionally, a visit to Leanach Farm introduces families to the remarkable world of shepherd Iain MacKay and his incredible working sheepdogs, providing a hands-on encounter that fosters a deeper appreciation for rural life.

Of course, no trip to Inverness would be complete without the opportunity to seek out the legendary Loch Ness Monster! While we can't promise an encounter with Nessie herself, the mystique and excitement surrounding the search add an extra element of adventure for children and adults alike.

Understanding the importance of keeping children entertained, we go the extra mile to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable journey. Whilst in the car we can provide Wi-Fi, allowing kids to stay connected to the digital world while on the move. Parents can rest assured that safety and convenience are our top priorities, with amenities like rest stops and toilet facilities readily available throughout the tour.

But our commitment to providing exceptional family experiences doesn't end there. We encourage families to share their preferences and special requests when booking a tour, allowing us to tailor the experience to suit their unique needs and interests. After all, every family is different, and we believe in creating memories that resonate with each member of the group.

08/02/2024

The Glenmoriston Footprints

This is one of these quirky wee places that few people know about let alone have visited.

Sometimes I'll stop with guests as we travel between Inverness and Skye. Do you think somebody cuts the grass or is it genuinely an act of God?

16/01/2024

Winter Touring

I don't do a lot of touring in the winter. This is down to fewer people visiting and also there's less daylight. Plus, of course, there's the very variable weather we get here. Mostly wind and rain but sometimes snow and ice.

On the website you can book a **Winter Special** half day tour. We start later and usually take 4 hours to do some of the more local sites. I make sure the car is kitted out for winter travel. This includes the usual things like shovels, blankets and winter tyres. I also take flasks of hot water, dry biscuits and noodles.

Right now most of Scotland is experiencing very snowy conditions. No touring today!

This gives us all the chance to have fun with the kids.

14/01/2024

Culloden Clootie Well

In Scotland, Ireland and Cornwall there is a tradition of hanging a piece of cloth near a healing well.

In Scotland these wells have become known as Clootie Wells, from the Scots word for cloth - cloot.

Although the wells themselves predate Christianity in Scotland they are often named after local saints. This is because when the Christian religion arrived in the country missionary priests could see the pros and cons of allowing the local population to continue with their old traditions but under the new God.

St Mary's Well in Culloden woods is one of at least 3 local Clootie Wells still in use. The other 2 are St. Curetán's (or St. Boniface) in Munlochy and the Craigie Well at Avoch. I've seen mention of a few other much smaller wells locally but they don't seem to be in regular use.

The healing process is very straight forward and you can also do it for good luck. You take the rag or cloot belonging to someone unwell and dip it in the waters before hanging it off a nearby tree. As the cloot rots then so the ailment of the sick is lifted. This is why people using these sites are encouraged to use non man-made materials. It negates the whole point of hanging up your cloot if it takes 30 years to decompose. I have strips of cotton sheets in the boot of my car if my guests want to take part in this millenia old tradition.

The pictures are of Anna at the Culloden Well last week.

11/01/2024

The Standing Stones at Craigh na Dun

The theory is that Diana Gabaldon drew inspiration from Callanish in Lewis when she described Craigh na Dun the in her stories.

Looking at the shapes and sizes of the stones at Callanish you can see their similarities to the styrofoam stand-ins at Craigh na Dun.

You can also see their likeness to the stones at Clava. Erected circa 3,000BC Callanish is about 800 to 1000 years older than Clava.

If you've ever been on tour with me you'll know for some of my Skye stories I'll cite my own Grandmother as a source, and for this story she cites her mother as a source.

Annie Shaw, (nee MacLeod b. 1892 in Harris) called them Fhir Bhreug a' Chalanais. This translates to The Lying Men of Callanish.
This is because that no matter how often you try to count the stones, you would never get the same number. The stones, you see, are lying to you! I tried this and it happened to me, twice getting different numbers.

Pictured are some of the stones at Callanish and my Granny, Peggy Wood.

10/01/2024

Previously I shared a post of Alasdair MacNèill's photos of the Leachkin Chambered Cairn.

I said it has an Outlander link.... Specifically the standing stones at Craigh na Dun

Most Outlander tours will visit Clava and everybody wants their photo taken beside the biggest standing stone. This is fine, it's a beautiful stone with a character all of it's own - but these are not the stones Diana used as inspiration for her books.

Clava is too near the position British troops would have occupied at Culloden Battlefield and it's not on a Craigh (Gaelic for a rocky hill) but in a Lagan (little hollow). They're chambered cairns so (arguably) not really a stone circle.

Instead she imagined a different setting for the stones at Callanish in Lewis. I'll do a separate post on them later.

A few years ago the path up to the chambered cairn at Leachkin was cut through a forest of gorse. The cairn possibly hadn't been seen for decades. To many people's surprise the stones didn't resemble a chambered cairn because several of them were upright, probably caused as the cairn collapsed.

Here's where coincidence plays a part. The Leachkin chambered cairn is situated near Craig Dunain, overlooks Inverness AND is located in what was historically Fraser country.

Thank you to Lindsay and Justin for posing with the stones!

09/01/2024

Because of it's proximity to Culloden Battlefield there's a lot of Outlander fans will want to make a visit to the Clava Cairns. (I'll deal with this in a later post 🧐)

Even outwith the entire Outlander story it's an amazing place to visit. As I tell my guests about it's use as a solar calendar and it's incredible 4,000 year old age I also explain that it's just one of dozens of prehistoric sites within about 10 miles of Inverness.

The map here is the area just south of Inverness. Chambered Cairns, Ring Cairns, Duns, Stone Circles, Burnt Mounds, Hut Circles. People just drive past them probably unaware that they're surrounded by so much history.

08/01/2024

Outlander!

Diana Gabaldon's books were made into a TV series in 2014 and understandably many people want to find out more about the history behind the shows fictional narrative.

The TV sets were largely created in towns and villages in and around Culross in Fife. However, the real life locations can be found all around Inverness.

The first place I'll mention from the stories is Castle Leoch, the fictional seat of Clan MacKenzie. On my Outlander Tour we visit Castle Leod, seat of the current chief, John Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Cromartie.

Leoch and Leod - clearly Diana drew her inspiration from this picturesque castle and even suggested to the production company to use it in the TV show. There's a rowan tree planted in the gardens by Diana herself.

08/01/2024

Hey, it's me!

I've gone down the route of adding a bit more social medias to my digital footprint and here's the page I've been promising to set up!

I'll endeavour to keep you all updated with what I've been up to, where I've been etc and also answer any questions you might have.

The picture with this post was a recent trip over to the West Highlands. Applecross and Torridon to be exact. The mountain you're looking at is Liathach and she's beautiful.

Please feel free to share the page, Thank You!