Auld Country Tours

20/01/2017

Forbes Raeburn - The Family Butcher

Getting close to Burns Day! I think this what all butchers are saying all day long in Scotland these days! This is a great butcher shop in Huntley!

"GIE HER A RAEBURN'S HAGGIS"

Watch the video and listen as Charles recites Robert Burn's famous poem "The address to the Haggis" as he takes a fresh batch of our own award winning Haggis out of the boiler ready for selling this weekend!!!

GET YOUR HAGGIS THIS WEEKEND IN TIME FOR BURNS NIGHT 25TH JANUARY!!!!

20/01/2017

Getting close to Burns Day! I think this what all butchers are saying all day long in Scotland these days! This is a great butcher shop in Huntley!

23/12/2016

BBC Scotland

Scottish Christmas!

Scottish Christmas is the best Christmas

23/12/2016

Scottish Christmas!

20/12/2016

Scotch whisky - in Gaelic, it was called "uisge beatha", in Latin, "aqua vitae" but they both mean the same thing - The Water of Life. It's the perfect Christmas gift. I don't know about you, but as an adult with an affinity for all things Scottish, and a taste for Scotch whisky, I have come to the conclusion that a bottle of single malt Scotch is the ideal gift to give and receive. Price - from the reasonable $60 range to multiple $1000s, the only limit is your own - as it should be. Selection from the 100s of distilleries provides an unlimited opportunity to express your taste preferences, travel experiences, or to match the personality of the person you give it to. A bottle of Scotch as a gift will always go down well - you look good, they look good, and this is before you even taste it! Come join us on our Hopscotch 2017 tour in August! This is the best tour available to enjoy the history, culture, cuisine, whisky and craft beer of Scotland. http://www.auldcountrytours.com/tours/hopscotch-2017

09/12/2016

Almost too much going on here! Season's Greetings!

09/12/2016

The Unipiper

Almost too much going on here! Season's Greetings!

Winter is coming...
(For licensing and usage, contact: [email protected])

12/11/2016

You enriched us, Leonard Cohen. Rest in Peace.

12/11/2016

Modern Piping - Lincoln Hilton

You enriched us, Leonard Cohen. Rest in Peace.

RIP Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah on the Pipes by Simon Fraser University Pipe Band - Sheet music available at www.mdpiping.com/shop

09/11/2016

As we've been preparing for our HopScotch 2017 Tour (www.auldcountrytours.com/tours/hopscotch-2017), an online auction caught my attention. Strathearn Distillery, calling itself "Probably Scotland's Smallest Distillery" (as compared to the iconic Edradour Distillery "Scotland's Smallest Distillery") is within a month of it's 3 year anniversary with it's inaugural single malt whisky (3 years is the point in which the spirit can legally be called Scotch Whisky). What caught my attention is the fact that they are auctioning off their first 100 bottles in an online auction. Imagine this, as a Scotch aficionado, you could own bottle 001 from Strathearn Distillery. There is no other first bottle, period. Auction runs until Dec. 1, presently the bid is at 2,550 GBP, and the Distillery owner promises to deliver it to your door personally, no matter where in the world you live! Join us on our HopScotch 2017 tour, we'll take YOU to their doors - now that is service!

06/11/2016

We are very excited to announce the HopScotch 2017 tour. This is a tour by Eat and Drink Like a European, that we have the pleasure of developing and leading. If you love Scottish history, single malt whisky, craft beer, and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, then this is the tour for you! http://www.auldcountrytours.com/tours/hopscotch-2017

22/10/2016

Dream Scottish Island for Sale

Surely it doesn't get better than this! Your own island just off the coast in northwestern Scotland. Yes, I'll take one!

Self-sufficient Scottish island for sale:completely off the grid, Tanera Mor comes with 24-hour electricity, broadband and even a post office Tanera Mor is being sold for £1.95m. Should you not have the means to buy the whole island, it is being offered in three lots, starting from £430,000... A

22/10/2016

Surely it doesn't get better than this! Your own island just off the coast in northwestern Scotland. Yes, I'll take one!

Self-sufficient Scottish island for sale:completely off the grid, Tanera Mor comes with 24-hour electricity, broadband and even a post office Tanera Mor is being sold for £1.95m. Should you not have the means to buy the whole island, it is being offered in three lots, starting from £430,000... A

20/10/2016

Pitlochry Perthshire Scotland

I've driven down this road numerous times. Glen Coe is one of the places that a person must see on a trip to Scotland. Take a walk up the trails at the foot of the Three Sisters. The quiet, the hills, and the wind on your face give you a feeling like nothing else. Some people say its the ghosts of the MacDonald Clan. I don't know about that but rest assured, you'll never forget your day there.

Pitlochry is in the very centre of , a great base from which to explore others areas of Scotland. A 4hour drive round trip can include Glen Coe via Dalwinnie and Loch Tay. There is truly no where more spectacular than a drive through Glen Coe. For more on Pitlochry http://www.pitlochry-scotland.co.uk/

20/10/2016

I've driven down this road numerous times. Glen Coe is one of the places that a person must see on a trip to Scotland. Take a walk up the trails at the foot of the Three Sisters. The quiet, the hills, and the wind on your face give you a feeling like nothing else. Some people say its the ghosts of the MacDonald Clan. I don't know about that but rest assured, you'll never forget your day there.

16/10/2016

Looks like Edinburgh is getting ready for Halloween... I really enjoy this man's photos! Well worth following his work.

Moon rising over the Hopetoun Moument sitting on Byres Hill not far from Haddington, taken from the top of Blackford Hill. Hadn't intended to go to Blackford but Calton was heaving with some event and Arthur's Seat was shut so with time running out I was thankful for an uncomplicated hill to access!

16/10/2016

Looks like Edinburgh is getting ready for Halloween... I really enjoy this man's photos! Well worth following his work.

Moon rising over the Hopetoun Moument sitting on Byres Hill not far from Haddington, taken from the top of Blackford Hill. Hadn't intended to go to Blackford but Calton was heaving with some event and Arthur's Seat was shut so with time running out I was thankful for an uncomplicated hill to access!

24/06/2016

BBC News

BBC News

What swung the vote for Leave?

24/06/2016

30/05/2016

BBC Scotland News

Coastal towns will always attact buyers; it's the law of supply and demand. Have to say though that the average price of mid-90s in the Ayrshire seaside towns seems very attractive. I love that part of the country.

"Living on the coast offers many attractions, including a typically high quality of life and attractive surroundings."

30/05/2016

Coastal towns will always attact buyers; it's the law of supply and demand. Have to say though that the average price of mid-90s in the Ayrshire seaside towns seems very attractive. I love that part of the country.

North Berwick has become Scotland's most expensive seaside town, according to new research by the Bank of Scotland.

23/05/2016

The Sheep Heid Inn - still considered one of the finest pubs in Edinburgh. Scroll through the comments for Mrs. Beeton's recipe for Sheep Head Broth. Sounds interesting...

The Sheep Heid, Duddingston

A fine old photo of the Sheep Heid Inn in Duddingston in 1909 with Mr and Mrs Kerr, the owners, and their dog standing outside. (Thanks to Carolyn Reid for info.)
The first inn on the site of the Sheep Heid is recorded as far back as 1360, making it the oldest continuous site of a public house in Edinburgh and possibly in Scotland.
There are two theories on the origin of the pub’s name. The first relates to the gift of an ornate silver-mounted ram's head s***f box, with huge curling horns and eyes made from semi-precious stones, which was presented to the landlord of the inn in 1580 by King James VI in appreciation of the hospitality when he travelled between Craigmillar Castle and Holyrood Palace.
The other relates to a local culinary speciality, sheep heid broth or powsowdie. Sheep were raised on Arthur’s Seat from the medieval period to fairly recently. The sheep were slaughtered in abattoirs at Duddingston before being taken to the fleshmarkets of the Old Town. There being no great demand for the sheep heads, the people of Duddingston became well known for their innovative use of the perhaps less than tempting left-over in dishes such as sheep heid broth and singed sheep heid. Until the late 19th century Duddingston folk even used sheep skulls to pave their pathways.
An old fashioned skittle alley, with a timber gravity ramp for returning balls, is located in a single storey building to the rear of the pub. The skittle alley is one of the earliest in the country.

There's a new book on Edinburgh Pubs just out and worth a look;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edinburgh-Pubs-Jack-Gillon/dp/1445652595

Image Sheep Heid page

23/05/2016

The Sheep Heid Inn - still considered one of the finest pubs in Edinburgh. Scroll through the comments for Mrs. Beeton's recipe for Sheep Head Broth. Sounds interesting...

The Sheep Heid, Duddingston

A fine old photo of the Sheep Heid Inn in Duddingston in 1909 with Mr and Mrs Kerr, the owners, and their dog standing outside. (Thanks to Carolyn Reid for info.)
The first inn on the site of the Sheep Heid is recorded as far back as 1360, making it the oldest continuous site of a public house in Edinburgh and possibly in Scotland.
There are two theories on the origin of the pub’s name. The first relates to the gift of an ornate silver-mounted ram's head s***f box, with huge curling horns and eyes made from semi-precious stones, which was presented to the landlord of the inn in 1580 by King James VI in appreciation of the hospitality when he travelled between Craigmillar Castle and Holyrood Palace.
The other relates to a local culinary speciality, sheep heid broth or powsowdie. Sheep were raised on Arthur’s Seat from the medieval period to fairly recently. The sheep were slaughtered in abattoirs at Duddingston before being taken to the fleshmarkets of the Old Town. There being no great demand for the sheep heads, the people of Duddingston became well known for their innovative use of the perhaps less than tempting left-over in dishes such as sheep heid broth and singed sheep heid. Until the late 19th century Duddingston folk even used sheep skulls to pave their pathways.
An old fashioned skittle alley, with a timber gravity ramp for returning balls, is located in a single storey building to the rear of the pub. The skittle alley is one of the earliest in the country.

There's a new book on Edinburgh Pubs just out and worth a look;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edinburgh-Pubs-Jack-Gillon/dp/1445652595

Image Sheep Heid page

12/05/2016

Amazing blossoms in the Meadows, Edinburgh.

Looking good in the sunshine today (11/5). It's very late this year, but still as beautiful as ever!

12/05/2016

Amazing blossoms in the Meadows, Edinburgh.

Looking good in the sunshine today (11/5). It's very late this year, but still as beautiful as ever!

15/04/2016

I got Donal! What Is Your Scottish Name?

This is fun and a little silly. Try it! Let us know your new name!

Your Scottish name is Donal, which means "ruler of the world". You're powerful, noble and people want to get with you.

15/04/2016

This is fun and a little silly. Try it! Let us know your new name!

Your Scottish name is Donal, which means "ruler of the world". You're powerful, noble and people want to get with you.

25/02/2016

I love the Isle of Barra! Great photo!

Our Lady of the Sea, Isle of Barra, Outer Hebrides, Scotland

14/02/2016

Very interesting photo - apparently this 1844 shot is considered possibly the earliest photo of men drinking beer. Whether it is or not, I am enjoy looking at the men's faces, the one in the middle is introspective, the one across the table is enjoying the company, and the one with a hand on the shoulder seems like the life of the party! Could be a photo of me and a couple of my friends!

‘Edinburgh Ale’ by Hill & Adamson, 1844

It’s the end of another working week. Cue tomorrow morning and a frantic rummage around the cutlery drawer for the last Anadin…

Not that getting sloshed is a new thing of course - these lads were no stranger to a tipple.

Incredibly, this is thought to be the earliest known image of men drinking beer.

The two seated gentlemen, Dr George Bell (of Great Junction Street fame?) and James Ballatine, remain calm and composed. Meanwhile, celebrated pioneer of photography/Harrison Ford look-a-like David Octavius Hill has clearly finished at least a glass or five and appears to be creasing himself uncontrollably. In an era where long exposure times required the subject to stay as still as humanly possible, it’s so refreshing to see such fun being had!

Their potion of choice was Edinburgh Ale, described as “a potent fluid which almost glued the lips of the drinker together”.

A round please, barkeep.

Picture: Wikimedia Commons

14/02/2016

Very interesting photo - apparently this 1844 shot is considered possibly the earliest photo of men drinking beer. Whether it is or not, I am enjoy looking at the men's faces, the one in the middle is introspective, the one across the table is enjoying the company, and the one with a hand on the shoulder seems like the life of the party! Could be a photo of me and a couple of my friends!

‘Edinburgh Ale’ by Hill & Adamson, 1844

It’s the end of another working week. Cue tomorrow morning and a frantic rummage around the cutlery drawer for the last Anadin…

Not that getting sloshed is a new thing of course - these lads were no stranger to a tipple.

Incredibly, this is thought to be the earliest known image of men drinking beer.

The two seated gentlemen, Dr George Bell (of Great Junction Street fame?) and James Ballatine, remain calm and composed. Meanwhile, celebrated pioneer of photography/Harrison Ford look-a-like David Octavius Hill has clearly finished at least a glass or five and appears to be creasing himself uncontrollably. In an era where long exposure times required the subject to stay as still as humanly possible, it’s so refreshing to see such fun being had!

Their potion of choice was Edinburgh Ale, described as “a potent fluid which almost glued the lips of the drinker together”.

A round please, barkeep.

Picture: Wikimedia Commons