The clan courier

CLAN COURIER

We pay tribute to a much missed scholar, and the MacLeod clan gathering returns

[CLANS] CLAN MACLEOD HOMECOMING

The ancestral seat of the MacLeods of Skye, Dunvegan Castle is a must-visit attraction on the Isle of Skye.

Visitors to the castle today can see some of the clan’s heirlooms, including the famous Fairy Flag, a 4th-century banner said to possess sacred powers to protect the clan in battle. Whether the flag was given to a former clan chief by his fairy lover, or brought back from the Crusades, is a matter of debate (and possibly imagination).

In 2023, the castle will be the nucleus of the MacLeod Parliament, the world gathering of Clan MacLeod, which takes place every four years. Postponed in 2022 due to the pandemic, it will return with renewed vigour on 22 July 2023, with plenty of events for clan members to get together and connect with their ancestral lands. dunvegancastle.com

[WHISKY] MEET THE OWNER

While most Scottish whisky distilleries now o er tours (see our whisky special on page 49) – few of them give you the chance to take a tour with the distillery owner.

Step forward Annandale Distillery, in Dumfries and Galloway, where visitors can take a tour with Professor David Thomson, the man behind the rebirth of this distillery, which was once owned by Johnnie Walker but was forced to close in 1918. In 2007, Thomson, together with his wife, Teresa Church, revived Annandale and on this personal tour you can hear about the ‘characters’ involved in the revival – including the ‘water diviner’ and the archaeologists that worked on the project. Thomson has even been known to recite Burns poetry as he extols the virtues of the region and its whisky, and like all good tours, it ends with a tasting of some of the distillery’s whiskies. Register your interest for an owner tour by emailing I.Dupont@annandaledistillery.com. annandaledistillery.com

[SHOPPING] TIMELESS TARTAN

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and luxury textiles company Lochcarron have teamed up to create an exclusive ‘Coorie’ range of tartan perfect for the colder months.

Included in the range of soft heathery-toned winter warmers is a lambswool scarf, a fi ne wool scarf, and a beautiful 100% Bowhill lambswool throw, all of which have been woven at Lochcarron’s historic mill in the heart of the Scottish Borders.

The textiles join HES’s wider range of Coorie products, which also include candles, ceramics, chocolates, and books.

Prices start at £28 for a lambswool scarf. stor.scot

[HOTELS] FIVE-STAR FINGAL

The luxury fl oating hotel, Fingal, which is moored in the foodie suburb of Leith in Edinburgh, and run by the team behind the nearby Royal Yacht Britannia, has been crowned one of the top fi ve-star hotels in the UK by the AA.

Fingal, once a working vessel that was luxuriously transformed into a glamorous Art Deco style hotel yacht in 2019, has also been singled-out for its fi ne-dining restaurant.

Britannia’s hospitality director and Fingal’s general manager, Andrew Thomson, said of the awards success: “We’re extremely proud to have been recognised by the AA for our commitment to o ering a world-class visitor experience for all our guests with the top fi ve-star quality assurance rating for the hotel and two AA Rosettes for our Lighthouse Restaurant.” Read our full review at scotlandmag.com/fi ngal

[PODCASTS] LOVE SCOTLAND? YOU’LL LOVE THIS

Want to hear more Scottish tales at the push of a button? Love Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) podcast presented by NTS President, Jackie Bird, is back for its fourth season and features a di erent historical tale or person each episode. Recent programmes include a deep dive into the life of Scottish heroine Flora MacDonald – who was she, how did she come to help Bonnie Prince Charles and what happened to her in the years that followed? Tune into the podcast to fi nd out. nts.org.uk/stories/ for-the-love-of-scotlandpodcasts

[MUSEUMS] GOLDEN FIND

An exceptionally rare and valuable gold sword pommel dating from around AD700 has been acquired by National Museums Scotland after being discovered by a metal detectorist near Blair Drummond in Stirlingshire in 2019.

The pommel, which combines elements from both Anglo Saxon England and early medieval Scotland, is made of solid gold and encrusted with garnets. The detailed goldwork features religious motifs and mythical creatures and was undoubtedly hugely symbolic.

Dr Alice Blackwell, senior curator of medieval archaeology and history at National Museums Scotland, said: “It is a hugely signifi cant archaeological fi nd, revealing more about this fascinating period in the history of northern Britain and representing the spectacular skill and craftsmanship of the period.” nms.ac.uk

[TOURS] FROM GLASGOW WITH LOVE

There is no better way to get under the skin of Scotland on your travels than on a personal tour with an expert guide, and with Glascotours, all tours – which can be tailor-made for you – are led by the owner, and local guide, Ian Smith. You can’t get more personal than that.

Born and raised in Lossiemouth, in northeast Scotland, and now based out of Glasgow, Ian loves to show o his beloved country to visitors, whether they are looking to see the classic sights and castles or are looking for more o -the-beaten-track experiences.

Ian says, “I encourage guests to tell me why they are drawn to visit Scotland and what their main aims of their trip are. There is often a detailed discussion, with questions and answers on both sides before the itinerary for their unique tour is fi nalised.” glascotours.com

[OBITUARY] JACOBITE SCHOLAR DIES

Dr Christopher Du y, who served as Chair of the 1745 Association between 2014 and 2016 has died. At the time of his death on 16 November 2022, Dr Du y was 86 and an Honorary Vice Chair of the Association.

Michael Nevin, current Chair of the 1745 Association said Dr Du y was “undoubtedly the leading Jacobite scholar of his generation” thanks largely to his successful book Fight for a Throne (2015), which developed his earlier work, The ‘45: Bonnie Prince Charlie and the untold story of the Jacobite Rising (2003).

Andrew Grant McKenzie MA (Hons) FSAScot, who collaborated with Dr Du y on research of the Culloden Battlefi eld from 2009-2022 (see the pair, right), described him as “truly a loyal and staunch friend”.

But it is for Du y’s tireless historical research, not least at Culloden, for which he will be best remembered. McKenzie said: “We walked the entirety of the battle site from 2009 to his last able visit in 2021 and discussed many fl ashpoints in the battle, but also our hopes for the future conservation of the site. His work on mapping the site accurately during the pandemic must be regarded as some of the most important conservational historical research ever developed.”