St. Ebba’s Churchyard in Beadnell honors the legacy of St. Ebba, a Northumbrian princess born around 615. She became the influential Abbess of Coldingham, shaping early Christian traditions in Scotland. The site reflects her enduring impact, connecting generations through her story and the rich history of early Celtic monasticism.
Catherine Rolland, who passed away on Christmas Eve in 1659, was a prominent figure in Aberdeen's history. A member of the noble Rolland family, her legacy includes founding bursaries at Marischal College and providing for her family in times of need. Her charitable actions and commitment to education ensure her remembrance for generations.
It was in Fife that the first collection of Scottish proverbs was made by David Ferguson, minister of Dunfermline. Ferguson's collection, though published only in 1644, nearly fifty years after his death, had been made during his life in the latter half of the sixteenth century. This is a collection of sometimes odd and often amusing sayings.
It is the end of the world. At least as far as Google Maps is concerned. It is literally the end of the road, however. You will need to park your car somewhere near then old red phone box and cross the old stone bridge across the Berriedale Water to access the Braemore Estate. A short walk along the river takes you to a few farm buildings until to your right the pathway to the Braemore burial ground emerges. It is small and not in use any longer, but beautifully situated in this rural setting. As is so often the case – a beautiful and remote place in Scotland has an interesting and cruel history. This is a tale of women taken from bed, taken to beds, staying in them and refusing to leave them.
This place is so absolutely not what it looks like and bears far more depth, surprises and secrets than most of the graveyards I have been to in Scotland. And believe me, I have been to a lot.
Many cruel and misogynist tale has been told from the past ages. The story of Theneu seems particularly cruel. A father trying to kill his pregnant daughter. He fails, tries another way and she ends up giving birth alone on a boat in the North Sea. Usually, the story focuses either o the father, because he was Loth, a powerful king. Or on the son she bore, who became a famous saint: St Kentigern of Glasgow.
Dirleton can claim to be one of the most beautiful villages in Scotland, and in fact, visiting this wee beauty you might start to wonder how you ended up in a Scottish episode of Midsomer Murders. Gardens are blooming everywhere, little houses are well-kept and people live happily ever after. Murders exist on TV only, in Midsomer Somewhere. Think again again, Dirleton has murder connections of its own....
Agnes was the daughter of a great father who had fought with King Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn, and in the following decades, continued to make military forays into England. He was a hero. After Bruce’s death, he was Regent of Scotland for a while.
Like her father, Agnes’s husband was in constant combat against the English. If he was on one of his military forays, then it was up to Agnes to manage the castle, and if necessary, to defend it. She was put to the test in 1338, when an English army under the command of the Earl of Salisbury approached, trying to take castle. A castle in which there were hardly any men left, just women and children.
Driving north along the A 832 from Achnasheen to Dingwall, you pass Kinlochluichart and Strathgarve Church. The unpretentious first look is deceiving for even though there are only about a dozen graves in this small kirkyard, one is very special; a classical temple, a bit out of character with the simplicity of this Highland scene.... Continue Reading →
Lindisfarne graveyard on Holy Island, Northumberland, symbolizes centuries of faith and history, overlooking Lindisfarne Priory’s ruins. A significant site since the 7th century, it holds the remains of islanders and clergy. The graveyard fosters reflection and connection to St Cuthbert, attracting visitors seeking inspiration and tranquility amid a sacred legacy.
Bamburgh, with its dramatic coastal setting and rich history, has revealed yet another fascinating chapter of its past. Decades of dedicated research by the Bamburgh Research Project and Durham University, in collaboration with the Bamburgh Castle Estate, have shed light on the lives of Anglo-Saxons who inhabited this area over a thousand years ago. The […]
Grace Darling, born in 1815, became famous for her courageous sea rescue of Forfarshire survivors in 1838. She passed away in 1842 and is buried in Bamburgh, where a monument marks her legacy. Celebrated in literature and art, her story inspires future generations, symbolizing bravery and compassion.
Graveyards of Scotland 
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