Patrick Dubh of Craskie, was a Grant from Craskie and named after the farmland he owned and was living on. One day at the end of the 17th century, a party of Macmillans was came from the area of Loch Arkaig and spoiled a number of cattle belonging to Patrick Dubh. He, his brothers and... Continue Reading →
Here lies my good and gracious Auntie, Wham Death has packed in his portmanty, Threescore and ten years did God gift her, And here she lies, wha de'il daurs lift her? Raymond Lamont-Brown: Scottish Epitaphs. Chambers, Edinburgh, 1990
artistic rope loops, balance through two slippery burns, finally to arrive at the mysterious little burial ground of Camster. A small enclosure, an ancient stone wall, blooming fireweed and an old, wobbly wooden door that is barely hanging on its hinges.
Pipers had a very dangeroud job in the past centuries for not only were they playing at weddings and funerals but during skirmishes, battles and wars with nothing to defend themselves but the weapons of those by their side who had time end energy to spare. The pipers' tunes would rally the Clan and their... Continue Reading →
Angus Martin seems to have been a memorable and intreaguing character. He was born during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots in a time of religious upheaval and political unrest. His family was an important one and affiliated to the MacDonalds of Sleat. Angus grew up and became 1st of Bealach, the tackman's position... Continue Reading →
Here lies an old woman wrapt in her linen, Mother to James and Thomas Binnen; Who for want of a coffin was buried in a girnal (meal-chest), The earth got the shell, and the De'il got the kernal. Raymond Lamont-Brown: Scottish Epitaphs. Chambers, Edinburgh, 1990
Monasteries being haunted by monsters is a rare occurrence, not just in Scotland but according to legend that is exactly what had happened here in Beauly. The Eaglais Mhòr na Manachain, the big church of the monastery, was believed to be haunted by some horrific creature and „none who went to watch the churchyard or... Continue Reading →
When a Gael speaks about the concept of the "second sight", he speaks of an dà shealladh, which really means two sights rather than second sight and this slight linguistic difference applies to the concept as well. The person who has it, has an additional view as strong and as natural as the other one.... Continue Reading →
The Gaelic otherworld is populated by many strange and fascinating creatures: fairies, banshees, witches and animals that are not, what they seem to be. Peculiar to the Isle of Skye is the crodh sith, the fairy cattle, allegedly speckled and red (crodh breac ruadh), and able to cross the sea. These "magic cows" could only... Continue Reading →
I, Jocky Bell o' Brachenbrow, lyes under this stane, Five of my awn sons laid it on my wame (stomach); I liv'd aw my days, but sturt (trouble) or strife Was man o' my meat, and maister o' my wife; If you've done better in your time than I did in mine Take the stane... Continue Reading →
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