Shakespeare’s sonnet Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? is all-encompassing, expressing love and evanescence, life and death. A more than apt poem for a beautiful graveyard on sunny Scottish summer’s day: Dervaig burial ground. And summer’s lease hath all too short a date The temptation of monochrome is easily desisted... Continue Reading →
Colourful is not the first word that comes to mind where graveyards are concerned. But it should. At least in Dundee. The Howff is probably the most colourful graveyard in Scotland - lush, vibrant and opulent. And yes, it is a graveyard, right in the middle of Dundee City Centre. It started with one rather dull... Continue Reading →
This is an ancient monastery, founded nearly 800 years ago by Duncan Mac Dougall, Lord of Lorn. thriving on the shores of Glen Etive it was the center of ecclesiastical life in this area for centuries until Cromwell’s troops burned it down in 1654. The adjacent house and beautiful garden are in private ownership. Here,... Continue Reading →
A royal burial is a rare and special event in the history of a nation, a political cut after which a new chapter of history needs to be written. That goes without a doubt for most kings, not only the Scottish ones. Royal graves therefore seem of special importance, because they symbolise so much more... Continue Reading →
The Aberlemno sculptured stones are a main tourist attraction in Angus. Ancient and easily accessible right by the side of a small country road, the B9134. Beautifully carved with intricate detail and magical names (Serpent Stone) they date back more than a thousand years. Impressive as well as intricate and not to be missed. A... Continue Reading →
Passionate visitors of graves and graveyards often have favourite stones - stones with ornate decoration, touching epitaphs or extravagant lichen covering, stones that hold personal memories. A stone can express many things for those who erect them as well as for those who them. But stones can also be tools. There is a certain species... Continue Reading →
overcoming finality on Acharacle graveyard Death is final. But some graveyards on closer inspection show sings of overcoming that ultimate finality. Human endeavor is a powerful force that can last longer than a lifetime. In a way everything on a graveyard is there to overcome finality: gravestones not only mark graves, they are solid reminders... Continue Reading →
"Last” is a word that comes up automatically whenever one thinks of graveyards and death; the last day of ones life is a scary concept and an overwhelming one as well. Just one last thought, one last breath, one last second and then….. What would it be like to face your last hour when you... Continue Reading →
Red is a rare colour in graveyards. The shade of life, blood, pain and hate. Graveyards have none of that. They are grey or black, they are death and decay. Grave. And still, there are spots of red if one cares to look closely. Light feathery red, deep heavy red, alarmingly radiant red. Red is... Continue Reading →
For me, churchyards have an unfathomable attraction at any time. In fact, the attraction intensifies with the passing of time and it changes with time: time of the year or time of the day. Graveyards are essentially about time - time lost and time eternal. The beautiful and cold stillness of winter is thought inspiring.... 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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