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.
The rediscovery of St. Kentigerna’s burial site and the nearby connections to St. Fillan would offer a unique opportunity to reconnect Loch Duich with its rich spiritual heritage. These saints were more than historical figures—they embodied the early Christian spirit that shaped the Highlands. If you have any leads, memories, or photographs that could aid in locating the graveyard, please share them. Together, we may rediscover and preserve an essential chapter of Scotland’s past, honouring the legacy that still resonates along the northern and southern shores of Loch Duich.
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.
Balmerino Abbey was founded by a woman who is believed to be buried here: Queen Ermengarde de Beaumont, not a “normal” woman by any standards. The Abbey is in a bad state and there is not much left of its original power and impressive architecture, nothing but the faint memory of people and their stories in a long gone past. Ermengarde was born in 1170 and died in her early sixties, a long life in the 12th century. She was married to King William I of Scotland at the age of 16. The marriage took place in England, Henry II was overlord of Scotland at the time. Her husband had been a notorious womaniser before his marriage but was said to have been faithful to his extraordinary woman and wife ever since the marriage vows. Her husband founded an Abbey in Arbroath where about 14 years later he was laid to rest. Ermengarde, who survived her husband by 20 years, was not buried next to him, but here, in her Abbey, in Balmerino.
Preview in new tab Aberlady's history Aberlady goes back a long way. There are no signs of any Roman setlements. However, it appears that there was an Iron Age settlement taking advantage of the sheltered coastal location provided by the bay. Aberlady also has a long history of smuggling. Archaeological findings support the theory that... Continue Reading →
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....
cross-shaped gravestone in Abernethy graveyard Considering the abundance of historical graveyards in Scotland, Abernethy does not seem of utmost importance at first sight. But, as you might know yourself, looks might be deceiving and Abernethy is indeed an exceptional graveyard. Not so much because of its headstones or famous people buried there but because of... Continue Reading →
Christina Cochran Blacklock’s funeral was the last traditional Highland funeral in the Kingairloch district. On Christmas Day 1924, Christina Cochran, nee Blacklock, died in Fort William at the age of 82. She had survived her husband, master mariner Alexander Cochran, her daughter Helen and her son James Duncan. Her granddaughter died a few years after the grandmother. Her grandson, Rev Henry Dyall, did not attend the funeral, but he had often heard the accounts of family and neighbours.
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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