This is a beautiful story of family, power and death and as so many Scottish clan stories, it does not come with a happy ending. the young pretender There was once a young man, the youngest son of Allan MacDonald, 4th Chief of Clanranald, who died in 1505. His name was Ranald and he was... Continue Reading →
Shirts or Swamp Maybe 15 July 1544 was an exceptionally hot day. The heat would have been the reason why those men who fought the brutal battle here took their plaids off and continued in their shirts. These half-dressed combatants gave the battle its name: The Battle of the Shirts. Maybe. Maybe the second theory... Continue Reading →
Battle of Falkirk, 22nd July 1298 This is the grave if Sir John Stewart of Bonkyll who died a hero’s death in the Battle of Falkirk where he had fought alongside Sir John de Graeme (buried a few metres away) and William Wallace who never got a burial at all. Sir John commanded the Scottish Archers that... Continue Reading →
A poet, a fighter, a preserver; innovative, visionary, extraordinary; an old Gaelic voice still to be heard. Alexander MacDonald, in his language better known as Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair, born around 1695, died in 1770 in Arisaig. His body should have been laid to rest on Eilean Fhìonain but heavy storms made transport to the island... Continue Reading →
In the early years of the 17th century, hardly any Catholic priests were left in Scotland, the country was Protestant to its core and the old religion nearly wiped out. Nearly but not completely. Those few who had kept their faith, had to practice their religion secretly after the reformation. In areas where a few... Continue Reading →
Graveyards of Scotland 
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