When you discover a murderer in the family

When writer Cal Flyn discovered the dark secret in her family’s past it started a long but cathartic investigation. In the summer of 2011 I made a discovery about my family history that has dominated my work and thoughts ever since. I learned that I was the great-great-great niece of Angus McMillan, who left Scotland…

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The long walk to freedom after the Clearances

The Highland Clearances forced many to make desperate journeys in search of a new life. This is the inspiring story of one of them. More than 200 years ago, a group of quite ordinary men, women and children from Sutherland set out on what would prove to be an extraordinary journey in search of a…

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Lifting the turf on Glencoe’s secret buried history

National Trust for Scotland archaeologists will share their discoveries from recent excavations and surveys in Glencoe in early August. They will also discuss exciting plans to bring the findings to life at a special talk on Thursday 8 August, 6.30pm, at Glencoe Visitor Centre. Derek Alexander, the conservation charity’s Head of Archaeology, has led digs…

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New project to uncover lost Glencoe villages

A new project to uncover the secret history of one of Scotland’s most spectacular and best loved landscapes has been launched. The National Trust for Scotland has announced plans for a new project in the West Highland glen which will investigate three lost villages and build a replica of a traditional turf house. The project…

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A mystery as the Clearances take hold on Skye

Anna Mazzola sets a dark and gothic scene in The Story Keeper, a period novel which explores multiple plot lines that weave together to form a story about a broken community, death and folklore. Mazzola’s careful attention to detail reveals the extent of the research that has gone into the writing of this book, which…

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The bronzed beauties hailing from the Black Isle

Farquhar Laing has sculpture in his genes and with the recent successes of his casting business it seems he may also have bronze in his blood. Sculptor and founder of Black Isle Bronze, Farquhar Laing tried his hand at several jobs before realising that the ‘hands on’ approach was the way forward for his career.…

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Scotland’s small islands are very big on history

The Inner Hebridean archipelago comprising of Rum, Eigg, Canna and Muck, collectively known as the Small Isles, have been inhabited for millennia. Traces of flint, animal bone and man made heaps of sea shells prove the island’s inhabitance since the end of the last Ice Age. Farm Fields, an archaeological site on the Isle of…

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Ten places Clan MacLeod of Raasay members should visit

Scotland is full of incredible heartlands that people all over the world should visit. Here, we present 10 places that all members of Clan MacLeod of Raasay should try to visit at some point in their lifetime. 1. Eilean Donan The Macraes of Eilean Donan supported the Jacobite rebellion of 1715 and suffered great losses…

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The long-haired lover from Lanarkshire

Bursting into British consciousness in the early 1970s, Jimmy Osmond remains the youngest performer to have a number one single in the UK charts, with his 1972 hit Long-haired Lover from Liverpool taking the top spot when he was just nine years old. From there his career snowballed. Later working with his brothers Alan, Wayne,…

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Collection marks 50th anniversary with Scottish displays

An impressive exhibition of work by Scottish Colourists from the Fleming Collection is coming to Scotland next month. The Maclaurin Gallery in Ayr will be the venue for the special showing, which will run from Saturday, 18 August, and runs until Sunday, 30 September. It will run concurrently as the Fine Art Society in Edinburgh…

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