Outlander Tours, Private Tours and eBooks from a professional Scottish Tourist Guide
Check this out – Went for a local lockdown walk and found an iron age hillfort! Made a wee video about what I found.
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Mini Kilt Tours is excited to be taking part in the 2020 Glasgow Kiltwalk on 26 April. This 23 mile walk starts in city centre of Glasgow and walks to the south shore of Loch Lomond. All fundraising will be donated to Trees for Life so every donation will help reforest the highlands with native woodland. It is all appreciated and it helps motivate me to the finishing line. Please give any amount you can.
I will keep you updated on my training and pics of me on the day will be posted on my social media ( Instagram, Facebook, Twitter), or watch this blog to follow my progress.
Thank you.
LAYERS
The secret of what clothes to bring to Scotland can be summed up in one word – Layers – bring thin clothes that can be layered up to keep you warm, or remove as you get too hot.
T-SHIRTS – You will likely find yourself warm or hot inside and so t-shirts come in handy. And, hey, you never know you might even be hot outside too!
LONG SLEEVED T-SHIRT – You will wear a lot. Used as a base layer or on it’s own. Make sure you pack a few.
JUMPER/SWEATER – A thin but warm (wool if you have) jumper, or sweater, is essential.
I also like a hoody type of top but would suggest bringing that along with a jumper.
JEANS – most people can’t go without them, me included. Bring them.
SHORTS – if travelling between May and September it may be sunny and even hot. You will be glad you brought a pair with you.
WHAT NOT TO BRING
One thick jumper, use the layering system to keep warm. A large jumper takes up a lot of space in luggage and takes a long time to dry if it gets wet.
WATERPROOF JACKET
A light waterproof, quick drying jacket can be found almost everywhere and it won’t take up a lot of space in your luggage either.
Make sure the waterproof jacket also has a hood as umbrellas tend to be useless here.
FLEECE JACKET – these keep you warm. While the waterproof jacket keeps you dry, a fleece jacket can provide that extra layer of warmth you may need.
Throw in a beanie hat instead of an umbrella.
WHAT NOT TO BRING
A thick canvas type of jacket when wet will take an age to dry and will take up a lot of you baggage weight allowance.
You will walk a lot more in Scotland than at home so flat footwear is essential e.g. trainers (sneakers) or pumps or hiking boots.
HIKING SHOES – Hiking down country dirt trails or walking on cobbled streets in the city. For these hiking shoes are essential.
Wear them on the flight to save the baggage weight.
FLIP FLOPS – easy and light to pack and if it is sunny you will find useful.
Only bring HEELS if you plan on going to a fancy do.
WHAT NOT TO BRING
Umbrella – the wind renders these useless, instead rely on your beanie and hood from the waterproof jacket.
On October 19, 2019 Mini Kilt Tours (left) and Edinburgh Tour Guides (right) went to the premiere of Outlaw King. Unfortunately, we didn’t get an actual ticket to get inside, but we stood outside and some of the actors kindly came over and stopped to sign autographs and get pics. Here are the collection of pics I took.
David Mackenzie, Director
Billy Howie, playing Edward, Prince of Wales
James Cosmo, playing Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, playing James Douglas
Chris Pine, playing Robert The Bruce
Here is the new trailer for Outlaw King, released on Netflix on November 9. Can’t wait to see it.
Outlander Online released some sneak previews of Outlander Season 4 on social media yesterday and…..
I spotted myself in them as an extra!
There I am, Thanks to @dramofoutlander for their post on Instagram and my niece for adding the blue arrow. lol. Obviously I cannot reveal any insider info about Season 4, but it’s fun that you can see me already.
Here is the full BTS trailer from Outlander Online.
The pictures above show a gash in the stone step. Legend says this gash was made by soldiers of Jacobites, Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, sharpening their swords on the stone before the 1689 rising.
In 1689, a year after King James VII of Scots went in to exile in mainland Europe, there were several attempts to restore him to the British throne. One of those rising’s was in Edinburgh.
One of the demands of the new King William of Orange was that Edinburgh Castle’s Governor surrendered the fortress to him. The Governor was the Duke of Gordon, who had been appointed by the exiled James VII. He refused to surrender Edinburgh Castle., staying loyal to King James.
In March 1689 events came to a head. The castle was blockaded by 7,000 of King William’s troops against a garrison of 160 Jacobite supporters.
On 18 March Viscount Dundee (a Jacobite supporter intent on raising a rebellion in the Highlands) scaled the west side of the castle rock and urged the Duke of Gordon to hold out against the blockade. He agreed to hold out but also refused to fire upon the city! The resulting siege dragged on for 3 months. Gordon surrendered the castle when his food supplies ran dangerously low.
These steps are found just off the Royal Mile. In the Lawnmarket area of the Royal mile look for Brodie’s Close. Walk down in to the close, on the right hand side are the stone steps. One has the gash in it. You may need to search a bit as the steps can sometimes be hidden with furniture from Deacon Brodie’s cafe.
Reward your sleuthing efforts with a coffee.
Under the North West side of Edinburgh Castle you will find a boulder commemorating the meeting and decision to hold out against the blockade.
The sign reads “At this postern John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee held a final conference with the Duke of Gordon, Governor of Edinburgh Castle on quitting the Convention of Estates 18 March 1689”
This poem was written about this Jacobite event and has become a well known Jacobite song.
Bonnie Dundee by Sir Walter Scott
To the Lords of Convention ’twas Clavers who spoke.
‘Ere the King’s crown shall fall there are crowns to be broke;
So let each Cavalier who loves honour and me,
Come follow the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.
Come fill up my cup, come fill up my can,
Come saddle your horses, and call up your men;
Come open the West Port and let me gae free,
And it’s room for the bonnets of Bonny Dundee!
Dundee he is mounted, he rides up the street,
The bells are rung backward, the drums they are beat;
But the Provost, douce man, said, “Just e’en let him be,
The Gude Town is weel quit of that De’il Dundee.”
Come fill up my cup, etc.
As he rode down the sanctified bends of the Bow,
Ilk carline was flyting and shaking her pow;
But the young plants of grace they looked couthie and slee,
Thinking luck to thy bonnet, thou Bonny Dundee!
Come fill up my cup, etc.
With sour-featured Whigs the Grass-market was crammed,
As if half the West had set tryst to be hanged;
There was spite in each look, there was fear in each e’e,
As they watched for the bonnets of Bonny Dundee.
Come fill up my cup, etc.
These cowls of Kilmarnock had spits and had spears,
And lang-hafted gullies to kill cavaliers;
But they shrunk to close-heads and the causeway was free,
At the toss of the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.
Come fill up my cup, etc.
He spurred to the foot of the proud Castle rock,
And with the gay Gordon he gallantly spoke;
“Let Mons Meg and her marrows speak twa words or three,
For the love of the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.”
Come fill up my cup, etc.
The Gordon demands of him which way he goes?
“Where’er shall direct me the shade of Montrose!
Your Grace in short space shall hear tidings of me,
Or that low lies the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.
Come fill up my cup, etc.
“There are hills beyond Pentland and lands beyond Forth,
If there’s lords in the Lowlands, there’s chiefs in the North;
There are wild Duniewassals three thousand times three,
Will cry hoigh! for the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.
Come fill up my cup, etc.
There’s brass on the target of barkened bull-hide;
There’s steel in the scabbard that dangles beside;
The brass shall be burnished, the steel shall flash free,
At the toss of the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.
Come fill up my cup, etc.
Away to the hills, to the caves, to the rocks
Ere I own an usurper, I’ll couch with the fox;
And tremble, false Whigs, in the midst of your glee,
You have not seen the last of my bonnet and me!
Come fill up my cup, etc.
He waved his proud hand, the trumpets were blown,
The kettle-drums clashed and the horsemen rode on,
Till on Ravelston’s cliffs and on Clermiston’s lee
Died away the wild war-notes of Bonny Dundee.
Come fill up my cup, come fill up my can,
Come saddle the horses, and call up the men,
Come open your gates, and let me gae free,
And it’s room for the bonnets of Bonny Dundee!
This beautiful bowl, the Bute Mazer, is found in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.
The Bute Mazer was made just after Robert the Bruce’s victory at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Bruce is represented by the lion, in the centre, a symbol of power. The shields surrounding the lion are those of his supporters. The shield between the lion’s paws is Walter the Steward, Bruce’s son-in-law. Walter brought the name Stewart in to the royal line, his son, Robert II, was the first Stewart king.
Made as a communal drinking cup to be shared with friends and supporters, it is made from maple wood and the lion is silver. The silver rim around the edge was a later add on, in the 16th century.
To take a closer look, check out the video below
Trailer for “Outlaw King” The new movie about Robert the Bruce out soon.
Head in to the modern extension of the museum and in to the section called ‘Kingdom of Scots’. Then turn right and walk towards the end of the corridor and here you find the section on Mary Queen of Scots.
Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1567) was the only child of King James V and his wife Marie de Guise. Mary inherited the throne at six days old, as her father died from wounds received at the Battle of Solway Moss.
Aged 5 years-old Mary went to France and brought up in the glittering French catholic court. Betrothed to marry the king’s son, Francis. Mary spent thirteen years of her life at French royal court, returning to Scotland after the death of Francis. This happened shortly after his coronation as King of France in 1559.
This rare coin dates from 1565 the year of Mary and Henry, Lord Darnley’s marriage. If you read the inscription around the edge of the coin you will read Henry’s name rather than Mary’s. These coins were quickly withdrawn, this makes the coin especially rare.
The image depicts Darnley on the left and Mary on the right with the year of their marriage and coin underneath. The left side was for the monarch, proving Darnley’s ambitions to take the crown for himself.
Jewels were essential currency for a 16th-century monarch. They were: a demonstration of wealth and majesty; or sold to raise cash to pay armies or debts. The Penicuik Jewels shown here are exquisite examples of some of the finest jewellery associated with Mary.
The necklace has 14 gold, oval beads with smaller beads in between. The locket has a small painted miniatures of a woman and a man, said to be Mary and her son James.
The Penicuik Jewels are named after the Clerk family from Penicuik who held the jewels as relics of Mary. The family had marriage connections to one of Mary’s servants that she had while in captivity.
Below: a video of a copy of Mary’s tomb in the museum. The original lies, controversially, in the choir of Westminster Abbey across from Elizabeth I tomb. The tomb in Westminster Abbey is controversial as Mary was never an English Monarch; and Mary’s tomb sits higher than Elizabeth’s!
