From Loch Croispol to Nova Scotia’s Gaelic Shores
Follow the journey from Loch Croispol to Nova Scotia’s Gaelic shores, exploring the enduring connections between Scotland’s Highlands and the Gaelic communities of Canada.
Continue reading →Category Archives: History
The Bethune Legacy Across Scotland, France, and Canada
Explore the Bethune family’s enduring legacy across Fife, from Balfour Castle’s medieval towers to their ties with Mary Queen of Scots and the whisky world, tracing noble roots and historic sites.
Continue reading →Samuel de Champlain: The French Explorer with Scottish Ties
Samuel de Champlain, the famed French explorer and founder of Quebec, reveals surprising Scottish roots through his mother’s lineage tied to the Frasers of Murihead, blending transatlantic history and Highland heritage.
Continue reading →The Merlin’s Trail: a new thematic Trail in Scotland…
Whether you are a great lover of nature, authors and books, films, castles, whiskies, historical subjects or whatever your tastes you can be sure to find in Scotland a thematic trail about your favourite author or subject. Of course you can create your own itinerary as we’ve done in our previous trips in Scotland, but what I’ve discovered quite recently … Continue reading →
From Scotland to Aubigny-sur-Nère: A Postal Connection
Scottish Contribution Recently, we at Scotiana had the pleasure of assisting Robert Hunt, a dedicated member of the Letter Box Study Group, who reached out to us with a request as he shared his working on an article that explores British post boxes in twin towns across France and Germany, focusing on how these iconic symbols of communication have been … Continue reading →
“Star of Caledonia” ! A most emblematic name for Scotland!
A new star in the Scottish sky? Not exactly but the name of a monumental sculpture which might well shine like a star, in a near future, on the heights of Gretna Green, one of the most mythical places situated in the south of Scotland, near the border between England and Scotland. . “Susan Houston, chair of the Star … Continue reading →
Nisga’a Totem Pole: Scotland to Canada Return
Hello Bonjour Dear Readers! Before diving into today’s topic, I’d like to extend a special ‘thank you’ to my dear friend Iain from Scotland. He brought to my attention the fascinating story of a totem pole making its way back to Canada after nearly a century in Edinburgh. Iain, your thoughtful sharing of this story has not only enriched my … Continue reading →
Notes about “Rob Roy” by Sir Walter Scott…
Going on with my reading notes about Sir Walter Scott’s books, the next in file on my chronological reading list is Rob Roy, one of his most famous novels which was published in December 1817. I’ve just finished it and it is still open on my desk together with a number of extremely interesting books about the author and his … Continue reading →
Notes about “Old Mortality” by Sir Walter Scott…
When Janice and I made our promise to Sir Walter Scott to read all his books, we certainly did not realise the magnitude of the task 😉 How many books did the great Scottish author write, I could not tell exactly but what I do know is that there are many of them! 😉 Today, I can check off another … Continue reading →
Discovering the Scottish Borders: “Peel towers”…
Recently, I came across a very interesting article published by Holly Kirkwood in the magazine Country Life. In this article Holly Kirkwood draws our attention to the so-called “peel-towers”, a type of construction typical of the Scottish Borders. “There are more than 100 peel towers in various states of repair and ruin scattered the breadth of the Borders“, she writes. … Continue reading →
Who was ‘Don Roberto’? Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham of Gartmore, 1852-1936
“Writer, traveller and adventurer, and with a Spanish grandmother, I nevertheless find Cunninghame Graham’s involvement in politics to have been the most remarkable feature of his life – for he was from a noble Scottish family, yet became the first ever Socialist member of our British parliament when he entered the House of Commons in 1886.” Bonjour Janice, … Continue reading →
In Memoriam of 13 February 1692: Glencoe Massacre…
In Memoriam of all the villagers of Glencoe who died on 13 February 1692 and in the following days during and after the infamous Glencoe Massacre… The Massacre of Glencoe took place in Glen Coe in the Highlands of Scotland on 13 February 1692, following the Jacobite uprising of 1689-92. An estimated 30 members and associates of Clan MacDonald of … Continue reading →
Dr. Donald Caskie of Islay (1902-1983), the ‘Tartan Pimpernel’ ..
Bonjour Marie-Agnes, Janice et Jean-Claude ! 🙂 Hello again from Scotland ! How are you all today ? . A few weeks ago we saw Remembrance Sunday, which in Britain has now for a hundred years been observed on the second Sunday of November. In recent times though, it has become common also to commemorate Armistice Day, recalling the … Continue reading →
Dr John Rae Arctic Explorer : Scottish Canadian link
While surfing on Twitter, I stumbled upon a video from Peter Mansbridge (documentary film producer – Toronto – Canada) which tweet captured my attention: “Okay, so I got a little carried away in Scotland today doing a little Canadian history. Here’s a teaser for you.” I watched the video and was delighted to hear about a Canadian-Scottish link in the … Continue reading →
24 April: a Scottish-French anniversary in Notre-Dame de Paris
24 April 2019… I will never forget what two Australian ladies, or should I say “pilgrims” for these friendly ladies were actually visiting the country of their ancestors, emphatically told us one morning, as we were sharing one of the best Scottish breakfasts we’ve ever had, in one of our favourite B&Bs situated near Scone Palace : “How we envy … Continue reading →