Indholdsfortegnelse for September - October - 2025 i Scotland Magazine

Every season in Scotland has its own allure, but there is something undeniably enchanting about autumn – the time of year when the last embers of summer die out and the green leaves turn a fiery sea of orange and red, yet there’s a lingering light that still beckons us outdoors. For me, there’s no better place in Scotland to witness this seasonal change than Perthshire – the land of big trees, roaring rivers and hidden walkways. In Ablaze of glory (p18), I outline some of the best reasons to visit this region slightly out of the main tourism season, including tips on where to stay, where to eat and (crucially) where to experience another of autumn’s nature spectacles: the deer rut. Another Scottish destination that I would visit in…

It was hard to believe, in June, that eight years have passed since my beloved Douglas died. This year, the anniversary of his death fell on a Sunday and Mass that day was dedicated to him, with a warm tribute at the beginning of the service. As always, all the kind hugs were comforting, and the service truly uplifting. But, as I’ve often mentioned, I only miss his physical presence because he’s with me 24/7, directing my every deed! In the afternoon, Cronie and I agreed to go down and walk along the shore, with all its happy memories of the ‘good old days’ when we’d have to drive extremely slowly, stopping frequently to spot the reclusive otters and seals, and decide whether it was a good day for fishing.…

In a quiet corner of an Edinburgh suburb, beneath an unassuming cottage, lies an enduring historical mystery: Gilmerton Cove. While Scotland’s capital is no stranger to underground attractions, this particular network of chambers and tunnels is more curious than most. Known about for centuries, the Cove’s true origins remain fascinatingly, frustratingly elusive. Accessed through what was once a blacksmith’s cottage on Drum Street, Gilmerton Cove’s narrow passageways wind through hand-carved sandstone. Tool marks scar the walls and within the tiny subterranean rooms are stone benches, tables – even a fireplace – with everything hewn from the surrounding rock. Whoever created this place devoted considerable time and effort to shaping it. Naturally, such an unusual structure has attracted no shortage of theories. Its proximity to Rosslyn Chapel has fuelled the unlikely…

We’ve teamed up with Scottish chef and restaurateur Dean Banks to offer one lucky winner and their guest a two-night stay and dining experience across two of his award-winning venues, Haar and Dune. This is your chance to enjoy the best of Scotland’s east coast food scene and experience the magic of the Fife coast on a luxury escape to St Andrews. Dean’s flagship restaurant, Haar, has a reputation for relaxed fine dining, with a menu inspired by seasonality, locality and sustainability. It’s a restaurant that reflects the very best of the local larder, from North Sea shellfish to foraged herbs and Highland beef, curated to create a sensory tasting experience that’s refined but never stuffy. The prize includes a full tasting menu experience at Haar for two, in addition…

[EXHIBITION] THE TIME-TRAVELLER’S DRESS An iconic dress worn by Geillis Duncan in season one of Outlander has gone on display at Culross Palace in the heart of the town that stars as the fictional village of Cranesmuir in seasons one and two of the series. The new exhibit is the first time the National Trust for Scotland has decided to shine a spotlight on film tourism and it seems fitting an exception was made for Outlander since six out of its eight seasons were filmed at Trust places, including Culross Palace, Falkland Palace, the Hermitage, Newhailes, and Preston Mill. Anna Rathband, the National Trust for Scotland’s filming manager, said: “Hundreds, if not thousands, of Outlander fans have already come from across the world to engage with the story and to…

THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES Just over 40 years ago, I flew to London from Washington DC where I met a friend with whom I took a train to Carlisle and then rented a car. We wanted to see Scotland – my stated purpose was that I had family with the name of Bailey, but my friend just loved Walker’s shortbread. We drove around many of the places you cover in the magazine. On a beautiful sunny day we had lunch outside Culzean Castle (pictured), where General Eisenhower used to holiday. I remember it clearly, as well as the stories about WWII. I remember wonderful scones with clotted cream near Oban and stopping at every castle we saw on the way. We walked through graveyards (not cemeteries, as we were…

“We’re going on an adventure, Mum, without dad to your favourite place in the world, Scotland, to celebrate you.” These are the wonderful words my daughter, Minreet, said to me one day when I was feeling very low. I suffer from a lot of bone pain due to living with myeloma, a rare blood cancer, but hearing these words, my face lit up and the pain went away. I went to Scotland on my honeymoon with my husband, Rajinder, 50 years ago – our anniversary was in 2024 – and we loved it. I remember we didn’t want to leave. It was a wonderful experience. My husband and I had a semi-arranged marriage in the 1970s and though today my husband is a homebody and doesn’t like to travel, I…

The annals of Scottish history are filled with great love stories, and that of Magdalene Hall and Colonel Sir William De Lancey deserves a place among them – not least because there’s a distinct possibility that their Regency-era romance inspired one of England’s best-loved writers, Jane Austen, whose 250th anniversary is being celebrated the length and breadth of Britain in 2025. As compelling as any conjured by Austen’s expert hand, the De Lanceys’ story began in the autumn of 1814. Into the streets of Edinburgh strode the Colonel, a hardened veteran of the recently ended war with Napoleonic France, taking up his first peacetime posting in a 22-year army career. The decorated American-born officer, whose father had fought for Britain in the American Revolutionary War, must have caused a considerable…

WHERE ARE THE EDMISTONS FROM? I’m curious to learn more about my Scottish roots. I’ve contacted some of the clan societies listed in the magazine, but I’ve never heard back. I’m hoping you can point me in the right direction to find out information on the Edmiston family name. Mark Edmiston BRUCE SAYS: Edmiston, Edmeston, etc. are all shortened forms of Edmonston(e). They came from the ‘tun’ (a farm settlement) of Eadmund near Edinburgh. They later spread to Berwickshire in the Borders, to Fife on the east coast, and to Lanarkshire, especially Biggar. But be careful of names that cluster in Glasgow and Lanarkshire from the early 1800s – many people from all over Scotland and Ireland went there to dig coal and ores, build canals and railways, work in…

FIVE OF THE BEST AUTUMN EVENTS… 1 The Royal National Mod, Fort William 10-18 October 2025 This year the annual celebration of Gaelic culture reaches Lochaber, with venues in Fort William and its surrounds hosting competitions and events spanning literature, music, spoken word and much more across the nine days. With Gaelic having recently gained official status as a language in Scotland, expect a particular focus on the indigenous tongue. ancomunn.co.uk/nationalmod 2 Orkney Storytelling Festival, Orkney Isles 23-26 October 2025 Nothing grabs my attention like a good story and this four-day event, which celebrates the oral tradition of storytelling in the Orkney Islands, promises lots. Though details are sparse at present as to what’s on this year, judging by past years we can expect lots of myths and legends inspired…

Picturesque Perthshire, in the heart of Scotland, is a place where nature seems to sing throughout the year. From the bluebell-carpeted woodlands of spring, through the wildflower-strewn Highland hills of summer and the snowcapped peaks of winter. However, for many visitors, it’s in autumn when this Scottish beauty is at her glorious best. From late summer through late autumn, it’s as though Perthshire’s forested expanses have been set afire as many of the green leaves turn fiery shades of burnt orange, rusty-brown and deep auburn. It’s a time that seems to beckon us outdoors for crunchy walks down secret trails where we might discover hidden waterfalls or catch sight of a leaping salmon as it attempts to make its way back to their spawning site. Meanwhile, for those whom the…

A gateway into one of the world’s most respected food and drink larders, Fife is fast becoming the foodie heartland of Scotland. Whether by land or by sea, the region’s offering is both unique and bountiful with historic industries of fishing and farming still playing a vital role in what ends up on kitchen tables today. The small village of Crail, where locally caught lobster is served fresh from a tiny seaside hut, and the award-winning Anstruther Fish Bar – just a short drive along the coast – regularly lauded as the best fish and chips in the country, are just two examples of places where fabulous seafood can be found at reasonable prices. But the Fife peninsula is also one of Scotland’s biggest champions of the farm-to-fork ethos and…

Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany, was, for a time, the most powerful of Scotland’s medieval nobles. Yet, despite his best – arguably most devious efforts – and legitimate claim, he never became king. He lived a long, roller-coaster of a life at the highest level, conniving ways in which to take and maintain monarch-like control. Here we look at just how he became Scotland’s de facto ruler and ask whether or not he was especially barbarous or just a product of his time, cleverly taking advantage of his proximity to the crown. We’ll also see just how his machinations ultimately fractured the royal family and led to the downfall of his branch of the Albany Stewarts. WHO WAS ROBERT STEWART? Albany was born around 1340, the second son of…

SCOTLAND 2 October - 2 November 2025 THE ENCHANTED FOREST, PITLOCHRY The Luminara light show welcomes you to explore Faskally Forest’s meandering trail. The immersive experience showcases Perthshire’s autumnal splendour to stunning effect. enchantedforest.org.uk 6-16 November 2025 AYE WRITE FESTIVAL, GLASGOW With the Mitchell Library as its base, Glasgow’s book festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year with 11 days of pop-up events, workshops and Q&As, alongside Wee Write, an off-shoot aimed at encouraging young readers. ayewrite.com 14-16 November 2025 SCOTS FIDDLE FESTIVAL, EDINBURGH Launched in 1996 with the aim of promoting and sustaining traditional Scottish fiddle music, this annual festival brings performers and audiences from all over the world together to enjoy a weekend of tunes. scotsfiddlefestival.com 14 November - 21 Dec 2025 OBAN WINTER FESTIVAL This year’s…