History , Latest Feature , Wildlife & Nature Remembering the magic of mistletoe December 08, 2019 Mistletoe traditions have been described as some of northern Europe's last surviving remnants of plant magic
History , Latest Feature , Megalithic sites Diarmuid and Grainne: a boar hunt and a tragic love story in Glen Lonan November 22, 2019 Old legends lie soft as cobwebs across this landscape of cairns and standing stones
History , Latest Feature , Wildlife & Nature Finding the Faery Isles October 27, 2019 Is there some ancient magic about these tiny wooded islets in Loch Sween?
History Tirefuir broch on the Isle of Lismore October 10, 2019 The ruins of this once-magnificent stone structure can be found on Lismore's east coast
History , Megalithic sites A walk to Rí Cruin Cairn September 28, 2019 Hidden in the fabulously ancient landscape of Kilmartin Glen, this Bronze Age cairn has a serenity all of its own
Wild flowers , Wildlife & Nature Meadowsweet August 16, 2019 Over the centuries, meadowsweet has played an important part in our natural remedies, our traditions and our folklore...
History , Megalithic sites Loch Nell: the Tomb of the Giants and a Serpent Mound July 26, 2019 Not another chambered cairn! Yes, but this one comes with a twist...
History , Megalithic sites Greadal Fhinn – a chambered cairn and a Norse burial July 16, 2019 On a windswept hillside in Ardnamurchan, this ancient grave is linked in local lore with a Viking ruler
Wild flowers , Wildlife & Nature Enchanter’s nightshade July 04, 2019 Haunting damp, shady places, this shy woodland flower has a spellbinding beauty
Churches, abbeys and chapels , History St Conan’s Kirk June 27, 2019 Nestling by the side of Loch Awe, this extraordinary church was the vision of 19th century architect Walter Douglas Campbell
British trees , Wildlife & Nature The power of the elder June 21, 2019 A guardian of half-forgotten places, the elder's magic is both old and dark...
History Looking for the yew of Easragan May 20, 2019 The quiet shores of Loch Etive have an age-old connection with bow-makers and Bannockburn
Churches, abbeys and chapels , History The island of Gigha May 12, 2019 Memories of Viking longships haunt this tiny island of windswept sandy bays and cryptic stones
British trees , Wildlife & Nature Wild cherry: the last snow of spring April 19, 2019 One of our most beautiful flowering trees is "wearing white for Eastertide"...
Wildlife & Nature An exciting new project: a book about Britain’s trees January 21, 2019 I'm delving into the traditions associated with Britain's trees for this new book to be published by the National Trust
Churches, abbeys and chapels , History Saddell Abbey – in the footsteps of Somerled January 08, 2019 History? Gravestones? Mysterious phenomena? Appalling weather? Time to go squelching around another ancient ruin!
Wildlife & Nature The Fortingall Yew: symbol of eternity March 26, 2014 This yew tree in a Perthshire churchyard may be 5,000 years old: it's astounding to think how much human …
History , Megalithic sites Croft Moraig: circle of light January 08, 2015 Right by the roadside near Kenmore in Perthshire is this wonderful stone circle - and some of its best friends …
History , Megalithic sites Dunchraigaig: the darkness of time October 18, 2013 Set within a copse of trees, this 4,000-year-old burial chamber once lay at the heart of the people who lived …
Churches, abbeys and chapels , History Cambuskenneth Abbey May 20, 2015 Sitting in a loop of the River Forth within sight of Stirling Castle, this quiet place has witnessed some key …
History , Megalithic sites Camas nan Geall: ‘the Bay of the Strangers’ July 20, 2015 A chambered cairn, a standing stone and an ancient graveyard… this beautiful bay on the coast of Ardnamurchan holds some …
Churches, abbeys and chapels , History St Andrews: the glorious Cathedral March 20, 2014 Continuing my exploration of St Andrews, I'm now looking at the ruins of its spectacular medieval Cathedral...
Churches, abbeys and chapels , History Dunkeld Cathedral: Scotland’s sacred heart January 10, 2014 Can 1200 years of worship leave a lasting trace? Dunkeld Cathedral has witnessed warfare and destruction, but its …
British trees , Wildlife & Nature The spirit of the alder August 23, 2015 Lover of riverbanks and boggy places, the alder forms a close bond between earth and water. No wonder …
Latest Feature Welcome to my new website! April 02, 2018 I'm proud to present a new look and a new logo for The Hazel Tree
Churches, abbeys and chapels , History Rosslyn Chapel: catching the light March 09, 2016 This extraordinary church was the vision of one man - William St Clair - and mystery seems to ooze out …
History The Butter Bridge, Glen Kinglas March 21, 2015 There's something about old bridges, especially when they are left marooned in the past, like this one in Glen Kinglas. …
History , Megalithic sites The Tuilyies stones October 25, 2015 A windswept shore, standing stones and a blasted oak… it sounds like one of Emily Bronte's dreams!
History , Scottish castles Castle Coeffin: guarding a broken heart May 24, 2014 An ancient stronghold overlooking the Sound of Mull... infused in its ivy-clad walls is an irresistible legend.
Wildlife & Nature The ancient oak woods of Taynish July 02, 2015 A landscape that is a living piece of Scotland's heritage: these oak woods have been growing in Knapdale for …
Uncategorized Nacreous clouds February 02, 2016 Over the last couple of days, towards sunrise and sunset, our skies have contained something that I never really hoped …
