History Latest Feature Megalithic sites Diarmuid and Grainne: a boar hunt and a tragic love story in Glen Lonan
History Looking for the yew of Easragan May 20, 2019 2412 Views 14 Comments 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 2896 Views 10 Comments 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 2745 Views 12 Comments 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 4183 Views 35 Comments 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 4714 Views 28 Comments History? Gravestones? Mysterious phenomena? Appalling weather? Time to go squelching around another ancient ruin!
Latest Feature Festive greetings… December 21, 2018 3225 Views 25 Comments Sending you the warmest of wishes on the winter solstice
Carved crosses , Churches, abbeys and chapels , History The secrets of St Cormac November 05, 2018 4587 Views 19 Comments On Eilean Mor in the MacCormaig Isles I found a chapel, a cross, a hermit's cave... and an intriguing mystery
History Rock art at Ormaig October 18, 2018 9005 Views 21 Comments Intriguing symbols and patterns, possibly over 5,000 years old, are etched into a hillside overlooking Loch Craignish...
History , Wildlife & Nature The road to Loch Avich October 06, 2018 4129 Views 14 Comments A back road through glorious autumn countryside... leading eventually to Loch Avich and the 'Castle of the Red-haired Girl'
Wildlife & Nature Back to Ballachuan September 10, 2018 4305 Views 6 Comments Hazel nuts and all kinds of weird and colourful fungi litter the floor of this ancient hazel wood
History The dark mill of Coilebar August 25, 2018 4111 Views 6 Comments A centuries-old mill in the heart of Knapdale Forest... and a refuge for a woman fleeing for her life
Carved crosses , History From Arichonan to Kilmory Oib August 20, 2018 4755 Views 11 Comments Near this ruined village in Knapdale Forest, clear waters run beneath a cross-carved stone...
History Tarbert – the ‘place of portage’ August 12, 2018 6038 Views 8 Comments 900 years ago, Magnus Barefoot saw this quiet harbour as a means to an end...
History Silent voices of Arichonan August 08, 2018 4620 Views 8 Comments Memories linger around this old abandoned settlement in Knapdale
Churches, abbeys and chapels , History Kilmartin church and graveyard July 24, 2018 6114 Views 6 Comments In March we braved the wet weather to inspect medieval carved stones in Kilmartin Glen...
History Walking to the Field of the Heads July 10, 2018 4598 Views 16 Comments A secluded bay, a boggy field, and an ancient battle remembered only in a place-name...
History , Megalithic sites Dunchraigaig: the darkness of time October 18, 2013 2625 Views 31 Comments 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 2587 Views 31 Comments Sitting in a loop of the River Forth within sight of Stirling Castle, this quiet place has witnessed some key …
Uncategorized About me and The Hazel Tree July 29, 2011 2730 Views 31 Comments About me and The Hazel Tree
British trees , Wildlife & Nature The spirit of the alder August 23, 2015 5837 Views 30 Comments 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 4131 Views 30 Comments I'm proud to present a new look and a new logo for The Hazel Tree
History , Megalithic sites Camas nan Geall: ‘the Bay of the Strangers’ July 20, 2015 6015 Views 30 Comments 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 2392 Views 30 Comments Continuing my exploration of St Andrews, I'm now looking at the ruins of its spectacular medieval Cathedral...
History , Megalithic sites Croft Moraig: circle of light January 08, 2015 3059 Views 30 Comments Right by the roadside near Kenmore in Perthshire is this wonderful stone circle - and some of its best friends …
History , Megalithic sites The Tuilyies stones October 25, 2015 2434 Views 29 Comments A windswept shore, standing stones and a blasted oak… it sounds like one of Emily Bronte's dreams!
Churches, abbeys and chapels , History Rosslyn Chapel: catching the light March 09, 2016 3224 Views 29 Comments This extraordinary church was the vision of one man - William St Clair - and mystery seems to ooze out …
Churches, abbeys and chapels , History Dunkeld Cathedral: Scotland’s sacred heart January 10, 2014 3356 Views 28 Comments Can 1200 years of worship leave a lasting trace? Dunkeld Cathedral has witnessed warfare and destruction, but its …
Wildlife & Nature The ancient oak woods of Taynish July 02, 2015 2622 Views 28 Comments 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 1428 Views 28 Comments Over the last couple of days, towards sunrise and sunset, our skies have contained something that I never really hoped …
Churches, abbeys and chapels , History Saddell Abbey – in the footsteps of Somerled January 08, 2019 4714 Views 28 Comments History? Gravestones? Mysterious phenomena? Appalling weather? Time to go squelching around another ancient ruin!
History The Butter Bridge, Glen Kinglas March 21, 2015 3368 Views 27 Comments There's something about old bridges, especially when they are left marooned in the past, like this one in Glen Kinglas. …
British trees , Wildlife & Nature Sycamore: colonist or custodian? October 06, 2017 3923 Views 27 Comments Often seen as an intruder in old woodlands, the sycamore still deserves a second glance for its beauty - and …
