History , Latest Feature Alexander II and the ‘ghosts’ of his galleys August 18, 2020 Are the ships of a king's fleet immortalised in these curious carvings on the Isle of Luing?
History , Latest Feature , Megalithic sites A folk tale, a battlefield, and a witch’s leap July 19, 2020 A vivid tale is woven around these standing stones at Carse in Knapdale
History , Latest Feature An old story of Craignish February 04, 2020 A tale of skulduggery and honour is attached to the place-name of Port Mhic Isaaic
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
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...
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...
British trees , Wildlife & Nature Sycamore: colonist or custodian? October 06, 2017 Often seen as an intruder in old woodlands, the sycamore still deserves a second glance for its beauty - and …
History , Scottish castles Old Castle Lachlan: loyalty and loss October 23, 2016 Ghosts of horses tend to come in different guises, some of them benevolent and some of them more inclined towards …
British trees , Wildlife & Nature The fire of the ash August 09, 2016 The ash is a beguiling tree, elegant in all seasons, and mother to a host of legends
Reviews Book review: ‘Scotland’s Merlin’ by Tim Clarkson July 14, 2016 “And in the battle of Arfderydd my torc was of gold…” From ‘Yr Afallennau’ (‘The Apples’), a poem in the …
Wildlife & Nature Lesser celandine: greeting the sun March 15, 2016 Star-like flowers of pure yellow welcome the first spring sunshine
Carved crosses , History St Adamnan’s Cross in Glen Lyon February 20, 2016 Who lived in this extraordinary glen, 1300 years ago? One man who did was St Adamnan, and this simple …
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 …
History , Megalithic sites The Devil’s Arrows: shafts of darkness August 12, 2015 The people who put up these standing stones in North Yorkshire were obviously thinking big - but what on earth …
Reviews A new treasure: ‘Trees and How They Grow’ by G Clarke Nuttall May 25, 2015 At a show last weekend I picked up this gorgeous old book from a second-hand book stall. Written by Gertrude Clarke Nuttall, …