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This is probably the most difficult blog post I’ve ever put together. Creating the video below was a very emotional experience – it is so close to home, in both senses of the word. Andy and I (Diane) live in Culloden. I have lived here since 1990, in a spot between Culloden Battlefield and Culloden…

You may think of Pewter as an old-fashioned thing, however, it remains popular and an alternative to china and earthenware and is said to be the fourth most common jewelry metal after gold, silver and platinum. Pewter is a metal alloy and its uses have included: plates and tableware, tankards, pitchers, vases, figurines, candlesticks, buttons,…

If there’s one thing that these last two years have taught me, it’s that life is to be lived as though every day is special. Towards the end of 2021, we spent a full month redecorating and reorganising every inch of our Culloden home. We painted our open-plan living/dining/kitchen area – one large room which…

In October of 2021 we decided to paint and redecorate our home, clearing out and reorganising every cupboard and space in the process. During this time, we found some wonderful things that we had almost forgotten we had. Laying on the top of a pile of old photos were two 30 year old aerial photos…

Happy Tartan Day The 6th April is Tartan Day – a North American celebration of Scottish heritage. It is also the date on which the Declaration of Arbroath was signed in 1320. Below are some fun facts about Tartan Day, followed by more facts regarding Tartan itself. Tartan Day Facts Different countries have different Tartan…

This old churchyard in Inverness was a place of Jacobite executions after the Battle of Culloden. Come take a walk with us through the graveyard to learn more… If you’d like to learn more about Scottish history, then come and join us on one of our Virtual Tours listed below: The Culloden Experience: Virtual Tour…

Samhain The origins of Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (summer’s end), celebrating the end of summer and the harvest. It also marked the start of a new Celtic year and the start of winter. Also known as ‘An t-Samhain’, it is believed that ‘Halloween’ comes from a Scots…

On 14th April 1746, two nights prior to the Battle of Culloden, Bonnie Prince Charlie enjoyed a lavish meal at Culloden House. In attendance were several Lords, Clan Chiefs, French Commanders and Officers of the Irish Picquets. They gathered around the grand dining table, which was covered in fine tableware belonging to Duncan Forbes, 5th…

In the heart of Culloden Woods, just a short distance from the Battlefield is a walled Clootie Well known as St. Mary’s well. It sits on the ‘Culloden Battlefield Trail’ which runs through Culloden Woods. The Woods are located between the Battlefield and Culloden House. What is a Cloot? Well, traditionally, a piece of cloth…

Bannockburn House is a rather special and historic place. It was built in the late 17th Century, with alterations made in the 19th Century. The original part of the house was completed around 1675 by Sir Hugh Paterson, although it’s thought to be built on an earlier building called Drummonds’ Hall. Sir John Drummond was…

Pour yourself a cuppa and make yourself comfortable as we take you on a journey back through time… If you’re an Outlander fan you’ll know that Diana Gabaldon mentions Balnain in her book and it’s also in the TV Series. “Bean Tighearna Bhail’ ‘n Athain” or “The Woman of Balnain” is a Scottish Gaelic song…

There is no feeling in the world like holding history in your hands. A piece that is centuries old… an item that has been held in the hands of a man well known in history, who bravely led his Clan into battle many times. When my 50th birthday was approaching, my husband asked me what…

Sex and, to a lesser extent, prostitution feature regularly in Outlander. Diana Gabaldon accurately reflects this side of 18th century society in her plots and her writing. Here, we reflect on some of the research that Diana might have done and the culture of the time that contributed to the storyline. We also uncover a…

As Series Five of Outlander unfolds on our TV screens, we wanted to research and share with you what a Fiery Cross actually is/was. Setting the Scene The Fiery Cross book and series five focus on the lead up to the American Revolution, with Jamie ordered to raise a militia and oust the rebellion in…

Hi, I’m Di. Culloden is very close to my heart. If you’ve read my past life story you’ll understand why. I’ve lived here for the greater part of my life, in a little spot by the woods between Culloden House and Culloden Battlefield. I visit the Battlefield often. It’s not only somewhere I visit regularly…

Andy Nicholson’s been a keen photographer for many years, and it’s been an amazing journey to witness his photography becoming more and more stunning with each passing year. As his partner in life and work, I’ve witnessed how his perception has changed and adapted to allow him to capture the best shot possible. If you’d…

It was about a year ago that a lady I know mentioned to me in passing the gravestones believed to be hidden in deep undergrowth in Culloden Woods. She’d been told about them by a historian. I’ve walked those woods for years and had never come across them, but then Culloden Woods does cover a…