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The main focus of our library and antique collections is on late 17th and 18th century Scotland, especially the Highlands. This encompasses the period of the Jacobite uprisings and their aftermath, going into the first half of the Georgian Era. The first Jacobite Rising took place in 1689, after the so-called ‘Glorious Revolution’ of 1688….

Niel Gow was born in Strathbraan, Perthshire on March 22, 1727 to John Gow and Catherine McEwan. He emerged from humble beginnings to become the most celebrated Scottish fiddler of the 18th century, a musical legend who would shape Scottish traditional music for centuries to come. Niel’s family moved to Inver near Dunkeld, and by…

Fairburn Tower was built in 1545 for Murdo Mackenzie, the 1st of Fairburn. Murdo was ‘a graceful Youth‘ and a Gentleman of the Bedchamber for King James V. ‘ A Gentleman of the Bedchamber’ was a title in the Royal Household used from the 11th century. The duties consisted of assisting the Monarch with dressing, waiting on…

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…

In the video below, I narrate three stories of what happened here in 1746, around the time of the Battle of Culloden. The events took place in the house, in the adjoining church ruins, and also in the nearby Highland village. I noticed while taking the film, that there were what looked like many shadowy…

Following on from our look at the historic use of Pewter in the earlier post: Pewter and Outlander, in this blog post we take a look at the history and use of Glass, some of the historic glass objects that appear in Outlander and also the fascinating topic of Jacobite Glasses. A Brief History of…

What an utterly wonderful year it’s been. Every season has held me spellbound as we’ve journeyed through the Lowlands and Highlands of Scotland. Every two weeks the vista changes as the seasons move through her mountains and glens. I don’t know how to explain in words just how incredible it is to witness. One month,…

Our cozy Christmas at home in Culloden We enjoyed a relaxed Christmas at home after a very busy 2023 and a busy period of reorganisation and home improvements since we finished our tour season at the end of October. Since then, we have reorganised our many antiques and historic books in our large open-plan living…

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…