Background on Hogmanay In Scotland

36 days ago

While New Year’s Eve is celebrated around the world the Scots have a long rich heritage associated with the event and even have their own word for it – Hogmanay. Theories...

While New Year’s Eve is celebrated around the world the Scots have a long rich heritage associated with the event and even have their own word for it – Hogmanay. Theories abound about the derivation of the word ‘Hogmanay’. The Scandinavian word for the feast preceding Yule was ‘Hoggonott’, while the Flemish words – many of which came into the Scots language – ‘hoog min dag’ means ‘great love day.’ Hogmanay could also be traced back to the Anglo Saxon ‘Haleg monath’, holy month, or the Gaelic ‘òg maiden’, which refers to ‘new morning. But the most likely source seems to be the French ‘Homme est ne’, translated ‘Man is born.’ In France the last day of the year when gifts were exchanged was called ‘aguilleneuf’, while in Normandy presents given at that time were known as ‘hoguignetes.’

In Scotland a similar practice to that in Normandy was rather disapprovingly recorded by the Church in the Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence of 1693 thus: It is ordinary among some Plebians in the South of Scotland to go about from door to door on New Year’s Eve crying Hagmane.’ Some historians believe that we inherited the word from the Vikings who, coming from even further north than ourselves, paid much more attention to the passing of the shortest day. In Shetland, where the Viking influence is at its strongest, New Year is called Yules and taken from the Norse language. Continue reading…..

Scotland’s Reindeer in the Cairngorms

44 days ago

Reindeer were re-introduced to Scotland in the Cairngorm Mountains in 1952 by a Swedish Sámi by the name of Michal Utsi. The Cairngorm Reindeer are the UK’s only free-ranging herd, and...

Reindeer were re-introduced to Scotland in the Cairngorm Mountains in 1952 by a Swedish Sámi by the name of Michal Utsi. The Cairngorm Reindeer are the UK’s only free-ranging herd, and they roam the slopes of some of Scotland’s highest peaks, feeding on the only sub-arctic territory in the UK. As a herder it was my job to ‘roam’ out and locate them throughout the year. These reindeer are still managed today in much the same way as they were when Mr Utsi brought them here. They spend almost their entire life on the mountains with minimal fuss needed from the herders.

The herders know each reindeer by name, and they are so tame they come running when you call them. Despite this, they are incredibly independent, and are only really comfortable in these wild environments. However, all of them must make a living somehow – and each of the male reindeer are trained to pull Santa’s sleigh! They will all take it in turns to pull Santa in street parades throughout the UK during the festive period, before returning to the slopes for the rest of winter.

As an Arctic animal, they are found in the worlds harshest environments. But their range enabled the people of the Arctic to survive there too as they took on the role of cow, horse, sheep and goat: reindeer pull sleighs of people, packages and houses; their pelts provide the best thermal clothing; their solid antlers are valuable tools; they provide meat and even milk; in some parts of the world they are even ridden.
What better animal to make it around the world and back in one night?

From this place I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a great 2012. Thanks for visiting my website and blog.

Scotland hit by Severe Storm

58 days ago

Yesterday, december 8th, a severe Atlantic storm hit Scotland. The headlines in the Scotsman this morning say “60,000 left powerless as gales wreak havoc” and I’ve heard that the windspeeds were...

Yesterday, december 8th, a severe Atlantic storm hit Scotland. The headlines in the Scotsman this morning say “60,000 left powerless as gales wreak havoc” and I’ve heard that the windspeeds were among the highest in the last ten years. Yesterday during the storm I had received several emails and pictures from friends on Islay showing the huge waves and wild seas. It was interesting to follow their Twitter messages and to see everything they had posted. In the afternoon I received an email with a fabulous picture of what looked like a snow landscape but in fact it was Saligo Bay on Islay during the storm. yesterday evening I received more stunning images from a friend on islay who went out late afternoon to Islay’s west coast where you have great views of the storm battered coast and wild Atlantic Ocean. Earlier that day I found quite a scary picture of a few lorries blown off the road at Rest and be Thankful.


Wild Atlantic Sea on Islay’s west coast (picture James Deane)

A quote from the article in the Scotsman: “It was the day Scotland battened down the hatches against the first “red alert” weather warning in Met Office history for hurricane-force winds, which hit 165mph, bringing thunder, lighting, driving rain and power cuts for at least 60,000 people. As the skies darkened, three-quarters of the nation’s schools were forced to close, all major road bridges were shut and drivers across central Scotland were told by police to avoid travel. But the roads still witnessed a spate of toppled lorries and an empty school bus, while winds blew over a wind turbine and, incredibly, appeared to set another ablaze.” It is obvious of course that all the ferries were cancelled as well yesterday. Fortunately everything seems to be pretty much back to normal today!

Scotland Time Lapse Video

76 days ago

I’ve found a great Scotland Video on Vimeo, a video site like Youtube but usually with higher quality videos. The video below shows some stunning views of Scotland including the Forth...

I’ve found a great Scotland Video on Vimeo, a video site like Youtube but usually with higher quality videos. The video below shows some stunning views of Scotland including the Forth Rail Bridge and some beautiful scenic shots including a few hens…. Yes really! Enjoy!

Beautiful Scottish Mountain Pictures by Ela

76 days ago

A few weeks ago I found a blog, Around Scotland, with beautiful views of the Scottish Mountains, taken not from the glens but from high up in the hills. Due to...

A few weeks ago I found a blog, Around Scotland, with beautiful views of the Scottish Mountains, taken not from the glens but from high up in the hills. Due to a wee injury in my lower back I can’t make such trips myself anymore which is why I enjoyed these breathtaking pictures even more. After a closer examination I also found out that the pictures represented places where I’ve been myself such as Rannoch Moor, The Kings House Hotel, Glen Coe and Glen Etive and my interest was raised even more. Curious as I am I contacted the owner of the website to find out more about the person behind these beautiful images, mainly to write about this fabulous blog and also because the text in the captions were in Polish. After a few emails back and forth Ela Dzimitko, the owner of the blog, sent me an introduction with more information about herself and why she likes Scotland so much:

My name is Ela Dzimitko. I am polish, living in Edinburgh. I moved to uk few years ago, planned to stay for 2 years but loved Scottish Highlands so much that it’s already been 7 years as I came over. I’ve always been an ‘outside activities’ person so moving to scotland not only preserved that but developed my love to hills and wilderness. I wouldnt call myself a munro bagger or hill bagger, I simply love spending time outside, wandering along beaches, wandering in the hills or just discovering new places. Few years ago I bought my first dslr camera and started another hobby – photography. I think that combining the photography with hillwalking is a perfect combination for me just now :) 2 things I like doing the most, and I just love when via watching my pictures other people can share the experience with me, can share the enthusiasm and admire some places which are usually hidden, remote or not accessible. I would be happy to, via my photography and short stories, encourage some other people to go and explore :)


Stob Dearg with Rannoch Moor on the right and a glimpse of the Kings House Hotel

I must admit that Ela succeeded in sharing the remote places and enthusiasm very well. Through my love for Scotland I’ve seen many pictures on many websites but this particular series of images taken during a walk at Buachaille Etive Mòr is one of the best so far. The photo’s cover a whole day in the mountains near Glen Coe, from sunrise to sunset, as well as climbing several munros in between. Beautiful pictures, taken on a beautiful day in almost perfect light conditions. I want to thank Ela for sharing these images and her story with us. The pictures in this post are courtesy of Ela (Around Scotland)


Beautiful light over Glen Etive and Loch Etive in the distance

Dryburgh Abbey

81 days ago

There is something about Dryburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders, is it the walk towards the Abbey with the majestic trees in the park or just the serene and peaceful feeling...

There is something about Dryburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders, is it the walk towards the Abbey with the majestic trees in the park or just the serene and peaceful feeling one gets when walking over the grounds of the Abbey? Perhaps the ruins of Dryburgh Abbey are not as majestic as the neighbouring Melrose Abbey or Jedburgh Abbey but Dryburgh is even more so a place where the medieval monks lived a contemplative life, perhaps it’s that atmosphere one feels when walking towards the Abbey. The ruins stand amidst a wooded seclusion beside the River Tweed. Dryburgh became the premier house in Scotland of the Premonstratensian order, which had been established at Prémontré, north-east France, in 1121, by St Norbert of Xanten. Dryburgh Abbey is also the burial place of Sir Walter Scott, Field-Marshal Earl Haig in the north transept, and the Earl of Buchan in the former sacristy. The video below shows some views of Dryburgh and most of all the ruins of the Abbey.

Scottish Ice Trip Video

86 days ago

I found this stunning video today and the introduction to the video is just as good as the video itself: “If there is one place on earth where climbers celebrate the...

I found this stunning video today and the introduction to the video is just as good as the video itself: “If there is one place on earth where climbers celebrate the arrival of the next snowstorm, it has to be Scotland. Each winter, pounded by the North Atlantic winds, the Scottish Highlands are covered by a layer of snow and frost at the mercy of weather conditions. Here, winter climbing has existed for more than a century, and the smell of adventure is as authentic as the whisky borne of the local peat. Climbing is done from the ground up, without bolts, and generally onsight. An introduction to the very modern ethics of Scottish mixed climbing. It’s in those condition that Ueli Steck flashed “the secret” (X, 10), the hardest climb in Ben Nevis.” Enjoy!


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