My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places and my guests are people just like me.

In this episode I’m joined by literary travel writer Constance Ray.

Constance is from the US but is living in Germany. She did undergraduate studies in English literature and had the opportunity to study in London for a semester. 

She’s currently based in Europe where she started her literary travel blog. She says she believes literature is one of the best ways to have an authentic cultural experience of places. 

Literary travel is a trip to places given value by a literary figure or a literary work and events centered around literature.

Constance’s links:

https://www.awellreadwanderer.com/

https://awellreadwanderer.ck.page/signup 

Places Constance took us:

Isle of Lewis https://www.isle-of-lewis.com/ 

Hebridean Way https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/hebrideanway 

Calanais Stones https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/calanais-standing-stones/ 

Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/cruden-bay-p2564811 

Slains Castle https://www.visitabdn.com/listing/slains-castle 

Greyfriars Kirkyard https://greyfriarskirk.com/visit/kirkyard/ 

Arthurs Seat https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/holyrood-park-and-arthurs-seat-p914341 

Literary Pub Crawl https://www.edinburghliterarypubtour.co.uk/ 

Food and drink:

Kilmarnock Arms https://www.kilmarnockarms.com/ 

Afternoon Tea https://everythingedinburgh.com/afternoon-tea-in-edinburgh/ 

Haggis https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/edinburgh/articles/top-10-places-to-have-haggis-in-edinburgh 

Books:

Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 

Sunset Song by Louis Grassic Gibbon

Robert Burns poetry

Robert Louis Stevenson’s poetry

Music:

Franz Ferdinand https://franzferdinand.com/ 

The View https://www.theviewofficial.com/ 

Skippinish https://www.skipinnish.com/ 

Paulo Nutini New Shoes https://youtu.be/hmbUNF1Q4R8?si=CeQLC7wnH3KrElPK 

If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. 

You can email [email protected] or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/ 

Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams. 

My name is Alison Fraser and in this episode I’m joined by Professor Colin Campbell. Colin is a professor at the University of Edinburgh where he is head of organic chemistry in the School of Chemistry. 

Colin is also a musician currently producing an album inspired by one of his favourite places in Scotland, which you will hear more about.

Colin’s links:

University profile: https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/professor-colin-campbell 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colincampbell63/

Places Colin took us:

Surgeons Hall Museums, Edinburgh: https://museum.rcsed.ac.uk/ 

Loch Oschin Youth Hostel up in the, in the, in the middle of Rannoch Moor.

https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/loch-ossian/

Loch Rannoch https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/loch-rannoch-p2569791 

Glen Lyon and the Bridge of Balgie https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/bridge-of-balgie.shtml 

Fortingall Yew https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/fortingall-yew-p2568631  

Wemyss Bay https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/wemyssbay/wemyssbay/index.html 

Isle of Bute: https://www.visitbute.com/ 

Arisaig https://www.arisaiginfo.org.uk/

Five Sisters of Kintail walk https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/kintail/Fivesisters.shtm

Loch Bracadale, Isle of Skye: https://scottishseakayaking.co.uk/trips/skye-raasay/loch-bracadale-wiay-island/ 

Macleod’s Maidens walk https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/macleodsmaidens.shtml

Skyeskyns tannery https://www.skyeskyns.co.uk/ 

Scarasta Beach, Harris https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/traigh-scarista-p523441 

Food and drink:

Glen Lyon Post Office: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083019656442 

The West End Cafe Rothesay https://www.facebook.com/p/The-West-End-Cafe-Rothesay-100083017428207/ 

Loch Bay https://www.lochbay-restaurant.co.uk/ 

Colin’s playlist: 

Inner Meet Me by The Beta Band

Movin' On Up by Primal Scream

Everything Flows by Teenage Fan Club

Angie by Bert Jansch

To Sir With Love by Lulu

Make My Heart Fly by The Proclaimers

Driftwood by Travis

Ghosts by Lau

Thunderstruck by Gordon Duncan: https://youtu.be/_EwDlUHoDFo?si=9mSpLI7-C7ApOV02

Sea of Okhotsk by Treeacherous Orchestra

An Eagle in Your Mind by Boards of Canada

Crossing the Minch on bagpipes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjlk7KYdGLA 

Theid mi dhachaidh 'chrò Chinn t-sàile (I will go home to Kintail)  ⁠https://youtu.be/mUZDTQNghTI?si=07B-O1Z7BPU2C0b2⁠ 

Trainspotting scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCtPBFHKSNg

Local Hero: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085859/  

If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. 

You can email [email protected] or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/ 

Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams. 

My name is Alison Fraser and in this episode I’m joined by Jayne Baldwin, a bookseller, writer and publisher who lives in Dumfries and Galloway.

Jayne originally trained and worked as a journalist. She now brings those skills, researching and a nose for a good story, to her non fiction books. She says she’s fascinated by social history and although not an historian, she tries to give a voice to those people that have been overlooked or ignored.  

Jayne carries that over to this podcast in which you will learn more about the place Jayne calls home.

Jayne’s links:

https://foggietoddlebooks.co.uk/

https://www.amazon.com/Books-Jayne-Baldwin/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AJayne+Baldwin 

Places Jayne took us:

Torhouse Stone Circle: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/torhouse-stone-circle/

Wigtown: https://www.wigtown-booktown.co.uk/ 

The Machars: www.themachars.co.uk

Bladnoch Distillery: https://uk.bladnoch.com/ 

Port William: https://portwilliam.com/ 

Ring of Bright Water statue: https://themachars.co.uk/?Monreith 

Barhobble Church: https://www.britainexpress.com/scotland/Dumfries-Galloway/churches/barhobble.htm 

Isle of Whithorn: http://isleofwhithorn.com/   

Cruggleton Castle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruggleton_Castle 

Garlieston: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garlieston 

Food and drink:

ReadingLasses (books by and about women and seriously good cake) https://www.facebook.com/readinglasses17 

Five Kingdoms Brewery: https://www.fivekingdomsbrewery.com/ 

The Harbour Inn, Garlieston: https://the-harbour-inn.co.uk/

The Hive in Garlieston https://www.facebook.com/thehivecoffeeshopgarlieston/ 

Jura Whisky: https://www.jurawhisky.com/en/ 

Books: 

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/1912014696?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_nz 

Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell 

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/1910065099?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_nz 

Music:

The Proclaimers

The Bluebells: Young at Heart 

Deacon Blue: Dignity

The Associates

The Bookshop Band https://www.thebookshopband.co.uk/ 

Our Scotland season 3 playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7eCdQdEKOJbMtNQvScvVc3?si=RtsKCeDBQJy9qkL4_CkmKA

Mary Queen of Scots’ visit to St Ninian’s: https://www.whithorn.com/mary-queen-of-scots-visit-to-whithorn/ 

Mulberry Harbour Project in Garlieston: https://mulberryharbour.info/ 

If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. 

You can email [email protected] or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/ 

Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams. 

My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places and my guests are people just like me.

In this episode I’m joined by crime fiction author Wendy Jones

As well as being the author of the DI Shona McKenzie mysteries Wendy is the President of the Scottish Association of Writers, and a writing and marketing coach helping writers and authors realise their literary dreams. 

Wendy is going to take us on an adventure around Scotland - and with a bonus side trip. 

Wendy’s links:

https://www.wendyhjones.com/ 

Places Wendy’s took us:

Surgeons Hall Museums, Edinburgh: https://museum.rcsed.ac.uk/ 

Edinburgh’s Royal Mile: https://edinburgh.org/neighbourhoods/the-royal-mile/ 

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle collection: http://www.acdfriends.org/ 

The Writers’ Museum: https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venue/writers-museum  

Stirling Museum: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/stirling-castle/ 

Dundee: https://www.dundee.com/ 

Food and drink:

Haggis, neeps and tatties.

Bombay Joes in Broughty Ferry, Dundee: https://bombayjoes.uk/ 

Taza in Dundee: https://www.taza.co.uk/ 

Books:

Three Sisters, Three Queens by Philippa Gregory: https://www.philippagregory.com/books/three-sisters-three-queens 

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 

https://thebookhousebroughtyferry.co.uk/ 

If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. 

You can email [email protected] or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/ 

Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams. 

My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places and my guests are people just like me.

In this episode I’m joined by writer James Merron, aka AJ Merron. James lives in Edinburgh but is originally from Lancashire. 

James describes himself as a hopeless romantic at heart who tends to live in a fantasy world of his own making. 

He writes poetry, has a YouTube channel of video essays delivered like letters of the romantics era, and a podcast where arts, media and philosophy collide. 

He’s currently working on plans for a creative retreat in a Highlands castle and researching the history of female monsters and demons for a fictionals book.

James’s links:

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ajmerron_writes 

Instagram: instragram.com/ajmerron_writes

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ajmerron_writes 

Website: ajmerron.co.uk 

Places James took us:

Edinburgh Waverley Station https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/our-history/iconic-infrastructure/the-history-of-edinburgh-waverly-station/ 

Greenock, Gourock, Inverclyde https://discoverinverclyde.com/ 

Loch Fleet https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/visit-our-nature-reserves/loch-fleet-national-nature-reserve 

South Rona https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Rona 

Shiant Isles https://www.shiantisles.net/ 

North Harris Eagle Observatory https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/north-harris-eagle-observatory-p530121 

Huisinis https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/huisinis-beach-p523511 

Food and drink:

The Cove, Gourock https://thecovegourock.co.uk/ 

Eteaket https://www.eteaket.co.uk 

Music:

Nina Nesbitt: https://ninanesbittmusic.com/

Seals singing: https://youtu.be/WYlLPyIeapg?si=MtFDUinWQOFGMW49 

Machair

Machair is a Gaelic word meaning fertile low lying grassy plain. This is the name given to one of the rarest habitats in Europe which only occurs on exposed western coasts of Scotland and Ireland. There are Machair habitats on the western shores throughout the islands.

Here sand, largely made up of crushed shells, is regularly blown ashore by Atlantic gales. 

Over time the calcium rich shell sand and traditional Outer Hebrides crofting land practices have led to the development of a mosaic of fertile Scottish grassland habitats renowned for their Outer Hebrides wildflowers, Western Isles birds and insect life.

https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/wildlife/machair 

If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. 

You can email [email protected] or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/ 

Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams. 

My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places and my guests are people just like me.

In this episode I’m joined by Eoin Smith. Eoin is a multi-award-winning magician and author based in Aberdeen.

As a magician, Eoin's performances have taken him across Scotland to five-star hotels, comedy and cabaret clubs, and beyond – including the stage of the 500-seater Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen.

As a writer, Eoin has had short stories and humour writing published around the world, including by Popshot, Two Fifty One and SANS. Press. He has also had features published by the likes of The Guardian, Q and Magic Magazine.

Eoin is also an Explorer Scout Leader, and has been volunteering to provide 14-18 year olds with incredible experiences across Scotland for over 15 years.

Eoin’s links:

https://linktr.ee/eoin.smith 

Places Eoin took us:

Aviemore https://www.alltrails.com/scotland/highlands/aviemore 

St Nicholas Kirkyard, Aberdeen, the grave of magician John Henry Anderson

http://www.openspacetrust.org.uk/?p=646 

Road to Applecross https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTN46Rv6DVs 

Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig https://www.highlandwildlifepark.org.uk/  

Edinburgh Fringe Festival https://www.edfringe.com/ 

The Tunnels, Aberdeen https://www.facebook.com/tunnelsaberdeen/ 

Food and drink:

Butteries from The Bread Guy https://thebreadguysbakery.co.uk/ 

Harry Gow bakery https://www.harrygow.co.uk/ 

Restaurant Martin Wishart https://restaurantmartinwishart.co.uk/ 

Music:

Little Kicks https://www.thelittlekicks.co.uk/ 

Frightened Rabbit https://www.frightenedrabbit.com/ 

Eoin’s playlist: 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3bHExnyMo9IigA3ovmQXI4?si=40447c9d72294ebc 

If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. 

You can email [email protected] or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/ 

Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams. 

My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places and my guests are people just like me.

In this episode I’m joined by Lindsay Bruce, a features and obituaries writer for the Press and Journal, one of Scotland's oldest newspapers. 

Lindsay is a mum of two and describes herself as an avid Irn-bru drinker and crazy dog lady. 

During the pandemic Lindsay was treated for cancer and it was after that she and her family moved to Scotland, it had been 20 years since she had last lived there.

Lindsay’s links:

Press & Journal author profile:  https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/author/lindsaybruce/

Just Such A Time https://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Such-Time-Reconnecting-God-given/dp/1908393750

Lindsay’s story about her Papa’s letter to her Gran after the birth of her father

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/opinion/6495817/aberdeen-fathers-day-letter-makes-me-love-my-papa-more/

Places Lindsay took us:

Isle of Cumbrae: https://millport.org/ 

Harris: https://www.visitscotland.com/places-to-go/islands/lewis-harris 

Motherwell https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/motherwell-p237201

Motherwell FC https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/ 

Food and drink:

Chapman’s Pies: http://jameschapmanbutchers.co.uk/shops-hours/

Music:

The Proclaimers - Sunshine on Leith soundtrack https://open.spotify.com/album/7sfXW3fw4RHGldmx0HeLP8 

Deacon Blue - Real Gone Kid https://open.spotify.com/track/1kBTjMOQcmrI5tW94GpdYG 

Celtic Christian music: https://open.spotify.com/album/6IRrCtHJN0Wf7Amb0WjS6N 

Scunnered: https://www.scotslanguage.com/articles/view/id/5115/type 

If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. 

You can email [email protected] or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/ 

Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams. 

My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places and my guests are people just like me.

In this episode I’m joined by Seattle-based writer Patti Callahan.

Patti has been a student, hairstylist, cocktail waitress, corporate professional, and small business owner. She’s also an expert multitasker who has pursued a lifelong love of travel, completed her MBA, and raised two sons. Patti maintains a blog on Medium - @novelsandtravels - and lives in the Pacific Northwest with dreams of an apartment in Europe to use as a home base for wandering the world. 

You’re going to hear a tale of two cities where Patti would love to spend her perfect Scottish day.

Patti’s links:

Blog: https://novelsandtravels.medium.com/ 

Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Patti-Callahan/author/B006QB1ZXI?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/novelsandtravels 

Places Patti took us:

Edinburgh: https://everythingedinburgh.com/ 

Writers Museum: https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venue/writers-museum 

Grassmarket: https://edinburgh.org/neighbourhoods/grassmarket/ 

Inverness: https://www.visitinvernesslochness.com/ 

Culloden House: https://www.cullodenhouse.co.uk/ 

Culloden Battlefield: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/culloden/ 

Music: 

Loreena McKennitt: https://loreenamckennitt.com/ 

Our Scotland Season 3 playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7eCdQdEKOJbMtNQvScvVc3?si=k9r6TsvkQsmiVgfmwaD-qw

If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. 

You can email [email protected] or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/ 

If you had just 24 hours in Scotland where would you go? Add in teleportation, time travel and even the magic of pausing time you can conjure up the day of your dreams.

That is what Our Scotland is all about, highlighting the places and people that are memorable.

My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places.

In this episode I’m joined by Professor Donna Heddle who is going to take us on a historic 24 hours around Scotland and share some fascinating stories with us, some you may know, and some you might not.

Professor Donna Heddle is the Director of the Institute for Northern Studies at University of the Highlands and Islands. 

Based on the UHI Orkney campus, her research interests include Scottish and Northern isles cultural history, small island studies, Scottish language and literature, and Old Norse. 

Donna’s links:

Links to papers and talks https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/research-enterprise/cultural/institute-for-northern-studies/staff/donna-heddle/ 

UHI Profile https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/persons/donna-heddle 

Email: [email protected]

Places Donna took us:

Cluny in Fife https://www.welcometofife.com/ 

Papa Westray, Orkney https://www.orkney.com/explore/papa-westray 

Iona http://www.welcometoiona.com/visiting-iona/

Lochindorb Castle https://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/Chatelaine/LOCHINDORB.HTM

Elderslie https://paisley.is/visit/wallace-monument/ 

St Margaret’s Chapel, Edinburgh Castle https://www.edinburghcastle.scot/see-and-do/highlights/st-margarets-chapel 

Leith for seafood https://www.timeout.com/edinburgh/restaurants/edinburghs-best-seafood-restaurants 

Milnes Bar, Rose St, Edinburgh https://www.belhaven.co.uk/pubs/midlothian/milnes-bar 

St Magnus Cathedral https://www.stmagnus.org/ 

Torvhaug Bar https://www.kirkwallbid.co.uk/business/torvhaug 

Stories she mentioned:

Wolf of Badenoch https://hiddenscotland.com/journal/the-wolf-of-badenoch-and-the-burning-of-elgin-cathedral 

Archie the Grimm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archibald_Douglas,_3rd_Earl_of_Douglas 

Bell the Cat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archibald_Douglas,_5th_Earl_of_Angus

Robert Henderson, Testament of Cresseid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Testament_of_Cresseid 

Neil Gunn, Highland River http://www.neilgunn.org.uk/works/forewords/highlandriver.html

Anon, Sir Patrick Spens https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/sir-patrick-spens/ 

Hugh McDiarmid, The Bonnie Broukit Bairn https://www.poemist.com/hugh-macdiarmid/the-bonnie-broukit-bairn 

Rögnvald Kali Kolsson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%B6gnvald_Kali_Kolsson 

Music:

Simple Minds https://www.simpleminds.com/2024/01/27/global-tour-2024/ 

Runrig - Loch Lomond (Live) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzQ1pNfbe3Q 

Dougie McLean - Caledonia https://www.dougiemaclean.com/ 

Flower of Scotland as sung by the Tartan Army https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClLLJc16Rzk 

The Proclaimers https://the.proclaimers.co.uk/ 

Johnny Cash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOpafs_mwpo 

ACDC - Problem Child https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOpafs_mwpo 

If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. 

You can email [email protected] or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/ 

If you had just 24 hours in Scotland where would you go? Add in teleportation, time travel and even the magic of pausing time you can conjure up the day of your dreams.

That is what Our Scotland is all about, highlighting the places and people that are memorable.

My name is Alison Fraser and I’m on a quest to discover as much of Scotland as possible,

In this episode I’m joined by James Campbell, a travel influencer from Glasgow.

It’s a bit longer than normal as James has filled his day with so much, we are definitely bending time here!

James’s links:

Instagram: Discover-Scotland

Youtube Channel

Places James took us:

Castle Creavie

James’s video from Castle Creavie

Sango Bay

Atholl Arms, Dunkeld

Learn more about John Coe and Aquarius

The Kitchin

Music:

Beluga Lagoon

Gerry Cinnamon

Have Mercy Las Vegas

If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. 

You can email [email protected] or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/