Our Scotland: A Fantasy 24 Hours in Scotland

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 with a fantasy 24 hours.

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 award-winning travel blogger Gemma Armit from Everything Edinburgh, Two Scots Abroad and Hiya Scotland.

Everything Edinburgh, is a a digital resource for locals and visitors and is hyper-focused on areas, things to do, accommodation, food, and activities by season.

Hiya Scotland is a Scotland wide travel planning blog where you can get personal recommendations and join Gemma’s community to plan your trips.

Aberdour Silver Sands, Fife

Kingsbarns sauna

Hel’s Kitchen, Rosyth

Glencoe Lochan

Stac Pollaidh (Stack Polly) at Ullapool

Applecross Inn for langoustines

Ski-ing in the Cairngorms

Afternoon tea at the Signet Library, Edinburgh

Live music at either Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh or Barrowlands, Glasgow

Stargazing at Carbost, Isle of Skye

Music:

Paolo NutiniBelle And Sebastian

Barry Can't Swim

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/

This past season has taken us from Orkney to Glasgow, Edinburgh to the north coast, around the highlands and islands and many places in between. 

This is our final episode for season two and joining me to share their perfect day is Laurie Goodlad. 

Laurie has written for the Lonely Planet and featured on travel shows, blogs and tourism campaigns. 

Laurie is on instagram as Shetland with Laurie, and that will give you a clue as to where we will be.

Laurie’s links:

Shetland With Laurie

https://shetlandwithlaurie.com/

Buy the Guidebook

https://shetlandwithlaurie.com/guidebook

Instagram:

Hermaness

Jarlshoff

Mousa Broch

Eshaness

Rowin Foula Doon by the North Ness Boys

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 find me on instagram at ourscotlandpodcast https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/  or email [email protected]

Joining Alison Fraser on Our Scotland in this episode is Sonja Bolger.

Ten years ago Sonja, who is a New Zealander, moved to Edinburgh on her overseas experience.

She now lives on the Isle of Skye with her husband and two children.

Sonja blogs about her adventures and she also runs the Scottish Scran facebook community and website. 

As well as hearing about Sonja’s perfect day in Scotland you will hear some Skye visiting tips.

Sonja's links:

www.migratingmiss.com - original travel website and where you can find all her Scotland content

www.scottishscran.com - recipe/food site

www.facebook.com/migratingmiss - social for MM

https://www.facebook.com/groups/isleofskyetravel - their Isle of Skye Facebook Group

Sonja's day:

Rose Leaf https://www.roseleaf.co.uk/ 

Dark Skies https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/forest-parks/galloway-forest-park/dark-skies 

Andy Murray’s hotel: https://www.cromlix.com/ 

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 find me on instagram at ourscotlandpodcast or email [email protected]

Joining Alison in this episode is Gary Campbell, chief executive of the Crofting Commission. 

As well as hearing some of the places that Gary has been able to experience and enjoy through his work you’ll also find out more about crofting itself.

Gary’s previous work includes 11 years with the University of Highlands and Islands and 30 years as a chartered accountant with EY where he travelled across Scotland advising commercial businesses.

Crofting Commission: https://crofting.scotland.gov.uk/ 

Scottish Crofting Federation: https://www.crofting.org/

National Farmers’ Union, Scotland: https://www.nfus.org.uk/ 

Some of the places and businesses Gary mentioned: 

SaxaVord Spaceport: https://saxavord.com/

Unst: https://www.shetland.org/visit/plan/areas/unst

Isle of Bernaray: http://www.isleofberneray.com/ 

Birlinn Yarn Company: https://birlinnyarn.co.uk/ 

Barra: https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/barra-p238701 

Isle of Barra Distillery: https://isleofbarradistillers.com/ 

Our Scotland is a podcast about Scotland for people who love the country, regardless of where they live or how often they’ve visited.

Our Scotland facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourscotlandpodcast 

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

email [email protected]

Joining Alison is Edinburgh tour guide Gareth Davies from Edinburgh Expert Walking Tours.

Joining Alison is Tide Lines' front man Robert Robertson.

Robert is a gold medal winner at the Royal National Mod, Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival and a former member of the band Skippinish. 

We chatted on the back of Tide Lines trio of sold-out gigs at Glasgow’s Barrowlands venue, and just before a stripped back tour of Scotland. 

Robert’s links: 

Website: https://www.tidelinesband.com/  

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSX39m6HKC8pSzNrUkedNDQ 

Bruichladdich Rock’ndaal festival: https://festival.bruichladdich.com/ 

Robert took us to the following places:

Lochaber: https://discoverhighlandsandislands.scot/en/visitor/region/lochaber 

Partick: https://www.glasgowworld.com/best-in/partick-back-in-time-over-100-years-of-glasgows-west-end-history-heritage-in-27-pictures-4508683 

Ross of Mull: https://visitmullandiona.co.uk/guides/ross-of-mull/ 

Our Scotland is a podcast about Scotland for people who love the country, regardless of where they live or how often they’ve visited.

Our Scotland facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourscotlandpodcast 

Email: [email protected]

Joining Alison to share their perfect Scottish day is Orcadian fiddle and mandolin player Graham Rorie.

Graham is an award-winning folk musician based in Glasgow. 

Nominated for ‘Musician of The Year’ at the 2023 Scots Trad Music Awards and a finalist in the 2021 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, Graham has been making a name for himself as a performer, composer, session musician and producer since he graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Traditional Music Degree.

Graham’s links: 

Website: https://www.grahamrorie.com/ 

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoi-Y9FRbL2BSuoexDf8BlQ 

Gnoss: https://gnossmusic.com/ 

Graham took us to the following:

Old Man of Hoy: https://hoyorkney.com/attractions/hoy-geography/old-man-of-hoy/ 

Lochinver Larder: https://www.lochinverlarder.com/ 

Old Fruitmarket: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/arts-music-and-culture/venues/old-fruitmarket 

Our Scotland is a podcast about Scotland for people who love the country, regardless of where they live or how often they’ve visited.

Our Scotland facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourscotlandpodcast 

Email: [email protected]

Scottish History Podcast host Owen Innes has been interested in history since he was a youngster and for the last eight years has been working as a tour guide bringing history to life.

His podcast means he can share his love of Scottish History with more than just the folk on his bus trips.

You’re going to hear about his first history trips, the history at your doorstep and more, as we discover where Owen would spend his ideal 24 hours in Scotland.

Owen’s links: 

https://scothistorypod.com/

Orkney travel books: https://amzn.to/3THrBqI 

Skara Brae books: https://amzn.to/3THrBqI 

Our Scotland is a podcast about Scotland for people who love the country, regardless of where they live or how often they’ve visited.

Our Scotland facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourscotlandpodcast 

Email: [email protected]

In this episode we are going to hear from musician and radio presenter Gary Innes.

Gary has been performing and composing music for over two decades. Born in the village of Spean Bridge in the North of Scotland, Gary is one of the founding members of award-winning Scottish super-group Mànran,

Gary is also host of longest running radio show on BBC Radio Scotland – the world renowned Take the Floor, and an ex-Scottish Shinty captain and internationalist.

Gary’s links: 

Website: https://www.garyinnes.com/

Mànran: https://manran.co.uk/

Take The Floor: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07y72yv

Gary’s perfect day

Where: Lamlash, Isle of Arran

Food and drink: Cullen Skink, Speyside single malts, such as Glenlivet and Macallan

Music: Runrig and Capercaillie

Read up on Arran here.

Books on traditional Scottish music

Our Scotland is a podcast about Scotland for people who love the country, regardless of where they live or how often they’ve visited.

Our Scotland facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourscotlandpodcast 

Email: [email protected]

Paige Daley is the registrar of the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register and the owner of the Loch Ness Monster Fan Club TikTok account.

The Loch Ness Monster, otherwise known as Nessie, is a topic that has been talked about for as long as I can remember. 

Growing up I watched a cartoon series called the Family Ness and a family holiday to visit cousins in Inverness wasn’t complete without a visit to Loch Ness to go look for Nessie.

Whether you believe in Nessie or not, I think you’re going to learn a lot about the mystery from Paige. 

Paige’s links: 

Loch Ness register 

Loch Ness Fan Club TikTok 

Other Loch Ness links:

Webcams

Family Ness

Nessie books and merch 

Visit Scotland: Loch Ness

Paige’s perfect day

Where: Loch Ness, starting at Dores Beach, visit Drumnadrochit, Urquhart Castle and finish at Fort Augustus

Food and drink: Haggis, coffee and cake at Dores Beach

Music: Peat & Diesel, Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris also got a mention

Our Scotland is a podcast about Scotland for people who love the country, regardless of where they live or how often they’ve visited.

Our Scotland facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourscotlandpodcast 

Email: [email protected]