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Scottish clans are traditional kinship groups that have played a significant role in Scottish history and culture. Each clan is associated with a specific surname and often has its own tartan pattern, crest, and motto. These clans have their own unique histories, traditions, and ancestral lands in Scotland. 

Clans started to appear in Scotland around 1100 AD and were originally thought to be descended from Ireland. As well as kinship and a sense of identity and belonging, being part of a clan was an important part of survival.

Scotland's leading historian Professor Murray Pittock, joins Keith on this podcast to share the history of the clans from their origins all the way through to the Clearances, a dark part of Scottish history, through to the present day.