Unique Scotland

Political Scandals in the Scottish Government, attempted fraud and an escaped Macaque monkey in the Highlands makes up todays letter from Scotland in this May edition. But it is not all monkey business, there are serious issues and you will hear of  Donald Trump’s office replying to Exclusive Scottish Visits’ suggestion to ease the importation of Haggis to America. Unique Scotland still awaits a response from President Biden. You will hear about the tiny Scottish island that ordered more easter eggs than the whole population and is it possible that Dunvegan castle that has stood on it’s rocky precipice on the Isle of Skye for over 800 years is starting to fall into the sea? And from Monsters to Water Beasts, why is Scotland producing so many. And, you will hear how NASA is being approached to help in the search for Nessie. All this and much more.

EDINBURGH CASTLE

EDINBURGH CASTLE is an almost impregnable fortress perched upon an extinct volcano, right in the middle of Scotland’s Capital city, Edinburgh.

This podcast is the third in a four part series where I’ve already covered the Old and the New Towns and, in this Podcast, I will be taking you on a tour with me to the top of Edinburgh Castle, an incredible fortification that has been subject to 23 sieges in its 1000 year history, the most besieged castle in Europe. I'm also pleased to be joined by Lieutenant Colonel David Jack, the Royal Scots Regimental Secretary who will explain the connection between the Royal Scots infantry regiment and the Castle.

In this Podcast you will travel back in time to the first fortification built around 4,000 years ago then right up until the present day.

I’ll be explaining why a fortification was first built on this extinct volcano and why it has remained a fortress to this day. You will hear how it all began and then, fast forwarding you will hear about the part the Castle played in the Wars of Independence as well as the Jacobite rebellion resulting in the building of the Argyll Battery of guns to defend against these supporters of James VII. And the one o’clock gun – why is it fired every day to shake Edinburgh to its roots, and we will look inside the military prison and who the inmates were. And all that before we arrive at Crown square with the Royal Palace, now housing the Crown Jewels of Scotland or using their correct title, the Honours of Scotland. I’ll also be telling you about St Mary’s chapel, the oldest building in Edinburgh and how it has survived the ravages of time from Robert the Bruce in the 14th Century up until the modern day. And who is the Grey Lady ghost who enjoys frightening tourists from time to time….. All will be revealed.

This Podcast is the 2nd in a 4 Part series on Edinburgh city. Ghosts, witches and skeletons all revealed while building Edinburgh’s New Town would have been the Newspaper Headlines in 1780. And it is strange that the people of Edinburgh still use the name, ‘the New Town’ when it was built so long ago!

This is a story which follows on from my previous Podcast on the Old Town which had become overcrowded, filthy and disease ridden and something had to give. Effectively, the rich moved out and many would have left Scotland altogether had it not been for the foresight of the City Fathers who acknowledged a need for a new start beyond the city walls of the Old Town.

You will hear about the draining of the Norloch, the cesspit where most of Edinburgh’s Old Town detritus was deposited and the macabre findings by men who worked on the project. You will tour the Streets of the New Town with me and hear of the prestigious buildings and the prestigious individuals who inhabited those fabulous Georgian dwellings, such as Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone.

You will also hear from Sheonah Martin, the Manager at the Georgian House, who kindly agreed to be interviewed and to give us an insight into 1780s Edinburgh living and how the young ladies of the day met their husbands to be. And thankyou to the National Trust for Scotland for looking after so much of Scotland's heritage.

This Podcast is the first in a 4 Part series on Edinburgh City, the Capital of Scotland. It will look at Edinburgh from its early beginnings right up to today with stories of gentlemen  by day and thieves by night. It will highlight some of the most prominent buildings on the Royal Mile and, when talking about St Giles Cathedral, you will hear a desperate story of some of the inhabitants who were buried in the old Graveyard.

Who was Deacon Brodie and why was Robert Louis Stevenson so intrigued by this man. Who was Rizzio, secretary to Mary Queen of Scots and who was Clarinda whose romantic, yet mournful song is still so well known today.

Would you walk down an alleyway with the possibility of the contents of a chamber pot (toilet) being emptied on your head? It happened in the Old Town - find out why!

LETTER FROM SCOTLAND  is a light-hearted look at what makes the news in Scotland. It is an insight as to what makes this 'wee' country with a big heart tick. Some of the news is political commentary and other news is local gossip without taking it all too seriously.

In today's LETTER FROM SCOTLAND, you will discover how Scotland's national dish, the Haggis, could impact the forthcoming US Presidential elections. And what has TONG, a tiny Hebridean island, got to do with the ex-President Trump? Political chat is about the Covid enquiry and also reports on a slight disagreement (spat) between Mr Trump and Ms Sturgeon, Scotland's First Minister 2014 - 2023. Everyone loves a good juicy scandal and, if you read between the lines, you might just find one here! You'll hear about an escaped Japanese Macaque monkey who brightened up the lives of some Highlanders (and the Paprazzi) and can you believe that a 2 year old Scottish boy climbed to Everest BAsgte Camp? And, what is making the people of Mull tremble? You will also learn about the word 'Shenanigans' where this Podcast will bring it into use.

It's all here, in this tongue-in-cheek look at Scotland today. Sit down with a cup of tea for half an hour and listen to what is bothering us Scots and see if it helps you not take yourself too seriously.

The final episode of our epic 516 miles journey along the famous North Coast 500 route from Inverness to the north of Scotland on the east coast and returning to Inverness down the fabulously scenic west coast. We visited the Corrishalloch gorge near Ullapool in episode 5 and stopped overnight at Dundonnell in a quaint B&B. This final route takes us from Dundonnell along another wonderfully scenic route through Poolewe, Gairloch, Sheildaig, Applecross, Achnasheen and Beauly to mention just a few of the beauty spots we pass through. We also travel down the Bealach na Ba, a treacherous winding mountain road with hairpin bends and steep descents. The views, however, are amazing and this experience follows us all the way.

There are amazing stories on our journey from 2nd World War collection points for the Russian convoys to amazing tropical planted gardens in a most inhospitable part of the world in winter. There's scenery, fabulous beaches, towering mountains and deep lochs. There is so much to cover and we will just scratch the surface sufficiently for you, perhaps, to come and see it for yourself.

Let me, John Harbour, transport you on a wonderful journey and, hopefully, you will be able to experience it yourself one day. If you cannot come to Scotland, for whatever reason, then sit back, relax and let your imagination wander on this, the final leg, of the North Coast 500.

In this Podcast, John Harbour from Exclusive Scottish Visits welcomes in the New Year with a preview of his forthcoming final episod of the North Coast 500 (Part 6). We also get a sneak preview of his new releases for this year. He was delighted to meet some visitors to Scotland who planned their visits on the back of his audio and there is an interview with Caroline Tucci and Bob her husband when they met in Edinburgh.

Most travellers arrive in Edinburgh, the Capital city of Scotland, on thier travels to this fine country. You will be delighted to know that John's next 3 episodes of 2024 will be on Edinburgh. With much more to come, this will be an exciting year to be following John. Please Subscribe now on his Podcast Website page - www.exclusivescottishvisits.co.uk Look forward to you joining me on my wonderful adventures around Scotland.

Scotland’s North Coast 500 was opened in 2015 and this 516 mile route has become a very popular travel destination. This, Part 5, of our tour will take us from Durness in North West Sutherland down through an extraordinary Geopark where geologists from all over the world come to visit. We will drive on to Laxford bridge and onto a ‘destitution’ road. We’ll cross the incredible Kylesku bridge before heading to the Assynt and Coigach are.

We will pass through the town of Scourie and hear about General Mackay and his part in the Jacobite uprising. At Kylesku bridge you will hear of the wonderful memorial to the midget submariners who trained in this area during the war. We will drive around the northern part of the Assynt and Coigach area taking in the amazing mountains of Quinag, Suilven and Canisp. The ‘Cnoc and Lochan’ landscape (mountain and small lochs) is breath-taking. From there we will visit the 16th Century Ardrek castle and Calda House that was mysteriously burned down 10 years after its construction.

We will drive on to Ullapool, the gateway to the Outer Hebrides before dropping down to see two superb 19th century tropical gardens and then visit the Corrishalloch Gorge which is an outstanding natural 1 mile gorge with crashing waterfalls.

Come and join me on another Unique Scotland adventure and see some super photos on my website at www.exclusivescottishvisit.co.uk 

Scotland’s North Coast 500 was opened in 2015 and this 516 mile route has become a popular travel destination. This, Part 4, of our tour will take us from Bettyhill in Caithness to Durness on the north western corner of Scotland. This is Mackay Country. At Bettyhill we will hear of the renovation of the Strathnaver Museum and the Clan Mackay artefacts held within. We will pass through the town of Tongue and take a walk up to the old Castle Varich, the Mackay stronghold for hundreds of years. We will cross the Kyle of Tongue and drive around loch Eriboll which, for centuries, has been used as a safe anchorage from the often stormy seas of the North Atlantic Ocean. Tales of Viking massacres and German U-Boats will be told. We then head west to Durness, dropping into Smoo Cave on the way, a wonder to behold. At Durness we will find out why there is a memorial garden to John Lennon, one of the famous Beatles and why is one of his songs dedicated to this area? The north coast is a really beautiful rugged coastline with fabulous sandy beaches and spectacular views to the far north. Come and join me on another Unique Scotland adventure!

Scotland’s North Coast 500 was opened in 2015 and this 516 mile route has become a popular travel destination. This, Part 3, of our tour will take us from Wick on the east coast of northern Scotland to Bettyhill in Caithness. We will pass through the ancient Viking town of Wick and onto John ‘O Groats, one end of the longest distances between two inhabited points on the mainland of Britain. Enjoy the view over the Pentland Firth to the Orkney islands beyond.

We will then head West along the top of Scotland and call in to see the fabulous Castle of Mey, the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother’s home. We will stop for a picnic at Dunnett Head, the most northerly point on the British Mainland and walk the 300 feet cliffs to see the nesting birdlife among the rocks. We then pass through the town of Thurso whilst also enjoying the fabulous white sandy beaches of the North Coast before arriving at Bettyhill where we find the old Strathnaver church now housing a super Museum and is also home to the Mackay Clan display.