John Harbour explains what you can expect from the Unique Scotland podcast series. An introduction to this small but beautiful country. The people, the places, the customs and a carefully researched tour through this proud nation; with John as your expert, trusted guide. Subscribe now and receive each episode as it's released.
This Podcast takes you on a tour from Edinburgh to Inverness. It is the first part of a Tour Trilogy that will see you travel all the way from Edinburgh to Inverness and back, calling into some of the most iconic places in Scotland. This first part takes you from Edinburgh to St Andrews. You will be starting on the outskirts of the city of Edinburgh and on making you way in to the medieval centre, you will hear the story of how Edinburgh formed and what it looks like today. The castle takes centre stage and you will be given an introduction to this enormous fortress sitting on top of an extinct volcano. You will hear about the New town, an incredibly beautiful Georgian construction of 1770 and on leaving Edinburgh to head north you will hear about the new Queensferry crossing bridge just opened in 2018. You will travel through the Kingdom of Fife arriving at the home of Golf, St Andrews and learn about the amazing St Andrews Cathedral and why this was such an important place in the Middle Ages. Kate and William’s University gets a mention and, obviously, you will learn about the Old Course and the home of golf. A great start to your first mini tour of Scotland.
Scotland, this small nation of 5 million people is an incredible success story. No invader has ever defeated the Scots and, in more peaceful times, these people have shown to the world what an incredible nation of inventors, mathematicians, designers they are. This Podcast talks about the Scottish People, where they originate from, what are their historic roots and what has shaped their lives over thousands of years and also, what shapes their lives today. The Scots have always been a fierce proud race and this Podcast will give you an insight into where this total self-belief came from and why Scotland makes Britain Great.
Scotland the Country will give you an insight into this small but amazing country that you’ve probably never had before. You’ll be told of it’s earliest beginnings, how the land formed millions of years ago and how the land took the shape that we see today. It will tell you about the different parts of Scotland and how the landscape has shaped the lives of the people who live there and also why people live in the places that they do. Scotland’s beauty comes from the photogenic mountainous west coast with heather glens and deep lochs bordering the fierce Atlantic Ocean. On the east coast there are more rounded hills with salmon laden rivers leading down to the relatively benign North Sea that has kept fishermen busy for thousands of years… and all this in a Podcast – now you have to listen.
This Podcast takes you on a tour from St Andrews to Inverness through some of the most picturesque towns in Scotland. It is the second part of a tour trilogy that will see you travel all the way from Edinburgh to Inverness and back, calling into some of the most iconic places of Scotland. You will be standing on the most famous bridge in the world before leaving St Andrews and, photos taken, you will head north across the Tay Bridge through Dundee up to the beautiful Cathedral town of Dunkeld before heading north again into the Cairngorms National Park. You will arrive in Inverness and, after an evening relaxing, you will visit the famous battlefield of Culloden and also a 4000 year old site that gave Diana Gabaldon her inspiration for the Outlander series.
If you do not believe in the Loch Ness Monster, then perhaps this podcast will change your mind - perhaps not - but you'll have great fun hearing about it. This podcast takes you on a tour from Inverness, past Loch Ness sitting in the Great Glen and on through some of the most picturesque towns and villages of Scotland. It is the third part of a Tour Trilogy that will see you travel all the way from Edinburgh to Inverness and back, calling into some of the most iconic places of Scotland. The Great Glen sits on a geological fault with 4 lochs leading from Inverness down to Fort William. You will pass through the town of Fort Augustus and go on to Glencoe (of Glencoe massacre fame) and hear that sad and terrible tale. Then Loch Lomond, Glasgow and back to Edinburgh. It is difficult to describe how beautiful the sights are that you will see, but this podcast will go some way to bring Scotland to you.
The Customs and Traditions of Scotland cover a large range of activities and clothing as well as music and strange eating habits. Kilts, bagpipes, tossing the caber and eating haggis are just some of the extraordinary Customs and Traditions of Scotland, a small but wonderful country with more sheep than people! If you want to know why an enormous kilted Scotsman would want to throw a tree trunk across a field, then do listen. What exactly is a haggis and how can you catch one? Where does the Scots Tartan originate? It is all here in this Podcast. You will hear some traditional Scottish music and discover the origins of the Highland Games as well as the Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo. There's much, much more so do listen in to be tickled pink about this proud but strange race - the Scots
From Loch Ness to the Isle of Skye, or the Misty Isle as it is known, will take you on an atmospheric journey from the best known loch in the world to the best known island. Your tour will take you from Loch Ness past Glen Moriston and into Glen Shiel where you will hear about the famous battle of 1719 and the part that Spaniards played. You will visit the most photographed castle in Scotland, Eilean Donan, and call into the wonderful garden of Attadale near to Loch Carron. As you cross onto Skye, you will hear about Saucy Mary, a Norwegian Princess and visit her resting place at the top of a mountain. You will experience shimmering lochs, high mountain passes and wonderful scenery as well as the story of where the Scottish liqueur Drambuie came from - and much more!
In travelling around the north of Skye, you will be standing in some of most stunning scenery in Scotland. The Trotternish ridge is breath-taking and as you visit the high cliff at Kilt Rock, you will also hear of prehistoric monster fossils found on a beach nearby. You will visit the Skye museum of Island Life and hear how people lived in the 17th and 18th centuries. Nearby is the resting place of Flora Macdonald, a Scottish heroine, who is well remembered for her part in saving the Jacobite leader Charles Edward Stuart, or Bonnie Prince Charlie. There are ruined castles and ghost stories and all set in the most picturesque landscape.
Letter from Scotland is a no holds barred commentary on topical news items affecting Scotland . It you an insight into what is going on in Scotland and around the rest of the UK in the Media. It brings you up to date with the issues of the day, both local and national including the more controversial issues affecting Scotland's Politics. It is short and sharp and will give you a good taste for the items making the news
From Loch Snizort you will travel up to the Waternish Ridge and stop by a Fairy Bridge with tales of a Macleod Clan Chief who married a Fairy. Incredible as this may seem, when the Fairy had to return to the underworld, she left him a Flag with mysterious powers that could call upon extra clansmen if ever the Clan was in trouble in battle. This Flag is on display in Dunvegan castle today! The trip up Waternish will bring you to Trumpan Church, an eerie place reflecting a terrible tragedy and, nearby, the site of the Battle of the Spoiling Dyke. From there you will drive on to Dunvegan and take in the splendid Dunvegan Castle before taking time to visit Talisker distillery. On the tour you will visit the magical Fairy Pools with the Cullin mountains as a backdrop. Much to see and hear so enjoy this final part 3 tour of the Isle of Skye
This is the first of a three Part Series, walking you through the magical world of Whisky. This episode will focus on the history of the Amber Nectar, from where it originated, to the fabulous distilleries all over Scotland. It was not an easy journey and you can find out here how the beaurocracy was overcome and how the great whisky houses of today were formed. In addition we have the great pleasure of a Whisky expert and Keeper of the Quaich, Ronnie Berry joining us on this Podcast. Ronnie is a well known Whisky ambassador who has conducted Whisky tastings all over the world. Ronnie's business can be found on his website SCOTTISH WHISKY TOURS.
To find that some distilleries are producing No Age Statement (NAS) bottles of whisky is rather disturbing especially after years of being told that one must "look out for the number - know your age - know your Whisky". This will be discussed after a look at how cool spring water is turned into the amber nectar known as the Single Malt whisky. You will also learn to read a label and come to understand the difference between a Single Malt and a Blended whisky. There is also a story of one man's conversion to a whisky that he thought was awful. It is a fun tour of today's Scottish whisky industry - enjoy!
Master of the Quaich and entry to the Whisky Hall of Fame is bestowed upon only the best of the best and Charles Maclean fits that category. With 18 books under his belt, founding member of the Whisky magazine, Whisky correspondent for Scottish Field and host of a Whisky TV channel, it was a delight to interview this true whisky connoisseur who did not hold back during our discussion. He divulged his favourite whisky and it surprised me! As a prelude to the interview, I look at different whiskies around the world and also the whisky regions of Scotland that Charles comments upon later. But the gem of the Podcast is the full and frank discussion on the whisky industry today and Charles' take on where the industry is heading.
When a Scottish Politician calls a world leader a delusional bully with dangerous conspiracy theories, who could he be talking about. Just one of the topics to listen to on this roundup of what is affecting Scotland today - from Covid to Politics to the Royal Family and much more with a tale of human kindness to end with a special plea to Mr Turmp!
This Podcast takes us from the Isle of Skye to the mainland where we land at Mallaig, a small fishing port. The port is home to the Mallaig train station and became famous for the filming of the Harry Potter train, the Hogwarts Express, and you can travel on the very same steam train that travels between Mallaig and Fort William. I will be dropping my guests at the train station and making my way along the parallel road to meet them at their destination. They will cross the famous Glenfinnan viaduct, the very same place that Bonnie Prince Charlie landed in 1745. He escaped from a spot not far from their after his disastrous defeat at Culloden. So much to see and do on the way!
The Trossachs is a naturally beautiful part of lowland Scotland and, to some extent, mirrors the beauty of the Highlands with it lochs, glens and mountains. But it is some of the stories connected with this part of the world that draw thousands of visitors each year. The stories of fairies and a book written by a clergyman who truly believed in their existence, and strange happenings just after the book was published. Hear about Rob Roy, Scotland's vagabond, and the famous Loch Katrine brought to life by the epic poem by Sir Walter Scott, Lady of the Lake.
Stirling castle was an extremely important Royal residence for hundreds of years. Close by, in the small town of Doune, is an equally impressive castle, Doune castle, with its own bloody history. This castle has shot to fame recently because of the popular Outlander series where Jamie and Claire first met. Monty Python lovers will also enjoy the story of Doune where the filming took place. This Podcast journeys from the Trossachs, through Dunblane and talks of the Battle of Sheriffmuir. We also pass by the Wallace Monument and onto Stirling castle where Robert the Bruce's statue stands tall and proud looking south to his own famous battleground, Bannockburn
If you love Scotland or are simply intrigued by this small independently minded, bagpipe blowing, haggis eating, caber tossing, tartan kilted nation then you will be interested in the news and views of it's people, the media and its politicians. Letter from Scotland gives the thinking man and woman a local perspective of what makes this tiny country tick. Scotland, with its population of 5 1/2 million which is only a quarter the size of the New York City metro area, has an incredible impact on the world and has had from the late 17th and early 18th centuries. This monthly letter is open to all people with even the slightest connection to Scotland and, to those with no connection, enjoy it too
Inverness dates back to the 6th Century and is chronicled in the Biography of St Columba by Adomnan his scribe. The first reference to the Loch Ness Monster is recorded here when St Columba was asked by the locals to rid the loch of a terrible monster that was terrorising the fishermen and those living by the lochside. But there is so much more to Inverness and its surrounds and you can hear all about it in this three part series from Inverness to Gairloch.