Martin Luther is synonymous with Protestantism in Germany. In France, John Calvin led the reform movement. Scotland, too, had its giant of ecclesiastical reform in John Knox.
The Declaration of Arbroath is of huge importance to Scottish history and at the time was called "the most eloquent case for a nation’s claim to freedom produced anywhere in medieval Europe”. Forbes Inglis takes a look.
Do Scotland by train and leave the driving. Elegant Edinburgh, the floral city of Aberdeen and west to the Highland capital of Inverness.
Follow in the footsteps of Mary Queen of Scots by visiting the houses, castles, and areas she stayed in while imprisoned by her cousin Elizabeth I.
A gem of a visit on the Grampian Line, in Scotland.
Long the focus of folklore and legend, including Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, what about an email from Mary Magdalene? Why not?!
The Academy Award-winning film Braveheart managed to propel Sir William Wallace through nearly seven centuries. Through the magic of Hollywood, the infamous 13th-century Scottish hero has returned to his homeland and has once again created quite a stir.
"A man neither very good nor very bad, the fool of fortune and the tool of politicians, a pirate in spite of himself."
As the coronavirus pandemic is really hampering our British travel plans in 2020 we decided to pull together some ingenious virtual tours of Britain's top attractions.
Forbes Inglis takes a look at Gretna Green, the little Scottish village of love.
Though separated from the Scottish mainland by only 10 miles across the Pentland Firth, Orkney is one destination that really feels a world away.
A British Heritage report from the stern of the Bridge Deck - seeing Britain from a cruiseliners luxury.
The Royal Family has always shared a special relationship with Scotland and its people and this British Pathe footage from 1955 shows just that.
A look at what Scottish food is all about. Think Scottish food is all haggis and potatoes? Well, you wouldn’t be far wrong...
The Royal Family's love for Scotland is very well documented and this footage at the Highland Games illustrates that wonderfully.
Manderston House in the Scottish Borders, almost completely rebuilt in Edwardian times, is described as being the swansong of that era.
The Scots have placed their affections in some strange places throughout their battle-worn history
Scotland is a country filled with some incredible sights. The Scottish Borders in particular offer up some stunning views.
Urquhart Castle is surely one of the most picturesquely situated castles in the Scottish Highlands. Located 16 miles south-west of Inverness, the castle, one of the largest in Scotland, dominates a sandstone bluff overlooking much of the length of Loch Ness.
It took people with real vision to change life for our ancestors, a case in point can be found at the New Lanark mills in southwest Scotland.
Our expert British travel writer's nine places that ought to be on every must-see list for anyone planning a trip to the United Kingdom.
Remarkable British Pathé footage shows the Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth and newborn Prince Andrew, arrive at their Scottish castle in 1960.
If you're looking for a single whistle-stop tour take a trip to “Scotland in miniature”, the Isle of Arran.
If you’re intrigued about visiting Scotland but don’t know where to start let this be your guide...
A house fit for an Earl! The history of Dumfries House in south-west Scotland largely revolves around two men, separated in time by almost 250 years.
Move over hygge, the Danish term referring to coziness and comfort, this year we’re all about Scottish coorie.
England, Scotland, and Wales...Which is your favorite? Join us as we take a look into what makes each one so special.
Welcome to Edinburgh, Auld Reekie, the Athens of the North, the seat of Scottish culture and center of its history for the past 600 years.
Have you been to Aberdeenshire?
Taking the High Road from Inverness to the Isle of Skye.
Dana Huntley went on a 715-mile road trip through the Western Highlands and discovered the most spectacular landscape he’s ever seen.
In the early part of the 13th century, an English cleric wrote; “Great Tay, through Perth, through towns, through country flies, Perth the whole Kingdom with her wealth supplies.”
The only rotating boat lift in the world, connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal.
The isle of Iona is one of Scotland's best-kept secrets and most stunning tourist attractions.
Spreading north and west of the North Sea city of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire encompasses some of the most spectacular landscapes, coastline and history in Scotland. Having visited the region a number of times, I set out to capture the particular magic of this northeast corner of the kingdom. It’s about a 50-mile drive up the A90 through Ellon and on up to Fraserburgh at the very northeast point of the coast. A working harbor for centuries, the gritty town is home to one of the largest fishing fleets in Britain. Then, I turned east onto the marked scenic Coast Road 10 miles to Cullykhan Bay and the harbor village of Pennan. If the only inn in Pennan looks familiar, it may be because the 1983 movie Local Hero (among Burt Lancaster’s last) was filmed here. An iconic image from the movie was the classic phone box across the street. The innkeeper opines it is the most profitable phone box in Britain. Every visitor wants to make a call. One street of terraced houses curves around Pennan’s harbor facing the sea with their back to the cliffs. Nowadays, many of the cottages are owned as holiday and weekend residences. Their visitors meet at the inn for food, drink and community. At the village hall, there are public restrooms, always open. A sign invites folks to contribute coins to the maintenance of the facility into the saucer on the window sill. That it sits unmolested says something about the community, too. Aberdeenshire boasts of its unriveled 300 castles. Dominating the market town of Huntly, Huntly Castle was for centuries the seat of the powerful Gordon clan. Aberdeenshire’s army regiment was the much-honored Gordon Highlanders. The bas-relief coat of arms of the Gordon lords is among the most noted features of Huntly Castle. The market town of Huntly spread out from the castle supports a vast swathe of arable land and farms—the breadbasket of Scotland. Here they raise acres of grain that thrive in the moist northern climate, principally oats and barley. In the town of Keith, the pagoda domes of the Strathisla Distillery mark where a good deal of that barley is turned into Chivas Regal whisky. Distilleries abound throughout Aberdeenshire. In every farming village and hamlet, however, the most prominent building will be the Kirk, the Presbyterian Church of Scotland founded by John Knox.
Decent homes, fair wages and the first nursery school in the world
'There are black slugs everywhere!' My 6-year-old daughter gleefully exclaimed as we combed a steep grassy slope hunting for traces of wizards and magic. Harry Potter film crews had just dismantled the hut of the giant, Hagrid, and we were hot on their trail in the mountains of Glencoe, Scotland. 'Ron Weasley must have been throwing up all over the place,' she added with delight.
Plans to upgrade visitor facilities at Urquhart Castle have put the castle's caretakers at odds with the wishes of the nearby townspeople.