Iāve had so much fun filming Cameo ās for the last couple of days! Iāve just extended my special discount on Cameo, which means you can now get one for just $20 dollars up until the 31st of December. Iām available if you need a last minute Christmas present or a wee Happy New Year message for a friend or loved one. Link is in belowšhttps://www.cameo.com/andythehighlander #cameo #scotland #andythehighlander #christmas #newyear
Continuing my count down of my favourite videos from 2024, we go back to May at Blackness Castle
I was joined by none other than the @scottishgeologist who helped me demonstrate how to wear the great kilt
Let me know who else I should collab with in 2025!
The Great Kilt, also known as the belted plaid, is one of the most iconic garments associated with Scotland. Originating around the 16th century, it was worn as a practical and versatile piece of clothing that could serve as a cloak, a blanket, or even a shelter. Today, the Great Kilt remains a popular and highly-regarded symbol of Scottish culture
The Great Kilt was first mentioned in writing in the late 16th century, but itās likely that it was worn in some form before then. Originally, it was made from a single length of woolen cloth that was pleated and draped around the body, with the ends brought up and fastened at the shoulder with a brooch. Over time, the Great Kilt evolved, with different styles and methods of wearing it emerging.
By the 18th century, the Great Kilt had become the standard dress of the Highland clans, and it was worn for both practical and ceremonial purposes. The material used to make it was often woolen, but other fabrics such as linen and cotton were also used. The Great Kilt remained in widespread use until the end of the 18th century, when it was replaced by the more modern, tailored kilt.
caption source:clan.com
#scotland #kilt #greatkilt #outlander #howtowearthegreatkilt #scottish #history #andythehighlander #scottishgeologist #18thcenturydrip #fitcheck
This is Scotlandās oldest tartan, the Glen Affric tartan!
This might be my favourite video Iāve shared this year and I often get questions about this kilt, so hereās a video I made back in May talking all about it.
Discovered approximately forty years ago in a peat bog, the Glen Affric Tartan underwent testing organised by The Scottish Tartans Authority to confirm it was indeed the oldest surviving piece of tartan, dating from 1500-1600.
Although earlier cloths have been discovered in Scotland, this is the first to show a distinctive tartan pattern with multiple crossing lines of different dyed yarns.
It features the colours that dye analysis of the original tartan had confirmed - this included the use of green, yellow and red, which would have come from woad or indigo to create the green along with other natural dyes. This, along with the determined thread count, helped The House of Edgar bring this piece of Scottish history back to life.
Huge thank you to The House of Edgar for gifting me this stunning kilt, I have wanted to tell this story for a while and they were kind enough to actually make a kilt for me using the Glen Affric tartan!
sources: House of Edgar
#gifted #tartan #glenaffric #scotland #history #glenaffrictartan #scottish #highlands #houseofedgar #andythehighlander
Mind the hatch!
Back we go to May with a visit to Blackness Castle,
Scotlandās Kings and Queens used Blackness Castle as a state prison. It was used to house middle and low status prisoners as well as those of higher office. Many of them were held here in the stem tower.
This room was relatively well appointed with a fireplace, a window and a latrine giving the prisoner a basic level of comfort.
Itās likely that the Border reiver āCrukit Dandeā Ormiston was held here in 1561 when he was a āguest of Blackness
In stark contrast, prisoners of low status were held in the pit prison below. These wretched souls endured horrific conditions. Imagine being stuck in the cold and dark as the pit was āslopped outā twice a day by the high tide. The damp conditions would have made it mouldy, smelly and uncomfortable. Rats would have been frequent visitors.
source:Blackness Visitor Information Board
#scotland #outlander #visitscotland #history #andythehighlander #highlandertours #Bestof2024
In March I paid a visit to Cawdor Castle..the castle built around a tree!
The castle is well known to Shakespeare fans as āMacbethās Castleā, and the location of his infamous plotting to become King after becoming the Thane of Cawdor.
Alas, the real castle was built well after āMacbethā had died. However, a stranger, but truer tale is connected to it.
William Calder, Thane of Cawdor, was granted permission to fortify the area. He loaded up his donkey with gold, said to bring good luck, and determined that wherever the donkey decided to lay down and rest, was where he would build the castle.
After some time of walking, the donkey took refuge under a thorn tree, and this is the exact spot where the castle was built. You can still see the thorn tree to this day, which with radiocarbon dating, puts the tree dated at around 1372. The tree is now dead and protected in the vaults beneath the castle.Ā
sources: britanexpress.com , cawdorcastle.com, atlasobscura.com
#cawdorcastle #scotland #history #castlesofscotland #visitscotland #shakespeare #macbeth #thescottishplay #andythehighlander #highlandertours #outlander #castle #kilt #greatkilt
Who can name this song? š Huge thanks to Spud The Piper for surprising my guests on the Highlander Tours Lochs & Legends tour !#scotland #bagpipes #andythehighlander #spudthepiper #highlandertours
