Scottish Blog

Kelpie is a horse-like creature that can be found in Scottish mythology.

Although a Kelpie is one of the most prominent figures in Scotttish mythology, the knowledge of it far exceeded by that of the Loch Ness monster. These two creatures actually share a common history, they are both seen in the accounts of St. Columba as he was said to have banished a Kelpie from River Ness, which at a later point came to be the “residence” of the Loch Ness Monster.

It is commonly said that a Kelpie lives in Scottish Lochs, in fact this is a mistake, as the only references to the creature claim that it lives exclusively in rivers.

The Kelpie could take many shapes, but predominantly it was found in the form of a horse which would appear nearby rivers. The creature would lure wanderers onto its back, whereupon it would plunge into the river and drown the person on its back. It was also said that a Kelpie would warn people of oncoming storms by its howling, commonly this howling would continue through the storm.
Another common form of the Kelpie is that of a hairy man who would leap out of riverside bushes and squeeze people to death.

Legends say that the power of Kelpie was held inside its bridle and if an individual were able to remove and keep the bridle than he could control the Kelpie. Further legends hold that the Clan MacGregor was in possession of one of these bridles, which was passed through he family.

Lewis and Harris make up the largest island in Scotland.

Lewis and Harris are both names referring to different sections of the largest island in Scotland. The Lewis and Harris Island makes up an area of 841 square miles or 217,898 hectares. The closest points between the mainland and Lewis and Harris are 24 miles apart, separated by a body of water called the Minch Strait.

Of all ninety one Scottish Islands, Lewis and Harris is the largest not only in size but also population, with roughly 20,000 inhabitants. The most concentrated settlement on Lewis and Harris is Stornoway. The island was also one of the ancestral homes of the MacLeod Clan.

Although it is one island, Lewis and Harris sound like two separate places and often it is referred to as Lewis with Harris or Harris with Lewis. There are no equivalent names in either Scottish Gaelic or English that refer to the island as one. Although in Old-Norse the island is referred to as “Ljodusherad”, meaning “Lewis Province”, which is where the current name is thought to stem from.

The two areas of Lewis and Harris are as different in their terrain as they are their names. The boundary between the two areas is between the Loch Resort and the Loch Seaforth. The northern side is referred to as Lewis and is generally lower in altitude with less mountains then its Southern counterpart. Harris on the other hand is much more mountainous and rugged, comparative to the Scottish Highlands. Until 1975 these two areas belonged to different Scottish counties, Lewis to the Ross and Cromotary county area and Harris to the Inverness-shire County. Currently Lewis and Harris is in the Western Isles Council.

Shinty is a sport that is almost exclusively played In Scotland.

Shinty is best described as being similar to field hockey. Each team consists of twelve players which include the goalie, playing on a field that is 140 to 170 yards in length and 70 to 80 yards in width. Generally a game of Shinty consists of two 45 minute halves.

Although there are many similarities in the look and play of Shinty and field-hockey, but equally there are just as many differences. In the game of Shinty, players are allowed to play the ball in the air and use either side of their sticks. The stick is allowed to be used in blocking and hacking at the ball in the opposing player’s possession. Tackling is allowed in the same shoulder to shoulder style of football. The ball may also be played with the chest and blocked with two feet or stopped with one planted foot. The goalie is also allowed to stop the ball with an open palm. It is also said that this set of rules for Shinty was the forbearers to modern ice-hockey, as Scottish immigrants to Nova Scotia were recorded playing the game on ice as early as the 1800’s.

Until 2003 Shinty was played in winter but not in snow. In 2003 a trial began to play the game during the summer month. The success of this trial led the organizing Shinty body, Camanachd Association, voted in favor of the game proceeding in the summer season.

The Isle of Skye is the biggest of the islands in the Inner Hebrides.

The Isle of Skye is the second largest island in Scotland, encompassing an area of 1656 square kilometers, it is only second to Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides. It is said that the terrain on the Isle of Skye is some of the most spectacular in Scotland. This accompanied with the various historic locations, like Dunvegan Castle of Clan McLeod and the Talisker Whisky distillery makes the Isle of Skye an intriguing and look into country of Scotland.

The population of the Isle of Skye is estimated to be roughly between 9000-9500. Historically, the Isle of Skye has seen higher populations before the 18th century. Famines are blamed for driving a large proportion of the population away from the island and causing the death of others. At the 1991 census, the population was exactly 9,232 people. Previous to this, the Isle of Skye was also subject to early settlement during the same time periods as the rest of the Hebrides.

Access to the Isle of Skye happens through Skye Bridge. Originally this was created as a private enterprise and tolls were instated upon the road. In 2004, the Skye Bridge was purchased by the Scottish Executive and the tolls were subsequently removed. Although the Isle of Skye does not have an official airport, there is an aerodrome which services private aircraft.

A number of castles by Clan MacDonald can be seen on the Isle of Skye beside Dunvegan - Armadale Castle, Dunscaith Castle, Duntulm Castle, Knock Castle.

The Hebrides are a group of archipelagos on Scotland’s West coast.

The Hebrides are probably the most well known islands in Scotland. The reasons for this are diverse. To some this stems from the fact that some of the oldest rock formations in the British Isles are found in the Hebrides, making it a place of importance and a wealth of information to researchers. The Hebrides can also boast to having the highest concentration of native Scottish Gaelic speakers in the world. The group islands are also one of the remaining areas where Gàidhlig (a subset of the Gaelic language). To some this equates the Hebrides to being a bastion of Scottish heritage and Scottish clan history.

The Hebrides consist of two main island groups, the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These two archipelagos include the islands of Skye, Mull, Islay, Jura, Staffa and the Small Isles, which are all part of the Inner Hebrides. The Outer Hebrides consist of Lewis and Harris, Berneray, North Uist, South Uist, Barra and St Kilda.

It is believed that the Hebrides were settled as early as 8500BC, but beyond small shreds of physical artifacts, the evidence to support this is scarce. With the arrival of the Romans to what is now Scotland there is pieces of information to point to settlement of the Hebrides. In the writing of Diodorus Siculus in 55 BC, there is mention of what appears to be the Outer Hebrides. A number of other astronomers and writers of that time like Pliny the Elder and the Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy, make references to islands that by description seem to match that of the Hebrides.

The Hebrides came under the control of Scotland in 1266 as a settlement with Norway. Before which it was settled and controlled by the Norwegians since the 9th century.

The Davidian Revolution is a name given to the changes bought forward to the Scottish nation under the reign of King David I.

As a monarch, King David I is a unique icon in Scottish history. Cumulatively, his accomplishments were labelled the Davidian Revolution. To this day, his impact on Scottish society can be felt.

The Davidian Revolution is a term penned by two major historians, it has come to be the name historians generally use to refer to the years 1124 to 1153. As a summary the Davidian Revolution was described as “to surround his fortified royal residence and its mercantile and ecclesiastical satellites with a ring of close friends and supporters, bound to him and his heirs by feudal obligation and capable of rendering him military service of the most up-to-date kind and filling administrative offices at the highest level"

In more detail, the Davidian Revolution is characterized by the foundation of improvements to society.

Of these improvements, one of the most important is the foundation of burghs. David I came to be known as David the town builder. Many towns that currently make up Scotland were formed under the command of King David I. In turn more surrounding towns were constructed. In time collection of towns or even areas of great population were granted burgh status. Of these, some of most important currently are Edinburgh and Stirling. Unfortunately not all records of the works commissioned by King David during the Davidian Revolution, so the exact number of burghs established by King David I is still unknown.

A Clarsach is an ancient Scottish harp instrument.

The Clarsah was one of ancient Scotland’s most popular instruments, with harpists being some of the most prestigious figures in society. Such is the extent of its popularity that there is even a clan named in its honour. The Clan MacWhirter, part of the Buchanan clan, translates to Son of the Harper. The Clarsach also lends its name to a number of place names. These include Harper’s Pass and Harper’s field. To this day, the Clarsach is a modern symbol of Ireland.

The Clarsach and its harper were thought to be an influential aspect of society, so much so that the use of a harp was outlawed by Queen Elizabeth I, as she feared that their song could insight political unrest amongst commoners.

The Clarsach takes the form of many classical harp instruments. The Clarsach consists of a wooden frame holding a number of wire strings, which are picked by its players. One of the earliest documented mentions of the Clarsach was in 1138 when a number of the instrument were played at the Battle of Standard. It is also mentioned in 1238, when Alexander III visited the court of Edward I, the King of England.

There are a number of surviving examples of the Clarsach, of these three are from an early period, estimated to be before the 13th century, their artistic designs imply that their place of origin is probably the Western Highlands. Nearly fifteen examples remain from later dates, most of these from about the 18th century.

The Student Awards Agency for Scotland is responsible for a number of important services for students, predominantly with financing studies.

Education does not have a direct effect on understanding your Scottish heritage, but having an wide and encompassing “overall” picture of your ancestor’s country of origin can help you better understand the history and better appreciate your Scottish Clan history. And as such, in terms of education, the Student Awards Agency for Scotland would seem like a good thing to learn about.

The job that the Student Awards Agency for Scotland is known for is their payment of student’s fees. Unlike other areas of the United Kingdom, Scottish students do not pay their own fees as they are paid by the Student Awards Agency of Scotland.
To ensure that the Student Awards Agency for Scotland will have money for payment of future tuition fees, the Student Award Agency charges a Graduate Endowment to most graduating students. There are a number of exceptions which will allow a student not to pay the typical Graduate Endowment, commonly these are either having been a recipient of the Student Awards Agency for Scotland disability allowance of having graduated in certain subjects. These subjects change often, depending on the supply or demand of certain academic fields.

The Student Award Agency for Scotland also gives loans to students studying in Scotland. This is another important aspect of the Student Awards Agency for Scotland’s duties. These loans have a minimum monetary amount of £650. Higher amounts are subject to restrictions based on the income of the student’s family.

The student Awards Agency for Scotland also gives out “gifts” known as Bursaries. These too are based on student family income and can reach to totals of £2455.

The General Register Office for Scotland is an arm of the Scottish Executive, which deals with the registration of births, deaths, adoptions, marriages and divorces in Scotland.

the general Register Office of Scotland preforms a duty to the Scottish people that is similar to that which the Court of the Lord Lyon preforms for Scottish heraldry and Scottish heirloom symbols.

The initial incarnation of the General Register Office for Scotland was the clergy of the Church of Scotland, who's job it was within a parish to record the baptisms and marriages of their church members. Although this effectively created records of communities, it had the shortcoming of not recording those who did not attend church and also that the records were disjointed from one area to another. At a later point the recording of deaths was also added to the responsibility of the church, this was decided by a general meeting of the Church of Scotland.

In 1854, parliament passed an act which transferred the responsibility of recording such events to Parliament itself, this in effect was the first creation of the General Register Office of Scotland, in its current form.

Currently, the General Register Office of Scotland is housed in the New Register House in Edinburgh. This has been its location since the 30th of March 1861, previous to this the General Register Office of Scotland was located in the General Register House, also in Edinburgh.

King Bridei III was at one point the overking of the Picts.

The reign of King Bridei III as King of the Picts began in 671 and ended with his death in 693. Due to disputes of his exact birthdate, it is unknown exactly how old King Bridei III was at his death. Best estimates of his birth year are either 616 or 628.

King Bridei III is best known as one of the leaders involved in the Battle of Dunichen. As a king, King Bridei III was regarded as a rather expasionary king. Predominently this involved attacking neighbouring kingdoms. In 681 King Bridei led a campaign against King Dunnotar in Orkney. In fact, the camapign was said to have been so violent that the “Annals of Ulster” recorded the state of Orkeny as being “deleted”. The next year King Bridei III began a camppaign to conquer the Strathearn region, ruled by King Dundurn, this too was succesful.

King Bridei III began shapping himself in the image of a powerful leader ruling from his main base in Moray. It was believed then as it is now, that King Bridei III was attempting to secure and rule the districts to the North and South of his location. It soon came to be believed that King Bridei III was attempting to also secure the areas which were at one point ruled by his grandfather. In 685, King Ecgfrith opposed the efforts of King Bridei III, which amounted to the Battle of Dunichen. King Bridei II was the victor in this case.

King Bridei III died in 693.

See also: Famous Scots.

The Clydesdale Bank is Scotland's third largest bank.

The Clydesdale Bank was formed in 1838. The original branch of the Clydesdale Bank was founded in Glasgow, although the operation soon spread across Scotland. It was also the first Scottish bank to have opened branches across the border in England.

Previous the Clydesdale Bank has existed in a number of subsidiary forms. In 1919 the Midland Bank purchased the Clydesdale Bank. In 1950 the Clydesdale bank was merged with the North of Scotland Bank, which was also acquired by the Midland Bank. In 1987 the Midland bank sold off a number of their United kingdom based businesses, amongst these was the Clydesdale Bank. the main buyer of these businesses, including the Clydesdale bank was the nab Group (National Australia Bank group). In 2001, the Clydesdale bank received all the assets and liabilities of the Yorkshire bank. Currently all of the operations the Clydesdale bank performse in England are done under the name of the Yorkshire bank.

The Clydesdale Bank is currently sponsoring a number of sporting events. Predominent amongst these is their current sponsorship of the Scottish Premier football league. Previous to this, the Clydesdale Bank has also sponsored the Scottish Commonwealth team, for the Melbourne Commonwealth games.

Because Scotland has no set legal tender the Clydesdale Bank issues its own banknotes. Currently the Clydesdale bank produces 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pound notes. These feature a number of Scottish symbols, ranging from Robert Burns to the Glasgow university.

Gordon Ramsay is a world renowned Scottish born chef.

Gordon Ramsay is considered by many to be a modern celebrity chef and a famous television personality. He is one of only three chefs in the United Kingdom to have been awarded with a Michelin star. For many, Gordon Ramsay is as strong a symbol of Scotland as your Scottish Heirloom Jewelry.

Gordon Ramsay was born in Johnstone, on the 8th of November 1966. His childhood has been described as difficult due to his father. It is said that his father was an alcoholic and failed at the many of his pursuits. Although in his early age Gordon Ramsay excelled at football, he was chosen for a representative under-14 team at the age of eleven. He joined a number of other teams, but these accomplishments were overshadowed by the Glasgow Rangers actively seeking to recruit Gordon Ramsay into their team. Although knee injuries prevented him from perusing this path.

At this point Gordon Ramsay already had an interest in cooking, he decided to pursue this career further, beginning at a culinary college. Upon completion Gordon ramsey took a number of chef positions, quickly rising to top positions. This continued until he moved to London where he worked under Marco Pierre White, who came to be his mentor in the following years. this was followed by a number of other positions as heads of various kitchens, one being on a luxury yacht and also the French Alps.

Currently Gordon Ramsay is part of the following restaurants:

Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
Boxwood Café
Angela Hartnett at the Connaught
Maze
Pétrus
Banquette
The Savoy Grill
Verre
Gordon Ramsay at Conrad Tokyo
Cerise by Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay at The London
La Noisette
The Narrow

See also: Famous Scots.