CLAN COURIER

A Roman fort is discovered, and a Scottish baker celebrates international success

[HISTORIC HOUSES] STATELY STEAL

Three of Scotland’s most iconic heritage attractions can be visited this summer using a special discount ticket.

The Treasure Ticket gives holders 10% off visits to historic Blair Castle, Scone Palace, and Glamis Castle – all of which are within an hour’s drive of each other – between now and the end of October 2023.

Steven Cumming, general manager at Glamis Castle, called the ticket “an absolute must for tourists visiting the area.” atholl-estates.co.uk/blair-castle; glamis-castle.co.uk; scone-palace.co.uk

See more about what’s going on at each of these beautiful stately homes in our editor’s pick of stately home and castle events on page 10.

[SCOTTISH FOOD]

BEST-SELLING HEBRIDEAN BAKER

A Scottish baker is celebrating huge international success after his book, My Scottish Island Kitchen, hit the best-selling list in Canada in its first week of release there, while his promotional tour of North America has won him legions of new fans.

Coinneach MacLeod’s book is inspired by family recipes and the food he enjoyed growing up in the Outer Hebrides, from Empire biscuits to mince & tatties, all of which he brings together in one beautifully illustrated book that o ers a peek into island life.

hebrideanbaker.com

[ARCHAEOLOGY]

Roman Fortlet Is Found

The buried remains of a Roman fortlet, one of up to 40 that are believed to have once lined the Antonine Wall have been uncovered by Historic Environment Scotland (HES).

The fort was found in a field near Carleith Primary School in West Dunbartonshire, and it is believed it would once have resembled Watling Lodge fortlet (see artist’s impression of that fortlet, pictured) and would probably have been occupied by 10 to 12 Roman soldiers who were stationed at a larger fort nearby, likely to be Duntocher.

In 1707, antiquarian Robert Sibbald, wrote that he had seen a fortlet in the area around Carleith Farm, but although excavation teams looked for it in the 1970s and 1980s, its exact location remained unknown until now when the survey team were able to employ gradiometry — a geophysical surveying technique that allows teams to look under the soil without the need for excavation.

Riona McMorrow, deputy head of world heritage at HES, said: “Archaeology is often partly detective work, and the discovery at Carleith is a nice example of how an observation made 300 years ago and new technology can come together to add to our understanding.”

Turn to page 72 for more on the Romans in Scotland.

[DOCUMENTARY] TUGGING AT THE MUSICAL STRINGS

A film that celebrates the legacy of the Ulster-Scots or Scotch Irish (Scots Irish) in the US is looking for funding to bring it to screen.

AMERICA’S OTHER IRISH —

A MUSICAL JOURNEY documents the arrival of the first Irish immigrants in great numbers in the US in the 18th century, blending compelling narrative with traditional music to explore how they helped to shape Western democracy, including playing a pivotal role in the Revolutionary War.

For a 100-year period beginning in 1717, more than half a million people – largely Presbyterian descendants of Scottish settlers who had colonised the north of Ireland for the British Crown in the 1600s –left Ireland’s northern province of Ulster for new lives in America.

American folk singer John McCutcheon, who narrates the film and will lead an ensemble of musicians in performing some of the songs on its soundtrack, said: “The film will interweave the narrative with Scottish, Irish, and American traditional ballads that illustrate and emotionally reflect on the stories told in the narrative. As the late Irish traditional singer and song collector – and my friend – Frank Harte wrote, ‘Those in power write the history, while those who su er write the songs.’”

The film is being produced by two award-winning filmmakers based in Atlanta, Georgia – Chris Moser and David Hughes Duke – who are seeking both major sponsors and small crowdfunding donors to fund the film. americasotherirish.com

[SHOPPING]

Going For Gold

Hamilton & Inches, which has been making jewellery in the heart of Edinburgh since 1866, has launched a timeless collection of 18ct Scottish Gold fine jewellery made up of two di usion lines: Fleur-de-lys and Star Fleur-de-lys. Using gold extracted from Scotland’s first and only gold mine, Scotgold Resources’ Cononish Gold Mine in Tyndrum on the edge of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, the 10-piece collection is handcrafted in the jeweller’s goldsmith shop above the Hamilton & Inches showroom in the capital. The company is now also making its beautiful engagement collection available in Scottish Gold and taking commissions for bespoke orders for 18ct Scottish Gold fine jewellery. hamiltonandinches.com

Victoria Houghton, CEO of Hamilton & Inches, said of the collection: “We are conscious of the growing importance customers are placing on the origin and provenance of the items that they are buying, which is why we are proud to showcase this new collection which boasts a single mine origin status from Scotgold’s Cononish gold mine, emphasising our dedication to sustainable making”.