The Journal of The Scots Heritage Society 

Published November 2003.

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REGULARS

4     Editorial

6     Letters

8     Letter from Scotland - Barbara Young

16   Focus on Scotland – Dumfries and Galloway

92   SCOTS Gaelic - Ruairidh MacIlleathain

94   SCOTS Fare – Jamie Thewes

100 SCOTS Gardens – Dawyck

106 SCOTS Music – Brian McNeill

108 SCOTS Music Reviews -Pete Clark

110 SCOTS Book Reviews - Seumas MacLeod

DIRECTORY

112 Caledonian Calendar

113 Clans and Societies

119 SCOTS Business Directory

FEATURES

10 AIGAS

After 24 years as Scotland’s leading field study centre, Aigas, near Beauly in Inverness-shire, has earned a well-deserved reputation for promoting environmental awareness. Bruce MacWilliam spoke with Aigas founder, Sir John Lister-Kaye, Bt, MBE.

22 SHETLAND – Eden with Weather

Bounded by the grey Atlantic Ocean and the wild North Sea, the Shetland Islands, the most remote of all the British Isles, lie halfway between Scotland and Norway. Shetland is home to a proud and hardy people, and a collection of unique animals. Andro Linklater celebrates their survival.

30 AUCHINLECK

Auchinleck, the Ayrshire estate of the Boswell family for 500 years, has been beautifully restored by The Landmark Trust. Viscountess Eccles and David Buchanan recount the history of one of the most interesting homes in Scotland, now open to the public.

36 HOLYROODHOUSE

Fiona MacGillivray concludes her tour of The Palace of Holyroodhouse with a visit to the most famous room in Scotland, the Bedchamber of Mary, Queen of Scots.

42 A SENSE OF BELONGING TO SCOTLAND

Photographer Andy Hall spent three years travelling over 15,000 miles throughout Scotland to capture the favourite places of some of the country’s most prominent personalities. We visit five of them.

52 BLACKFACE SHEEP

Writer Polly Pullar and artist Keith Brockie travelled the length and breadth of Scotland to gather material for Rural Portraits, their beautiful new book on Scottish country life. In the first of a series they introduce us to the ubiquitous Black Face Sheep and some of the Highlanders who breed them.

60 THE BOOK OF KELLS

The Book of Kells, one of the great masterpieces of Western art, was created by Irish monks working in the scriptorium of St. Columba’s monastery on Iona off the west coast of Scotland 1,200 years ago. Georgia Stannard reports from the Library at Trinity College, Dublin.

64 LADYBANK

In Cupar, Fife, James Thomson has founded The Ladybank Company of Distillers, a unique farm-scale, private distillery, which will make the world’s most exclusive single malt whisky. Ladybank, a private club, will focus on producing strictly limited quantities of the very best, hand-crafted whiskies, not for sale, but for its members own use. Bruce Stannard reports.

71 THE FLOW COUNTRY

The remote and beautiful Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland is the largest peat bog in Europe and one of its most environmentally sensitive wetlands. A unique haven for rare waterbirds, it has also become a battleground between conservationists and commercial forestry. Angus Urquhart reports from Forsinard in Sutherland.

76 THE OTTERS OF MULL

The Isle of Mull provides a safe haven for some of the last of Britain’s otters. Iain Gunn speaks with otter enthusiast, David Sexton, RSPB Scotland’s resident wildlife officer on the island.

82  MARY HAWKINS

Mary Hawkins is one of the world's most accomplished handloom weavers.  The subtle, elegant tones of her soft mohair scarves, shawls and throws have turned her beautiful high fashion accessories into collector's items.  Fiona MacGillivray reports.