Historic Scotland

After seven episodes of travelling the length and breadth of Scotland, the final episode of this season of the award nominated Historic Scotland podcast is here and we couldn’t be more excited to share this final story with you 🥳🎧

Join your host, Sarah MacGillivray, as she stands in contemplation at the enigmatic Calanais Standing Stones discovering what we know, and what we don’t know, about these fascinating titans. She is also joined Dr Cat Dunn, curator of the ‘Archaeology and Empire’ exhibition, currently at Stirling Castle. Together they explore the legacy of empire in our historic landscapes.

We’ve had such a wonderful time and we’d love to know what you think of the podcast. What has been your favourite episode?

You can listen to all eight episodes now wherever you get your podcasts, thank you for listening along!

📸©️Rob McDougall

A border stronghold, an important royal castle in the Middle Ages, and later a mighty garrison fortress, Dumbarton Castle's history goes back 1,500 years. This spectacular historic site is being conserved for future generations by conservation experts. 🏰

Next week, the site will be closing its doors so that teams can undertake rock scaling work. This will include using rope access techniques to remove loose rock material and vegetation, and prevent risk of rockfall. These photos are from previous work at Dumbarton using rope access. (📷 Lee Howard)

After these works, which should last until Friday 12 June, the site will be open for you to enjoy. We look forward to welcoming you, especially for our Visiting Viking event happening in a couple of weeks!

We’ve had such an incredible time travelling across Scotland uncovering fascinating stories from our sites to share with you all. Today the last episode in the current season is available to our members, if you’re not a member you’ll have to wait until next Tuesday 9 June! 🎧

In this episode Sarah MacGillivray travels to the mysterious Calanais Standing Stones to uncover what we know, and don’t know, about this incredible place. She also speaks to Dr Cat Dunn, curator of our ‘Archaeology and Empire’ exhibition about the embedded legacy of empire in some of the country’s oldest sites and historic landscapes.

You can listen to all episodes of the podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

It’s been a couple of weeks since the last episode of Outlander aired….. have you recovered yet? Because we’re not entirely sure we have💔

Now that the final season has come to an end, celebrate World Outlander day tomorrow with a look back at the sites that swept us into the world of Jamie and Claire’s love story.

👀Also keep your eyes peeled for our sites doubling up as locations in the upcoming series 2 of the prequel Blood of My Blood!

Discover some of the real filming locations 👇
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/filming/

Wildfire warning for Scotland ⚠️🔥

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued a very high wildfire danger alert:
- South West Scotland – Thursday, 28 May
- Eastern Scotland – Friday, 29 May to Monday, 1 June

Please:
- Do not light outdoor fires, BBQs, or campfires
- Dispose of ci******es responsibly
- Take all litter home (glass and rubbish can start fires)
- Stay alert when outdoors

🚨 If you spot a fire call 999 immediately and provide your location and any details to help crews respond quickly.

📷 Morton Castle in Dumfries and Galloway. Image credit: Lee Howard.

In the latest episode of the Historic Scotland podcast we’re heading further than we’ve ever been before to explore the Hebridean Isle of Lewis and the incredible history the island holds.

Join Sarah as she shelters by the glowing hearth in The Blackhouse, Arnol and immerses herself in Hebridean life, hospitality, and history. The thick stone walls of The Blackhouse have kept wind and rain out through traditional skills passed down generation to generation.

Discover the community, resilience, and Gaelic traditions that endure to this day.
Listen now on your favourite podcast platform, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes. Our members get exclusive bonus content and early access to episodes too!

Have you been listening along to this season? Let us know your favourite episode so far.

📷©️Lee Howard

In the early 1960s, while preparing a Dunfermline mill for demolition, surveyors uncovered something extraordinary: over 800 glass plate negatives dating from the late 1860s to 1919.

These images revealed a large variety of scenes ranging from Western Isles homes and Highland crofts near Ben Nevis to Argyll castles and busy Fife harbours.

The photographer, Erskine Beveridge, was a wealthy Dunfermline industrialist and an enthusiastic historian and archaeologist who would later become one of the finest amateur photographers of his generation.

Fascinated by landscapes, boats, buildings and archaeological monuments, Beveridge created beautifully composed images that show not just the places themselves, but what they meant to him.

'Wanderings with a Camera in Scotland', our book of the month, highlights one of the earliest and most remarkable photographic collections in the country. It makes the perfect gift for anyone who loves Scotland, photography or a little time‑travel through history.

📚 You can find it in our online shop: https://ow.ly/bvp050Z279E