Category Archives: Scotland

Sun Standing Still

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Kate Cowie Riley

(Originally posted, December 2013) The word solstice comes from the Latin: sol (“sun”) and sistere (“to stand still”).  As seen from Earth, the sun’s highest point for the day is at its lowest for the year and the movement of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Auld Lang Syne, Eco-travel, Ecology, Highland Titles, Hogmanay, Land trust, Maes Howe, New Year's Eve, Norn, Orkneyinga Saga, Robert Burns, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Scottish Christmas history, Self drive Scotland tours, Stonehaven, Stromness, Travel, Uncategorized, Winter Solstice, Women Writers, Yule | Leave a comment

Tartan Day/ Week

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Kate Cowie Riley

This week is Tartan Week, with Tartan Day on Wednesday, April 6 and the New York Tartan Day Parade on Saturday, April 9th. In honor of that, here is a re-post about Tartan Day originally from April 3, 2104. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Tartan Day, Uncategorized, Women Writers | Leave a comment

Twice a King, In One Day

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Kate Cowie Riley

March 26, 1306 Earl of Carrick, Robert Bruce was born at Turnberry Castle, Ayrshire, on July 11, 1274. He was born into an aristocratic Scottish family with both Norman and Celtic ancestry. His grandfather had been one of the claimants to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Arbroath Abbey, Eco-travel, Ecology, Robert the Bruce, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Women Writers | 2 Comments

Moray and Aberdeenshire

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Kate Cowie Riley

Elgin Cathedral (pronounced with a hard “g”) sits on North College Street in the town of Elgin (Scots, Ailgin; Gàidhlig, Eiginn) near the River Lossie in Moray. It was originally built for the bishops of Moray (promounced “Muh-ree”,  Moireibh in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Arbroath Abbey, Cowie, Dunnottar Castle, Eco-travel, Elgin, Scotland, Scots Gaelic, Scottish ancestry, Scottish Dialect, Self drive Scotland tours, Stonehaven, Travel, Uncategorized, Women Writers | 4 Comments

Favorite Places

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Kate Cowie Riley

The ruins of Urquhart Castle roll along the hillside above Loch Ness, each remaining stone a testament to the history of Scotland. It’s one of my favorite places to visit and each of the four times that I have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Cawdor Tavern, Eco-travel, Faerie, Gàidhlig, Greenlawns Guest House, Loch Ness, Scotland, Scots Gaelic, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Tomnahurich Hill, Travel, Uncategorized, Urquhart Castle, Women Writers | Leave a comment

The Isle of Mists…and Midgies

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Kate Cowie Riley

We had intended to leave the B&B in Portree by 9:00 AM in order to have a long, leisurely day driving the three-and-a-half hours from Skye over to Nairn, so the mandated end of breakfast at 8:30 was not a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Ecology, Gàidhlig, Isle of Skye, Portree, Scotland, Scots Gaelic, Scottish ancestry, Scottish Dialect, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Women Writers | Leave a comment

The Isle of Mists…

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Kate Cowie Riley

The ferry ride from Tarbert, Harris to Uig, Skye is one hour and forty-five minutes. We had clear sailing and lots of rainbows over the smaller islands as we made our way across the water known as The Minch (A’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Gàidhlig, Isle of Skye, Portree, Scotland, Scots Gaelic, Scottish ancestry, Scottish Dialect, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Women Writers | Tagged | Leave a comment

Scottish Heart on Facebook

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Kate Cowie Riley

A little announcement here that I have opened a page on Facebook for Scottish Heart where I will be sharing the online work of Scottish photographers and artists (with permission) and posting interesting bits about Scotland. There’s a little “button” … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Ecology, Gàidhlig, Scotland, Scots Gaelic, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Women Writers | Leave a comment

The Western Isles, Day Two

Posted on January 17, 2016 by Kate Cowie Riley

As we were checking out of the Harris Hotel in Tarbert I told the woman at the desk that we had an appointment with the weaver Donald John MacKay, and asked if she knew where his studio was and if … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Donald John MacKay, Eco-travel, Gàidhlig, Harris and Lewis, Harris Tweed, Scotland, Scots Gaelic, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Western Isles, Women Writers | Leave a comment

The Western Isles, Day One

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Kate Cowie Riley

When they were under Norse rule, the Western Isles were called Innse Gall (“islands of the foreigners”) by the Gaelic-speaking Highlanders of mainland Scotland. First settled 5000 years ago, the Isles have been home to those who farmed and built … Continue reading →

Posted in Callenish Stones, Eco-travel, Gàidhlig, Harris and Lewis, Scotland, Scots Gaelic, Scottish ancestry, Scottish Dialect, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Western Isles, Whisky, Whisky tasting, Women Writers | Leave a comment