Category Archives: Scottish Dialect

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

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

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

To Ullapool, Almost

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Kate Cowie Riley

Our little sunrise excursion to the cliffs of Duncansby left us a bit chilled; we returned to Bencorragh House for a warm shower and a good breakfast and then headed south along the coast of Caithness. The A99 runs from … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Dornach Castle Hotel, Eco-travel, Hill O'Many Stanes, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Scottish Dialect, Sutherland, Travel, Uncategorized, Whisky, Whisky tasting, Women Writers | Leave a comment

Plaids, Tartans & Tweeds

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Kate Cowie Riley

My son, Kyle, is getting married in a few weeks. As a member of the Cowie family, he will be wearing a Fraser Ancient Hunting “Great Kilt”. “But aren’t all kilts great?” one might ask. Well, yes they are! The … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Scottish Dialect, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Women Writers | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Burns By Any Other Name…

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Kate Cowie Riley

Call him Robert, Robbie, Rabbie, or the Ploughman Poet:  Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796) is the poet-son of Scotland. He was named the “greatest Scot” in a 2009 popular vote by Scotland’s STV television channel. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alloway, Ancestry, Auld Lang Syne, Ayrshire, Burns' Night, Eco-travel, Ecology, Highland Titles, Laki volcano, Land trust, New Year's Eve, Poetry, Robert Burns, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Scottish Dialect, Scottish Folk Songs, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Women Writers | 1 Comment