Private tours in Scotland

Ambient virtual walkabout of Edinburgh's George Square in Spring 2021. I made this for a webinar I am hosting on the history of the square, but thought it is a nice thing in its own right! Please do get in touch if you are interested in a guided tour around George Square. In 1766, before Edinburgh's famous New Town was planned and built, a builder called James Brown purchased an old estate to the south of the city walls. His plan was a square for the landed elite to live comfortable city lives, no commerce or manufacturing, just dinner engagements and spacious leisure! While the smooth ashlar fronts of the New Town are neat, polished and perfect, the deeper coloured sandstone here speckled with black basalt in the mortar is beautiful in its patterns! Though it was critiqued by some at the time as resembling a sailor's shirt, hardly the aesthetic for George Square's finery... Between 1914 and 1950, Edinburgh University bought up almost the entire Square. Enlisting Sir Basil Spence to design an ambitious project to connect it all the way to Old College and provide state of the art new facilities. The controversial plans saw much of the original buildings demolished and replaced with Scottish Modernist and Brutalist architecture. While not universally approved of, the University Library and the 40 George Square (previously David Hume Tower) are both award winning, listed buildings themselves now. #virtualtour #edinburgh #visitscotland

What would you do for your home? On this day (17th of April) in 1882, residents of Camastianavaig on Skye refused to pay rent to their landlord. Lord MacDonald was one of many landowners who was trying to replace tenant crofters and farmers with more profitable sheep herds, during a period known as the Highland Clearances. They forced the local sheriff to burn their eviction notices, so reinforcements were called up from Glasgow. The arrival of these policemen from far a-field, here to evict them from their homes, incensed the crofters. They hurled sticks and stones at the bailiffs, defending their homes with anything they could find. A number were injured and several crofters were arrested and fined for their actions. The publicity of what became known as the Battle of the Braes led to a government inquiry, and eventually the Crofters Act of 1883. It was a small step towards the protection of tenant crofters from exploitative landlords. The tune Ardhaven was written by trad musician Fiona MacAskill, about her home on Skye. It's a tune that's often stuck in my head and I thought I'd dust off the tenor guitar for a go on the anniversary of the Battle of the Braes. Accompanied of course by cheesy footage of my current home, that I do rather love. Thankfully, I don't need to hurl stones at my landlord! Instagram: @fergus_guides_scotland If you'd like to buy me a cup of tea to warm me up after a long day, then my Paypal tip jar is open for generous donations and you will have my eternal thanks! https://paypal.me/fergusguide #scottishmusic #traditionalmusic #tenorguitar

The Lothians are right at the heart of Scotland, right? I mean the capital city is right there... "How could they be Welsh?", I hear you cry. Well fear not, I've got a story to tell you that will answer that question. Little known after 1300 years of not being Welsh. Destination - Cockleroy, just south of Linlithgow, and the site of 2 Brittonic hillforts. It's a beautiful day, so kick back, enjoy the tale and take in Scotland's stunning scenery while I do the work, so your legs don't have to! Climbing Dark Age hillforts in Hen Ogledd ain't easy on the knees. Instagram: @fergus_guides_scotland If you'd like to buy me a cup of tea to warm me up after a long day, then my Paypal tip jar is open for generous donations and you will have my eternal thanks! https://paypal.me/fergusguide Intro: 00:00 Who lived here?: 01:20 The plight of the Gododdin: 02:52 The Welsh Connection: 03:59 So how is Lothian Scottish now?: 05:50 What is left of Hen Ogledd?: 06:27 Why you should visit Cockleroy today (spoiler - the views!): 07:10 Bonus - woodpecker drumming!: 08:19 #visitscotland #visitwestlothian #scottishhistory

Today (22nd March 2021) is Niel Gow's 294th Birthday! Niel Gow's Lament for the Death of His Second Wife has become a globally famous tune, tugs on anyone's heartstrings and shows just what a talented musical mind he had. One of Scotland's finest and most influential fiddlers, Niel Gow (1727-1807) used to sit beneath his favourite tree by Dunkeld to play, my favourite place to play is out on my back porch, so I popped out to play one of his most celebrated tunes in the sunshine for the occasion. I've barely touched my instruments during the last year's worth of lockdown, so I'm quiiite rusty, I missed a few notes and my fingers forgot how the tune went at one point... but honestly, that's how trad music should be half the time eh? After the death of Margaret Urquhart, Niel's beloved wife and stepmother to his children, he was so griefstruck that he couldn't bear to play his fiddle for some time. When his family eventually convinced him to pick it up once again, this is the first thing that he played. They had been together for 30 years, and Niel died just two years after Margaret. Instagram: @fergus_guides_scotland If you'd like to buy me a cup of tea to warm me up after a long day, then my Paypal tip jar is open for generous donations and you will have my eternal thanks! https://paypal.me/fergusguide #scottishmusic #traditionalmusic #tenorguitar

Even the most innocuous places have great stories to tell. Tormain Hill, just outside Ratho is home to some very accessible and beautiful rock art that dates back around 5000 years. It is the perfect spot to take in the views, the woodland and the neolithic landscape in peace and quiet away from the crowds. There are some beautiful cup and ring markings on one stone in particular, running your fingers over the painstakingly incised grooves lets you reach back the generations and touch the past. It's a beautiful day, so kick back, enjoy the tale and take in Scotland's stunning scenery while I do the work, so your legs don't have to! Instagram: @fergus_guides_scotland If you'd like to buy me a cup of tea to warm me up after a long day, then my Paypal tip jar is open for generous donations and you will have my eternal thanks! https://paypal.me/fergusguide #scottishhistory #virtualtour #neolithic

Join me for a walk up to Cauldstane Slap & East Cairn Hill as we delve into the history (and the sphagnum moss...) of the Thieves' Road through the Pentlands. The National Covenant both united and divided Scotland, inspiring men and women of all walks of life to action. James Renwick ran from the law through the hills of southern Scotland with his rogue congregation - but how did his story end? It's a beautiful day, so kick back, enjoy the tale and take in Scotland's stunning scenery while I do the work, so your legs don't have to! Instagram: @fergus_guides_scotland This is Part 1, so be sure to check out Part 2 at the end when we head high into the Pentland Hills. 00:00 - Intro 00:46 - Drove Road 03:08 - The National Covenant 08:20 - James Renwick 12:31 - East Cairn Hill & Outro If you'd like to buy me a cup of tea to warm me up after a long day, then my Paypal tip jar is open for generous donations and you will have my eternal thanks! https://paypal.me/fergusguide #scottishhistory #virtualtour #nationalcovenant

Join me for a walking tour around Harperrig Reservoir and discover the story of Scotland's real life Game of Thrones villains, the Crichtons. How they controlled Scottish history and King James II, charting a bloody route to power. It's a beautiful day, so kick back, enjoy the tale and take in Scotland's stunning scenery while I do the work, so your legs don't have to! Instagram: @fergus_guides_scotland This is Part 1, so be sure to check out Part 2 at the end when we head high into the Pentland Hills. If you'd like to buy me a cup of tea to warm me up after a long day, then my Paypal is open for generous donations and you will have my eternal thanks! https://paypal.me/fergusguide