Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland's History and Nature
Love Scotland is a fortnightly podcast series from the National Trust for Scotland. Hosted by TV star and broadcaster Jackie Bird, it features big names, experts, and enthusiasts exploring Scotland's history, wildlife, and landscapes. Each episode delves into the detail of Scotland's rich heritage and natural beauty.
Episodes
LISTEN AGAIN: The real story of Whisky Galore
This summer, we’re celebrating the best of Scottish books and authors. To mark the occasion, we’re re-releasing a gem from a previous season of Love Scotland that discusses the history of an incident made famous by Compton Mackenzie’s 1947 classic Whisky Galore.
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In 1941, cargo ship the SS Politician ran aground near Eriskay, an island in the Hebrides. On board? Some 22,000 cases of whi
Denise Mina: tales of historic fact and fiction
This week, Jackie is kickstarting a summer of reading-related episodes with one of Scotland’s most beloved writers, Denise Mina. The Scottish author, active for 30 years and the writer of multiple award-winning and best-selling books, is in the studio to talk about juggling facts and fiction in historical works.
Her 2021 book, Rizzio, revolves around the murder of David Rizzio, Mary, Queen o
Inside the Trust's Plan for Nature
This week, Jackie is at Ben Lomond to dig into another strand of the National Trust for Scotland’s work: its Plan for Nature. Joined by the Trust’s head of nature conservation, Jeff Waddell, Jackie discovers some of the nature conservation work being done across the country, including at Mar Lodge, Canna and St Kilda.
And, while surrounded by a cloud of midges, Jeff shares some of the succes
Henry VIII and Scotland
Arguably one of the best known monarchs of all, Henry VIII casts a long shadow through British history books. But, what influence did Henry have on Scotland?
That’s the focus of this week’s episode, in which Jackie and her guest explore the complex and dramatic relationship between Henry and the kingdom that lay to the north.
Author Dr Steven Veerapen talks us through the politics and relig
A beginner's guide to Andrew Carnegie
His name may be familiar – but how much do you really know about Andrew Carnegie? In this week’s episode, Jackie and her guest introduce you to a man who was once the richest individual on the planet, explaining both how he made his wealth and why he started to give it away.
Whether you’re familiar with his origins in Scotland or know only of some of his achievements in the US, this episode
Your questions answered!
In this week’s episode, it’s not Jackie who’s asking the questions: it’s you! Historian and author Professor Murray Pittock joins us in the studio to answer some of your burning questions spanning the Jacobite Uprisings, Nessie, and more.
Murray also discusses his new book, The Shortest History of Scotland, which covers the full gamut of the nation’s past and present in just over 200 pages.
The storied history of Alloa Tower
This week, Jackie’s stepping back in time at Alloa Tower: the ancestral seat of a family that played a pivotal role in the history of Scotland. Now surrounded by two housing estates and a supermarket, the tower has, in the past, been part of the stories of Mary, Queen of Scots, the Jacobite Uprisings, and James VI.
Join her as she meets the Trust team at Alloa Tower and unpicks some of these
LISTEN AGAIN: Doug Allan's Antarctica, Attenborough and a changing climate
We were saddened to hear the news of Doug Allan’s passing. This episode, first recorded in 2023, features Doug sharing some of his favourite stories from his career. We hope you enjoy it. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.
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Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan became world-renowned with film credits for some of the most influential documentaries ever made and a trophy cabinet full o
A beginner's guide to Preston Mill
Join Jackie on a trip to this 16th century watermill in East Lothian, made famous to modern audiences through its appearance in Outlander. Jackie meets the Trust team responsible for the day-to-day running of the mill and uncovers the layers of its past.
Preston Mill was being used commercially as recently as 1959, when it was the last to operate in the region. Its Dutch-style conical roof m
Retelling the stories of Robert Burns
Even now, artists and creatives take inspiration from the works of Robert Burns some 230 years after his death. Last year, theatremaker James Clements explored the Trust’s Burns collection and brought it to life in a new production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
His show, The Burns Project, sold out for its entire run and is now touring the US. It uses the bard’s letters, poems and person
Horrible Histories: and how it has inspired new generations
For many history enthusiasts today, it all began with Horrible Histories. Whether the book series or subsequent TV adaptation – or, indeed, stage shows and films – the huge franchise has sparked many a love of the past through its gruesome, entertaining and, most importantly, accurate storytelling and songs.
Today, Jackie sits down with two of the brains behind Horrible Histories to learn mo
A beginner's guide to birdsong
Can you tell your blackbirds from your blue tits? Do you know the difference between a collared dove and a wood pigeon? This week, Jackie is here to help you improve your understanding of British birdsong.
Alongside naturalist and influencer Lucy Lapwing, Jackie explores the sounds of Greenbank Garden in Glasgow. Discover some top tips for memorising which calls come from which bird, and get
Mary, Queen of Scots: the captive years
The life of Mary, Queen of Scots has long fascinated historians and history-lovers alike. This week, Jackie sits down with studio guest Rosemary Goring to discuss the 19-year period of Mary’s life spent in captivity.
Together, they discuss the circumstances surrounding Mary’s imprisonment, the political reasons behind her enduring captivity, and the tragedy of this nearly two-decade-long per
A beginner's guide to the Burns Supper
Whether you’ve never been to an former Burns Supper or you’re a long-time aficionado who knows the Address to a Haggis by heart, there’s always something new to learn about Robert Burns and his work.
With Burns Night just a few days away, Jackie is joined by two of Scotland’s most prominent Burns experts to dissect the ceremonial aspects of the celebration, the history of its traditions, and
LISTEN AGAIN: Traditional festive displays at Castle Fraser
This episode was first released in 2022.
As we enter December, we’re revisiting a podcast all about how the National Trust for Scotland creates and installs authentic decorations in its places. Listen in as Jackie meets Dr Jo Riley from Castle Fraser, who led a Trust research project into traditional decorations and how they have changed over time. From garlands to gifts, candles to clementi
The life and legacy of Bernat Klein
Earlier this year, a coalition of leading Scottish heritage and design organisations – including the National Trust for Scotland – joined together to secure the future of the Bernat Klein Studio.
This building was used by textile designer Bernat Klein, who was perhaps best known for his international collections for Chanel and Dior.
To understand more about the man behind the studio, and th
Craftlands: stories of traditional skills
This week, Jackie is on the trail of spittle-makers, quarrel-pickers, yowlers and the other traditional craftspeople whose skills have vanished from mainstream life. Alongside academic, broadcaster and author James Fox, Jackie unpicks stories of handmade crafts and the social history behind their disappearance.
James’s book, Craftland, documents many of these arts and trades right across Bri
James VI and the witch trials
This episode contains descriptions of violence that may not be suitable for all listeners.
In this week’s episode, Jackie is joined by historian Steven Veerapen to discuss the role James VI played in Scotland’s witch trials.
Between the late 16th and mid-17th centuries, an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 people – most of whom were women – were tried for witchcraft, with around 1,500 executed as a
Inside the archives
This week, Jackie delves into the National Trust for Scotland’s archives. Along the way, she discovers stories of a past US President, a unlikely connection to the Titanic, and details of how places came to be acquired by the Trust.
Joining Jackie is Trust archivist Ian Riches, who cares from the Trust’s rich collection of important historic material.
You can find more about the National Tr
The road to Bannockburn
In this week’s episode, Jackie is tracing the events that ultimately led to the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
In essence, that means following the life and legacy of William Wallace – a historical figure whose story is the stuff of legend. Unpicking the facts from the fiction is Professor Dauvit Broun from the University of Glasgow, who charts the rise and fall of Wallace and reveals exactl
The St Kilda diaries
This week, Jackie dives into a biographical account of life on the remote St Kilda in the early 20th century. Using handwritten diaries kept by Alice MacLachlan, a schoolteacher who lived on the archipelago between August 1906 and May 1909, we can get a hugely personal view of the challenges and unique circumstances of life there.
In this special episode, you will hear extracts from the diar
A beginner’s guide to the bagpipes
They are the soundtrack to weddings, funerals, Burns night celebrations and more. Bagpipes have earned their places as the national instrument of Scotland and holds a special place in the heart of many Scots and the global diaspora.
Today, Jackie discovers the history and cultural significance of the Great Highland bagpipes, which are one of hundreds of types of bagpipes played around the wo
Good Natured: walking for wellbeing
Whether it’s a woodland walk, a wild swim, or a mosey around a garden, we’ve all experienced the effects of nature on our wellbeing. Here at the Trust we know this too well, which is why we’ve launched our Walk 25 campaign – see below.
This week on the podcast, Jackie explores the science behind this phenomenon to discover why the natural world can have such a powerful influence on our healt
After Culloden: the life of Charles Edward Stuart
Reporting from both Rome and the studio, Jackie tracks the life of Charles Edward Stuart – known to many by the nickname of Bonnie Prince Charlie – after the events of the Battle of Culloden.
Between his birth in Italy’s capital in 1720 and his death, also in Rome in 1788, Charles led a life of great historical significance. Today, though, Jackie focuses on his final years. Joined by Dr Calu
Life on Canna: part two
In the second instalment of her visit to Canna, Jackie heads to sea with ranger Tom Allen to learn all about the island’s seabirds. The island’s cliffs are packed with a whole host of nesting birds, making Canna an important colony site for many of Scotland’s species.
Then, Jackie gets to know some more of the people who call Canna home, including the harbour master.
As she dives into the s
Life on Canna: part one
In the first of a two-part visit to the Isle of Canna, Jackie meets the team behind Canna House: the former home of Gaelic scholars John Lorne Campbell and Margaret Fay Shaw.
The National Trust for Scotland has recently complete a nine-year programme of repair and restoration to the house, which now has a strong sense of being a lived-in, post-war home.
Jackie finds out all about the house’
Into the hills: 25 years of the Footpath Fund
This week, Jackie is off to Glencoe to meet the National Trust for Scotland’s footpaths team – a hard-working group who protect hundreds of miles of paths across the country. In a year that also marks the 25 years of the Footpath Fund, which supports the team’s work, Jackie finds out what it takes to maintain the Trust’s path network.
Jackie discovers the challenges of rewards of a job that
A beginner's guide to the real Macbeth
Double, double, toil and trouble… the Scottish play… out, damned spot! William Shakespeare’s take on Macbeth has well and truly embedded itself in our culture. The play, written in the early 17th century, charts how an ambitious Macbeth turns to violence in order to realise a prophetic vision of becoming King of Scotland.
But what of the real Macbeth, who really did sit upon the Scottish thr
Life on the Home Front
In the second of our Second World War-themed episodes, Jackie heads to Tenement House in Glasgow to hear about the experiences of an ordinary woman who lived during this extraordinary chapter of history.
Agnes Toward, who lived at Tenement House from 1911 until 1965, preserved her furniture and belongings as a way of creating a frozen time capsule. Nowadays, visitors can experience how thing
Whatever happened to the Haddo babies?
With the 80th anniversary of VE Day less than a week away, Jackie heads to Aberdeenshire to find out more about the Haddo babies: the more than 1,250 children born at Haddo House when it became an emergency maternity unit during the Second World War.
Discover how the stately home was transformed into a makeshift hospital, and what happened to those babies after the war.
Jackie sits down wit
Partner episode: General Wolfe | The Battle of Culloden
This episode is the second part of a partnership between the National Trust for Scotland and the National Trust. Scroll back for Love Scotland's episode about Lord George Murray.
General James Wolfe, the 'boy solider' who joined the military at 14 and fought in one of Britain's bloodiest battles while he was still a teenager.
National Trust historian James Grasby visits Wolfe’s childhood ho
Lord George Murray with Murray Pittock
In the first of a two-episode partnership between the National Trust for Scotland and the National Trust, join host Jackie Bird as she uncovers the life of a leading general in the Battle of Culloden.
Historian and National Trust for Scotland Trustee Professor Murray Pittock reveals the story of Lieutenant General George Murray, a nobleman and soldier who was involved in each of the 18th cen
A beginner’s guide to Scottish Enlightenment
Do you know your Adam Smith from your Adam Ferguson? What was it that sparked a historical period overflowing with ideas, intellect and philosophical musings? And what did Enlightenment ever do for Scotland?
Jackie is joined by Dr Alasdair Raffe, senior lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, to unpick the tapestry of this fascinating era, meeting some of the key thinkers, makers and doers
Wildlife watch with Gordon Buchanan
Known to many through his work on nature documentaries, Gordon Buchanan is one of Scotland’s foremost wildlife filmmakers and presenters. This week, he joins Jackie in the studio to share stories of his time in the natural world.
From a childhood spent daydreaming about the world outdoors and enjoying risky adventures in nature, to a career that has taken him to some of the planet’s most bio
A stitch in time: textile treasures and the women who made them
In our final episode of 2024, Jackie Bird heads to Edinburgh to take a look at Stitched: Scotland’s Embroidered Art – a new exhibition that tells the nation’s story through textiles.
The result of a two-year research and conservation programme by the National Trust for Scotland, Stitched puts many delicate pieces of needlework on public display for the first time.
Joining Jackie are Trust c
Digging for history at Culloden
This week, Jackie Bird is in Culloden to join the team of archaeologists hoping to unlock more of the battlefield’s historic secrets. With the National Trust for Scotland’s Head of Archaeology Derek Alexander, Jackie discovers how modern techniques are helping to unearth musket balls, coins and buttons.
Though the battle on 16 April 1746 may have lasted just a short time, it was hugely conse
Margaret Tudor: The Forgotten Queen of Scots
When we think of a queen of Scots, Mary is very much the first one who comes to mind. But her grandmother, Margaret Tudor, played an equally crucial role in 16th-century Scotland. Here, her story is told.
Linda Porter, author of The Thistle and the Rose, which tells the story of this overlooked historical figure, joins Jackie to discuss the life and legacy of Henry VIII’s sister. From a youn
When the Spanish Armada came to Scotland
The idea of Scotland being caught up in the story of the Spanish Armada may seem bizarre, and yet wrecked off Fair Isle is one of the Spanish fleet’s flagship vessels. How did this 650-ton ship come to end up in the North Sea? And how do the activities of the Armada relate to, among others, Mary, Queen of Scots? Jackie Bird is on a mission to find out.
This year marks 70 years since the Nat
Inside The Wicker Man
The Wicker Man is widely regarded as one of the best British horror films of all time. The strange tale of Sergeant Neil Howie’s doomed trip to Summerisle has cemented itself in popular culture since the film’s 1973 release, and with it, immortalised several of the National Trust for Scotland’s places on screen.
Joining Jackie Bird to dissect this cult classic’s enduring popularity are film
Andy Scott's Scotland
Sculptor Andy Scott, the creator of the iconic Kelpies, joins Jackie Bird to discuss his incredible work, Scotland’s position in the art world, and his aspirations for the future.
Together, they talk about the physical demands of working on such large pieces of metalwork, the catharsis of sculpting, and how his Scottish identity influences his creations and his process.
The Glasgow School
Behind-the-scenes at Robert Smail's Print Works
This week, host Jackie Bird is at Robert Smail’s Print Works in the Scottish Borders to see the oldest working commercial letterpress printers in the UK. She meets the team that keeps the printing works running today and hears about the history of the press and its eponymous owner.
Jackie also discovers secrets of the ever-changing publishing industry of the Victorian era, unpicks the mechan
The people who shaped Robert Burns
We all know the songs and poems written by one of Scotland’s most famous sons – but who were the people that most influenced his life and his writing? Host Jackie Bird is on a mission to find out. This week, she’s joined by Christoper Waddell, learning manager at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, and Professor Gerard Carruthers, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Francis Hutcheson
Saving St Kilda
How do you restore a 200-year-old church on one of Scotland’s most remote islands? Jackie Bird sits down with Susan Bain, property manager of St Kilda, to find out.
A dual UNESCO World Heritage Site that sits on the edge of the Atlantic, St Kilda is vital to Scottish history but a big challenge for the Trust to care for properly. Once inhabited year-round by a civilian population, the isla
Hugh Miller: the Victorian David Attenborough
Meet Hugh Miller: the man regarded as the David Attenborough of his day. Though often overlooked in the history books, this self-taught geologist helped to popularise natural history to his Victorian audience.
What did he help to discover about prehistoric Scotland? How were his scientific findings viewed by his peers? And why has he not remained better known?
Joining Jackie Bird this wee
Murder and mayhem on Edinburgh's Royal Mile
As the Edinburgh Festival Fringe gets into full swing, Jackie Bird takes a walk from Gladstone’s Land along the Royal Mile to discover the dark side of this city centre street.
Guiding Jackie through the murky past is Eric Melvin, veteran tour guide and author of A Walk Down Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Expect tales of body-snatching, the exploits of Deacon Brodie, and rumoured Jacobite-era cann
Scottish golf: history and hickory
Whether you’re out every week hitting the links, or consider golf a good walk spoiled, the sport is undeniably a key ingredient in Scotland’s social tapestry.
At Kingarrock Hickory Golf Course, the only remaining course of its kind in the UK, Jackie meets Dave Allan, visitor services assistant at the Hill of Tarvit venue. She also meets Hannah Fleming, learning and access curator at The R&a
James VI: wise man or fool?
Recorded in Falkland Palace’s chapel royal, host Jackie Bird and her guest Steven Veerapen discuss the adult life and legacy of James VI of Scotland and I of England. During his reign, the king faced a host of challenges, from religious tensions to anti-Scottish sentiment in his London court, not to mention Guy Fawkes’ gunpowder plot.
Veerapen’s book, The Wisest Fool, challenges the varied
The Munros: mountain myths and milestones
How many have you bagged? Mountaineers and hikers from across the UK and beyond have flocked to Scotland to take on the Munros – Scottish peaks more than 3,000 feet high – ever since the list of such mountains was created by Sir Hugh Munro in 1891.
The National Trust for Scotland cares for 46 of these Munros, including Ben Lomond, Ben Lawers, Ben Macdui and Torridon’s Spidean a’Choire Léith.
The real story of Whisky Galore
In 1941, cargo ship the SS Politician ran aground near Eriskay, an island in the Hebrides. On board? Some 22,000 cases of whisky. What followed has been immortalised on page and screen in Whisky Galore, a retelling of how local islanders made the most of the unexpected arrival of so much alcohol, and how the authorities tried to stop them.
But what really happened? Jackie Bird is joined by
Fashion stories from Georgian Edinburgh
Host Jackie Bird is joined by curator Antonia Laurence-Allan and historian Sally Tuckett to discuss all things 18th-century fashion. Recorded inside the Georgian House, just days before the exhibition Ramsay & Edinburgh Fashion opened its doors, the trio talk about the artist Allan Ramsay and the women behind the paintings.
What was life like for someone at the centre of the Scottish Enl
Great Scot Tom Conti: From opening nights to Oppenheimer
Joining Jackie this week is Tom Conti, the Paisley-born actor best known for his roles on stage and screen, including 1978’s Whose Life Is It Anyway and 2023’s Oppenheimer. The recipient of Tony and Olivier award, Tom was also named the 2024 Great Scot by the National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA earlier this year.
In his conversation with Jackie, Tom reflects on his hugely successful c
Solving the mystery of the potato sack propeller
Earlier this year, the National Trust for Scotland revealed that a Second World War plane propeller had been found on Arran. Mysteriously, the propeller was wrapped in an old potato sack and had been discovered deep in a peat bog. How did it get there? The Trust’s Head of Archaeology, Derek Alexander, led an investigation to find out.
He joins Jackie in the studio to discuss the surprisingly
Stories of Mackintosh at the Willow
Earlier this year, Mackintosh at the Willow – a tea room on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street that dates back to 1903 – joined the National Trust for Scotland’s portfolio of special places. To better understand the venue and the role it played in Edwardian Glasgow, Jackie sits down for a cup of tea with two expert guests.
Celia Sinclair Thornqvist MBE, who purchased, saved and restored Mackintosh
Six objects that tell stories of the Trust's women
This week, Jackie and her guest discuss six objects in the Trust’s collections that help to tell the stories of some of the most fascinating women connected to Trust places. Regional curators Emma Inglis and Antonia Laurence-Allen help to paint a picture of these six women, whose lives and jobs range from being an ale-brewer in 1600s Edinburgh to the daughter of an earl in Clackmannanshire.
A beginner's guide to Scotland's early monarchs
So far this series we’ve looked at two of Scotland’s most famous monarchs: Robert the Bruce and Mary, Queen of Scots. Today, we step back further in time to meet the rulers whose names have become more forgotten to time.
Helping Jackie to acquaint herself with the earliest kings and queens of Scotland is Richard Oram, a professor of medieval and environmental history at Stirling University.
The Afterlife of Mary, Queen of Scots
Arguably the most famous monarch in Scottish history, Mary, Queen of Scots remains a figure of global intrigue more than 400 years after her death. One question, then: why?
In a previous episode of Love Scotland, Jackie explored the life and times of Mary. Today, she’s on a mission to find out why Mary’s story and legacy have been pored over in such detail for centuries.
Joining Jackie in t
Robert the Bruce: Battles of a King
In the second part of a two-episode biography of Robert the Bruce’s life, Jackie returns to the studio with Professor Dauvit Broun of the University of Glasgow.
Last week, we looked at the early life of Robert and how his canny abilities, not to mention his tendency to switch allegiance at opportune moments, helped him to secure power. But what came next?
Picking up their conversation in 13
Robert the Bruce: Fact and Fiction
Welcome to a new series of Love Scotland.
In this week’s episode, Jackie is joined by Professor Dauvit Broun of the University of Glasgow to discuss the life of Robert the Bruce.
Robert, King of Scots from 1306-1329, led a fascinating life full of changing allegiances, shifting power and military victories.
How much of our common understanding of this Scottish ruler is based in fact? Wha
Season 8 Trailer
Jackie gives a brief introduction to brand-new season of the Love Scotland podcast.
We're going across the centuries to delve into the stories of Mary Queen of Scots and Robert the Bruce, then skipping ahead to the tales of the Georgian Tea Room. Jackie also hears from the Trust's archaeology team about wartime relics beind unearthed across the country.
For Auld Lang Syne: how a song of friendship became a global anthem
As another series of Love Scotland draws to a close, Jackie gathers two companions to discuss the “song that everybody sings”: Auld Lang Syne. With lyrics penned by Robert Burns in 1788, but origins dating back further, it is now a global anthem of friendship, celebration, yearning and nostalgia.
Mairi Campbell, a Scottish musician whose version of the song appeared in the Sex and the Cit
Winter wildlife at St Abb's Head: Scottish Borders seal pups recover after Storm Arwen
Seals and other winter wildlife at St Abb’s Head
This week, Jackie makes a return to St Abb’s Head in the Scottish Borders, just months after she last visited to investigate the summer’s avian flu outbreak. In the winter, many of the seabirds may have disappeared – but there are still a lot to be found.
Joined once again by Head Ranger Ciaran Hatsell, Jackie spends some time getting to know
The story of Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh, and why the wife of architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh deserves equal recognition
While Charles Rennie Mackintosh has become a singular icon in Scottish art, his legacy is so almighty that in many accounts, the achievements and contributions of his wife, Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh, are often overlooked.
Described by Charles as being “more than half – she is three quarters – of all I’ve done”, Margaret’s artwork, and her place in the Glasgow art scene, deserve their own
Scottish castles: a complete history of iconic historic buildings and their role in Scotland's story
The National Trust for Scotland cares for a dozen Scottish castles, all of which have unique histories and origins.
In this week’s episode, Jackie sits down with author Janet Brennan-Inglis, who also chairs the Trust’s Galloway group, to discuss some of these buildings and their influence on Scotland’s story.
Janet also guides Jackie through the tale of MacGibbon and Ross, two architects
The colourful case of Osgood Mackenzie, plant pioneer and creator of Inverewe garden
The Case of Osgood Mackenzie
This week, Jackie’s turning her attention to Inverewe Garden in the northwest highlands. A tropical oasis bolstered by the nearby gulfstream, it is a true jewel for lovers of all things floral.
However, its creator Osgood Mackenzie, the author of A Hundred Years in the Highlands, was left in the shade by a family court case that attracted much attention in the
Life with the Lorimers: the family of artists and architects who made Kellie Castle home
This week, Jackie is at Kellie Castle and Garden to find out about the Lorimers – a family of artists and creatives who once called the castle home. Led by James Lorimer, who first rented Kellie Castle in 1878, the family also included Sir Robert Lorimer, the architect behind many iconic structures including the Scottish National War Memorial, painter John Henry Lorimer and sculptor Hew Lorim
Tragedy at Hill of Tarvit: The Edwardian mansion that housed a family drama
Tragedy at Hill of Tarvit
Surrounded by the beauty of Edwardian Britain, a family was devastated by tragedy.
In this week’s episode, Jackie steps into the gilded surrounds of Hill of Tarvit to discover the story of the Sharp family, who once called the mansion home. Set just outside Cupar and designed by Robert Lorimer, the house is a true 20th-century jewel with its hickory golf course, la
Stories and songs of Scottish battles: A live recording with Alistair Moffat, Derek Alexander and singer Iona Fyfe
Stories and songs of Scottish battles
Earlier this year, to launch a new series of Love Scotland, Jackie recorded an episode in front of a live audience of National Trust for Scotland members in Aberdeen.
Two of the nation’s foremost experts on battles joined Jackie on stage to discuss some of the most significant historic conflicts as well as the people who fought in them. They are Alista
Scotland’s plague: 300 years of disease
In 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic began, many people looked back to the influenza epidemic of 1918 for historical context. However, going further back in time reveals centuries of viral diseases – and a bizarre list of supposed medical concoctions that would protect you from them.
Scotland’s “plague man” Richard Oram, a professor of history at Stirling University, knows a lot about these dar
A beginner’s guide to Scottish hillwalking
On a drizzly summer’s day, Jackie heads out to Ben Lomond to meet two people who feel at home in the hills. First, Jackie, president of the National Trust for Scotland, goes for a stroll with Zahrah Mahmood, president of Ramblers Scotland and an online influencer known as the Hillwalking Hijabi.
As they stretch their legs, they discuss the joys waiting to be found on Scottish slopes, and Zah
Avian flu: a report from the front line
Following last year’s episode investigating the 2022 outbreak of avian flu among Scottish seabird colonies, Jackie returns to St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve in the wake of new cases being reported. Joined by ranger Ciaran Hatsell, Jackie learns how this year’s cases have been identified and exactly how the disease is impacting kittiwakes at St Abb’s Head and beyond.
Listen in to find
What really killed Robert Burns?
An icon of Scottish culture, Robert Burns is best known for his beautiful, moving, and humorous poetry. Born in 1759, he died just 37 years later – an early passing attributed to alcoholism.
However, recent advances in medical knowledge have raised questions about the accuracy of this diagnosis. Professor David Purdie, co-author of The Burns Encyclopaedia and a doctor of medicine, has used h
My life as a ranger on Scotland’s remote isles
Jackie is joined by Jonathan Grant, who after 13 years is about to retire as a ranger on three Hebridean islands. Earlier this year, when news of his resignation was announced, it was headline news around the world. Now, he has time for a proper discussion about his experiences on Mingulay, Pabay and Berneray.
He reveals why he feels he became part of nature, what life is really like when yo
Riches to rags: The legacy of Lady Aberdeen
In this week’s episode, Jackie follows the story of Lady Aberdeen – a woman born into wealth who became a lifelong social reformer, healthcare advocate, and champion of the underdog. By the time she died in the 1930s, the riches were gone – but a legacy remained.
Joining Jackie is Simon Welfare, the author of Fortune’s Many Houses: A Victorian Visionary, a Noble Scottish Family, and a Lost I
James VI: the childhood years
This week, Jackie is at Falkland Palace to learn more about the early years of James VI, one of the most influential monarchs in British history.
Crowned at an early age, and separated from his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots, James would go on to be the first king of the whole British Isles.
But focusing on his later achievements misses out on many remarkable and life-threatening experiences
Sir Henry Raeburn: the story behind Scotland's most famous painter
This week, Jackie’s in Edinburgh to find about one of the city’s leading lights of the enlightenment era: Sir Henry Raeburn. His work depicted some of the key figures of that time, creating an overall portrait of how Edinburgh’s top circles would have looked during the 1700s.
Now, to mark 200 years since his death, the National Trust for Scotland is holding an exhibition at The Georgian Hous
Diana Gabaldon: Inside the story of Outlander
As a new season of Love Scotland begins, host Jackie Bird is joined by Outlander author Diana Gabaldon to discuss her best-selling books, its TV adaptation, and how the Outlander effect has shaped global perceptions of Scotland.
Outlander tells the story of a time-travelling nurse from the 20th century who falls in love with an 18th century Highland warrior. The early books span several plac
Season 6 trailer
Six places that show Scotland's global impact
Six places that show Scotland's impact on the world
In this week’s episode of Love Scotland – the final one of the current season – Professor Murray Pittock joins Jackie to discuss some of the Scottish places that have had the biggest influence on global history. From Culloden to Robert Burns’s birthplace, the episode charts moments of great cultural, political and military importance.
Prof
A rich history of tartan
The rich history of tartan
In this week’s episode, to mark the opening of the V&A Dundee’s new Tartan exhibition, Jackie meets its co-curator Jonathan Faiers to discuss the fascinating tale of the pattern’s past.
If you took a random sample of people around the world and asked them to depict Scotland, tartan would likely make an appearance. It connects Bonnie Prince Charlie to punk rock
Romans in Scotland: the Antonine Wall
Romans in Scotland: the Antonine wall and ‘Rome’s Afghanistan’
This week, Jackie goes for a walk at the Antonine Wall and is joined by Dr John Reid to discuss Roman-era Scotland.
The wall, which stretches from Old Kilpatrick on the west coast to near Bo’ness, was around 37 miles long and marked the furthest reach of the Roman Empire in Britain. Using the nation’s rugged features to bolster
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