Episodes

  • S3E9 Exploring the rich history of The Machars - bookshop owner Jayne Baldwin on Wigtown and its surrounds

    S3E9 Exploring the rich history of The Machars - bookshop owner Jayne Baldwin on Wigtown and its surrounds
    Nov 25 2024
    Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams. My name is Alison Fraser and in this episode I’m joined by Jayne Baldwin, a bookseller, writer and publisher who lives in Dumfries and Galloway. Jayne originally trained and worked as a journalist. She now brings those skills, researching and a nose for a good story, to her non fiction books. She says she’s fascinated by social history and although not an historian, she tries to give a voice to those people that have been overlooked or ignored. Jayne carries that over to this podcast in which you will learn more about the place Jayne calls home. Jayne’s links: https://foggietoddlebooks.co.uk/ https://www.amazon.com/Books-Jayne-Baldwin/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AJayne+Baldwin Places Jayne took us: Torhouse Stone Circle: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/torhouse-stone-circle/ Wigtown: https://www.wigtown-booktown.co.uk/ The Machars: www.themachars.co.uk Bladnoch Distillery: https://uk.bladnoch.com/ Port William: https://portwilliam.com/ Ring of Bright Water statue: https://themachars.co.uk/?Monreith Barhobble Church: https://www.britainexpress.com/scotland/Dumfries-Galloway/churches/barhobble.htm Isle of Whithorn: http://isleofwhithorn.com/ Cruggleton Castle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruggleton_Castle Garlieston: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garlieston Food and drink: ReadingLasses (books by and about women and seriously good cake) https://www.facebook.com/readinglasses17 Five Kingdoms Brewery: https://www.fivekingdomsbrewery.com/ The Harbour Inn, Garlieston: https://the-harbour-inn.co.uk/ The Hive in Garlieston https://www.facebook.com/thehivecoffeeshopgarlieston/ Jura Whisky: https://www.jurawhisky.com/en/ Books: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/1912014696?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_nz Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/1910065099?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_nz Music: The Proclaimers The Bluebells: Young at Heart Deacon Blue: Dignity The Associates The Bookshop Band https://www.thebookshopband.co.uk/ Our Scotland season 3 playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7eCdQdEKOJbMtNQvScvVc3?si=RtsKCeDBQJy9qkL4_CkmKA Mary Queen of Scots’ visit to St Ninian’s: https://www.whithorn.com/mary-queen-of-scots-visit-to-whithorn/ Mulberry Harbour Project in Garlieston: https://mulberryharbour.info/ If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. You can email alison@alisonfraser.co or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/
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    51 mins
  • S3E8 Crime writer Wendy Jones (Surgeons Hall, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stirling Castle and Dundee)

    S3E8 Crime writer Wendy Jones (Surgeons Hall, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stirling Castle and Dundee)
    Nov 18 2024

    Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams.


    My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places and my guests are people just like me.


    In this episode I’m joined by crime fiction author Wendy Jones


    As well as being the author of the DI Shona McKenzie mysteries Wendy is the President of the Scottish Association of Writers, and a writing and marketing coach helping writers and authors realise their literary dreams.


    Wendy is going to take us on an adventure around Scotland - and with a bonus side trip.


    Wendy’s links:

    https://www.wendyhjones.com/


    Places Wendy’s took us:

    Surgeons Hall Museums, Edinburgh: https://museum.rcsed.ac.uk/

    Edinburgh’s Royal Mile: https://edinburgh.org/neighbourhoods/the-royal-mile/

    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle collection: http://www.acdfriends.org/

    The Writers’ Museum: https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venue/writers-museum

    Stirling Museum: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/stirling-castle/

    Dundee: https://www.dundee.com/


    Food and drink:

    Haggis, neeps and tatties.

    Bombay Joes in Broughty Ferry, Dundee: https://bombayjoes.uk/

    Taza in Dundee: https://www.taza.co.uk/


    Books:

    Three Sisters, Three Queens by Philippa Gregory: https://www.philippagregory.com/books/three-sisters-three-queens

    Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

    https://thebookhousebroughtyferry.co.uk/


    If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch.

    You can email alison@alisonfraser.co or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/

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    40 mins
  • S3E7 Writer AJ Merron on falling in love with Scotland (Edinburgh, Inverclyde, Loch Fleet, South Rona, Harris)

    S3E7 Writer AJ Merron on falling in love with Scotland (Edinburgh, Inverclyde, Loch Fleet, South Rona, Harris)
    Nov 11 2024
    Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams. My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places and my guests are people just like me. In this episode I’m joined by writer James Merron, aka AJ Merron. James lives in Edinburgh but is originally from Lancashire. James describes himself as a hopeless romantic at heart who tends to live in a fantasy world of his own making. He writes poetry, has a YouTube channel of video essays delivered like letters of the romantics era, and a podcast where arts, media and philosophy collide. He’s currently working on plans for a creative retreat in a Highlands castle and researching the history of female monsters and demons for a fictionals book. James’s links: Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ajmerron_writes Instagram: instragram.com/ajmerron_writes Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ajmerron_writes Website: ajmerron.co.uk Places James took us: Edinburgh Waverley Station https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/our-history/iconic-infrastructure/the-history-of-edinburgh-waverly-station/ Greenock, Gourock, Inverclyde https://discoverinverclyde.com/ Loch Fleet https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/visit-our-nature-reserves/loch-fleet-national-nature-reserve South Rona https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Rona Shiant Isles https://www.shiantisles.net/ North Harris Eagle Observatory https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/north-harris-eagle-observatory-p530121 Huisinis https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/huisinis-beach-p523511 Food and drink: The Cove, Gourock https://thecovegourock.co.uk/ Eteaket https://www.eteaket.co.uk Music: Nina Nesbitt: https://ninanesbittmusic.com/ Seals singing: https://youtu.be/WYlLPyIeapg?si=MtFDUinWQOFGMW49 Machair Machair is a Gaelic word meaning fertile low lying grassy plain. This is the name given to one of the rarest habitats in Europe which only occurs on exposed western coasts of Scotland and Ireland. There are Machair habitats on the western shores throughout the islands. Here sand, largely made up of crushed shells, is regularly blown ashore by Atlantic gales. Over time the calcium rich shell sand and traditional Outer Hebrides crofting land practices have led to the development of a mosaic of fertile Scottish grassland habitats renowned for their Outer Hebrides wildflowers, Western Isles birds and insect life. https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/wildlife/machair If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. You can email alison@alisonfraser.co or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/
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    53 mins
  • S3E6 Eoin Smith takes us on a magical tour (Aviemore, John Henry Anderson's grave, Applecross, Kincraig, Fringe Festival, The Tunnels)

    S3E6 Eoin Smith takes us on a magical tour (Aviemore, John Henry Anderson's grave, Applecross, Kincraig, Fringe Festival, The Tunnels)
    Nov 4 2024

    Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams.


    My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places and my guests are people just like me.


    In this episode I’m joined by Eoin Smith. Eoin is a multi-award-winning magician and author based in Aberdeen.


    As a magician, Eoin's performances have taken him across Scotland to five-star hotels, comedy and cabaret clubs, and beyond – including the stage of the 500-seater Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen.


    As a writer, Eoin has had short stories and humour writing published around the world, including by Popshot, Two Fifty One and SANS. Press. He has also had features published by the likes of The Guardian, Q and Magic Magazine.


    Eoin is also an Explorer Scout Leader, and has been volunteering to provide 14-18 year olds with incredible experiences across Scotland for over 15 years.


    Eoin’s links:

    https://linktr.ee/eoin.smith


    Places Eoin took us:

    Aviemore https://www.alltrails.com/scotland/highlands/aviemore

    St Nicholas Kirkyard, Aberdeen, the grave of magician John Henry Anderson

    http://www.openspacetrust.org.uk/?p=646

    Road to Applecross https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTN46Rv6DVs

    Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig https://www.highlandwildlifepark.org.uk/

    Edinburgh Fringe Festival https://www.edfringe.com/

    The Tunnels, Aberdeen https://www.facebook.com/tunnelsaberdeen/


    Food and drink:

    Butteries from The Bread Guy https://thebreadguysbakery.co.uk/

    Harry Gow bakery https://www.harrygow.co.uk/

    Restaurant Martin Wishart https://restaurantmartinwishart.co.uk/


    Music:

    Little Kicks https://www.thelittlekicks.co.uk/

    Frightened Rabbit https://www.frightenedrabbit.com/

    Eoin’s playlist:

    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3bHExnyMo9IigA3ovmQXI4?si=40447c9d72294ebc


    If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch.

    You can email alison@alisonfraser.co or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/

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    57 mins
  • S3E5 Lindsay Bruce talks family holidays, thin spaces and a Scottish Cup Final (Millport, Harris, Motherwell)

    S3E5 Lindsay Bruce talks family holidays, thin spaces and a Scottish Cup Final (Millport, Harris, Motherwell)
    Oct 28 2024

    Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams.


    My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places and my guests are people just like me.


    In this episode I’m joined by Lindsay Bruce, a features and obituaries writer for the Press and Journal, one of Scotland's oldest newspapers.


    Lindsay is a mum of two and describes herself as an avid Irn-bru drinker and crazy dog lady.


    During the pandemic Lindsay was treated for cancer and it was after that she and her family moved to Scotland, it had been 20 years since she had last lived there.


    Lindsay’s links:

    Press & Journal author profile: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/author/lindsaybruce/


    Just Such A Time https://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Such-Time-Reconnecting-God-given/dp/1908393750


    Lindsay’s story about her Papa’s letter to her Gran after the birth of her father

    https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/opinion/6495817/aberdeen-fathers-day-letter-makes-me-love-my-papa-more/


    Places Lindsay took us:

    Isle of Cumbrae: https://millport.org/

    Harris: https://www.visitscotland.com/places-to-go/islands/lewis-harris

    Motherwell https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/motherwell-p237201

    Motherwell FC https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/


    Food and drink:

    Chapman’s Pies: http://jameschapmanbutchers.co.uk/shops-hours/


    Music:

    The Proclaimers - Sunshine on Leith soundtrack https://open.spotify.com/album/7sfXW3fw4RHGldmx0HeLP8

    Deacon Blue - Real Gone Kid https://open.spotify.com/track/1kBTjMOQcmrI5tW94GpdYG

    Celtic Christian music: https://open.spotify.com/album/6IRrCtHJN0Wf7Amb0WjS6N


    Scunnered: https://www.scotslanguage.com/articles/view/id/5115/type


    If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch.

    You can email alison@alisonfraser.co or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/

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    48 mins
  • S3E4 Writer Patti Callahan takes us timehopping (Edinburgh, Inverness)

    S3E4 Writer Patti Callahan takes us timehopping (Edinburgh, Inverness)
    Oct 21 2024

    Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams.


    My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places and my guests are people just like me.


    In this episode I’m joined by Seattle-based writer Patti Callahan.


    Patti has been a student, hairstylist, cocktail waitress, corporate professional, and small business owner. She’s also an expert multitasker who has pursued a lifelong love of travel, completed her MBA, and raised two sons. Patti maintains a blog on Medium - @novelsandtravels - and lives in the Pacific Northwest with dreams of an apartment in Europe to use as a home base for wandering the world.


    You’re going to hear a tale of two cities where Patti would love to spend her perfect Scottish day.


    Patti’s links:

    Blog: https://novelsandtravels.medium.com/

    Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Patti-Callahan/author/B006QB1ZXI?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

    Linktree: https://linktr.ee/novelsandtravels

    Places Patti took us:

    Edinburgh: https://everythingedinburgh.com/

    Writers Museum: https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venue/writers-museum

    Grassmarket: https://edinburgh.org/neighbourhoods/grassmarket/

    Inverness: https://www.visitinvernesslochness.com/

    Culloden House: https://www.cullodenhouse.co.uk/

    Culloden Battlefield: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/culloden/

    Music:

    Loreena McKennitt: https://loreenamckennitt.com/

    Our Scotland Season 3 playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7eCdQdEKOJbMtNQvScvVc3?si=k9r6TsvkQsmiVgfmwaD-qw


    If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch.

    You can email alison@alisonfraser.co or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/

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    43 mins
  • S3E3 Professor Donna Heddle and great Scottish stories (Fife, Papa Westray, Iona, Lochindorb, Elderslie, St Margaret's Chapel, St Magnus Cathedral)

    S3E3 Professor Donna Heddle and great Scottish stories (Fife, Papa Westray, Iona, Lochindorb, Elderslie, St Margaret's Chapel, St Magnus Cathedral)
    Oct 14 2024
    If you had just 24 hours in Scotland where would you go? Add in teleportation, time travel and even the magic of pausing time you can conjure up the day of your dreams. That is what Our Scotland is all about, highlighting the places and people that are memorable. My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places. In this episode I’m joined by Professor Donna Heddle who is going to take us on a historic 24 hours around Scotland and share some fascinating stories with us, some you may know, and some you might not. Professor Donna Heddle is the Director of the Institute for Northern Studies at University of the Highlands and Islands. Based on the UHI Orkney campus, her research interests include Scottish and Northern isles cultural history, small island studies, Scottish language and literature, and Old Norse. Donna’s links: Links to papers and talks https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/research-enterprise/cultural/institute-for-northern-studies/staff/donna-heddle/ UHI Profile https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/persons/donna-heddle Email: donna.heddle@uhi.ac.uk Places Donna took us: Cluny in Fife https://www.welcometofife.com/ Papa Westray, Orkney https://www.orkney.com/explore/papa-westray Iona http://www.welcometoiona.com/visiting-iona/ Lochindorb Castle https://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/Chatelaine/LOCHINDORB.HTM Elderslie https://paisley.is/visit/wallace-monument/ St Margaret’s Chapel, Edinburgh Castle https://www.edinburghcastle.scot/see-and-do/highlights/st-margarets-chapel Leith for seafood https://www.timeout.com/edinburgh/restaurants/edinburghs-best-seafood-restaurants Milnes Bar, Rose St, Edinburgh https://www.belhaven.co.uk/pubs/midlothian/milnes-bar St Magnus Cathedral https://www.stmagnus.org/ Torvhaug Bar https://www.kirkwallbid.co.uk/business/torvhaug Stories she mentioned: Wolf of Badenoch https://hiddenscotland.com/journal/the-wolf-of-badenoch-and-the-burning-of-elgin-cathedral Archie the Grimm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archibald_Douglas,_3rd_Earl_of_Douglas Bell the Cat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archibald_Douglas,_5th_Earl_of_Angus Robert Henderson, Testament of Cresseid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Testament_of_Cresseid Neil Gunn, Highland River http://www.neilgunn.org.uk/works/forewords/highlandriver.html Anon, Sir Patrick Spens https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/sir-patrick-spens/ Hugh McDiarmid, The Bonnie Broukit Bairn https://www.poemist.com/hugh-macdiarmid/the-bonnie-broukit-bairn Rögnvald Kali Kolsson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%B6gnvald_Kali_Kolsson Music: Simple Minds https://www.simpleminds.com/2024/01/27/global-tour-2024/ Runrig - Loch Lomond (Live) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzQ1pNfbe3Q Dougie McLean - Caledonia https://www.dougiemaclean.com/ Flower of Scotland as sung by the Tartan Army https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClLLJc16Rzk The Proclaimers https://the.proclaimers.co.uk/ Johnny Cash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOpafs_mwpo ACDC - Problem Child https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOpafs_mwpo If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. You can email alison@alisonfraser.co or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • S3E2 Travel influencer James Campbell takes us on an epic adventure (Dumfries, Loch Goil, Sango Bay, St Kilda, Skye, Loch Fyne)

    S3E2 Travel influencer James Campbell takes us on an epic adventure (Dumfries, Loch Goil, Sango Bay, St Kilda, Skye, Loch Fyne)
    Oct 7 2024

    If you had just 24 hours in Scotland where would you go? Add in teleportation, time travel and even the magic of pausing time you can conjure up the day of your dreams.


    That is what Our Scotland is all about, highlighting the places and people that are memorable.


    My name is Alison Fraser and I’m on a quest to discover as much of Scotland as possible,


    In this episode I’m joined by James Campbell, a travel influencer from Glasgow.


    It’s a bit longer than normal as James has filled his day with so much, we are definitely bending time here!


    James’s links:

    Instagram: Discover-Scotland

    Youtube Channel

    Places James took us:

    Castle Creavie

    James’s video from Castle Creavie

    Sango Bay

    Atholl Arms, Dunkeld

    Learn more about John Coe and Aquarius

    The Kitchin


    Music:

    Beluga Lagoon

    Gerry Cinnamon

    Have Mercy Las Vegas


    If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch.

    You can email alison@alisonfraser.co or DM me at https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/

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    1 hr and 1 min