Edinburgh City (E1) - The Old Town - Would you give your house keys to a liar and a thief? Many of the rich in Edinburgh's Old Town did just that!
Release Date: 03/01/2024
Scotland - Christmas and New Year Traditions - For centuries, New Year (Hogmanay) has been revered over Christmas celebrations
Unique Scotland
Imagine Scotland locked in winter’s grip: snow whispering across cobbled streets, hearth fires glowing against the dark, families drawn close for warmth. While much of the world fixes its gaze on Christmas Day, Scotland’s true winter soul once beat loudest on another night entirely — Hogmanay, New Year’s Eve. Ancient, fierce, and alive with ritual, Hogmanay was not simply a celebration. It was survival, identity, and hope rolled into one blazing night. No one knows exactly where the word Hogmanay comes from — perhaps Old French, perhaps Norse, echoes of Yule carried on northern...
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Letter from Scotland - November 2025 - A warm, humorous, and atmospheric tour through Scotland's latest news
Unique Scotland
This November 2025 edition of Letter from Scotland offers a warm, humorous, and vividly atmospheric tour through the country’s latest news, landscapes, and quirks. Host John Robert Mackay Harbour begins by setting the scene of a classic Scottish November—rain in all its forms, fading heather, unpredictable light, and a blend of melancholy and mischief that marks the season. From there, the episode explores a patchwork of stories that reflect Scotland’s unique character. The reintroduction of beavers to Glen Affric, centuries after their extinction, marks a hopeful milestone for...
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Glasgow - Shipbuilding on the Clyde - ghosts of the past, appear in this riveting story of Glasgow’s River Clyde, once the beating heart of global shipbuilding.
Unique Scotland
This special episode delves into the rich maritime legacy of Glasgow’s River Clyde, once a global powerhouse of shipbuilding. From the early 19th to the mid-20th century, the Clyde’s shipyards were at the forefront of industrial innovation and naval craftsmanship, producing thousands of vessels that left an indelible mark on world history. This prolific output earned Glasgow the prestigious title of the “Second City of the British Empire,” a testament to its pivotal role in global trade, warfare, and transportation. Although shipbuilding on the Clyde can be traced back to the 15th...
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A SCOTSMAN IN NEW YORK - Screeching Police sirens mixed with Scottish bagpipes sort of sums up New York's Tartan Week where thousands of Scots descended upon the city 'that never sleeps'
Unique Scotland
Scotsman in New York NEW YORK is, undoubtedly, one of the most exciting cities in the world and I can’t believe that I have just visited for the first time. Thankfully I have now been to see this amazing metropolis for myself and this Podcast shares that experience with you. From screeching Police sirens to bellowing bagpipes, this was an adventure worth waiting for. It is only a few weeks since I returned from New York and I was absolutely buzzing after my first visit to the Big Apple, to such an extent that I’m inserting this bonus Podcast detailing my experience in the city and the...
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Glasgow City - Episode 3 - Kylie Minogue clearly loves Glasgow - I wonder if she rides the Clockwork Orange when she's in town
Unique Scotland
In this third Episode on Glasgow city, we have just come to the end of University Avenue, arriving at Byers Road, a favourite place for University Students to eat and drink. What is the scandal surrounding the Tennant Pub? And what does a Clockwork Orange have to do with Glasgow’s underground railway system, the third oldest in the world. I’ll be mentioning the conversion of 19th century Town Houses to hotels and find out where Kylie Minogue stays when she is visiting Glasgow. Down on the waterfront we will visit the Scottish Exhibition Centre to see an arena that looks like a spacecraft...
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Glasgow City - Episode 2 - Did Madeleine Smith poison her lover. Just one of teh stories as we tour this wonderful city
Unique Scotland
In this second Episode of Glasgow we leave Glasgow Green and travel from the East, along the river Clyde and past the Clutha bar that suffered such a tragedy a few years ago. We pass through the centre, traversing St Vincent Street to see some fabulous buildings including a Greek and Egyptian styled church reflecting the eclectic architecture of Glasgow. The street names reflect famous people and battles that were fought and you will hear how Nelson lost his eye and hear about the building that now houses the implement that removed the shrapnel during the battle. You will hear of the callous...
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Glasgow City - Episode 1 - The largest city in Scotland, once named the Second city of the Empire. Modern, vibrant and full of surprises
Unique Scotland
Glasgow City – Episode 1 – A Panoramic Tour Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland, is not the Capital of the country as that honour goes to Edinburgh with it’s Royal Castle and Palace. There is however, a constant buzz around the city which boasts 5 Universities, the Oldest of which is Glasgow University founded in 1451. It hosts two of the best of Scotland’s football teams and it is renowned for its nightlife and theatreland. The city has grown from the beginnings of an early church established in the 6th century by Saint Kentigern or Saint Mungo as he is know locally. Sadly most of...
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Letter from Scotland Dec 24 - Shipwrecks, Shenanigans and Sheepdogs all feature in the 2024 review of last year. Some incredible stories....
Unique Scotland
LETTER FROM SCOTLAND – End of Year Review Shenanigans, Sheepdogs and Shipwrecks litter the pages of this good news final Letter from Scotland of 2024. The bad news of the old year is left behind as the stories from this Podcast focus on the good news. So, if you only revel in crisis-driven bad news, then switch off now. Political shenanigans are confined to the bin. Warm hearted sheepdogs take their place as do one eyed cats, but the finale’ of this Newsletter is left to an extraordinary story of a Shipwreck survivor and the niece who travelled to the North West of Scotland to visit the...
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Edinburgh's Coast - EAST LOTHIAN Episode 2
Unique Scotland
Discover the extraordinary secrets of an incredible coastline to the east of Edinburgh in the County of East Lothian. It is an area of regal beauty with golden sandy beaches, medieval castles, the largest concentration of championship links golf courses in the world, gourmet restaurants and fabulous coastal and upland walks. In this second Episode, we will start where we left off in the previous Episode having just left the village of Direlton with a view of the small hill, Berwick Law, up ahead on the right hand side. We will drive down to North Berwick and look at the fabulous Sea Bird...
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The Scottish Borders (E2) - An exquisite part of Scotland with so much to offer. Ruined Border Abbey, Sir Walter Scott's Abbotsford House and the banditry of the Reivers....
Unique Scotland
SCOTTISH BORDERS – PART 2 So many people who rush to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland miss the amazing beauty of the Lowlands, and the Borders area of Scotland in particular. This Podcast takes up where we left off in Part 1 and we start at the incredible Jedburgh abbey with a walk around the town to see the Old Castle jail before heading off to Mary Queen of Scott’s house where you’ll hear of her ill health after visiting her lover, Bothwell. Then we’ll drive to another lovely ruin at Melrose and I’ll let you know a little more about the lives of the monks who lived in these...
info_outlineThis Podcast is the first in a 4 Part series on Edinburgh City, the Capital of Scotland. It will look at Edinburgh from its early beginnings right up to today with stories of gentlemen by day and thieves by night. It will highlight some of the most prominent buildings on the Royal Mile and, when talking about St Giles Cathedral, you will hear a desperate story of some of the inhabitants who were buried in the old Graveyard.
Who was Deacon Brodie and why was Robert Louis Stevenson so intrigued by this man. Who was Rizzio, secretary to Mary Queen of Scots and who was Clarinda whose romantic, yet mournful song is still so well known today.
Would you walk down an alleyway with the possibility of the contents of a chamber pot (toilet) being emptied on your head? It happened in the Old Town - find out why!