Unique Scotland

John Harbour, from www.exclusivescottishvisits.co.uk, is your trusted, expert guide on the Unique Scotland podcast. These carefully crafted, impeccably researched programmes connect you with this small but beautiful land. You’ll be introduced to the land itself, the people, and discover what makes them tick. John then takes you on virtual tours of every part of Scotland, from the Borders, to the Lowlands and then onto the Highlands and Islands. The craggy mountains as well as the beautiful white sandy beaches. Along the way, John covers the customs, traditions and culture, including the Clans - perhaps yours - and the part they played in the bloody Clan Wars. New episodes are regularly added so please ‘Subscribe’ and visit www.exclusivescottishvisits.co.uk to find out more.

Edinburgh City (E3) The Castle - An Iconic symbol of Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city, with sieges, ghosts and host to the Scottish Crown Jewels 04/24/2024

Edinburgh City (E3) The Castle - An Iconic symbol of Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city, with sieges, ghosts and host to the Scottish Crown Jewels EDINBURGH CASTLE EDINBURGH CASTLE is an almost impregnable fortress perched upon an extinct volcano, right in the middle of Scotland’s Capital city, Edinburgh. This podcast is the third in a four part series where I’ve already covered the Old and the New Towns and, in this Podcast, I will be taking you on a tour with me to the top of Edinburgh Castle, an incredible fortification that has been subject to 23 sieges in its 1000 year history, the most besieged castle in Europe. I'm also pleased to be joined by Lieutenant Colonel David Jack, the Royal Scots Regimental Secretary who will explain the connection between the Royal Scots infantry regiment and the Castle. In this Podcast you will travel back in time to the first fortification built around 4,000 years ago then right up until the present day. I’ll be explaining why a fortification was first built on this extinct volcano and why it has remained a fortress to this day. You will hear how it all began and then, fast forwarding you will hear about the part the Castle played in the Wars of Independence as well as the Jacobite rebellion resulting in the building of the Argyll Battery of guns to defend against these supporters of James VII. And the one o’clock gun – why is it fired every day to shake Edinburgh to its roots, and we will look inside the military prison and who the inmates were. And all that before we arrive at Crown square with the Royal Palace, now housing the Crown Jewels of Scotland or using their correct title, the Honours of Scotland. I’ll also be telling you about St Mary’s chapel, the oldest building in Edinburgh and how it has survived the ravages of time from Robert the Bruce in the 14th Century up until the modern day. And who is the Grey Lady ghost who enjoys frightening tourists from time to time….. All will be revealed. /episode/index/show/uniquescotland/id/30971048

Edinburgh City (E2) The New Town - Ghosts, Witches and skeleton are some of the strange finds when visiting the New Town 03/21/2024

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! 03/01/2024

LETTER FROM SCOTLAND - Feb 24 - News, views and gossip from all over Scotland. A funny and slightly controversial commentary 02/08/2024

Scotland's NC500 (Part 6) - Corrishalloch Gorge to Inverness is the FINAL Episode of this epic journey with amazing scenery on route. 01/24/2024

What's in store for 2024 – EXCITING NEW PODCASTS FROM UNIQUE SCOTLAND. The New Year message lets you in on the secret of what Podcasts will be coming this year. 01/15/2024

Scotland's NC500 (Part 5) - Durness to Corrishalloch Gorge 02/10/2022

Scotland’s NC500 (Part 4) – Bettyhill to Durness - Castle Varich, the Mackay stronghold, amazing beaches, John Lennon and much more…. 06/20/2021

Scotland’s NC500 (Part 3) – Wick to Bettyhill - Viking towns, Royal Castles, fabulous beaches and World War 2 installations, all par of this superb tour of Scotland's NC500 03/19/2021

Scotland’s NC500 (Part 2) - Dornoch to Wick - A Royal Scandal, 2000 year old Brochs, fabulous beaches, and incredible castle..... 01/13/2021

Scotland’s NC500 (Part 1) - Inverness to Dornoch - Craggy cliffs, spectacular beaches and fabulous 700 year old castles – join the virtual tour! 12/20/2020

LETTER FROM SCOTLAND – Travel and Tourism to restart with COVID breakthrough – A new vaccine breaks the deadlock. 11/23/2020

Scotland's rugged coast - Inverness to Gairloch (Part 2) - fabulous beaches, Botanical gardens, Russian convoys… Scotland’s west coast has seen it all. 11/08/2020

Scotland's rugged coast - Inverness to Gairloch (Part 1) - Cross over to the Black Isle then take in the amazing scenery of Gairloch's west coast and experience the wonderful mountainous Wester Ross. 10/25/2020

Scotland - Inverness City (Part 2) - Executions in the Old High Church graveyard seems barbaric but that is part of Inverness’ legacy after the battle of Culloden… 10/09/2020

Scotland - Inverness City (Part 1) A fabulous castle in the heart of Inverness - Capital of the Highlands and a strategic destination for centuries. 09/26/2020

Scotland - Sex Scandal Enquiry of Scotland's First Minister! Why is the most high profile Sex Scandal enquiry in Scotland receiving so little attention in Scotland’s Media, especially the BBC? 09/18/2020

OUTLANDER and Monty Python fans unite! Close to Stirling Castle is the magnificent Doune castle where history and modern fiction come together. So what do Jamie and Claire of Outlander and King Bedevere, Monty Python's English King, have in common. 09/11/2020

Reverend Kirk died on a hillside in Aberfoyle in mysterious circumstances, just one of the stories from a stunning part of Scotland, the Trossachs. Rob Roy, the Scottish vagabond, also roamed this part of Scotland and made his name evading the law. Was he 08/28/2020

One of Scotland's epic songs, The Skye Boat song, heralds the arrival of Bonnie Prince Charlie to the Island of Skye. Follow the route that he took and, in so doing, see where it all started. 08/23/2020

LETTER FROM SCOTLAND - Hard hitting, gloves off look at topical news of issues in UK and Scotland in particular 08/14/2020

SCOTCH WHISKY (Part 3) - Interview with, Scotland’s top Whisky expert, Charles Maclean who divulges his favourite whisky. You will be surprised! Listen to his role in the Ken Loach film, the Angel’s Share and there is much more to discover. 08/07/2020

SCOTCH WHISKY (Part 2) - How is whisky produced? Have Whisky producers something to hide? Why are Age Statements starting to disappear from some bottles? 07/31/2020

SCOTCH WHISKY (Part 1) - Where did it all begin? Plus, Interview with Keeper of the Quaich, Ronnie Berry. 07/24/2020

Isle of Skye (Part 3) - Do you believe in Fairies? Dunvegan castle has a Fairy Flag with magical powers and the Clan Chief married a Fairy.. 07/17/2020

LETTER FROM SCOTLAND - Hard hitting, gloves off look at topical news of issues in UK and Scotland in particular 07/10/2020

Isle of Skye (Part 2) - The amazing Cullin mountains are at the heart of Skye - so too is Bonnie Prince Charles' lost Jacobite dream! 07/03/2020

Isle of Skye (Part 1) - From Loch Ness to the Isle of Skye or the Misty Isle, one of the most beautiful and rugged islands in Scotland. 06/26/2020

Scotland - Customs and Traditions - What exactly is a Haggis? How do you catch them? Kilts, bagpipes, Highland Games and much more..... 06/19/2020

Scotland Tour - Inverness to Edinburgh 06/12/2020