See and Do
by mygaelic.com
- BeurlaEnglish
- Gàidhlig ShìmplidhSimple Gaelic
- GàidhligGaelic
At the wheel of a yacht on a warm summer’s day with a cooling breeze gently filling the sail... and dolphins cutting through the water on the port side... and a dark mysterious island on the horizon waiting to be discovered... or a dusting of snow on the mountains... your frosty breath whitening and then fading... and grey mournful branches beckoning, guiding you towards a twisting and rutted path into the forest... imagine it, and then see and do it in Scotland.
From the music and crack of a ceilidh to the peace and quiet of the high glens, there’s something for everyone in Scotland and the Highlands and Islands. There’s plenty to see and do in the Gaelic places, and in the rest of Scotland, where many of the activities and places have a Highland or Gaelic flavour. Here are some of them.
Culloden Visitor Centre
On a wet and blustery day in the spring of 1746 the fading hopes that a Jacobite campaign would restore the Stuarts to the throne of Britain were finally extinguished. Lead and the stubborn red lines of Hanoverian soldiers broke the famed Highland charge, which had carried the day so often during the preceding months. And it was not merely the cause of Charles Edward Stuart, or Bonnie Prince Charlie, and the Stuart dynasty which was lost on the 16th of April on Drummossie Moor. In the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden, legal proscriptions were enacted which were aimed at bringing the Highland clans and other Jacobite supporters to heel. Many have argued that a general hostility to Highland and Gaelic culture followed, which was now associated in many Protestant and Hanoverian eyes with Jacobitism, and that this was one factor in the gradual erosion of the culture and language. This new centre interprets and reveals the events of the battle and tells about the history of the period, and the reasons behind the battle. This important date in the history of the Gaels is brought to life through today’s technology, and much of the information is available in Gaelic as well as English, especially on the centre’s website.
Facing the Elements
Scotland and the Highlands and Islands are famous for the range of outdoor activities they offer, from climbing and walking to mountain biking and kayaking. The landscape and its beauty attract thousands and thousands of visitors to the Highlands and Islands each year where numerous centres and events offer various sports and outdoor pursuits. One of the best known outdoor events in Scotland now is the Tiree Wave Classic, in which people from all over the world descend on the Hebridean island of Tiree for an international windsurfing event. The competition began in 1986 and is now recognised as a World Cup level event, and attracts over 700 people to the island for the week-long event. Although it is not a Gaelic event, it is held on an island in Argyll where many of the population still speak Gaelic.
Music and Language
If you want to learn a new skill or talent in a top-class facility and inspiring environment, and in an area famed for its Gaelic and Highland hospitality, the Gaelic college, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (literally the Big Barn of Ostaig), on the Isle of Skye provides the ideal opportunity to do just that. The college offers a range of short courses throughout the summer months and around Easter time, aimed at various skill levels, and the tuition on offer includes: piping, fiddle, Gaelic song, photography, the whistle, the cello, Gaelic classes for all levels, Gaelic for Irish speakers, Gaelic for German speakers, and much, much more. If you’re looking to learn and experience the wonderful scenery and atmosphere of south Skye, Scotland’s Gaelic college is happy to oblige. The short course programme has been run for a number of years, and people return year after year to learn more from some of the best musicians in Scotland and from across the world, and from expert language tutors. Why not give it a try? A learning opportunity awaits, which will bring you back to the Highlands in the years to come.
Voyages of Discovery
There is no better way to see the Western Isles of Scotland than by boat, with a knowledgeable skipper at the helm who can perhaps tell you about the heritage, history, wildlife and legends of the islands. A number of boat trips offer just such an opportunity with operators taking you on a diverse range of trips around the islands and even as far as St Kilda – the remote and beautiful island that has ever framed the horizon of the Gaels’ imagination. You will have the chance to see the islands as the many waves of settlers first saw them: from the sea. And often, as you cast your eye first this way and then that, you can listen as your guide or skipper shares his intimate knowledge of the place, the environment and the waters. Explore the sea with its islanders.
Turas Mara - Boat trips from Mull
VisitHebrides – Western Isles Boat Trips
More information on things to see and do:
Comann na Gàidhlig – Gaelic on Board
Nevis Range - The mountain experience for all seasons
