Borderland Tales

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the orkney islands
In Further Afield

Orkney – The Magic of 70 Scottish Islands

March 19, 2023

Located off the northern coast of Scotland, Orkney is an archipelago of around 70 islands and skerries, of which only 16 are inhabited. However, though the total population of…

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the scotsman sporran
In Border History & Places

The Scotsman’s Sporran – Then and Now

March 18, 2023

As uniquely Scottish as the kilt itself, a Scotsman’s sporran – at its most basic a pouch worn around the waist at the front of the kilt to take…

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Ettleton Cemetery and the Milnholm Cross. Clan Armstrong burials
In Border History & Places

Ettleton Cemetery

March 13, 2023

Having read many books on the Border Reivers and the Jacobites, I found no references to this fascinating historical site. As the final resting place of many members of…

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the old north - north britain
In Border History & Places

What is the Old North?

December 13, 2022

The Old North was an ancient Celtic kingdom that stretched across northern England and into Scotland. Its inhabitants were called Britons, or Brythons in Welsh, speaking a Brythonic language…

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scottish border ballads
In Border Ballads

What are the Border Ballads?

December 12, 2022

The Scottish Border Ballads are a collection of traditional folk songs and poems from the Scottish English Border region. These historical ballads were passed down through the generations by…

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"Delving into the history, songs and legends of the Scottish Borders and the Old North of Britain, exploring the area's rich heritage and uncovering fascinating stories that have been passed down through the ages."

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