Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland's History and Nature

Arguably the most famous monarch in Scottish history, Mary, Queen of Scots remains a figure of global intrigue more than 400 years after her death. One question, then: why? In a previous episode of Love Scotland, Jackie explored the life and times of Mary. Today, she’s on a mission to find out why Mary’s story and legacy have been pored over in such detail for centuries. Joining Jackie in the studio is Professor Steven Reid of the University of Glasgow, who is also the author of The Afterlife of Mary, Queen of Scots. Together, they unpick the posthumous interest in Mary, the many different perceptions of her legacy, and how Mary’s death has been used throughout history to further different groups’ objectives. For more information on Falkland Palace, click here.

Professor Dauvit Broun discusses Robert the Bruce's struggles for power in 1306 Scotland, including battling the most powerful family. The podcast delves into Bruce's hardships, resilience, and strategic military tactics at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. It contrasts the English monarchs Edward I and Edward II, highlighting Bruce's calculated maneuvers towards becoming King of Scots.

Professor Dauvit Broun from the University of Glasgow chats about Robert the Bruce's life, covering his alliances, power shifts, and military triumphs. They discuss the myths vs. reality surrounding the Scottish ruler and his lasting impact on history.

Jackie gives a brief introduction to brand-new season of the Love Scotland podcast. We're going across the centuries to delve into the stories of Mary Queen of Scots and Robert the Bruce, then skipping ahead to the tales of the Georgian Tea Room. Jackie also hears from the Trust's archaeology team about wartime relics beind unearthed across the country.

In this captivating conversation, Sam Heughan, the talented Dumfries and Galloway-born star of Outlander, shares his journey from actor to New York Times bestselling author. He reflects on how the series has ignited global interest in Scotland's history and landscapes. Sam reveals his love for the outdoors while discussing his transformative hike along the West Highland Way. Listeners will also enjoy personal anecdotes from his career and insights from his book, Waypoints: My Scottish Journey, blending nature, heritage, and identity.

Discover Scotland's iconic film locations from Harry Potter to James Bond. Uncover the reasons behind filming in LA instead of Scotland. Dive into the impact of Scotland's landscapes on the film industry and explore the intriguing narratives of Scottish films.

This week, we’re going all the way back to Roman times – an an episode first released in 2023 – to find out about the Antonine wall and why Scotland was ‘Rome’s Afghanistan’. What led to the speedy evacuation of the Antonine wall, which was once garrisoned by thousands of Roman soldiers? What was Rome’s relationship with the lands beyond the wall really like? And just how did a small, stubborn nation see of a continental superpower? To find out, Jackie visited the nation-spanning wall herself and then met Dr John Reid, author of The Eagle and the Bear: A New History of Roman Scotland, to get a deeper insight into this fractious period of history and its long-lasting legacy. Next week, as the Oscars get under way in LA, we revisit Scotland’s relationship with the silver screen. New episodes of Love Scotland will return later in 2024.

This week, we’re returning to one of our most popular episodes, which was first released in May 2022. Jackie was joined by Dr Ciaran Jones, the lead researcher and author of a report on the links between NTS properties and the witch trials of the 16th-18th centuries. Why did Scotland try to execute five times as many so-called witches as the rest of the Europe? What fuelled 4,000 people, the vast majority of them women, to be accused of witchcraft? Why were wires inserted into suspected witches? And what was it that finally drew this dark chapter of Scottish history to an end? This episode looks at the dark past of witch trials – a story that may sound like it belongs in the history books – and the relevance they have to the way we live – and let live – today. Next week, we go further back in time to find out more about the Roman invasion of Scotland. New episodes of Love Scotland will return later in 2024.

Production is underway on the next full series of Love Scotland, but in the meantime, we’re diving into the archives to highlight five of the top episodes of all time. This week, we’re returning to two episodes that – when combined – offer a full look at the Massacre of Glencoe. Some 332 years ago this week, around 30 members of Clan MacDonald were killed by Scottish government forces, many while they slept. This tragic and bloodthirsty event was significant in Jacobean history and has had a long-lasting legacy. To find out more, Jackie is joined by Derek Alexander, NTS Head of Archaeology, and Scott McCombie, senior ranger. To find out more about Glencoe, click here.  Next week, we revisit another dark chapter in Scottish history: the witch trials. New episodes of Love Scotland will return later in 2024.

As another series of Love Scotland draws to a close, Jackie gathers two companions to discuss the “song that everybody sings”: Auld Lang Syne. With lyrics penned by Robert Burns in 1788, but origins dating back further, it is now a global anthem of friendship, celebration, yearning and nostalgia.  Mairi Campbell, a Scottish musician whose version of the song appeared in the Sex and the City film and who has since created a show inspired by Auld Lang Syne, is the first of Jackie’s two guests. Also joining the conversation is Professor Gerard Carruthers, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Francis Hutcheson Chair of Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow.  With just a few weeks to go until people sing Auld Lang Syne on Hogmanay, Mairi and Gerard reveal their personal connections to the song and its words, how it came to international significance, and how it has evolved since its very early origins.  To find out more about Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, click here.