Let’s pick a question straight from the hedgerows of Scotland…
🧐 Quiz Question:
Which Scottish fruit is foraged in September to make wine, preserves, and even gin?

Before we reveal the answer, let’s wander into the thickets...
This fruit grows on the blackthorn, a tree steeped in Celtic folklore. Its sharp thorns were said to offer protection, while its blossoms herald the arrival of spring. By autumn, its small round berries appear, though they’re far too tart to eat raw.

Instead, they’ve been treasured for centuries in preserves, cordials, and tonics, and most famously, steeped in gin to create a warming winter drink. The fruits were also thought to have protective powers – people carried blackthorn wood as a charm, and in some traditions it was linked to magical hedgerows marking the boundary between worlds.

Wildlife love them too – they provide valuable food for birds in the colder months. And for foragers, they’re a reminder to slow down and notice the bounty of the seasons.
👇 Ready for the answer?
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✅ Answer: The Sloe
These berries of the blackthorn are tart little gems with a rich history in Scottish folklore and country traditions. Whether in a jam jar or a glass of homemade sloe gin, they carry the taste of the hedgerows.

Have you ever tried sloe gin or spotted a blackthorn hedge in full fruit?
#FridayQuiz #SloeBerry #Blackthorn #ScottishForaging #WildScotland #SloeGin #FolkloreAndNature ...

A picture taken only just last week while traveling with Austrian Highlander fans across the country, this beautiful castle was a must for them to visit.

We arrived only a few days before its anniversary of “second chance”.

Here’s why:

On August 23, 1913, the ruins of Eilean Donan began their transformation into the iconic castle we know today. For nearly 200 years it had been nothing but a broken outline on the loch until John MacRae-Gilstrap decided to rebuild his family’s ancestral seat stone by stone.

By 1932, the castle reopened with towers, turrets, and that sweeping bridge (not an exact medieval copy) but something even more romantic.

Today it’s one of the most photographed castles in the world, and for many, it is the Scotland they dreamed of seeing. 💙

Have you visited before or is it on your agenda for your next Scotland trip?

#EileanDonanCastle #ScotlandHistory #OnThisDay #HighlandsAndIslands #ScottishCastles #VisitScotland #ScotlandInspires #IconicScotland #ScotlandTravel #HistoryLovers
#devinetoursofscotland ...

🌿 August in Scotland – Festivals, Folklore and Flowers to Watch 🌿

August in Scotland is a month that seems to brim with life. The long days may be gently shortening, but the country is still in full celebration mode. From the bustle of Edinburgh’s famous festivals, filling the streets with music, laughter, and theatre, to village shows in the Highlands where locals proudly display home-grown produce and handmade crafts, August is a time when community and culture truly shine.

It’s also the month when folklore drifts to the surface. Tales of the Cailleach (check out her story on Story Break. Link in my bio above), the ancient goddess of the land, mingle with harvest traditions, while Lammas celebrations mark the first gathering of grain, a time of gratitude and abundance.

And for those who love the quiet magic of nature, the hillsides are glowing purple with heather in bloom. Look closely and you may also notice the last flashes of wildflowers like harebells nodding in the breeze, bright gorse still clinging on, and the first signs of autumn berries ripening in the hedgerows.

Whether you’re drawn to the arts, the stories, or the landscapes, August in Scotland offers a feast for the senses. It's a reminder to pause and savour the beauty around us. 😃

✨ What’s your favourite way to soak up the spirit of late summer? Tell me in the comments below 👇

#ScotlandTravel #VisitScotland #ScottishCulture #ScottishFolklore #HeatherInBloom #ScotlandNature #CreativeScotland #ScottishHeritage #SlowTravelScotland #ScotlandInspires #devinetoursofscotland ...

Before we reveal the answer, let’s step onto the esplanade and hear the drums roll...

The Military Tattoo is one of Scotland’s most iconic annual events, drawing visitors from across the globe. First held in 1950, it began as a modest military performance, designed to showcase the skill and precision of the armed forces while raising funds for charity. The word tattoo comes from the Dutch phrase “doe den tap toe” – meaning “turn off the taps” – a signal once used to tell soldiers to return to their barracks at night.

Over the decades, the Tattoo has grown into a spectacular showcase of music, dance, and ceremony, featuring massed pipe and drum bands, military displays, cultural performers from around the world, and dramatic fireworks. It takes place on the Esplanade of a famous castle, creating one of the most breathtaking backdrops of any live event in the world.

With its mix of tradition, military precision, and international flair, the Tattoo has become a must-see highlight of the Scottish summer, broadcast worldwide to millions.

👇 Have you guessed the city?

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✅ Answer: Edinburgh
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is staged every August on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. It remains one of Scotland’s most attended and most televised events, a dazzling celebration of heritage and culture.

Have you ever been to the Tattoo – or is it on your bucket list? ⬇️
#FridayQuiz #EdinburghTattoo #ScotlandEvents #MilitaryTattoo #EdinburghCastle #ScottishPipesAndDrums ...

August is one of the busiest months of the guiding season here in Scotland — long days on the road, new stories unfolding, and countless little moments of magic I can’t wait to share.

If you’d like to be right there with me (even from afar), I’d love to invite you to join my Scotland Journal. Think of it as keeping me in your pocket — with regular little postcards from Scotland arriving straight to your inbox.

You’ll get a mix of:
📸 Snapshots from the road — the kind of views that stop you in your tracks
🎧 New Story Break episodes — short escapes into Scottish legend and lore
🌸 Snippets of daily life and behind-the-scenes guiding moments
🧵 And the occasional craft highlight, because creativity is not only woven into every corner of this land but also lies at the root of my tours.

It’s a gentle way to stay connected, even if it get's a little quiet on my socials.

If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, you can sign up following the link in my bio above. I’d love to have you along for the journey.

#scotlandinyourpocket #scotlandfromtheroadside #StoryBreakScotland #scotlandtraveldiaries #slowtravelscotland #keepintouch #travelnewsletter #scotlandinyourinbox #devinetoursofscotland ...