TRAVELLING around the Highlands, it’s impossible to miss symbols and reminders of our history – littered with exciting tales of warring clans and exiled monarchs.
And these stories are told against the backdrop of mountain peninsulas, remote caves and haunting glens – the Highland scenery plays its own unique role in the drama.
For me, the many stories of our past give great perspective, significance and appreciation for the present. They remind us that we are inheritors of a remarkable legacy that has been shaped by centuries of triumph, tragedy and resilience. But many of these stories are being lost – even as the places themselves grow in popularity.
Last week, I visited the Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre in Portree.
It’s a wonderful space, full of old maps, exhibitions and incredible eye-witness accounts of our island past. Many visitors, searching for their forebears, come to investigate their family history. Locals too pop in.
The archivist, talking about the importance of the centre, cited some of the examples today of how our history is being lost. She referenced the fairy pools – one of Scotland’s most popular scenic landmarks. It’s called the Fairy Pools in millions of social media posts.
That name first appeared in writing in a 1930s tour guide. In other words, a name aimed at the tourist market. Prior to that reference, its original, Gaelic name was Coire na Creiche.
That means corrie of the spoils. Even the uninitiated can immediately sense a story in the name – and potentially quite a savage story!
Not many visitors, if any, talk of Coire na Creiche.
They come to the “Fairy Pools” expecting something connected with fairies and myths. But they are missing an even more fascinating story, with records suggesting a brutal battle between the Macleods and the Macdonalds more than 420 years ago. For more information about the story, ask (or visit) the Archive Centre in Portree. I’m just whetting your appetite in this column!
But it demonstrates the importance of our history and heritage being accessible.
Later the same week, I toured the West Highland Museum in Fort William. Located at the heart of Fort William’s high street, where the museum has been based for nearly 100 years, this institution is committed to preserving Highland heritage.
I was welcomed in and ushered up flights of stairs into the building’s only office space. Walking around with the dedicated team, the place is absolutely brimming with priceless artefacts with every corner telling a story of our Highland ancestors.
A particular standout was an anamorphic hidden painting of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
At first glance, the object appears to be nothing more than a smear of oil paints on a black wooden board, but when paired with a mirrored cylinder, the true nature of this unique object is revealed. Prince Charlie is reflected right back at you, as clear as day!
The piece was discovered by chance in a London junk shop in 1924 and purchased for just £8 by the museum’s founder, Victor Hodgson. It has been a star object in their collection ever since, captivating visitors with its ingenious design and historical significance. What strikes me most is how this single artefact embodies the secretive, dangerous world of Jacobite sympathisers.
Other standouts include some of Flora MacDonald’s personal possessions, archaeological finds from the Neolithic period and military objects from throughout our turbulent history. Each piece offers a tangible connection to the people who lived, loved and fought in these magnificent Highland landscapes centuries before us.
