Author name: Alastair MacLeod

Flavours

Five Scottish Dishes You’ve Never Tried (But Should)

When people think of Scottish food, the same names always come up: haggis, shortbread, maybe a dram of whisky on the side. And while those classics deserve their fame, Scotland’s larder is much deeper and more surprising than many realise. Beyond the well-known staples are dishes that locals cherish but visitors often miss. They tell stories of landscape and community, of thrift and creativity, and of the Scottish knack for turning humble ingredients into something hearty and memorable.

Here are five dishes you may never have tried — but absolutely should on your next trip north.

1. Cullen Skink

Forget the delicate fish soups of France or Italy; Cullen skink is Scotland’s answer, and it packs both comfort and character. Originating from the fishing town of Cullen in Moray, this thick, creamy soup is made with smoked haddock, potatoes and onions. The fish gives it a depth of flavour that’s both rich and slightly sweet, while the potatoes make it satisfyingly filling.

Traditionally, it’s served as a starter, but don’t be surprised if it feels like a meal in itself. Pair it with crusty bread and you’ll understand why it’s a staple in homes and restaurants alike. In winter, it’s …

Journeys

Chasing the Light in Glen Coe: A Photographer’s Diary

There are places in Scotland where the light feels almost like a character in the landscape — restless, dramatic, sometimes fleeting. Glen Coe is one of them. Known as the “Glen of Weeping” for its tragic history, it is also a place of astonishing beauty, where every shift of cloud and sun transforms the scene. For photographers, it is both a challenge and a gift: a valley that never looks the same twice.

First Impressions

Driving into Glen Coe feels like entering another world. The road rises and falls through the Highlands, and then suddenly the glen opens up, flanked by towering peaks. The Three Sisters — Beinn Fhada, Gearr Aonach and Aonach Dubh — dominate the southern side, their ridges sharp against the sky.

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The weather, as always in Scotland, was changeable. One moment, mist poured down the slopes like smoke. The next, a break in the clouds sent shafts of light racing across …

Myths

The Selkies of Orkney: Folklore by the Sea

The islands of Orkney, scattered off the north coast of Scotland, are places where sea and story are inseparable. Here, the Atlantic and the North Sea meet in restless tides, shaping lives, livelihoods and legends. Among these tales, none is more haunting than that of the selkies: seal-folk who slip their skins to walk as humans, caught between two worlds.

Creatures of Land and Sea

The word selkie comes from the Scots for “seal”, yet the legend goes far beyond simple animals. According to Orkney folklore, selkies live as seals in the water but, when the moon is full, they can shed their skins on shore to become human.

By day they may be glimpsed basking on rocks, sleek and watchful. By night, villagers told of seeing beautiful men and women dancing on beaches beneath the stars, their seal skins lying hidden nearby. If the skin was stolen, the selkie was trapped in human form — a theme that recurs in many of the old tales.

Love and Longing

Most selkie stories are not about monsters or danger, but about love — and the sorrow that often follows.

One of the most common tales tells of a fisherman who discovers …

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