VisitScotland presents Tour Guide Tales

In our last episode of the series, Grant is joined by Gerry Durkin from the Summerlee Museum of Industrial Life. Based in Lanarkshire, the museum commemorates Scotland’s industrial and social history, with a particular focus on the mining industry and its role in shaping the people and places of Scotland. With some surprising stories, including the history behind unique tattoos and sandwich eating techniques, and an insight into the history and hardships of Scotland's mining families, this final episode doesn't disappoint!

In this episode Grant speaks to Cormac Grogan, Manager of Skaill House on Orkney. Homely, historic and haunted, this mansion houses a treasure trove of stories and artefacts that have been passed down through 12 generations of the same family for over 400 years. Skaill House and its idyllic location is certainly unique with the site of Skara Brae right on its doorstep. In this podcast we hear all about how this ancient Neolithic site was discovered, as well as the House's many global connections, with stories behind an incredible variety of objects from a WW1 Bolshevik Russian flag and Captain Cook's dinner set!

Scotland is rich with history, history that goes back a very long way. In this episode, we’ll be going back 6,000 years with Alan Steele, tour guide at Kilmartin Glen – a site of great archaeological importance in the West of Scotland.  We’ll discuss the prehistoric civilisations that once lived there and what remains of them today. There’s a lot to discuss as Kilmartin Glen has over 800 points of interest within an area of just 6 miles. So let’s head back in time with presenter Grant Stott as we hear some more incredible Tour Guide Tales from Kilmartin Glen.

This week, Grant speaks to Stuart Rich of the Scottish Maritime Museum. With two sites at Irvine and Dumbarton, the Scottish Maritime Museum helps preserve the rich story of a cornerstone of Scotland’s industrial past, its maritime and ship building history. We’ll hear what life was like for families working in the often-unforgiving shipyards, the impact of the industry to 20th century Scotland, and some amazing stories behind just some of the boats in the Museum’s care.

In our second edition of Tour Guide Tales, we hear the tale of the Guardian of Scotland, Sir William Wallace. Speaking to Ken Thomson of the National Wallace Monument, Grant finds out the story behind one of Scotland’s most iconic attractions, as well as the national heroes, both old and new, it seeks to commemorate.