This Is Scotland with The Scots Magazine

The listener Q&A edition of This is Scotland returns as Ally Heather and Coinneach MacLeod, the Hebridean Baker, answer your questions. This week, they share their favourite places to cool off on a summer's day, celebrate one of Scotland's quirkiest competitions, debate whether Highland cows have become the country's unofficial influencers, and reveal whether they'd travel back to the time of...

In this episode of This is Scotland, Ally Heather and Coinneach MacLeod, the Hebridean Baker, uncover the fascinating origins of Scotland's most unusual wedding traditions, from handfasting and blackenings to smashing shortbread over the bride's head. They also explore Scotland's ever-changing borders, revealing the surprising stories behind places such as the Isle of Man, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Orkn...

The listener Q&A edition of This is Scotland returns as Ally Heather and Coinneach MacLeod, the Hebridean Baker, answer your questions. This week, they share their top tips for making Scotland feel like home, uncover strange old cures involving porridge, potatoes and warts, explore water horses, cave legends and the folklore of the islands, and reveal which famous Scots they would most like to...

Tartan was once banned. People risked punishment for wearing it. Today, it is recognised around the world as one of Scotland’s most powerful symbols. In this episode, Ally Heather and Coinneach MacLeod, the Hebridean Baker, unravel the remarkable story of how a forbidden fabric became the cloth of rebellion, identity and pride. They also explore Scotland's witch trials, the campaign to remember th...

The listener Q&A edition of This is Scotland returns as Ally Heather and Coinneach MacLeod, the Hebridean Baker, answer your questions on Scotland's links with Norway, the revival of hutting, the Scottish diaspora and the future of Gaelic. This week, they explore whether Scotland shares a northern soul with Norway, why off-grid cabins and hutting have become such an important part of Scottish...

Do we romanticise the Vikings too much? Which Scottish accent is the best? And should Scotland have its own Eurovision entry? In this episode of This is Scotland, Ally Heather and Coinneach MacLeod, the Hebridean Baker, debate three big topics. They explore the Viking legacy in Scotland, from Hebridean ancestry to the realities of Viking raids, discuss how geography, identity and culture have shap...

The listener Q&A edition of This is Scotland returns as Ally Heather and Coinneach MacLeod, the Hebridean Baker, tackle your questions on Scotland's most fascinating places, traditions and mysteries. This week, they explore whether ruined castles such as Linlithgow Palace should be restored, uncover the surprising origins of Eigg, Rum and Muck, reveal their favourite Scottish graveyards, and c...

Why doesn't Scotland have an official national anthem? In this episode of This is Scotland, Ally Heather and Coinneach MacLeod, the Hebridean Baker, explore the story behind Flower of Scotland, Scotland the Brave and the debate over what song best represents the nation. They also share their favourite Scottish road trips, from island adventures to spectacular Highland routes, before turning their...

The listener Q&A edition of This is Scotland sees hosts Ally Heather and Coinneach MacLeod, the Hebridean Baker, tackle your questions on everything from Paisley patterns and shortbread traditions to the Lewis-Harris island rivalry, favourite lochs and Hebridean folklore. Whether you live in Scotland, have Scottish roots, or simply love the country, This Is Scotland is your place to feel conne...

Welcome to the first episode of This is Scotland. Join Ally Heather and Coinneach MacLeod, The Hebridean Baker, as they explore the stories, symbols and surprising truths that make Scotland unique. Why was Scotland's worst World Cup performance one of its most memorable? Which off-pitch Scottish football achievement we should be really proud of? Is Scottish money really legal tender? And when shou...

Listen in for a taster of what's to come - first episode out on Monday June 8!