Come walk in the footsteps of your ancestors Come walk in the footsteps Your Detailed Itinerary of your ancestors Highland in flavour. Dunrobin Castle is Museum is the main heritage centre so-called ‘Battle of the Braes’ a near Golspie, a little further north. The for the area. The scenic spectacle will confrontation between tenants and Day 1 Day 3 largest house in the northern Highlands, entrance you all the way west, then police in 1882, which was eventually to Walk in the footsteps of Scotland’s The A9, the Highland Road, takes you Dunrobin and the Dukes of Sutherland south, for overnight Ullapool. lead to the passing of the Crofters Act monarchs along Edinburgh’s Royal speedily north, with a good choice of are associated with several episodes in in 1886, giving security of tenure to the Mile where historic ‘closes’ – each stopping places on the way, including the Highland Clearances, the forced crofting inhabitants of the north and with their own story – run off the Blair Castle, and Pitlochry, a popular emigration of the native Highland Day 8 west. Re-cross the Skye Bridge and main road like ribs from a backbone. resort in the very centre of Scotland. people for economic reasons. Overnight continue south and east, passing Eilean Between castle and royal palace is a Overnight Inverness. Golspie or Brora area. At Braemore junction, south of Ullapool, Donan Castle, once a Clan Macrae lifetime’s exploration – so make the take the coastal road for Gairloch. This stronghold. Continue through Glen most of your day! Gladstone’s Land, section is known as ‘Destitution Road’ Shiel for the Great Glen, passing St Giles Cathedral, John Knox House Day 4 Day 6 recalling the road-building programme through Fort William for overnight in are just a few of the historic sites on that was started here in order to provide Ballachulish or Glencoe area. the way. Overnight Edinburgh. The Highland capital city of Inverness Continue north to Helmsdale, where the work and alleviate famine in the native offers plenty of shopping, pubs, nightlife Timespan visitor centre portrays the population. For more magnificent and places to eat, as well as the option heritage of the area, including more mountain scenery, take the road through of visiting historic sites such as Culloden, information on the Clearances, as well Glen Torridon to Shieldaig, then Day 11 Day 2 with magnificent views north and west as the Strath of Kildonan gold rush of Lochcarron, from here go west for the Explore the magnificent setting of Take the M9 for an easy journey to across the inner Moray Firth. Fort 1869. Other sources of information on Skye Bridge. Overnight Portree area. Glencoe, with its visitor interpretation Stirling, where the castle on a crag George is also within easy reach. This life in the north include, for example, the centre, before continuing south and east and the high tower of the National massive fortification is a fascinating Laidhay Croft Museum and the to return to Edinburgh. Wallace Monument make the skyline example of military architecture. Walk Dunbeath Heritage Centre, as well as Day 9 unmistakable. Renaissance Palace, around its walls and you might even see the award-winning Wick Heritage Chapel Royal and the Great Hall are the famous Moray Firth dolphins from Centre. Overnight Wick or Thurso area. Go west to visit Dunvegan Castle, seat of the chiefs of the Clan Macleod. For a The information contained in this publication is as supplied just some of the features within the your high viewpoint! to VisitScotland and to the best of VisitScotland’s knowledge castle – and there are superb views close-up view of the magnificent Cuillin is correct at the time of going to press. VisitScotland can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. Journey from the ramparts. Bannockburn Hills, turn south, then take the Glenbrittle times and frequency are accurate at the time of going to Visitor Centre, south-east of the town, Day 7 road. Overnight Portree area. print but may be subject to change. April 2015. Day 5 Thurso is close to Scrabster, the ferry VisitScotland is committed to ensuring that our natural tells the story of how Scotland won environment and built heritage, upon which tourism is so almost four centuries of Cross the Kessock Bridge from Inverness port for Orkney and a possible two dependent, is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy. independence. and continue north-bound on the A9. day extension to this itinerary can be Cover: The Lonach Highland Gathering and Games, Day 10 Aberdeenshire. © P. Tomkins/VisitScotland/Scottish Viewpoint Both Tain and Dornoch are worth undertaken from here. Otherwise, this exploring, as typical old-established little is a day to savour the ambience of On the way south from Skye, note Scottish ‘burghs’ (towns with trading the far north. The Strathnaver the Braes area, south of Portree. rights in olden times) more Lowland than A monument by the road recalls the To search over 7,000 quality assured For information, inspiration and more accommodations, from bed and breakfasts itineraries online check out: to castles go to: www.visitscotland.com www.visitscotland.com An estimated 40 million people worldwide are of Scottish descent and the nation is especially well provided with family research facilities, with the records and information availability of a very high standard. But with or without an ancestral connection, Scotland is a great place to explore historical and Come walk in the footsteps heritage themes. This tour takes in some of the locations where history has been made and where events have taken place that have shaped the lives of Scots at home and abroad. For detailed information on of your ancestors how to research your Scottish ancestry and clan heritage visit www.ancestralscotland.com 22b-FOOTSTEPS_OF_ANCESTORS_SCOTLAND_MAP_FINAL.pdf 1 3/17/2015 11:41:35 AM SANDAY ROUSAY A966 Eday 1 © MFAtech Maps STRONSAY A967 www.digital-map.org A986 Kirkwall [email protected] Stromness A965 ORKNEY +44 (0) 207 871 1332 A964 Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011 A960 HOY St Margaret’s Hope 0 12.5 25 50 Kilometers A961SOUTH Burwick RONALDSAY 0 5 10 20 30 40 Miles Gills Bay abster THE ROYAL MILE, EDINBURGH Durness Scr A836 John o’ Groats The very heart of the Old Town of Edinburgh, Melvich Port of Ness Bettyhill Thurso this route links the royal residences of A857 A99 Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of A838 Tongue Strathnaver A882 Come walk in Holyroodhouse. Arnol 8 Museum Wick Scourie A836 the footsteps of A858 way Storno A894 Altnaharra A99 your ancestors A866 h Callanish c A897 n Dunbeath 2 LEWIS i A894 M Lochinver Timespan Museum and Arts Centre A859 7 e Loch h Shin A9 Helmsdale T Lairg A835 A839 A839 Brora Tarbert Mellon Udrigle DunrobinA837 Castle HARRIS A868 Golspie SCALPAY Ullapool 6 Aultbea A949 c h Dornoch Leverburgh i n A836 BERNERAY M Poolewe Tain e STIRLING – Once the most strategically Otternish t l Gairloch i t t h Lossiemouth y L A832 A835 i r important town in Scotland, controlling routes Lochmadd Cromarty F Cullen Fraserburgh A867 a y A941 Buckie Banff Macduff between Highland and Lowland, Stirling and its NORTH Uig A855 o r Achnasheen Dingwall A832 M Forres A990 Gardenstown castle is associated with Scotland’s two greatest UIST Torridon A896 Nairn Elgin A95 A98 A87 Strathpeffer AFort96 George Fochabers A981 champions, King Robert I (Robert the Bruce) BENBECULA North 5 A941 A90 A850 A890 Muir of Ord Kessock A940 Keith A97 Turriff and ‘Braveheart’ William Wallace. Dunvegan Beauly Craigellachie A947 A950 Portree A890 4 Culloden Battlefield A948 A865 RAASAY ALLEYA95 A952 Peterhead Lochcarron INVERNESSA82 Daviot A920 Huntly A863 A833 A939 Dufftown Sconser Kyle of A9 Carbost A831 Grantown- SPEY V Ellon SOUTH Lochalsh on-Spey A95 A941 A920 A975 3 SKYE A87 Drumnadrochit Urquhart A920 Shiel A938 A96 UIST Glenelg Castle Carrbridge Broadford Bridge Tomintoul A97 InverurieA90 Lochboisdale Kylerhea Loch Boat of Alford C Garten A851 9 A87 A887 Ness A939 Isle of Eriskay Canna Elgol Fort Augustus Aviemore A944 A944 ABERDEEN Eilean Kincraig A9 Cairngorms A980 M Armadale A888 Donan Newtonmore Aboyne Rum Invergarry Kingussie National Park Castlebay BARRA Mallaig Castle Ballater Banchory Y Ralia Braemar Crathie A90 Eigg A86 A889 A957 Arisaig Spean Bridge Stonehaven CM Muck A830 BLAIR CASTLE – Home of the Dukes A82 Loch Glenshee A90 A861 Loch Fort William A93 of Atholl, Blair Castle was also the last Ardnamurchan Ericht Blair MY Shiel Edzell stronghold in Scotland ever to be besieged Acharacle Atholl BlairSpittal Castle of Laga Corran 3 Glenshee A937 – during the 1745 Jacobite uprising, led by Coll Kilchoan Bruar A924 Brechin Glencoe CY Strontian Pitlochry Kirriemuir Montrose Bonnie Prince Charlie. Tobermory Drimnin Ballachulish Kinloch A934 A884 Rannoch Aberfeldy A926 A848 10 CMY Lochaline A828 A923 Glamis Forfar A933 Tiree BlairgA826owrie Fishnish Glen Coe Loch TayA827 Dunkeld A928 A15 Arbroath K MULL Craignure Lismore Tyndrum Killin A923 DUNDEE 4 A822 A94 Carnoustie A849 Oban A930 A85 h A85 Lochearnhead PERTH Scone Iona Crianlaric A85 Loch A85 A919 Fionnphort A816 Awe Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Crieff Seil A822 Auchterarder A913 St Andrews Luing A819 National ParkLoch Earn Callander Cupar A917 Inveraray A83 A82 A9 A816 A823 A916 Crail A821 A84 M90 Glenrothes Ardgartan A917 Anstruther A83 Tarbet A81 Dunblane Kinross A814 Aberfoyle M9 A91 Leven Colonsay JURA Crinan A815 StirlingLoch Lomond CastleA811 A92 r t h o 2 Alva Fi f Fo A886 Drymen Dunfermline Kirkcaldy r t h Lochgilphead A817 A875 Burntisland North Berwick Helensburgh STIRLINGBo'nessRosyth CULLODEN BATTLEFIELD – The National A880 Balloch A198 Dunbar ISLAY Dunoon Gourock EDINBURGH Trust for Scotland care for this atmospheric A846 Colintraive Dumbarton Falkirk M9 A1087 Greenock M80 Linlithgow Haddington battlesite of 1746.