Celtic Recipes

Castle Varrich - Caisteal Bharraich

Castle Varrich image courtesy of The Northern Times.

Castle Varrich (Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal Bharraich) is  located near to the coastal village of Tongue (Scottish Gaelic: Tunga) and overlooks the sea loch of the Kyle of Tongue (Scottish Gaelic: Caol Thunga) in the north Scottish Highlands. It's construction date is not known although it is possible that the site is over 1000 years old and built over an old Norse fort or perhaps a broch. Castle Varrich is said to have been the ancient seat of the chief of the Clan Mackay.

Strathnaver Museum

Strathnaver Museum image courtesy of Strathnaver Museum

The Strathnaver Museum is located to the east of Bettyhill, Sutherland, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Am Blaran Odhar,  Cataibh, Alba) and to the south of the A836 road. The museum looks at the history of the area and the inheritance left by Norse and Gaelic ancestors. The museum is open from April until October Monday's to Saturday.

Museum & Tasglann nan Eilean (Stornoway)

Museum & Tasglann nan Eilean

Museum & Tasglann nan Eilean covers the islands of the Outer Hebrides (Scottish Gaelic: Na h-Eileanan Siar) from Barra (Eilean Bharraigh) in the South to Lewis (Eilean Leòdhais) in the North. It operates from two centres, Museum nan Eilean at Lews Castle, Stornoway (Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal Leòdhais, Steòrnabhagh) and Sgoil Lionacleit on the island of Benbecula (Scottish Gaelic: Beinn nam Fadhla or Beinn na Faoghla).

Callanish Stones - Clachan Chalanais

Callanish Standing Stones

Thought to date from 4000BC to 2600BC, these are a group of thirteen standing stones forming a circle about thirteen metres in diameter. There is an avenue of stones to the north and shorter rows to the east west and south. The location is near the village of Callanish/Calanais on the west coast of Lewis/Leodhas. There is a visitors centre at Calanais www.callanishvisitorcentre.co.uk which promotes an understanding of the stones and has refreshment and other facilities. Callansh 1 refers to the largest of the megalithic sites in the area of which there are several.

Bosta Beach - Bostadh

Bosta Iron Age House courtesy of interior Bernera Historical Society Facebook page.

Bosta Beach is located in the north of Great Bernera (Scottish Gaelic: Beàrnaraigh Mòr) an island in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Na h-Eileanan Siar, Alba). The island is connected to the north-west coast of Lewis (Scottish Gaelic: Leòdhas) by a bridge. During storms in 1993 shifting sands revealed  stonework. Subsequent excavations in 1996 uncovered a series of well preserved houses that would have been occupied in the 6th - 9th centuries AD.  A replica Iron Age house matching those now buried is sited nearby.

Dun Carloway - Dùn Chàrlabhaigh

Dun Carloway

These are the well preserved remains of a Broch with the thick walls with stairway and chambers in the hollow surrounding a courtyard of about twenty-five feet in diameter. The site is located southwest from Carloway /Carlabhagh off the A858 north from Callanish/Callanais.

Clach an Truishal - Truiseil

This is a large standing stone about twenty feet in height located off the A857 north from Barabhas south of Siadhar on the northwest coast of Lewis (Scottish Gaelic: Leòdhas).

Borve Castle - Caisteal Bhuirgh

Borve Castle 20090609 from north-west by Otter and courtesy of wikimedia commons

Borve Castle (Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal Bhuirgh) is a ruined 14th-century tower house, located at the south-west of the island of Benbecula, Outer Hebrides, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Beinn nam Fadhla or Beinn na Faoghla, Na h-Eileanan Siar, Alba).

Kildonan Museum - Taigh Tasgaidh Chill Donnain

Clanranald Armorial Stone image courtesy of Kildonan Museum

This museum, owned by the South Uist Historical Trust and the Kildonan Centre, is a heritage and cultural facility. The museum gives an historical overview of South Uist/Uibhist a Deas from pre-history to the eighteenth century. South Uist has numerous archaeological sites. The Kildonan Centre also has a craft shop and café and is located on the main A865 north from Daliburgh www.kildonanmuseum.co.uk and is open from April until October. 

Kisimul Castle - Caisteal Chiosmuil

Kisimul Castle image courtesy of Visit Scotland

Kisimul Castle (Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal Chiosmuil) is located on a small island off Castlebay, Barra, Outer Hebrides, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Bàgh a' Chaisteil, Eilean Bharraigh, Na h-Eileanan Siar, Alba). This is the former seat of the Clan MacNeil and probably dates back to the fifteenth century. Within the curtain wall of this well preserved castle are the remains of structures including a tower.

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