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PODCAST

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature

National Trust for Scotland

Love Scotland is a fortnightly podcast series from the National Trust for Scotland. Hosted by TV star, expert broadcaster and National Trust for Scotland president Jackie Bird, Love Scotland features big names, experts and enthusiasts from all walks of life. Each episode delves deep into the detail of Scotland’s history, its wildlife and its landscapes.

history places & travel

All Episodes

00:33:13

Retelling the stories of Robert Burns

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2026/03/18

Even now, artists and creatives take inspiration from the works of Robert Burns some 230 years after his death. Last year, theatremaker James Clements explored the Trust’s Burns collection and brought it to life in a new production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His show, The Burns Project, sold out for its entire run and is now touring the US. It uses the bard’s letters, poems and personal items to tell the story of Burns in an intimate setting. Jackie chats to James about his creative

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00:32:01

Horrible Histories: and how it has inspired new...

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2026/03/04

For many history enthusiasts today, it all began with Horrible Histories. Whether the book series or subsequent TV adaptation – or, indeed, stage shows and films – the huge franchise has sparked many a love of the past through its gruesome, entertaining and, most importantly, accurate storytelling and songs.Today, Jackie sits down with two of the brains behind Horrible Histories to learn more about how they’ve managed to capture the imaginations of several generations of children and young

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00:31:48

A beginner's guide to birdsong

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2026/02/18

Can you tell your blackbirds from your blue tits? Do you know the difference between a collared dove and a wood pigeon? This week, Jackie is here to help you improve your understanding of British birdsong.Alongside naturalist and influencer Lucy Lapwing, Jackie explores the sounds of Greenbank Garden in Glasgow. Discover some top tips for memorising which calls come from which bird, and get Lucy’s advice for expanding your knowledge as the dawn chorus ramps up once again. For information on

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00:42:06

Mary, Queen of Scots: the captive years

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2026/02/04

The life of Mary, Queen of Scots has long fascinated historians and history-lovers alike. This week, Jackie sits down with studio guest Rosemary Goring to discuss the 19-year period of Mary’s life spent in captivity.Together, they discuss the circumstances surrounding Mary’s imprisonment, the political reasons behind her enduring captivity, and the tragedy of this nearly two-decade-long period. Rosemary Goring is the author of several books, including Exile: The Captive Years of Mary, Queen

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00:39:28

A beginner's guide to the Burns Supper

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2026/01/21

Whether you’ve never been to an former Burns Supper or you’re a long-time aficionado who knows the Address to a Haggis by heart, there’s always something new to learn about Robert Burns and his work.With Burns Night just a few days away, Jackie is joined by two of Scotland’s most prominent Burns experts to dissect the ceremonial aspects of the celebration, the history of its traditions, and the true meaning of his poetry. Professor Gerry Carruthers is the Francis Hutcheson Chair of Scottish

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00:28:31

LISTEN AGAIN: Traditional festive displays at Castle...

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2025/11/28

This episode was first released in 2022.As we enter December, we’re revisiting a podcast all about how the National Trust for Scotland creates and installs authentic decorations in its places. Listen in as Jackie meets Dr Jo Riley from Castle Fraser, who led a Trust research project into traditional decorations and how they have changed over time. From garlands to gifts, candles to clementines, Jo has examined exactly how previous residents in homes like Castle Fraser would have

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00:31:55

The life and legacy of Bernat Klein

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2025/11/14

Earlier this year, a coalition of leading Scottish heritage and design organisations – including the National Trust for Scotland – joined together to secure the future of the Bernat Klein Studio.This building was used by textile designer Bernat Klein, who was perhaps best known for his international collections for Chanel and Dior. To understand more about the man behind the studio, and the building’s future, Jackie speaks with Alison Harley, Chair of the Bernat Klein Foundation, and author

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00:31:36

Craftlands: stories of traditional skills

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2025/10/31

This week, Jackie is on the trail of spittle-makers, quarrel-pickers, yowlers and the other traditional craftspeople whose skills have vanished from mainstream life. Alongside academic, broadcaster and author James Fox, Jackie unpicks stories of handmade crafts and the social history behind their disappearance.James’s book, Craftland, documents many of these arts and trades right across Britain. It’s available online and in book shops now. You can find more about the places in the National

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00:45:25

James VI and the witch trials

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2025/10/17

This episode contains descriptions of violence that may not be suitable for all listeners.In this week’s episode, Jackie is joined by historian Steven Veerapen to discuss the role James VI played in Scotland’s witch trials. Between the late 16th and mid-17th centuries, an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 people – most of whom were women – were tried for witchcraft, with around 1,500 executed as a result of the trials. King James VI played a leading role in the trials, writing a detailed

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00:32:19

Inside the archives

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2025/10/03

This week, Jackie delves into the National Trust for Scotland’s archives. Along the way, she discovers stories of a past US President, a unlikely connection to the Titanic, and details of how places came to be acquired by the Trust.Joining Jackie is Trust archivist Ian Riches, who cares from the Trust’s rich collection of important historic material. You can find more about the National Trust for Scotland’s collections here. To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or

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00:46:49

The road to Bannockburn

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2025/09/19

In this week’s episode, Jackie is tracing the events that ultimately led to the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.In essence, that means following the life and legacy of William Wallace – a historical figure whose story is the stuff of legend. Unpicking the facts from the fiction is Professor Dauvit Broun from the University of Glasgow, who charts the rise and fall of Wallace and reveals exactly what role he played in the events of the early 14th century. You can find more about Bannockburn

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00:31:00

The St Kilda diaries

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2025/09/05

This week, Jackie dives into a biographical account of life on the remote St Kilda in the early 20th century. Using handwritten diaries kept by Alice MacLachlan, a schoolteacher who lived on the archipelago between August 1906 and May 1909, we can get a hugely personal view of the challenges and unique circumstances of life there.In this special episode, you will hear extracts from the diaries brought to life and original music inspired by the islands. You can find more about the St Kilda

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00:46:00

A beginner’s guide to the bagpipes

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2025/08/22

They are the soundtrack to weddings, funerals, Burns night celebrations and more. Bagpipes have earned their places as the national instrument of Scotland and holds a special place in the heart of many Scots and the global diaspora.Today, Jackie discovers the history and cultural significance of the Great Highland bagpipes, which are one of hundreds of types of bagpipes played around the world. She’s joined by Richard McLauchlan, piper and author of The Bagpipes: A Cultural

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00:32:05

Good Natured: walking for wellbeing

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2025/08/08

Whether it’s a woodland walk, a wild swim, or a mosey around a garden, we’ve all experienced the effects of nature on our wellbeing. Here at the Trust we know this too well, which is why we’ve launched our Walk 25 campaign – see below.This week on the podcast, Jackie explores the science behind this phenomenon to discover why the natural world can have such a powerful influence on our health and mood. Professor Kathy Willis of the University of Oxford joins Jackie to reveal her findings in

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00:39:15

After Culloden: the life of Charles Edward Stuart

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2025/07/25

Reporting from both Rome and the studio, Jackie tracks the life of Charles Edward Stuart – known to many by the nickname of Bonnie Prince Charlie – after the events of the Battle of Culloden. Between his birth in Italy’s capital in 1720 and his death, also in Rome in 1788, Charles led a life of great historical significance. Today, though, Jackie focuses on his final years. Joined by Dr Calum Cunningham of the University of Stirling, and Italian academic Stefano Baccolo, they discuss Charles’s

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00:31:17

Life on Canna: part two

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2025/07/11

In the second instalment of her visit to Canna, Jackie heads to sea with ranger Tom Allen to learn all about the island’s seabirds. The island’s cliffs are packed with a whole host of nesting birds, making Canna an important colony site for many of Scotland’s species.Then, Jackie gets to know some more of the people who call Canna home, including the harbour master. As she dives into the stories of Canna, Jackie discovers some of the unique challenges and rewards of living on the island, and

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00:33:39

Life on Canna: part one

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2025/06/27

In the first of a two-part visit to the Isle of Canna, Jackie meets the team behind Canna House: the former home of Gaelic scholars John Lorne Campbell and Margaret Fay Shaw.The National Trust for Scotland has recently complete a nine-year programme of repair and restoration to the house, which now has a strong sense of being a lived-in, post-war home. Jackie finds out all about the house’s history, the work down by John and Margaret, and the cultural significance of the Canna

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00:33:49

Into the hills: 25 years of the Footpath Fund

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2025/06/13

This week, Jackie is off to Glencoe to meet the National Trust for Scotland’s footpaths team – a hard-working group who protect hundreds of miles of paths across the country. In a year that also marks the 25 years of the Footpath Fund, which supports the team’s work, Jackie finds out what it takes to maintain the Trust’s path network.Jackie discovers the challenges of rewards of a job that takes the team to some of Scotland’s highest peaks, their secrets to success, and the real world

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00:34:22

A beginner's guide to the real Macbeth

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2025/05/30

Double, double, toil and trouble… the Scottish play… out, damned spot! William Shakespeare’s take on Macbeth has well and truly embedded itself in our culture. The play, written in the early 17th century, charts how an ambitious Macbeth turns to violence in order to realise a prophetic vision of becoming King of Scotland.But what of the real Macbeth, who really did sit upon the Scottish throne? What is known of this 11th century monarch? And how much of his life can be compared to the

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00:31:27

Life on the Home Front

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland"s History and Nature ·

2025/05/16

In the second of our Second World War-themed episodes, Jackie heads to Tenement House in Glasgow to hear about the experiences of an ordinary woman who lived during this extraordinary chapter of history. Agnes Toward, who lived at Tenement House from 1911 until 1965, preserved her furniture and belongings as a way of creating a frozen time capsule. Nowadays, visitors can experience how things would have been for Toward during both world wars and their aftermaths. How did life change for

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141 results

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