Eric Richards to take up visiting role in the Highlands

Prof. Eric Richards,  the internationally renowned expert on the Highland Clearances, will be moving to Dornoch to work with the University of the Highlands and Islands.  He has accepted a visiting Professorship with the University's Centre for History. His four-month visit to the east Sutherland town is being funded by a grant from the Carnegie Trust. 

Due to start in 2014, Professor Richard's time with the University will come shortly after the 200th anniversary of the Strath of Kildonan and Strathnaver Clearances which took place near Helmsdale from 1813. His visit should benefit both his own research and the local community as he hopes to use local archives, teach and supervise students and give talks to history societies and the public. 

Speaking about the visit, Professor Richards said: "A Centre for the study of History in a brand new University in the Highlands and Islands is a dream realised. The bicentenary of the northern Clearances coincides with the present regeneration of the region. I can't think of a better time to be visiting UHI at Dornoch, to recharge my own work on the Highlands and to be part of the exciting agenda of the Centre for History. And, as a migrant myself, and a historian of international migration, this will be an ideal historical laboratory. Being in such close proximity to Andrew Carnegie's old home gives the Centenary Professorship an added frisson."

More information can be found Here

The Highland Drovers

The BBC have recently been airing a TV series called 'Britain's Lost Routes, following, as the name suggests, routes across the UK that have been lost to the mists of time. In this episode, Griff Rhys Jones throws himself back into the early 19th century, joining a herd of highland cows and two sturdy farmers as they retrace an ancient droving route once taken by thousands as they trudged 250 miles through the Scottish highlands from the Isle of Skye down to Falkirk market.

Braving the ravages of the Scottish weather, Griff and his companions relive the arduous and dangerous trek through steep mountain passes and fast flowing rivers that drovers and their herds made so that the great British public could get beef on its dinner plate. As they go they discover how drovers once risked life and limb to swim their cattle from the Scottish islands to the mainland, braving the inclement conditions in their wet plaid and fending off rustlers with sharp shooting. Griff explores how these hardy men went on to become the first cowboys of the wild west as well as becoming the stuff of literary legend.

The series does make a light reference to the Highland Clearances, but provides an insight into the particular part of Highland Life at the time that change would be taking place across the Highlands.

Clicking here will take you to the web page for the episode and the series. 

New Scotland’s Clearances Trail App

Copyright; Timespan

As I have reported here in the blog before, The great people at Timespan are developing a great range of events and resources for ther forthcoming 200th Anniversary of the Clearances in Kildonan that will take place in 2013. As part of the 'Museum Without Walls Project' a new clearances app has been developed and launched which will be a valuable addition to the visitor experience to the strath area, as well as bringing the story of the clearances to a world-wide audience.

The trail, and app, will help people to understand how the landscape of Kildonan has changed over time, i.e. before, during and after the clearances. It has also been developed as a comprehensive learning aid for children studying the Highland Clearances, using real families from the Strath and local events to give a more personal flavour to the learning experience.”

The app will soon be available to download from the Apple Store  and along with timespan, I will be announcing when the app is available and reviewing the trail here on the blog.