We don't carve pumpkins in Scotland, we carve neeps (turnips)!* I think they look far scarier and that's what they're for, to ward off bad spirits, keeping us safe with their light. *of course people do carve pumpkins too, but this is the real tradition.

Everybody, meet Maisie! I've had a new Barketing Intern join the team, but it'll be a wee while until she's ready to come out exploring Scotland with me. Still, you can expect to see a lot more of her in the future!

Halloween is creeping closer, so it's time for a spooky storytelling night this Saturday on Zoom! 7pm UK time but don't worry if you can't come live, ticket holders will be sent a recording right after we're done! eventbrite.co.uk/e/scottish-…

The Isle of Tiree might have beautiful beaches, but legend says something dangerous stalks these sands. Watch out for the Cù Sith - Scotland's Fairy Dog.

Lunch doesn't get much better than this at Oban's Green Shack! There's a strange trend on social media of people (who have usually never visited Scotland) trying to pretend we don't have good food here or that it's bland and boring. Leaves me equal parts annoying and perplexed.

Almost got caught out by passing torrential rain showers on my last tour while visiting Auchindrain - Scotland's last inhabited traditional township. Safe to say, the old houses are still watertight and if the peat fire had been on then we could have hunkered down for hours!

I'm spending today around the Galloway Forest, so no better time to share one of my favourite stories from the Wars of Independence. In early 1307, King Robert the Bruce had tentatively emerged from his winter hiding place, he had survived his first test...