Leaving the Highlands

Today, we left the Highlands and headed back to Glasgow. We have had an amazing week together but it isn't over yet! Our first stop, in the chucking rain, was Glenfinnan Monument and Viaduct

Our next stop was in Glencoe - first to the Clachaig Inn where one of the participants' ancestors had worked.

Then we stopped for a spectacular view of the Three Sisters (mountains) of Glencoe

Our final stop was in Luss, home of Clan Calquhoun

We arrived in Glasgow in time for me to check in and then meet up with the Glasgow Tour group. Tomorrow, all 20 of us will be up bright and early to head over to Kinghorn in Fife for the annual conference of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies.

Research at the Highland Archive Centre

The Highland History and Research Tour has two full days of research at the Highland Archives in Inverness. 

We were treated to a behind the scenes tour, being able to see the way this purpose built building works to preserve and conserve the genealogical and historical memory of the Highlands

Then it was time to tuck into the records in either the Family History Room or the Search Room

Sutherland

Having been immersed in Jacobite history for the few days previous, the Highland History and Research Tour changed tracks just slightly on Sunday and headed over to Sutherland.

We arrived at Dornoch where we took in Easter Sunday Service at the historic Cathedral. The minister is Reverend Susan Brown, Chaplain to the Queen in Scotland, and the same minister that married Guy Ritchie and Madonna and who baptised their son Rocco. We were able to witness the baptism of a local baby girl and welcome her into the Family of God. 

Following service, we walked over to the Castle Hotel for Easter Lunch. The Castle was once the original Bishop's Palace and, later, home to Bishop Robert Stewart, brother to the Earl of Sutherland. 

From the Castle, we drove to see some of the historic sights in Dornoch, including the inn that once housed cleared highlanders and the stone marking the spot of the execution of last woman in Scotland to be tried for witchcraft. 

Then it was on to Dunrobin Castle for a look at castle and grounds. From the Castle, we went on to see the areas affected by the Highland Clearances in Sutherland, some of the most brutal in history, thanks to the ruthlessness of Factor Patrick Sellar. 

We stopped at Rogart to see the memorial cairn to the grandparents of Sir John A. Macdonald. Sir John's paternal grandparents were victims of the Clearances. 

We stopped in Helmsdale to see The Emigrant statue, which honours those who left the Sutherland Estate for further shores.

 And then we headed inland, up the Strath of Kildonan to Kildonan Parish Kirk where we were able to see the plaque honouring the great grandparents of John G Diefenbaker. Sir John's maternal great grandparents were Bannermans and were cleared from Kildonan. They ended up on the Red River Settlement, which is the present day Winnipeg. 

All along the way we were humbled and moved by the tangible evidence of the impact of the Highland Clearances

From Kildonan, we took the "overland route" back to Dornoch and were treated to this amazing sight on the way. 

ONE LAST SPACE AVAILABLE FOR HIGHLAND RESEARCH AND HISTORY TOUR

There is just ONE last space left for the Highland Genealogy Research and History Tour. If you have Highland ancestors, consider joining this once-in-a-lifetime tour. It will NOT be repeated again. 

Your tour fees include: 

• ·       Commemorative Service at Culloden Battlefield to mark the 271st anniversary of the battle. Tour of the Battlefield, Visitor Centre and then visit to Clava Cairns (Pre-historic chambered cairns)
• ·         Easter Sunday Service in historic Dornoch Cathedral followed by a bus tour of the Highland Clearances in Sutherland. Easter Dinner together as a group
• ·         Travel by coach to Armadale Castle in Skye for a guided tour and research opportunities. Return via Eilean Donan Castle
• ·         Two full days of research at the Highland Archives Centre in Inverness. After finishing research on Wednesday, we will travel down the Great Glen to Fort William
• ·         Full day of research at the Lochaber Archives in Fort William
• ·         Travel to Glenfinnan Monument, where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard, then on to Glasgow, stopping at Loch Lomond
• ·         Travel to Fife for the annual conference of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies
• ·         Check out or optional day with Glasgow Tour Group to enjoy guided tour of the Glasgow Necropolis

This unique tour will give you a definite sense of the reasons why Scots Highlanders left their homeland to travel to a new country. You will gain a better understanding of the Jacobite cause as well as the later Highland Clearances.

BOOK NOW: http://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca/highland-research----history-tour.html

Just TWO Spaces Left for Highland Research and History Tour!

There are just 2 spaces left for the Highlands Research and History Tour in April 2017. This is a unique opportunity to get to know the history that your Highland ancestors were confronted with and to gain a deeper understanding of what led them to leave their homeland.

This tour allows for four full days of research (Inverness, Fort William and Skye) as well as touring the area in Sutherland where the most brutal of the Clearances took place, the Culloden Battlefield (and taking in the memorial service) and visiting Glenfinnan Monument where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his Standard. The tour ends in Glasgow where we will attend the annual conference of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies. Many of the Family History Societies will be in the marketplace, giving you easy access to their expertise and their resources. 

Ahead of the tour, you will get pre-tour preparation including webinars and regular emails to keep you on track for your time in Scotland.

If you have Highland ancestors, consider joining us for this unique opportunity to research in the area where your ancestors lived. But don't wait too long or you might miss out. 
http://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca/highland-research----history-tour.html

Highland Research and History Tour Itinerary Confirmed!

The final itinerary for the Highland Research and History Tour  April 2017 is now confirmed:

Friday Apr 14 - Day of arrival in Inverness - participants must make their own way to Inverness

Saturday Apr 15 - Commemorative Service at Culloden Battlefield to mark the 271st anniversary of the battle. Tour of the Battlefield, Visitor Centre and then visit to Clava Cairns (Pre-historic chambered cairns)

Sunday Apr 16 - Easter Sunday Service in historic Dornoch Cathedral followed by a bus tour of the Highland Clearances in Sutherland. Easter Dinner together as a group

Monday Apr 17 - Travel by coach to Armadale Castle in Skye for a guided tour and research opportunities. Return via Eilean Donan Castle

Tuesday Apr 18 & Wednesday Apr 19 - Two full days of research at the Highland Archives Centre in Inverness. After finishing research on Wednesday, we will travel down the Great Glen to Fort William

Thursday Apr 20 - Full day of research at the Lochaber Archives in Fort William

Friday Apr 21 - Travel to Glenfinnan Monument, then on to Glasgow, stopping at Loch Lomond

Saturday Apr 22 - Travel to Fife for the annual conference of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies

Sunday Apr 23 - Check out or optional day with Glasgow Tour Group to enjoy guided tour of the Glasgow Necropolis and the Jewish Archives

This unique tour will give you a definite sense of the reasons why Scots Highlanders left their homeland to travel to a new country. You will gain a better understanding of the Jacobite cause as well as the later Highland Clearances. 

The tour is being restricted to 11 participants. There are only 5 spaces left. 

To book your spot on this unique Highland Research and History tour: 

http://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca/highland-research----history-tour.html

Highland Research Tour 50% Booked!

Although still freshly "on the market" the Highlands Research Tour is already 50% filled. Spaces are being kept limited to enhance the research experience. 

If your ancestors were from the West Highlands of Scotland this research trip is the one for you. Research will take place in Inverness, Fort William and Armadale Castle in Skye. 

The tour ends with attendance at the annual conference for the Scottish Association of Family History Societies which will be held in Queensferry, Fife. 

Aside from research time, the Highland Research Tour will include attending the commemorative ceremonies at Culloden and a trip through the villages that were affected by the Highland Clearances. A visit to the Glenfinnan Monument and Loch Lomond will round out the tour.  

Like the Glasgow Research Tour, the Highland Research Tour will sell out very quickly. There are, currently 6 spaces left. 

Don't miss out! Register now: 
http://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca/highland-research----history-tour.html

Seeking Interest in Highland Tour For 2017

Friday April 14 - Good Friday - this would be a day of arrival. Participants would need to get to Inverness on their own. 

Saturday April 15 - There will be a memorial/commemorative service at Culloden Battlefield today to celebrate the anniversary of the battle. This is an incredibly moving experience. We will spend time at the battlefield after the ceremonies so that people can really drink in the significance of the historic events that took place here.

Sunday April 16 - Easter Sunday - Church Service at Dornoch Cathedral, followed by a coach tour through the Strath of Kildonan to see the areas that were cleared following the Sutherland Clearances. This is now quite barren but really shows the aftermath of the Clearances. Easter Dinner as a group.

Monday April 17 - This will be our first day of research. We will spend the day at the Highland Archives in Inverness.

Tuesday April 18  - Our second full day of research

Wednesday April 19 - We will check out of the hotel after breakfast and take a coach down the Great Glen to Fort William. The afternoon will be free time in Fort William. For anyone interested, I will organize a tour of the West Highland Museum which shows more of the Jacobite story.

Thursday April 20 - We will spend the day at the Lochaber Archives. This will be a full day of research

Friday April 21 - We will check out of the hotel, and then head to the Lochaber Archives once again. We will only have a half day of research today. After lunch, we will head by coach to Glasgow, with a slight detour into Glenfinnan to see the monument. In Glasgow, I will be meeting up with my Glasgow tour in the evening.

Saturday April 22 - We will be up bright and early and head by coach to Queensferry, Fife, for the annual Scottish Association of Family History Society Conference. This will be a full day of talks and a good sized marketplace where a number of Family History Societies from across Scotland will have displays. The Glasgow tour will be joining us for the day at the conference. Lunch is included today.

Sunday April 23 - This will be a day open to your choosing. Essentially, the tour is over. However, I hope to be taking the Glasgow group on a tour of the Jewish Archives as well as on a guided tour of the Glasgow Necropolis. You would be welcome to stay and enjoy the day with us. Or, you may choose to sightsee, head home or head further afield in Scotland. I only need to know whether to have the hotel room available to you on Sunday night since Sunday night it is not included in the Highland tour. You will need to pay for the additional night on your own, but I can ensure that the room is held for you.

If this tour sounds like something you would find interesting, please let me know fairly soon so I can make the necessary arrangements with the hotels, archives and coach companies.

Like the Glasgow tour, this will be a small group of no more than 12 researchers. Spaces for Glasgow filled within 2 weeks. I anticipate that the Highland one may as well.

Tour fees include:

·         8 nights hotel

·         9 breakfasts

·         3 Coach trips (gratuities not included)

·         Research fees

·         Transport to and from archives

·         Coach to SAFHS conference

·         SAFHS conference registration

·         Lunch included with conference registration

**not included - lunches, dinners, airfare, travel to Inverness, travel from train/airport/bus station to hotel in Inverness, transport from hotel to airport for departure home, hotel April 23 if staying for tour of Necropolis and Jewish Archives