Browse Irish Scottish Roots articles on heritage travel, genealogy, castles, clans, festivals, mining history, rail routes, and ancestral places.
You want to squeeze every drop of atmosphere out of Edinburgh without squeezing your bank account dry. The good news is that Free Edinburgh Activities are not second best, they are the heart of the city. You can explore museums…
When you first arrive in Plockton village Scotland, it feels a little unreal. Front gardens tumble down to the shore. Boats lie at anchor in a glassy bay. A row of spiky palm trees sways in the breeze. Locals call…
When you start planning a trip to trace your roots, Irish and Scottish currency might feel like a small detail. In reality, the euro in Ireland and pound sterling in Scotland are at the end of a long story. This…
Finding your feet on the Cowal Peninsula Stand on the deck of a Clyde ferry. Feel the wind on your face. Suddenly the Highlands do not seem far away at all. The Cowal Peninsula sits just west of Glasgow. It…
When you start planning a trip, “Free Dublin Activities” might sound too good to be true. Dublin is full of parks, museums, libraries, and walks that cost nothing. These activities offer deep connections to Irish history. They can also connect…
You picture yourself leaning on the rail of a small boat as the Atlantic swell rises under your feet. Ahead, cliffs and green slopes curve around a perfect bay, and a scatter of ruined stone houses lines the shore. This…
Approaching Leap Castle The landscape begins to set the story as you drive toward Leap Castle for the first time. This happens long before the tower appears. The fields roll softly across County Offaly, and the road narrows as you…
The Battle of Largs was a 1263 conflict between Scottish and Norwegian forces during the struggle for control of the Hebrides and the western seaways. Although not a huge set-piece battle in the modern sense, it became a turning point…
The Isle of Kerrera sits just off Scotland’s west coast, and yet it feels like a world apart. When the ferry pulls away from Oban, you leave the mainland rhythm behind. On Kerrera you sense a calmer pulse: sheep grazing,…