We’ve some great news to share.

Our 20% off sale has been extended
for a further 10 days!

We’ve got at least 20% off ALL highland wear – including Sgian Dubhs, Sporrans and Cufflinks.

One of the surprise best sellers of this years sale have been the Clan Products (Belt Buckles, Cuff Links, Kilt Pins and more). All Clan Products are specific to your Scottish Clan. If you would like to find your clan you can use our online chat to speak directly to one of our advisors.

Finally – don’t forget you’ve just 10 days to save literally hundreds of pounds on our kilt outfits.

Dont miss out!

The 30th of November is the Feast Day of Saint Andrew, the Patron Saint of Scotland. To celebrate we’ll be hosting a fantastic evening of food and drink, packed with entertainment. Unfortunately this years event is already full booked. However, you can celebrate at your own party with our fantastic range of St Andrew’s Day gifts and tableware.

Very little is really known about St. Andrew himself. He was thought to have been a fisherman in Galilee (now part of Israel), along with his elder brother Simon Peter (Saint Peter). Both became followers (apostles) of Jesus. St. Andrew is said to have been respo

nsible for spreading the tenets of the Christian religion though Asia Minor and Greece. Tradition suggests that St. Andrew was put to death by the Romans in Patras, Southern Greece by being pinned to a cross (crucified). The diagonal shape of this cross is said to be the basis for the Cross of St. Andrew which appears on the Scottish Flag.

St. Andrew’s bones were entombed, and around 300 years later were moved by Emperor Constantine to his new capital Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey). Legend suggests that a Greek Monk called St. Rule (or St. Regulus) was warned in a dream that St. Andrew’s remains were to be moved and was directed by an angel to protect them and take them to the “ends of the earth” for safe-keeping. St. Rule dutifully followed these directions, removing a tooth, an arm bone, a kneecap and some fingers from St. Andrew’s tomb and transporting these as far away as he could. Scotland was close to the extremities of the known world at that time and it was here that St. Rule was shipwrecked with his precious cargo. St. Rule is said to have come ashore at a Pictish settlement on the East Coast of Scotland and this later became St. Andrews. Thus the association of St. Andrew with Scotland was said to have begun.

Perhaps more likely than the tale of St. Rule’s journey is that Acca, the Bishop of Hexham, who was a renowned collector of relics, brought the relics of St. Andrew to St. Andrews in 733. There certainly seems to have been a religious centre at St. Andrews at that time, either founded by St. Rule in the 6th century or by a Pictish King, Ungus, who reigned from 731-761.

In either case, the relics were placed in a specially constructed chapel. This chapel was replaced by the Cathedral of St. Andrews in 1160, and St. Andrews became the religious capital of Scotland and a great centre for Medieval pilgrims who came to view the relics.

Whatever the truth, this special day is celebrated throughout Scotland in many different ways. To find out about events throughout the country visit Scotland.org here.

Don’t forget – you can always show off your Scottish roots with our fantastic range of tartan tableware, flags, scarves and gifts.

Whatever your choice have a happy St Andrew’s Day!

Helen McLeod works in our Highland Wear department here in our Aberdeen store.

This weekend she is raising charity funds by participating in the Great North Run.

By kind permission of the Mearns Leader we’re sharing her story here.

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A STONEHAVEN woman is set to take on the Great North Run this weekend to raise hundreds of pounds for a charity close to her heart.

Helen Mcleod - Great North Run

Helen McLeod will tackle the world’s biggest half marathon this Sunday in aid of the Cardiomyopathy Association, a charity which works to support people and their families affected by the hereditary heart muscle disease, which is the most common cause of sudden deaths in under 35-year-olds.

Two years ago Helen was a novice runner with Jog Scotland when she was first inspired to take on a charity run after her father Peter Lidster was diagnosed with the condition.

This will be her second trip to Newcastle for the Great North Run, having completed the 13 mile course last year for the same charity.

After a recent successful operation Peter has discovered a new lease of life, but the family continue to be tested for the hereditary condition, and Helen is keen to keep supporting the good work of the charity.

Helen told the Leader: “The Cardiomyopathy Association is one of the lesser known charities but they do a sterling job in the support of families affected and to raise awareness of the condition too.�
Fresh from taking on her first Edinburgh Marathon in May, Helen is feeling fit and confident and hopes to raise over £1000 from her efforts.

She said: “I’ve been following the training programme but I’m not too bothered about getting a good time, I just want to do it and raise as much as possible.�

If you would like to support Helen and the work of the Cardiomyopathy Association you can do so on her Justgiving website at:
www.justgiving.com/helenmcleod1

This article has been reproduced by kind permission of the Mearns Leader Newspaper

Mill o’ Forest school pupils have come up with a unique way of marking the Year of Homecoming as Scotland celebrates the 250th birthday of the national bard.

Primary 3 and 5 pupils at the school have been busy designing their own tartan with the support of Alex Scott & Co. (kiltmakers) Ltd. of Aberdeen.

The pupils of Stonehaven School

The Children have selected the colours to be used and samples have now been made up and returned to the school.  Pupils have narrowed the seven available options to just three and the choice will now go to a school vote.

Primary 3 teacher Marjory Hamilton said she believed they were the first school in the area bidding to create their own registered tartan.

“It is going to cost around £1000 to put into production so we are now in the process of organising a concert to raise money.  We have also held a photography competition and the funds from that will go towards the project.  We hope that when we have the final design it can be used to make scarves and other items.  We’re really excited and it would be nice if eventually it could be used for ties and integrated into the school uniform in some way in the future.  It will be a proper registered tartan unique to Mill o’ Forest.�

On Friday pupils at the school dressed up to mark Burns’ birthday.  Anyone wanting to support the initiative can contact the school on 01569 763561.

Us Scots love February. Not only are the days getting longer, winter is almost behind us, and it’s also time for our huge Annual Sale.

This year – not only will we have 20% off ALL Highland Wear – but some VERY special and exciting further offers – watch this space!

Sale starts at 9am on Thursday 5th.