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Historic Scotland Podcast

Historic Scotland
Dirleton Castle
Loch Ness
Witchcraft In Scotland
Holyrood Park
Urquhart Castle
Historic Scotland
Sir Walter Scott
Caerlaverock Castle
Arnall Blackhouse
Isle Of Lewis
East Lothian
James Watt
Smailholm Tower
Border Reivers
Islamic Glass
Industrial Revolution
Parliament Of Scotland
Church Of Scotland
Edinburgh
Drumnadrochit

Welcome to the Historic Scotland Podcast, a journey through some of Scotland's most iconic sites and their enchanting stories. Join your host, Scottish actor and storyteller Sarah MacGillivray as she goes behind-the-scenes to reveal untold histories and intriguing traces of our nation’s past.

Discover Dirleton Castle’s role in Scotland’s witch trials, untangle history from legend on the shores o... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes8Founded4 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for Historic Scotland Podcast

Latest Episodes

With Ali Davey and Marlene Macleod.

Sarah sits by a glowing fire in one of Scotland’s most remote crofts to immerse herself in Hebridean life and hospitality. Within the blackhouse’s thick stone walls and thatched roof, kept wind and watertight tho... more

With Lynsey Haworth, Stefan Sagrott, Judith Rowett, and Zoe Samuels-Lyons.

Sarah travels to the fairytale castle of Caerlaverock in Dumfries and Galloway. Here, she learns how a series of remarkable archaeological finds – from leather goods and bas... more

With Regional Collections Manager, Jill van Millingen and volunteer John Simpson.

On a rocky craig in the Scottish Borders stands Smailholm Tower, a medieval stronghold in a landscape with a strong tradition of balladry – poems capturing the lives ... more

With Ian Shearer from Friends of Kinneil, Mark Watson Industrial Heritage from Historic Scotland, and Paul Rolands from Roving Manager Lothian & East from Historic Scotland.

In this episode, we step back to a time of frustration and triumph in the ... more

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Recent Guests

Ali Davey
Project manager in the technical conservation team in cultural assets
Historic Scotland
Episode: Tales of the Blackhouse
Zoe Lyons
Castle steward in charge of crafts and arts projects
Caerlaverock Castle team
Episode: Caerlaverock Castle: where west meets east
Judith Rowett
Regional Collections Manager for the Southwest
Historic Scotland
Episode: Caerlaverock Castle: where west meets east
Lynsey Haworth
Collections Access Manager
Historic Scotland
Episode: Caerlaverock Castle: where west meets east
Stefan North Sagrott
Senior Cultural Resources Advisor, Archaeologist for the South region
Historic Scotland
Episode: Caerlaverock Castle: where west meets east
Jill van Millingen
Regional Collections Manager at Smailholm Tower
Historic Scotland
Episode: Ballads, Borders and the tower that inspired Scott
John Simpson
Volunteer at Smailholm Tower
Historic Scotland
Episode: Ballads, Borders and the tower that inspired Scott
Ian Shearer
From Friends of Kinneil
Friends of Kinneil
Episode: Inventing the future at Kinneil House
Paul Rolands
Roving Manager for Historic Environment Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland
Episode: Inventing the future at Kinneil House

Host

Sarah MacGillivray
Host of the Historic Scotland Podcast

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 11 ratings
  • Incorrect information

    During the holyrood podcast the man, after mentioning Traprain Law, named the pyramid looking hill as Berwick Law (34 minutes in). This is incorrect. It’s The Law in North Berwick. Berwick is 50 miles further south. Other than that, an interesting podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Farmerclaire
    United Kingdom2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners note strong storytelling and site-focus but some episodes feature factual slips like misnaming a landscape feature.
The show provides compelling, context-rich histories with on-site flavor that helps visitors plan trips.
Production is informative and engaging, though a few listeners crave even more precise historical details.
Guests are well-chosen, bringing expert perspectives from archaeology, conservation, and heritage management.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#175
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#230
Ireland/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tales of the Blackhouse
Q: Ali, I was thinking when this first came into Caer, and obviously then the roof thing and the thatching would have been, the whole structure would have been looked at, so how do you keep replicating or adapt it now?
Ali describes evidence-based restoration, with many timbers remaining original and repairs being careful and historically informed, relying on local knowledge and ongoing research to maintain authenticity while allowing access for visitors.
Tales of the Blackhouse
Q: So can you tell us about your connection with the Blackhouse?
Ali explains that the project focuses on thatching materials and how traditional building practices connect communities to the landscape, highlighting the preservation of craft knowledge and access to local materials.
Ballads, Borders and the tower that inspired Scott
Q: How do Anne Carrick's dolls contribute to the storytelling at Smailholm?
Carrick's 3D, theatre-like figures recreate pivotal scenes from Scott's life and Border folklore with fabric, materials, and careful staging, helping visitors visualize stories that were once only spoken aloud.
Ballads, Borders and the tower that inspired Scott
Q: What makes Smailholm Tower a source of inspiration for Walter Scott?
The tower's landscape, its frontier history, and the grandmother's oral tales provided Scott with a vivid backdrop that merged history and folklore, which he later captured in his ballads and Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.
Archaeology of Holyrood Park
Q: What would you say to someone who is thinking of a career in archaeology?
It's a field you should absolutely pursue if you're drawn to it; there are jobs in archaeology and it's a vibrant, dynamic subject that's integral to planning, landscape management, and understanding our past.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Historic Scotland Podcast

What is Historic Scotland Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A history-focused show exploring Scotland's sites through on-site tours, archival context, and expert commentary. Episodes mix archaeological digs, architectural history, and local culture, often featuring Historic Environment Scotland staff, university researchers, and site-specific guests. Notable is a strong emphasis on connecting past events to present-day heritage management, tourism, and visitor experiences, with a storytelling style that makes complex histories accessible. The format often blends field narration, site visits, and interviews, creating a practical, place-based history resource that's useful for listeners curious about how historic sites are preserved and interpreted today.

Where can I find podcast stats for Historic Scotland Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Historic Scotland Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Historic Scotland Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Historic Scotland Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for Historic Scotland Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does Historic Scotland Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Historic Scotland Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Historic Scotland Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Historic Scotland Podcast:

1. Not Just the Tudors
2. Gone Medieval
3. Dan Snow's History Hit
4. After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal
5. Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

How many episodes of Historic Scotland Podcast are there?

Historic Scotland Podcast launched 4 months ago and published 8 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Historic Scotland Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Historic Scotland Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Historic Scotland Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Historic Scotland Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Historic Scotland Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Historic Scotland Podcast?

Recent guests on Historic Scotland Podcast include:

1. Ali Davey
2. Zoe Lyons
3. Judith Rowett
4. Lynsey Haworth
5. Stefan North Sagrott
6. Jill van Millingen
7. John Simpson
8. Ian Shearer

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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