Two Basking Fish of the West Highland summer
In this Scotland’s Nature blog post (August 29, 2022) Roddy Maclean shares his enthusiasm for two amazing summer visitors to our waters. He explores the gaelic names of both of these gentle giants of the sea – the basking shark and the sunfish. This post is also available in Gaelic.
Place names & their origins, in different languages
Would you like to understand more about the origins of Britain's place names? The John Muir Trust have shared Ordnance Survey's introductory pages in Scandanavian, Welsh, Scots and Gaelic.
A’ Ghàidhlig aig NàdarAlba / Gaelic within NatureScot
NatureScot has brought together some lovely Gaelic resources on one webpage. This showcases the enduring bond between Scotland's nature and Gaelic, with the language providing a unique insight and understanding of the world around us. This is a great resource to support learning around the Gaelic language, nature, Scotland’s places [...]
The ‘Goose’ that Calls the Rain
In this post in Scotland’s Nature (27 May 2022) shares the story of the names for the Red-throated diver. In Gaelic tradition, the red-throated diver not only predicts rain but actually ‘calls it in’.
Successful Approaches to Learning Outdoors – now available in Gaelic
This new report published by Scotland's HM Inspectors of Education, highlights features of effective practice in outdoor learning, and is now available in Gaelic. Find out more.
Bird and flower of the Beltane
The marsh marigold and the whimbrel have Gaelic names with links to this time of the Beltane. This post in Scotland’s Nature (3 May 2022) describes how both species provide a reminder of the close links between Gaelic culture and the Scottish seasons. This post is also available in Gaelic.
Wallabies to damselflies: Scotland’s newest animals get Gaelic names
This article in The Guardian (2 April 2022) describes how species moving north into Scotland as our climate heats, along with more recent introductions, have been given Gaelic names. For example, the leathery sea squirt is now spùtachan-mara leatharach, for leathery little squirting creature of the sea!
Adders of Poison and Wisdom
This Scotland’s Nature blog (March 22, 2022), both in Gaelic and English, shares how adders have a significant place in Gaelic folklore, including in stories and place names.
