Moirlanich Longhouse NTS

04/05/2026

Sunday was our first opening of the 2026 season and the topic of shielings came up.
We are now open on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons from 2-5pm.
https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/moirlanich-longhouse

This month’s theme is sheilings (‘àirighean’ in Gaelic).

Sheilings, or shielings, were dwelling places out with crofting townships where people would move to in the summer with their cattle, so that the animals could feed on the rich pasture there.

In this recording from 1958, Roderick Campbell gives a detailed account of sheiling life in the Bragar area of Lewis when he was a boy. He says that the sheilings would be occupied from the end of April/beginning of May for around three months, and that they were located about eight miles away from the township. He describes the sheiling huts, the day-to-day activities, and the evening entertainment.

Roderick is being recorded by Eric Cregeen of the School of Scottish Studies.
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https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/98978?l=en
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This image is part of the IF Grant Photographic Archive and is supplied courtesy of the Edinburgh and Scottish Collection, Edinburgh Central Library, via Am Baile.

30/04/2026

TRAVELLER DAY FUNDRAISER 📣‼️

*THIS MONDAY, 4th MAY 2026*

We are raising funds for our annual Traveller Event that we hope will take place this summer. Travellers have been an important part of Auchindrain for hundreds of years and this event will not go ahead without your support.

There will be a BBQ on the day from 11am-3pm and a raffle with all proceeds going towards the funding of the Traveller Day including purchasing the materials required for Kathy to build the Bowtent, make wooden flowers and also support our contributors to attend.

Raffle tickets can be purchase via the link here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticketing/urras-achadh-an-droighinnthe-auchindrain-trusts-annual-spring-raffle--2026

Your support means we can continue to highlight the important connection between Auchindrain and the Traveller community.

We hope to see you at Auchindrain this Monday, 4th of May!

05/04/2026

Open this Easter Sunday, from 2-5pm. Dodge the showers and pop up and see us in Glen Lochay. Free to NTS members. https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/moirlanich-longhouse

31/03/2026

We are open on Easter Sunday from 2-5pm, you will find us in Glen Lochay. Free to NTS members https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/moirlanich-longhouse

30/03/2026

Photography is allowed within Moirlanich Longhouse, but filming is restricted. We recently hosted Film students from Napier University, who were making their final film project. If you are interested in using Moirlanich Longhouse as a location, contact our Filming Manager - [email protected]

23/03/2026

We will be open this Easter Sunday, from 2-5pm, so do take a stroll up to see us - free for NTS members. Tom will leave a basket of eggs for any younger visitors.
We will then close again and reopen May to September, Wednesdays and Sundays, 2-5pm.

24/11/2025

Bill Walker (1883-1968) was born and raised in Killin, Perthshire where he worked as a Register and had a croft in his younger days. In this recording from 1964 he discusses crofting life in the village, at a time when every cottage had a croft. Bill is being interviewed by Anne Ross of the School of Scottish Studies.
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https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/18293?l=en
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Photograph taken by Olivia James and supplied courtesy of the Olivia James Collection, Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre, via Am Baile.

03/11/2025

Ella Walker (1905-1996) was born in Ardeonaig and raised in Killin, Perthshire. In this School of Scottish Studies recording from 1964, she describes a Halloween game which was used to divine a girl’s marital status.

Ella worked in the post office in Killin and has over 60 recordings on the website, most of which relate to local history and customs.
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https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/1546?l=en
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Photo credit: Merinka

30/10/2025

Halloween was always an important point in the agricultural calendar, but for the Robertsons, the date was not the 31st of October. Listen to William Walker's recollections on Tobar an Dualchais ~ Kist o Riches

Halloween was held on the old date in Killin; there was a bonfire and guisers and mischief.Before 1914 Halloween was held on 11th November in Killin. This was the old heathen date. They gathered timber in the woods for weeks then built a bonfire on Carn na Bonnach. There was horseplay and mischief a...

29/10/2025

In this recording from 1969, Peggy Earl from Port Ellen in Islay recall some of the games they would play at Halloween, most of which had elements of divination. In one of the games couples would put hazelnuts in the fire in pairs.

If the hazelnuts burned up together, this meant that that the couple would marry. If one of the hazelnuts exploded and jumped out of the fire, it meant that one of the couple would be jilted by the other.

Peggy is being recorded by Mary MacDonald of the School of Scottish Studies.
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https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/75957?l=en
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Halloween card- author unknown. In the public domain.

29/10/2025

We are delighted that Evelyn enjoyed and shared her visit. We are closed for the season, but do come and see us next year.