Donnie Vass – Shandwick Poem

Shandwick   To Shandwick Bay you must go, If nature’s grandeur you pursue. Go there in the morning When the sun is breaking through, To glisten on the golden sands To sparkle on the Moray Firth. Where off we set our lines In days of youth and mirth, Or eaten of...

The Gravy Trail Story

The Gravy Trail   One summer many years ago when in my early twenties I was at home in Hilton on holiday from work.  It was a beautiful day and as I often did I set out to walk along the shore as far as the salmon-fishers bothy. There is a wide grassy strip...

Village Wells

The Village Wells Before the Seaboard Villages were connected to the mains water supply it was an everyday occurrence to meet someone either going to, or coming from the well. When I was very young there were few wells which supplied the villagers needs but in later...

Simple Folk

The Simple Folk We hear much nowadays of the affluent society and at no time is this more evident than during the annual Christmas shopping spree. The larger stores are stocked with goods of all kinds and lavish amounts are spent on gifts which the buyer is not really...

Granny’s house

GRANNY’S HOUSE   Granny’s house was in the same street as my own home, just two hundred yards away. As a young child I spent much time there with my brothers and sisters, we played lots of games indoors and outdoors. Granny had a large garden at the back and a...

Washing Day

WASHING DAY Having to cope with family washing is no problem for the modern housewife. Her automatic machines will do the washing while she gets on with other tasks. Should the weather be adverse, the tumble dryer can also be brought into use. All will be clean and...

Nicknames

Nicknames   I often wonder why parents give nice sensible names to their children at birth or christening and then proceed to call them by shortened versions, or by completely different names, which then stick to them all of their days. My own name is Catherine...

Village Shops

The Villages Shops When I was ten to twelve years old I must have been the most sought after message girl on our street. There were several girls in neighbouring families but none of my own age, some were older, others younger. As well as doing most of our own...

Helen Skinner – Three Kings Story

Three Kings Story Helen Skinner   On the North side of the Moray firth there is quite a historic tale to be told and happened about the year 850. On these shores are three little fishing villages; Hilton, Balintore and Shandwick. In these days there were three...

Jock Frasers Poem – McRaes of Balintore

MCRAES OF BALINTORE   I SAILED ACROSS THE OCEAN BLUE AND FROM A FOREIGN SHORE MY WONDERING EYE LED ME TILL I FOUND THE ROAD TO BALINTORE AND MY JOURNEY ENDED THERE WHEN I MET THE MACRAES BADE ME WELCOME, MADE ME STAY FOR MANY HAPPY DAYS.   WITHIN A PARADISE...

Hector McNair – Contentment

CONTENTMENT   CONTENTMENT WHAT A BLESSING BESTOWED UPON SO FEW YOU’RE RICHER THAN A MILLIONAIRE IF IT’S BESTOWED BY YOU. FOR WEALTH IS BUT A VISION AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE AND THE ONE WHO HAS CONTENTMENT IS THE REALLY WEALTHY ONE.   THEY’RE TOILING OUT IN...

Artar Ross – The Kings Sons

THE KINGS SONS/THREE KINGS REEF   THE BIG SHIP THAT WAS SAILING THE OCEANS, SHE CAME IN ONE GLOOMY NIGHT, AND SHE WAS LOST IN THE DARKNESS, AND THE STORM THREW HER INTO CADBOLL.   SHE REMAINED THERE FOR A TIME WITHOUT MOVING. AS A BROKEN VESSEL AMONGST THE...

Stories and Folklore

There are many local folklore tales, historical stories, songs and poems surrounding the Seaboard Villages. Please find a selection of our favourite tales and poems in our ‘Stories and Folklore’ menu or click on the titles below:  ...

Hilton School on the Hill Song

HILTON THE SCHOOL ON THE HILL   IT STANDS BY THE ROAD ON THE LOW HILL SIDE NEAR THE SHORE OF THE GREAT NORTH SEA AND ROUND IT THE FIELDS STRETCH FAR AND WIDE THE SCHOOL THAT IS DEAR TO ME THOUGH SMALL IT MAY BE AND UNKNOWN TO FAME ITS MEMORY YET BRINGS A THRILL...

Voices

  Voices   World War II had begun, in schools or village halls throughout the country lectures were given on security and home defence. Citizens were advised to be diligent at all times, to be very wary of any strangers in their midst and to report anything...