Scottish Highlands Research Articles

Lexical influence of the 1767 Scottish Gaelic New Testament on the Manx Bible translation

This article discusses two neologisms eaghtyrys ‘authority’ and clooisag ‘pillow’ introduced in the 1775 Manx New Testament, which incorporates a revision of the 1763 Gospels and Acts, adducing phonological, orthographical andcircumstantial evidence to show that the revisers adapted these items from Scottish Gaelic ùghdarras and cluasaig in the corresponding passages in the 1767 Scottish Gaelic New Testament. This provides further evidence for the seniorManx clergy’s interest in the other Gaelic languages, as seen also in their contact with James McLagan (Ó Muircheartaigh 2016) and John Kelly’s pan-Gaelic lexicographical enterprises (Thomson 1990).

Tornagrain: A New Town for the Scottish Highlands

This article discusses the history and architectural philosophy of the Tornagrain New Town near Inverness. Ben Pentreath’s practice has been involved in the development of Tornagrain since its inception and the early masterplan by DPZ and the landowner, Moray Estates, and is now responsible for executing the detailed masterplan and much of the architecture in this new settlement in the Scottish Highlands. Once complete, the town will provide at least 5000 new homes, new schools, community buildings, and commercial spaces, with a new high street. In 2023, eight years after the foundation ceremony, the town consists of 300 houses. In this article Ben describes the history and many of the challenges of the town’s development.

Fraser in Fearn: Migration, Diaspora, and the Ghosts of Empire in the Return Visits of Peter Fraser (New Zealand Prime Minister) to the Highlands, 1935–1949

Building on Eric Richards’ ideas about Scottish Highlanders as an ‘imperial people’, this article is about how diasporic movement and connection created significant bonds between Easter Ross and New Zealand in the twentieth century and beyond. It focuses on a microstudy of the village of Fearn, famed as the birthplace of Peter Fraser, who was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1940 to 1949. Peter Fraser returned to the Scottish Highlands many times during the 1930s and 1940s, and these visits reveal the diasporic links between different parts of empire and ask questions about our understanding of enduring imperial legacies and memories. I argue that Peter Fraser’s return visits to Fearn can be interpreted as a form of ‘homecoming’, which tell us much about Fraser himself and how his own sense of identity continued to be shaped by a connection to the place of his birth. However, this article focuses less on Fraser and more on the effect his return visits to Fearn had on the village and its communities. Fraser and Fearn become, then, a case study of the diasporic ties of belonging between Scotland and New Zealand and how a shared belief in empire, especially during World War Two, connected folk in the Highlands with diasporic Scots, such as Fraser, on the other side of the world. Peter Fraser’s return visits to Fearn nurtured this sense of imperial connection and the way in which Fraser’s Highland homecomings are remembered in the region demonstrate the ongoing legacies of empire that continue to shape Scotland to this day.

‘Most useful labor in time of peace’: Early Crofting Schemes in the Annexed Estates, 1763–1784

This article focuses on the introduction of crofting tenure in the Annexed Estates (1752–1784). In 1763, the Board of Commissioners in charge of managing the estates on behalf of the British Crown launched its most ambitious ‘improvement’ scheme. Parcels of three acres, usually detached from principal farms, were turned into new settlements for disbanded soldiers and sailors from the Seven Years War. The scheme, this article argues, was one of the earliest crofting schemes ever implemented in the Scottish Highlands. The plan hoped to put the Highlands' natural and human resources to the service of the state by ensuring that the Crown could tap into a future recruiting pool and that the Board would benefit from a cheap workforce to reclaim unproductive grounds and develop the linen manufacture in the estates. The settlements were also a way to solve ‘improvement’s contradictions via spatial planning by preventing depopulation caused by the creation of contiguous farmsteads. The failure of the experiment ultimately highlighted the entrenched contractions of ‘improvement’ ideology and led to the emergence of an alternative geography of ‘improvement’ by the turn of the century.

Psychogeography, Nostalgia and Heroic Metamorphosis in Leila Aboulela’s Bird Summons

Literary psychogeography is one of the concepts that deals with the impact of certain geographical places on the human psyche. It is an interdisciplinary approach that connects psychology, geography, and literature. The aim of this research paper is to examine the theory of literary psychogeography on Leila Aboulela’s fifth novel, Bird Summons (2019) within the theoretical framework of Catherina Loffler. It deals with three female heroines who have decided to go on a road trip to the Scottish Highlands to visit the grave of Lady Evelyn Cobbold. Aboulela explores the three women’s struggle with their personal choices and commitments in life. She skilfully deals with their psychologies, their lost dreams, nostalgia, and their heroic metamorphosis. The women’s psychogeographical voyages at the forest along with their nostalgia lead to their physical metamorphosis to experience heroic transformation of their souls to achieve self-actualization in life.

Habitat selection of breeding Wood Sandpipers Tringa glareola in Scotland

ABSTRACT Capsule The European breeding population of the Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola is estimated to be stable, but the species has declined in several countries. Describing breeding habitat requirements is important for the conservation and management of the breeding sites. Aims To determine the habitats used by breeding Wood Sandpipers. Methods Two breeding sites of Wood Sandpipers in Highland Scotland were visited regularly during spring and summer in 2006 and 2007; habitat variables were measured at points where birds were detected and compared with random points. Results The birds selected sites with a greater percentage of water cover, bare ground and Carex spp., but with a low index of total obscurity of vegetation. Conclusion By selecting habitat with bare ground, low obscurity of vegetation and shallow water, birds may have sufficient concealment from predators, but also maintain vigilance and obtain good feeding opportunities for themselves and their chicks.

The myth of the Highland Cretaceous revealed by the art of palaeogeographic mapping

Abstract Since the term was coined in 1873, palaeogeography has provided a powerful map-based tool for synthesizing, visualizing, and testing diverse regional data and hypotheses, but there are problems in deducing the palaeogeography of areas with few data points. As an example, the Scottish Highlands are better mapped and more studied than almost any other ancient orogen, yet questions remain on the persistence of topography since the Caledonian orogeny and the possibility of Cretaceous marine inundation. This paper reviews the data available on Scottish Cretaceous outcrops using published geological maps and memoirs to extract data: outcrop length, stratigraphic thickness and component units, elevation range of the outcrop and subcrop formations. All Cretaceous rocks in western Scotland were deposited in shallow marine and shoreline environments; deposits thin northwards and appear to be close to a feather edge. Elevation data are used to construct a Cretaceous surface which intersects present-day topography at low to intermediate altitudes. It is concluded that the Scottish Highlands were largely emergent during the Late Cretaceous, confirming previous palaeogeographic studies.

Recurrence and survival in dogs with excised colorectal polyps: A retrospective study of 58 cases.

Compared to humans, colorectal polyps are relatively rare in dogs. Epidemiological and prognostic data remain accordingly sparse, although they could help veterinary clinicians in the management of these cases. To report the epidemiological data of dogs with colorectal polyps and identify factors associated with recurrence and survival. Fifty-eight client-owned dogs with colorectal polyps admitted to 7 veterinary hospitals (53 dogs from France, 5 dogs from Spain, and 4 dogs from Portugal) were included. Retrospective multicentric cohort study. Medical records and long-term outcome of the dogs were reviewed. When available, histological samples were reassessed by 2 board-certified pathologists according to the revised Vienna classification (RVC). The West Highland White Terrier (WHWT) breed was significantly associated with the presence of colorectal polyps (OR: 20; 95% CI: 7.5-52; P < .001). The overall median time to recurrence was not reached after 2000 days. The overall estimated median survival time was 1640 days. WHWT breed and larger polyps were significantly associated with a shorter time of polyp recurrence after surgical removal (respectively, P = .05 and P = .01). The probability of recurrence of colorectal polyps in dogs is low, but increased in WHWTs and larger polyps, which might benefit from routine screening after removal. No effective predictors of polyp recurrence and survival were identified using the RVC.

Woodland expansion in the presence of deer: 30 years of evidence from the Cairngorms Connect landscape restoration partnership

Abstract Restoring native woodlands to areas where they have been lost is a key element for tackling the nature and climate crises. Natural regeneration offers the potential to achieve this cheaply and at scale, but browsing ungulates like deer can inhibit this or alter the pattern of regeneration. This issue is particularly pronounced in the Scottish Highlands, a heavily deforested region with high deer numbers. We describe the work of the 60,000 ha landscape restoration partnership, Cairngorms Connect, in speeding up natural woodland expansion. We use 30 years of regeneration monitoring to show a consistent, large‐scale expansion of native woodland, largely through natural regeneration alongside deer culling, without the use of fences. This was achieved across the partnership, despite differing management histories and land‐managing organisations (comprising two statutory agencies, one private landowner and one non‐governmental organisation). During peak periods of woodland expansion, the area of new woodland (i.e. exceeding 100 trees per hectare) increased by 1.2%, 1.7%, 2.7% and 6.0% annually in the four landholdings' regeneration zones, equating to a total of approximately 164 ha annually of new woodland. Natural regeneration is however patchy and hard to predict. Higher levels of management intervention may be needed to increase species that are rarer, more palatable or further from seed sources; we recommend long‐term field trials to inform this, such as those underway in Cairngorms Connect. Further research should develop techniques for remote sensing of woodland expansion, verified against field data and combined with the development of process‐based models to enable us to predict the outcomes of different management scenarios. Synthesis and applications. We show that collaborative deer management across multiple adjoining landholdings can achieve rapid landscape‐scale native woodland expansion with minimal need for planting or fencing. Our results show the power of monitoring regeneration directly, to inform deer management for an area. We demonstrate that by uniting over a shared vision, organisations with differing management approaches and histories can build understanding alongside landscape‐scale ecological restoration.

Aquaculture 4.0: hybrid neural network multivariate water quality parameters forecasting model

This study examined the efficiency of hybrid deep neural network and multivariate water quality forecasting model in aquaculture ecosystem. Accurate forecasting of critical water quality parameters can allow for timely identification of possible problem areas and enable decision-makers to take pre-emptive remedial actions that can significantly improve water quality management in aquaculture industry. A novel hybrid deep learning neural network multivariate water quality parameters forecasting model is developed with the aid of ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) method, deep learning long-short term memory (LSTM) neural network (NN), and multivariate linear regression (MLR) method. The presented water quality forecasting model (shortened as EEMD–MLR–LSTM NN model) is developed using multivariate time-series water quality sensor data collected from Loch Duart company, a Salmon offshore aquaculture farm based around Scourie, northwest Scotland. The performance of the novel hybrid water quality forecasting model is validated by comparing the forecast result with measured water quality parameters data and the real Phytoplankton data count from the aquaculture farm. The forecast accuracy of the results suggests that the novel hybrid water quality forecasting model can be used as a valuable support tool for water quality management in aquaculture industries.

The impacts of COVID-19 on digitalisation and social capital in crofting communities in Scotland

ABSTRACT Increasing digitalisation and access to communication technologies has arguably never been more important to rural communities than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Digitalisation assumes a distinct character when looked at through a rural lens, reliable and accessible digital tools and infrastructure having marked implications for the future of rural communities. This was especially pertinent during COVID-19 lockdowns, when in rural (as well as urban) communities there was a push to host local activities and services online. Using reflections from both in-person and online research engagements with a crofting community in the North West Highlands of Scotland, this paper reflects on how the use of digital tools can support the development of different types of social capital. Successful rural digitalisation has the potential to benefit rural crofting communities in multiple ways: e.g. by supporting rural repopulation efforts, enabling access to new digital markets to sell produce, and supporting active participation in local decision-making through online meetings. Several barriers to realising digital benefits still exist in rural regions with specific digitalisation needs and challenges. The paper reflects on empirical findings and considers the future sustainability of rural crofting communities in the post-COVID, digital age.

Revisiting the dimensions of rural resilience: The CoVid-19 pandemic

Understanding the factors that improve the resilience of rural communities is an important area of academic research and focus for policymakers. In this context, the COVID-19 pandemic provides an important opportunity to study the dynamics of different aspects of rural resilience in a crisis period. In this paper, we adopt a mixed methods approach to explore three issues in the context of a rural community – the West Highlands of Scotland. We frame our discussion through the lens of economic, social and environmental resilience. We 1) examine the role of businesses in supporting rural resilience within a crisis period; 2) evidence tensions that emerge across different components of rural resilience; and 3) explore, in turn, the importance of the economic, social and environmental rural context for the resilience of rural businesses. We find support that businesses can be key to supporting rural resilience, but that the resilience of rural communities is also essential to the resilience of businesses. We evidence several tensions that emerge between economic, social and environmental dimensions of resilience as it relates to business activity in rural communities. Our findings have important implications for policy with the conclusion that during times of crisis local, and community-based, solutions are crucial as is local leadership capacity.

375 Introduction of a Physician Associate (PA) Led Surgical Ambulatory Emergency Clinic (SAEC) in the Highlands of Scotland

Abstract Aim The delivery of surgical care in the Highlands has changed. SAEC was developed to alleviate bed pressures, improve patient satisfaction, and avoid unnecessary workload. We aim to identify whether SAEC is alleviating pressures in the surgical inpatient department - is it used appropriately and cost effectively. Method Attendance was collected prospectively (1/9/22 to 31/10/22) using a dedicated data audit book and booking diary. Patient’s individual review outcomes were gathered. Results Of the 165 patients referred to SAEC, 90% were reviewed by the PA, 10% only by the consultant. On average, 3.7 patients were seen per day. The referral reasons were wide ranging: 64 referrals for abdominal pain in addition to abscesses, constipation, weight loss, vomiting, stoma reviews and more. The age of patients ranged from 20-91. 61% were female. 46% had a scan. 85% received a diagnosis. 93% received definitive management. No patients made an unplanned re-presentation within the week following their review. The average time spent in SAEC per patient was 2 hours 48 minutes. 17% of patients were admitted, preventing 116 admissions. This saved approximately £45,820 through admission prevention. In addition, approximately a further £47492 was saved as this was PA led rather than consultant. Conclusions Prior to the employment of a PA, SAEC did not provide a consistent service, brought all patients to its surgical ward, and required employment of a second consultant. SAEC has improved patient flow and increased bed capacity whilst providing safe and high-quality care that is cost-effective.

ThTP8.12 Introduction of a Physician Associate (PA) led surgical ambulatory emergency clinic (SAEC) in the Highlands of Scotland

Abstract Aim The delivery of surgical care in the Highlands has changed. SAEC was developed to alleviate bed pressures, improve patient satisfaction and avoid unnecessary workload. We aim to identify whether SAEC is alleviating pressures in the surgical inpatient department - is it used appropriately and cost effectively. Methods Attendance was collected prospectively (1/9/22 to 31/10/22) using a dedicated data audit book and booking diary. Patient’s individual review outcomes were gathered. Results Of the 165 patients referred to SAEC, 90% were reviewed by the PA, 10% only by the consultant. On average, 3.7 patients were seen per day. The referral reasons were wide ranging: 64 referrals for abdominal pain in addition to abscesses, constipation, weight loss, vomiting, stoma reviews and more. The age of patients ranged from 20-91. 61% were female. 46% had a scan. 85% received a diagnosis. 93% received definitive management. No patients made an unplanned re-presentation within the week following their review. The average time spent in SAEC per patient was 2 hours 48 minutes. 17% of patients were admitted, preventing 116 admissions. This saved approximately £45,820 through admission prevention. In addition, approximately a further £47492 was saved as this was PA led rather than consultant. Conclusion Prior to the employment of a PA, SAEC did not provide a consistent service, brought all patients to its surgical ward and required employment of a second consultant. SAEC has improved patient flow and increased bed capacity whilst providing safe and high-quality care that is cost-effective.

Cardiovascular disease behavioural risk factors in rural interventions: cross-sectional study

This study aims to (1) assess the distribution of variables within the population and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) behavioural risk factors in patients, (2) identify target risk factor(s) for behaviour modification intervention, and (3) develop an analytical model to define cluster(s) of risk factors which could help make any generic intervention more targeted to the local patient population. Study patients with at least one CVD behavioural risk factor living in a rural region of the Scottish Highlands. The study used the STROBE methodology for cross-sectional studies. Demographic and clinical data of patients (n = 2025) in NHS Highlands hospital were collected at the point of admission for PCI between 04.01.2016 and 31.12.2019. Collected data distributions were analysed by CVD behavioural risk factors for prevalence, associations, and direction of associations. Cluster definition was measured by assignment of a unit score each for the overall level of prevalence and significance of associations, and general logistics modelling for direction and significance of the risk. The mean (SD) age was 69.47(± 10.93) years [95% CI (68.99–69.94)]. The key risk factors were hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, and elevated body mass index (BMI). Approximately 40% of the population have multiple risk factor counts of two. Analytical measures revealed a population risk factor cluster with elevated BMI [77.5% (1570/2025)] that is mostly either hyperlipidaemic [9.43%, co-eff. (17), P = 0.007] or hypertensive [22.72%, co-eff. (17), P = 0.99] as key risk factor clusters. Carefully modelled analyses revealed clustered risk associated with elevated BMI. This information would support a strategy for targeting risk factor clusters in novel interventions to improve implementation efficiency. Exposure to and outcome of an elevated BMI is linked more to the population’s socio-economic outcomes rather than to regional rurality or urbanity.

Exploring Sir Walter Scott's Notions of Scottish Identity in the Context of Brexit and Scottish Independence

Numerous studies have investigated the concept of the nation and Scottish identity in the prose fiction of Sir Walter Scott. These studies have traditionally highlighted Scott’s role in reshaping public perceptions of the Scottish Highlands, their culture, and the suffering of the Highlanders under the British Empire, through his detailed knowledge of Scottish history and culture. However, it is essential to reconsider this issue in light of recent historical and political developments in Scotland after Brexit and the calls for independence by various Scottish thinkers, writers, and political leaders, aiming to join the European Union. This study revisits Scott’s concept of the Scottish nation and identity in his two texts, “The Highland Widow” and “The Two Drovers”. The findings suggest that the nationalist sentiment in Scott's writings is relevant to the social and political changes occurring in Scotland, Europe, and globally. It can be argued that much of the contemporary discourse on Scottish independence can be traced back to Scott's works, indicating a recurring historical pattern. Scott expressed concern for the loss of Scottish national identity and the right of self-determination. His texts vividly demonstrate the interconnection of past and present events, embodying both historical and contemporary perspectives.

Modernising the Islands: Irish and Scottish Gaelic Fictions

Modernising the Islands: Irish and Scottish Gaelic Fictions

Iapetus Ocean serpentinites and Mesozoic intra-platform basins revealed by gravity and magnetic modelling across the Greater East Shetland Platform (Northern North Sea, UK)

The Greater East Shetland Platform and its intra-platform basins (i.e. the Dutch Bank Basin and East Orkney Basin) are examples of poorly explored areas in the UK Continental Shelf (Northern North Sea), hosting a locally thick (1–8 km) Devonian-to-Tertiary sedimentary succession that unconformably overlies the Caledonian crystalline basement.Starting from a grid of seismic reflection lines, six recently acquired profiles were selected, interpreted and depth-converted. The resulting geological cross sections were integrated with forward modelling of the observed Bouguer gravity and magnetic anomalies, and constrained by the available wellbore-derived petrophysical parameters.Our seismic interpretation and modelling suggest that the first-order contributors to the observed Bouguer gravity anomalies are related to the scattered distribution of the Mesozoic sedimentary sequences in the intra-platform basins. Furthermore, the main sources of the modelled magnetic anomalies are related to high-susceptibility (≤0.05 SI units) bodies in the crustal basement that locally correspond to zones of high reflectivity imaged in the seismic profiles. Such deep sources are interpreted as paleo-domains inherited from the pre-Devonian tectonic evolution of the study area and assembled during the Caledonian Orogeny. This may be relatable to the offshore extension of first-order pre-Devonian tectonic lineaments exposed in the Scottish Highlands and Orkney-Shetland islands.

A qualitative exploration of chronic pain management of older adults in remote and rural settings

BackgroundThe World Health Organization predicts that the number of older adults will nearly double between 2015 and 2050. Older adults are at a higher risk of developing medical conditions such as chronic pain. However, there is little information about chronic pain and its management in older adults especially those residing in remote and rural areas.AimTo explore views, experiences, and behavioural determinants of older adults regarding chronic pain management in remote and rural settings in Scottish Highlands.MethodQualitative one-to-one telephone interviews were conducted with older adults with chronic pain residing in remote and rural areas in the Scottish Highlands. The interview schedule was developed by the researchers, validated, and piloted prior to use. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and independently thematically-analysed by two researchers. Interviews continued until data saturation.ResultsFourteen interviews were conducted with three key themes emerging: views and experiences with chronic pain, need to enhance pain management, and perceived barriers to pain management. Overall, pain was reported as severe and negatively impacted lives. Majority of interviewees used medicines for pain relief but noted that their pain was still poorly controlled. Interviewees had limited expectation for improvement since they considered their condition a normal consequence of ageing. Residing in remote and rural areas was perceived to complicate access to services with many having to travel long distances to see a health professional.ConclusionChronic pain management in remote and rural areas remains a significant issue among older adults interviewed. Thus, there is a need to develop approaches to improve access to related information and services.

The Role of Anthropogenic Forcings on the Regional Climate of Summertime Diurnal Variations over North China

Abstract Anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) and anthropogenic aerosols (AA) have changed radiation balance and regulated the regional climate at seasonal or longer time scales. Based on station observations, reanalyses, and satellite observations, this study examines how anthropogenic forcings affect surface temperature and strongly regulate the regional climate at a diurnal time scale over the North China plains (NCP) in July and August. As AA cooling is dominant in the daytime over low-lying plains, it leads to a cooler day–warmer night temperature trend that decreases the diurnal temperature range over NCP but increases the thermal contrast between NCP and its west highlands. In response to the daytime cooling, the weakened vertical thermal contrast decreases the boundary layer turbulent mixing in the daytime and reduces friction to low-level winds, which leads to anomalous southerlies at 2000 LST over NCP. In contrast, nighttime warming results in anomalous northerlies at 0200 LST. On the other hand, in response to the enlarged horizontal thermal contrast, the stronger mountain–plain circulation helps to intensify low-level ascent over the plains at 0200 LST. These human-induced changes in the diurnal variation of regional circulations are conducive to the increased moisture convergence at 2000 and 0200 LST over NCP. The nighttime proportion of precipitation accordingly exhibits an increasing trend over NCP, though the seasonal precipitation decreases because of the weakened monsoon background. These findings highlight that the diurnal cycle of regional circulations can express a strong dynamic response to the radiation effect of anthropogenic forcings and thus affect the long-term change in regional climate.