<p>Welcome to Our Scotland, the podcast where we take 24 hours in Scotland, add in teleportation, time travel and anything else we please to conjure up the day of our dreams. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>My name is Alison Fraser and I love all things Scotland, the people, the food, the music and the places and my guests are people just like me.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>In this episode I’m joined by writer James Merron, aka AJ Merron. James lives in Edinburgh but is originally from Lancashire. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>James describes himself as a hopeless romantic at heart who tends to live in a fantasy world of his own making. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>He writes poetry, has a YouTube channel of video essays delivered like letters of the romantics era, and a podcast where arts, media and philosophy collide. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>He’s currently working on plans for a creative retreat in a Highlands castle and researching the history of female monsters and demons for a fictionals book.</p> <p><br /></p> <p><strong>James’s links:</strong></p> <p><br /></p> <p>Threads: <a href="https://www.threads.net/@ajmerron_writes" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.threads.net/@ajmerron_writes</a> </p> <p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDJBUWYtMlJub1JYbWNJeWwwNDFzWlU4SHd2UXxBQ3Jtc0trS1V0azMzcEVJRWJ5NkhqTkwzLXRWUGFFWFM0QVVLQ0tNUlBfYkt5QWk5b2NyakEtb014S0N4UTBISDhfRXlOc1FYaHpTaE1HbzVPd1J4VFVJZnZEajV2QTVodkN6Nm82bzQxeEtDaG1JQVEycHhYVQ&amp;q=www.instragram.com%2Fajmerron_writes" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">instragram.com/ajmerron_writes</a></p> <p>Youtube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ajmerron_writes" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@ajmerron_writes</a> </p> <p>Website: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUJtcWhSdzJ3am5zWDFpZmhydTl5d3BWUXZpZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsVVdnSHVzQ1p4QzNBOVZVejVVREJfRG1VcDBKY1JHZ2pBX3BMVk9QV2F0VGpnR1pHblZzZWlENTNFQm1wTjdZYnRmYl9vWExteE9UNjk4YWRLZFQwd2IyeHozek5IbWhYZ3p3VmZ0ajZDWXlrVDNobw&amp;q=www.ajmerron.co.uk" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ajmerron.co.uk</a> </p> <p><br /></p> <p>Places James took us:</p> <p> </p> <p>Edinburgh Waverley Station <a href="https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/our-history/iconic-infrastructure/the-history-of-edinburgh-waverly-station/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/our-history/iconic-infrastructure/the-history-of-edinburgh-waverly-station/</a> </p> <p>Greenock, Gourock, Inverclyde <a href="https://discoverinverclyde.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://discoverinverclyde.com/</a> </p> <p>Loch Fleet <a href="https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/visit-our-nature-reserves/loch-fleet-national-nature-reserve" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/visit-our-nature-reserves/loch-fleet-national-nature-reserve</a> </p> <p>South Rona <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Rona" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Rona</a> </p> <p>Shiant Isles <a href="https://www.shiantisles.net/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.shiantisles.net/</a> </p> <p>North Harris Eagle Observatory <a href="https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/north-harris-eagle-observatory-p530121" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/north-harris-eagle-observatory-p530121</a> </p> <p>Huisinis <a href="https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/huisinis-beach-p523511" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/huisinis-beach-p523511</a> </p> <p><br /></p> <p>Food and drink:</p> <p><br /></p> <p>The Cove, Gourock <a href="https://thecovegourock.co.uk/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://thecovegourock.co.uk/</a> </p> <p>Eteaket <a href="https://www.eteaket.co.uk" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.eteaket.co.uk</a> </p> <p><br /></p> <p>Music:</p> <p><br /></p> <p>Nina Nesbitt: <a href="https://ninanesbittmusic.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://ninanesbittmusic.com/</a></p> <p>Seals singing: <a href="https://youtu.be/WYlLPyIeapg?si=MtFDUinWQOFGMW49" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/WYlLPyIeapg?si=MtFDUinWQOFGMW49</a> </p> <p><br /></p> <p><strong>Machair</strong></p> <p><br /></p> <p>Machair is a Gaelic word meaning fertile low lying grassy plain. This is the name given to one of the rarest habitats in Europe which only occurs on exposed western coasts of Scotland and Ireland. There are Machair habitats on the western shores throughout the islands.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>Here sand, largely made up of crushed shells, is regularly blown ashore by Atlantic gales. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>Over time the calcium rich shell sand and traditional Outer Hebrides crofting land practices have led to the development of a mosaic of fertile Scottish grassland habitats renowned for their Outer Hebrides wildflowers, Western Isles birds and insect life.</p> <p><a href="https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/wildlife/machair" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/wildlife/machair</a> </p> <p><br /></p> <p>If you want to share your ideal 24 hours in Scotland with me, or suggest a future guest, please do get in touch. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>You can email <a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[email protected]</a> or DM me at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/ourscotlandpodcast/</a> </p>