Trivia

Did You Know?

(Click on each topic to see the FAQ)

Lord Tweedmouth’s Tame Grouse:
Red grouse, if taken young, make excellent pets, and are extraordinarily fearless. A tame cock grouse at Lord Tweedmouth’s place, Guisachan, in Ross-shire, made great friends with one of the dogs, and used to frequently ride on its back. He was once taken to Oxfordshire, but seemed while there to be depressed and out of spirits, so much so that he was never heard to crow. Sent back to Scotland again, and released from his box at his native home in the Highlands, he instantly ran up a grassy hillock and crowed loudly.

[caption id="attachment_3908" align="alignleft" width="300"]Scottish Red Grouse Scottish Red Grouse[/caption]

Factor: The manager of the estate

Ghillie: Scottish term for an attendant on a fishing trip

Keepers: Scottish men who stalked deer for hunting parties

Stalkers – The men who stalk the deer for hunters knowing the likelihood of where the deer will best be found

 

Belle means beautiful – Belle was a Tweedmouth Water Spaniel and considered to be the Dam of the retriever puppies that are considered to be the first Golden Retriever litter. The puppies from this first litter were named for yellow flowers – crocus, cowslip & primrose. 

[caption id="attachment_4010" align="alignright" width="300"]Belle, Tweedmouth Water Spaniel as depicted by Marcia Schlehr Belle, Tweedmouth Water Spaniel as depicted by Marcia Schlehr[/caption]

Nous is derived from the Greek word meaning inner wisdom.

[caption id="attachment_4008" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Nous, Wavy Coated Retriever Nous, Wavy Coated Retriever[/caption]

Nous, sire of the first litter of puppies in 1868, is often seen in photos with something in his mouth. That was his favorite toy – his “clothie” or blankie, if you wish.

[caption id="attachment_4101" align="aligncenter" width="400"]nous-belle Nous carrying his “clothie." The dog next to him historians feel is Belle.[/caption]

The Guisachan tweed came about because each estate had its own tweed so that the staff could be identified. Usually the men wore a full suit of their tweed.

[caption id="attachment_4073" align="alignright" width="293"]Guisachan stalker, Simon Fraser, with three dogs 1903. Dogs are Comet (the darkest), Conan (in front) and Ginger. Image courtesy of Donnie Stirling Guisachan stalker, Simon Fraser, with three dogs 1903. Dogs are Comet (the darkest), Conan (in front) and Ginger. Image courtesy of Donnie Stirling[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2735" align="alignleft" width="300"]Tweed Scarf Guisachan Tweed Scarf (for sale in our store)[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_3898" align="alignright" width="183"]Bridge at Drumnadrochit Bridge at Drumnadrochit[/caption]

Stones from the Guisachan House ruins were sold for many purposes including this, the bridge at Drumnadrochit .

 

 

When Guisachan House was built, the foundation on the right-hand side had to be set back when a stone age burial ground was discovered during excavations.

[caption id="attachment_3885" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Guisachan Estate Guisachan Estate[/caption]

Lord Tweedmouth planted several species of exotic trees on the estate including giant Sequoias and Douglas Fir. Three of his trees were cut to replace the masts on Sir Robert Scott’s ship the RRS Discovery.

[caption id="attachment_4097" align="alignright" width="264"]Douglas-Fir Douglas Fir[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4096" align="alignleft" width="212"]Giant-Sequoia Giant
Sequoia[/caption]

*Guisachan is the Gaelic word for pine forest. It is pronounced “yoush- a gan”