54. Tartan vs. Plaid? Clans? Castles Hidden Under the Driveway? Miles Kerr-Peterson Drops Scottish Knowledge

Today On the Dogwatch we cross the Atlantic and head to the Highlands of Scotland in search of the nature of tartan, one of the most long standing and iconic outdoor patterns. Along the way, we meet Miles Kerr-Peterson, a PhD historian who has not only a vast knowledge of British history, clans, castles, but also tartan.

We start our conversation with Miles by learning about his research into a buried castle under the driveway at the Keith Marsal estate in Scotland, and broaden this conversation to understand some of the history of Scotland and clans. From there, Miles helps us understand how tartan developed as a fabric, and how the patterns have changed over time.

Thankfully, Miles not only understands the history of these fabrics, but works the the St. Kilda company, which has an online tartan designer, and he walks us through how tartans are designed and even helps us how we can design, register, and produce our own tartan fabric. What could be better than a conversation that touches on the Jacobite rebellion, Dunnottar Castle, the Outlander TV series, the movie Hot Fuzz, whiskey from the island of Islay, as well as consideration of plenty of Gordons, MacQueens, MacPhersons, Campbells, Camerons, and Craigs?