MY 'JACOBITE' KIT

Since I was a young boy I have always been interested in the History of Scotland, and mainly the Highlanders and Jacobite's. Recently, through working on my Family Tree it has come to light that we have three Jacobites in the family, and that one ancestor was listed as a Jacobite on the 'Prisoner's List' following the battle of 'Culloden'. It would appear this ancestor was a 'Jacobite' Volunteer who volunteered in Perth, where he worked as a Surgeon's Mate, and was probably in the medical tent with 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' at the 'Battle Of Prestonpans' as the Prince is supposed to have addressed his men to treat the English too as they would also be his subjects if he took England. However, although the Jacobite's won the Battle of Prestonpans, somehow, and nobody can suggest how, it seems that my ancestor was caught after this battle and was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle jail during the time of Culloden. He also spent some time in Edinburgh Toll-house before being sentenced to death in Carlisle. He spent roughly three years in prison there, and probably because of his Surgical skills was 'invited' (forced) to join the Government forces and later pardoned. Possibly, if he was not a skilled man and had been a farmer or Cotter, then he may have been fighting on Culloden Moor, and many of my family since, and possibly including myself, would not be here. I am very proud to have had such a man in my Family's past. I feel that he must have been a bit of a bad-ass as it is known that the English Government Forces did not treat Jacobites well. I also have some more Jacobite's to look into in the tree and have a Drover in there too, so this might explain the way I feel more comfortable hiking home in a kilt and plaid than anything else I do, or anywhere else I go?. maybe there is such a thing as 'Genetic Memory'?.

As I mentioned in other pages, I have been a keen camper and wild-camper, hiker and Bushcrafter since I was in my early twenties, and have always felt like part of the landscape around me whenever I go home to the Highlands, so confirming that I have 'Jacobite' ancestors has increased my interest in how they may have lived and travelled through the Highlands in their time, what items they would have carried on their person, and what equipment and skills they would have used in order to help keep themselves alive in the unpredictable, and sometimes unforgiving and extreme weather and landscape of the Highlands and Islands.

Since early 2019 I have been making and building up a kit that my ancestor would possibly recognise and be comfortable using. In the kit my aim is to make (where possible), or buy items that will allow me to carry equipment and materials that my ancestors would be familiar with, and also to give me a better understanding on what challenges and differences this type of 'Traditional' kit would bring, both in every day travelling and in possible survival situations.

Below are various items I have both made and bought to help me build up a 'traditional' inspired 'Kit' that I can use on various traditional type hikes and/or long distance walks throughout Scotland and The Highlands.

The Great Kilt.

The belted plaid (Breacan an fhéilidh) or great plaid (feileadh mòr),

Also known as the great kilt, is likely to have evolved over the course of the 16th century from the earlier "brat" or woollen cloak (also known as a plaid) which was worn over a tunic. This earlier cloak may have been plain in colour or in various check or tartan designs, depending on the wealth of the wearer; this earlier fashion of clothing had not changed significantly from that worn by Celtic warriors in Roman times.

Over the course of the 16th century, with the increasing availability of wool, the cloak had grown to such a size that it began to be gathered up and belted. The belted plaid was originally a length of thick woollen cloth made up from two loom-widths sewn together to give a total width of 54 to 60 inches (140 to 150 cm), and up to 7 yards (6.4 m) in length. This garment was gathered up into pleats and secured by a wide belt.

Plaids with belt loops were in use by the 18th century. A surviving men's belted plaid from 1822 has a belt loops sewn inside it at each pattern repeat, such that it can be unpleated entirely into a blanket, or rapidly pleated with a hidden drawstring belt (with a second belt worn outside, to flatten the pleats, as in the portrait of Lord Mungo Murray above).

The upper half could be worn as a cloak, draped over the left shoulder, hung down over the belt and gathered up at the front, or brought up over the shoulders or head for protection against weather. It was worn over a léine

(a full-sleeved tunic stopping below the waist) and could also serve as a camping blanket. There was no set tartan originally, and the pattern would depend on a person's wealth and what dye source was available.

I have a red, black and white based plaid that is 60" (150cm) wide x 5 yards

long. Basically, as I do a lot of wild-camps, both in woodlands and forests, and in Highland Glen's and mountain sides, I wanted something that will make me a little bit visible, as I don't want to get shot by anyone out culling, or poaching. Bought my plaid from 'Elite Design, The Fabric People': www.elitedesign.co.uk.

It's a good weight, keeps me warm and keeps the rain off my skin, and does the job I wanted it to, love it. The only thing I had to do was sew in a 'Blanket Stitch' in black thread right round the outside of the plaid. This was to stop it from fraying and to give it more strength to cope with my outdoor traditional hikes.

I aim to get a couple more plaids when I can.

My other plaid is a PETER MACARTHUR 100% PURE NEW WOOL TARTAN TAN KILT CHECK FABRIC 150CM from MAGGIE'S FAB FABRICS.

I love this plaid colours as it has a more traditional type look to it and the colours also blend in well, especially when walking through woodland and forest settings. https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/maggiesfabfabrics

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The Highland 'Dirk', 'Sgian Achlais' and 'Sgian Dubh'.

I have an ornamental Dirk like the ones Piper's use, but I'm still working on sourcing a more authentic traditional looking one like this, preferably one that is sturdy enough that I can also use on my bushcraft and wilderness ventures. Most likely I will still purchase one from a great guy by the name of 'Ethan Blinkhorn' on Facebook (Scottish Swords, Dirks and Targes) He makes amazing traditional looking dirks like the one he made pictured left.

The Scottish Highland dirk was the ancient Highlander's main tool for everyday hunting, fishing and day-to-day tasks. It is probably a direct descendant of the medieval bollock dagger, and is one of the weapons most associated with the Highland warrior Clans and culture. Along with the Basket Hilt Sword and the spike in the centre of the Highland Targe, the dirk was a formidable part of the Highland Charge and defence tactics. Highlanders could take out three men at once.

Remnants of this are still worn today by pipers, military Officers and re-en-actors, and by those, like myself, seeking to obtain a more traditional Highland look.

As well as the 'Dirk', Highlanders also carried a 'Sgian Achlais' and the famous 'Sgian Dubh'. basically, the 'Dirk' would mainly be used as a weapon and held behind the 'Highland Targe', and possibly for butchering animals. The 'Sgian Achlais' was the Highlander's middle-sized knife, and was probably used for chopping and processing firewood, and possibly butchering meat too. This knife was probably carried in a sheath under the armpit, either tucked in the plaid somehow, or possibly hung across the chest on a strap or belt under the plaid. Then, by no means last is the famous Highland 'Sgain Dubh'. This was probably the main everyday knife and used for whittling, carving and general everyday use.

As I mentioned, I am trying to source a 'bushcraft' ready 'Dirk', but I will also try and source (or make) both a 'Sgian Achlais' and 'Sgian Dubh'; that will also be more suitable for 'Bushcraft' and wild camping.

Leather Sporran

( Home - made from leather off - cuts )

Although traditionally used to most likely carry foodstuff like porridge oats, flour and salt, like most modern kilt wearers I tend to put my wallet and mobile phone in mine.

This one is my first attempt at a home-made, hand stitched sporran from off-cuts of leather sent to me from 'Pittards Leather'. I intend to make more and to make a page on this website when items are ready for 'sale'.

Currently working on some more items for personal use to gain more experience and to build up a more traditional 'Jacobite' look to my full kit for future expeditions and treks, including more wild camping.

Leather Side Possibles Pouch

( Home - made from leather off - cuts )

I keep this on my belt along with my sporran etc, and use it to collect anything useful without stopping to unpack everything, things that I might be able to use while walking through the hills or woodland such as possible tinder or berries.

It's just a bit smaller than my main sporran, and I use it for picking up anything I may be able to use for fires along the way, such as crampball fungus, any flint or quartz I find, or anything that might take a spark. Proving to be a handy pouch to have easy access to.

Fire Kit

( Home - made pouch from leather off-cuts )

This is the best fire making kit I know, and has never let me down. It's a basic steel (stàilinn - Gaelic), flint (clach-theine - Gaelic for 'Firestone') and char tin which I made from an old shoe polish tin. Inside I have some charcloth made from the amadou layer from Horseshoe Fungus.

When I walk through anywhere I always try and pick up some flint and other hard stone such as quartz.

I keep this pouch on my main belt with my sporran and other main kit. The items in here I use with my larger leather pouch, which I carry in a shoulder canvas bag. In this pouch I have birch bark, resin-wood and sponge-wood.

Amazon Product 'Link': https://amzn.to/3Wd2w6h

Leather Bota Water Bottle

This Bota style leather water bottle is shown in many paintings of the era, and is certainly easier than carrying a modern day water bottle. It also looks the part and has that traditional feel.

This one is from 'Jacob's Leather' in the USA from their shop on Etzy.

Click here for the 'Link'. The communication and service is outstanding.

This is a lovely item, well made, and a great addition to my kit. It holds 1.5 litres of water, which I usually get from waterfalls, or from modern drinking water top-up points at hotels, shops, or wherever possible on long hikes. Feels very light, even when full. Nothing like carrying a 1.5 litre plastic bottle. And, because it's over my shoulder it is easy to get a drink on the trail.

Sadly, this item got pierced by a thorn on my West Highland Way hike in Nov 2021, that's when I found out it had a plastic inner lining, which by that time had also became very brittle and had started to split in numerous places as well. On my return home I had to cut the leather and remove the inner plastic bag before lining the bottle with beeswax to seal the leather and stitching and make it watertight again before using. Such a shame.

Leather Water Canteens

(Home-made)

These style of leather water bottles is shown in many paintings of the era, as well as being popular with re-enactors of both Highland and Jacobite groups, and is certainly more authentic looking than a modern day water bottle. They look the part and have that traditional feel to them.

These are made from leather I bought from 'Pinchmill Leathers' (See my 'links page' for details or click here for more information. The communication and service is outstanding.

This is a great addition to my kit. It holds 1 litre of water, which I usually get from waterfalls, or from modern drinking water top-up points at hotels, shops, or wherever possible on long hikes.

Leather Side Box-Type Bag

( Home - made )

I have tried to model this on the small leather box-type bags that were sometimes used to hold gunpowder, musket balls and related items for the French and Spanish muskets carried by the Jacobites.

I use this to carry the my camera gear, memory cards, connection cables and batteries etc when on hikes so I can gain easy access to my equipment and hopefully capture my walks and anything interesting I stumble across on film.

This is Home-made from leather from 'Pinchmill Leather' with a strap and vintage style buckle from an old belt from a charity shop to try and give it a more authentic style look.

This box has been a useful and practical addition to my kit.

Leather Side Bag

( Home - made )

I sometimes use this to carry the some ingredients in small jute canvas bags. Items such as my baking powder, salt, cinnamon, sugar, tea, coffee, mixed herbs, and a small bottle of oil. Sometimes I carry my wooden spoons and utensils, it all depends on where I am going and how long I will be away for.

This is Home-made from leather offcuts from Pittards Leather, and has been a useful small addition to my kit.

Canvas Jute Side Bag

( Home - made )

I have done some research into Highlander, and particular, the Jacobite period, looking at old paintings and drawings of Jacobite kit showing they wore canvas type side bags, possibly to help them carry some of the everyday items they might need while travelling the Highlands.

I have also seen Jacobite re-enactors using similar bags in videos on YouTube, so I believe them to be reasonably historically accurate.

I have made this large canvas jute type bag and one smaller one to help me carry my kit and supplies when on my 'traditional' Highlander type walks, and so far they have proved very useful. It doesn't feel like you are carrying any weight whatsoever with one of these over your shoulder.

Real Leather Shoulder Bag.

Bought this from FaceBay for it's old, rugged look, and good quality leather. Use it as a Side Bag when Hiking and on short walks. Been a great addition to my kit. Love it. Has a great vintage look to it.

On longer Hikes I use this in conjunction with my canvas side bag and either my leather backpack or wooden pack-frame and bag. This keeps the weight in each bag down and allows me to carry all I need for longer hikes such as The West Highland Way, Rob Roy Way, or Great Glen Way.

Real Leather Rucksack / Backpack.

Bought this from FaceBay for it's old, rugged look, and sturdy, good quality leather. It has a great vintage look to it, which I like.

I have water-proofed it using beeswax and it seems to do the trick. Use it as a Day Bag when Hiking and on short walks looking for chicken of the woods and hedgehog mushrooms, or just to carry some basic items such as a tarp and some cooking items, and maybe my Trangia kit so I can escape the house for a good few hours.

Been a great addition to my kit. Love it.

Wooden Pack Frame and Real Leather bag.

Made this wooden frame and leather bag based backpack myself based on various photos of old trapper traditional pack-frames in books, and by taking ideas from various wooden-framed backpacks i've seen images for on-line, and then tweaking those ideas to come up with something that I would be able to use in the field. I like the old-school type look it has.

The wood is Hazel and is strong, but lightweight, which I sourced from a local woodland and cut to the size required. I then lashed it with glue, string and leather and allowed to dry thoroughly. The wooden parts were scorched with a blowtorch to help give it a 'used' look.

The leather bag was made from good strong leather from 'Pinchmill Leather' which I cut to size in squares and hand stitched together to make the edges, corners and straps strong and secure enough to hold on the bag and all it's contents, inside and out, while on long hikes.

I always get lots of looks and questions when hike as I am usually in either a kilt or a Great kilt, but when I use this bit of my kit, this only adds to people's curiosity and it's always a talking point on the trail, especially as it has a Celtic knot and 'The Jacobite Hiker' stamped on it the front of the leather bag.

Inside I carry much of my traditional type gear as listed on the rest of this page, and use the top belts to strap down my sheepskin and a woollen blanket, while on the bottom I tend to strap in my tent, or tarp. Sometimes I swap these about depending on the weather, or what weight I have at the time.

Sometimes, when hiking long distances with this packframe I will also wrap another belt round my waist and through the bottom of the frame so that some weight is taken off my shoulders and shared with my hips. This helps to distribute the weight better and makes the pack even more comfortable.

This has been a great addition to my kit and I love using it.

Antique Wash Willow Wicker Basket.

This item was purchased on Amazon and has been doctored to suit my specific needs. Basically, I was looking for some type wicker basket to help me carry equipment and belongings while walking through the Highlands when on traditional style hikes. I managed to find a 'creel basket', but it was round and too big for what I needed. So, therefore I searched online for wicker baskets and found this. It's not too big, but is large enough to help me carry most of my Jacobite items such as my pot, cooking gear, food etc.

Intended to use this in conjunction with my canvas side bags for long hikes to carry all my Jacobite type gear, but when fully loaded it's still a bit heavier than I'd like, so only use it for short walks. Love this addition to my kit. Have modified this part of my kit to everything I need to carry when I use it. The straps are home-made 'Belts by Anila', and are brilliant quality and very strong.

Axe - Silverline HA68 Hardwood Hatchet 1.5 lb.

Axes have been a common tool for thousands of years, from stone axes up to modern day forged steel, used for processing firewood or as a weapon. This axe is a modern forged steel, and originally had a powder-coated head with a polished cutting edge, and has a hardwood shaft with straight grained wood for shock absorption. Like the Spear & Jackson hatchet, this needed quite a bit of work on the blade to make it shave sharp, lots of getting the angle right followed by lots of stropping. Not the best axe, as with the S&J it cannot be used to strike pegs in etc, but it's still fairly study. Sometimes use this axe as part of my 'Jacobite' kit, hence the Celtic markings.

Amazon Product 'Link': https://amzn.to/3kk1zvA

Woollen Blankets.

Woollen blankets would have been a must for any Highlander and Jacobite out in all weathers in the Highlands. Wool has the ability to keep you warm, even when damp, and to help keep a person's body core at a temperature that could help keep them alive in the unpredictable, and sometimes treacherous Highland landscape. Woollen blankets can also be used as capes to help shield you in wet, or colder weather. They can also, when propped up with a stick and tied with natural cordage, be used as a makeshift tarp-like lean-too shelter, or small tent.

Amazon Product 'Link': https://amzn.to/3HekdOE

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Sheep Skin or Animal Hide

Although known for my love of animals, I feel I need to try and be as authentic as I am able in my pursuit of trying to build up gear my Jacobite ancestors would be familiar with, and sadly this includes a hide.

Various hides would have been used, depending on the status or wealth of the owner, and would have ranged from sheep up to red deer, although it's possible that Highlander's also traded with people's from Scandinavia and could also get reindeer. The hides would have been used basically as a bedding mat to sleep on, but also possibly as a cover to shelter the body in colder, or windier weather.

This sheepskin has been used in the field on top of a folder woollen blanket to help cushion me from the ground, and to help keep my body warm. Sleeping on this, wrapped in your plaid and woollen blankets you don't feel the cold much at all, especially next to an open fire.

Cast Iron Pot

Small cast iron 1 litre cooking pot from 'Wood Burners For Less'

on 'Etzy'. They have some great cooking stoves and equipment on their page. This is a cracking addition to my kit, very robust and has coped well on the overnight camps I've had with it. Great for cooking small stews, boiling up porridge etc. I've managed to make some bannocks in it too. Looking forward to doing lots more traditional Highland hikes with this pot and the rest of my 'traditional' style Jacobite kit.

Kuksa and Pewter Tankard.

Highlanders would have traded goods and been able to own items such as these, and this is depicted in some book entries and paintings of the time.

The Kuksa is from ' J L Honest Products' on 'Etzy', and is made in the rustic, Nordic Scandinavian style. It holds apporx 170 ml. lovely item. I hang this off my sporran belt with my sporran, fire kit and side pouch.

The Pewter tankard I bought from Ebay, and is made in Sheffield. I have this on a leather strap and carry it open over my shoulder.

Wooden Plate, Bowl, Spoons and Spatula.

( Home - made spoons and spatula).

Won the plate on an Ebay auction, the beech bowl I bought on Amazon from DB Gardentools, and the spoons and spatula I made myself from a green beech branch and are stained with a mix of beeswax and animal fat. I'm not quite a wood carver yet, just starting to teach myself, hence the simple straight spoons with shallow bowls and the lack of symmetry, but I'm hoping to be able to carve more detailed elegant work at some point in the future.

Leather Pouches

( Home - Made ).

I have various pouches, the large one is for tinder and fire-making, and holds things like birch bark, some horseshoe fungus, resin-wood and sponge-wood (Fatwood and Punkwood), and some cramp-ball fungus. One of the smaller ones I keep a small metal tin with some needles and sewing things for repairs, natural string, some small bits of leather, and some ribbon. The other small pouch I use to carry some soap and shampoo, First Aid items, some plasters, creams, and a spare cotton neckerchief. It is important to stay clean on the trail, and to be able to clean any cuts etc and prevent any infection.

Linen Jute Drawstring Bags (small).

Handy wee bags, and quite authentic looking. I use these for coffee, baking powder, sugar, salt and some butter etc. (sometime keep butter wrapped up in a doc leaf). Usually keep these jute bags in the leather side bag I made so that they're handy to get to when I stop for a break on walks and hikes. For food items I put small sealed bags inside these just to help keep everything fresh and to prevent anything seeping through the jute bag.

Amazon Product 'Link': https://amzn.to/3GPcaGh

Linen Jute Drawstring Bags (large).

The two larger jute bags I made myself from some off-cuts of canvas that I made my canvas side bags with. I just tried to copy the same design as the bought smaller jute bags and make them bigger for the specific purpose of holding a decent amount of flour and porage oats, which I use on the trail to make bannocks, oatcakes, and porage for my breakfast. (See the bottom of my 'Bushcraft' page for recipes). To help keep these fresher for longer, and to prevent me from getting any stomach bugs, I keep them in some zip-lock bags inside the jute bags.

Jute String 4mm.

Jute string 4mm thick. Use this to tie down my Jacobite 'Blanket' shelter, and small pieces can also be fluffed up and used in fire making.

Amazon Product 'Link': https://amzn.to/3HcwVNO

Small Leather Pouch

(Home-Made)
Use this for loose change as part of my Jacobite inspired kit bag.

Fob Watch, Plaid Pin, Kilt Pin, Whiskey Flask, Dirk & Sgian Dubh.

Additional items I usually carry include my Pocket Watch, which reads

"Davey, A Jacobite at heart, Alba Gu Brath". Time-keeping is useful when you want to catch connecting transport at the end of a distance walk, or for keeping an eye on your pace when walking distances. My Plaid Pin, to secure my plaid at my shoulder, but also as an awl if I need to repair any of my leather items. The Whiskey Flask for that quick 'pick-me-up', especially when hiking in weather that has a chill in the air. Lastly, my Dirk and Sgian Dubh, just helps to finish off the look, but are also both handy if and when needed.

Tartanista Men's Kilt Hose Tops.

Kilt hose tops with diamond pattern
Fit comfortably over sock turnover
100% Acrylic
Hand Wash Only
KA-HOSE_TOP_RED_GRN_XL
Available in 4 colour combinations
Acrylic wool - 40 deg wash - do not spin - reshape and dry flat
Sizes: Small: Calf 12" Length 11.5"; Medium: Calf 13" Length 12"; Large: Calf 14" Length 12.5"; XL: Calf 15" Length 13.5".

Amazon Product Link: https://amzn.to/3HPJoGj

As well as the above kit I also have some Highland clothes. Some can be seen below.

Wearing the 'Feileadh-Beag' and other Highland clothes.

Photo 1:

Showing all the home-made leather 'Jacobite kit' mentioned above. The woollen Jacobite style bonnet is from 'Random Elf' on 'Etzy', my home-made walking stick is made from a dead standing Hazel sapling and has some Celtic style knots burned into it. I'm wearing a home-made cotton neckerchief in the 18th Century style. I also have a linen neckerchief I bought from Etzy. My woollen Lovatt jacket from a charity shop in Fort William, but was made in Edinburgh. This is great for keeping you warm, especially with the bonnet, the woollen blankets, and wrapped up in a plaid. As well as using the bonnet in various ways depending on the weather, I sometimes also use it when foraging for wild edibles, and can hold quite a good haul in this. Sporting my 16oz 100% woollen hand-stitched MacLean Hunting tartan kilt.

Photo 2:

Wearing a casual day kilt, not my Clan colours, but I just liked this pattern and colours in it. McKenzie 8 yards 16 oz kilt with a 24" drop and 3.5" deep pleats, fringed 3.5" belt loops, and lined front and back in 100% cotton. The kilt is not my usual woollen kilt choice, but is 100% Acrylic. Also wearing a green Gillie shirt and highland Leather waistcoat in a traditional style, and carrying a Highland Broadsword I bought in Fort William. Sporting a brown casual sporran and brown belt, and wearing my walking boots.

Photo 3:

Wearing my dress Argyle Jacket, cream Gillie shirt from 'Broadsword', my MacLean Hunting kilt, dress sporran with black belt and silver buckle, and black Gillie shoes and socks with red flashes with a MacLean Hunting Fly Plaid and antique finish plaid broach.

Photo's 4, 5 & 6:

Wearing some of my Jacobite kit, including some hand-made items listed above. Photo's by 'SassenachSue'.

Photo's 7, 8 & 9:

Wearing my Great Kilt and Jacobite kit, my wicker basket backpack and some hand-made items listed above.

Photo's are 'stills' taken from my Jacobite Kit Update Video.

I hope to be adding to my Jacobite kit by making a leather sword belt and baldric for my basket hilt sword, as well as a Highland Targe as soon as possible. I am currently working on some more leather gear to add to this look, and also have some home-made wooden kuksa's and spoons I am working on. I may make some for sale on this website at a later date, once I am more experienced in making them?.

As yet, other than a 'Pipers' one, I don't yet have a decent Highland Dirk, but that is something that I am in the process of searching for. Looking for something sturdy that can also be a good strong bushcraft tool, and can cope with all the various elements of bushcraft and everything that entails.

Also, I'm sure that the ancient Highlander's, and probably some of the Jacobite's would have had something to help them carry their equipment in the same way as we modern hikers put our kit into ruck sacks etc, so I shall be looking into that in more detail. I wanted something fitting to add to my 'traditional' Jacobite look, so I decided to make myself a couple of large over-the-shoulder canvas jute type bags to carry some of my Jacobite kit. I have been on a couple of walks with the some of my gear in these and it felt like I was carrying no weight whatsoever, so very pleased with them. (see photos of my canvas bags above and in my photographs page).

I've seen images since I was a wee boy in 'Oban', and when in 'Benbecula', of Crofters' carrying peat in wicker type basket called 'creel baskets'. Similar baskets were also used in fishing communities to carry fish about, mainly by the women. 'Creel' type baskets are still used throughout the world by many indigenous peoples, including the Vikings, the Adirondack and Appalachian areas too, so I'm sure that, at some point, the Highlander's would have possibly used something similar to this along with their canvas, or leather bags to help them better carry their kit, especially if they had too much to carry on their person in their Great kilt, or in a simple bed role type of carrying system. With this in mind, I have also included a wicker basket backpack to my 'traditional' style kit, and have made some modifications to make it more user friendly. This is something that I believe they would have done back in the Jacobite and ancient highlander periods.

As I mentioned, in my kit list, with regards to trying to be as authentic as I am able, I always feel like part of the landscape around me each and every time I have gone hiking, climbing and camping in the Highlands since I started in my early twenties, but I wish to have a full kit that my Highland and Jacobite ancestors would be familiar with, and would allow me to explore further what life in the hills was more like for them.

Below are some of the reference images I found online when looking into a canvas bag and creel basket carry systems. I have also taken some information from various books I have read. (see bottom of page).

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ccec0c65579769b673dbb01f0ef1ee34--milita

8c6d983390bdea2023e8ce1b23bad281--tartan

29ee4ffd60dfd7fc3091cfa69642e502--unifor

If anyone is interested in any of the items I am wearing, anything I have made, or bought and why, please feel free to contact me and I shall try and answer any and all questions as best I can. Thank you kindly for your time.

Davey

I am very proud to have discovered and joined the 1745 Association .

In my search for information regarding my Jacobite Ancestor they have been amazing and extremely helpful.

When I was given the invitation to join it was a no-brainer for me. The members are very involved with everything connected to the Jacobite period and there isn't anything they don't know or cannot find out. If you have anything you'd like to find out about the Jacobite period, or like me, you are searching for information on an ancestor then just drop them a line. I'm sure they will help you all they can and you won't be disappointed.

1745 Association

The 1745 Association is a non-political historical association, the objectives of which are:-

To study the Jacobite period.
To record and preserve the memory of those who actively participated in, or who had connections with the '45.
To mark the appropriate historical sites.
To endeavour to safeguard the Jacobite heritage

A warm and friendly welcome is extended to all who share an interest in Jacobite history and in particular the events of the 1745 Rising and its aftermath.

https://www.1745association.org.uk/

Books On The Jacobite's

These are some of my books I've read and used in my research into the Jacobite period, clothes and history.

I hope to be adding to my collection of Jacobite reading material as there is so much more I wish to learn especially on The Battle Of Prestonpans, which sadly, I know very little about.