1 April: Gowk Day, the traditional Scottish equivalent to April Fools’ Day. The “Gowk” or cuckoo is a symbol of the fool, and traditionally, people were sent on “sleeveless errands” to mock their gullibility. Consequently, this day remains a lighthearted but ancient part of the Scottish seasonal cycle.
4 April 1406: King Robert III dies in Rothesay Castle after hearing the devastating news of his son’s capture. His son, James, was seized by the English while seeking sanctuary in France. Therefore, the young prince succeeds to the throne as James I while remaining a prisoner of Henry IV.
4 April 1850: John and Elizabeth McLeod are evicted from Badanluig during the tragic Highland Clearances. This forced removal was part of a wider pattern of displacement that cleared the glens for sheep farming. Many families like the McLeods were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
6 April 1320: The Declaration of Arbroath is signed by the Scottish barons at Arbroath Abbey. This famous letter to the Pope asserts Scotland’s right to independence and sovereignty. It remains one of the most significant documents in the history of the nation.
9 April: National Unicorn Day celebrates the Unicorn as the official National Animal of Scotland. This mythical creature has appeared on the Scottish royal coat of arms since the twelfth century. Because it represents purity and untameable strength, it was chosen as a fitting symbol for the Scottish people.
11 April 1951: The Stone of Destiny is discovered on the High Altar of Arbroath Abbey. The sacred relic had been missing for months after being taken from Westminster Abbey by Scottish students. Eventually, the authorities returned the stone to London, though its brief reappearance sparked a surge in national pride.
12 April 1746: Cumberland’s army crosses the River Spey and marches toward the Jacobite forces. This advance will culminate in the Battle of Culloden just four days later. Therefore, the crossing marks the final approach to one of Scotland’s most devastating defeats.
13th April 1662: Isobel Gowdie makes her first confession in her witch trial. Her confessions would be some of the most bizarre with confessions of curses, murders, visits to the King and Queen of Fairies and a pact with the Devil in Auldearn graveyard.
13th April 1689: Bonnie Dundee raised the Jacobite standard on Dundee Law on April 13, 1689. This event marked the beginning of the first Jacobite rising in Scotland, as he rallied support for King James VII amidst the political turmoil following the Glorious Revolution.
13 April 1719: A small Spanish force lands in Loch Duich to support a planned Jacobite invasion. They occupied Eilean Donan Castle, believing a much larger fleet was on its way to restore the Stuarts. However, the expected reinforcements never arrived, leaving the small garrison vulnerable to government attack.
16 April 1117: Earl Magnus of Orkney is betrayed and murdered by his cousin Håkon on the island of Egilsay. Magnus had arrived for peace talks, but Håkon ordered his cook to strike the fatal blow. Later canonised as St Magnus, his spirit is said to haunt the cathedral built in his honour.
16 April 1746: The Jacobite and Government armies meet at the Battle of Culloden, east of Inverness. This bloody confrontation lasted less than an hour but resulted in the total defeat of the Highland forces. Consequently, the aftermath of the battle saw the systematic destruction of the traditional clan system.
17 April 617: Saint Donan and fifty-two of his followers are murdered during a raid on the Island of Eigg. A local queen reportedly ordered the massacre while the monks were celebrating the Eucharist. This remains one of the earliest recorded instances of religious martyrdom in the Hebrides.
17 April 1882: The “Battle of the Braes” takes place on the Isle of Skye as crofters resist unfair rents. Fifty police officers attempted to serve eviction notices but were met with a hail of stones from the local community. This defiance eventually led to the Napier Commission and better rights for Highland tenants.
19 April 1567: James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, proposes marriage to Mary Queen of Scots. Although he was already married, he secured the support of several influential nobles for the match. However, Mary initially turned him down, unaware of the dark events that would soon follow.
21 April 1567: James Hepburn kidnaps Mary Queen of Scots on the edge of Edinburgh and takes her to Dunbar. Reports suggest he raped the Queen to force her hand in marriage. Under extreme duress and facing a ruined reputation, she eventually agreed to the union.
22 April 1304: King Edward I begins the siege of Stirling Castle, the last Scottish stronghold resisting his rule. He used massive siege engines, including the famous “Warwolf,” to batter the fortress walls. The garrison only surrendered three months later when their food supplies were entirely exhausted.
23rd April 1816: Patrick Sellar, the factor at the centre of the Highland Clearances, is tried for culpable homicide and arson. However, he is acquitted.
24 April 1558: Fifteen-year-old Mary Queen of Scots marries the Dauphin of France in a grand ceremony in Paris. A secret agreement accompanied the wedding, stating that Scotland would be handed over to France if Mary died without an heir. This move threatened to end Scottish independence through a diplomatic pen stroke.
