Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20241111 | Scotland has been blessed with some of the most exciting of gemstones, but knowing where to find them is the secret. The discovery of one book made all the difference to Kenneth Steven's hunting, as 'Scottish Gem Stones' by W J McCallien led him to the discovery of the riches to be found on Scotland's shores. Presenter Kenneth Steven Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland Production Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. Scotland has been blessed with some of the most exciting of gemstones, but knowing where to find them is the secret. The discovery of one book made all the difference to Kenneth Steven's hunting. The Mineraology of. Scotland by Matthew Heddle, the great 19th-century collector of Scottish gemstones, led him to the discovery of the riches of Scotland's stones. | ||
| 01 | Gold | 20241118 | Scotland has been blessed with some of the most exciting of gemstones, but knowing where to find them is the secret. A rare edition of 'Scottish Gem Stones' by W J McCallien led Kenneth to the discovery of the riches to be found on Scotland's mountains and shores. In the first episode, Kenneth tells the story of Scotland's short-lived gold rush in 1869, when 600 gold miners made their way to Sutherland in the hope of a major find. Kenneth searches for the elusive treasure himself, and reflects on his experiences in poetry. Presenter Kenneth Steven Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland Production Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. Scotland has been blessed with some of the most exciting of gemstones, but knowing where to find them is the secret. The discovery of one book made all the difference to Kenneth Steven's hunting, as 'Scottish Gem Stones' by W J McCallien led him to the discovery of the riches to be found on Scotland's shores. | |
| 01 | Gold | 20241118 | 20260316 (R3) |  Scotland has been blessed with some of the most exciting of gemstones, but knowing where to find them is the secret. A rare edition of 'Scottish Gem Stones' by W J McCallien led Kenneth to the discovery of the riches to be found on Scotland's mountains and shores. In the first episode, Kenneth tells the story of Scotland's short-lived gold rush in 1869, when 600 gold miners made their way to Sutherland in the hope of a major find. Kenneth searches for the elusive treasure himself, and reflects on his experiences in poetry. Presenter Kenneth Steven Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland Production Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond. |
| 02 | 20241112 | The mineralogist Matthew Heddle, the great 19th-century collector of Scottish gemstones, was particularly fond of agates. The counties of Angus and Fife have fabulous banded agates on the shores and in the fields, but finding them is about more than just luck. Kenneth Steven goes in search of the precious stones and reflects on his finds in poetry. Presenter Kenneth Steven Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland production Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. | ||
| 02 | Agate | 20241119 | Scotland has been blessed with some of the most exciting of gemstones, but knowing where to find them is the secret. A rare edition of 'Scottish Gem Stones' by W J McCallien led Kenneth to the discovery of the riches to be found on Scotland's mountains and shores. The mineralogist Matthew Heddle, the great 19th century collector of Scottish gemstones. was particularly fond of agates. The wonderful thing about banded agate is that each one is unique; you'll never know from looking at the outside what the heart of it may reveal. The counties of Angus and Fife have fabulous banded agates on the shores and in the fields, but finding them is about more than just luck. Kenneth Steven goes in search of the precious stones and reflects on his finds in poetry. Presenter Kenneth Steven Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland production Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond. Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with poetry. Scotland has some of the most exciting gemstones, but knowing where to find them is the secret. The mineralogist Matthew Heddle, the great 19th-century collector of Scottish gemstones, was particularly fond of agates. The counties of Angus and Fife have fabulous banded agates on the shores and in the fields, but finding them is about more than just luck. Kenneth Steven goes in search of the precious stones and reflects on his finds in poetry. | |
| 02 | Agate | 20241119 | 20260317 (R3) | Scotland has been blessed with some of the most exciting of gemstones, but knowing where to find them is the secret. A rare edition of 'Scottish Gem Stones' by W J McCallien led Kenneth to the discovery of the riches to be found on Scotland's mountains and shores. The mineralogist Matthew Heddle, the great 19th century collector of Scottish gemstones. was particularly fond of agates. The wonderful thing about banded agate is that each one is unique; you'll never know from looking at the outside what the heart of it may reveal. The counties of Angus and Fife have fabulous banded agates on the shores and in the fields, but finding them is about more than just luck. Kenneth Steven goes in search of the precious stones and reflects on his finds in poetry. Presenter Kenneth Steven Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland production Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond. Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with poetry. Scotland has some of the most exciting gemstones, but knowing where to find them is the secret. |
| 03 | 20241113 | The great Victorian collector of minerals Matthew Heddle mentions two places in particular for finding of aquamarine in Scotland: one, the island of Arran, and the other, a mountain in the Cairngorms. But locating them is another story. Kenneth Steven explores the history of this semi-precious stone and reflects in poetry on his finds. Presenter Kenneth Steven Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland production Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. | ||
| 03 | Aquamarine | 20241120 | The great Victorian collector of minerals Matthew Heddle mentions two places in particular for the finding of aquamarine in Scotland, one the island of Arran and the other a mountain in the Cairngorms. But locating these gems is another story. The Cairngorm mountains are a kind of fortress. There is nowhere else like them in Scotland. You enter their world from one side or another and thereafter are inside them until you withdraw once more. You become aware of other noises than the ones that dominate our days: you hear streams, the breeze lifting the pine trees, the wind in the high hills once you have climbed into them. It's an elemental place: pure and to all intents and purposes undamaged, undisturbed. Kenneth Steven explores the history of this semi-precious stone and reflects in poetry on his finds. Presenter Kenneth Steven Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland production Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond. Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. In this Essay he searches for the elusive blue of aquamarine. The great Victorian collector of minerals Matthew Heddle mentions two places in particular for finding of aquamarine in Scotland: one, the island of Arran, and the other, a mountain in the Cairngorms. But locating them is another story. Kenneth Steven explores the history of this semi-precious stone and reflects in poetry on his finds. | |
| 03 | Aquamarine | 20241120 | 20260318 (R3) | The great Victorian collector of minerals Matthew Heddle mentions two places in particular for the finding of aquamarine in Scotland, one the island of Arran and the other a mountain in the Cairngorms. But locating these gems is another story. The Cairngorm mountains are a kind of fortress. There is nowhere else like them in Scotland. You enter their world from one side or another and thereafter are inside them until you withdraw once more. You become aware of other noises than the ones that dominate our days: you hear streams, the breeze lifting the pine trees, the wind in the high hills once you have climbed into them. It's an elemental place: pure and to all intents and purposes undamaged, undisturbed. Kenneth Steven explores the history of this semi-precious stone and reflects in poetry on his finds. Presenter Kenneth Steven Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland production Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond. Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. In this Essay he searches for the elusive blue of aquamarine. |
| 04 | 20241114 | Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. | ||
| 04 | Serpentine | 20241121 | The first stone Kenneth Steven began collecting in childhood was serpentine from the beaches of the island of Iona. Here he tells the story of the search for the finest gems. It was Kenneth's mother who'd taught him to search for serpentine. She explained to him the difference between these waxy, much softer pebbles and stones made of marble. Those are duller; they don't polish the same, and once out of water they have a drabness about them. You can tell a piece of serpentine because as soon as it's absorbed the oils from your hand it's polished, glimmering. Presenter Kenneth Steven Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland production Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond. Kenneth Steven explores the history of this semi-precious stone and reflects in poetry on his finds. The first stone he found was serpentine from the beaches of the island of Iona. | |
| 04 | Serpentine | 20241121 | 20260319 (R3) | The first stone Kenneth Steven began collecting in childhood was serpentine from the beaches of the island of Iona. Here he tells the story of the search for the finest gems. It was Kenneth's mother who'd taught him to search for serpentine. She explained to him the difference between these waxy, much softer pebbles and stones made of marble. Those are duller; they don't polish the same, and once out of water they have a drabness about them. You can tell a piece of serpentine because as soon as it's absorbed the oils from your hand it's polished, glimmering. Presenter Kenneth Steven Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland production Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond. Kenneth Steven explores the history of this semi-precious stone and reflects in poetry on his finds. The first stone he found was serpentine from the beaches of the island of Iona. |
| 05 | Amber | 20241122 | 20260320 (R3) | Scotland has been blessed with some of the most exciting of gemstones, but knowing where to find them is the secret. Kenneth Steven was given a piece of amber when he was a child, found supposedly on Iona. This is the story of amber and where it actually comes from. Kenneth tells the story of amber in Scotland and in Ireland. Amber necklaces from Ireland are somewhere in the region of three thousand years old. Those necklaces are usually found in bogland hoards and in caves. Perhaps they were kept there for safety, or as offerings to the river or to water deities. It's surely a sign of the value that was ascribed to them that these amber relics are most often found close to gold. This would suggest that amber was a status symbol for the wealthy and powerful. Presenter Kenneth Steven Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland production Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond. Scotland has been blessed with the most exciting of gemstones, but knowing where to find them is the secret. Kenneth Steven combines Scottish geological history with his poetry. |
| 05 LAST | 20241115 | Scotland has been blessed with some of the most exciting of gemstones, but knowing where to find them is the secret. Kenneth Steven was given a piece of amber when he was a child, found supposedly on Iona. This is the story of amber and where it actually comes from. Presenter Kenneth Steven Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland production Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. Scotland has been blessed with the most exciting of gemstones, but knowing where to find them is the secret. Kenneth Steven combines Scottish geological history with his poetry. | ||
| 05 LAST | Amber | 20241122 | Scotland has been blessed with some of the most exciting of gemstones, but knowing where to find them is the secret. Kenneth Steven was given a piece of amber when he was a child, found supposedly on Iona. This is the story of amber and where it actually comes from. Presenter Kenneth Steven Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland production Kenneth Steven combines Scottish landscape and geological history with his own poetry. Scotland has been blessed with the most exciting of gemstones, but knowing where to find them is the secret. Kenneth Steven combines Scottish geological history with his poetry. Kenneth tells the story of amber in Scotland and in Ireland. Amber necklaces from Ireland are somewhere in the region of three thousand years old. Those necklaces are usually found in bogland hoards and in caves. Perhaps they were kept there for safety, or as offerings to the river or to water deities. It's surely a sign of the value that was ascribed to them that these amber relics are most often found close to gold. This would suggest that amber was a status symbol for the wealthy and powerful. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond. |