Jason Ubych is the Manager of Tain and District Museum and Clan Ross Centre and has been a regular contributor to the Festival from the start. He has led guided walks and delivered talks on subjects including King James IV's pilgrimages to Tain, the history of Fearn Abbey, local folklore, Tain's horrible histories, and the remarkable life of Dr Elizabeth Ross.

 

In 2026 Jason turned his attention further back in time to explore the world of the Picts. Drawing on archaeology, place-names, and local traditions, he looked beyond the carved stones to examine the people who lived in Easter Ross more than a thousand years ago. The talk explored their roots, their beliefs, the arrival of Christianity, and the changes brought by Norse and Gaelic influences, asking what became of the Picts and how much of their world still survives in the landscape and in us today?

 

In addition Jason took the audience to The Hilton Stone directly after his talk to point out the features of the stone itself and why it is a facsimile!  

During the Second World War, the Norwegian Army in exile trained in the Highlands and, for a time, was based in Edderton and Tain. Join Susan Kruse of ARCH for this exhibition and talk to discover more about this little-known part of our history and browse the fascinating display of pictures and information that goes with it.

The project came together following a community project which investigated the topic, exploring what activities the Norwegians were involved in, what remains on the ground today and finds relating to the time.

The Tarbat Discovery Centre is a wee gem of a museum, with a collection of exquisite carved Pictish stones and local history. With activities for visitors of all ages, including their Stones and Bones Pit, young visitors can dig for treasures and be archaeologists for
the day.

Check website for opening times and more information. 

Tarbat Discovery Centre | Home (tarbat-discovery.co.uk)

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Tarbatness Road, Portmahomack IV20 1YA

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Tain & District Museum is located in the grounds of the Collegiate Church on Castle Brae, Tain IV19 1AJ · It is an independent, volunteer-run museum in the North of Scotland serving the area of Easter Ross and the large Ross diaspora around the world; helping to preserve and interpret our past and provide locals and visitors alike with a high-quality experience when they visit.

When you can't visit the museum in person you can share some of what we do by visiting this website: here you can see selections of our objects, documents and photographs. We have added new, Articles and War Memorial sections together with a new Clan Ross section, where you can explore the history of Clan Ross using a Timeline linked to our objects, images and articles.

 

Tain & District Museum and Clan Ross Centre

The Seaboard Villages are the home for not one but two Pictish Stones - The Shandwick Stone and The Hilton of Cadboll Stone. 
A replica of the Hilton of Cadboll Stone - carved by Barry Grove - stands proud in Hilton, with the original base at home in the John Ross Centre (pictured) which is managed by the Seaboard Centre.  The Shandwick Stone sits resplendent encased in glass, in a magnificent location overlooking the sea near Shandwick. 
The Seaboard Villages are also home to the sculpture trail which highlights Fishing, Folklore, Faith, Four Corners and Fortitude.  Check out the famous Mermaid of the North and grab a bite to eat at the Seaboard Centre, East Street, Balintore, IV20 1UA.

Centre Open Tuesday - Friday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

​Nigg Old Church is a fine example of a Scottish parish church and - since it houses a magnificent Pictish stone of the late eighth century, carved with unique Pictish symbols and Christian imagery - it is likely that it stands on what has been a place of Christian worship for at least 1200 years.
It has, to this day, an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. The Church lies on the southwest approach to the village of Nigg, in the county of Ross & Cromarty.
Approximately 35 miles drive north of Inverness, it can also be reached using the car ferry which runs from Cromarty in the summer months.

The church is opened daily from 10am to 5pm by a wonderful group of volunteers from  1 April to 31 October. 

 Read more here... Nigg Old Church | Home (niggoldtrust.org.uk)

The Highland Pictish Trail is a trail that dates back more than 25 years and has recently been extended to include 32 of the area’s most impressive and accessible Pictish sites. These sites include carved stones set in superb scenery, museums and visitor centres where you can see impressive and thought-provoking carved stones and Pictish objects, and the mighty hill fort of Craig Phadrig (on the outskirts of Inverness) with its amazing views over the Beauly Firth and towards the Great Glen. 

Highland Pictish Trail - Highland Pictish Trail

The St Duthac Book and Arts Festival proudly takes its name from the Patron Saint of Tain.  St Duthac, or Duthus, or Duthak, lived from 1000 to 1065. and was an important figure in the Celtic Church. 

A chapel was built in his honour and a sanctuary established at Tain in the thirteenth century, and was ministered by the Norbertine canons of Fearn Abbey. A century later, this sanctuary was notably breached by English supporters who captured Robert the Bruce's wife, daughter and sisters sheltering in the chapel. The chapel was burnt later in political violence between regional power groups, namely the Clan MacKay and the Clan Ross. The ruins of the chapel still exist as a centrepiece of St Duthus Old Burial Ground on the shores of the Dornoch Firth.  (source Saint Duthac - Wikipedia - 7/2/2023)