What would the kilted highlander take?

[Woodsheal]

Assuming you're concentrating on the late 1600's-early 1700's, as previously mentioned:
-you need more than just a shirt of linen or cotton. Add a wool overshirt, or a wool waistcoat or short jacket
-don't forget some sort of canteen or leather water bottle
-here's a lightweight, period-type fry pan with folding handle
-haversack, used by civilians as well as military
-the stocking-worn sgian dubh doesn't appear until the 19th century. Your highlander would carry a small sgian, for skinning game and such, in an armpit sheath, as a side knife on his dirk scabbard, or in his jacket pocket or sporran.

-unless you're used to long hours in 'em, I'd go with hard-soled shoes instead of cuarans ("moccasins")
-the wider, knitted, period bonnets can't be beat. Worn tugged straight forward (not cocked to the side in the modern manner), they will keep the sun and rain out of your face

-your basket-hilt sword can be carried quite comfortably if you hike it up onto your lower back by cinching up your baldric (sword belt) to one of the higher belt holes.
-I'd be carrying my sweet, lightweight (6.5 lbs) flintlock fowling-piece, but that's just me...

[Sir William]

Hey Thunder
I have never heard of the metal plate being carried by highlanders, but it makes perfect sense!!

Might I suggest just cooking your oatcakes on a flat rock? On my 18th century treks (but not in a kilt yet) I've cooked corncakes this way. We usually ring our fire with stones and they get hot enough to cook on. Some grease from a small piece of fat (or bacon) keeps them from sticking.

Another option is to just make oatmeal (gruel) in your cup. After eating the oatmeal, put a bit of water in your cup and clean up what left with your fingers and then drink it down. Waste not, want not.

I've slept on the ground several times using nothing more than a blanket - no ground cloth. Except for the usual mess of bugs, I've not had any problems with wildlife (though I did have an interesting near-encounter with a sidewinder once - he slithered by a few feet from where I was sleeping). I will admit that I would have preferred making a bed from evergreen boughs but the laws for most state and federal forests, which are pretty much my only option, prohibit that practice. You do run the risk of getting wet if it rains, but that is all part of the experience.

Great thread. I've been thinking of doing a trek in highland kit myself. Woodsheal and Thunderbolt have both made some excellent suggestions. I would also recommend a water purification unit of some kind (I keep my in a linen bag when not in use).

[Thunderbolt]

I'm still collecting all the items I need. One of the things I'm building are sgians dubh. I have a couple of knife blanks and some blackwood (of course, blackwood probably wasn't used, but it'd what I have laying around!). Although I would probably need a dirk of some sort, too.

I have my eye on the damascus dirk and sgian offered at a reasonable price. I can get them a blanks also.

One question I haven't been able to find an answer to just yet is the kilt weight. As in, was it 20oz, or lighter? Heavier? I have heard of "hard" wool, but I'm not sure about this all yet. I have a bunch of 10oz stuff, but I think it might be too light.

T.

[Donnie]

You're stirrin me blood boys, I've backpacked a bit in the mountains here, but, this thread is stirring my need to test my skills. I may have to start collecting a kit also.

[Highlander31]

Wow those were some tough dudes.

You are absolutely correct.

I was fortunate as a boy my great aunt lived next door and made sure I heard the family history (I am a MacGregor.) Decades later I read W.H. Murray's book Rob Roy MacGregor and found confirmation of stories my great aunt had passed on to me years before.

Clan and personal honor were stressed to all children. The boys started sword training with wooden swords at 6 years old. They practiced 2 to 3 hours a day, every day until they turned 16, at which time they were given their basket hilt sword. Children were bare foot until they were 11 or 12 years old, then they were allowed to wear the deerskin moccasins. The boys were also required to learn the mountains and glens around them. A Highlander on foot, could cover 30 miles a day (at altitude) during the summer and half that distance during the winter. The girls worked with their mothers. During the summers, the women worked in the fields side-by-side with the men. All Highlanders were required to be able to read (so as to be able to read the bible.)

My parents carried on some of those traditions. I was taught the skills needed to survive in the outdoors, and was able to camp by myself by the time I was 12 years old (you couldn't do that today,) and started Judo training at the age of 10. The word honor was not a punchline to my parents, and they made sure I understood what it meant to one's outlook on life. My wife and I have done the same with our children.

The Highlanders while considered to be the hillbillies of their day, were a tough group who passed on to society a set of personal standards which are still relevant today.

[Detroitpete]

In W.H. Murray's book "Rob Roy MacGregor" I seem to recall him mentioning filling their sporrans with oats. One handful of oats, mixed with either blood (from cattle or sheep) or water.. was enough food for 1 day for the common highlander.

Hmm...Rob Roy MacGregor...now would that be MacLaren cattle and sheep blood?????? :-)

JUST a silly joke.

[Sir William]

I'm a member of a living history group that portrays the Jacobite forces of Prince Charlie in 1745-46. Two of our members wrote papers on what provisions were provided to the Jacobite Army in 1745 which may be of some interest to the topic under discussion here.

One of the authors mentions that "ground oats mixed with water while on the march was a reflection of ancient usage." Also, that "gastric heartburn caused by undercooked oatmeal was a widespread complaint by the common folk" in the 1730s. Their diet was also supplemented by small herds of cattle, sheep and goats (and I would assume the occasional deer).

However, the Clanmen in Army on the march received oats, beef and bread, and occasionally cheese. He mentions that the army made oat bannocks on flat rocks and cooked beef on green wood spits. Bread was purchased from local bakers.

However, in a list of food and cooking equipment for the Appin Regiment in Edinburgh in 1745, the Clansmen were provided with beef, oats or meal, bread, cheese and butter, kale and onions, and Ale. For cooking, pots and kettles (for cooking and boiling) were listed, as were "Girdles and Bannock Spades for ye Oaten Cakes." General Murray instructed that linen haversacks be made so the men could carry a peck of oatmeal (a peck of meal weighing 9 pounds). I'm not sure a haversack would hold 9 pounds of meal (and it would certainly be a pain to carry), but that is what Murray wrote in a letter to his brother, the Duke of Atholl, on 7 September 1745 from Perth.

The officers, on the other hand, ate much better - much as any gentleman in England or France would eat and beef, mutton, veal, pork, and poultry were all listed, both fresh and cured/smoked, include tongue and sausage. Also listed were fish, eggs, cheese, butter, bread, fruits and vegetables, and various spirits (brandy, ale, rum, wine, etc)

Granted, this is for an army, not an individual Highlander, but it does provide some insight into what foods were available.

I've read elsewhere, but can't put my finger on it, that the Highlander would tuck a small bag of oatmeal in his plaid or sporran, or might even take a small bag of provisions slung over his shoulder, when on the move.

Speaking only for myself, I would probably take little more than a bag of oatmeal and perhaps a bit of cheese for my provisions on a Highlander-themed trek. It wouldn't be eating high on the hog, but it would be historically correct. The oatmeal could either be made into porridge (even cold if necessary) or oatcakes.

[Thunderbolt]

I'm wondering, what kind of edible plants and such they might have used? I know there's a lot of berrys that may have been eaten, as well as used for dyes. I would guess that they would be used more as an occasional treat rather than a staple, although I guess one could dry them by the hearth or sun, if it were out long enough!

T.

[Sionnachdubh]

If you are in the field and do not wish to be caught by lighting a fire (sorry if anyone has already posted this but I am in a rush) You made your Drammach( oatmeal and cold burn water or blood sometimes). Not to tasty but it kept skin and bones together!

I have always heard of flasks being carrried although contents varied (probably whisky,whisky, and more whisky) I would imagine they would have been made of boiled leather somehow. I have even herad of stone drinking vessels? Your Dirk of course maybe other weapons...... I can't think of much else in the way of necessity. Maybe a fishing rod or a walking cane of some kind or your pipes (that is what I'd bring, I never leave home without them) In tose days before gortex the pipes had to be played and played often (almost daily) to keep the seasoning and the reeds in good order.

Hope this answers your question!