Television star Tony Robinson is encouraging people to discover Scotland’s archaeological past.
Robinson, best known for his role as Baldrick in Blackadder, travelled by boat from South Queensferry to Inchcolm Island to launch the new VisitScotland Archaeological Treasure Trail.
The Channel 4 Time Team presenter told The Courier, “I was approached by VisitScotland to do this and it coincided with something that I had wanted to do for a long time in that a country the size of Scotland you could link archaeological sites together so that you could create a holiday where you were going to the good places.
“I was in Aberdeenshire and it is so vast, so I asked myself how do you go from A to B and find out what places are all about.
“It’s easier in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London as things are close together.”
He added, “Also, if you are after a bit of history you don’t have to do it remotely.
“When you’re somewhere like the Orkneys and Shetlands you don’t necessarily know where to go.
“It struck me that I could work my way around one of these archaeological treasure trails.”
The archaeological treasure trails will include Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides.
The campaign will also have details about Perthshire Archaeology Month and information on Inchcolm and Mull.Archaeological historyRobinson said he “loves” Scotland and revealed his fondness of the country dates to his adolescent years.
He said, “When I was 16 years old we visited the Isle of Arran and I fell in love with a girl.
“She had a boyfriend in Paisley but was happy going around with me holding hands.
“I returned home a very moody adolescent and still remember that holiday for those reasons.”
He feels Scotland has a “rich” archaeological history that is available to all.
Robinson said, “There are vast areas of Scotland that are less fertile than some in the UK, but wherever you go you are likely to have an amazing backdrop such as a loch or seascape.”
He added that there are parts of England he has been longing to visit for archaeological reasons, but “when you get there you find that some artisans have been digging it up for the past 400 years.”
Robinson’s passion in archaeology came from his interest in history, and he feels more parents should encourage their children to explore the past.
He said, “My interest really arose through my father, who serviced Spitfires and Hurricanes during the second world war.
“When I was growing up I would hear these stories of that period and it may have been 20-30 years ago but it began to give me an interest of that time.
“It would be great if children got a sense of part of the historical past-it should be encouraged.”
The archaeological treasure trail is available to view by visiting www.visitscotland.com/perfect until the autumn.