Both red (Gaelic – fiadh) and roe deer can be found on moorlands, although most people associate moors with the magnificent red deer.

These large mammals live in separate-sex herds throughout most of the year and come together during the mating season or 'rut' when the males can be heard bellowing and roaring across the moors.

Deer need to be culled in certain areas to keep population numbers down and deer stalking is an important source of revenue in some areas. People come from all over the world to pay for a days stalking on a Scottish moor.

People have been hunting deer for many centuries and have used the meat, skin, bones and antlers for many different purposes.

The meat from deer is known as venison (Gaelic – sitheann). It is very lean, and can be used in a variety of recipes.

Deer hide has traditionally been used to make jerkins (a sleeveless jacket), bags, shoes and belts, to name only a few items. The bones were used to make pins and needles while the sinews from the animal were used as thread and string.

Teeth made wonderful necklaces and the antlers became combs, tools, rakes, spears and even hammers.

In modern times, deer hair is used in fly-tying for fishing – the hair is hollow and this allows the flies to float Some of these are called 'muddlers' and they are pulled across the surface of the water to imitate drowning moths or sedge flies.

Heather (Gaelic – fraoch) has been gathered and used for centuries.

It is extremely versatile and can be used for a variety of purposes from packing for walls and thatch for roofs, to healing medicines!

Some cottages were constructed from 'heather-an-dub' walls - these were a combination of heather and clay.

Others were built with an inner and outer skin of stone and had a central core of heather divots. This provided good insulation from the cold.

Cottages, barns and even churches were thatched (Gaelic – tughadh-fraoich) with heather – these roofs could last for up to 100 years.

Divots (thin sods of earth cut by a spade) were arranged over a wooden framework and held down with pegs made from twigs of heather.

A thick fringe of heather was then arranged so that it projected out from under the lowest layer of divots, to carry rainwater away. The roof was then thatched and a line of divots was added to the apex.

 "Heather doormats were
  common in most Crofts..."

Heather ropes were crossed through each other in a net-like fashion and weighted with stones to fasten down the roof.

Heather was woven and used for baskets (Gaelic – basgaid-fraoich), ropes (Gaelic – sioman-fraoich) and even ladders.

Stalks of heather were tied into bundles and made into 'besoms' (brooms) 'squabs' (small brushes) to be used as pot scrubbers and even for sweeping chimneys! Heather doormats (Gaelic – mata-fraoich) were common in most crofts – these were made from long, thin stems woven into many patterns.

Many different types of baskets were made – all with a specific purpose in mind. These were made using long heather stems and could be carried on a persons back or used as horse panniers.

Baskets could also be hung onto walls for storage – some stored salt and were kept beside the fire to keep the salt dry. Others were made to carry wool, peat, fish and even cattle feed.

One of the main uses of heather was for fuel - the small stems of heather were found to be excellent kindling and even the burnt heather could be put to use – as a crude pen!

Dried heather was also tied in bundles and used as torches to light inside and outside the home.

Heather has often been used in the construction of roads, tracks and footpaths across moors.

 "Heather has long been     associated with the           Scottish clans..."

In Mediaeval times, parts of a sheep's fleece (otherwise thought useless) were laid and mixed with heather to form footpaths across heaths – a practice that is experiencing a revival in some parts.

In the home, heather stems have been compressed together into blocks, cut diagonally and used as floor tiles.

The same method is used now to create wonderful heather jewellery, from brooches to dirk handles!

Heather has even been used to make a bed – the longest, straightest and finest stalks of young heather were gathered, when in bloom, with as little root as possible. These were left to dry for a few hours, and then crammed together in a wooden bed frame with the flower heads facing upwards, leaning slightly towards the head.

It was supposed to be very comfortable, as well as the fragrance from the heather aiding a good nights sleep!

Heather branches were often used to make walking sticks – some reputedly as long as 6ft!

Heather has also been used as a dye (Gaelic – dath bhon fhraoch) for wool, cloth and leather and as an ingredient for traditional Scottish recipes from tea to whisky!

Heather has long been associated with the Scottish Clans. Badges, or 'Heather Taps' were worn by the Highlanders in their bonnets, situated behind the crest.

Many clans chose heather as their emblem; McAlister, MacDonell, Shaw, Farquharson, MacIntyre and Mac Donald while the MacPherson clan used white heather.