Saltire Scotland - The Scottish Flag Trust

01/12/2024

Thanks to Unicorn and March Heralds leading our procession on Saint Andrew's Day. And a special thank you to The Court of the Lord Lyon as a whole for sponsoring the 'Register of Arms' roundel on our new timeline (pictured).

On St Andrew's Day, Unicorn and March attended the Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian at the Annual Saltire Service at Athelstaneford.

30/11/2024

Happy St Andrew's Day. For a unique Scottish gift, sponsor the Saltire flying at the birthplace of Scotland's flag. Sponsors receive a certificate and have the flag flown in their honour. Sponsor for yourself, as a gift or in memory of someone special and help keep the Saltire flying. https://saltire.scot/sponsor

30/11/2024

15/11/2024

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉

We are thrilled to announce the new timeline roundels have been installed! These beautifully engraved roundels tell the story of how the saltire was used as a national symbol and became Scotland's national flag.

The 11 of the 12 roundels have been sponsored. The 12th which has pride of place set into the stone paving node at the end of the path is set for small donations from supporters and villagers in Athelstaneford. Donations can be made at https://saltire.scot/832

12/10/2024

This evening the Saltire at the birthplace of Scotland's national flag was lowered to half-mast following the sudden death of Scotland's former First Minister the Rt Hon Alex Salmond. Our condolences go to his wife Moira and his family.

https://saltire.scot/

21/09/2024

Very excited. The custom tiles for our new timeline roundels have now arrived. The individual elements will now be water jet cut and inserted into the 12 stone roundels. Pictured the arms of the The Court of the Lord Lyon Lord Lyon King of Arms, Edinburgh Trades Blue Blanket, the Flag of Nova Scotia and the five-shilling piece minted in the reign of Robert III. On the second slab a representation of the battle of Athelstaneford 832AD, the Seal of the Guardians of Scotland 1286, and the Douglass Standard - battle of Otterburn 1388.

06/07/2024

Thanks to the finished layer of the new paths is being installed today, ready for the timeline roundels in a few weeks time. The project is looking fantastic and we are getting very close to completion.

20/06/2024

We are closed for the next two weeks.

Work on phase 1 of the landscape project has now moved to the entrance of the churchyard and the site is closed to visitors for two weeks.

01/06/2024

We are very excited about the start of phase 1 of the new landscape project at Athelstaneford. The work is expected to take 5 weeks you can help support the project at https://saltire.scot/donate/restore

12/04/2024

The distinguished academic Sir Tom Devine announced as the Patron of the Scottish Flag Trust at the birthplace of the Saltire.

Today, Friday 12 April Prof Sir Tom Devine was at Athelstaneford the birthplace of Scotland’s national flag the Satire or Saint Andrew’s Cross as he formally took up his new role as Patron of the Scottish Flag Trust.

Sir Tom, the Sir William Fraser Professor Emeritus at Edinburgh University, (the world’s oldest professorial chair in the field) takes over the role from the late Winnie Ewing. The Scottish Flag Trust was set up in 1984 to promote the use of the Saltire, one of the oldest national flags in Europe, and is responsible for the establishment and upkeep of the Flag Heritage Centre in Athelstaneford and the national Saltire Memorial.

The announcement comes at a busy time for the charity which maintains the Saltire Memorial and Flag Heritage centre at Athelstaneford. Saint Andrew’s Day, 30 November 2025 will be the 60th anniversary of the unveiling of the Saltire Memorial in Athelstaneford Parish Church. The Trust are mid-way though fundraising for a series of major projects to transform the visitor attraction with ambitious plans for new historic interpretation and improved accessibility which will opening up the site to wider groups of visitors. The Trust is working to implement a new landscape masterplan and renovation of the Saltire Memorial. The work is being funded through crowdfunded donations at saltire.scot. Editors are kindly asked to include details of how to donate in their copy.

Commenting Professor Emeritus Sir Tom Devine said:
“Everyone in Scotland no matter their political outlook can support Scotland’s Saltire and back the restoration of this important site. With the Euro 2024 a few months away there is no better time to rally behind Scotland’s saltire, it is a symbol which all Scots can be rightly proud.

“I am honoured to become patron of the Scottish Flag Trust in succession to Dr Ewing and lend my enthusiastic support to the fundraising efforts underway now and in the future.”
Trust Chair, David Williamson said:

“The Trust is delighted to have Sir Tom as our new Patron as we continue our ambitious programme of restoration and renewal at the birthplace of Scotland’s national flag. The Scottish Flag Trust promotes the Saltire as a welcoming symbol for all Scots whether they are Scots by birth, by choice or through their family roots.”

31/03/2024

We are pleased to be open for the season on this gloriously sunny Easter 🐇🐣 saltire.scot/visit

25/01/2024

Did you know the best portrait of Burns was created by Archibald Skirving who is buried in Athelstaneford church yard at the birthplace of Scotland's national flag the saltire? Skirvin's grave is crumbling and needs urgent restoration. Help save this important monument https://saltire.scot/skirving find out more and about Archibald's famous father the author of the Jacobite ballad Hey Johnny Cope.