Rowan Tree Ltd - Why "Rowan Tree"?

Why "Rowan Tree"?

We chose "Rowan Tree" for the name and symbol of our company to reflect the significance of these trees in the landscape and culture of the Highlands past and present.

Rowan trees or "mountain ashes" (sorbus aucuparia) have traditionally been associated in our area with peace, sanctuary, privacy and beauty, and, for centuries, the rowan - also known as the tree of life - has been planted at the doors of houses in the Highlands to give protection against evil. To this day, as you travel around, you will see rowan trees growing beside long-deserted crofts, and they are often the most visible sign that a family once lived there. It is still traditional for rowan trees to be planted in the gardens of houses to ward off bad luck.

In the past, women often wore necklaces of rowan berries threaded on red thread to protect themselves. Livestock were not forgotten either - rowan twigs were placed over the entrance to the byre (stable). The protection offered by the rowan is said to be due to its deep red berries as red is reputedly the best colour for protection against evil.

It is thought that Highland culture's long affinity with the rowan dates back to Celtic or druidic times - the old name for the tree is luis, "L" being the second letter of the druidical alphabet. The rowan also appears in the Celtic tree calendar in which each of the 13 lunar months was represented by a tree with magical properties.

Rowans have long been celebrated in poetry, song and writing - in Shakespeare's "Macbeth", and more recently in a short story "The Boy and the Rowan Tree" by the acclaimed Scottish writer Iain Chrichton Smith.

Nowadays, rowans abound in Highland native woodlands as well as being a favourite ornamental tree for gardens and parks. They can be seen at their best - resplendent with clusters of deep red berries - in the Autumn. The berries can be made into delicious jellies which are particularly good with savoury dishes but also delicious on Highland scones and pancakes!

For our company, the rowan tree is rooted not only in the current-day landscape of the Highlands but in the heritage and culture of our past. We invite you to join us in Rowan Tree Ltd for a holiday which will pull together the strands of the past and present and give you a relaxing and inspiring break in our beautiful and historic region.