District
Holyrood Tartans Page
The Holyrood Tartan was created as an adaptation of the Royal Stewart. Many of the newer tartans took their inspiration from this popular sett, usually with some royal significance, and the Holyrood was was similarly inspired to commemorate the Silver Jubilee in 1977. This tartan, with its hues of blue, sage, silver and white has remained popular and took on a new relevance when the first Scottish Parliament for 300 years was based at Holyrood.
Holyrood Tartans
3 variationsEach tartan can have multiple variations, the most common of which are Ancient, Modern, Weathered, Hunting and Dress
About tartan variations
- Ancient
- Modern
- Weathered
- Hunting
- Dress
Ancient Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans, mossy greens and sky blues, a more orangey red and some would say showing off the pattern to much greater effect as as the contrasts are much brighter than the Modern tartans. The pattern or sett remains the same across all variations of a single tartan, and only the shades or tones vary.
Helpful Advice
Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Modern Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans. Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Helpful Advice
The Modern tartans are often the more subtle combinations such as the classic Black Watch Modern
Weathered Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer, more earthy colours typical of the Weathered tartans, reminiscent of bolder colours subjected to wind, rain and sunshine producing beautiful faded tones, olive greens and browns, and very light blues with reds that are more pink than red.
Helpful Advice
Some mills refer to the Weathered tartans as Muted.
Hunting Tartan
The Hunting Tartans are the camouflage tartans and some clans don't have these variations because they are already predominantly green or brown and don't need amendment to blend in with nature's colours. The Black Watch or Gunn tartans are examples of these, whereas a tartan such as the Fraser is predominantly red and would not provide much cover for men out hunting.
Helpful Advice
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
Dress Tartan
The Dress Tartans were designed as the name suggests for celebrations and highland dance. The sett or pattern of the tartan remains the same and the main colour is changed to white, or extra white is added to the pattern to give it a brighter, more "fancy" appearance. The Scots do like to bend the rules and occasionally instead of white thread, yellow is used and this is where the rather wild MacLeod Dress Modern and Barclay Dress Modern came from.
Helpful Advice
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
From the start
Holyrood Tartan Origins & History
Explore the history
How it all started
Territories
Holyrood is an area in Edinburgh, and this is where the Palace of Holyrood is located. The area also holds the Scottish Parliament Building, Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Park and Holyrood Abbey, which is where the area claimed their name from. An area steeped in history and culture.
Clan Chief
The Holyrood Tartan is a district tartan and therefore does not have a Clan Chief.
Holyrood Palace
The Palace of Holyrood is the Monarch's official residence in Edinburgh and the home of Scottish royal history. Standing at the end of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and at the foot of Aurhtur's seat you can visit the palace throughout the year and brush up on your knowledge of Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie along with many other well-known Scottish historic figures.
Holyrood Tartan
The Holyrood Tartan was created as an adaptation of the Royal Stewart. Many of the newer tartans took their inspiration from this popular sett, usually with some royal significance, and the Holyrood was was similarly inspired to commemorate the Silver Jubilee in 1977. This tartan, with its hues of blue, sage, silver and white has remained popular and took on a new relevance when the first Scottish Parliament for 300 years was based at Holyrood.
Doddie's Royal Tartan Suit
Our favourite former Scotland rugby international Doddie Weir attended the 2019 Royal Investiture held at Holyrood Palace on the 2nd July to collect his OBE for services to Rugby, to Motor Neurone Disease research and to the community in the Scottish Borders. This royal occasion of course called for a new tartan suit, adding to Doddie's tartan filled wardrobe. "This is the Holyrood Diamond Jubilee Tartan, so very special, very unique, very themed as well and first time on today... Every time I put this tartan on I'll have a lot of lovely memories.''Taigh an Ròid is gaelic for Holyrood.
