Find Your Roots—or Just Your Reason to Wear a Kilt
Maybe a DNA test sent you looking for your family tartan. Maybe you just heard bagpipes and followed the sound. Either way, you can explore Scottish heritage without crossing the Atlantic.
Scottish roots run deep across the Sandhills, from Aberdeen and Pinehurst to Laurinburg. Long before golf resorts and Highland Games, Highland Scots settled among Moore County and surrounding areas longleaf pines. Many arrived between the mid-1750s and the American Revolution, and some helped build the naval stores industry using materials from the pine forests. Their story is one chapter in a much longer local history that began with Indigenous communities. You can read more about Moore County’s history here.
Today, those connections invite you to explore historic places, meet local heritage groups and enjoy the music and celebrations that keep traditions going. The Pines Times is gathering the people, places and events to help you find your way in—whether you’re tracing an ancestor or showing up for the kilts, caber tossing and bagpipes.
Scottish ancestry optional. Curiosity encouraged.
Choose Your Scottish Adventure
Jump to the stories, places and traditions you’d like to explore.
Celebrate at the Scotland County Highland Games
Make plans for a weekend of Scottish traditions in Laurinburg! The 2026 Scotland County Highland Games take place Saturday, October 3, at the John Blue House property, 13040 X-Way Road.
Activities include Scottish athletics, piping and drumming, Highland dancing, clan and society gatherings, children’s games, sheep herding and shopping.
The celebration also includes:
Bring a portable chair and check the organizer’s website for tickets, parking and the latest schedule.
Aberdeen’s Scottish Roots
Aberdeen | Moore County
Aberdeen’s Scottish connections reach back to the eighteenth century. Scottish Highlanders settled in the area that became known as Bethesda and Blue’s Crossing before the town adopted its present name. Their story is part of the community’s early settlement, churches and development of the timber and naval stores industries.
Malcolm Blue Farm
Aberdeen | Moore County
Malcolm Blue Farm offers a local connection to the Scottish families who helped shape the Sandhills. The historic farmhouse and museum explore the Blue family, Scotland, Cape Fear Scottish settlers and the agricultural life of the surrounding community. Exhibits also connect that story to lumbering, naval stores and the railroad. The last weekend in September enjoy the Malcolm Blue Farm Festival.
Old Bethesda Presbyterian Church and Cemetery
Aberdeen | Moore County
Old Bethesda preserves an important part of Aberdeen’s Scottish Presbyterian history. Its congregation grew from early Scottish settlers, and the surviving meetinghouse dates to 1860. The church’s homecoming tradition has helped generations maintain a connection to their religious and Scottish roots.
Mill Prong House — Scottish Heritage in Hoke County
Built around 1795 by Scottish immigrant John Gilchrist Sr., Mill Prong House offers a glimpse into the lives of the Highland families who settled in southeastern North Carolina. Its history also reflects the American Indian communities and other neighbors whose stories shaped the region. Visit during a docent-led open house to explore the home and hear how families lived, worked and built community here.
Location: 3062 Edinburgh Road, Red Springs, NC
Learn more about Mill Prong House
The Moore County Historical Association helps keep the Sandhills’ Scottish stories alive. Explore the Old Scotch Graveyard near Carthage, learn about Scottish immigrant Kenneth Black and his family cemetery in Southern Pines, or visit the historic Shaw House to see a home that reflects the lives of early settlers. The association also offers books and resources for anyone curious about local history or tracing Scottish family roots. Explore the Moore County Historical Association
Old Scotch Graveyard, Carthage
Established in 1775 as a Scottish burial ground. Its history includes Captain John Martin, who came from the Isle of Skye, and his wife Marion MacLeod. 113 Scotch Burying Road
Kenneth Black Cemetery, Southern Pines
Black was a Scottish immigrant and Loyalist killed in 1781. The Moore Co Association worked with descendants to restore the family cemetery and its 2024 dedication across the street from Target.
Shaw House, Southern Pines
The circa 1820s house as reflecting the sturdy, simple style of Scottish families who settled the Sandhills. 110 W. Morganton Road.
Golf may feel right at home among our longleaf pines, but some of its strongest roots reach back to Scotland. Scottish golf course designer Donald Ross grew up in Dornoch before bringing his knowledge of the game to Pinehurst, where he designed courses that helped shape the area’s golfing identity. Today, a round in the Sandhills is one more way to experience a Scottish connection woven into the place we call home.
Donald Ross and Pinehurst’s Scottish Golf Connections
Pinehurst | Moore County
Scottish heritage is also woven into the landscape of local golf. Donald Ross brought lessons learned in Dornoch, Scotland, to his work at Pinehurst. His former home, Dornoch Cottage, carries the name of his Scottish hometown and remains another connection between the two communities.
Golf belongs in this story, too. Ross brought his experience growing up in Dornoch to Pinehurst, and Dornoch Cottage takes its name from his Scottish hometown.
Discover Donald Ross’s story. Contact Pinehurst
Few sounds say “Scotland” quite like bagpipes. For generations, pipers have brought people together at celebrations, ceremonies and moments of remembrance. Here in the Sandhills, their music connects today’s gatherings with the traditions Scottish families carried to North Carolina—and when you hear the pipes in the distance, you know something special is happening.
Local bagpipers and pipe bands
Peter McArthur, who identifies himself as Pinehurst Resort’s piper, and Cross Creek Pipes and Drums in Fayetteville.
Curious about the story behind your family name? Start with what you know—names, dates, old photographs and family stories—then explore local church records, cemeteries and historical societies. You might find a connection to the Highland families who settled in the Sandhills, or simply discover a story you never knew to ask about.
Scottish Heritage USA — Pinehurst
Scottish Heritage USA has called Pinehurst home while connecting people across North America with Scotland’s history and traditions. Founded in 1965, the nonprofit supports cultural events and preservation projects, and offers scholarships for young people to study piping, drumming, fiddling and Highland dance. You don’t need Scottish ancestry to join in—just an interest in the music, stories and traditions.
Flora MacDonald: A Scottish Story Close to Home
Flora MacDonald is famous in Scotland for helping Bonnie Prince Charlie escape after the failed Jacobite uprising of 1745. What makes her story especially interesting here? She and her husband later settled near Cheeks Creek in what is now Montgomery County. During the American Revolution, her family supported the British Crown, placing her on the other side of another rebellion. Her time in North Carolina was brief, but her story has remained part of the region’s Scottish heritage. Read More
Flora MacDonald historical marker, near Mount Gilead
This marker points toward the Cheeks Creek area where she and her family lived. The exact location of their home is uncertain. More information.
Flora MacDonald College, Red Springs
The former women’s college was named in her honor. Its historic main building is a visible reminder of how strongly local communities remembered her. Check access before visiting the campus. More Information.
Campbelton historical marker, Fayetteville
Learn about the Highland Scots who gathered there during the Revolution, including men connected to her husband’s Loyalist campaign. More Information,
Maybe it was your ancestry results that sparked your interest in Scotland. Or maybe it was a picture of a shaggy Highland cow with spectacular bangs. We understand.
With their long coats, sweeping horns, and unmistakable fringes, Highland cattle—often affectionately called “Heilan coos”—bring a little extra charm to the Scottish countryside. Originally from Scotland’s Highlands and western islands, this hardy breed is easily recognized by its wonderfully woolly appearance.
For our guide, we’re also keeping an eye out for local farms and events offering opportunities to meet Highland cattle. Because a day of Scottish discovery sounds even better with bagpipes, a little tartan, and a very photogenic cow.
Meet the Cows at Highfalls Highlands
You’ve admired the tartans. You’ve listened to the bagpipes. Now, about those fluffy cows…
Highfalls Highlands, near Highfalls in Bennett, brings a little Scottish charm close to home with opportunities to meet Highland cattle. Those shaggy coats and fabulous fringes are even better in person!
The farm offers animal encounters, photo sessions, seasonal events, and private celebrations. Its “Meet the Cows—Capture the Moment” experience includes time to brush and feed the Highland cows and take your own photos. Whether you’re exploring your Scottish roots or simply here for the coos, this is a fun addition to your local adventures.
Location: 180 Phillips Road, Bennett, NC
Plan your visit: Check available experiences, dates, and reservation requirements before heading out.
Scottish settlers helped shape the Sandhills’ churches, especially its Presbyterian congregations. These churches became places to worship, gather and keep family traditions alive, and their influence can still be seen in the communities they helped build.
Old Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church
Scottish Roots & Tartan Traditions
Founded by Scottish Highlanders in 1797, Old Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church near Laurinburg offers a lasting connection to the region’s Scottish roots. Its annual Kirking of the Tartans, typically held on the first Sunday in October, celebrates that heritage through faith and tradition. It’s a meaningful addition to your exploration of Scotland’s influence here in the Sandhills.
Learn more about Old Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church.
Barbecue Presbyterian Church
Scottish Roots in Harnett County
Its name might make you think of lunch, but Barbecue Presbyterian Church has a rich Scottish story to tell. Founded by Scottish Highlanders in 1757 and formally organized in 1758, the church takes its name from nearby Barbecue Creek. Scottish heroine Flora MacDonald and her husband were members before the American Revolution, giving this historic congregation a remarkable connection to Scotland’s past.
Explore the history of Barbecue Church.
Buffalo Presbyterian Church
Scottish Roots in Sanford
Long before Sanford became the city we know today, Scottish settlers established Buffalo Presbyterian Church in 1797. Lee County’s oldest Presbyterian church once held services in English in the morning and Gaelic in the afternoon, keeping the language of its Scottish founders alive in their new home.The current sanctuary, built in 1879 and dedicated in 1880, is the fourth church building on the original site. With eight other Presbyterian churches established through its congregation, Buffalo’s influence reaches well beyond its historic walls. It’s a meaningful connection to the Scottish families who helped shape this part of North Carolina. Read More.
Mount Carmel Presbyterian Church & Cemetery — A Scottish Story in Norman
Mount Carmel began as a place of worship for Highland Scottish families along the Richmond–Montgomery county line. Church tradition credits Scottish minister John Bethune with organizing the congregation in the 1770s and preaching to local settlers in Gaelic. The simple wooden church built around 1830 still stands beside a newer sanctuary, with a historic cemetery that holds generations of local stories. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Mount Carmel offers a connection to the families, faith and language that shaped this part of the Sandhills.
Location: 1367 Clayton Carriker Road, Norman, NC
Read more about Mount Carmel’s history.
A taste of Scotland, right here in the Pines! Join Scottish Heritage USA at the Fair Barn in Pinehurst on November 5, 2026, for Flavors of Scotland, featuring Scottish fare, whisky, wine, and a ceilidh celebrating Scottish culture and tradition.
The Moore County Historical Association has an asset that is older than the United States. That's correct! The Old Scotch Graveyard is 251 years-old, having been established in …
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