Walking Sticks and Hiking Staves for Kilted Gents! Basics of the Cromach, Cogach & Shillelagh
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- Опубліковано 26 лип 2021
- The traditional Scottish walking staff is called a Cromach (CROMach, with the `O' as in song)
Its most famous attribute is the curved top like on a shepherd's crook and indeed this is for a reason. This versatile stick was used by stockmen and shepherds in Scotland for centuries, though it seems to be most documented in the 19th century. This may be due to the heavy influx of sheep into the Highlands at this time.
The cromach was also very popular for hiking across the hills and glens, whether for leisure, stalking deer or simply to get home. This makes perfect sense considering how steep, hilly and rocky the terrain of the Highlands is, not to mention the need to sometimes cross running water on foot.
The cromach steadily gained popularity into the 20th century as an accessory for Highland Dress. Individual cromach staves are now exceedingly beautiful works of art.
You will regularly see them at Highland Games in the hands of event officials (stewards), judges, clan chiefs and chieftains, etc.
However, use of the cromach is not limited to those in authority. It is not a badge of office or rank and anyone may enjoy one.
A related though less well known Scottish walking stick is the humbler Cogach (Gaelic for 'warstick'). This was a simple staff, not unlike the English quarterstaff though generally a bit shorter. When poor, common Highlanders were called to battle, it was a simple matter to make a cogach from whatever hardwood could be found.
Which style of walking staff is right for you? Well, it's a personal choice. You could say that the cromach is a bit more genteel and sophisticated - it certainly looks beautiful with a tweed Argyll and kilt! The cogach may be a better choice for a historical interpretation - or as a hiking staff in the woods.
We should also mention the Irish Shillelagh - the famous fighting stick made from blackthorn. This stick is more common in the world, carried as a walking stick more than as a weapon (though it is possible to take HEMA classes in how to use it if you're interested!). You will often see it carried by kilted gents at events. It is not strictly traditional for Scottish attire, but we feel worrying about that is splitting hairs a bit.
Men all over the world have used naturalistic walking sticks. If you have an Irish side to your heritage, or just love the feel and swagger of the shillelagh, enjoy! And naturally, if you need a walking stick for comfort or mobility, this stick is probably a better practical option compared to the very long cromach, which you can not support yourself on with one hand.
Tartans of the day:
Rocky: Stewart Old Wilsons of Bannockburn colours
Erik: Cameron Erracht Muted
Mac: Red Hackle
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We use the hooked ends to catch wild Haggis
I might be part Scottish but loved making walking sticks since I was a kid. Cromachs...chef's kiss. Never made one or owned one but they look great.
I have made and carried several cromachs. They are nice to have and give a good look at games. Unfortunately, getting your hands on ram's horn to make the hook and hazel for the staff is not very easy here in the US. So, I started carving the hook from bird's eye maple and use red osier dogwood for the shaft. When you harvest the dogwood in early winter it is bright red, but as it cures the bark turns a nice, deep, red brown. When the whole stick is finished with spar varnish it looks really good. So good, in fact, that people at games assume that the head is ram's horn and the shaft is hazel until I tell them otherwise.
Eric, the crook is not just to get your sheep to move along, it is used to 'grab' a sheep that does not want to come to you by the neck. The cleek (which has a much shallower curve), is used to grab them by foot just above the hoof. I have made many of both for my nieces who kept sheep and goats.
I have a antique blacktorn Shillelagh. It's lighter in weight than what many think of as traditional and has an antler handle so looks like a cane. I don't care that it may not be deemed appropriate for Scottish wear as it looks good and is functional.
Love your videos! as an Irish diasporan I enjoy learning about celtic and gaelic culture and I always look forward to seeing your videos!
Great info. I love these very informative, and short videos. Thanks guys!
2 types as shepherds tools. A crook has a wide neck for catching sheep by neck or horn. A leg cleek has a narrow neck for catching sheep by leg. The shillelagh was basically a club; always made from blackthorn and often weighted with lead.
Sure would like to see you guys carry these.
The cromach has its origins in the shepherds crook. They are found the length of the British isles. The crook is for catching sheep. A crook with a wide crown and mouth would be for hooking the neck and smaller ones were leg crooks and as the name suggests were used to hook the animal's leg.
The more decorative sticks are also known as market sticks and would be used when the shepherds and farmers went to market. The length makes them not only excellent for walking but also leaning on whilst chatting.
Another common country stick is the thumb stick, which has a V at the top where you place your thumb. Deer antler is often used for the V part of a thumb stick.
I have been using a Cogach for several years now as a hiking aid (there is a small compass inletted into the top) and a general purpose do-all tool while walking. I'm 75 and realized that I was picking up found sticks in the woods more and more to help with the balance that seems to be slowly degenerating. It is spruce for lightness, about two inches at the top tapering to a bit over an inch at the tip which has a crutch tip fitted to it and it is 64 inches long (I'm 6' tall). A bit of light carving on the top 8 inches to enhance the gripping and spar varnish finished the job. I wouldn't be without it in the woods and fields. If I make another, it will be hemlock as it is still light but tougher than spruce.
Thanks for the explanation - and the details in the video description!
I just came back from a trip to Ireland and Scotland. It was amazing! I do have several shillelaghs and they are beautiful. I would love to find a cromach. I did have my new kilt made at Lochcarron Weavers. It is beautiful!
Yes I want one. I would use it sometimes. Also I would use it as a conversation piece.
I've made several walking sticks. Usually from willow sourced from local river bottoms. (They make better walking sticks than you might tend to assume.) Let them dry, bark on for at least 3 months laid flat. Sand the bark down, or leave it on. Linseed oil over top, with a rubber cane tip from Amazon (or local drug store.) I use one for hiking/backpacking. I do not care much for "trekking poles". I intend to do a Shillelagh from a Norwegian Maple tree "crotch" in the near future, just for fun.
No wonder I have liked walking sticks since I was young. 😀
I would use one, I will be looking.👍
The 5 ft hooked stick, sometimes referred to as a market stick, for leaning on in small gatherings.
Walking sticks and canes were common in mountainous areas. In many parts of the world there have been walking staves have been used.
I use a cane at times and occasionally a walking stick, so I would like to have the one with the shepards' hook. The Irish is also good for self defense
Yes I definitely have a walking stick
I’m getting to the age where a Cain would definitely come in handy especially in rough terrain besides I have a bad knee.
As Father /Shepard to his Clan. A Clan chief employs the Cromach as a badge of his Office . A scepter if you will. I don't remember where I heard this but it bears some relevance as a Clan Chief is considered a shepherd to his Clansfolk.
Gentlemen. I love that two tartans you are sporting today. Is there anyway that we could know the tartans that you are wearing?
Notice the late queen moved from a rather commercial metal walking assist to a thumb stick or a ram's-horn headed stick. Er, she learned hiking in the highlands, but was using both of these "country sticks" even in London.
Yes I use one. It's for hiking. And I hike almost daily. I call it a staff. My spiritual practice is a Druid spirituality and we use the staff for many reasons. But the main purpose is walking the land. Lots of uneven territory. To see if a creek is very deep. And my old knees hurt.
The popularity of staves/walking sticks certainly may have something to do with the rough ground of the Highlands. As anyone who's tried it can attest, hiking is considerably easier if you have a staff or stick and that's even more true on uneven ground. Even in cities, walking sticks were quite common when people went almost everywhere on foot. It's likely that the walking stick survived in Scotland after it faded away elsewhere rather than being some uniquely Scottish affectation.
A spear thrower like a long atlatl is often confused for a walking stick or throwing stick. And I have made a spear that is also a staff sling and amentum. So my walking stick also servers as spear trower and throwing stick.
I would like a Cromach but my favorite kilt store doesnt sell them.
I would probably use it since I love hiking and have a bad knee( 2 operations)
I have a rare collection of walking sticks and staves because I am able to make them. Harry Lauder would be envious.
I've heard that the smaller hook at the end of the cromach was for holding a lantern.
old wifes tales.
I'd love to have one. Cost and shipping from Great Britain is prohibitive. Wish there was a good source in the US.
Where can I find a " Scottish walking staff " to purchase ?
I have tried to find them, but I'm not so good at searching the internet. 😱
Shoes with leather souls have horrible traction unless the souls were studded like a caligula. I heard they were very expressive though. I still see able bodied people walking with sticks in case of an agressive dog or cat. I occasionally still hear of rabid racoons attacking people occasionally even in a suburban area.
I've thought of getting one to replace my modern cane at events. Sadly not an accessory, but a necessity. However, it's not something I've seen among the ladies at events.
Happy National Scotch Day!
It's for catching sheep! The hook is for carrying a lantern .
What about blackthorns? That’s what my grandfather walks with!
Necessary accessory
Irish = Black Thorn stick......
Well, but a whole lot of back-&-forth across the Irish Sea in days long gone. Also, while blackthorn is famous & trad, both hazel and chestnut produce nice knobby sticks. These days, being both older & weaker, I find myself wanting as light a stick as possible. Malacca is good, but hard to find and costly (commonly antique stuff). I presently favor a slim bamboo stick with a knob on top. Bamboo is remarkably strong and extremely light -- no effort to flick it up and poke. Now, if only I could lunge without falling over....