Hector The Hero played by Piper James Cooper at Tomnaverie Stone Circle above Tarland in Scotland

Piper James Cooper playing "Hector the Hero" within the Tomnaverie Stone Circle above Tarland in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Tomnaverie is a recumbent stone circle, a kind of monument found only in north-eastern Scotland, which surrounds a burial cairn dating to about 4,500 years ago.

James Cooper is Pipe Major of Ballater & District Pipe band and has recently become a full-time professional piper. We hope between us we can share more from James and feature some of the historic and beautiful locations around the Cairngorms and Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

The tune "Hector the Hero" was composed by J Scott Skinner in praise of Sir Hector MacDonald of Ross-shire, a brave soldier who met a tragic end. MacDonald was born in the Black Isle in 1857, enlisted in the 92nd Gordon Highlanders in 1870 and rose through the ranks to become a Major-General.