Hugh Cheape

Professor Hugh Cheape is a Course Leader at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture. He lectures at both Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and Edinburgh University, drawing from a career as Principal Curator in the Department of Scotland and Europe at National Museums of Scotland.

• Academic Rank: Professor
• Teaching: MSc Cultar Dùthchasach agus Eachdraidh na Gàidhealtachd (Gaelic Cultural and Historical Studies)
• External Role: Lecturer, University of Edinburgh (Postgraduate Certificate in Scottish Culture and Heritage)

Research Interests span ethnology, musicology, and material culture. His work focuses on Scottish agricultural history, vernacular architecture, piping traditions, tartans, and talismanic beliefs. He contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through cultural preservation initiatives.

• Key Themes: Cultural heritage, historical continuity, linguistic communities, maritime identity, and sustainable practices
• Recent Publications: Explore Hebridean plough types, maritime environmental campaigns, and island cultural heritage

Scientific Awards:

• RSE Fellow (2023), recognizing contributions to Scottish cultural scholarship

Collaborations include partnerships with the School of Scottish Studies and the University of Edinburgh. His work bridges academic research with public engagement through the Tobar an Dualchais / Kist o Riches digitization project.