Posts by Ellie Forbes
St Andrews surpasses North Berwick as most expensive coastal town in Scotland
St Andrews is the most expensive place to buy a home by the coast in Scotland, according to the latest analysis from Bank of Scotland. Homes in the area – known for its world-famous university and golf courses – cost ÂŁ423,419 on average, marginally up from 2022. The results push North Berwick into second place.…
Read MoreDear Billy: Love letter to the Big Yin goes on tour
Billy Connolly needs no introduction. From the shipyards of the Clydeside to his extraordinary stage and movie exploits, he is a national treasure. And everyone has a Billy story, a hilarious anecdote or a moving tale, the Big Yin is woven into Scottish culture. Theatre maker Gary McNair has spent the last seven years collecting…
Read MoreReview: Sanja By Sagar Massey at The Kirkhouse Inn
He might only be 25-years-old, but Sagar Massey already has a career enviable by chefs twice his age. Raised near New Delhi in India, until leaving for Scotland in 2014, he is renowned for using the spices of his homeland to embolden Scottish fine dining. A finalist in the BBC’s Masterchef – The Professionals in…
Read MoreRed squirrel: bid to increase west Scotland’s population numbers
There are around 120,000 of them in Scotland, but habitat loss is one of the biggest threats to the survival of red squirrels. In a bid to boost the species’ population on the West Coast of the country, six red squirrels have been released in Morvern peninsula. Rewilding charity Trees for Life introduced the squirrels…
Read MoreStunning Household Cavalry portraits gifted to King Charles III on display at Floors Castle
Incredible Household Cavalry portraits gifted to King Charles III during his coronation will go on display at Borders’ stately home Floors Castle this summer. The display includes twelve large-scale portraits by British photographic artist Ripley, who had the idea for the project in 2012. Each one of the pieces took between 200 and 300 hours…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Liz Mistry: ‘Life is too short for struggling on with a book that doesn’t grip me by the throat pretty quickly’
Crime writer Liz Mistry on the joys of Agatha Christie, the best books she has read this year, and why reading in bed is the epitome of relaxation. The first book I remember reading: I think I was born reading. No seriously though, although I’m not sure it’s the first book I read, I…
Read MoreStone of Destiny: Fragment kept by SNP ‘genuine beyond reasonable doubt’
A fragment of rock which was kept at SNP headquarters for years and was described as a missing part of the Stone of Destiny is genuine, experts have concluded. The chip had been held in storage by the SNP after being gifted to former First Minister Alex Salmond in 2008 by the son of one…
Read MoreIn a nutshell, Chef Keith Greig: ‘I was vegan for nine months – it was an awful experience’
Keith Greig is an Edinburgh-based chef with a passion for wild game and outdoor cooking with a field to fork approach. During the shooting season, Keith caters on a small estate in Fife, using wild game from the local area in the dishes. What’s the closest thing you have to a signature dish: I…
Read MoreIn a nutshell, Chef Gary Townsend: ‘I’d be a Scientist if I wasn’t a chef. I am fascinated with how things work’
Gary Townsend has had an illustrious career spanning 20 years working in some of the UK’s top kitchens. Townsend recently announced that he will be opening his own fine dining restaurant, Elements in Bearsden, Glasgow. What’s the closest thing you have to a signature dish: I love Scottish seafood and langoustines always feature on…
Read MoreOld Purves Hall: Peel tower dating back to 1600’s goes on the market
This stunning historic home, which was once a peel tower dating back to the 1600’s, has gone on the market. Old Purves Hall sits in the rural Berwickshire Countryside, just seven miles from Kelso, and is on sale for offers over ÂŁ950,000. The six-bedroom home, which has retained a number of period features, comes with…
Read More