Posts by Kenny Smith
Pub owner and herbalist turns detective
Exploring village life in Scotland, this novel features Rosie McLeod, a pub owner and gifted herbalist. Suspicious of her husband Jack, Rosie sets out to discover if he is having an affair using the deductive powers of plants and herbs. But Rosie’s plan backfires when the sighting of a large, black cat sets off a…
Read MoreMotorsport’s Jimmy McRae has mud, sweat and tears
He may have spent his career charging through forests and speeding over treacherous terrain, but Jimmy McRae, five times the British Rally Champion, has always found his way back home to Lanark. I didn’t start competitive driving until I was in my thirties, but I got the bug a long time before that, driving my…
Read MoreThe enthusiasts who celebrate the age of steam
Steam locomotives are a poignant reminder of a time when Britain’s railways kept the country on track and were the arteries of industry. There is an undeniable sense of nostalgia that can be felt when in the company of steam trains. The engines themselves are working symbols of British heritage and industrialisation which inspire great…
Read MoreTreasure hunting for the modern era with an app
Geocaching is treasure hunting for the modern age and, for Neil Torrens, a past time that borders on an obsession How did geocaching begin? Twelve years ago the US government changed who could access their satellites for GPS. The next day someone hid a tub in the woods and put the coordinates online. A few…
Read MoreCelebrating 10 of the greatest Flying Scotsmen
Scotland has a prestigious past firmly rooted in the field of aviation. From inventors to pilots, this list of intrepid airmen reads like a who’s who of flight history. 1. Frank Barnwell Captain Frank Sowter Barnwell was a University of Glasgow graduate who, in partnership with his brother Harold, achieved the first powered flight in…
Read MoreThe perfect time to lodge at Mains of Taymouth
Village life doesn’t get much better at Mains of Taymouth. Luxury lodges, from top supplier Island Leisure, who supply properties at some of Scotland’s most exclusive parks, can currently be purchased from a very affordable £179,900 at Taymouth Village, Mains of Taymouth, Kenmore. Two stunning styles are currently available to choose from – the Riverside,…
Read MoreHistory in every brick at £3.9million Cassillis Estate
An imposing castle standing high above the River Doon steeped in history and restored for 21st century living is now on the market. From a high bank, Cassillis towers over the River Doon. Presented for sale by Savills, it is approached through electric gates via a private tarred drive which follows the River Doon through…
Read MoreSet sail for fun adventures on a school ship
Follow the adventures of Ben and Fee MacTavish who go to an unusual school – the School Ship Tobermory, where young people learn to be sailors. When a film crew arrives on another ship, the Albatross, Ben is chosen to be one of their movie extras. But he soon becomes suspicious – is this film…
Read MoreSurfing Scots star in new Carling TV advert
A group of intrepid Scots surfers who brave the freezing cold waters of the North Sea have become the stars of a new national advertising campaign from Carling called ‘Made Local’. 45-year-old Jason Burnett stars in the ad, along with his fellow surf friends from the local, windswept town of Pease Bay in Berwickshire. Jason…
Read MoreThe Lassi is a milk treat – for the lads and lassies!
They say it’s the oldest smoothie in the world and a special version of it is now being served up in Scotland for World Milk Day tomorrow (Saturday). The Lassi is a smooth and creamy Indian summer cooler that is traditionally served in earthen pots called matkas. Boasting miraculous powers that can cool you instantly,…
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