Posts by Peter Ranscombe
Literature plan for John Knox House
JOHN Knox House in Edinburgh could be turned into a “Literature House for Scotland”. The Edinburgh Unesco City of Literature Trust is looking for architects and designers to help it come up with plans for the site. The trust also wants to develop the neighbouring Scottish Storytelling Centre as part of ambitions to enhance the…
Read MoreBiggest beaver survey begins next week
SCOTLAND’S largest survey of beavers will begin next week. NatureScot, the government agency previously known as Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), will work with the University of Essex to conduct surveys in Tayside, the Forth valley and Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park during the autumn and winter. Roo Campbell, NatureScot project lead, said: “From sightings…
Read MoreBorders textile museum holds ‘meet the maker’ events
THE Borders Textile Towerhouse museum in Hawick will hold a series of “Meet the Maker” events to mark its reopening. The events replace its “Makers’ Market”, which normally takes place in November. Robin Deas, a designer at The Hawick Tartan Company, will be the first maker to displays his products at the museum, including pleated face…
Read MoreScottish actor completes John o’Groats horse trek
A SCOTTISH actor has completed a 1,147-mile trek on horseback from John o’Groats to Land’s End to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Louis Hall, 26, aimed to raise £10,000 but has smashed his target, bringing in £34,000 so far. Hall completed his 57-day trek on 12 September. He carried out his “Big Hoof”…
Read MoreWhisky expert unveils ‘a taste profile for everyone’
THE Whisky Cellar founder Keith Bonnington has released a series of ten unique single casks bottled under his company’s new “Private Cellars Selection” label. The casks include a mixture of barrels, hogsheads, butts and a quarter cask, with just 2,100 bottles being filled. Bonnington, who has worked in the whisky industry for 18 years, said:…
Read MoreBill Lumsden catches ‘the one that got away’
Peter Ranscombe sips a slice of Glenmorangie’s new ‘A Tale of Cake’ whisky. EVERY fisherman has a story about “the one that got away” – that salmon or trout or other slippery customer that they just weren’t able to land on the river bank. For Bill Lumsden, director of distilling at Glenmorangie, his equivalent is…
Read MoreBritish Game Alliance launches ‘elevenses’ campaign
THE British Game Alliance (BGA) is launching its #BGABites campaign today to encourage estates to serve “game-based elevenses” during their shoots. The BGA, which was set up to promote game meats, believes serving elevenses featuring game will encourage guests to eat game on a wider range of occasions. The alliance will posts recipes and photographs…
Read MoreNotebook – September 2020
Scottish Field drinks blogger Peter Ranscombe delves into his notebook to share more exciting bottles. Puffing Billy Vodka (£32.99, thebordersdistillery.com) While most vodkas can be dull and boring on their own, those clever people at The Borders Distillery have come up with a clever way of giving their vodka texture. They use malted barley as…
Read MoreNational Trust boss seeks members’ ideas
MEMBERS of the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) have been asked to submit ideas for the conservation charity’s centenary ambitions. Philip Long, who took over as chief executive on 1 July, addressed around 100 online participants at the trust’s annual general meeting on Saturday. He asked them to contribute ideas for the NTS’s 10-year plan,…
Read MoreBloody Scotland reveals prize winners
DEBUT novelist Francine Toon has won the McIlvanney Prize for Pine. Toon was named as the winner over the weekend as part of the Bloody Scotland international crime writing festival. Deborah Masson won the debut prize with Hold Your Tongue. The festival took place online this year and included a “never-ending panel”, which last for…
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