Posts by Peter Ranscombe
More wildlife spotted on Invercauld Estate
GAMEKEEPERS at Invercauld Estate on Royal Deeside have spotted more nesting birds from a wider range of species during their latest wildlife surveys. In total, 1,117 breeding pairs of endangered birds were identified during the three-month study, up 16% on last year’s results. Thirty-seven species were recorded nesting on the estate, including curlew, dotterel, and…
Read MoreWigtown Book Festival reveals line-up
WIGTOWN Book Festival has unveiled its online programme, which includes the world premier of author Alexander McCall Smith’s Ninian’s Gift song cycle Other highlights across the ten-day virtual festival include Alastair Campbell, Maggie O’Farrell, and Andrew Marr. More than 80 guests will take part in the festival, which aims to promote local businesses affected by…
Read MoreTrust launches footpath etiquette guide
THE National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has introduced a footpath etiquette guide to help slow down the spread of the coronavirus without eroding the edges of tracks. The conservation charity has also launched a footpath fund to raise money for repairs. More than 250 miles of paths in upland areas are maintained by the NTS.…
Read MoreFairlie protégé becomes head chef
CHEF Lorna McNee, protégé of the late two Michelin starred chef Andrew Fairlie and Great British Menu’s “Champion of Champions” 2019, has taken up her first head chef role at Glasgow’s Cail Bruich restaurant. Chris Charalambous, co-owner of the three AA rosette restaurant, is stepping away from the kitchen for the first time since it…
Read MoreFive of the best from M&S’s new ‘Classics’ range
Wines from Europe feature in the first wave of arrivals in Markies’ new ‘Classics’ selection, as Peter Ranscombe finds out. FOLLOWING the launch of its “This Is…” £5 range, Marks & Spencer is continuing the revamp of its wine selection with the introduction of its “Classics” series. Starting at £7 a bottle, the “Classics” mark…
Read MoreA Week in Whisky: Going, going, gone
THE Isle of Raasay Distillery has sold all its maiden single malt ahead of its release in November. Raasay, which lies off the coast of Skye, has sold 4,350 bottles through the internet, with the remainder of its 7,500-bottle run bought by retailers, restaurants and bars. The whisky is made with Scottish barley and is…
Read MoreScottish Opera’s outdoor performances begin
GREENOCK plays host to Scottish Opera this afternoon as its series of autumn pop-up operas begins. The programme shifts to East Lothian on Sunday, followed by Ayr, Stirling, Easterhouse, Glasgow, Inverness, Dundee, Edinburgh and St Andrews during the rest of the month. This season’s pop-up operas feature extracts from The Gondoliers and Don Giovanni, along with The…
Read MoreFishmonger lands Crieff Hydro’s hotels contract
A FISHMONGER from Perth has netted a contract to supply seafood to all seven of the hotels run by Crieff Hydro. Perth-based George Campbell & Sons, which was founded in 1872, is still owned by the Campbell family. Managing director Iain Campbell said: “It is a proud milestone for us to work alongside another longstanding…
Read MoreInternet stars Olive and Mabel help Sense Scotland
THE undisputed stars of lockdown, Olive and Mabel, have signed up to raise money for disability support charity Sense Scotland. The dogs – which rose to fame on Youtube when they featured in videos posted by owner and BBC sports broacaster Andrew Cotter – will take part in the charity’s “Paws for Sense Scotland” fundraising…
Read MoreCarvers ‘log on’ for online chainsaw contest
SCOTLAND’S annual open chainsaw carving competiton, “Carve Carrbridge”, is heading online tomorrow. Ten carvers are competing for the “Claymore Trophy”, including: local artist and long-standing competitor Alice Buttress; last year’s winner, Michael Tamoszus from Germany; and 2019 best new entrant Mario Marino from Spain. Each has been filmed using time-lapse cameras, with footage being uploaded…
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