Posts by Peter Ranscombe
Hostelling Scotland wants diverse trustees
DIVERSITY sits at the heart of a recruitment campaign for trustees launched today by Hostelling Scotland. The charity, which runs nearly 60 hostels throughout the country, wants trustees “with skills and experience in managing operational change, charity or corporate governance, law, risk management, and youth travel and hospitality”. It said the posts are open to…
Read MoreKa Pao: When fusion goes right
Simone Waters reviews the Edinburgh branch of Ka Pao, the Glasgow fusion food pioneer. SITUATED in Edinburgh’s St James Quarter shopping centre, Ka Pao brings a plethora of flavours together into a South-East Asian fusion. We are met by friendly staff when entering this industrial and funky establishment and, while the mood lighting may be…
Read MoreFred Olsen passengers report 4,400 wildlife sightings
PASSENGERS aboard Fred Olsen cruise ships recorded 4,400 wildlife sightings last year. The most frequent species spotted was – appropriately – the common dolphin, which was sighted 296 times, reaching 1,996 individual dolphins. Other creatures reported during cruises included humpback whales, orca, a blue whale, and even the deepest-diving animal, the elusive Cuvier’s beaked whale,…
Read MoreSpirits news from the Hebrides
THREE spirits stalwarts on the Outer Hebrides are having a busy start to the year. Angus A MacMillan and Angus E MacMillan, the father-and-son team building Benbecula distillery, have unveiled the first three bottles from MacMillan Spirits. They’ve launched: “Wheelhouse Whisky”, an eight-year-old single cask Islay single malt; “Machair Gin”, a gin that contains heather…
Read MoreWhisky news round-up: Speyburn, Macallan, and more
Peter Ranscombe takes another look at the world of Scotch whisky. SPEYBURN distillery is preparing to welcome visitors for the first time in its 125-year history as part of the Spirit of Speyside whisky festival. Distillery manager Euan Henderson and his assistant, David Rogerson, will lead tours during the festival, which runs from 26 April…
Read MoreMaya Rose Edwards completes Bute residency
Simone Waters speaks to sculptor Maya Rose Edwards about their residency with the Mount Stuart Trust on Bute. FOR artist Maya Rose Edwards, the Isle of Bute is not just a stunning location to visit. The dramatic landscape played host for a three-month residency offered to this emerging sculptor by the Mount Stuart Trust. “I…
Read MoreDoddie Aid rowing challenge for Cameron House
CAMERON House at Loch Lomond is taking part in Doddie Aid 2023 with a mass-participation rowing challenge over the next five weeks. The event will raise money for the charity created by Scottish rugby legend Doddy Weir, who died in November, aged 52. The MyName’5 Doddie Foundation, which was founded in November 2017, aims to…
Read MoreRESTAURANT REVIEW: Six By Nico – ‘Neverland’ menu
Keith McIntyre reviews the new “Neverland” menu at the Six By Nico restaurant in Glasgow’s Finnieston district. WHEN chef Nico Simeone launched his Six By Nico restaurant in Glasgow’s Finnieston back in 2017, it is very doubtful that anyone could have predicted quite how much of an explosive impact he would have on the country’s…
Read MoreWines for Australia Day
Drinks blogger James Robertson picks wines to celebrate Australia Day. AS WE wearily trudge through the tail end of winter, looking forward to those glimpses of spring, down under in Australia today they celebrate their national day. The BBQs will be lit, stubbies of beer will be in the cool box alongside some chilled bottles…
Read MoreBurns Night round-up: Haggis, poetry, and more
HAGGIS lover from Orkney to Essex have changed their names on social media to “R Burns” ahead of Burns Night. Butcher Simon Howie ran a competition to encourage people to change their names for the Bard’s birthday, and gave 100 winners hampers featuring products from Irn Bru, Mash Direct, Mrs Tillys, Orkney Cheese, Nairn’s, and…
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