Posts by Peter Ranscombe
Loch Ness Centre to get £1.5 million upgrade
THE The Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition at Drumnadrochit is undergoing a £1.5 million investment. Ronnie Bremner and designer Tony Hamsworth opened the centre and its first exhibition in 1980. Now, the Bremner clan is handing over the reins to Continuum Attractions, which runs The Real Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh. The centre is due…
Read MoreFort William Mountain Festival unveils line-up
ORGANISERS have revealed the programme for next month’s Fort William Mountain Festival. The festival – which runs on 16-19 February – includes guided activities, films, and speakers. Events are due to take place in Fort William and throughout Lochaber. Activities on offer include “mindful walking, nature writing, wild swimming, trail running, mountain biking, paddle boarding…
Read MoreScottish Ballet heads to London with Coppélia
SCOTTISH Ballet is preparing to take Edinburgh International Festival hit Coppélia to Sadler’s Wells in London, as well as touring A Streetcar Named Desire throughout Scotland. Coppélia, which tells the story of a piece of artificial intelligence (AI) software and its creator, is due to open at Sadler’s Wells on 2 March. The ballet was…
Read MoreSimon Howie searches for more ‘R Burns’
BUTCHER Simon Howie has launched a quest to find more “R Burns” – or get people to change their names on social media. The Perthshire entrepreneur is giving people with the initial “R” and the surname “Burns” the chance to win one of 100 haggis hampers. He’s also allowing other people to enter his competition…
Read MoreVoting deadline approaches for Eat Game Awards
FANS have until 10 January to cast their votes in the Eat Game Awards. Run by the British Association for Shooting & Conservation (BASC), the awards aim to recognise the best entrants across ten categories. More than 70 individuals and businesses are in the running for the awards. Organisers said that Scots on the shortleet…
Read MoreOne for Capricorns at The Alchemist in Glasgow
BAR chain The Alchemist has opened its first outlet in Glasgow and is offering a free cocktail this month to people born under the zodiac sign of Capricorn. The free cocktail will be served from the George Square bar’s “dispensary” machine, with Capricorns given a choice of three drinks. The “Nearly Naked”, “Peach Fuzz”, and…
Read MoreGlasgow’s Bookface ‘Sip & Swap’ welcomes Alan Parks
WRITER Alan Parks, the winner of last year’s McIlvanney Prize at the Bloody Scotland book festival, will be the guest at this month’s Bookface “Sip & Swap” in Glasgow. Parks will speak to journalist Maggie Barry about May God Forgive, his fifth novel to star Harry McCoy. Bookface’s events give guests the chance to hear…
Read MoreSir Walter Scott’s ‘Rob Roy’ manuscript to go on show
AUTHOR Sir Walter Scott’s manuscript for his novel Rob Roy will go on display at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh from March. The manuscript, which hasn’t been on show to the public for at least a century, is written in Scott’s own hand. The copy of Rob Roy was bought a year ago…
Read MoreGreat Tapestry of Scotland artist Andrew Crummy among honours
ARTIST Andrew Crummy, who led the creation of The Great Tapestry of Scotland, was among those featured in the new year’s honours list. Crummy was made a member of the order of the British empire (MBE) for his “services to art and cultural heritage” in Scotland. He follows in the footsteps of his mother, Helen,…
Read MoreHolyrood and Heriot-Watt eye old barley varieties for whisky
SCIENTISTS and distillers are investigating which aromas and flavours are produced in whisky by old varieties of barley. Holyrood Distillery in Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University will study at least eight varieties over the next six years. Chevallier, a variety popular during the 19th century, is among the strains being tested. The variety fell out of…
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