Posts by Peter Ranscombe
‘DĂ na: Scotland’s Wild Side’ returns to BBC Alba
ADVENTURER Coinneach Rankin returns to BBC Alba tonight for a second series of “DĂ na: Scotland’s Wild Side”. The rock climber and runner will climb some of Scotland’s most dramatic mountains during the four-part series. Beginning on the uninhabited island of Mingulay in the Outer Hebrides, Rankin will be joined by fellow climber Nicky Brierley. In…
Read MoreBuglife Scotland launches ‘Guardians of our Rivers’
INSECT charity Buglife Scotland has unveiled its “Guardians of our Rivers” project to monitor life in Scotland’s burns. Members of the public will be trained to spot the creatures living in Scottish streams. Their surveys will help to monitor the health of our nation’s waterways. Community groups, schools, and individuals are being recruited to take…
Read MoreSchools news round-up: Glenalmond, Belhaven Hill, and more
Peter Ranscombe rounds-up the latest news from Scotland’s schools. GLENALMOND College in Perthshire has unveiled a countryside management course accredited by the Business & Technology Education Council (BTEC). The school is the first in Scotland to offer the BTEC qualification, which could lead to jobs in farming, land management, or surveying. As well as gaining…
Read MoreWhisky round-up: Halloween special
Peter Ranscombe takes a light-hearted look at how Scotland’s whisky industry is preparing for Halloween and beyond. THE Scotch Malt Whisky Society is holding its first Halloween party on Thursday at its bar on Edinburgh’s Queen Street. A clairvoyant and a tarot card reader will take up residence in the first floor library, while black…
Read MoreTobermory Book Festival sets sail on Friday
BROADCASTER Sally Magnusson tops the bill at this year’s Tobermory Book Festival, which begins on Friday on Mull. Food and travel writer Ghillie Basan – who shared recipes in February’s Scottish Field magazine – will host a dinner on the opening night. Fellow foodies Ailidh Forlan and Sally MacColl will also discuss their work over…
Read MoreRoyal National Mòd ends with massed choir
A MASSED choir brought the Royal National Mòd to an end on Saturday in Perth. The mòd’s flag was handed over the Paisley, which will host next year’s cultural gathering. Around 2,100 people took part in 200 competitions over the nine-day festival, which was held at 14 venues in the Fair City. Contestants came from…
Read MoreREVIEW: The Cauldron – A Magical Evening
Megan Amato learns how to mix magical cocktails at The Cauldron pub chain’s Edinburgh branch. EDINBURGH is not short of magical- and witchy-themed shops and enchantments, but The Cauldron on Fredrick Street has always stood out more than the others as it appeals to the local crowd – not just the streams of tourists. The…
Read MoreGreywacke Wild Sauvignon
Drinks blogger James Robertson enjoys a vertical tasting of Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc. THE other day I had the privilege of attending a vertical tasting of wines from Greywacke, a winery found in Marlborough, New Zealand. Marlborough is the home for some of the best New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs around. The climate and soil structure has…
Read MoreGin Extremes: From Shetland to Scilly
Drinks blogger James Robertson reviews gin from either end of the UK. WHO would have thought that you would find a gin distillery on the southern tip of the UK on the island of St Mary’s, part of the Isles of Scilly, and then 776 miles as the crow flies there is another one on…
Read MoreGet a sneaky peek at the new look for Edinburgh’s Tigerlily…
EDINBURGH’S Tigerlily bar and restaurant reopens tonight after being redecorated. Innes Bolt, managing director of owner Montpeliers described the refit as “the biggest change in 16 years” at the George Street venue. The outlet opened in 2006 and had its last refurbishment in 2015. Designer Jim Hamilton – who created Tigerlily’s original look and was…
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