Posts by Peter Ranscombe
Aberfoyle opens UK’s first marked gravel cycle trails
BIKE Trossachs, a community interest company in Aberfoyle, is todoy opening the UK’s first waymarked gravel cycling routes. The 10km, 20km, and 30km trails begin and end in the centre of Aberfoyle, taking in Loch Ard Forest, Loch Ard, and Loch Chon along the way. Enda McLoughlin, chair of Bike Trossachs, said: “We have seen…
Read MoreMoat Brae brings children’s stories to life
MOAT Brae, Scotland’s national centre for children’s literature and storytelling, in Dumfries has reopened for the summer with an exhibition showcasing classic stories. Studio MinaLima, the graphic design firm behind the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, has breathed fresh life into tales including Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi,…
Read MoreMiss Scotland’s Ciara Harvie singing in Edinburgh
MISS Scotland finalist Ciara Harvie is singing in Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square this weekend to raise money for Smith-Magenis Syndrome Foundation UK. The 23-year-old classical-crossover singer, who appeared on television series The Voice, will perform in the square from 1pm on Saturday and Sunday. “Music completely changed my life, and this is the reason why I…
Read MoreRed Onion wins Come Dine With Me: The Professionals
JOHN and Rosie Quigley’s Red Onion restaurant won last night’s Glasgow round of Channel 4 series Come Dine With Me: The Professionals. The father and daught team beat fellow city centre eateries Calabash and Saffron to win a trophy and £1,000. Red Onion served seared Barra scallops for its starter, followed by Gressingham duck breast…
Read MoreBug ‘splatometer’ is a hit in Scotland
INSECT charity Buglife’s “splatometer” is proving to be a big hit in Scotland, with more than 100 people already signed up to carry out surveys this summer. The “splatometer” attaches to a car’s number plate and helps citizen scientists to monitor how many insects they kill on their journeys. The results are essential for monitoring…
Read MoreRecord sales for Chippendale School
A RECORD 55% of the pieces on display at the Chippendale School graduate exhibition in East Lothian were snapped up by shoppers. A total of 121 items were on show at the four-day event, which was staged by the 27 students following their nine-month training course. The sales – which included 37 pieces going on…
Read MoreStrathallan School swimmer and coach go to Olympics
A SWIMMER and his coach from Strathallan School will represent Great Britain at this summer’s European Youth Olympic Festival. Evan Davidson and Strathallan’s head of swimming, Elaine Johnston, will join a 16-strong junior squad heading to Banská Bystrica in Slovakia. At 15, Davidson is one of the youngest swimmers selected for the squad. He was…
Read MoreBeira ‘Dressed To Kilt’ in Great Gatsby mansion
SCOTTISH clothing brand Beira will take part in the “Dressed to Kilt” charity fashion show on Long Island in New York on Saturday. The theme for this year’s show, which has been running since 2003, is “Dress for adventure: from the Highlands to the Hamptons”. Beira will be showing its Elisie coat, Marina dress, and…
Read MoreDollar Academy unveils design for ‘Futures Institute’
PLANS have been unveiled to build a home for the Futures Institute at Dollar Academy (FIDA). Andrew Whalley – a former pupils at the academy and the architect behind the Eden Project, the international terminal at London’s Waterloo train station, and the Experimental Media & Performing Arts Center in New York – has designed the…
Read MoreDundee becomes ‘Beanotown’
DUNDEE has been transformed into “Beanotown” for a week, with a Hollywood-style sign on the Law. The sign is part of the Dundee Summer (Bash) Streets Festival, which runs until Sunday. At six metres high by 38 metres long – or 20 feet by 125 feet, in old money – the sign can be seen…
Read More