Posts by Peter Ranscombe
Bird flu task force set up
NATURESCOT, the public body previously known as Scottish Natural Heritage, is setting up a task force to help tackle the bird flu outbreak. Scores of dead seabirds are washing up on Scotland’s shores following a surge in cases of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza. The task force will include conservationists, researchers, civil servants, and…
Read MoreVincent van Gogh portrait found in Scotland by x-rays
A SELF-PORTRAIT by Vincent van Gogh has been discovered in Scotland using x-rays. Conservators scanned the artist’s 1885 painting, Head of a Peasant Woman, ahead of it going on show at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh on 30 July. They found a hidden self-portrait by the painter on the other side of the canvas,…
Read MoreGlenalmond prepares to welcome Ukraine pupil
GLENALMOND College is Perthshire is preparing to welcome a pupil from Ukraine thanks to a new scholarship fund. The W M Mann Foundation, established by the parent of pupils at Glenalmond, has provided the majority of the £100,000 funding for her place, alongside donations from other parents and sponsors. Bruce Mann, chair of the foundation,…
Read MoreClimber Alasdair McKenzie aims for 14 highest peaks
CLIMBER Alasdair McKenzie, who was taught to ski in the Cairngorms by his Scottish father, aims to reach the summit of all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in the Himalayas. McKenzie, 18, has already climbed two of the peaks, Makalu and Lhotse. He became the youngest person to reach the summit of Lhotse, the fourth…
Read MoreRoyal National Mòd returns to Perth
PERTH is getting ready to host the Royal National Mòd for the first time in 18 years. The Fair City will welcome the very best in Gaelic music and culture during October. The programme for the Mòd includes fringe concerts, shows, ceilidhs, and exhibitions. Around 1,000 performers will fill a dozen venues in the city,…
Read MoreVal McDermid and Ian Rankin at Largo Arts Week
AUTHORS Val McDermid and soon-to-be-Sir Ian Rankin are topping the bill at Largo Arts Week, which begins on Saturday. The writers will take part in “An audience with…” events in the Fife village’s Crusoe Hotel. Lower Largo is famous as the birthplace of Alexander Selkirk, the man who inspired the story of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson…
Read MoreGin Round-up: Mary King’s Close, Rock Rose, NTS, and more
Peter Ranscombe distills the latest stories from the world of gin into a light-hearted round-up. YOU might have thought that some of the botanicals that end up in gin are a wee bit scary – but wait until you visit The Real Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh. The ghoulish tourist attraction beneath the streets of…
Read MoreTV chef Clodagh McKenna to headline Stranraer Oyster Festival
TELEVISION presenter and chef Clodagh McKenna will lead cookery demonstrations at the Stranraer Oyster Festival in September. McKenna, the resident chef on This Morning on STV and a previous regular on The Today Show in the United States, will cook in the kitchen marquee at the harbour. “Scotland’s reputation for high-quality and award-winning produce is…
Read MoreNC500 repeats motorhome and campervan advice
THE North Coast 500 (NC500) has reminded visitors driving motorhomes and campervans about the “dos and don’ts” while touring the North Highlands. Operations director Craig Mills said: “Experiencing the NC500 by motorhome or campervan has become a popular way for visitors to enjoy all that the North Highlands has to offer. “However, it is important…
Read MoreEar Sass earrings arrive in Edinburgh
A SCOTTISH designer who launched her own brand, Ear Sass, during lockdown has unveiled her summer collection in Edinburgh. Sophie McGown’s earrings are being stocked by Independent Zebra, a shop that stocks products made by other small businesses. Each design is named after strong influential women in McGown’s life. Her designs take inspiration from her…
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