Buying in a syndicate to secure the rural dream

Many dream of owning a country estate in which they can spend time with family and friends and enjoy a host of pursuits. However, more often than not the price of such a purchase can be beyond the grasp of many families. In addition, potential owners might find it hard to justify when the reality is they may…

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Enjoy an oat-rageously good breakfast with Groats and eteaket

Leaf tea experts eteaket and porridge aficionados Groats are teaming up this weekend (5-6 August) to offer the people of Edinburgh the most Instagrammable breakfast in town, with a tea-and-porridge pop-up at the eteaket Concept Store on Rose Street. Perfect for building up stamina to see you through the Fringe, Groats’ unique style of handmade…

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Celebrating the work of ‘Our Fathers’

What finer tribute could there be to your dad than creating a bottle of wine in his honour? Peter Ranscombe finds out what inspired Giles Cooke to produce Our Fathers. It’s not often that I’ll write about a single bottle of wine in isolation. Then again, there aren’t many bottles with the rich backstory that lies behind…

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Property of the Month – August

Our August Property of the Month is Coul Estate, by Auchterarder, Perthshire Coul is a delightful estate extending to some 70.15 acres, commanding outstanding views both to the north and south and is centered on a charming C-listed Georgian house. There are two estate cottages, a beautifully presented traditional stable block to the south, a…

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Property of the Month -July

Our July Property of the Month is the fabulous Dean House in North Queensferry.  Situated on the foreshore overlooking a triple SSI and World Heritage Site, this four-bedroom modern detached villa offers a unique family home that is truly benefiting of its unrivalled location. Arranged across three levels and over 4,000 square feet, the architect-designed…

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Rhone Part 1: Syrah’s spiritual home

The Crozes-Hermitage area of the Northern Rhone produces only a single red grape variety, but Peter Ranscombe finds out just how varied its Syrah can be. “Syrah loves a view” – or so French winemaker Jean-Louis Chave once said. In the Crozes-Hermitage region in France’s Rhone valley, those grapes are spoiled for choice when it…

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Rhone Part 2: Finding whites in the land of reds

Syrah may be the king of Crozes-Hermitage, but the Northern Rhone’s largest appellation is also home to some stunning whites, as Peter Ranscombe discovers. Word association can be a dangerous sport in the world of wine. Mention the name “Crozes-Hermitage” and most wine fans will immediately think of deliciously rich and ripe reds made from…

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Exploring age at Jenkyn Place

English sparkling wines have grabbed a lot of headlines for their fresh fruity flavours and bright acidity, but what happens when the fizz starts to age? Peter Ranscombe travels to Jenkyn Place to find out. The south-east of England was once a land of hops, the aromatic flowers that add citrus flavours and a distinctive…

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Darnley’s to serve up G&Tees at global golf tournament

Darnley’s Gin will be hosting a series of initiatives in St Andrews this August to celebrate its sponsorship of the Ricoh Women’s British Open. Darnley’s is the ‘official gin supplier’ of this year’s event, which takes place next door to their new gin distillery in Fife at the iconic Kingsbarns Golf Links from 3-6 August.…

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