News
Scotland’s hotels get ready to welcome guests back
HOTELS throughout Scotland are preparing to welcome back guests as the coronavirus lockdown continues to ease. The Scottish Government is expected to lift restrictions so accommodation can reopen on 15 July. Crerar Hotels & Inns – which runs properties including the Golf View Hotel in Nairn, the Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa in Inverary, and…
Read MoreEwing: Kids ‘don’t know chips come from potatoes’
THE Scottish Government’s rural economy secretary has praised farmers for keeping the nation fed during lockdown – but has expressed his fear that children don’t know that chips come from potatoes. Fergus Ewing, who represents Inverness and Nairn in the Scottish Parliament, made the comments to Alan Laidlaw, chief executive of the Royal Highland &…
Read MoreMorrison’s Academy to reopen to all pupils in August
ALL pupils will be welcomed back to Morrison’s Academy when the Perthshire school reopens in August. The independent school said that children attending nursery through to secondary will come back to its campus on a daily basis. Since switching to online learning on 23 March, pupils and teachers have been using the academy’s virtual learning…
Read MoreGlencairn toasts iconic glass’s 20th birthday
A WHISKY glass that’s become a firm favourite with Scotch fans will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year with the official opening of its expanded factory and its first series of podcasts. Raymond Davidson, who founded Glencairn Crystal Studio, wanted a glass that would “encourage the user to fully appreciate the nose and palate of…
Read MoreScottish shows honoured at Celtic Media Festival
COMEDY show Two Doors Down and drama series Guilt were among the Scottish winners at the Celtic Media Festival’s Torc Awards. Two Doors Down was named best comedy, while Guilt scooped the best drama series title. Jockey Wilson Says won the best sports documentary category, with Nae Pasaran taking the single documentary prize and Tremble being lauded with…
Read MoreScottish Land Fund backs Borders projects
FUNDING to help communities buy land in the Borders and Dumfries & Galloway from Buccleuch Estates has been hailed as a “major milestone”. Newcastleton & District Community Trust (NDCT) has received £850,000 from the Scottish Land Fund to buy 750 acres of land on the Tarras Water & Holm Hill Estate. The Langholm Initiative has…
Read MoreIrish author scoops Walter Scott Prize
A NOVEL that explores the marriage of artists Edward and Jo Hopper has been awarded the Walter Scott Prize For Historical Fiction. Irish author Christine Dwyer Hickey’s The Narrow Landwas unveiled as the winner on Friday night. Normally, the prize would be awarded as part of the Borders Book Festival in Melrose but, due to the…
Read MoreLet’s talk about… storing whisky
The experts from the Edinburgh Whisky Academy share their top tips for looking after your Scotch. A CANDIDATE contacted us recently to ask whether a piece of cork found floating in a bottle of whisky could spoil its flavour. It is a good question and variations of it are frequently asked: “How long does whisky…
Read MoreBuchan filmmaker reaches overseas lockdown fans
A FILMMAKER from Aberdeenshire has found a new international audience for her videos about the Buchan coastline during lockdown. Jill McWilliam, who runs the Doric Future website, began recording the videos to reflect on her own life and the lives of her neighbours. Her videos capture the natural beauty of the landscape and also the history…
Read MoreRobert Burns and Harry Potter go under the hammer
LETTERS written by the national bard and a signed copy of the first Harry Potter novel are among the lots up for sale on Wednesday at Lyon & Turnbull’s online auction. The auctioneer said that one of the highlights of its sale is a signed letter from Robert Burns to his “kind funny friend” Francis Grose…
Read More