News
Scotland’s lighthouses star in new book
AN ARTIST and author has spent the past five years drawing illustrations of more than 350 lighthouses surrounding Britain and Ireland. Roger O’Reilly will release a book early next year, and is already selling prints online. All Scotland’s lights are included in the project, including famous sites such as Bell Rock and Eilean Mór. His…
Read MoreDrinks news round-up: Beer, gin, and more
Peter Ranscombe pours another measure of drinks news. ALCOHOL-FREE beer maker Jump Ship Brewing is launching a £300,000 crowdfunding campaign to build its own brewery at Rosemain Steadings in Midlothian. Managing director Sonja Mitchell, who launched her brand in 2019, will create three jobs at the brewery, and a further ten posts over the next…
Read MoreHostelling Scotland wants diverse trustees
DIVERSITY sits at the heart of a recruitment campaign for trustees launched today by Hostelling Scotland. The charity, which runs nearly 60 hostels throughout the country, wants trustees “with skills and experience in managing operational change, charity or corporate governance, law, risk management, and youth travel and hospitality”. It said the posts are open to…
Read MoreFred Olsen passengers report 4,400 wildlife sightings
PASSENGERS aboard Fred Olsen cruise ships recorded 4,400 wildlife sightings last year. The most frequent species spotted was – appropriately – the common dolphin, which was sighted 296 times, reaching 1,996 individual dolphins. Other creatures reported during cruises included humpback whales, orca, a blue whale, and even the deepest-diving animal, the elusive Cuvier’s beaked whale,…
Read MoreSpirits news from the Hebrides
THREE spirits stalwarts on the Outer Hebrides are having a busy start to the year. Angus A MacMillan and Angus E MacMillan, the father-and-son team building Benbecula distillery, have unveiled the first three bottles from MacMillan Spirits. They’ve launched: “Wheelhouse Whisky”, an eight-year-old single cask Islay single malt; “Machair Gin”, a gin that contains heather…
Read MoreWhisky news round-up: Speyburn, Macallan, and more
Peter Ranscombe takes another look at the world of Scotch whisky. SPEYBURN distillery is preparing to welcome visitors for the first time in its 125-year history as part of the Spirit of Speyside whisky festival. Distillery manager Euan Henderson and his assistant, David Rogerson, will lead tours during the festival, which runs from 26 April…
Read MoreDoddie Aid rowing challenge for Cameron House
CAMERON House at Loch Lomond is taking part in Doddie Aid 2023 with a mass-participation rowing challenge over the next five weeks. The event will raise money for the charity created by Scottish rugby legend Doddy Weir, who died in November, aged 52. The MyName’5 Doddie Foundation, which was founded in November 2017, aims to…
Read MoreScotHot celebrates its 50th year at SEC Glasgow
SCOTHOT returns for its 50th year showcasing Scotland’s finest food, drink, hospitality, retail, and tourism at the SEC Glasgow on 8 and 9 March. ScotHot23 gives visitors the opportunity to meet with suppliers, network with others to inspire and to be inspired, learn about the latest trends, and – most importantly – try the fabulous…
Read MoreBurns Night round-up: Haggis, poetry, and more
HAGGIS lover from Orkney to Essex have changed their names on social media to “R Burns” ahead of Burns Night. Butcher Simon Howie ran a competition to encourage people to change their names for the Bard’s birthday, and gave 100 winners hampers featuring products from Irn Bru, Mash Direct, Mrs Tillys, Orkney Cheese, Nairn’s, and…
Read MoreKelso wants to be ‘Scotland’s wellbeing capital’
TOURISM body Visit Kelso wants to attract travelers interested in wellbeing to the Borders town. The group asked people who work in some of the town’s shops, cafes, restaurants, and visitor destinations to become “wellness warriors” as part of Kelso’s efforts to be recognised as “Scotland’s wellbeing capital”. The Schloss Roxburghe Hotel – which opened…
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