Searching for Sugarlandia – The Philippines with Don Papa Rum

I’ve always been captivated by the stories behind Scotland’s whiskies. Tales of illicit stills, brave pioneers, families working together and on occasion tearing each other apart, have always been whispered on the wind that sways the fields of barley and in the rushing rivers that provide the crystal-clear water that make Scotch whisky. Today, they…

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The Three Chimneys Seafood & Game Masterclass

I’m driving through some of the most incredible scenery in Scotland, and I’m torn. I want to reach The Three Chimneys before darkness falls, so I’m racing the gloaming. But the glorious light of golden hour on the Isle of Skye is bathing her landscapes, making them even more irresistible and just begging to be…

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RESTAURANT REVIEW: Skua

Richard Bath reviews Skua, the new restaurant in Edinburgh from chefs Tomás Gormley and Sam Yorke. THE timing was impeccable. No sooner had Heron in Leith gained its – well-deserved – Michelin star than twentysomething wunderkinds Tomás Gormley and Sam Yorke’s next venture opened its doors in Edinburgh’s most on-trend area, Stockbridge. Located in what…

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REVIEW: The Science Fiction Experience

Self-confessed geek and nerd Peter Ranscombe wants to hear more from The Science Fiction Experience. SOMETIMES when you hear an idea for a show, you know that the producer is on to a winner. The Science Fiction Experience is one of those shows. Created by Dundee-based science writer David Darling, the concept brings together classic…

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REVIEW: ‘Kidnapped’, National Theatre of Scotland

Megan Amato reviews the National Theatre of Scotland’s production of Kidnapped. THE key ingredients for many good stories start with a hapless character down on their luck before meeting the chaotic chancer who will lead them on an adventure far outside their comfort zone. Described as “a swashbuckling rom-com adventure”, Isobel McArthur and Michael John…

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REVIEW: Drimsynie Holiday Village

A little adventure goes along way for city girl Megan Amato at Drimsynie Holiday Village near Lochgoilhead. TUCKED away at the top of Loch Goil, a sea loch on the Cowal Peninsula, next to the wee village of Lochgoilhead sits Drimsynie Holiday Village, an award-winning holiday park in the Cove Communities fleet that has introduced a…

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From Ukraine to Scotland: Scotch Whisky Training School

Olga Varvarova visits the Scotch Whisky Training School at the Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh. FOR the longest time, whisky had been a drink I would avoid like the plague. As a Ukrainian, I’m much more accustomed to wine or “nalyvka” – a sweet liquor made of fruit or berry. However, my country’s national drink…

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REVIEW: Swan Lake – Birmingham Royal Ballet

Megan Amato reviews the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s performance of Swan Lake at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh. SWAN LAKE is one of those ballets that needs no introduction. Without having to be prompted, many of us can hum Tchaikovsky’s alluring score in our sleep. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small school show or a…

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Review: Dada Masilo’s ‘The Sacrifice’

Megan Amato reviews dancer Dada Masilo’s The Sacrifice. AS SOMEONE without an ounce of rhythm, I am always awed by the ways in which the human body can move and, in award-winning South African choreographer and dancer Dada Masila’s The Sacrifice, she uses an international blend of dance and instrument to showcase the diverse flow…

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