Charity shoot raises £230,000 for good causes

The annual charity clay pigeon shoot hosted by CR Smith boss Gerard Eadie CBE raised a superb £230,000 at the weekend – money which will be divided between four charities. With spirits high despite the threat of downpours, 42 teams of shooters and a total of 400 guests took part in the shoot at Auchterhouse…

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Walkers: Check for deer stalkers before hitting the hills

Hillwalkers are being encouraged to check online for deer stalking information before setting out during the busiest part of the season. Scottish Natural Heritage (manages the Heading for the Scottish Hills website which provides details on deer stalking on estates between July and late October to help walkers avoid disturbing stalking. The website makes it…

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Reaping the rewards for tree planting scheme – 20 years on

A strong demand for wood fuel means pioneering Aberdeenshire farmers are now reaping the rewards of trees planted 20 years ago. Planted through the Grampian Forest Challenge Fund, the woods are now being thinned, with farmers pleasantly surprised by the high value of their timber. Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service (FAS) says yields are consistently higher…

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Scotland prepares itself for the Glorious 12th

Country sports enthusiasts heading to Scotland for the Glorious 12th next week are demanding a greater variety of iconic Scottish experiences. Tourism experts report that wildlife tours, whisky tasting and castle visits are major draws for the days when they are not shooting, making their trip a more complete Scottish experience. Andrew Grainger from the…

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We try and test the Jack Wolfskin Vojo Hike II boots

Tried and tested – Jack Wolfskin Men’s Vojo Hike II Mid Hiking Boots (£69.99) What is it: A great lightweight, intermediate walking boot. Strong ankle support, breathable, waterproof and a comfy fit. What I liked: I tested these boots out on a three-day walk around the hills in the Scottish Borders, and having taken them…

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Castle will host adventure travel film festival

Bikes and natural beauty will be in focus at Brodie Castle’s first film festival. Exploring the globe on two (and sometimes three) wheels is a theme for the first ever Adventure Travel Film Festival to take place at the National Trust for Scotland’s Brodie Castle this September. Pedalling in Patagonia, rickshawing across India, motorbiking through…

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A life in the great outdoors at Ardvreck School

Most childhoods are looked back on fondly, with memories of endless exploration and curiosity. Children can spend hours playing around outside, letting their imagination run riot and get the better of them, and return in time for supper bruised, battered and covered in mud, but nonetheless happy. Ardvreck is a prep school in Crieff that…

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Talented tennis pair take home open event trophies

It was game, set and match for Halle Pringle and Ramon Toyos who scooped their respective open singles titles in the Mactaggart & Mickel East Lothian Open tennis tournament. Halle (17) plays at Sunderland Tennis Centre.  Ramon (24) who hails from Santander in Spain is currently playing with Whitecraigs Lawn Tennis Club in East Renfrewshire.…

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Recycling bikes and giving them a new lease of life

Turning unwanted bikes into objects of desire, De’ils on Wheels is a community bike workshop that promotes the joy of cycling. Based in Glasgow, it offers safe, affordable bikes to encourage you do it. Project manager Neil Lovelock explains how it is gaining momentum. How did De’ils on Wheels get started? We run several projects…

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Scots love walking their dogs to de-stress their minds

A study has found that a huge proportion of dog owners feel that walking their dog is crucial for de-stressing from the hectic buzz of daily life. Out of the 2,000 owners involved in the study in Scotland, 75% see a dog walk as an escape and almost two thirds claim that this is the…

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