Scotland
Hostelling Scotland sites all open again
ALL of the sites operated by Hostelling Scotland are now up and running again following the lockdowns. It marks the first time in more than two years that the charity’s 29 youth hostels are all open again. Margo Paterson, the boss at Hostelling Scotland, said: “The [past] couple of years will long be remembered as…
Read MoreFairmont St Andrews goes glamping for The Open
THE Fairmont St Andrews hotel has launched a “glamping” option for visitors to this summer’s 150th Open. It’s the first time that the luxury hotel has offered accommodation in its grounds. Caravans and tents will be available on 15-18 July, with guests given access to the hotel’s facilities. Three nights in its Airstream caravan will…
Read MoreScottish Lion on Patrol is a military classic
With so many WWII books out there, it can be difficult to know where to begin. But this revised version of Scottish Lion on Patrol, a classic regimental tome (first published in 1950), is a great starting point. It is rather complex so requires a solid level of WWII knowledge, but its insights into some…
Read MoreShort stories from the creator of Sherlock Holmes
As Playing with Fire comes from the author who gifted us Sherlock Holmes, you know this is going to be good. Made up of 13 intriguing short stories, ranging from the supernatural to the downright outlandish, this is a further insight into the wonderful imagination of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A favourite of mine is…
Read MoreScots charity helping those escaping Ukraine into Poland
David Fox-Pitt MBE, the founder of WildFox Events Ltd, has created some of Scotland’s most iconic adventure challenges. To date, he’s helped raise more than £40 million for causes worldwide, and he’s now working hard to help people affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine by supplying hot food and drinks to tired, hungry and…
Read MoreWhat’s up with Whisky: April Brawls
Welcome back to the new whisky column where this month we are discussing all things whisky, from the secondary whisky market and the morality of selling bottles, to £3,000 creases. Last month we rounded off with the Springbank Local Barley 2022 which was just about to hit auctions and was our one to watch. Actual…
Read MoreHappy 125th birthday with two new whiskies from Tamdhu
Tamdhu is celebrating its 125th anniversary year with two limited edition launches at this year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. As the first in-person Speyside Whisky Festival since 2019, there is great excitement for the occasion, so Tamdhu is delighted to be able to celebrate its very own historic milestone as the whisky world descends…
Read MoreThree days, two wheels, one sceptical cyclist
Kathi Kamleitner of Watch Me See explores Scotland’s west coast by bike. As I cycle down the hill through Glencruitten towards Oban, my hair is flying in the wind. My chest is filled with pure joy and my mind is flashing with childhood memories of sunny family outings on two wheels. But then, a thought…
Read MoreHow Mary, Queen of Scots, used fabrics in policitcs
Reading Embroidering Her Truth really was a pleasant surprise. In an age when textiles expressed power, Mary, Queen of Scots exploited their symbolism artfully. The most famous example was wearing red – the martyr’s colour – at her execution, but Hunter outlines the many subtle and not-so-subtle ways in which Mary used fabrics to her…
Read MoreBroad support for discussions on lynx in Scotland
There is sufficient appetite from a diverse cross-sector of rural stakeholders to examine whether potential barriers to a trial reintroduction of Eurasian lynx to Scotland can be overcome. That’s according to the first detailed study into the social feasibility of the species’ return. The research, commissioned by the Lynx to Scotland project, spent a year…
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