The surprising cost of Scotland’s takeaway meals

Over a third of adults in Scotland are ordering takeaways every week, adding up to over £1.5bn a year, with the biggest spenders shelling out over £1,200 a year on their orders. 34% of adults are placing the orders, according to a survey conducted for Quality Meat Scotland, based on the research revealing a 2%…

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Swiss home design with wine cellar and garage for 12 cars

A truly stunning example of Swiss design and ingenuity, with a wine cellar and garage for 12 cars, is now for sale. Savills  is marketing Boulder House, an exceptional modern house set in rural Aberdeenshire around 45 miles from Aberdeen. Privately commissioned by the sellers, the property was created by Swiss architect Martin Stohr in…

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Former manse in a peaceful village setting

Muirton House is a delightful, C-listed former manse which, although being set in village location, offers spacious accommodation in a secluded and private setting. Presented by Galbraith and set over two floors, the house, on Church Road, Luthermuir, Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire, has undergone a degree of sympathetic internal renovation which has retained many of the traditional…

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Bubbles under a fishing line mean otters

Having whiled away many hours along the banks of the River Dee, wildlife aficionado Hans Kruuk has followed an interesting group of otters. He has found that each has their own intriguing personality. Walking along a narrow path on the river bank of a beautiful, majestic stretch of the River Dee, ahead of me I…

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Marine painter Rob Andrew’s work is all at sea

When it comes down to it, there are very few places that rival the love and inspiration of home. Such a phenomenon is shared by marine painter Rob Andrew who, after working in Czechoslovakia and South Africa, returned to the north east of Scotland to pursue and develop his passion for painting. Drawing on a…

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Five fantastic places to take your canine companion

Are you looking for the perfect autumnal spot in which to take your dogs to stretch their legs (and yours)? We recommend these five great walks in Aberdeenshire. Stonehaven Beach Measuring slightly more than a kilometre, Stonehaven Beach is home to a seemingly endless stretch of pebbly sand for your dog to tear across. For…

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New St David’s has lots of charm – and great views

A charming, well-appointed home offering flexible accommodation, with a separate cottage, has been made available on the property market. Presented by Rettie and Co, New St David’s is set in an attractive garden with an open outlook over rural Perthshire. New St David’s enthuses charm with its sympathetic balance between traditional design with a classical…

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Scotland’s island population is on the rise

The population of Scotland’s islands is on the increase, according to research institutes, community groups and public sector organisations. They have issued a joint statement which says there is credible evidence of ‘green shoots’ of population turnaround, which as yet does not show up in official statistics. The Islands Revival Declaration, developed by social scientists…

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Scots singer Emeli Sande celebrates our buskers

Multi-award-winning Scots singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé mixes a diverse melting pot of musical talent in an inspiring new four-part BBC Scotland series. In Emeli Sandé’s Street Symphony, the renowned recording artist hand-picks her six favourite buskers from the streets of Scotland to join her in an uplifting concert with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and world-class…

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Businesses boosted by a bumper food festival

The corridors and courtyards of Cults Academy were reverberating to rather different sights and sounds at the weekend, as thousands of people descended on the venue for the Deeside Local Food Festival’s fifth outing. Over 3400 people of all ages immersed themselves in an enticing array of gastronomic delights, as well as foodie talks, chef…

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