Diamonds are forever – especially in spring

Luxury jewellers Laings know that spring is a season where romance blossoms. The sun begins to shine and flowers bloom, creating the perfect setting to celebrate the everlasting beauty of diamonds. A spokesman said: ‘Our stunning collection of diamonds dazzle in the soft sun. From classic line necklaces and tennis bracelets, to unique marquise cut…

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Still Life with Melon and Fruit to go on show

A Scottish art gallery is holding an exhibition entitled Still Life throughout May. Guy Peploe, managing director the The Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh, has selected works from the subject of Still Life. In art history this subject has produced many masterpieces, countless sub-genres, and lot of efficient, academic works which might not win the Turner…

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Whisky distillery earns Scottish tourism accolade

A whisky distillery steeped in the heart of Glasgow’s distillery industry is celebrating after achieving a prestigious Quality Assurance award from VisitScotland. The Clydeside Distillery, situated in the pumphouse building which once controlled entry into the Glasgow Queen’s Dock, has secured a five-star rating from the national tourism organisation. The grading highlights businesses within the…

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The spirit is strong for the BBC’s Jamie McIvor

As a BBC news correspondent, Jamie McIvor has seen more of the country than most, but for him nowhere can match his home town, Campbeltown. BBC Scotland’s Local Government and Education correspondent Jamie loves nothing more than returning home, especially to indulge his love of running. This feature was originally published in 2014. Sailing into…

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10 Scots who went off on voyages of discovery

The natural curiosity and bravery of the Scottish people has initiated many a dangerous expedition. Here, we turn the spotlight on ten of Scotland’s best explorers. 1. Mungo Park (1771-1806) Park was 23 when he volunteered to explore the course of the River Niger. Before setting off, the Selkirk-born former ship’s doctor learnt the local…

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McIlvanney was the godfather of tartan noir

Long before Rankin or Welsh had ever picked up a pen, William McIlvanney had already created some of the most iconic hard men in Scottish literature. The writer, who died in December 2015, casts a shadow over the literary world in Scotland even today, and his memory lives on with a prize named after him…

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Attractive home once part of a Victorian estate

An impressive home with a fascinating history is available to purchase. Hopetoun, in Blairhoyle, Port Of Menteith, Stirling, is brought to the market by Galbraith. Hopetoun once formed part of the Blairquhoille Estate which included a Victorian mansion house, built in 1852 by the Grahams which was served by Hopetoun and at that time was…

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Search for Scotland’s newest singer/ songwriter

BBC Radio Scotland is on the hunt for the country’s newest star with a brand new award to find Scotland’s Singer/Songwriter of the Year 2019. The search will launch on Thursday 2 May on BBC Scotland’s Quay Sessions with Roddy Hart when chart-topping Scots singer/songwriter, Lewis Capaldi, performs before a live audience in Glasgow. Entrants…

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City set for a smooth summer with jazz festival

The 33rd Glasgow Jazz Festival has unveiled its full programme for 2019, with locations right across Glasgow set to be bursting with jazz talent this June. This year’s festival will include iconic new venues House for an Art Lover and The Planetarium at Glasgow Science Centre. Jazz will be the sound of the city this…

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Orkney is one of the book’s big characters

The Orkney island of Sanday in the middle of winter becomes a character in its own right in Lin Anderson’s novel in the Rhona MacLeod series. As if the discovery of human remains in the grounds of a former primary school and thirteen flowers representing the souls of dead children in the attic of the…

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