King confers Dunfermline’s city status

KING Charles III will visit Dunfermline today to confer city status on Scotland’s ancient capital. The ceremony will take place at Dunfermline City Chambers as part of the celebrations of the Queen’s platinum jubilee. The King and Queen Camilla will then visit the nearby Dunfermline Abbey, which is marking its 950th anniversary. Today’s visit to…

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Battle weekend will be a sight to behold

Dunbar will come alive with the thundering of hooves and crack of muskets, as the Scottish Battlefields Trust returns to re-enact the 1650 Battle of Dunbar as part of East Lothian’s Battle Weekend. Re-enactors from across the UK are expected put on an exhilarating display recreating a key part of the battle, amidst a series of…

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A delightful doggy day out with a difference

If you love dogs or have a dog and looking for somewhere to take them for a day out, this weekend offers you the perfect place to go. Traquair House, in Innerleithen, Peeblesshire, is holding its annual Dog Day’s Out this Sunday, 21 July, from 11am – 5pm. Now in its fourth year, this is…

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Art treasures were sold as palace vanished from sight

The demolition of Hamilton Palace at Hamilton in South Lanarkshire in the 1920s and the dispersal of its treasures in two sales in 1882 and 1919 was a national tragedy. It was the grandest country house in Scotland and was filled with outstanding furniture and art, thanks to Alexander, 10th Duke of Hamilton (1767-1852). The…

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Return to slender for Scots cats Elvis and Chester

A colossal cat from East Lothian, who once stole an entire cheesecake, has been named ‘top cat’ in the UK’s largest pet slimming competition. Chester the cat shed 17% of his bodyweight in just six months. Fellow cat, Elvis, from Clydebank, also lost an amazing 14%. Every year, vet charity PDSA helps the UK’s fattest…

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Discover the Scot whose name is on the moon

James Gregory was the Scot who invented the reflecting telescope, discovered infinite series and made huge mathematical advances – all before the age of 30. Born in November 1638, his entry in the Chambers Dictionary of Biography includes a long list of achievements, theories and discoveries in mathematics, astronomy and physics. However, he is best…

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Battle royal – the story of the Battle of Culloden

In 1746, the last land battle fought on the mainland of the United Kingdom ended the Jacobite ‘Forty-Five’ rising. It also terminated both the military and the political cause of the exiled Stuarts and, as in all civil wars, was followed by merciless retribution from the victors. The political background was simple; the Stuarts wanted…

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Canines and company have a dog diary date

If you love dogs and your canine companion enjoys a good day out then the Scottish Borders are the place to be this weekend. On Sunday, 15 July, Traquair House will host its third Dogs Day Out, from 11am-5pm, and has a host of activities for dogs and their owners throughout the day. One of…

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Winton Castle invites visitors to its family open day

Winton Castle, formerly Winton House, is opening its gardens and doors for its Family Open Day on Sunday 9th April (12-4.30 pm), when it will be raising funds for Marie Curie and Scotland’s Gardens charities. Visitors will see Winton’s famous wild daffodils, the 17th century walled garden and the sheltered terraces leading down to Sir David’s Loch.  The Open…

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