Actor Brian Cox on Dundee – the city of survival

Despite the blight of youthful poverty and the gutting of his home city by corrupt politicians, actor Brian Cox says that his beloved Dundee’s defining qualities – its warmth, humour and resilience – are behind its phoenix-like rise from the ashes. In 2019, Dundee is one of the most vibrant cities in the UK, especially…

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WINE TO DINE – JUNE 2019 – ASPARAGUS

In a sauvignon blanc special, Scottish Field wine columnist Peter Ranscombe picks pairings for asparagus. FEW wines have such a strong affinity with a single ingredient as sauvignon blanc and asparagus, which is this month’s star ingredient in Scottish Field magazine. Flick through any book on wine and the tasting notes for the more savoury…

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Last chance to see robots exhibition in Edinburgh

This week marks the last chance to see Robots at the National Museum of Scotland. The hugely popular exhibition explores 500 years of humanity’s quest to re-imagine ourselves as machines. Developed by the Science Museum, Robots features a unique collection of over 100 robots, from the earliest automata to those from science fiction and modern-day…

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Small is beautiful for new Scottish hotel company

A Scots-born international hotelier is coming home to gradually launch a new hotel collection and the clue is in the name. Gordon Campbell Gray’s new company, The Wee Hotel Company, plans to develop and invest in special properties around Scotland and will be quietly looking for suitable opportunities. The emphasis will be on authenticity and…

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The Scotsman who made a lasting mark on Russia

Catherine the Great’s favourite architect was the brilliant, mysterious Scot, Charles Cameron. Charles Cameron came from mysterious beginnings, origins which he deliberately made foggier. By his mid-thirties, in 1779, without ever having created a building in his life, he was appointed by Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, to lead a classical architectural revival. Talented…

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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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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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The Scotsman who was a hero to Albert Einstein

When Albert Einstein, perhaps the most famous physicist of all time, published his special theory of relativity in 1905, he used the opening sentence to mention one of Scotland’s greatest scientific minds – James Clerk Maxwell. Later, when marking the centenary of Maxwell’s birth, Einstein wrote: ‘The theory of relativity owes its origins to Maxwell’s…

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Her love of music and fireworks make the light fantastic

Serena Foyle has combined her love of music with her passion for fireworks. Few sights are as dramatic as a firework display. As the rockets soar into the sky and the Catherine wheels spin round, Serena Foyle’s eyes will be fixed on the colourful explosions but her ears are tuned to the music accompanying the…

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