Huge demand to buy in rural Scotland despite pandemic

Brexit and Covid-19 are proving no barrier to people wanting to purchase rural property in Scotland. In the face of Brexit negotiations and the global pandemic, 2020 was an extraordinary year for the Scottish estate market: it has entered a new era, where newly perceived attributes are enhancing its appeal and subsequent value. Analysis of…

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The 2021 Turriff Show is cancelled by COVID

This year’s Turriff Show, the largest two-day agricultural show in Scotland, been cancelled due to the continued uncertainty of hosting large scale events during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 Show was due to take place on Sunday 1 and Monday 2 August at The Haughs, Turriff. And 2021 President Alan Gaul, speaking on behalf…

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Footpath funding to increase access

SOME of Scotland’s best-loved paths are being revamped with fresh funding to remove barriers and improve access for all. NatureScot, the Scottish Goverment agency known previously as Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), is funding almost £111,000 of improvements to the path network. The cash covers many of Scotland’s long-distance walks, such as the West Highland Way.…

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Visitors flock to nature reserves and urban green spaces

MORE than one million visitors have flocked to Scotland’s national nature reserves this year, while use of urban green spaces is also up, according to NatureScot. The agency, formerly Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), said around 650,000 people normally visit the country’s 43 national nature reserves each year. That figure swelled during the intitial spring lockdown,…

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Scottish countryside dominates ‘best kept secrets’ list

SCOTLAND has dominated a series of lists of the “best kept secrets of the UK countryside“. Scottish locations finished top of the tables for beaches, parks, and routes for hikes. Newburgh in Aberdeenshire topped the beach list, followed by Polin near Kinlochbervie, and Embo near Dornoch. The Berwickshire coast path was the top hiking route,…

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Easy festive styling tips from an expert

You don’t have to be a design guru to make your home feel special this Christmas writes Kate Henderson, owner of Henderson’s Garden & Home Store in Melrose. PEOPLE worry they are not creative enough or might get something wrong when it comes to trying out new ideas at Christmas. But if you use what…

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Review: ‘Sittingsuits you, sir!’

Elis Elliot climbs inside a Sittingsuit to put the ‘sleeping bag you can wear’ through its paces. TIME spent in the great outdoors has always been instrumental in improving our physical and mental health, but that’s never been more important than it is right now. As the seasons change and we are forced to socialise…

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‘Abstraction’ opens at Gallery Q Dundee

WORKS by six artists have gone on show at Gallery Q Dundee. The exhibition, entitled “Abstraction”, runs until 15 November. Siobhan O’Hehir, who lives and paints at Ancrum in the Borders, is the featured artist. Originally from the West of Ireland, she trained in fine art at the University of Ulster and achieved her master’s…

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Perthshire Adventure launches website

SEVEN adventure tourism businesses in Perthshire have launched a website to attract more visitors to the area. The companies formed the Perthshire Adventure initiative two years ago and have been working together to promote their region. Now, they’ve received backing from business support firm GrowBiz Scotland to reach a wider audience. Sarah Turner, the initiative’s…

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Keela releases anti-viral outdoor clothing

SCOTTISH outdoor clothing brand Keela has unveiled a range of anti-viral garments. The active ingredient on Keela’s “ViralOff” clothes reduces viruses on the garments by 99% over a two-hour period, the company said. Keela developed the range with textile technology firm Polygiene. Sam Fernando, Keela’s sales director, said: “During the design phase of the collection,…

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