From Shetland to the moon for Mark Bonnar

Scots actor Mark Bonnar is following in the footsteps of an Oscar winner. When you think of his work, the chances are Mark’s appearances in Line of Duty, Shetland or Guilt will spring to mind, or even a short spell in Casualty. But Mark’s delighted with his latest role, which has taken him to the…

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Scotland’s sealife at heart of whale and dolphin watch

Scotland played a major part in the Sea Watch Foundation’s 2019 National Whale and Dolphin Watch event. The survey revealed striking biodiversity with an impressive 13 species of cetaceans seen around the British Isles. This was a number which has only been recorded twice before in the history of the event. The total number of…

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Animal magic that’s rescuing thousands of creatures

Thousands of maltreated and injured creatures, great and small, are restored to health each year at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fife. It’s usually the plight of red squirrels and wildcats that makes the headlines, but the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (the Scottish SPCA), makes it its business to…

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Scotland’s ancient ties with the Vikings

For Paul Murton, the mythical call of the Orkney and Shetland isles has been strong since his childhood. Thanks to his father’s Norwegian background, Paul spent a lot of his childhood travelling extensively among the islands of Norway’s fjord-riven west coast or tramping through the snowfields of Hardangervidda. But Scotland’s own northern isles remained a…

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Lantra Scotland reveals finalists for 18th awards

A select group of the country’s top trainees have been named as finalists in Lantra Scotland’s much-anticipated Awards for Land-based and Aquaculture Skills (the ALBAS). The talented apprentices and trainees who have made the shortlist will find out if they have won at a prestigious gala dinner and award ceremony on Thursday, 5 March, at…

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Burn your boats at Up Helly Aa

Held each January to celebrate Shetland’s rich Viking heritage, the fiery Up Helly Aa festival is a truly remarkable sight. Originating in the 1880s, Up Helly Aa is a community fire festival which takes place in Lerwick, on the last Tuesday in January. It is believed that the name, Up Helly Aa is derived from…

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Orcadian whisky dinner to celebrate Burns Night

A Glasgow restaurant has announced an Orcadian Burns Night Whisky Dinner in their multi-award-winning restaurant for Sunday, 26 January. Kickstarting a schedule of events for 2020, seafood restaurant Gamba is continuing its 21st-anniversary celebrations by partnering with Highland Park for a Burns Night like no other. Made with pride on Orkney, Highland Park is made…

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New release from Nicola Benedetti’s Foundation Orchestra

Nicola Benedetti and her Foundation Orchestra have released Mascagni’s Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana digitally worldwide on Decca Classics. The work is one of the pieces the young people attending the Foundation’s workshops – The Benedetti Sessions – are learning and the very first sessions kicked off this weekend in Glasgow. The Foundation Orchestra represents every…

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January 2020 is a month to see watercolours

In January 2020, National Galleries of Scotland will exhibit JMW Turner, RSW will present the 139th Open Annual exhibition at the RSA, on the Mound. The Birch Tree Gallery on Dundas Street will also bring back Shetland watercolour painter Peter Davis. January always brings JMW Turner’s works to the display at the National Galleries Scotland.…

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A private jetty at an architect-designed home

Incredible shoreside views with a private jetty are available in this stunning, unique architect-designed home. Presented for sale by Harper Macleod LLP, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire an exceptional, unique, detached property, undoubtedly one of the finest modern homes the agents have seen, set in around 1.5 acres in a…

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