Monarch of the Glen moved to new home

One of the most celebrated paintings in the world – the iconic The Monarch of the Glen by Sir Edwin Landseer – is on the move to its new home. With only one month to go until the opening of the new Scottish galleries at the National in Edinburgh, The Monarch of the Glen is one of over…

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Historic steamship Sir Walter Scott returns

Historic steamship Sir Walter Scott will return to the water following major renovations. The steamship, which was built by Denny’s of Dumbarton in 1899, is due to be resume sailing this weekend on Loch Katrine. It comes after the completion of a £750,000 restoration project which involved replacing the two steam boilers and decking as…

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Dandie Dinmont Terriers take part in annual derby race

They were once a popular breed in the 1800s, but now less than 100 Dandie Dinmont Terriers are born in the UK every year. The hardy and intelligent dogs take their name from a fictional character in a Sir Walter Scott novel from 1814, although they were around long before that. Known for their distinctive…

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Rare desk seal belonging to Sir Walter Scott sold for £14,000

A rare desk seal belonging to Sir Walter Scott has sold for nearly £14,000. The finely carved hand seal, set in lapis lazuli, gold and amethyst stones, is believed to date from his knighthood in 1820 and bears the writer’s family armorial.  It was sold for £13,860 by auctioneers Lyon & Turnbull. The figure achieved…

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Sir Walter Scott desk seal could fetch £18,000 at auction

A rare 200-year-old desk seal belonging to Sir Walter Scott could fetch up to £18,000 when it goes under the hammer this week. The finely carved hand seal is from Scott’s personal desk seal at Abbotsford House in the Scottish Borders and is believed to date back to his knighthood in 1820. It is set…

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Hospitality news round-up: Cameron House, Muse, and more

Peter Ranscombe rounds-up the latest hospitality news. CAMERON House Hotel has named Allan Wilson as its next general manager as the estate prepares to marks its 200th anniversary. “I have always regarded Cameron House as being at the pinnacle of the finest hospitality in Scotland,” he said “It’s a dream come true to work at…

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Shortleet for 2023 Walter Scott Prize unveiled

SEVEN books have been named on the shortleet for this year’s Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. The titles competing for the £25,000 prize are: These Days by Lucy Caldwell (Faber) The Geometer Lobachevsky by Adrian Duncan (Tuskar Rock Press) Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris (Hutchinson Heinemann) The Chosen by Elizabeth Lowry (Riverrun) The…

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Whisky news round-up: Speyburn, Macallan, and more

Peter Ranscombe takes another look at the world of Scotch whisky. SPEYBURN distillery is preparing to welcome visitors for the first time in its 125-year history as part of the Spirit of Speyside whisky festival. Distillery manager Euan Henderson and his assistant, David Rogerson, will lead tours during the festival, which runs from 26 April…

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Holyrood marks 200th year since George IV visit

THE Palace of Holyroodhouse is marking this week’s 200th anniversary of the visit by King George IV to Scotland with a series of events. The Royal Collection Trust’s (RCT’s) curators are holding a study morning at the palace today, including a tour of the rooms used by the king during his visit. Tomorrow, an hour-long…

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