Abbotsford prepares for tomorrow’s ScottFest

SIR Walter Scott’s home at Abbotsford near Tweedbank is making the final preparations for its “ScottFest”. The three-day festival celebrating the life of Scotland’s most famous author begins tomorrow. Events include jousting, terrier racing, and birds of prey displays. The festival marks Scott’s birthday, which this year coincides with the 200th anniversary of the author’s…

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Cockburns of Leith opens first bottle shop in 226 years

COCKBURNS OF LEITH, Scotland’s oldest wine merchant, has opened its first shop in the company’s 226-year history. The store – which sits on Frederick Street in Edinburgh’s New Town – will run wine tastings and provide free delivery within the capital and the Lothians. Cockburns of Leith was established in 1796 by brothers Robert and…

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Cask 88 marks Sir Walter Scott’s 250th anniversary

WHISKY bottler Cask 88 is commemorating Sir Walter Scott by today unveiling a collection of four special bottles. Each bottle is named after a phrase made famous by Scott. The company took a cask of 19-year-old Ben Nevis single malt and split it between four smaller casks for finishing. “Lock, Stock and Barrel” was finished…

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REVIEW: Cask 88 Sir Walter Scott 250th anniversary whiskies

Peter Ranscombe gets an exclusive preview of whisky bottler Cask 88’s tribute to Sir Walter Scott. THERE’S something so evocative about tasting whisky outdoors. When it comes to wine tasting, many vineyards will serve visitors samples out among the vines. Whisky distilleries, less so. Standing on the terrace outside Abbotsford House near Melrose, I could…

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Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction finalists unveiled

The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, which celebrates outstanding historical novels published in the UK, Ireland and the Commonwealth, has announced its 2022 longlist. Thirteen novels are in contention for the £25,000 prize, with settings spanning from the 8th century BC up to the 1960s, and from all four nations of the United Kingdom…

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Sir Harry Lauder – a treasure or an embarrassment?

To many people he was a national icon but for others he was an embarrassment – and even today Sir Harry Lauder splits opinion. It seems apposite that the Sir Harry Lauder Road is the bypass road between Portobello and Edinburgh. On one hand, Portobello was his birthplace; on the other, the Scottish intelligencia have…

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Win a chance to discover Edinburgh’s literary heritage

A new competition has been launched offering a pair of literature lovers a once-in-a-lifetime prize – the chance to explore Edinburgh’s literary heritage accompanied by one of the city’s most famous writers, multiple award-winning author Ian Rankin OBE. The competition prize package also includes return travel to Edinburgh, two nights’ accommodation at YOTEL Edinburgh, a…

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Insightful exhibitions at National Museum of Scotland

The National Museum of Scotland is currently running a number of fascinating exhibitions. The Typewriter Revolution will continue until April 17 2022, and is open from 10am-4.30pm. The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this new exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and…

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LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP FROM RUGBY LEGEND GAVIN HASTINGS

Chief Sub-Editor Rosie Morton interviews rugby legend Gavin Hastings ahead of his appearance at The Borders Book Festival… When it comes to sporting arenas, rugby presents one of the most challenging environments. Indeed, George Orwell once referred to the great game as ‘war by another name’. It is, of course, in these highly pressurised settings…

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Borders Book Festival reveals its big name guests

A host of literary and political giants are among the highlights of the 2021 Baillie Gifford Borders Book Festival. This year’s event is being held in November at Ed Miliband, home of Sir Walter Scott, whose 250th anniversary is being celebrated throughout the year. Writers Hilary Mantel and Alexander McCall Smith, crime-writing royalty Ian Rankin,…

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