Lights! Camera! Winton!

WINTON Castle in East Lothian has hosted its first film shoot. Heehaw, an Edinburgh-based production company, spent two weeks filming at the castle. The as-yet untitled film is due to be released next year. It wasn’t Heehaw’s first visit to the castle though – its team enjoyed its second post-lockdown staff party there over the…

Read More

Gin Extremes: From Shetland to Scilly

Drinks blogger James Robertson reviews gin from either end of the UK. WHO would have thought that you would find a gin distillery on the southern tip of the UK on the island of St Mary’s, part of the Isles of Scilly, and then 776 miles as the crow flies there is another one on…

Read More

What’s up with whisky: A Tale of Two Elchies

Mark Littler returns with his monthly look at the world of whisky auctions. WELCOME back, and welcome to September. This month we come to you with tales of the Elchies as we chat about the split that is appearing in the whisky bottle market. As we begin autumn, there are signs of softening across areas…

Read More

Look out for shelduck feathers at the beach

SCIENTISTS are asking visitors to beaches to look out for shelduck feathers this summer. Shelduck replace their feathers by moutling over the summer. They can’t fly for between two and four weeks, and so need to find safe places to moult. British shelduck either moult on mudflats in the UK or fly across the North…

Read More

Scottish Pipe Band Championships head to Dumbarton

LOCAL pipers Rowan Murdoch and Beth Turner will be hoping for strong home support when the Scottish Pipe Band Championships begin in Dumbarton on Saturday. More than 100 pipe bands will play for 25,000 visitors at one of the biggest free bagpipe competitions in the world. Rowan, 19, who will compete in the drum majors…

Read More

Have you seen a spotted flycatcher?

THE spotted flycatcher is one of six species of migratory birds returning home to Scotland right now – and scientists need your help if you spot one. Researchers at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) are fitting spotted flycatchers with tags so that they can track their flights between Scotland and Africa. Monitoring the birds…

Read More

Strathallan pupil is all set to fence for Scotland

Strathallan School pupil Joshua Bryden will take up his sabre for Scotland this summer as he prepares to fence at the 2022 Commonwealth Fencing Championships in London. The 13-year-old from Auchterarder will take to the piste in both the cadet (under-17) and junior (under-20) sabre categories, after he came top of his age-groups in qualifying.…

Read More

Retro beats with a futuristic touch in new song

December Morning Remix is the nostalgic debut single from futuristic artist Chuck Destiny. The synth-pop track, which features Glasgow-based singer-songwriter Iain Wilson, will be released on Friday, 22 April. Chuck Destiny is the project by an unnamed artist creating retro beats with a futuristic garnish. The track features vocals from Iain Wilson, who infuses current…

Read More

Surf’s up for Scotch whisky sponsorship

Cutty Sark, the blended Scotch whisky has announced a new partnership wthat’s all at sea. They are backing Surfing England to bring the brand’s adventurous spirit to life throughout this year’s competition season. As the nation gets ready for a summer of fun, the whisky’s light, easy-drinking blend will be part of the action, ready…

Read More

Scottish trad group Kinnaris Quintet’s new album

This Too is the stunning second album from award-winning Scottish trad group Kinnaris Quintet. The highly-anticipated record builds on the group’s signature style of intricate traditional melodies underpinned by driving rhythm. The Glasgow-based act burst onto the scene in 2017, releasing their debut album Free One to critical acclaim. Since then, Kinnaris Quintet have gone…

Read More