A guide to one of the most important gardens

Regarded as one of the most important gardens in Britain, Little Sparta in the Pentland Hills has become renowned the world over. Ian Hamilton Finlay’s anarchic collection contains 300 artworks by himself and others, designed to evolve over time. This beautifully illustrated guide to the garden is the perfect companion for anyone visiting or interested…

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Buses in the highlands take centre stage

O’er Highland Highways  covers the operation of the highly valued bus and coach services of David MacBrayne from 1906 to 1972. It also includes the histories of the twenty operators acquired during this time. The story is accompanied by many historical pictures, giving the reader a fascinating insight into MacBrayne’s buses and his company in…

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Tide and time waits for no one in this thriller

The Relentless Tide, the newest instalment of the DCI Daley thrillers series is well-written and engaging from beginning to end. While searching for Viking remains, archaeologist Professor Francombe stumbles across the missing remains from the ‘Midweek Murderer’ case that occurred in the 1990s, a case from DCI Daley’s past that has been haunting him for…

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Stitch Up is a page turner you won’t put down

The fourth-instalment of the highly acclaimed Best Defence Mystery series has finally arrived. Now happily married with his young daughter safely at home, Robbie Munro’s life is finally an ordinary one. But with a past like his, that can’t last long. An old flame re-enters his life asking for help on an unexplained death. At…

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Revive your frazzled hair for the winter months

As the colder weather sets in, it’s only natural that many of us will spend an increased amount of time indoors. When it starts to get dark at 3.30 in the afternoon, retreating to the couch with all manner of home comforts is one of the great joys of a Scottish winter. It is usually around this time…

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Restaurant will have you dancing on the tables

With ornate lanterns hanging from the ceiling, tapestries on the walls and a belly dancer strutting her stuff, Souq certainly lives up to its name. We started with a wonderful Sujuk stew served with thick, pillowy flatbread, lamb mince parcels and baba ganoush. Hearty and flavoursome chicken and lamb meatball tagines followed and by the…

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Back to Perth

Wednesday May 11th…Heavy showers yesterday and I suspect conditions at Perth this evening will be testing for the time of year.  We have three declared to run;  Amulree runs in the 6.40, 9 run and Lucy rides, I have been desperate to get her on the track for weeks now as she has been threatening to…

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Peaceful day…

Sunday April 17th – Peaceful day on the yard, all the horses either on the walker or relaxing in the paddocks enjoying some spring grass.  No runners at the point-to-point but Lucy has two rides at Wetherby, Perez in the 2.25 and Knock Three Times in the 4.40 so relaxing won’t really be the right…

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