Authors pick top lockdown crime novels

Ahead of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival, which begins online on 18 September, authors Alex Gray and Gordon Brown – who writes as Morgan Cry – pick their favourite lockdown books. Alex Gray Three books that were really good during lockdown days include Kate Atkinson’s Big Sky. A terrific read, thoroughly enjoyable, beautifully written and quirky.…

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Albarino: how will lockdown affect the way wine is made?

Two very different vintages and two very different tastings demonstrate how the weather still plays a crucial role in winemaking, writes Peter Ranscombe. WHAT a difference a year makes; nearly 12 months ago, I was sitting in a London tapas bar – remember when we could go out for tapas? – listening to Paula Fandino,…

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Scottish Hospitality for Heroes

Crerar Hotels are to gift 2,000 free ‘nights away’ for NHS staff, care workers and their families in an initiative that will give the company and the public an opportunity to express their gratitude to those who have worked tirelessly throughout the Covid-19 crisis. The ‘Scottish Hospitality for Heroes’ campaign will begin with two key…

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Batten down the hatches

Batten Down the Hatches, an appropriately-named online exhibition of new paintings by the excellent Ross Ryan, opens at The Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh on Wednesday 29 April. This solo exhibition is the result of two years of chasing gales, sailing to offshore lighthouses on his boat Sgarbh and discovering the people and their islands. His…

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The final straw

In an unanticipated side-effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, shops in Glasgow have been forced to stop selling Buckfast, the iconic tonic wine made by Benedictine monks in Devon which is popular on the west coast of Scotland, as supplies have dwindled. “It’s really bad,” Whiteinch-based shop owner, Sobhan Rashid, told the Glasgow Times. “At the…

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A delicious seared scallop recipe to enjoy

Strong childhood memories of food remain an inspiration for Kinloch House chef Steve McCallum. As a child, Steve would spend time on the west coast with his uncle, a lobster fisherman in Tarbert, bringing in the creels and aquiring a taste for fresh food. ‘I still have a fondness for those early memories of eating…

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Former Victorian school could be a class act

A rare opportunity to acquire an impressive Victorian built former school with planning permission for conversion. Situated on the popular Ardnamurchan Peninsular, this very impressive Victorian building offers a rare opportunity to acquire an important piece of local history in the form of a mission house and primary school dating from 1868. Presented by Galbraith,…

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Project Smok’s debut album is brought to life

Bayview is the debut album from upcoming neo-trad trio Project Smok. Recently released, the record showcases the non-conformist and progressive Scottish traditional music the young band have become known for in recent years. Combining trad music with links to contemporary new-age pop, Bayview was brought to life in Edwyn Collins’ famous Clashnarrow Studio in Helmsdale…

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The Torridon review: a slice of paradise

To say that the road to The Torridon is dramatic doesn’t quite cover it. Rounding the corner and passing a sign signalling ten miles until I reached my destination, I felt as if I’d driven straight onto the set of a Hollywood blockbuster. The single track road was glistening in Narnia style, while the snow-capped…

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Erskine Hotel and Spa has a new owner

The Erskine Hotel and Spa has been sold to an expanding operator. Situated in Erskine on the west coast, overlooking the River Clyde and only 14 miles west of Glasgow city centre, stands The Erskine Bridge Hotel, extending across approximately six acres of land. The purpose-built hotel has been purchased by MGM Muthu Hotels in…

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