Finding the positives in a poor grouse season

Scotland’s grouse sector has taken a hit this year due to the poor weather – but that has not dampened enthusiasm for private investment in vital conservation work. The financial impact of the poor season, ending today, 10 December, is very significant – due to widespread cancellations of shooting programmes and reduced trade with local…

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Enjoy the wonders of nature in the winter

A celebration of the winter wonders of the natural world is taking place this Sunday. The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotland’s National Academy, is throwing open its doors on George Street on Sunday afternoon, 9 December, with a free afternoon of talks, storytelling, film screenings and a special Festive cafĂ© and again on 10…

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Be lazy in the garden to help out our wildlife

Winter can be a challenging season for wildlife with harsh weather, low temperatures and much less food around. Scotland’s wild bird and animals can suffer in the cold, and sometimes need a little helping hand. This year, Scottish Natural Heritage’s biodiversity manager Debbie Bassett shares the range of ways to give nature a helping hand…

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A pocket estate with fantastic rural outlook

A traditionally-styled shooting lodge with six bedrooms and two reception rooms is now on the property market. Presented by Savills, Pubil Lodge sits in a beautiful location at the top of Glenlyon in a rural and slightly elevated setting with panoramic views over the impressive mountains which surround the property. The lodge itself is south…

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Why peat is so important to life on the islands

Into the Peatlands: A Journey Through the Moorland Year book demonstrates how the peatlands in the Outer Hebrides are central to island life.  It explains the significance of peat in local folklore and wildlife. The seasonal processes surrounding peat reveal a significant amount about life on the islands both in the present and in the past as…

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Scotland’s eight most Instagrammed hikes

The eight most popular hikes in Scotland, according to Instagram, have been revealed. According to Google Trends, the nation’s interest in hiking has been steadily increasing over the last five years. To provide ramblers with ideas on where in the UK to hike for spectacular mountain scenes, Sportsshoes.com have analysed over 677K hiking-related posts published…

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Scotland’s second Dark Skies park officially unveiled

The high quality of the night skies above Tomintoul and Glenlivet have received a prestigious award by becoming Scotland’s second recognised International Dark Sky Park. Awarded Gold Tier status by the International Dark-Sky Association, the Tomintoul and Glenlivet – Cairngorms Dark Sky Park is among the darkest Dark Sky Parks in the UK, it is…

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Home really was where the heart is to help save church

People of all nationalities who leave one country for another will always have an affinity with the place they have left, but the sense of home seems to resonate particularly strongly with Scottish expats. From those who have left Scotland’s shores for a new life abroad to fifth-generation Scots who may never have visited their…

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10 Scottish sights you won’t believe are in our country

When many of us think of Scottish scenery, the images of rolling green countryside and mist covered lochs instantly spring to mind. However, our country also plays host to sights that appear to be from much further-flung destinations. From beaches that look like they belong to the Caribbean, or tropical waterfalls that would be perfectly…

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Bronze prize at game and conservation awards

A Scots business was celebrating last night, after taking a prize at the 2018 Purdey Awards for Game and Conservation. At a ceremony held in London gun and rifle maker James Purdey & Sons’ famous Long Room, where the Bronze Award was given to Whitburgh Farms, Midlothian. They have made notable changes to their shoot…

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