TRAVEL

TRAVEL

SCOTLAND, THE UK AND BEYOND

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Review: The Hari Afternoon Tea & London Tea Friends Summer Festival

Summertime in Auld Reekie can feel a lot more hectic than The Big Smoke. So, instead of breaking to London for the hustle and bustle,...
Knipoch-Lounge 2025

Travel Review, Knipoch Hotel: ‘A visit to Knipoch is like taking a deep, restorative breath of crisp, cleansing Highland air’

I knew that Shakespeare’s singular Scottish play, Macbeth, was set in Scotland, of course, but I had no idea that the murder that inspired it...
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Travel Review: Seaton House, St Andrews

Visitors flock to St Andrews for different reasons, whether it be to play rounds of gold on the town's historic championship courses, visit the third-oldest...
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Fred Olsen: Scotland, Scilly Isles & The West Country 10 Night Cruise

At the ripe old age of 33, I packed my bags, hopped on the 30-minute train from Haymarket to Rosyth and into the waiting taxi...
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Galgorm Resort is the perfect place for a luxury spa break in Northern Ireland

There are spa breaks, and there are spa breaks. But when I agreed to travel to Northern Ireland to visit Galgorm Resort I was fairly...
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Marine Troon Hotel: ‘A relaxed sense of luxury and you don’t need to like golf to love this hotel’

Marooned just steps away from the golden sands of Troon beach lies the sandstone monolith that is the Marine Troon Hotel. Golf fans may be...
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Review: The Hari Afternoon Tea & London Tea Friends Summer Festival

Summertime in Auld Reekie can feel a lot more hectic than The Big Smoke. So, instead of breaking to London for the hustle and bustle,...
Knipoch-Lounge 2025

Travel Review, Knipoch Hotel: ‘A visit to Knipoch is like taking a deep, restorative breath of crisp, cleansing Highland air’

I knew that Shakespeare’s singular Scottish play, Macbeth, was set in Scotland, of course, but I had no idea that the murder that inspired it...
IMG_3159_jpg

Travel Review: Seaton House, St Andrews

Visitors flock to St Andrews for different reasons, whether it be to play rounds of gold on the town's historic championship courses, visit the third-oldest...
IMG_9293

Fred Olsen: Scotland, Scilly Isles & The West Country 10 Night Cruise

At the ripe old age of 33, I packed my bags, hopped on the 30-minute train from Haymarket to Rosyth and into the waiting taxi...
galgorm exterior web

Galgorm Resort is the perfect place for a luxury spa break in Northern Ireland

There are spa breaks, and there are spa breaks. But when I agreed to travel to Northern Ireland to visit Galgorm Resort I was fairly...
_hr_ex_27

Marine Troon Hotel: ‘A relaxed sense of luxury and you don’t need to like golf to love this hotel’

Marooned just steps away from the golden sands of Troon beach lies the sandstone monolith that is the Marine Troon Hotel. Golf fans may be...
All pictures credit: Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III

Palace of Holyroodhouse launches first gin infused with herbs from historical garden

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Scottish seat of the Royal Family, has launched its first gin - infused with herbs from the historical garden. The...
The Scotch whisky industry brought £7.1bn into the UK economy in 2022.

A new report by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) also reveals the industry supports 66,000 jobs across the UK, of which 41,000 are in Scotland.

The Scotch Whisky industry is now responsible for generating £3 in every £100 of Scotland’s total Gross Value Added (GVA), and is the second most productive sector in Scotland, ranked just behind energy including renewables.

'The Scotch Whisky industry has once again proven its economic significance to the UK domestically and on the world stage, and these figures highlight the importance of backing a key sector for productivity, exports and employment,' said Mark Kent, Chief Executive of the SWA.

'The past five years have been turbulent for our sector, as we faced retaliatory tariffs in the United States, in addition to the global pandemic and the knock-on economic pressures.

'The Scotch Whisky industry has remained resilient, with capital investment directed towards fulfilling our collective sustainability ambitions, creating world-class visitor attractions, and building more distilleries that will help boost jobs and growth.

'Ahead of the UK Spring Budget on 6 March and this year’s General Election, it is vital that the industry is supported by government so that businesses can continue to invest in the UK economy.'

The report found that 75% of the total GVA of the Scotch Whisky industry is generated in Scotland, equal to £5.3bn annually – helped by legislation that requires all Scotch Whisky to be distilled and matured for at least three years in Scotland, and all Single Malt Scotch whisky to be bottled in Scotland.

The report also found that the industry performs a crucial role in driving productivity across Scotland.

The manufacturing of beverages in Scotland – dominated by Scotch – produces £273,000 GVA per employee.

Whisky galore: Scotch whisky industry brings £7.1bn into UK economy

The Scotch whisky industry brought £7.1bn into the UK economy in 2022. A new report by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) also reveals the industry...
SUSHISAMBA's iconic tree sits at the heart of the restaurant. [Rosie Morton]

SUSHISAMBA: The W Hotel serves up a night to remember

There is something to be said for fusion cuisine. Of course, I’m not talking about midnight fridge raids that result in a state of fusion...
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Scottish gin selected for $125,000 Oscars gift bags

A Scottish spirits manufacturer has made it to Hollywood after its gin was selected to go into the $125,000 gift bags at the Oscars. Gin...
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Producer’s Corner: Catherine Drummond-Herdman of Tea Gardens Scotland

When it comes to natural produce, Scotland has a fantastic selection. But one that doesn’t automatically spring to mind is tea.  And while it may...
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Scottish butcher creates ‘world’s first chocolate haggis’ for Burns Night

A Scottish butcher has released the world's first chocolate haggis ahead of Burns Night.  Simon Howie wanted to do something special ahead of the big...

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