Posts by Morag Bootland
Review: Luci’s, Lasswade
Living just outside the city means there is a distinct lack of restaurants on your doorstep. So, when you find a good one locally it is always cause for great celebration. And as it turns out, Luci’s in Lasswade is a really great place to celebrate. Situated right by the River North Esk, this is…
Read MoreDiscovering the soul of sauna in Finland’s Tampere
Did you know that there are around three million saunas in Finland? And given there are only around 5.5million people, that’s an awful lot of Löyly (that’s the steam that is generated when water is poured over hot coals) per head. And nowhere has more steam than the city of Tampere. Situated slap bang in…
Read MoreReview: The Edinburgh Facial at Dr David Jack
With a clinic on Harley Street and one in Belgravia already there’s certainly been a wee frisson of excitement surrounding the opening of Dr David Jack’s new cosmetic skin clinic in the heart of the New Town. And never one to pass up the chance to find out what all of the fuss is about…
Read MoreTravel: Going green in Prague and Central Bohemia
Living just outside Edinburgh, I’m all too aware that the effects of tourism on some of the world’s most visited cities can be negative as well as positive. And that’s at the front of my mind as I fly into another of the world’s most beautiful and historic cities – Prague. I enjoy travel but…
Read MoreW Edinburgh’s Away Spa is an oasis of relaxation in the city
I’d been to the W Edinburgh on a couple of occasions, mainly to enjoy the cocktails and take in the views from its impressive rooftop terrace and bar. But despite considering myself as a bit of a regular I hadn’t noticed that the hotel has its own spa. The Away spa opened along with the…
Read MoreReview: The Spanish Butcher, Edinburgh
I’ve always struggled to correctly identify the streets that flow North from Princes Street over George Street in the capital, so I’m marching in what I hope is the right direction to locate the newly opened The Spanish Butcher. I’m reassured when I see the horizontal yellow and red stripes of the Spanish flag wafting…
Read MoreReview: Cherry Blossom Tuesday at Tattu Edinburgh
I’m not sure what alchemy was involved in the scheduling of Tattu restaurant’s Cherry Blossom dinner for the first warm day of the year in Edinburgh, but I’m certainly not going to question it. This was my first visit to the modern Chinese restaurant tucked away on West Register Street, and sitting below the thousands…
Read MoreThe INEOS Grenadier: How does this 4×4 fair on the sodden hills of Royal Deeside?
It’s rare that I need to be asked twice to head for the hills, but if there’s an opportunity to go off road then I’m definitely most at home on my own two feet, or sat astride a faithful steed. But life is all about stepping outside you comfort zone, so swapping horsepower singular for…
Read MoreMe and My Dram, Tom Kitchin: ‘You have to be in the right moment to enjoy whisky, that’s the magic of it’
Following a rocky start, celebrity chef Tom Kitchin has fostered an enduring love for whisky, finds Morag Bootland. He sits down with us for the latest issue of Cask & Still. Do you enjoy whisky? Absolutely. I enjoy whisky, but I don’t think it was something that came automatically. I think I learned to enjoy whisky.…
Read MoreHolyrood Distillery launch Embra: a new peated dram
Holyrood Distillery has launched its 2nd single malt whisky, Embra, setting the stage for an exploration into peated whisky. Embra is the first in a series of single malt whiskies set to release in 2024, with each expression designed to demonstrate the independent distillery’s creativity and barrier breaking approach to whisky making. Distillery Manager, Calum Rae,…
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