Posts by Peter Ranscombe
Old Man of Storr footpaths restored
FOOTPATHS at the Old Man of Storr on Skye have been relaid ahead of the busy summer tourist season. Phase two of the project involved relaying the path near the top of the “Photographer’s Knoll”. Duncan Bryden, chair of the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS), said: “OATS [is] delighted that the paths at the…
Read MoreCredo: Pippa Evans
Comedian and writer Pippa Evans tells Simone Waters about her audience pet hate, favourite tour snack, and why an ambulance is the perfect tool for performers. Credo… Latin. (n) ‘I believe’. A set of beliefs that influences the way you live. I grew up in West London but now I live in Edinburgh – Marchmont…
Read MoreDucks given helping hand with nest tubes
NOW is the “ideal time” to install nest tubes for ducks, according to the Brititsh Association for Shooting & Conservation (BASC). The charity’s push to erect more platforms is part of its wider duck monitoring project. Last year, 48% of the 225 raised nests monitored by the project were occupied, with 98% showing signs of…
Read MoreCrown actor Jim Murray launches Activist Anglers
ACTOR Jim Murray has launched Activist Anglers, a campaign to help anglers protect rivers from pollution. Murray, who played Prince Andrew in The Crown television series on streaming service Netflix, is challenging anglers to ask themselves: “Have you ever wondered what you could do to be more active in your local water?” and “What can…
Read MoreWorld Gaelic Week gets underway
EVENTS kick off today to mark the start of World Gaelic Week. Seachdain na Gàidhlig, which runs until Sunday, includes more than 100 events and projects, from football and films through to ceilidhs. This year’s World Gaelic Week includes education packs to help teachers deliver lessons about Gaelic in both primary and secondary schools. The…
Read MoreScots adventurer returns after Antarctic row
SCOTTISH rower Jamie Douglas-Hamilton has returned home after breaking eight world records in the Antarctic, despite bad weather scuppering his hopes of reaching South Georgia. Douglas-Hamilton was part of a six-strong crew that set out from Northern Antarctica’s King George Island on 11 January, aiming to recreate Sir Ernest Shackleton’s escape to South Georgia after…
Read MoreTen Scots chosen for Collect 2023 show
GLASS artist Suh Moonju is among ten maker selected to represent Scotland at the Collect 2023 art fair in London. The ten artists were selected by Craft Scotland, the national development agency for contemporary craft. More than 20,000 collectors, enthusiasts, and representatives form galleries are expected to visit the show in London on 1-5 March.…
Read MoreThe Balmoral gets five stars from Forbes
THE 2023 Forbes Travel Guide has awarded a five-star rating to The Balmoral hotel in Edinburgh. The Balmoral became the first hotel in Scotland to receive five stars from the guide and has retained the accolade for the past three years. Forbes magazine has published its travel guide since 1958, with anonymous inspectors spending at…
Read MoreBook review: ‘Clanlands Almanac’ paperback
Book reviewer Simone Waters brings a fresh pair of eyes to the paperback release of Outlander stars Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish’s The Clanlands Almanac. The Clanlands Almanac Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish Hodder & Stoughton SCOTLAND’S two favourite storytelling sons are back. Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish are no strangers to success; this duo…
Read MoreWhisky news round-up: tourism, auctions, and more
Peter Ranscombe takes another irreverent look at all the latest whisky news. IT’S been a week for splashing the cash in the world of whisky. The Scotch Whisky Experience unveiled plans to spend £3 million upgrading its tourist attraction on the approach to Edinburgh Castle. Susan Morrison, chief executive of The Scotch Whisky Experience, said:…
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