American tourism organisation honours Scotland with gold award

VisitScotland has been named best overseas tourism marketing body by one of the USA’s top associations of tour operators. The national tourism organisation struck gold in the ‘Overseas DMO (Destination Management Organisation) Partner’ category of the prestigious 2018 Distinguished Dozen awards, organised by the National Tour Association (NTA). NTA member destinations and tour operators cast…

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New litter bin emptying scheme is a load of rubbish

Waste disposal isn’t a load of rubbish in Perthshire. Perth & Kinross Council is installing sensors in all public litter bins in Perth City Centre over the next few weeks to alert waste services when they need to be emptied. The city centre roll out is part of a Smart Waste Project, jointly funded by…

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Edwardian class in a stunning home with impressive views

A fine, late-Edwardian house with elegant period features and ties to local heritage is now available. Dechmont House, in Deans, Livingston, presides over approximately one acre of established garden grounds, and offers flexible and well-proportioned accommodation with splendid, southerly views to the Pentland Hills. Brought to the market by Rettie, Dechmont House is a handsome…

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Modern build in a traditional style is certain to impress

An impressive detached home located in a private position with formal gardens and mixed woodland is now available. Presented to the market by Strutt and Parker, Dunbeg House is a fantastic detached home built in a traditional style and set in beautiful surroundings on the edge of Inverness. Built in 2001, its proportions, design and location will…

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Countryside farmhouse in fertile land is on the market

A traditional farmhouse with substantial stone steadings and paddocks is for sale as a whole or in three lots. Greenburns Farmhouse is surrounded by some of Perthshire’s most fertile farmland and has lovely open views across the countryside. Presented to the market by Savills, lot one is Greenburns Farmhouse – offers over £325,000. Greenburns Farmhouse…

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Raising a glass with a Scotch whisky – at the South Pole

Whisky lovers around the world no doubt brought in the New Year with a tipple of Scotland’s national drink. But you can be sure no one enjoyed a more remote dram than Antarctic explorer Barney Swan – who is currently en route to the South Pole. On Hogmanay he and his team of three toasted…

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Work gets underway on £5.7million creative arts hub

Plans to create a £5.7million arts hub in the Highlands have been welcomed. Members of the arts community are delighted by the news of the start of a project to give the Highlands its first creative hub as a ‘game-changer’. The initial £1.2 million project is the first phase of a wider £5.7 million scheme…

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A tasty twist on haggis by Masterchef winner and Scottish butcher

An exciting twist on Scotland’s national dish has been prepared for Burns Night. Scottish butcher Simon Howie has partnered with Scotland’s new national chef, Gary Maclean, to create something special with haggis. Gary is a huge haggis fan and his show-stopping haggis dish took him through to the finals on MasterChef: The Professionals. Working with…

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Forgotten Scots author is resurrected to celebrate literary heritage

A celebration of female writers is being marked in the skies of Edinburgh. Message from the Skies, co-commissioned between Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, will continue to animate Edinburgh’s dark nights through to Burns Night on 25 January. Val McDermid has written a short story, New Year’s Resurrection, the first in a…

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Scottish brewing industry is all ale and hearty

Scotland has a proud history of creating fine ales and to mark these, VisitScotland has brewed up its very first craft beer map. It’s believed that beer has been brewed in Scotland for more than 5000 years and with more than 115 breweries, stretching from the Valhalla Brewery on Unst in Shetland to Portpatrick Brewery…

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