News
Alexander McCall Smith features on new album
AUTHOR Alexander McCall Smith is one of the narrators featured on the forthcoming album from string duo Sequoia. Isola, which is due to be released on 16 September, features the Scotland Street author, along with Hamish Henderson. The author features on the title track, which he helped to compose. The idea for the album came from…
Read MoreButterflies face climate threats in Scotland
BUTTERFLIES in Scotland are facing threats from climate change, despite a temporary rise in their numbers. That’s the warning from NatureScot, the Scottish Government agency know previously as Scottish Natural Heritage. The number of butteries spotted from nine species – including red admiral, orange-tip, and ringlet – increased between 1979 and 2021 due to warmer…
Read MoreLondon Road clock returns to Edinburgh
THE London Road clock has returned to Edinburgh after being restored. The historic timepiece began life on Waverley Bridge in 1857, before being moved to the West End in 1896, and finally reaching the roundabout on London Road in 1955. It was removed in 2007 as part of the original tram works, which had aimed…
Read MoreWhisky new releases: Glenturret, Tullibardine, and more
Peter Ranscombe rounds up the latest whisky releases from Scotland’s distilleries and bottlers. GLENTURRET has added whiskies at either end of the age spectrum to this year’s core range. A seven-year-old single malt is joined by a 25 year old and a 30 year old. It’s seven-year-old peat smoke is aged in American oak casks…
Read MoreHolyrood marks 200th year since George IV visit
THE Palace of Holyroodhouse is marking this week’s 200th anniversary of the visit by King George IV to Scotland with a series of events. The Royal Collection Trust’s (RCT’s) curators are holding a study morning at the palace today, including a tour of the rooms used by the king during his visit. Tomorrow, an hour-long…
Read MoreRoyal Banks’ ‘Red Guinea’ notes hits auction
THE Royal Bank of Scotland’s “red guinea” banknote from 1777 is going under the hammer next week. The red guinea is thought to be first tri-coloured note to be issued in Scotland and possibly in Europe. The banknote promises to pay “Archibald Hope” one guinea. Hope is believed to have been Sir Archibald Hope, who…
Read MoreIsle of Skye Candle Company buys Aros Centre
THE Isle of Skye Candle Company is getting ready to reopen more of the Aros Centre in Portree after buying the site. The firm is turning the centre into a factory and visitors’ centre. The candle maker said that the project would revitalise the centre’s community facilities, which include a cinema and theatre, café, restaurant,…
Read MoreFaskally gets ready for Enchanted Forest return
FASKALLY Woods is getting ready for the return of the Enchanted Forest light show after a two-year gap due to the pandemic. More than 80,000 visitors are expected to attend this year’s event, which marks the show’s 20th anniversary. Tickets have gone on sale for the display, which runs from 29 September to 30 October.…
Read MoreSchool art competition launched
THE Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) has launched its school art competition. The contest is open to pupils at schools in Aberdeenshire, Angus, and Perth & Kinross. Pupils can enter by creating a piece of art that shows “their favourite species of British game or wildlife in its natural habitat”. This year’s awards ceremony…
Read MoreScots get adventurous in new film
TOURISM body Wild Scotland has released a film encouraging locals and visitors to try its members’ adventurous activities. Nurture Your Adventurous Spirit – which is available on YouTube or below – features wildlife and adventure tourism operators from throughout Scotland. They include Nikki Dayton-Gelati from Wilder Ways, which runs horseback archery courses in Southend on…
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