We try and test the slow cooked free-range Loué turkey crown

We try and test the Slow Cooked Free-Range Loué Turkey Crown in Gravy from Donald Russell. I WANT IT BECAUSE: Christmas is almost upon us but we’re all horribly busy. This is delivered straight to your door, frozen. Royal Warrant holders Donald Russell are a Scottish company, the free-range birds are sustainably produced in France…

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You can eat with real gusto at Gaucho

Steak lovers, read on. Gaucho, in St Andrew’s Square, Edinburgh, has recently re-launched its menu, and for carnivores it’s an absolute treat. This is the destination for top-quality Argentinian steaks and dishes from the wider Latin American region. The new menu is split into ‘classics’ and ‘nuevo’ sections, featuring dishes such as Gaucho’s signature empanadas and homemade sausages, along with…

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Love and war during the Jacobite risings

When her beloved husband decides to join the Jacobite cause – one that destroyed her family due to their support for the Catholic king, James II – Lady Winifred is left with a difficult choice. How much can she risk to keep her family together? Edwards gifts us an intricate story where love is pitted…

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The artistic story of the Students at Hospitalfield

Hospitalfield was the nursery which cultivated around 700 20th century Scottish artists during its half a century in use. This book detils the history of Hospitalfield, located in Arbroath, and the impact it had on its community of artists who exchanged ideas there and found inspiration in the landscapes. Beardmore accompanies the fascinating history with…

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Lidl House of Hortus offers a treat for the senses

Last week, Edinburgh’s Castle Street was transformed into a gin-lovers’ paradise. Set in a small, but beautifully decorated marquee, the Lidl House of Hortus pop-up gin club offered guests the chance to sample their extensive range of budget artisan gins. A feast for the eyes, walking into the venue felt like a treat in itself.…

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Wild Wanderings: A Life Amongst Mountains

Phil Gribbon encompasses in a single book some of the most unbelievable stories lived during his 70 years of mountaineering in Wild Wanderings: A Life Amongst Mountains. The book is divided into ‘tales,’ each from a different expedition in which he makes and discoveries or encounters and overcomes new challenges. Gribbon paints a vivid picture,…

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Discovering the megalithic sites of the nation

This comprehensive guide to prehistoric sites in Britain and Ireland is unparalleled. Divided into the different regions of the area, every standing stone or chambered tomb is paired with its location, a description, and extensive information on it, its history at times mingled with folk stories. It is also highly original in its addition of…

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Along The Divide: Walking The Wild Spine of Scotland

Described as possibly the world’s most experienced long-distance walker, Chris Townsend returns with a new memoir . This details his journey across Scotland’s Watershed, which runs between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, a distance of 1,200km or 745 miles. Townsend, author of 22 books on the outdoors including the award-winning The Backpacker’s Handbook,…

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Debut solo album has been well worth the wait

Releasing on 5th November, Mutual Imagination Society Vol 1 is Brian McAlpine’s debut solo album, which is something of a surprise. Rubbing shoulders with the likes of the Pearlfishers, Deacon Blue, The Chieftains, Ry Cooder, Karine Polwart, Duncan Chisholm, Iron Horse, Mark Knopfler and, of course, the wonderful Session A9 to name but a few,…

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Small plate dining is the future at Merienda

There is certainly no shortage of restaurants and cafes to enjoy in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge. This historic area is always a hive of activity, teeming with people ready to enjoy a taste of Scotland’s best produce or relax after work over a craft beer or two. From dog-friendly pub The Raeburn to the Kilted Lobster, The…

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