Scotland
The enduring appeal of the adorable puffins
The puffin is one of our best loved seabirds, but its appeal goes far beyond its quirky appearance. ‘Puffin therapy’ is for many people apparently more powerful than all the wonder nerve-calming drugs on the market. Ian and Colin Morrison of Mull have been running their Turus Mara trips out to the Treshnish island of…
Read MoreMacCrimmon pipes up for a fun children’s book
Young MacCrimmon and the Silver Chanter is a comical children’s story tells the story of a piping school and the struggle of a young pupil, Donald MacCrimmon, to master the instrument. When a Fairy Queen steps into help, she does so with a warning, presenting Donald with a life changing dilemma. Based on the tales…
Read MoreRestaurant on Calton Hill worth a Lookout
I have a list of 30 go-to Edinburgh restaurants of all hues for when friends come to visit the city. I’ll go through phases when a particular establishment pushes my buttons (current favourites: The Little Chart Room on Leith Walk, and The White Horse on the Canongate), but for many months now my consistent –…
Read MoreA passionate affair in The Sound of the Hours
Occupation during the Second World War in Barga, Tuscany, turns plans for the future of 17-year-old Vita on their head, in The Sound of the Hours by Karen Campbell. The arrival of Frank Chapel, a young black US soldier, finds the Scottish-Italian heroine falling deeply in love. The vividly portrayed characters embark on a passionate…
Read MoreThe Exorcist can still provide its share of shocks
On its original cinematic release, The Exorcist became one of the most shocking films of the 1970s. Whilst it’s hard to replicate 1973 sensibilities in 2019, The Excorcist stage production, currently at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, still manages to pull of a few moments that make it uncomfortable viewing. But let’s rewind a little.…
Read MoreSecond Bowmore internet exclusive from Amazon
Due to the overwhelming success of the first release of Bowmore 19-year-old on Amazon, a small number of casks have been made available for a second release. This unique bottling combines the rich flavour of the French Oak Barriques and the signature Bowmore style created in the worlds oldest maturation warehouse, the famous No.1 Vaults.…
Read MoreScotland’s island population is on the rise
The population of Scotland’s islands is on the increase, according to research institutes, community groups and public sector organisations. They have issued a joint statement which says there is credible evidence of ‘green shoots’ of population turnaround, which as yet does not show up in official statistics. The Islands Revival Declaration, developed by social scientists…
Read MoreStudents lent a hand at Stranraer Oyster Festival
Dumfries and Galloway College students have played an important role in Stranraer’s annual Oyster Festival. Supported Learning students from the college’s Stranraer campus were in charge of running the volunteer hub, a rest and recreation space for volunteers of the festival, which took place at the weekend. The students undertook significant preparations before running the…
Read MoreGlasgow Cocktail Week is just seven days away
Scotland’s largest city is getting ready for a seven day celebration of cocktails. Glasgow Cocktail Week (GCW) in partnership with World Class is a week-long cocktail festival with a packed programme of fun experiences, delicious drinks, exciting bar takeovers, and interactive events taking place across the city from Monday 23 to Sunday 29 September. Glasgow…
Read MoreThe Macallan celebrates nature’s wonderful colours
The Macallan has revealed that Edition No.5 is a celebration of the whisky’s natural colour. Inspired by a coming together of whisky making mastery and colour expertise and insight, this single malt celebrates both The Macallan’s commitment to natural colour and the intricate whisky making process. We are surrounded by colour; it shapes our everyday…
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