Scotland
New additions at complex on shores of Loch Tay
A luxury Scottish holiday destination has announced plans to launch new additions to the award-winning water sport and self-catering attraction overlooking the banks of Loch Tay. Two more attractions – café and pop-up, CakeBox and steam room-style SteamBox – will soon feature at the family-owned Taymouth Marina complex, in Kenmore, Perthshire. Set in a traditional…
Read MoreInternational Scottish Gin Day is logging on
Over a year in the planning, the team behind International Scottish Gin Day have launched its official website. Featuring an array of events with some of the world’s leading bars, gin bars, mixologists and more, International Scottish Gin Day is set to be a day of international collaborations to highlight the growing Scottish Gin category.…
Read MoreThe swimming of the cattle is an annual event
Skye cattle farmers the Macdonalds maintain an ancient tradition by swimming their cows across the sea from their croft at Staffin to fresh pastures on Staffainn island. Our man in the islands was not hard to track down. ‘Aye, that’ll be Ian Macdonald,’ said Staffin postmistress Fiona MacDonald. ‘I can see him out on his…
Read MoreDunblane is the perfect match for Judy Murray
Judy Murray grew up and raised her tennis prodigy sons Andy and Jamie in the historic Stirlingshire town of Dunblane. Andy, who won 45 career titles in his career – a double Wimbledon champion, double Olympic gold medal winner, and US Open winner – and doubles ace Jamie, who has won six Grand Slam titles…
Read MoreThe Big Friendly Giant of the seas around Scotland
With its gaping jaws and vicious glare, the basking shark looks a ferocious predator. But this mysterious creature has no interest in human flesh and deserves its protected status in Scotland’s waters. The basking shark has always been surrounded by myth. Shetland fishermen believed that the world’s second largest fish attached itself to the hulls…
Read MoreIs Jack Vettriano Scotland’s greatest living painter?
The titles of many of Jack Vettriano’s paintings come from songs, films and books: Beautiful Losers, Days of Wine and Roses, Lovers and Other Strangers. Today, however, the millionaire artist is channelling One Direction. He is wearing skinny jeans. Gone are the dead men’s suits and long hair that were once his signature look. This…
Read More10 of the most unusual weddings in Scotland
Generations of couples have crossed the border to get hitched at Gretna. But many Scots have also come up with their own bizarre ways to celebrate their nuptials. Here we present 10 of the most unusual Scots weddings. 1. Head for heights Groom John Clark from Kirkintilloch took his wedding to Jackie Burns to new…
Read MoreSherlock creator awoke Britain’s love of skiing
It’s hard to imagine that just over a century ago skiing in the Alps was unheard of – and might never have caught on without the determined efforts of the intrepid Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In 1893 Doyle took his wife Louisa and two young children to Davos, in Switzerland, in the hope of finding…
Read MoreReady to set sail for another summer on the loch
Steamship Sir Walter Scott is back in Loch Katrine for another year of daily sailings – just in time for Easter. The steamship Sir Walter Scott is operated by a charity, The Steamship Sir Walter Scott Trust, which was established in April 2005 to take responsibility for control of the visitor facilities at Loch Katrine…
Read MoreLearn traditional skills of gardening in Scotland
Those interested in creating and maintaining a Scottish garden will be interested in a course taking place late next month. Gardening in Scotland: Principles and Practice of Establishment & Maintenance is being held at the National Trust for Scotland’s magnificent Pitmedden Garden, in Ellon, Aberdeenshire. The hands-on course is being run by The Scottish Traditional…
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