Scotland
Robert Louis Stevenson award seeks writers
To marking Robert Louis Stevenson Day, the Scottish Book Trust has announced that the Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship for professional writers is now open for applications. Previous fellows include novelist Jenni Fagan, Makar Liz Lochhead, and poet and performer Michael Pedersen. Writers based in Scotland are encouraged to apply, and the Fellowship awards successful applicants…
Read MoreThe Flying Scotsman keeps coming back – time and again
Think of the golden age of steam, and the chances are you will think of The Flying Scotsman, the world’s most iconic steamtrain. The Flying Scotsman which has endured a rollercoaster ride from spotlight to sidelines and back again, yet it still remains one of the most iconic images of Britain’s railway. Designed by eminent…
Read MoreTen fascinating facts about the Clan MacMillan
Scottish clans have fascinating histories, dating back hundreds and hundreds of years. Here, we reveal ten important facts every aspiring member of Clan MacMillan should know. 1. The chiefs of Clan MacMillan descended from an ancient royal house as well as from orders of the ancient church. On the island of Iona, King Alexander I…
Read MoreThe story of the Scots storytellers – the Shennachies
The likes of CSI and Silent Witness playing out on small screens across the country may portray an unashamedly 21st-century take on telling a tale of what has gone before, but it would be wrong to think age-old tradition and custom no longer have a voice in an increasingly digital society. Historically, a Scottish clan…
Read MoreHonours for top Scottish visitor attractions
Excellence in the Scottish visitor attractions sector has been rewarded this week. The 2018 ASVA (Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions) awards were presented at ASVA’s Going Back to the Future conference at the Doubletree by Hilton Westerwood Hotel in Cumbernauld yesterday (Thursday). The ASVA has over 450 member visitor attractions, and its member sites attract…
Read MoreScots Baronial mansion for sale for £1.7 million
Ormiston House is an exceptional Scots Baronial ‘B Listed’ house set in spectacular secluded grounds. Dating from 1851 and presented by Strutt & Parker, it was built for Archibald Wilkie, to a design by David Bryce, the well-known Scottish architect, whose works include a number of other large country houses, as well as the former…
Read MoreHigh flying adored with Webster Adventures
Hot air ballooning remains a sought after gift experiences, with the romance of a serene and intimate flight across rolling countryside appealing to all ages. And it makes an ideal wedding proposal venue! Kinross based Webster Adventures is Scotland’s premier provider, flying a distinctive orange balloon on a variety of itineraries with take-off from Perth…
Read MoreCrime writer Val is new Scottish Book Trust patron
Scots crime writer Val McDermid has been appointed as the new patron of the Scottish Book Trust. The national charity transforming lives through reading and writing has a long-time supporter in Val, one of the biggest names in crime writing and her novels have been translated into 40 languages, selling over 15 million copies worldwide.…
Read MoreSorry seems to be the easiest word for Scots
Scots are renowned for their overuse of apologies, with the word ‘sorry’ firmly established as a staple of Scottish phraseology, according to new research. A survey of 1,004 adults carried out by leading online florist SerenataFlowers.com, has revealed that the average Scot now says ‘sorry’ as many as eight times per day, with the most apologetic Scots…
Read MoreSpa experiences take away the festive stress
Couples looking to escape the stresses of the festive season are being catered for in a special new spa experience. The Guerlain Spa at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian has this month introduced two bespoke festive treatment packages – Indulgence and Unwind Together. Immerse yourself in the luxurious surrounds of the Guerlain Spa before…
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