Cyclists gear up for Sunday’s Etape Loch Ness

A TOTAL of 6,000 riders are gearing up for the Etape Loch Ness cycle race on Sunday. Slots to take part in the race sold out within 50 hours, with 26% of the competitors coming from Scotland, and nearly 2% from overseas. Event director Malcolm Sutherland said: “The 2023 Etape Loch Ness looks set to…

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Climbing Ben Nevis with 100kg for Doddie

A JOINER from Uddingston is preparing to climb Ben Nevis while carrying 100kg to raise money for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. Mountain rescue team member David Dooher is poised to climb Britain’s highest mountain on his 38th birthday in June in aid of curing motor neurone disease (MND). If he succeeds then he’ll set…

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Whisky oysters project tipped to double biodiversity

REINTRODUCING oysters near Glenmorangie distillery is expected to double biodiversity in the Dornoch Firth, according to a study published last night. The distillery has been working with Heriot-Watt University and the Marine Conservation Society since 2014 to bring oysters back to the firth. The team aims to have four millions oysters in the firth by…

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‘Stay the Night’ returns to forest car parks

MOTORHOMES and campervans will be able to “Stay the Night” again this year in 36 car parks run by government agency Forestry & Land Scotland (FLS). This year’s scheme runs from 1 April to 31 October and will charge vehicles £7 for the night. FLS said that “stays are for one night only between the…

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Charts project names team to help Argyll islands

THE Culture, Heritage & Arts (Charts) Assembly has appointed a team to support Argyll & Bute’s 23 inhabited islands. Caitlin McNeill, who lives and works on her home island of Colonsay, is Charts’ new islands culture officer, and is working with some of the organisation’s 100-plus members to showcase their work. She is working with…

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Ambassadors join 40tude Curing Colon Cancer charity

RUGBY legends Andy Nicol and Gregor Townsend have signed up as ambassadors for the “40tude Curing Colon Cancer” charity in memory of their late teammate, Tom Smith. Smith served as an ambassador for the charity until he died of bowel cancer last year, aged 50. Now, Townsend and Nicol will play an active role in…

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East coast eyes 50% cruise boost

THE number of cruise ships visiting Dundee, Fife, and Leith is due to soar by 50% this year. Capital Cruising, the tourism arm of harbour operator Forth Ports, said 150 ships are due to dock at its east coast moorings this year, up from 100 last year. The ships will dock at Dundee, Leith, and…

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RBS hands over land for Dunard Centre

EDINBURGH’S first purpose-built concert hall for more than 100 years came a step closer today after Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) handed over land to build the Dunard Centre. The venue, which received planning permission in November 2021, will sit behind Dundas House in the New Town. Impact Scotland, the charity that’s building the concert…

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Historic Canongate gasworks to become student flats

PLANNING permission has been granted to turn the former Canongate gasworks in Edinburgh into student flats. The application was rejected by City of Edinburgh Council in August, but a Scottish Government planning reporter has now upheld an appeal. The flats will include 76 studio rooms, a gym, and two study rooms. The development is aimed…

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All I want for Christmas…

I think I’m quite easy to buy for, but I’m sure my family would tell you otherwise, writes Morag Bootland. I’m massively into outdoor adventures, but I also like nothing better than a coorie night in by the fire with my family and dog. For those that know me, they’d tell you that I’m not…

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