The spirit is strong for the BBC’s Jamie McIvor

As a BBC news correspondent, Jamie McIvor has seen more of the country than most, but for him nowhere can match his home town, Campbeltown. BBC Scotland’s Local Government and Education correspondent Jamie loves nothing more than returning home, especially to indulge his love of running. This feature was originally published in 2014. Sailing into…

Read More

Whisky production begins at Lagg Distillery

Distilling is now underway at the Isle of Arran Distillers’ new Lagg Distillery, as it reaches its latest milestone. The first middle cut of spirit was recorded on Tuesday 19 March at 2.35pm. Following this, the commissioning phase has now been completed and Cask Number One was filled on Wednesday 10 April. Cask Number One,…

Read More

The legend of the Selkie inspires a new dram

The second whisky in Cask 88’s award-winning Scottish Folklore Series of single cask bottlings is now available. Edinburgh-based whisky broker and independent bottler Cask 88 were inspired by legends of Scottish folklore to be a 22 Year Old Arran 1997 Single Malt represented by the capricious Selkie. Long feared by fishermen and island dwellers, Selkies…

Read More

Search is on for Scotland’s Home of the Year

Take a peek inside some of the country’s most stunning properties as three judges travel the length and breadth of the nation in search of Scotland’s Home Of The Year. Architect Michael Angus, interior designer Anna Campbell-Jones and Lifestyle blogger Kate Spiers will visit some truly unique homes over the course of this eight-part BBC…

Read More

All aboard and full steam ahead for the west coast

Exciting times lie ahead for the west coast of Scotland with an innovative collaboration geared to make the most of 2020 Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters – with a lasting legacy. Eighteen DMOs and marketing organisations from across the West Coast have each volunteered funding support from £500 to £2500 for an ambitious marketing…

Read More

Robert the Bruce link to this attractive hotel

A historical hotel reputed to be sited near where Robert the Bruce was inspired by a spider is on the market. Dunvalanree, a hotel on the stunning West Highland beach where Robert the Bruce landed while fleeing the English following an early setback, is being offered for sale. Located in the tiny Kintyre hamlet of…

Read More

Flagship show home is now open to viewers

Family housebuilder Mactaggart & Mickel are welcoming viewers to their latest show home, The Arran, at their flagship Millerhill development at Shawfair in Midlothian. Millerhill has been designed with plenty of open green space and features an attractive village square at its heart, offering country living on the city’s doorstep within a relaxed and safe…

Read More

The small Scots island which influenced all of Europe

At only three miles long, the tiny island of Iona, just off the west coast of the Isle of Mull, is a long-established centre for Scottish Christianity, with an influence that reached across Europe from the sixth century to this very day. In 563 AD St Columba and twelve of his followers landed in the crystal…

Read More

Isle of Arran announce official poem of new Lagg Distillery

The official poem for the Lagg Distillery on the Isle of Arran, which will be displayed at the new site, has been announced. Following over 80 entries from budding writers across the world, who were tasked with capturing Arran’s history, landscape or spirit, the winning entry is a piece written by David Cover entitled From…

Read More

Rise and tragic fall of the magnificent Hamilton Palace

Hamilton Palace was said to have been the largest non-royal residence in Britain – and 100 years ago, it stood proud. But a century later, there’s not a trace of this once-fine building, the home to the Dukes of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland. But how could a building, which was the principal resident…

Read More