Couple relocate 400 miles to take over coastal hotel

A couple from Norfolk have swapped their home in England for their dream property – a 19th century Scottish lighthouse keepers’ home The historic Corsewall Lighthouse was built in 1815 by the engineer Grandfather of renowned Treasure Island author Robert Louis Stevenson, and is perched on the northern coast of the Rhinns of Galloway, near…

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Get your ‘Bake Off’ on

LOCKDOWN getting a bit monotonous? Looking for new ways to connect with friends? Or give the kids something to do other than home schooling and Tik Tok? My 11-year-old daughter and I had the pleasure of taking part in a virtual choux masterclass hosted by award-winning Glaswegian pastry chef Helen Vass as part of YORStory,…

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Alexander McCall Smith wins Edinburgh Award

THIS year’s Edinburgh Award will be presented to author and academic Alexander McCall Smith. The emeritus professor of medical law at the University of Edinburgh will receive the honour in recognition of legal career and writing success. McCall Smith has become a hugely successful novelist through his The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, The Sunday…

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Ian Rankin delves into his archive for online event

THE UK’s best-selling crime novellist, Ian Rankin, will lift the lid tomorrow on his literary archive. Rankin donated his archive to the National Library of Scotland last year. He also donated money towards creating a post to catalogue each item for the library, which was carried out by curator Rosemary Hall. Rankin and Hall will…

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Sir James MacMillan marks Eric Liddell Centre’s 40th anniversary

COMPOSER Sir James MacMillan will take part in an online broadcast next week to mark the 40th anniversary of the Eric Liddell Centre in Edinburgh. The centre is a care charity and community hub, providing specialist dementia support together with a carers programme and befriending service. Sir James’s younger brother, John, is chief executive at…

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Wigtown Book Festival reveals line-up

WIGTOWN Book Festival has unveiled its online programme, which includes the world premier of author Alexander McCall Smith’s Ninian’s Gift song cycle Other highlights across the ten-day virtual festival include Alastair Campbell, Maggie O’Farrell, and Andrew Marr. More than 80 guests will take part in the festival, which aims to promote local businesses affected by…

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Location influences how drones affect birds

DRONES are scaring ducks, geese and other wintering waterbirds, according to new research. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Scotland studied how drones affected waterbirds feeding in coastal, freshwater and arable farm habitats. Its scientists found larger flocks were more likely to take flight than smaller flocks, and large flocks also took flight at a…

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Castles, museums and distilleries continue to reopen

MORE of Scotland’s historic landmarks have announced dates for reopening as the coronavirus lockdown continues to ease. Blackness Castle will reopen on Monday, followed by Inchcolm Abbey, Huntly Castle and Melrose Abbey on Wednesday, and Elgin Cathedral and Caerlaverock Castle on Friday. Doune Castle, Dunstaffnage Castle and Linlithgow Palace will then reopen on 26 August,…

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Trailer lands for Scottish Opera’s fishy tale

SCOTTISH Opera will next week unveil its latest work online – and it’s released a trailer to whet your appetite. The Narcissistic Fish is set in the kitchen of a seafood restaurant in Leith. The 12-minute film is a collaboration between Scottish Opera composer in residence Samuel Bordoli, The Panopticon author Jenni Fagan and the company’s…

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