A good read that’s definitely up to par

Know someone with an enviable handicap? Add this to their list of Christmas presents. Showcasing 14 of the most beautiful links courses in Scotland including Turnberry, Carnoustie and the much-loved Old Course, a stunning collection of photos (including drone shots of each hole) feature alongside interesting historical factoids of each location. It reminds you of…

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A fascinating look at the castles of Lewis and beyond

Peter Cunningham casts an eye over the pivotal moments, people and places that moulded the island’s history in The Castles of the Lews. He uses the castles of the Island of Lewis as a focal point, including Stornoway, Seaforth and Lews Castle. With wonderful illustrations and images to accompany his analysis, those with an intimate…

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The essential guide to the Outer Hebrides

We really are paging the oracle on north-west Outer Hebridean life here. Frank Rennie, professor of Sustainable Rural Development who lives in South Galson and has been instrumental in developing the region for four decades, writes of the area’s great personal, natural and cultural significance. From his formative experiences of the region to its resident…

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Alternative past with Scotland under Nazi occupation

Few can write as evocatively of our country’s past as Alistair Moffat. Stepping away from his usual historical tomes, he reimagines WWII through this extraordinary piece of speculative fiction, taking you on a journey to investigate what might have been had Nazi Germany won the war. Set in a disturbing post-1945 world where German occupation…

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Push The Boat Out is Scotland’s newest poetry event

Scotland’s newest and most boundary-bending poetry festival, launches its inaugural programme today, Wednesday 8 September in Edinburgh. Taking place from October 15–17 within the creative hub of Summerhall, Push The Boat Out will be the second poetry festival ever to be held in Scotland and its aims to do what it says on the tin,…

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Cook School Scotland turns up the heat as it reopens

A leading Scottish leading cook school is welcoming budding chefs once again, following the relaunch of its popular cooking classes with a retro-inspired menu of culinary classics. Following an 18-month hiatus due to coronavirus restrictions, the Cook School Scotland, in Kilmarnock, has opened its doors once again. More than 25 different classes are ready to…

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A hugely important book for the countryside

Three quarters of the world’s stock of heather uplands is to be found in the UK, much of it in Scotland, and it has become a political, cultural and environmental battleground. The subtitle of this book – ‘The Battle for the Uplands against Authoritarian Conservation’ – gives a sense of what to expect from this…

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Book shop’s fundraiser to stay open raises £48,000+

A Scottish bookshop which faced closure last week is on the brink of a bright future after the support of hundreds of people, including Scots writers Ian Rankin and Christopher Brookmyre. Pre-loved publications shop Guid Reads, on Stirling Street, Alva, in Clackmannanshire, feared the worst after its landlord announced his imminent retiral. In a panic,…

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A fusion of Italian passion and Scottish attitude

A mixture Italian style with a strong dose of modern Glasgow attitude is coming with the opening of a new restaurant in the city. Roberta’s Glasgow will open on Thursday, September 9 and confidently take unfussy, authentic Italian cooking and bring it to life in new uber stylish city centre surroundings. Glasgow’s newest pizza spinning,…

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Win the chance to be published with the 2022 Kelpies Prize

This year’s Kelpies Prizes have opened, giving hopeful Scottish authors and illustrators of children’s books the chance to kickstart a career. The Kelpies Prize for Writing was launched in 2004, seeking to find the best new Scottish writing for children. The winner will receive a prize package including a mentorship with an experienced editorial and…

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