Scotland’s lost railway to the north-west

Academic books needn’t be reserved for PhD students with a knack for deciphering dense text. Drummond’s style is highly accessible, yet informative. Delving into archives, he unveils the story of north west Scotland in the 1890s, explaining why a railway to Ullapool never came to fruition. It is a niche topic, but even a transport…

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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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Another success from Alexander McCall Smith

It is a rarity to find each book in a long series as enjoyable as the last, and yet McCall Smith’s 21st instalment of his much adored No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency has captured the imagination once more. Grabbing the attention from the get-go in a stifling Gaborone setting, McCall Smith’s intelligent yarn is woven with…

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Opening our eyes to the wonders of the past

To see the world through the eyes of acclaimed archaeologist and television presenter Neil Oliver, if only for a day, would be a true gift – and this tome is about as close as it gets. It pays testament to Oliver’s enthusiasm for the history woven into every square inch of Scotland’s romantic landscapes, and…

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Scandis and Americans join Scots for Granite Noir

AUTHORS from Scotland, Scandinavia and the United States will star in next month’s online Granite Noir book festival. Aberdeen’s international crime writing extravaganza will include appearances by Camilla Läckberg and Attica Locke. Well-kent faces popping up on screen include David Baldacci, Stuart MacBride, Peter May, Val McDermid, Jo Nesbo, and Ian Rankin. The festival will…

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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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Edinburgh’s book festival flits to new home

THE Edinburgh International Book Festival is moving from its traditional home in Charlotte Square Gardens to the University of Edinburgh’s College of Art. This year’s festival will take place from Saturday 14 August to Monday 30 August at the college. The festival plans to use both indoor and outdoor spaces at the Lauriston Place site.…

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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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Book marks Bonnie Prince Charlie’s 300th birthday

A BOOK published to mark the 300th anniversary tomorrow of the birth of Prince Charles Edward Stuart calls for a reappraisal of his character and career. Reminiscences of a Jacobite by Michael Nevin, chairman of The 1745 Association, draws on Bonnie Prince Charlie’s previously unpublished words, as well as a number of other first-hand accounts.…

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