Melody Thornton: A star shines in Edinburgh

Simone Waters speaks to Melody Thornton, who’s starring in The Bodyguard at the Edinburgh Playhouse. EDINBURGH welcomes a constant stream of visitors throughout the year. Coming from across the globe, they flock to see Auld Reekie’s beautiful architecture and soak in its long history. One of the city’s most recent arrivals is the American singer,…

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Perth event to examine grouse conservation

SCOTLAND’S four grouse species will be under the spotlight during an event in Perth. The symposium – entitlted “Practical Conservation for Scotland’s Grouse species” – is being organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and the World Pheasant Association (WPA). Taking place at Balhousie Castle on 5 May, the event will examine the…

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Whisky news round-up: Speyburn, Macallan, and more

Peter Ranscombe takes another look at the world of Scotch whisky. SPEYBURN distillery is preparing to welcome visitors for the first time in its 125-year history as part of the Spirit of Speyside whisky festival. Distillery manager Euan Henderson and his assistant, David Rogerson, will lead tours during the festival, which runs from 26 April…

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Dry January – is it worth it?

Drinks blogger James Robertson looks at the options for “Dry January”. SOME of us do “Sober October”, some of us do “I Cannae Remember December”, and some are now two weeks into “Dry January”. I have not been successful in achieving Dry January by the way, but hats off to my wife who has stoically…

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Dunvegan Garden scoops RHS award

DUNVEGAN Castle & Gardens has been selected as this year’s top Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) partner garden in Scotland. The RHS said that the award recognised the “sizeable investment, hard work, and passion” that has gone into the five acres of formal and semi-formal gardens since 1978. Estate director Hugh MacLeod, who is also his…

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‘Castle of Light’ trail opens in Edinburgh

EDINBURGH’S “Castle of Light” trail was switched on over the weekend by a couple chosen through a public vote. Maurice and Julia Maguire, who own Majestic Wedding Cars Edinburgh, were joined by Rex, the castle’s lion rampant mascot, to switch on the castle’s illuminations. The light trail tells the story of Edinburgh Castle, stretching back…

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Lights! Camera! Winton!

WINTON Castle in East Lothian has hosted its first film shoot. Heehaw, an Edinburgh-based production company, spent two weeks filming at the castle. The as-yet untitled film is due to be released next year. It wasn’t Heehaw’s first visit to the castle though – its team enjoyed its second post-lockdown staff party there over the…

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Review: Toravaig House Hotel

It is four seasons in one day for Rosie Morton as she reviews Skye’s Toravaig House Hotel. Fàilte The journey to Skye from Auld Reekie is always a total pleasure. It is (with requisite pit stops at my favourite haunts) a six-hour trip that is the landscape equivalent of a five-star tasting menu – peppered…

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Stirling Castle shares 500 years of history

STIRLING Castle will open its doors for two evenings next month to share stories from its rich history. Actors will dress up as characters including Mary, Queen of Scots, and her ladies-in-waiting to tell historic tales to visitors. Other performers will portray jesters, musicians, and soldiers. Carnegie medal-winning author Theresa Breslin will read from her…

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Whisky round-up: Halloween special

Peter Ranscombe takes a light-hearted look at how Scotland’s whisky industry is preparing for Halloween and beyond. THE Scotch Malt Whisky Society is holding its first Halloween party on Thursday at its bar on Edinburgh’s Queen Street. A clairvoyant and a tarot card reader will take up residence in the first floor library, while black…

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