Scottish castle visited by Robert Burns in line for £2 million restoration after being sold to new owner

A historic Scottish castle visited by Robert Burns could be in line for a major restoration after being sold to a new owner. Baltersan Castle is thought to have inspired architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh, was visited by poets Robert Burns and John Keats, and a restoration plan was even pitched to the multi-millionaire investors on…

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Check out these hidden haunted hotspots around Scotland

The spooky season is upon us and what better place to experience than Scotland with eerie castles, misty landscapes and ghostly tales. Check out VisitScotland’s list of Scotland’s top hidden haunted hotspots.     Edinburgh  In Edinburgh, the Paranormal Activity Database documents an astounding 106 instances of supernatural occurrences since records began.  Established in the 1560s,…

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Comedian uses family connections to explore Aberdeen’s links to the slave trade

He is well known for his routines with irreverent presentations of traditional Scottish history and culture. But now standup comedian Bruce Fummey is using his own family connections to explore Aberdeen’s links to the slave trade. During the Covid lockdowns the comedian turned his attention to YouTube filmmaking, creating popular Scottish History Tours videos. The…

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Interiors: Lesley Pugsley of Baigali Designs

We speak to Lesley Pugsley of Baigali Designs about her cushions, runners and throws which are designed and handmade in Edinburgh.  As a teenager Lesley Pugsley lived in Paris, where she was taught by a retired Chanel seamstress, using a measuring tape, chalk, and a pair of scissors. The experience grew into a love for…

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Top most Instagrammable lochs in Scotland revealed

Loch Ness has been named the most Instagrammable Scottish loch according to new research. To help find some more Scottish cycling spots to enjoy this summer, Jorvik Tricycles has looked at the number of Instagram hashtags used for every loch in Scotland as well as their cycling compatibility to determine the most Instagrammable lochs. Loch…

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Lochcarron launches ‘Coorie’ tartan range

TARTAN weaver Lochcarron has created the “Coorie” range of scarves and throws for Historic Environment Scotland, the public body that looks after sites including Edinburgh and Stirling castles. The range includes a lambswool scarf, a wool scarf, and a lambswool throw. The tartan garments join the wider “Coorie” range, which features ceramics fired by Clod…

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Gordon Castle Highland Games return next month

From runner ducks to the caber toss, the Gordon Castle Highland Games and Country Fair returns to Fochabers, Moray on Sunday 15 May. With an eclectic mix of entertainment for all the family, the community welcome the revival of the much-loved games after a two year pause due to the pandemic. Held in the historic…

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A bygone Scotland captured in photography

This is a concise paperback edition of the bestselling Scottish photographic book. In the early 1960s, in the course of recording a Dunfermline mill building that was scheduled for demolition, RCAHMS surveyors discovered an incredible collection of over 800 glass plate negatives. Taken between 1880 and 1919, the photographs are a remarkable record of a…

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