Islay pub owner sparks community initiative

DURING lockdown, our beloved pubs and restaurants have been cruelly snatched away from us but, while some pub owners closed their shutters and awaited the easing of restrictions, David Graham of Ballygrant Inn on Islay saw this difficult time as a shining opportunity to help those in need. “At the start of the lockdown we…

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Beautiful residential and sporting estate for £2.65m+

A superb Speyside residential and sporting estate has come to the market. Cairnty Estate comprises a fabulous Georgian-style contemporary home with glorious views across the Spey Valley and set in several acres of beautiful gardens and grounds. It offers excellent pheasant shooting, roe deer stalking and trout fishing and also includes farming, forestry and residential…

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Famous Grouse was top-selling whisky at Christmas

The Famous Grouse has overtaken Jack Daniels to become Britain’s top-selling whisky by value. The whisky enjoyed an outstanding Christmas in the UK off-trade, with sales topping £71m – making it the number one whisky in the UK, according to figures from Nielsen ScanTrack, with Off-Trade Total Coverage. The whisk(e)y category in total was valued…

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Record-breaking rower returns to Glenalmond

A former Glenalmond College pupil, who recently set five world records while rowing across one of the most treacherous stretches of water on the planet, is set to share his incredible story at an open day at his old school next month. Jamie Douglas-Hamilton, who is also founder of ACTIPH Water, is set to inspire…

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Scot’s persistence led to talking book recording

A Scot’s persistence has resulted in RNIB Scotland recording an audio version of a favourite book. Aberdour resident Matthew Nicholson (25), a wheelchair user, has cerebral palsy and he has sight problems. Whilst he can watch the Doctor’s adventures on television, he relies on the talking books produced by the charity RNIB to enjoy them…

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Gallery welcomes 100,000 visitors in less than 100 days

Aberdeen Art Gallery has welcomed more than 100,000 visitors since it re-opened to the public less than 100 days ago.  The revitalised gallery is now well on its way to reaching the target of 235,000 visits in its first year. The milestone 100,000th visitor was 20-year-old, final year journalism student at RGU, Ceilidh Jeffrey who arrived at…

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A festive celebration – written in Scots

The 12 Days O Yule is the perfect children’s book to sing along to. This is a beautifully illustrated Scots version of the original Christmas rhyme. Inspired by the traditional verse, this lovely adaptation features Scots words and animals that are easy to understand and pronounce. It describes the journey through the twelve days of…

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Tried and tested – these boots were made for walking

Tried and tested: The Scarpa Mens Peak GTX walking boots. I love nothing more than getting out into the countryside, walking for miles and getting lost in amongst beautiful land and seascapes. A previous pair of Scarpa boots – which took me all over Scotland until I was literally walking out of them – saw…

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Shooting on the island that time forgot

A pheasant shoot on Inchmurrin island in the middle of Loch Lomond feels like an escape from modern life, starting with a peaceful boat ride and ending with views of a Scottish landscape that take your breath away. The clouds may be the darkest shades of grey and the current may look a bit wild,…

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Haggis and marmalade ice cream on the menu

Mackie’s of Scotland is set to bring back its haggis and marmalade ice cream for the third year in a row. The unique flavour – which contains one whole haggis per tub – is available at Mackie’s 19.2 parlour in Aberdeen from this weekend in the lead up to Burns Night. The unusual recipe –…

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