Winter walkers urged to walk safely on estates

Walkers accessing Scotland’s rural estates for recreation over Christmas and New Year are being asked to take care as the clear up operation from Storm Arwen continues. Although the full damage is still being assessed from the storm in late-November, it is estimated that more than eight million trees were damaged, accounting for between 1…

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Storm Arwen takes its toll on NTS properties

Seal pups are among the casualties as Storm Arwen hit Scotland’s shores. As Scotland recovers from its first storm of the winter, conservation charity the National Trust for Scotland has shared details of the damage caused across many of its places around the country. The charity that cares for sites from Threave in Dumfries and…

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Innis & Gunn’s new brewery plans are approved

Planning permission for Innis & Gunn’s brewery at Heriot-Watt University’s Research Park has officially been granted by The City of Edinburgh Council. Spanning a two-hectare site, the new facility will provide increased brewing capacity which will ultimately support the brewer’s continued growth, both in the UK and internationally. This will be the first major brewery…

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A refreshing fictional take on Robert the Bruce

This hefty novel gives voice to the five sisters of Robert the Bruce, highlighting the challenges they faced as sisters of Scotland’s great hero. It is certainly refreshing to hear the female voice within history’s discourse of wars and battles that is so often dominated by men. The story begins with Isa, the eldest sister…

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European Beaver Tours launched on Atholl Estates

With the discovery of beaver habitats in a quiet and tranquil location near Dunkeld, Atholl Estates in Highland Perthshire is introducing dedicated tours. This will give people the chance to catch a glimpse of these elusive animals, which are critical to the countryside’s ecological balance. Starting this month and running until September, the European Beaver…

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Tesco: Seven of the best summer wines

The summer Tesco press tasting gave Peter Ranscombe the chance to select his seasonal recommendations. AFTER press tastings with Aldi and Marks & Spencer, Tesco was the next supermarket chain to unveil its spring and summer selection. I came away feeling more positive about Tesco than I have done for a while. The focus on…

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New forestry business launches with familiar faces

Well-known forestry specialists have launched a new business, Goldcrest Land & Forestry Group. Surveyors Jon Lambert, Fenning Welstead and Jock Galbraith, who previously worked for John Clegg & Co, have formed a new partnership operating throughout the UK. Based in Edinburgh’s Charlotte Square, Goldcrest’s services include buying and selling forestry and land on behalf of…

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Huge demand to buy in rural Scotland despite pandemic

Brexit and Covid-19 are proving no barrier to people wanting to purchase rural property in Scotland. In the face of Brexit negotiations and the global pandemic, 2020 was an extraordinary year for the Scottish estate market: it has entered a new era, where newly perceived attributes are enhancing its appeal and subsequent value. Analysis of…

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Horses must be given more attention on the roads

An estimated three million horse riders in the UK use public roads, so it is inevitable that accidents will happen. But is enough being done to prevent them? Recent figures reveal an alarming trend. The British Horse Society (BHS) has received more than 2,000 reports of road traffic incidents involving horses in the last five…

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Keep your dog on the lead as lambing season begins

Several Scottish organisations have united in an urgent plea to dog owners across the country to keep their dogs under proper control around livestock. Lambing season is already well underway in Scotland, and most of the ewes we see now grazing the hills and fields are heavily pregnant at this time of year. Already farmers…

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