Blackcaps pick UK over Mediterranean for winter

SOME Scots might be heading to the Mediterranean for its winter sunshine, but more and more blackcaps are doing the opposite. Historically, blackcaps have bred in the UK and then returned to the Mediterranean during the winter. Now, scientists have discovered that a growing number of the robin-sized birds are not only staying in the…

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Hotel du Vin, Glasgow

Hotel du Vin, Glasgow: On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me… the gift of festive lunch for two and Champagne Our stunning iconic Hotel du Vin Glasgow at One Devonshire Gardens is set in a tree-lined Victorian terrace in the fashionable West End of Glasgow. Offering remarkable, unique bedrooms, heart-warming…

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Culloden scholar Dr Christopher Duffy has died

THE death has been announced of Dr Christopher Duffy, a former chair of the 1745 Association, and researcher into the Battle of Culloden. Duffy studied history at Balliol College in Oxford, graduating with first-class honours, and went on to complete his doctorate. He taught military history at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and at…

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Roxy Lanes brings ice-free curling to Edinburgh

PLAYERS will be able to try their hand at ice-free curling and ten-pin bowling next month when Roxy Lanes opens in Edinburgh. The leisure company is moving into the back of the former British Home Stores (BHS) branch on Rose Street. As well as ice-free curling and ten-pin bowling, the 25,000sq ft site will also…

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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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North Berwick and Linlithgow win bloomin’ gold

A PAIR of Scottish towns triumphed at the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS’s) Britain in Bloom finals. North Berwick in Bloom won a gold medal and took the title in the “coastal” category. Elizabeth Morris from North Berwick In Bloom was also named as a “community champion”. Burgh Beautiful Linlithgow was presented with gold in the…

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‘Hummingbird’ flocks to Scotland

THE number of hummingbird hawkmoths spotted in Scotland has soared, according to new figures. The moths were reported in 1.2% of Scottish gardens last month, more than three times the season’s average. The British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO’s) Garden BirdWatch survey found the figure hit 5.2% across the UK as a whole, compared to 1.3%…

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Have you seen a spotted flycatcher?

THE spotted flycatcher is one of six species of migratory birds returning home to Scotland right now – and scientists need your help if you spot one. Researchers at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) are fitting spotted flycatchers with tags so that they can track their flights between Scotland and Africa. Monitoring the birds…

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A meticulous account of the battle for equality

Struggle and Suffrage in Glasgow comes with the subtitle of ‘women’s lives and the fight for equality’, and that’s exactly what this book is. It chronicles events that took place as the women of Glasgow battled for the right to vote: marching on the streets, daring escapes from under the noses of police officers, and…

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