Anne McAlpine discovers the power of peat in new documentary series

From the boreal peatlands of Canada, to the expansive peat plains of Finland and the beautiful blanket bogs of home – Anne McAlpine takes us on a journey exploring spectacular peatlands around the world.  The BBC ALBA documentary series takes us to Iron Age bog bodies, remarkable pool systems, shielings which built communities on the…

Read More

Archaeologists uncover complete Neolithic cursus on the Isle of Arran

On the Isle of Arran’s south-west coast, archaeologists have begun uncovering what is believed to be the only complete Neolithic cursus in Britain.  The vast rectangular enclosures at Drumadoon, which date back to between 4000 and 3000BC, would have been used for ceremonies. The Neolithic structures are usually made up of vast rectangular enclosures, with…

Read More

Finalists for the McIlvanney Prize revealed

Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival has revealed the finalists for the McIlvanney Prize 2023. Judges for the McIlvanney Prize 2023 – BBC Scotland presenter, Bryan Burnett, former editor of The Sunday Times Scotland, Jason Allardyce and Category Manager for Waterstones, Angie Crawford – are unanimous in their praise for all four books: Callum McSorley…

Read More

In the frame: How advice from her dying dad led Alison McWhirter to become one of UK’s leading artists

Alison McWhirter’s paintings have achieved global recognition, attracting a devoted following of private collectors. But a decade ago, things were very different for the Dumfriesshire-born Scottish painter. Alison had a secure career in teaching and publishing when her terminally ill father told her: ‘Look you’re a painter, you’ve always wanted to be a painter. So…

Read More