Have a terrifyingly tasty Halloween thanks to M&S

It’s no secret that I absolutely LOVE Halloween.  A huge horror and Sci-fi fan, I’ve always been intrigued by the ghoulish and sinister and with a bloody history such as Scotland’s, it’s the perfect place to be on All Hallow’s Eve. Whether you’re throwing a spooky get together or attending one tomorrow, you’ll want to…

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Take a trip through the streets of Lost Edinburgh

Lost Edinburgh by Liz Hanson is a beautifully illustrated and informative exploration of our capital’s lost landscape. Like many British cities, the metropolis of Edinburgh has experienced multiple metamorphoses over the years. Although a walk down today’s Royal Mile may give the wanderer a tantalising taste of what existed before, in reality, many historic buildings…

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An indispensible guide to historical Orkney

Despite lying only 20 miles north of mainland Scotland, for much of its history Orkney has related more to Scandinavian culture. Its particular ecosystem means there is a wealth of settlements for archaeologists and historians to explore. Caroline Wickham-Jones, a renowned expert on the island, introduces its history and outlines major places of interest for…

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The memory of Ian Hunter is brought to book

A first whisky honouring the memory of Ian Hunter, the last of the founding Johnston family to run the Laphroaig Distillery, has been released. Each annual release will be set into a beautifully crafted book that will document a part of Ian’s rich legacy, making this a collection unlike any other and one that is…

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Five decades of whisky blended in one bottle

Tomatin Distillery is celebrating 50 years of excellence with a new single malt – Decades II. Released as a tribute to the long serving distillery staff, this fantastic expression is a limited edition run of 3600 bottles, each on sale for £175 at specialist retailers. The unique expression is a marriage of 21 casks, selected…

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A biography of the Scottish First Minister

Nicola Sturgeon made history when she became the first female First Minister of Scotland in 2014. But what drives the SNP’s leading lady?  How has her background, family and education shaped her political life? In the first biography of Scotland’s First Minister, David Torrance examines how this woman, once described as a ‘nippy sweetie’, rose to…

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Twisting real life family history into a novel

Professor Andrew Schultz has researched his family heritage and brought it to life in Saints and Heroes. The novel follows the story of Anselm through the rugged Isle of Iona. When studying to be a priest, Anselm develops a friendship with Prince Malcolm Canmore, and the pair journey to establish Catholicism as the official religion…

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Only 6000 bottles of winter botanical gin available

Red Door Highland Gin has released a small batch limited edition bottling – the first release in a range of limited seasonal flavours – handcrafted at Benromach Distillery in Forres. Only 6000 bottles of Red Door Highland Gin with Winter Botanicals (45% ABV/70cl) will be released for sale, carefully crafted behind the Forres distillery’s iconic…

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A compelling account of highs and lows in India

A compelling and mesmerising account of India under a turbulent century of British rule, The Tears of the Rajas is a sweeping history of the British in India, seen through the experiences of a single Scottish family – author Ferdinand Mount’s ancestors, the Lows of Clatto. It tells the story of three intertwined families: The…

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Marking 160 years of an important landmark

The 160th anniversary of the Katrine Aqueduct, one of Scotland’s most important pieces of infrastructure, was marked this week with a special re-enactment of its official inauguration by Queen Victoria. Actors donned Victorian attire and a modern-day lookalike ‘Queen Victoria’ followed in the footsteps of the monarch and repeated her words close to the very…

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