The enduring appeal of the adorable puffins

The puffin is one of our best loved seabirds, but its appeal goes far beyond its quirky appearance. ‘Puffin therapy’ is for many people apparently more powerful than all the wonder nerve-calming drugs on the market. Ian and Colin Morrison of Mull have been running their Turus Mara trips out to the Treshnish island of…

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Scotland’s island population is on the rise

The population of Scotland’s islands is on the increase, according to research institutes, community groups and public sector organisations. They have issued a joint statement which says there is credible evidence of ‘green shoots’ of population turnaround, which as yet does not show up in official statistics. The Islands Revival Declaration, developed by social scientists…

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The Boathouse is a property that’s completely unique

A unique property perched above the water’s edge, and nestled in a tranquil location, is now for sale. Presented by Threave Rural, The Boathouse is located at the tranquil Loch Fern, a secluded 16-acre loch surrounded by sympathetically planted woodland gardens, in all about 21.74 acres in Dumfries and Galloway. The biodiversity of the woodland…

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Do you know where to find the best pub pie in Scotland?

A Scots restaurant is on the hunt to find the best pub pie in Scotland. The Bridge Inn at Ratho, near Edinburgh, wants to scour the land from John o’Groats to Jedburgh, with pubs being asked to enter their best pie recipes. Five of the industry’s finest experts have been invited to judge the awards,…

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Kilchoman prepares to release latest in 100% range

A distillery is preparing for the release of Scotland’s only single farm single malt. Kilchoman 100% Islay 9 is the latest edition in the distillery’s 100% Islay range. Distilled from the 2007 and 2009 barley crops, the 9th edition is a vatting of 43 ex-bourbon barrels matured for over nine years in their on-site dunnage…

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New road boosts property market in Aberdeen

The Aberdeenshire property market has been positively impacted by the new £1bn Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. This has created a fast link for commuters to the north, west and south of the city. That’s according to new quarterly figures released by Galbraith covering the second quarter of the year (April – June 2019) which shows…

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The buzzard is a success story – but it is too successful?

Buzzards are a conservation success story. The raptors’ numbers are so buoyant that concerns over their impact on other wildlife have been raised and measures as drastic as a cull are being suggested. It seemed ironic that, shortly after I had despatched a badly injured buzzard filled with shot pellets, that the next visitor to…

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An interesting guide to Scotland and the Scots

This entry in Winn’s ‘I never knew that’ series sees the author take a tour around Scotland detailing the people that have made this great land what it is. Various luminaries are detailed alongside their achievements and legacies. He also focuses on various well-known families and we learn of notable members of these clans and…

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Changing face of life at the turn of 20th century

From Land to Rail is the memoirs of Andrew Ramage, who worked as a farm servant, dock worker, lorry driver and railwayman during the period 1854 -1917. This fascinating diary-style account of life in the Lothians and Berwickshire sheds light on the trials faced by those working and living in a rural setting. Ramage was…

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