Experts recommend their favourite autumn walks

A COLLECTION of autumn walks in Scotland has been recommended by the country’s woodland experts. Members of staff from Forestry & Land Scotland, the Scottish Government agency that replaced Forestry Commission Scotland in 2019, were asked to recommend their favourite autumnal routes. Stuart Chalmers, the organisation’s national visitor services manager, said: “Autumn in Scotland is…

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Science award for Strathallan Prep School

STRATHALLAN Prep School has been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM). The accreditation recognises the quality of science teaching at the preparatory school in Perthshire. Pupils have been receiving science talks from palaeontologists, an oil engineer, dental students from the University of Glasgow, and a bird breeder. Clare Angus, head of prep school science,…

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Schools news round-up: Glenalmond, Belhaven Hill, and more

Peter Ranscombe rounds-up the latest news from Scotland’s schools. GLENALMOND College in Perthshire has unveiled a countryside management course accredited by the Business & Technology Education Council (BTEC). The school is the first in Scotland to offer the BTEC qualification, which could lead to jobs in farming, land management, or surveying. As well as gaining…

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St Leonards and Ardvreck triumph at schools contest

TWO Scottish institutions have carried off prizes at the Independent Schools of the Year awards. St Leonards School, which is based at St Andrews in Fife, won the “Independent School of the Year for International Student Experience” category. Ardvreck School, a preparatory institution based at Crieff in Perthshire, shared the “Independent Prep School of the…

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Killin gets its first dentist

KILLIN now has its own dental practice, saving villagers a round-trip of up to 100 miles. Chris Barrowman, who founded Infinityblu Dental Care in Pitlochry in 2007, has invested £330,000 in his new clinic in the Perthshire village. “The community has been amazing,” said Barrowman, who also owns practices in Alyth, Auchterarder, Crieff, and Dunkeld.…

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Ready Player One: Strathallan opens ‘esports’ suite

PUPILS at Strathallan School can now play “electronic sports” (esports) against each other in a new facility. “Esports” are computer games that are played on professional equipment, with Scotland fielding an esports team at this summer’s Commonwealth Games. “It’s a great time to be a student at Strathallan,” said former pupil Josh Martin. Martin, who…

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Strathallan School pupils spread their wings

FORMER pupils from Strathallan School in Perthshire are starting their university courses after celebrating their exam results. Charlotte Gilmour, who was the Perthshire school’s captain, is in Boston as she starts her first semester at Harvard University. Gilmour, who was also the captain of the girls’ rugby team at the independent school and a player…

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Faskally gets ready for Enchanted Forest return

FASKALLY Woods is getting ready for the return of the Enchanted Forest light show after a two-year gap due to the pandemic. More than 80,000 visitors are expected to attend this year’s event, which marks the show’s 20th anniversary. Tickets have gone on sale for the display, which runs from 29 September to 30 October.…

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Jam today as Fingal picks Perthshire Preserves

FINGAL, the luxury floating hotel in Leith, is getting ready for “National Afternoon Tea Week” after picking Perthshire Preserves to supply a special jam. Iain Mackenzie and Kate Thornhill will provide a new strawberry jam for the promotion – which runs on 8-15 August – and hope to become a permanent feature on the ship’s…

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Strathallan pupil serves up US tennis ambition

A PUPIL from Strathallan School in Perthshire is swapping Scotland for Virgina to pursue her tennis career. Katie Bradley is moving to Emory & Henry College to study psychology and join its Wasps tennis team. The 17-year-old pupil from Auchterarder said: “College tennis in North America is on a whole other level – it’s a…

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