Crown actor Jim Murray launches Activist Anglers

ACTOR Jim Murray has launched Activist Anglers, a campaign to help anglers protect rivers from pollution. Murray, who played Prince Andrew in The Crown television series on streaming service Netflix, is challenging anglers to ask themselves: “Have you ever wondered what you could do to be more active in your local water?” and “What can…

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RESTAURANT REVIEW: The Black Grape, Edinburgh

Richard Bath pays a visit to The Black Grape on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. FOR years I would wander to work down the Royal Mile and the Canongate, and virtually every day I’d wonder how Pancho Villas kept going. And not just going, but going and going and still bloody going. The Mexican restaurant set back…

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River Tweed fishing season begins in Kelso

ANGLER Kent Håkansson from Sweden yesterday cast the first line of the River Tweed salmon fishing season in Kelso. The River Tweed Commission (RTC) hosted its official opening of the season in the Borders for the first time more than 30 years. Peter Straker-Smith, the RTC’s chairman, said: “The Tweed provides fantastic fishing opportunities [that]…

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Peter Capaldi narrates ‘Riverwoods’ tonight on 5Select

THE relationship between Scotland’s fish and forests will be explored tonight in Riverwoods, a documentary on 5Select narrated by actor Peter Capaldi. Riverwoods, which took three years to produce, was made by Mat Larkin, head of filmmaking at Scotland: The Big Picture. “Over many centuries, the loss of natural woodlands alongside rivers has profoundly changed…

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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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Atlantic Salmon Trust auction is open

THE Atlantic Salmon Trust has launched its annual auction to raise money for research. More than 100 lots are up for grabs, including fishing, shooting, and stalking experiences at some of Scotland’s most exclusive locations. Works of art, clothing, and food and drink are also going under the online hammer. Wild salmon stocks have plunged…

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VIRGIN HOTELS EDINBURGH NEW ALL DAY-DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUE

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh will open its latest concept, Eve on 7 October.   Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, the luxury lifestyle hotel brand by Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, announces its latest concept, Eve – an all-day dining space that will provide an array of food, beverages and entertainment. The vibrant social space will officially open…

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Native Hebridean smoked salmon makes splash at awards

A NATIVE Hebridean smoked salmon scooped the top prize at last night’s Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards in Edinburgh. Bakkafrost Scotland’s salmon took home the “product of the year” trophy. Lazy Day Bakery won the new free-from award for its chocolate cake bars, while Girvan-based butcher We Hae Meat won the sustainability award. Other…

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Scottish fish skins turned into ‘leather’ wallets

FISH skins from Dunkeld Smokehouse are being turned into wallets to raise money for wild salmon conservation. Antonia Gillett, 28, has opened Felsie, which is the UK’s first dedicated fish skin “tannery”. Gillett is turning the left-over fish skins with the scales removed into a “leather”, from which she then makes wallets and cardholders. She…

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Wine to Dine – September 2022 – Ballintaggart

In his final Wine to Dine column, drinks writer Peter Ranscombe recommends five bally good bottles for Ballintaggart. “THERE’S been a murder!” – oh no, wait, wrong Taggart. Rather than the crusty Glasgae cop, we’re talking about the recipes from Ballintaggart, which featured in the food feature in the September issue of Scottish Field magazine.…

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