Outdoor breaks return on Mach a Seo

PRESENTER Ramsay MacMahon returned to the gogglebox last night with a sixth series of Mach a Seo, the BBC Alba show that features weekend breaks in Scotland. Locations starring in the new series include: the Angus coast; Ayrshire; Comrie and Crieff; Eigg; Eriskay; and Ullapool and the Coigach peninsula. “The new six-part series of Mach…

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Fred Olsen passengers report 4,400 wildlife sightings

PASSENGERS aboard Fred Olsen cruise ships recorded 4,400 wildlife sightings last year. The most frequent species spotted was – appropriately – the common dolphin, which was sighted 296 times, reaching 1,996 individual dolphins. Other creatures reported during cruises included humpback whales, orca, a blue whale, and even the deepest-diving animal, the elusive Cuvier’s beaked whale,…

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Wildlife struggles as climate change bites

SCOTLAND’S wildlife is struggling to recover due to biodiversity loss and climate change, according to experts. Figures published this morning by NatureScot, the Scottish Government agency known previously as Scottish Natural Heritage, showed species are struggling to increase their numbers or to spread their locations. More than 2,800 species are stuck at 1990s’ levels, which…

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Hidden in plain sight

Broadcaster Pennie Stuart shares the story behind her latest podcast and radio series, Hidden in Plain Sight, about one township’s experience of the Highland Clearances. DUNCAN MACKENZIE parks his landrover beside a rough forestry track where plantation pines part to give a view down to the fertile flatlands at the head of Lochbroom. Ullapool glints…

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Panto dame hits 1,000-show milestone

PANTO dame Alan McHugh notched up his 1,000th performance last week at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen. Having started performing at the Granite City theatre in Snow White in 2004, McHugh has notched up 19 years of shows. The popular star was given a surprise presentation on stage at the end of the evening performance…

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Morrison’s Academy art show returns

MORE than 150 people attended the return of the annual art and design exhibition at Morrison’s Academy in Perthshire. Pupils from throughout the independent school created works of art for the show, including sculptures, paintings, illustrations, photographs, and videos. Due to the pandemic, an in-person hadn’t been held at the school’s Crieff campus since 2019.…

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Glasgow artist Alberta Whittle closes Venice Biennale show

THE show by Glasgow artist Alberta Whittle at the Venice Biennale has drawn to a close after attracting an “unprecedented” 35,000 visitors. Whittle is due to unveil a major exhibition at the National Galleries of Scotland on 1 April. Her Venice film, Lagareh – The Last Born, is preparing to tour Scotland, with screenings in…

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The Commitments bring soul to the Edinburgh Playhouse

Morag Bootland just can’t get enough of that sweet soul music. WELL, if Dublin has soul then there’s no doubt that Edinburgh does too. The Commitments rolled into the Edinburgh Playhouse last night and I was literally blown away by the energy that this show exudes. The soundtrack was always going to be a winner.…

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Royal Highland Show is ‘bigger than Hogmanay’

THE Royal Highland Show contributes £39.5 million to Edinburgh’s economy – more than the city’s Hogmanay celebrations, according to new figures. The report by BOP Consulting marks the first time that the show’s financial impact has been measured using the same criteria as Edinburgh’s festivals. The equivalent of 674 full-time jobs are also supported by…

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REVIEW: “The Book of Mormon”, Theatre Royal, Glasgow

Kenny Smith enjoys The Book of Mormon at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow. THE Book of Mormon is one of those shows you’ll see advertised on the Tube in London, and hear people rave about. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the minds behind adult cartoon smash South Park, and Frozen composer Robert Lopez, this…

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