Scottish Field June 2025

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PAGES OF HOMES & GARDENS

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DISCOVER THE ARTISTRY OF

G EM S TO N E J E W E L L E RY Laings gemstone jewellery selection encapsulates the beauty and vitality of summer. Capturing wondrous colour in every piece, each Laings creation is handcrafted with precision and expertise that has been curated for over 185 years.

72 George Street, Edinburgh Rowan House, 70 Buchanan Street, Glasgow

laingsuk.com

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WELCOME

HERE THIS MONTH...

JD KIRK The award-winning crime writer on the genesis of his nom de plume, life in the Highlands ghost hunting and why there’s nothing scarier than a midge.

WELCOME B

PATRICK GALBRAITH The Scottish-born author, columnist and former editor of the Shooting Times takes aim at Scotland’s access laws.

ack in 2013, we ran a feature that has gone down in history as arguably the most popular that we’ve ever published. Our list, entitled Movers & Shakers – The 100 Most Powerful People in the Scottish Countryside, sparked an incredible level of discussion, disagreement and, above all, engagement.

It has always been in our mind to run it again, and after 12 years we finally think that enough has changed for it to be an exercise worth repeating.

From our preliminary work, it is already clear that a lot has changed and that many of the issues which preoccupied us way back then (and the most obvious example of this is land reform) are no longer quite so supercharged as they once were.

And while there are many people from 2013 who retain positions of huge power and influence over the rural economy, there has also been a widespread changing of the guard. Many familiar faces retain

positions of power or influence, but many have died or retired, and many new faces and ideas have emerged to shape our policies, culture and rural economy.

Last time around, we spoke to a dizzying array of rural business leaders, policy wonks and Holyrood insiders to draw up our list. But there was one section of people we didn’t consult – you, our readers.

So this time around we’re asking for your help. If you have views on who should be included in our updated feature on the Scottish Countryside’s most powerful people, please let us know as soon as possible.

Otherwise, feel free to sit back and wait for the results of our labours in the autumn. It promises to be a fascinating process and an equally fascinating list.

Richard Bath, Editor

EMMA LEASK An interiors writer whose work has been published in Grand Designs, 25 Beautiful Homes and The New York Times, Emma reveals a very special Hebridean hideaway.

The Editor, Scottish Field, The North Quarter, 496 Ferry Road, Edinburgh EH5 2DL Tel

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editor

scottishfield.co.u

www.scottishfield.co.u

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CONTENTS

COVER STORIES

Cover

Bridge, Billhope Burn, Scottish Borders. alimdi.net/Alamy Stock Photo

52 WHEN BILLY MET MOLLY The charming tale of how one man was befriended by a wild otter in the Shetland islands 62 VAN'S CELTIC CONNECTION Van Morrison's Scottish roots have left him with an enduring love of Caledonia 88 LIVING THE HIGH LIFE How a holiday in Harris inspired a clifftop dream home 164 THE NOVEL DOGS Abbotsford House is the spirtitual home of the fabulous and feisty Dandie Dinmont Terrier 168 THE END OF AN ERA Ian Simpson may well be the last clinker coble fishing boat builder on the River Tweed 176 BUCKING THE TREND Annan's Viking Leathers is reviving the ancient skill of tanning deer and fish skins

HERE & NOW

14 MONTHLY MUSINGS A round up of our readers' latest snaps 36 UP FRONT All the latest happenings from around Scotland 38 ROAM WASN'T BUILT IN A DAY How Scotland's access laws negatively impact wildlife and the countryside 41 WHAT'S IN A NAME Alexander McCall Smith examines why we judge and are judged based only on our name 42 A LOVE OF THE BORDERS Rod HanchardGoodwin's glorious images show the bonnie Borders in their best light 50 CREDO Author JD Kirk talks pen names, ghostbusting and the horror of midges

60 MAN OF THE HOUR Alan Steadman is the first Scot to voice the Speaking Clock 68 WHEN REIVERS RULED THE NEW WORLD How the Scotch-Irish who arrived in America from the Borders, via Ulster, made their mark 72 DOG DAYS Guy Grieve celebrates the wonder of working dogs 74 OUT OF THE SHADOWS Millfield is a beautiful Fife garden at the foot of North Lomond Hill 102 IN ARCADIA Discovering Ian Hamilton Finlay's interactive poetic landscape in the Pentland Hills at Little Sparta 226 SPRING TO LIFE Louise Gray reminds us why we shouldn't take our water for granted

PROPERTY

16 PROPERTY MARKET Own a Perthshire castle, an off-grid haven, a family house in Fife or a Borders home with views of the Tweed

WILDLIFE

120 CONSERVATION CONFLICTS Andrew Dobson asks which species we should protect when living in harmony is a challenge

FIELD SPORTS

126 HE STOOPS TO CONQUER Hunting mountain hares with golden eagles has become a rare sight on Scotland's hills

FOOD & DRINK

134 THE SIREN OF SPRING The Scottish asparagus season is short, but incredibly sweet 145 GONE FISHING Leith's Barry Fish lives up to its name and has our Mystery Diner hooked

IN THIS ISSUE 6

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IN THIS ISSUE

150 A BITTER HARVEST Blair Bowman is disappointed by the withdrawl of support for start ups in the whisky industry 153 SCOTTISH FIELD'S SUMMER WHISKY CHALLENGE Discover our judges' top drams

To order more copies of this issue or subscribe scan this QR code with your phone

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LIFE & STYLE

182 WHY MORE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO DO FUNERALS 'MY WAY' The music you choose for your final farewell may be a good way to talk about wills and powers of attorney

168

TRAVEL & LEISURE

202 WALK THIS WAY SF's subscribers pull on their boots and try out some great places to visit on a Scottish walking break

NEWS, VIEWS & EVENTS

10 Letters 83 Garden News 101 Antiques News 111 Field Culture 131 Country News 147 Food & Drink News 218 Social Scene 224 Cover to cover

OFFERS & COMPETITIONS

216 COMPETITIONS Win one of two luxury breaks 222 PUZZLE PAGES The crossword, spot the difference, sudoku and all the usual puzzles

164 88

Free Gordon Castle hand lotion and engraved bottle worth £36 when you subscribe. See page 58. scottishfield.co.uk

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SCOTTISH FIELD VOLUME 127 NUMBER 6 ESTABLISHED IN 1903 INCORPORATING SCOTTISH WORLD SCOTTISH FIELD EDITORIAL AND DESIGN Editor: Richard Bath Creative Editor: Heddy Forrest Staff Writer: Morag Bootland Web Editor: Ellie Forbes Designer: Grant Dickie Artworker: Andrew Balahura Production Controller: Megan Amato Intern: Rowan Findlay Email: editor@scottishfield.co.uk SALES AND MARKETING Advertising Team Leader: Tracey Faulds Senior Sales: Stacey Richardson Advertising Sales: Grant Philbin, Carol Greenshields Marketing: Rachel Barne Email: adverts@scottishfield.co.uk PUBLISHING Tel: 0131 551 1000 Fax: 0131 551 7901 Publisher: Alister Bennett, Scottish Field, The North Quarter, 496 Ferry Road, Edinburgh EH5 2DL London Office: 1 Gunpowder Square, Fleet Street, London EC4A 3EP OVERSEAS (Send USA Address corrections to Warners Group Publications as per below details).

US Postmaster: Periodicals postage paid at Emigsville, PA. US Mailing agent: Scottish Field (ISSN No: 0036-9209) is published monthly by Wyvex Media Ltd, PO Box 1, Oban PA34 4HB and is distributed in the USA by SPP, 95 Aberdeen Road, Emigsville PA 17318.

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DISTRIBUTION Address: Warners Group Publications plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9PH. Tel: 01778 392014 Email: subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk Subscriptions for one year UK: £61.00 Worldwide: £85.00 If you experience any difficulties in obtaining Scottish Field, contact 01631 568000

Published monthly by Scottish Field ©Scottish Field UK Scottish Field is a Registered Trade Mark of Wyvex Media Ltd. While Scottish Field is prepared to consider unsolicited articles, transparencies and artwork, it only accepts such material on the strict understanding that it incurs no liability for its safe custody or return.

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We at Scottish Field endeavour to ensure that all our reports are fair and accurate and comply with the Editors’ Code of Practice set by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). We realise, however, that mistakes happen from time to time. If you think we have made a significant mistake and you wish to discuss this with us, please let us know as soon as possible by either of the following two methods: emailing editor@scottishfield.co.uk; or writing to the Editor at Scottish Field, 496 Ferry Rd, Edinburgh EH5 2DL. We will attempt to resolve your issue in a timeous, reasonable and amicable manner. However, if you are unsatisfied with our response, you can contact IPSO, which will investigate the matter. You can either telephone IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or email inquiries@ipso.co.uk. IPSO is an independent body which deals with complaints from the public about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines. We will abide by the decision of IPSO.

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Request our new Spring/Summer catalogue by calling 01796 483236 or visit

WWW.HOUSEOFBRUAR.COM

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LETTERS

A RT IS A N R

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Letters

The writer of the Star Letter will receive a bottle from the collection of unisex fragrances from Kingdom Scotland.

Scotland’s First Luxury Fragrance House. www.kingdomscotland.com @kingdomscotland

WE HAE MEAT

Silky soft Peruvian Pima Cotton ‘perfect fit’

I really appreciate Scottish Field’s thoughtful approach to wildlife issues, for which I offer many thanks. April’s edition is a classic, particularly the pieces addressing apex predator introduction by Louise Gray and Rory Kennedy, and Robert MacDonald’s exceedingly wise letter advocating thorough research and extreme caution. The law of unintended consequences unfailingly lies in wait.

Mr MacDonald raises the welfare of lynx were they to be introduced. I would add, what about the welfare of the deer?

Lynx are fairly clean killers, wolves distinctly less so, and of course both species constantly risk injury as they hunt.

Glibly, given the choice,

Star Letter

I’d rather die by a marksman’s bullet than be brought down by wolves. Or, as a predator, rather pick off a sheep than a deer.

As controlling wild deer produces the most welfare friendly, ethical and healthy red meat going — a whole other article — is there not a strong case for central investment to persuade the great British public that eating Bambi is a good thing? And investing in the supply lines, which I suspect are a bit of a nightmare? Or, given my non-stalker's ignorance, is this totally naive? In which case I will creep back to enjoying the westie pup and snowdrops on the front cover.

Margaret Clarke, Edinburgh

SKYE'S SWIMMING CATTLE

Patricia in French Grey.

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www.artisanroute.co.uk Tel: 01896 823 765 (Monday – Friday 10.00 - 18.00)

I refer to your online article by Mairi Fraser, re-published on 29 March 2019 (originally published in print in 2014), regarding the Skye cattle farmers, the Macdonalds, maintaining an ancient tradition by swimming their cows from Staffin to Staffainn island.

I lived on the Isle of Mull for several years and I heard (no pun intended) of a tradition about swimming cows between islands before taking them to market at Oban. I thought it was an old wives' tale until I read your article—I was clearly incorrect.

I am an observational poet and thought you might like to pass my poem on to anyone you know who still has contact with the Macdonalds. Feel free to publish if you deem it worthy as I hope to have my poems published one day.

J.S.Knight, Market Drayton, Shropshire To read the poem, visit www.scottishfield.co.uk/swimmingcows and to read the story of the Macdonalds' swimming cattle visit the Scottish Field website at www.scottishfield.co.uk

WHO, WHAT, WHY, WHERE, WHEN? Some of your ‘Social Scene’ events are self-explanatory but often the most intriguing ones are not. The ‘Tumbling Lassie’ ball featured in the May edition being a prime example. I was forced to Google to find out the

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fascinating story behind this event as SF didn’t provide any explanation. A few captions wouldn’t go amiss! Food for thought for future Social Scene?

Mary Davidson, Surrey scottishfield.co.uk

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Cashmere Made in Scotland since 1874 Edinburgh - Hawick - Kelso - Geneva - St.Moritz - Zurich - Sylt - Milan Edinburgh - 71 Grassmarket - 0131 225 8634 www.hawico.com scottish field jan Hawico.indd 11 25.indd 1

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Letters

THE GLORY OF DEESIDE GORSE I enjoyed reading about gorse in the May issue and a few hours later we were up at the late Queen Mother’s picnic cottage at Auchtavan on Royal Deeside for an Easter picnic. There is a huge gorse bush behind the cottage in full bloom, so we enjoyed the coconut aroma and slightly nutty taste of the flowers. As suggested

by Hamish Martin, our spirits were lifted, possibly by the dramatic view of Lochnagar.

I attach a photo with my grandson Freddie, who will soon be six, with Lochnagar behind us. The prickles were brutal so it would have been challenging for our ancestors to harvest for fuel or animal feed.

Simon Blackett of Braemar, Royal Deeside

LETTERS

NUMBER F NUMBER FIVE NUMBERfeatures FIVEleading Jew

features leading Jewellery Designers & Goldsm features leading Jewellery Designers & Goldsmiths Designers & Goldsmiths

STUNNING STUNNING

EXQUISITE EXQUISITE

• •

• •

STUNNING CLEAR • CLEAR •

• CLEAR BOLD BOLD

• W IO ORGE AX NQ I CU I S•I T E F L O NR GG A N I C ORGANIC • FLOWING

•

FLORA FAWNER? The article in the May 2025 issue on the 50 Greatest Scotswomen of all time was very interesting, but I always wonder why historians write about Flora MacDonald as the great Jacobite heroine.

She did, without doubt, help Prince Charles escape Scotland after Culloden, but she was involved in the Jacobite Uprising for five or six days. There were many women who raised money and

munitions for the Jacobites for months before the final battle, many of them arrested, imprisoned and shipped out as indentured servants or worse.

Yet we rarely hear mention of them. We need to remember there were several women who were involved in the Jacobite rebellions for many months or years – and we need to celebrate those women.

Sandy MacAllister, reen e n iana

ROYAL NEGLECT

How could you omit the Queen Mother and indeed her two daughters from your list of the 50 Greatest Scotswomen?

I was delighted to see Queen Margaret included, although she doesn't have a drop of Scottish blood!

Alastair Leslie, Errol, Perthshire SEND YOUR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, SCOTTISH FIELD, THE NORTH QUARTER, 496 FERRY ROAD, EDINBURGH EH5 2DL EMAIL EDITOR@SCOTTISHFIELD.CO.UK WEBSITE WWW.SCOTTISHFIELD.CO.UK scottishfield.co.uk

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NUMBER NUMBER FIVE FIVE

NUMBER FIVE

The leading Contemporary Jewellers in Scotland The leading Contemporary Jewellers The leading Contemporary Jewellers in Scotland

Number Five offers a broad and diverse range of jewellery Number Five a broad and diverse rang Number Five offersusing a broad and diverse range of offers jewellery designers / makers materials from silver and 18ct gold designers / makers usingsteel, materials from acrylic silver/ and gold materials from silve designers makers using to platinum, stainless titanium, and18ct glass. to platinum, stainless steel, titanium, andstainless glass. steel, titanium, acryl to acrylic platinum,

17 56 High Street, Perth, PH1 5JS Number Five, Bonnygate, Cupar, Fife, KY15 4LD Number Five, 56 Bonnygate, Cupar, Fife, KY15 Number Five, 564LD Bonnygate, Cupar, Fif Tel: 01738 634196 / 07910 658953 Tel / Fax 01334 657784 Tel / Fax 01334 657784 Tel / Fax 01334 657784 www.numberfivegoldsmiths.co.uk www.clairedonald.com www.clairedonald.com www.numberfivegoldsmiths.co.uk www.clairedonald.com www.clairedonald.com www.numberfivegoldsmiths.co.uk www.cl www.clairedonald.com

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Readers’

PHOTOS

SF

ABOVE: King of Hushinish, looking down on Hushinish beach Isle of Harris, taken by Tricia Chalmers. FAR RIGHT: Tufted duck with reflection, Victoria Park, Glasgow, taken by Jim Murdoch. RIGHT: Leaving Eyemouth for the fishing grounds, taken by Bill Johnson.

LEFT: MX5 and Kylesku Bridge, taken by Chris Ross. ABOVE: Back to back, seagulls at Anstruther, taken by Dr Roddy Duncan.

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PICTURE PERFECT No one loves a good photograph showing the variety of life in Scotland more than us.

We also love seeing your photographs too, so lovely readers, upload your photos today and you might find your work appearing here LEFT: Tarbert, taken by Suzanne Black.

FAR LEFT: Short Eared Owl, North Uist, taken by Jill Brown. ABOVE: Lochan Urr Glen Etive, taken by Ronald Stokes.

LEFT: Stunning Scarista and Ceaphaval, Isle of Harris, taken by Margaret Morrison.

We love seeing your photographs of Scotland and picking our favourites each month. For your chance to appear on our Picture Perfect pages send your photographs to the team via gdickie@scottishfield.co.uk. Remember to include your full name and a title for your photograph.

scottishfield.co.uk

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PROPERTY market

Property of the month Methven Castle, Methven, Perth, Perthshire, PH1 3SU Selling Agent: Rettie & Co Tel: 0131 624 4183 Offers over: £1,050,000 The ancestral home of Margaret Tudor, Methven Castle is an A-Listed restored former royal castle, presenting a rare opportunity to acquire a piece of Scotland’s Medieval history. In 1503 Queen Margaret’s father Henry VII gave Methven Castle to Margaret as part of the lands of the Queen Dowager of Scotland. She died there in 1541. The castle dates to 1664 in its current form and has been owned by only 11 families. Now, it’s a modern six-bedroom home set across four floors, but the castle has retained its period charm.

Throughout the castle, turrets house a wine cellar, a walk-in wardrobe and a games room. The property, complete with an escape tunnel and its own separate cottage, is set over 1.1 acres.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A fairytale castle; vast living space; exposed stone walls; dining room; a cosy sitting room with wood-burning stove.

scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 12:25:42

PROPERTY

Off-grid property of the month Doune Bay Lodge, Knoydart, Highland, PH41 4PL Selling Agent: Savills Tel: 0141 222 5875 Offers over: £395,000 An incredible off-the-grid home on Knoydart peninsula, Doune Bay Lodge is set within around two acres of its own land which includes access to its own beach. To access the extremely remote home, you need to catch the ferry from Mallaig to Inverie, followed by a 5.5 mile drive on the only road on Knoydart and then a short 1km walk on a track. The current owners have their own boat for direct access, with moorings and access to a pier, slipway and commercial sized boat shed. The five-bedroom home is completely powered from a solar PV and micro hydro system.

Country property of the month Ladeddie Barns, Pitscottie, Cupar, Fife, KY15 5TX Selling Agent: Galbraith Tel: 01334 659980 Offers over: £795,000 Ladeddie Barns is a lovely family home situated in rolling agricultural land with views over the surrounding fields and countryside. To the south of the six bedroom house lies a lawned garden enclosed by low stone walls, and surrounded by well-established shrubs and flower beds. There is a water feature in the centre of the lawn and a small stream meanders along the side. There are also stables and a yard, as well as an annexe which has two bedrooms. St Andrews is just a 10 minute drive from the house, while the coastline which surrounds Pitscottie supports an array of wildlife.

Family property of the month 1 Abbey View, Kelso, Scottish Borders, TD5 8HX Selling Agent: Paton & Co Tel: 01289 542400 Offers over: £795,000 Perched in a prime elevated position, House on the Hill is an exceptional four-bedroom home that captures breathtaking views of Kelso Abbey, The Junction Pool, Rennie’s Bridge and the magnificent Floors Castle. Set within beautifully landscaped gardens, the immaculately presented property features a spacious driveway and a double garage, all within a peaceful, edgeof-town setting that is just a short stroll from Kelso’s vibrant market square. French doors lead from the kitchen to the grand drawing room, which is one of three reception rooms and has an elegant bay window. scottishfield.co.uk

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DERVAIG, ISLE OF MULL, ARGYLL AND BUTE An attractive coastal country house and holiday cottage with 47 acres of land and 1km of shore frontage on the Isle of Mull.

Principle house with 2 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms | Formal gardens and woodland walks | Furnished 2-bedroom holiday cottage | 13 acres pasture, 16.5 acres rough grazing and 5 acres mixed woodland | About 1km of shore frontage to Loch Cuin | About 47 acres in total Offers over £1,150,000 Tom Stewart-Moore 0131 222 9608 tom.stewart-moore@knightfrank.com

knightfrank.co.uk

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CRAIGENGILLAN, AYRSHIRE A magical and historic estate on the Kirkcudbrightshire border, peacefully situated in the hills above the valley of the River Doon.

Charming A-listed house | 7 bedrooms | 5 bathrooms | 3 reception rooms | Self-contained wing | Biomass heating system | Fine lawns | Glasshouse, rock & water garden | Gatehouse & 6 further houses | Glamping pods | Stables | Miles of hacking | Superb wildlife | Lochs, river gorge & waterfall 2 ½ miles of fishing on the River Doon | Organic sheep farm | 700 acres of native woodland | 2,850 acres in total | Dalmellington 2 miles | Ayr 15 miles Tom Stewart-Moore 0131 222 9608 tom.stewart-moore@knightfrank.com

Offers over £5,000,000

Christopher Dewe 020 7861 1779 christopher.dewe@knightfrank.com

knightfrank.co.uk

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28/04/2025 12:08:29

Coming Soon - Autumn 2025

alreoc Steading,

unning

Bespoke homes in the heart of Perthshire

rices fro

£ 0 ,000

Available to reserve now

Bell Ingram, Perth T: 01738 621 121 E: carl.warden@bellingram.co.uk

Aigas Golf Course, Cottages, Steading Buildings, and Agricultural Land This superb lifestyle opportunity offers an established 9-hole parkland golf course with clubhouse together with four successful holiday cottages, steading buildings and two agricultural fields.

Established 9-hole parkland golf course with clubhouse, popular with locals and tourists alike.

Four profitable and well-presented holiday cottages, with the potential for use as owners / staff accommodation.

Two adjoining agricultural fields together with barns and workshops, offering development potential subject to necessary consents.

Offers over £1,500,000 Bell Ingram, Highland: T: 01463 717 799 | E: highland@bellingram.co.uk

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scottishfield.co.uk

28/04/2025 12:18:02

We needed to move quickly to secure our dream home.

They trusted the agent that sold 40% more homes over £1m than anyone else. *

*Source: TwentyCi UK exchanged data 2024

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Marlfield

ellfield

Coldstream, Scottish Borders, TD12 4 T Offers Over £895,000

Horndean, Scottish Borders, TD15 1 Offers Over £650,000

Murton

Blanerne House

hite House

Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 2N Guide Price £950,000

Old Pur es Hall

reenlaw, Scottish Borders, TD1 6 Offers Over £895,000

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Duns, Scottish Borders, TD11 3P Offers Over £2,000,000

House On The Hill

Kelso, Scottish Borders, TD5 H Offers Over £795,000

28/04/2025 12:41:54

Selling Property Throughout Scotland & Northumberland

Meadow House Mains

Laburnum House

The Old Nursery

41A Manor Place

Oaklands

Mansefield

Paxton, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1TN Offers Over £895,000

East Ord, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 2NS Offers Over £895,000

Kelso, Scottish Borders, TD5 7BP Offers Over £825,000

High Angerton, Hartburn, Morpeth, NE61 4ET Offers Over £795,000

Edinburgh, EH3 7EB Offers Over £595,000

Coldstream, Scottish Borders, TD12 4AF Offers Over £675,000

01289 542 400 enquiries@patonandco.com www.patonandco.com

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Robb Residential through a spring lens...

The Compliments of Spring

Selling for the Best Possible Price at the Right Time

The onset of spring refreshes and subtly scents the property market. Herbaceous borders begin to flourish, coastal views become even more inviting, and country landscapes swell with all manner of colour. Nature itself showcases beautiful homes surrounded by greenery, gardens and grounds in full flush of the season; coastal views shimmer and sparkle; wildlife appears; in the air there’s that annual sense of change and renewal.

Drawing room flats come alive with sunbeams and all the possibilities of city living.

Sometimes, singular and attractive properties, the weather of the day, and all the hallmarks of the season will sell a wonderful home, but Robb Residential don’t take that as given. Nor should you. As spring breathes new life into the market and the promise of summer energises it with possibility, it’s our job at Robb Residential to tailor our marketing strategy for your property to the precise segment it deserves. Every vendor can expect to approach a sale with confidence in the expectation they’ll sell at the best possible price in the ideal timeframe.

On the West Coast of Scotland, as we awake to sunlight and explosions of gold, yellow, blue and purple, when there's a welcoming warmth in the atmosphere, the team at Robb Residential are galvanising themselves for the 2025 uptick in property buying and selling.

The San Franciscan lensman, Ansel Adams - famous for his rich monochrome photos of Yosemite, other US National Parks and capturing the amazing natural landscapes of the wider American West - said, “There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.”

After the traditionally quiet period between the clock changes, it’s time to re-focus on the two main parties in every property transaction: the seller and the house hunter.

This time of seasonal change is typically hailed as the right moment to promote a property, and by partnering with us as your estate agent of choice, you’ll benefit from our combined decades of experience, market and regional knowledge, as well as our keen sense of how to promote your home, its benefits and lifestyle offerings. We don’t just market bricks and mortar – anyone, any agent can do that. We sell lifestyles and the promise of a future in a beautiful villa, a traditional country house, a steading, rolling terrain or a delightful urban dwelling.

The joys of this seasonal shift signal a period of opportunity and the pace of the property market quickens. Many, be they dynamic families, busy professionals or forward-looking retirees are keen to secure a move before summer and the holidays. In particular, young families are keen to move before the new school year, while others simply wish to enjoy bright warm days by or on the sea, or with gentle walks in the countryside.

The annual spring clock change creates competitive tension, invigorates buyers and sharpens their focus on that ideal property, that much-loved home.

R o

O c h

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Robb Residential...One step closer to home Buying a Dream Home and Lifestyle

Time for Action

The Robb Residential approach highlights to the buyer all the essential and unique elements a new home and life offer, crafting a compelling story of the property for sale. Our tailored brochure presents in all its glory what makes your home special.

Spring is nature’s way of often boosting your home’s value, achieving a quicker sale. Motivated buyers, seasonal scenery and our tailored marketing campaign will ensure you stand out in a busy market place.

Professional photography, videography and drone work will capture beautiful angles, sweeping views, dramatic vistas which – along with our market knowledge and the written word – craft a narrative, bringing the property to life.

Another chronicler of the American West, this time on the written page, author Elmore Leonard said, "Never open a book with weather": for selling beautiful, unique, bright, airy, and spacious homes, good weather and clear skies are precisely the place to start.

As a premium middle-to-prime estate agency, we ensure your property reaches the right audience through targeted online and offline channels.

Often, via our connections and our own international database, we may have a buyer already waiting in the wings. Almost certainly we’ll have multiple interested parties, as Robb Residential continue to see the dividends of hybrid working and the regular flow of property-owner migration from London and the Home Counties to the cities and countryside of Scotland’s West Coast.

A photographer sees the world through his or her own lens - if you are selling or buying, please contact us and see your home through the experienced, bespoke Robb Residential lens.

Selling or buying any unique home deserves more than run of the mill marketing. When partnering with Robb Residential, we understand your property’s distinct appeal, attracting buyers with strategic, impactful campaigns. Additionally, we work the transaction with regular phone calls, follow-ups and touchpoints. And as we witness more chains in the Scottish market, you can also benefit from our unique approach to mitigating the risk of such chains and their collapse, giving sellers and buyers peace of mind.

Robb Residential are an Estate Agent based in Glasgow who deal in a range of unique and beautiful properties in the middle-to-prime market in Scotland.

Our complimentary pre-sale consultation will provide you with a carefully considered valuation together with tailored strategic advice, specific to your home, your location, and the current market.

Sales 0141 225 3880 sales@robbresidential.com

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Lettings 0141 225 3881 lettings@robbresidential.com

28/04/2025 13:37:05

L a nd for C h a rtered L a nd & F orestry A g ency is one of th e leading firms in the sale of sporting esta tes, com m ercia l forests a nd l a nd for inv estm ent a nd th e d ev el opm ent of na tura l ca pita l proj ects th roug h out S cotl a nd .

S pecia l ising in th e sa l e of esta tes, l a nd a nd forests th a t offer the potential for woodland crea tion, pea tl a nd restora tion, sporting a nd inv estm ent opportunities.

I f y ou a re consid ering th e sa l e of y our property or l ooking to b uy pl ea se conta ct P a trick P orteous or H a rry G ra h a m to d iscuss th e options.

L A N D F O R

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Thinking of buying or selling your property?

FBRSeed are specialists in the sale and purchase of rural residential properties, farms and estates.

The team go beyond standard estate agency, offering a full scope of rural services including surveying, farm management, diversification, planning, renewables, financing and subsidies.

Their unparalleled experience and forward-thinking advice help to maximise your asset value whether you are buying or selling.

Speak to the team today about public and private sales and purchases.

p. 01573 224381 w. www.fbrseed.com e. reception@fbrseed.com

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28/04/2025 13:40:04

Kincraig Kincraig| |Inverness-shire Inverness-shire Offers OffersOver Over£485,000 £485,000 AAtraditional traditionalextended extendedcottage cottageand and two twobedroom bedroomchalet chaletsurrounded surrounded bybyspectacular spectacularmountain mountain and andmoorland moorlandscenery sceneryset setinin approximately approximatelyone oneacre acreand andlocated located within withinthe theCairngorms CairngormsNational National Park.

Park.

Cottage Cottage Entrance Entrancevestibule vestibule| Hall | Hall| Lounge | Lounge Sitting Sittingroom room| Kitchen | Kitchen| Bathroom | Bathroom Shower Showerroom room| Master | Masterbedroom bedroom Dressing cece| Two Dressingroom/offi room/offi | Twobedrooms bedrooms Chalet/Annexe Chalet/Annexe Open Openplan plankitchen/sitting kitchen/sittingroom room Balcony Balcony| Wet | Wetroom room| Bathroom | Bathroom Two Twobedrooms bedrooms| Garage | Garage EPC EPCrating ratingE E Approx.

Approx.1 acre 1 acre

Suzanne Moss Suzanne Moss 01463 719171 01463 719171

suzanne.moss@struttandparker.com suzanne.moss@struttandparker.com

Auchterarder Auchterarder| |Perthshire Perthshire Offers Offersover over£720,000 £720,000 AAlovely lovelyGeorgian Georgianfamily familyhouse house set setinin2½ 2½acres acresofofgardens gardensand and grounds. grounds.

Perth: Perth:1717miles, miles,Edinburgh: Edinburgh:4343miles, miles, Glasgow: Glasgow:4444miles. miles.

Reception Receptionhall hall| Drawing | Drawingroom room

Dining Laundry family Isle of Armadale Diningroom room|Skye, | Laundry| Large | Large family

Offers over £6,750,000

kitchen/living kitchen/livingroom room|Utility |Utilityarea area WC en-suite WC| Master | Masterbedroom bedroomwith with en-suite The majority of an ecologically diverse and historic peninsula bathroom bathroom| Three | Threefurther furtherbedrooms bedrooms on the world-renowned Isle of Skye.

Bathroom | Library/bedroom fi ve Bathroom | Library/bedroom five Playroom/bedroom Playroom/bedroomsixsix| Beautiful | Beautiful Broadford2½ 15 miles; Kyle of Lochalsh 21 miles; Inverness city 99 miles; Inverness airport 108 miles. garden gardenextending extendingtotoabout about 2½acres acres with potential withdevelopment development potentialsubject Open moorland |subject Overtoto 20 miles of Atlantic coastline | Native and commercial woodland | Red deer stalking, planning | Garage | Private planning | Garage | Private driveand and trout fishing and drive rough shooting for mixed game | Ecological restoration at landscape scale | Renewable energy Off -street D Off -streetparking parking| EPC | EPCrating rating andDcarbon accreditation potential | Residential development opportunities.

Approx Approx2.5 2.5acres acres

About 19,215 acres in total.

Hamish Spencer-Nairn Hamish Spencer-Nairn Euan MacCrimmon 01738 567892 01738 567892 Inverness Office | 01463 719171

euan.maccrimmon@struttandparker.com hamish.spencer-nairn@struttandparker.com hamish.spencer-nairn@struttandparker.com

Robert McCulloch Edinburgh Office | 0131 718 4593 robert.mcculloch@struttandparker.com

struttandparker.com /struttandparker @struttandparker struttandparker.com /struttandparker @struttandparker 6060 Offi ces across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

Offi ces across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

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28/04/2025 13:44:01

P R O P E R T Y Reach the discerning readers of Scottish Field by showcasing your properties in our dedicated property section. Whether you’re a developer, estate agent, or private seller, our advertising space is the perfect platform to connect with your audience.

Join us and make your properties stand out!

Ben Property.indd 1

FOR RATES AND BOOKING, CONTACT GRANT PHILBIN AT

23/02/2023 10:09:09

gphilbin@scottishfield.co.uk

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scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 09:31:00

W A N TE D E A ST L O TH I A N Family H ouse or L arge Cottage eacfully situated in or near an attractive village •

• deally with edrooms and a farmhouse itchen • arden and out uildings • Traditional or contemporary • unds immediately availa le • N o commission req uired

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Mark Atkinson.indd 29

29/04/2025 15:45:34

© DAVID WILKINSON – SCOTDRONE

ADVERTORIAL

SCOTLAND’S FINEST

S

Scottish property finders Garrington reveals the best places to live in 2025

cotland's property market enters 2025 in robust health, with average house prices rising nearly 7% over the past year. But for those seeking more than market averages, Garrington Property Finders’ Best Places to Live in Scotland research offers unique insights.

Garrington’s findings are based on extensive research of 161 Scottish cities, towns and villages, based on 12 criteria including natural beauty, wellbeing, employment, connectivity, value for money and price changes.

Bridge of Allan, Stirling This year’s top-ranked location is Bridge of Allan – a former Victorian spa town just outside Stirling. Elegant streets, thriving community life, and proximity to the University of Stirling helped it score strongly across every category. Property values have risen more modestly here than elsewhere, giving buyers added value in one of Scotland’s most attractive settings.

Dunblane, Stirling In second place is nearby Dunblane, a charming town set amid wooded hills and

river valleys. Long admired for its period homes and village atmosphere, it took the top spot in the natural environment category and remains a firm favourite for families and commuters.

Midlothian & Queensferry Loanhead and Penicuik, both south of Edinburgh, secure third and fourth place thanks to their convenient transport links and strong job markets. Queensferry follows closely in fifth, with its cobbled streets, waterfront dining and panoramic views of the Forth Bridges. Though property prices here are high, lifestyle benefits and transport links ensure it still offers strong value.

East Dunbartonshire East Dunbartonshire makes a strong showing in this year’s rankings. Bearsden, in sixth place overall, offers refined suburban living with excellent schools, leafy streets and five golf courses. Price growth here has remained modest, adding to its appeal.

Also, ranking top for value are Kirkintilloch, last year’s overall winner, and Milngavie.

Kirkintilloch blends two thousand years of

history with the charm of the Campsie Fells and a lively canal-side centre, all just a short commute from Glasgow.

Explore More Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

There are many wonderful places in Scotland and what makes somewhere the “best place to live” is entirely subjective, deeply personal and shaped by your lifestyle needs. o find out about our other rankings, visit the Garrington Scotland website and use the interactive tool. You can search by place, county or ranking and even pin locations side by side to compare.

Alternatively, you can contact Garrington to arrange a private, no-obligation consultation for expert help to find your best place to live in Scotland.

CONTACT

Tel: 0131 564 1156 E-mail: info@garrington.co.uk www.garringtonscotland.co.uk

MEET THE TEAM

DAVINA RASELLI Perthshire & Central

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MARIE WOOD The Highlands & West Coast

RHEA BALFOUR Edinburgh, Lothians & Scottish Borders

FIONA REDFORD Glasgow & South West Scotland

scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 14:14:03

elcome home Struggling to find your dream home?

End your search by beginning ours…

Garrington Property Finders are leading experts in Scotland and often have access to properties that will never be visible on the open market. If you are looking for help, trust us, we know where to look.

GARRINGTONSCOTLAND.CO.UK

Garrington Property.indd 31

28/04/2025 13:47:19

Planning to to build build your your own Planning own home? home?

Rob Roy Homes is a specialist timber frame manufacturer with over Rob Roy Homes is a specialist timber frame manufacturer with over 50 years experience. We've worked on a wide variety of projects, from 50 years experience. We've worked on a wide variety of projects, from traditional homes to contemporary builds, in all shapes and sizes. traditional homes to contemporary builds, in all shapes and sizes.

Contact us to discuss your project.

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28/04/2025 13:51:35

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09/05/2025 09:53:58

ADVERTORIAL

Real Freedom, Real Luxury, Real Scotland MAINS OF TAYMOUTH C O U N T R Y E S TAT E & G O L F C O U R S E A Royal Westmoreland Highland Estate

An amazing and unique opportunity to own your very own lodge on the exclusive Mains of Taymouth Country Estate & Golf Course Luxury Scottish Highland Lodges from £129,995

Golf Bar & Brasserie Deli & Gift Shop

Full Ownership, Fractional Ownership & Holidays Available Visit us at www.taymouth.co.uk, E-mail us at info@taymouth.co.uk or call us on 01887 830226 to learn more Mains of Taymouth, Kenmore, near Aberfeldy, Perthshire, PH15 2HN

MAINS OF TAYMOUTH COUNTRY ESTATE & GOLF COURSE The home of luxury lodges

I

n the heart of Scotland’s stunning Perthshire, Mains of Taymouth Country Estate offers an unparalleled opportunity to invest in your dream lifestyle. This exclusive estate combines the natural beauty of the Scottish countryside with exceptional luxury living, making it the perfect place to unwind or own a sought-after getaway lodge.

With a wide range of stunning, modern properties to choose from - whether you’re seeking a traditional stone cottage or a contemporary lodge, Mains of Taymouth guarantees exceptional craftsmanship, stylish interiors, and stunning views of the surrounding hills and Loch Tay. What makes Mains of Taymouth truly stand out is its emphasis on outdoor living. Enjoy our beautiful grounds, take leisurely strolls along the estate’s paths, or explore the nearby waters of Loch Tay. or those who enjoy golfing, our -hole course offers an additional way to relax and unwind.

Purchasing a property here isn’t just about owning a holiday home; it’s about becoming part of a community that shares a passion for country living. With easy access to local amenities and the vibrant towns of Aberfeldy and Killin, Mains of Taymouth is the ideal place to invest in a lifestyle that blends nature, comfort, and luxury.

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CONTACT Contact the Estate on 01887 830226 or go to www.taymouth.co.uk scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 14:30:05

L U X U RY H A M P E RS Our wonderful range of hampers are packed with high quality Scottish food, drink and gift products that we are sure everyone will love.

S H O P. S C O T T I S H F I E L D. C O. U K CALL: 01631 568055 EMAIL: SHOP@SCOTTISHFIELD.CO.UK PLEASE NOTE: Due to alcohol content age verification will be required upon delivery.

UK DELIVERY ONLY. Price includes postage & packaging, gift basket, ribbon & personalised card.

Pictured: Luxury Treats hamper. The Hamper image is indicative and contents may be replaced by a similar product of similar value.

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28/04/2025 13:53:11

NEWS

UP FRONT A round-up of what’s going on across Scotland

TITBITS

GREAT GIFT One of the largest single gifts by a living donor in the National Trust for Scotland’s history has supported the restoration work of a water-powered mill in Angus, that will see it start milling flour again for the first time in 40 years. The donation of £2.4 million was made by a long-time member of the conservation charity, to support projects across the North East, including the restoration of Barry Mill. www.nts.org.uk

NEW LANARK CELEBRATES

240TH ANNIVERSARY

It’s been 240 years since work began on what would become one of Scotland’s most remarkable historic sites, New Lanark, a site that began as a bold industrial experiment and grew into a UNESCO orld erita e ite. n avid ale. by the bu

, usin locally uarried stone, the first mill was built under the vision of

hile a lot has chan ed over the past

years, with the hum of the mills bein replaced

of visitors, ale s vision has stood the test of time, transformin from a revolutionary mill

villa e into a

site visited by hundreds of thousands every year. www.newlanark.org

FURNITURE DISPLAY

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A Victorian find An exceptionally rare Victorian Crossley engine was found tucked away in the attic of CoDE The Court in Edinburgh, where it had remained hidden for decades. Built in 1878, it used to regulate the temperature of the Edinburgh Police Chambers, it’s now on display in the underground vaults of the building. www.thelostclose.com

TOP RIGHT: JULIETPHOTOGRAPHY / ADOBE STOCK.

CASTLE TARTAN Historic Environment Scotland has partnered with Prickly Thistle to launch a new tartan collection, inspired by the dramatic Highland landscape of Urquhart Castle. The bespoke tartan pays homage to the castle’s more than 1,000 year history. www.stor.scot

More than 20 of Scotland’s top furniture makers will exhibit their work at Dalkeith Palace this summer. Scotland’s biggest show of its kind, the exhibition returns to Dalkeith Palace after a successful event last year which saw hundreds of visitors explore a wide range of furniture, sculpture and woodworks. It runs from 13-15 June. www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk

scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 14:28:07

UP FRONT

TITBITS

RESTORATION

VINTAGE TRACTOR

FOR EILIDH MACLEOD

A vintage tractor has been given an incredible makeover to become a fundraising machine for the music charity set up in memory of Manchester Arena victim Eilidh MacLeod from Barra in the Outer Hebrides.

Cheshire-based tractor enthusiast Mark Ferguson, who was related to musician Eilidh through his wife, has spent the last five years painstakingly refurbishing his V8 Fordson Super Major in Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust purple and pink colours and branding. www.eilidhstrust.org.uk

NESSIE, IS THAT YOU? An underwater camera set up 55 years ago to try and photograph the Loch Ness Monster has been discovered by a robot submarine. The robot submarine, called Boaty McBoatface, was doing trials when part of the mooring that had held the camera system in place got caught on the vehicle’s propeller. Remarkably the camera was still in ood condition and the film able to be

THE FACTS & FIGURES

1970 The year the camera was placed in the water.

Locals in Lennoxtown are hoping to transform the A-Listed Campsie High Kirk into a community hub in a bid to preserve the historic building, which was devastated by fire in 1984. Designed by artist David Hamilton, the community-led project is led by the Friends of Campsie High Kirk and is hoping to revive the church, which is listed on the Buildings at Risk Register.

developed by a NOC engineer, but no footage of Nessie was found. www.noc.ac.uk

23 Loch Ness is around 23 miles long.

180 It was discovered around 180m deep in the loch.

TOP: EILIDH’S TRUST. RIGHT: JULE_BERLIN / ADOBE STOCK.

CASTLE SALE It’s owned by the largest clan in Scotland and was once home to the Macdonalds of Sleat, but now Armadale Castle on the Isle of Skye is being sold. Clan Donald Lands Trust said they made the difficult decision to sell the 19th century castle and the 20,000-acre estate, which covers much of the island’s Sleat peninsula, due to financial pressures. Armadale Castle, which was built as an extension to a late-18th century mansion house, was the scene of Jacobite heroine Flora Macdonald’s wedding in 1750 but it fell into disrepair in 1925. www.armadalecastle.com scottishfield.co.uk

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GREEN LIGHT Arran Community Renewables, based on the Isle of Arran, has been granted planning consent for a 6 MW solar farm, with the aim of generating 5,600MWh of clean renewable energy from 2027.

Glenkiln Solar Farm will be located near Lamlash and will provide enough renewable energy to meet one quarter of the island’s domestic power needs. The £5million project will be the largest 100% community-owned scheme of its kind in Scotland. www. arranrenewables.com 37

29/04/2025 14:28:26

VIEWPOINT

ROAM WASN’T BUILT IN A DAY Campaigners citing Scottish access laws as the gold standard and something that should be replicated south of the border overlook the impact the Right To Roam has had on our wildlife and countryside, says Patrick Galbraith

O

ver the past three years, as part of research for my new book, Uncommon Ground, I’ve been knocking about with Right to Roam campaigners across the British Isles. One recurring theme is that at almost every protest or campaign meeting I’ve been to, south of the border, some wellmeaning activist will point to Scotland as an example of how brilliantly the so-called ‘Right to Roam’ works.

The first annoyance is that there is no such thing as the ‘Right to Roam’ in Scotland. What there is, as enshrined in the 2003 Land Reform Act, is ‘a right of responsible access to most land’. You can’t, for example, walk through fields of wheat or the gardens of country houses.

As somebody who was born in Scotland and lived in rural Dumfries and Galloway until four years ago, I find the invocation of our country by people who might have been there four or five times to be a little myopic. Sure, there are parts of Scotland where land access works well but there are also places where it’s a complete nightmare. There are places

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where everybody is very aware of their rights but pays scant regard to their responsibilities.

In the summer of 2024, I was driving past Loch Lomond in torrential rain, on my way to the Isle of Harris, when I picked up two English hitchhikers. They had been standing on the side of the road, they told me as they got in, for some time. One of them was from Bath and the other was from Lancashire and their trip to Scotland had been, apparently, a disappointing one. Scotland, they had been led to believe, was this ‘promised land, where you can just sleep wherever’ but to their annoyance, all the way up Loch Lomondside there had been ‘No Camping’ signs. It hadn’t all been bad though. They had found a small boat at the lochside, had commandeered it, and had enjoyed a pleasant day of splashing around. Cat, the girl from Bath reckoned it might have belonged to somebody but Josh, the Lancashire lad, reckoned not. Either way they didn’t seem overly bothered – they’d had a good time. I was too tired to take them to task but the anecdote was pretty extraordinary – they seemingly saw no connection between that camping ban and the sort of decision they made to hijack some poor person’s rowing boat.

Some of the impact that reckless campers have in Scotland is pretty obvious. Headlines such as the Scottish Sun’s ‘locals brand area the “Wild West” after “feral” campers destroy beauty spot’, and locals ‘so sad and angry’ over damage in Glencoe, are pretty standard fare. But what people possibly don’t realise is the impact that access has on wildlife. A big part of my book is trying to understand the extent to which people are compatible with conservation. Some years ago, I had the extraordinary privilege of sleeping out on a capercaillie breeding site in the Cairngorms. The gamekeeper, who is responsible for the area, spends much of his life trying to dissuade local mountainbikers from tearing through the site, as well as frequently telling dogwalkers to put their marauding pets back on the lead. It isn’t just an annoyance – capercaillie are on the verge of extinction in Scotland and scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 12:58:14

RIGHT TO ROAM

LEFT: MARKMEDCALFE. TOP: JULIAN. ABOVE: OLIVER. (ALL ADOBE STOCK)

FAR LEFT: Capercaillie are criticallyendangered in Scotland. LEFT: Out of control dogs can be fatal for livestock.

This footpath near Forfar in Angus carries a warning sign. BELOW: Irresponsible wild camping can be problematic for wildlife and the environment.

the public harassing them is fast hastening their demise. It is nothing short of a disgrace.

In travelling the country I was made tragically aware again and again that we privilege our lives and the happiness of our pets over creatures that are an integral part of the countryside and our culture. Lapwings, black grouse and curlew all require quiet spots to create nests on the ground in spring – the right thing to do would be to close off relevant areas to give such birds a chance of flourishing. But any sort of effort to keep people out is inevitably met with uproar.

Another very important consideration is that the countryside is a place of work. From farmers to foresters to deerstalkers, there are men and women working immensely hard to productively maintain rural Scotland’s beauty. And yet, vocal agitators insist on access at all times.

On Harris, I met a sheep farmer and his son who spent most of lockdown looking for ewes that had dispersed due to an onslaught of hikers. In Glen Affric I spoke to a deer manager who told me that when they are out shooting, they regularly get called ‘fucking toffs’. They aren’t killing red deer out of some mad blood lust. They are simply keeping numbers down to allow trees to regrow, and actual abuse aside, their job is made pretty difficult when people head out wandering in the middle of the hind culling season. scottishfield.co.uk

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One of the most fascinating and frankly misguided arguments offered up in England in favour of a blanket Right to Roam is that if only people were able to actually see the countryside, they would love it and every little creature that lives there. Farmers and landowners, the narrative runs, have kept the public out and they are therefore culpable when the public wreak havoc. It’s an interesting idea but it’s nonsense – Scotland has a right of responsible access but capercaillie still have it hard, gates are left open and dogs continue to run riot and kill lambs. It’s not simply about being able to see the countryside, it’s about having the opportunity to truly engage with it and to understand it.

There’s no doubt in my mind that rural history, conservation and the reality of farming should be a big part of the school curriculum in this country and for all that I think that landowners and farmers get a hard time, they do have a tremendous responsibility. Every time I hear an estate owner say that ‘the public doesn’t understand farming and the countryside’, I always make a point of asking them what they have done to try and improve that. How many school children have they had along to help build osprey nests, how many Scout packs have they invited to camp on their land, and how many local people do they have to help them cull hinds? Those with acres can really help change our culture with a bit of energy and lateral thinking. That is one of the key arguments of my book.

Scotland shouldn’t be pointed at by activists in pubs on Dartmoor as an example of how brilliant throwing open the countryside would be. Instead, land access in Scotland should be looked at as something that can be learned from. It is a far from perfect situation where wildlife is still in decline, wild campers are still a menace and children still don’t have opportunities to really know the earth.

Uncommon Ground written by Patrick Galbraith and published by Harper Collins is available now.

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The Old Church, Tay Terrace, Dunkeld PH8 0AQ jeffreys-dunkeld.co.uk 01350 697222

Jeffreys Dunkeld.indd 1

28/04/2025 14:01:24

ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH

WRITER’S NOTES

What’s in a name?

Why on earth are people convinced that they can judge your levels of success, popularity and cheerfulness by your name?

H

ere’s a challenge. Imagine the typical readers of Scottish Field, and, say, The Guardian or What Car? magazine.

The Guardian reader will be forty-something, will not be employed in the building trade and will be well-disposed to cycle lanes.

I only read What Car? when I go to the dentist, but I am reasonably certain that the overwhelming majority of its readers will be men, just as the majority of readers of Hello! will be women. These are stereotypes, but the whole point about stereotypes, of course, is that they tend to reflect reality.

ILLUSTRATION: BUTSARAKHAM / ADOBE STOCK. IMAGE: KIRSTY ANDERSON.

‘John Wayne would not have got far with his original name of Marion’ Scottish Field, I suspect, is read by men and women equally, and by a wide range of age groups, with a big demographic bulge in the middle. More intriguing is the question of what the readers tend to be called: I would go for Jamie and Hugh as the most common names of male readers, and Catriona and Fiona as typical female readers.

This may simply reflect the popularity of certain names at certain times within a particular socio-economic group, and may therefore be both unsurprising and uncontroversial. But there are more complex factors operating when it comes to names, and there is a whole branch of academic research devoted to how names determine how we view ourselves, how we are treated by others, and what we are likely to read.

Earlier research into the psychology of personal names tended to be concerned with how a person’s name might affect the way he or she is treated by others. Names become associated with certain characteristics, and these associations can stick. As a result, certain names carry a baggage of controversy. Naming a baby after a prominent public figure may seem a good idea at the time, but what if events take a negative turn? The name Vladimir may be heading for a period of obscurity, one suspects, scottishfield.co.uk

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although Donald is common and well-established enough to be robust. It is likely that Boris might have taken a dip in popularity in certain postcodes.

An academic study carried out in 1997 at the University of California, where they love this sort of thing, considered six desirability factors: success, morality, popularity, warmth, cheerfulness and masculinity/femininity.

The study investigated how people evaluated various names in terms of these factors, with a perfect score being 100 and a low score being in single digits. It transpired that if you are called Mark, people expect you to be highly successful (92), popular (95), fairly cheerful (76) and pretty masculine (83). When it comes to morality, rather surprisingly you will score a measly 35 and have only 48 with respect to warmth.

A difficult name to have, according to this study, is Wally. The Wallies of this world are thought to be unsuccessful (28), unpopular (28), and only moderately masculine (64). They must be fairly stoic, though, in spite of their other misfortunes, as they score 52 for cheerfulness.

Herman fares even worse. He gets six for popularity and just 10 for cheerfulness, although that is more than Caesar, Horace and Winston, who make do with only seven for cheerfulness.

One of the highest scores across the board is somebody called Colby. There is a cultural issue here as there may be many Colbies in California, but we have very few, if any, in Scotland.

Some callings require you to change your name. John Wayne would not have got far as a macho film cowboy actor had he not jettisoned his original name of Marion. Mary Ann Evans might have faced greater hurdles as an author had she not decided to be George Eliot.

Yet there is a certain cachet to sticking to an awkward name. I admire the Winterbottoms and Sidebottoms of this world, names deeply rooted in parts of England where bottom simply meant farm. I also admire those who stick to the fine Scottish surname Smellie and resist any temptation to become Smillies or Smileys. That shows strength of character or, as that quality used to be called, bottom.

SIR ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH

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29/04/2025 11:44:32

SCOTLAND THROUGH A LENS

TOWER OF STRENGTH: There are many beautiful historic buildings in the Borders, such as Greenknowe Tower, a 16th-century tower house, located just west of the village of Gordon.

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scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 14:31:16

ROD HANCHARD-GOODWIN

A LOVE OF THE BORDERS The Borders are often overlooked by visitors, but for Rod Hanchard-Goodwin the diversity of historic buildings and landscapes make it picture perfect

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SCOTLAND THROUGH A LENS

‘I love photographing ancient buildings, timeless seascapes and sunsets’

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29/04/2025 14:32:24

ROD HANCHARD-GOODWIN

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: St Abbs is Rod’s favourite coastal location in the Scottish Borders due to the diversity of rock formations and scenery. The old causeway provides a focal point to this image; Rod captured this old sheepfold near Megget Reservoir. This image is composed of four vertical shots to capture the whole scene; A boat on the shore of the River Tweed on a calm summer’s day; Smailholm Tower is a peel tower built in the 1400s, situated around five miles west of Kelso. Its dramatic position provides stunning views over the surrounding countryside. The lighting and interesting clouds added to the shot; Rod was drawn to this spot due to the yellow rapeseed fields contrasting against the dark skies. The church provided a focal point to the shot.

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SCOTLAND THROUGH A LENS

ABOVE: St Mary’s Loch is the largest natural loch in the Borders, between Selkirk and Moffat. Rod camped here one evening and was greeted with a great sunset and calm conditions (although the midges were out in force).

RIGHT: Neidpath Tunnel is an abandoned train tunnel near Peebles which is nearly half a mile long. The tunnel is extremely dark, especially in the middle as it curves blocking out any light. Rod captured this shot using a tripod to allow the camera to pick up light from the entrance. FAR RIGHT: The Japanese Water Gardens at Stobo are very picturesque.

Rod has visited several times, but timing is key to getting the Autumn colours and a good flow of water over the falls.

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29/04/2025 14:33:39

ROD HANCHARD-GOODWIN

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SCOTLAND THROUGH A LENS

FOR MORE OF ROD’S PHOTOS GO TO www.bluefinart.com @bluefinart

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TOP: Leaderfoot Viaduct is a railway viaduct over the River Tweed near Melrose. Rod has taken many photos from this iconic spot, but it took several attempts to capture a good sunset.

ABOVE: Scott’s View is a stunning viewpoint overlooking the valley of the River Tweed and is reputed to be one of the favourite views of Sir Walter Scott. Rod arrived before sunset, not expecting much due to the low cloud and mist, but the clouds parted producing some magical light.

scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 14:34:46

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28/04/2025 14:03:13

CREDO

Credo...

Latin. (n) ‘I believe’. A set of beliefs which influences the way you live.

The award-winning children’s, sci-fi and crime writer on Highland life, ghost hunting and the horror of midgies

At school I was always the one in the corner reading comics. The only sport I did was basketball and that was only because I was 6ft 4in by the time I went to high school. But as the other kids caught up I lost my distinct advantage.

I chose the pen name J D Kirk because I like Star Trek. That, and I’d written for kids under my real name [Barry Hutchison] and I didn’t want them going from reading funny little stories about shark-headed bear things to child abduction, murder and lots of swearing.

All of my writing is based around, ‘What if?’ When I was writing for kids it would be, ‘What if gravity turned off?’ or ‘What if my shoes started talking to me?’ The first chapter of my new book is based on a day my daughter and I were out walking the dog in Leanachen Forest. Our golden retriever ran off and my daughter started to worry so I told her to wait there and I went to find the dog. When I got back she has disappeared and I went into a panic thinking someone had taken her and that my wife was going to kill me. She was actually hiding behind a bush and the louder I shouted the more she thought she was in trouble and kept hiding. When she eventually popped up I started to think, ‘What if she hadn’t?’

It would have been nice to have written Harry Potter.

Because then I’d be living in a palace made of gold.

But then I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy it as a reader and I’d have missed out.

I build Lego to relax. We couldn’t really afford it when I was growing up but now if I get stuck on a story I’ll break out the Lego.

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JD KIRK

‘You don’t often think about the impact that books have’

I have written a script for a film about killer midges. I mused on social media about why there wasn’t a horror movie about the scariest monster of all, the Scottish midge. It was probably after a summer of being eaten alive. I mocked up images of a film poster and people went bananas.

The press were asking when the film was happening. Then a director got in touch and asked me to write it. There’s a trailer now and we’re working on bringing it to the big screen. It’s tricky because Americans aren’t always familiar with midges. I’d put something on social media and someone said, ‘That’s disrespectful, the actual term is little people!’

I’m fortunate to have sold over five million books, but my biggest achievement was receiving an email from a woman who said her family had thought she was crying while reading my book, then they realised she was laughing. It was the first time she’d laughed in a year, the first time since her daughter died. I still feel myself well up talking about it. You don’t often think about the impact that books have on people.

My moral fibre comes from reading Superman and Spiderman comics. I mean my parents had a hand in it too, don’t get me wrong, but I always try to be nice and helpful.

In my teens I was obsessed with ghosts. My friend Michael and I started an organisation called the Spectre Collectors. We heard there was a ghost at Inverlochy Castle and although we didn’t have proton packs to trap it, we did have my mum’s hoover. It was an old thing and quite heavy but we put it across our bikes and walked two and a half miles to the castle. It was only when we got there that we realised there was nowhere to plug it in and had to walk all the way back.

IMAGE: PAUL REICH

My favourite part of Scotland is the Highlands. I grew up in Fort William and after moving around I ended up back there to bring up my kids.

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29/04/2025 11:09:50

LML A4 Print Adverts_Q1_2025.indd 1 Laurence McIntosh.indd 51

14/04/2025 19:40 28/04/2025 14:04:39

SLICE OF LIFE

OTTERLY ADORABLE: Molly visits Billy on the shore.

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29/04/2025 11:13:25

BILLY & MOLLY

WHEN BILLY MET MOLLY

Shetland’s Billy Mail encountered a weak, hungry otter that was in need of a helping hand, and nursing her back to health proved the perfect antidote to the pressures of his own life, writes Rosie Morton scottishfield.co.uk

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SLICE OF LIFE

B

illy Mail gazed out of his window towards the water. It was 3 March 2021, a sunny day in the Shetland Isles, when he spotted something moving around the jetty outside. It was an otter searching for breakfast. He didn’t know it yet, but this little creature – later named Molly – would become a welcome breath of fresh air in Billy’s life.

‘She’d swim over, hop up onto the jetty, eat her crab and then go back to the sea and catch another one,’ Billy tells me. ‘While she was under the water fishing, I ran out the door and hid behind the car. She came up for air and went back down. Then I ran and hid behind something else, until eventually I was on the pontoon, on my knees, trying to disguise myself as a wooden handrail, hoping she’d come back out. And she did.’

Billy, who grew up on a Shetland croft and has experience with both

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domestic and wild animals, sat quietly to observe the otter.

Not only could he see that the animal was emaciated, but her behaviour was also highly unusual. Seeing Molly’s isolation reminded him of a time when, aged three, Billy lost his own mother in a large clothes store in Lerwick. That panic and struggle of being left on his own stuck with him, so Molly’s plight tugged at his heart strings.

‘She stopped, turned and looked me straight in the eye for a good three or four seconds, then went back to eating the crab. All the time I was filming on my phone,’ says Billy, who moved back to Shetland in 2018 after living in Aberdeen for most of his career. ‘She should have scarpered at that moment, as soon as she saw a human being, but she didn’t.’

Molly finished her meal, walked across the pontoon and slipped. ‘She tried to catch herself, but it just looked like she was saying, “Ah, this is too much like hard work”. She just let herself slide into the water. These were all indications that this animal was weak and hungry.’

At the time, Billy’s own life was exceedingly stressful. After moving back home to Shetland from Aberdeen with his wife Susan in 2018, both of Billy’s parents passed away, they lost their beloved old dog, and had launched headlong into an all-consuming building project. To Billy, nursing the orphaned otter back to life (with advice from the local wildlife centre) seemed the perfect antidote to these ongoing pressures.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Billy and Molly just off West Shetland; Molly and Billy connecting on the pontoon; Molly lays down in seaweed, having just come out of the water; Molly peeking out from under Billy’s rowing boat.

scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 11:15:29

BILLY & MOLLY

PREVIOUS SPREAD: CHARLIE HAMILTON JAMES. LEFT & RIGHT ABOVE: JOHNNY ROLT. TOP: CHARLIE HAMILTON JAMES. RIGHT BELOW: JEFF WILSON (ALL NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC).

‘Seeing Molly’s simple need – which was food and survival – was such a simplistic contrast to all the complicated, busy life stuff that humans carve out for themselves,’ says Billy. ‘It was quite grounding and helped us refocus on what’s important rather than getting stressed at all the stuff that was, quite simply, not in our control and we couldn’t change anyway.’

Billy’s first stop was the fishmonger where he picked up offcuts that would have otherwise gone to waste. He put them in a box and placed them on the pontoon. Molly, of course, gladly hoovered them up.

News about Molly’s plight spread quickly through the Shetland community. The story had reached members of the local fishing industry, so they too came to offer Billy their leftover fish. It was a snowball effect and before he knew it Billy was welcoming filmmaker Charlie Hamilton James to produce what is now an award-winning National Geographic documentary called Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story. It went on to scoop several awards, including the Golden Panda in 2024 for Best Production.

Eventually Molly started bringing her otter friends to the Mail residence. ‘There were about six coming at one point, so I had to move the box and make sure that she knew I’d moved it,’ Billy tells me.

‘I actually made her a little house; there have been two or three houses made. It was just a wooden box and she would go into it, eat her fish, and she would actually sleep in there.’ scottishfield.co.uk

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SLICE OF LIFE

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scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 11:25:01

BILLY & MOLLY

‘She came right up to me, dunted my leg with her nose and had a sniff’

LEFT & BOTTOM: JOHNNY ROLT. TOP LEFT: JEFF WILSON. TOP RIGHT: CHARLIE HAMILTON JAMES. (ALL NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC).

Over the years, Billy has learned more about the otter’s movements. During the abundant summer months she is less visible, but over winter, when food is scarce, she’s a regular visitor. Molly has never been fully reliant on her new-found human friend but seems to enjoy an easy meal now and then.

I ask when Billy last saw Molly. ‘It was yesterday,’ he tells me excitedly. The pair have clearly built a remarkable rapport. But Billy is acutely aware that she is, and always will be, a wild animal. He jests that he is also quite fond of his fingers so likes to keep his distance. A short while after their very first encounter, Molly actually approached Billy – and it wasn’t a particularly comfortable experience.

‘She popped out of the water and was blocking my route back to the beach. I felt threatened if I’m honest. We’ve all heard the stories about wild otters taking a hold of you and not

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letting go,’ Billy says. ‘She came right up to me, dunted my leg with her nose and had a sniff. I just stood still. Then she went around me and went up to the box.

I think it was after that moment when she’d made physical contact and smelled me that she seemed to go, “Right, okay – I’ve got you sussed”. She would come a little bit closer after that.’

Molly still firmly calls the shots.

Any interactions that the pair have are entirely led by her. ‘The only time I can touch her is when she’s under the decking of the pontoon – she’ll stick her paw up and she’ll let me stroke her paw. She seems to like it.’

Despite a decidedly shaky start to life, Molly – who is now around five years old – has made a remarkable recovery. She has even gone on to have several pups of her own.

‘She has definitely lost that little bit of fear, but she still lives the life of a wild otter. That’s the most satisfying bit,’ says Billy. ‘In a world that is so full of hate and cynicism, don’t be afraid to show a little bit of love and a little bit of compassion. You get back far more than you give, whether it’s an animal or a human. That’s the little message that has landed in my heart with this whole thing.’

Billy & Molly Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story can be streamed on Disney+ on the National Geographic channel.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Molly curled up and asleep in a rope coil; Billy and Molly on the pontoon at sunset; Molly swims underwater; Molly plays in the ball pit.

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29/04/2025 11:25:29

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28/04/2025 16:24:32

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28/04/2025 16:25:17

A LIFE LESS ORDINARY

MAN OF THE HOUR The first Scot to be the voice of the Speaking Clock, Alan Steadman tells the story of how he came to be the UK’s official timekeeper Image Jenny Anderson

T

he speaking clock service began on 24 July 1936, almost 90 years ago, and was introduced for people who didn’t have a watch or clock to hand.

There was no really precise time telling service, so the only way to know the time was to call the exchange operator, which wasn’t always very accurate. So the speaking clock was brought in to be an absolutely accurate, to within five milliseconds or 5/1,000th of a second, on the spot service. It has remained popular despite all of the other ways that folks now have to tell the time.

The service still receives millions of calls each year, which is quite incredible, and there are times like New Year and Remembrance Sunday when it is really busy. The Speaking Clock was always known as TIM, because those were the letters that corresponded on the telephone dial to 846, which used to be the number to call. These days the number is 123.

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I’ve been the voice of the speaking clock since 2016. I was brought up in Kirriemuir, but I’ve lived in Broughty Ferry for over 30 years now. I was a civil servant for my whole career but I had a parallel career in local radio. I was on Radio Tay and Wave in Dundee and now I’m presenting a jazz show on three stations. As well as being the first Scot to be the voice of The Speaking Clock, I’m also the first one with any sort of regional accent. I’m the fifth voice and the four people who came before me were all pretty much received pronunciation.

I really became the voice of the Speaking Clock by accident. I met a friend in the street one day and she told me they were looking for a new voice. I wasn’t actually on air at that particular time so wasn’t sure I’d be eligible, not being a professional broadcaster. She told me that the closing date was only a few days away. So I rushed home and got onto the laptop and found the script. BT and the BBC were running a competition in connection with

A MATTER OF TIME: Alan Steadman in his home town of Broughty Ferry.

Children in Need and I put together a demo using part of the original 1936 script. I honestly thought it was pretty poor, but with only a couple of days left I fired it off and thought very little else about it.

Around two weeks later I received a phone call to say I was on a shortlist of just three people and was into the final. There were around 6,500 applicants so I was quite pleased. The other finalists were a lady from Wales and one from Northern Ireland. We all scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 11:43:11

THE SPEAKING CLOCK

travelled to London, to the BT Tower to make our recordings.

We had to record in little chunks because you couldn’t record every second of the day at once. It was important to make sure that you kept your voice consistent. You had to start at a certain level and go up and down at a certain time so that it could all be edited together to create the final version. I think the whole thing took me around four hours.

It was a wonderful experience and because I’d spent so much time in a studio doing radio I felt quite at home.

After making our recordings the results of the competition were kept top secret for two months until the winner was announced on a live broadcast of The One Show in November 2016. Of course, I had no idea that I’d been chosen until the scottishfield.co.uk

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moment it was announced. It was all very exciting stuff. They were looking for a voice that was reassuring and trustworthy, so that if someone was phoning the Speaking Clock in a panic then it might help calm them down.

There was a tremendous amount of excitement in Broughty Ferry. Every time I walked down the street folks would shout, ‘what time is it?’ but it has calmed down a little these days. I think the best one was when a guy said to me, ‘So you’re the voice of the speaking clock then? What are the hours like?’

It’s a very unique thing to have done and you don’t get paid for it. If I did then I’d be a very rich man given the millions of calls to The Speaking Clock every year. But it is a real privilege to be the voice of an institution.

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29/04/2025 17:57:42

FEATURE

Van’s Celtic connection

W

henever Van Morrison, who turns 80 in August, is back in Belfast, he’s invariably to be found in the Culloden Hotel, relaxing and contemplating life as he gazes down Belfast Lough. This bucolic scene is a short drive from 125 Hyndford Street, where Sir Van was born three days before the end of World War Two and where he grew up as the son of a shipyard worker.

The hotel also connects him back to Caledonia, a 62

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country and a concept with which his biographer Ritchie Yorke once said he ‘seems to be obsessed’.

The Culloden Hotel, where we meet, certainly looks the part. The Culloden Estate was built in the traditional Scottish Baronial style by Scots stockbroker and Justice of the Peace William Auchinleck Robinson in 1876, with much of the stone brought from Scotland by boat. It was named after Robinson’s wife, Elizabeth Jane Culloden, and was designed to remind them of their home across the Irish Sea.

RIGHT: PABLO T.

As he approaches his 80th birthday, Sir Van Morrison talks to Richard Purden about how his deep connection with his ancestral homeland of Scotland has been a constant backdrop to his music

scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 14:01:10

VAN MORRISON – CALEDONIAN DREAMS

VAN THE MAN: Morrison is always at home on stage.

FAR LEFT: Culloden Hotel, the musician’s ‘happy place’.

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FEATURE

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‘It was his Scottish grandmother, Margaret Young from Stirling, who convinced him that he was born to sing’

That connection was not just cultural, but also technical: Morrison’s compositions lent themselves to the major modal scale (without sevenths), which is the scale used by bagpipe players in old Irish and Scottish folk music.

The word ‘Caledonia’ is scattered liberally across Morrison’s 47 albums, especially during the early years of his career when, according to biographer Erik Hage, ‘Morrison seemed deeply interested in his paternal Scottish roots, hence his repeated use of the term “Caledonia”.’ Just to make the point, his daughter Shana’s middle name is Caledonia, so is the name of his first production company, the name of his studio, his publishing company, two of his backing groups, his parents’ record store in Fairfax, California, and he covered the song Caldonia. The quintessential Morrison ballad Listen to the Lion implores us to: ‘Sail, way up to Caledonia.’

His fascination with Scotland is perhaps less surprising when you realise that the teenaged Morrison’s decision to give up a career of window cleaning to devote himself to music was inspired by Glaswegian skiffle legend Lonnie Donegan. It was Donegan, whose hit Rock Island Line was written by one of Morrison’s early heroes, Lead Belly,

TOP LEFT: PICTORIAL PRESS LTD / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO. TOP RIGHT: PATRICK BAIRD / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO. RIGHT: PABLO T.

The fact that this is Morrison’s happy place is no coincidence, and speaks to his close relationship with the land of his forebears. That ever-present connection with Scotland is one about which this most reticent of stars remains forthright. For while he is quintessential Belfast, a man born and brought up in a city which has been cursed by its own introspection, he’s also a surprisingly international artist with two main influences on his unique sound.

The first is, of course, the huge collection of American blues music his father George brought back from Detroit, where he worked in the early 1950s. The young Morrison grew up listening to an eclectic brew of blues, gospel, folk and jazz from artists like Jelly Roll Morton, Ray Charles, Lead Belly and Solomon Burke.

But his second ‘overseas’ musical influence was from Scotland. Morrison grew up profoundly aware of his place in the Ulster-Scots tradition, partly because his Scottish grandmother Margaret Young – the musical matriarch who first told the youngster that he was ‘born to sing’ – came from Stirling and was a strong influence on his life.

But it was his mother Violet who was the musical heartbeat of the house.

She would be ‘tuning up the wireless’ throughout his childhood or leading family sing-songs, and she played an array of musical instruments which included the bagpipes.

‘If you go back to my history lessons at school, I was taught that the Scots came from here [Ulster] and when they went to Scotland they called them Scots but they were from here originally,’ he says. ‘Caledonia Swing [a track from his 2016 album Keep Me Singing] is my own take on it.’

The Scottish influences on Morrison’s unique style of music, which he describes as ‘Caledonian soul’, are everywhere. He told one biographer, Ritchie Yorke, that he has ‘the spirit of Caledonia in his soul and his music reflects it’, and added that when he first visited Scotland he discovered what he believed to be a connection between soul music and Caledonia.

scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 14:11:35

VAN MORRISON – CALEDONIAN DREAMS

TOP LEFT: THEM, pop group in 1965, with Morrison second from right.

ABOVE: Relaxing in his dressing room after a gig.

LEFT: His first ever tour saw him playing the saxophone, which remains one of his favourite instruments.

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whose example persuaded the young Ulsterman to pursue his dreams. ‘He opened the door for kids like me to walk through,’ said Morrison. ‘Instead of doing just the folk music thing, Lonnie Donegan showed us you could actually have a band or group instead of being the lone folk singer.’

Two years ago he released Moving On In Skiffle, a tribute to the skiffle movement and Donegan, but there’s more to come.

‘I recorded with Lonnie Donegan in the 90s and there’s some stuff that has not been released that’s coming out at some point.’

When Morrison talks about his early days as a musician, Scotland recurs time and again. One of his first successful releases, Freight Train, was a top five hit for Glaswegian Nancy Whiskey and Scottish musician Chas McDevitt in 1957 when Morrison was still at school.

His first manager was also a Glaswegian, who granted the ambitious teenager his first tour playing saxophone with an Irish show band. Morrison cast his mind back to a first visit to the Dear Green Place in the summer of 1963 at the age of 17. ‘I love playing Scotland, when I first went on the road that’s where I went first actually,’ he said.

‘When I was a kid there was this coffee bar in Belfast 65

29/04/2025 14:11:51

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28/04/2025 14:19:39

VAN MORRISON – CALEDONIAN DREAMS

TOP: PA IMAGES / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO. RIGHT: PABLO T.

LEFT: Morrison at Buckingham Palace with his daughter Shana after he was knighted by the Prince of Wales.

BELOW: The multiinstrumentalist shows off his keyboard skills.

Thank you for the music Remembering Now, Van Morrison’s first collection of original songs since 2022, is released on 13 June 2025.

scottishfield.co.uk

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where me and a couple of guys in the band were having a coffee and someone put Ray Charles on the jukebox. I thought, “we have to talk to this guy” and it turned out his name was Frank Cunningham. He was from Glasgow and he ended up becoming our manager.’

Perhaps one day a blue plaque will emerge at 33 Levernside Road in Pollock, the council house in whose garden Morrison first rehearsed before an inaugural six-week summer tour which included performances at Strathpeffer and Tain. ‘We brought a couple of guys into the band from Glasgow, and the five of us from Belfast all ended up staying at Frank’s house in Pollock. He booked a tour which finished at the Beach Ballroom in Aberdeen, from there we drove down to London and eventually ended up in Germany. That really was my first experience of touring and the start for me.’

One of his first hits, Here Comes The Night, was a song which had previously been recorded by Glasgow’s Lulu, but which flopped when she released it in 1964. He still performs it as part of a medley.

Morrison is a voracious reader, particularly of history, and is fascinated by Dál Riata, the Gaelic Kingdom covering western Scotland and north eastern Ireland. That interest was reflected in his output. His 1973 album, Hard Nose The Highway, closed with folk staple Purple Heather (perhaps better recognised as the Highlands classic Wild Mountain Thyme) while his 2017 album Versatile

featured Morrison’s idiosyncratic take on the Skye Boat Song, which he loved after learning it from his mother Violet as a youngster. When at the peak of his powers in 1973-4 his collaboration with The Caledonia Soul Orchestra produced It’s Too Late to Stop Now, which is universally lauded as one of the greatest live albums of all time.

Among Morrison’s most memorable Scottish shows was an intimate performance at Govan Town Hall in 1988 with The Chieftains, a pairing which was seen as a cultural coming together of north and south as well as Catholic and Protestant during the Troubles. ‘It was a good night,’ remembers Morrison, who says he loves returning to his ancestral roots to perform. ‘The (Edinburgh) Playhouse is also a good venue; I’ve played there a lot. It’s ideal for what I’m doing because it’s not too big and there’s more communication. And there’s the history as well.’ So much history.

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HERITAGE

When Reivers ruled the New World Thrown out of Scotland by James I and VI for their warlike ways, the Border Reivers who moved to America via Ulster, picking up the moniker of Scotch-Irish along the way, have shaped modern America, says Stuart Kelly

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Elderly eyewitnesses agreed in principle but not in detail, and contemporary collaborations were scant or non-existent. Captain James Jack, who wrote at breakneck speed to deliver it to Congress, was found alive and remembered the deeds, but not the wording. Nevertheless the article sparked local pride, hence its appearance on the flag.

More important was its signatories – almost all were listed as ‘Scotch-Irish Americans’.

In the 2020 census, over eight million Americans described their ancestry and heritage as Scots, but of that nearly three million specified ‘Scotch-Irish’. It is a vexatious and contested term.

Elizabeth I referred to Sorley Boy MacDonnell, a Roman Catholic noble who was associated with the Hebridean gallowglass mercenaries and assisted survivors of the Spanish Armada, as ‘of the Scotch-Irish race’.

It was first used in America as a derogatory term in an affidavit of 1689 where one William Patent swore that Matthew Scarbrough said to him that ‘it was no more sin to kill me then to kill a dogg, or any Scotch Irish dogg’.

Yet twenty American Presidents would be categorised as, or call themselves, ‘Scotch-Irish’ (although, curiously, not the present incumbent,

RIGHT: FAY 2018 / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO.

‘R

esolved, That whosoever directly or indirectly abetted, or in any way, form, or manner, countenanced the uncharted and dangerous invasion of our rights, as claimed by Great Britain, is an enemy to this County, to America, and to the inherent and inalienable rights of man.’

These words do not have quite the same ring as ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident’, but they are significant nevertheless. The flag of North Carolina has on it ‘May 20th 1775’, referring to the date when a group of delegates from local militias met in Charlotte, and news arrived of the Battle of Lexington.

Shocked, the meeting continued until two in the morning, and the ‘Mecklenburg Declaration’ was drafted: America’s first Declaration of Independence. Except that it only came to public attention in 1819, when Joseph McKnitt Alexander wrote about it in the Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette, claiming his father had been the clerk at the meeting, and that the original copy had been lost in a fire in 1800. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson sniped at each other about the authenticity (Jefferson was unconvinced, Adams thought it usefully pricked Jefferson’s ego).

scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 10:08:41

SCOTCH IRISH

I DO DECLARE: The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, a key event in North Carolina’s history.

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HERITAGE

despite having a Scottish mother).

The list includes: Andrew Jackson, James Polk, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses Grant, Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Bush Snr and Jnr, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama ‘Scotch-Irish’ as a distinct category shows the complexities of American immigration. There had long been a Scottish presence in Ireland (Edward Bruce, Robert’s brother, was High King from 1315 to 1318), but this was heightened with the Ulster Plantation of James VI and I, beginning in 1607. Under James’ plan to ‘civilise and pacify’, 70

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in the first generation nearly eight thousand adult males were settled in two thousand square kilometres.

They were predominantly from the perpetually troublesome reiving areas of the Borders, and as well as bringing their rugged individualism with them, crucially they were English speaking and Protestant. A second major migration took place in the 1690s, again from the south of Scotland, and driven by crop failure and the Seven Lean Years. The subsequent migrations from Ulster thence to America were both voluntary and involuntary.

Seventeenth century politics can be like a series of hairpin bends and volte-faces. Some families who colonised under James VI left under his grandson Charles II, as scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 10:13:21

TOP LEFT: XXXX / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO. LEFT: XXXXX / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO. THIS PAGE: MIDO SEMSON / ADOBE STOCK.

SCOTCH IRISH

their Presbyterianism sat ill-at-ease with an increasingly Episcopal monarch, and even more so under his Roman Catholic brother, James II. In the so-called Killing Times – the period between 1679 and the Glorious Revolution of 1688, when the Presbyterian Covenanters, based mainly in Scotland’s south west, fought the government forces of Kings Charles II and James VII – America’s ideal of religious freedom rather than toleration was obviously appealing.

Ironically, some 2,500 Presbyterian and Covenanting families were transported to America against their will by the Cromwellian government at the other edge of the spectrum. Some, known as ‘redlegs’, were indentured labourers in the Caribbean, with many being again resettled, mostly in South Carolina, when African slaves became cheaper than white labour (who, although to all extents and purposes were slaves, technically had contracts of employment). A further twist was that the term ‘Scotch-Irish’ gained currency in the 19th century, particularly to differentiate them from the new wave of Irish Catholic immigrants fleeing the Great Famine.

The later stereotype of the Scotch-Irish American was enthusiastically adopted by the people to whom it was applied. It connoted diligence rather than fecklessness, probity rather than roguery, sobriety rather than inebriation, and above all loyalty.

That loyalty could be graced to quite different ideologies. The Scotch-Irish fought, with commendation, for both the Confederacy and the Union during the Civil War. Robert E. Lee said that his best soldiers were ‘the Scotch who came to this country by way of Ireland’. His counterpart Ulysses S. Grant purportedly inculcated his own clan motto – ‘Stand fast, stand firm, stand true’ – into his troops.

This pride in militarism is not restricted to the American Scotch-Irish, but it is nuanced by its links to the Presbyterian background. One 1885 poem in praise of the Scotch-Irish, by Katy Brownlee Sherwood (a founder of the Women’s Relief Corps to the Grand Army of the Republic), invokes Drumclog and TOP LEFT: Border reivers returning from a raid. LEFT: King James VI and I. ABOVE: Four of the Presidents that would be categorised as, or call themself, Scotch-Irish, including (from top) William McKinley, Andrew Jackson, Ulysses Grant and Grover Cleveland.

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Bothwell Bridge, both Covenanting battles described in Walter Scott’s The Tale of Old Mortality, before segueing seamlessly to those who ‘set sail across the sea / To lift the flag of liberty / At Derry and at Boyne’. James Jack is most likely intended in lines praising ‘Carolina’s Irish-Scot / His burning declaration brought… He bears free speech, he bears free thought’. (The poem, unsurprisingly, is in the Standard Habbie stanza associated with Burns).

This Scotch-Irish heritage is manifested in numerous cultural forms. The Grandfather Mountain Games, the largest of the hundreds of Highland Games which take place in North America, a great many of them in the South, might be better known for piping, caber-tossing and dancing, but the last day always begins with a Presbyterian church service, ‘the Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans’. If anyone wishes to wrinkle their nose at cultural appropriation of religious syncretism, I would politely remind them that in the Borders we still have such church events as the Vigilante Service and the Kirkin’ o the Bari Gadgi.

Musicologists might prefer the term Lombard rhythm for a semi-quaver/ dotted-quaver pattern, but it is more easily recognised as the Scotch snap of the strathspey, which became integral to Appalachian bluegrass music, and which now in turn appears in rap.

Likewise in literary culture, the Southern Agrarians, including Allen Tate, John Crowe Ransom and Robert Penn Warren (author of All The King’s Men), drew much on Walter Scott’s ambivalence about modernity; the very feature that led Mark Twain to claim Scott caused the Civil War. Twain, predictably, himself had Ulster Scots ancestors. The most famous literary version would have been shunned by the Agrarian and Twain alike: Margeret Mitchell was Scotch-Irish, and Gone With The Wind – doomed, old world chivalry against triumphant, soulless modernism – is the Waverley Novel that never was.

The Mecklenburg Declaration might be something of a curio, but its very ambiguity captures something of the Scotch-Irish milieu. It could take its part in our honourable line of genuine fakes, alongside the Fingal poems of Ossian, the 95 monarchs of Jacob de Wet, the clan tartans of the Sobieski Stuarts and the numerous purported Stones of Destiny.

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THE COUNTRYMAN

THE COUNTRYMAN

Dog days Our columnist has no time for pampered pooches, but give him a working dog on a mission and he’s awestruck

GUY GRIEVE

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seeing her slump, tired and happy, beside the fire at the end of a cold, hard, wet day. Her food and rest were well-deserved and hard earned.

I also think of the wonderful sheepdogs I had the privilege of seeing in action in the Cambrian mountains in Wales. Tough, supremely agile and intelligent beyond compare, these collies filled me with awe. Once, on a windswept and woebegone farm high up in the hills I spent a few summer weeks helping a Welsh-speaking family to bring 7,000 sheep in to be sheared. Their collie Pat jumped nimbly into Land Rovers, onto quad bikes or soared over fences like a frontrunner in the Grand National, her beautiful black and speckled white coat flowing as she rocketed straight up the sides of Alpine-steep fields to outflank the sheep and bring them down to the gate.

‘I had to work to earn Fuzzy’s respect, not the other way round’ She was an absolute professional, totally committed and as determined and disciplined as any athlete. However, there was more to her than just work and this is a trait I have seen in many collies. Off duty her character was typified by a wonderful kind of intelligent humour, playfulness and rebelliousness. I remember her making us all laugh when, in a moment of rest, the farmer called a few words to her and pointed to me. She ran at me, jumped into my arms and licked my face then pushed off my chest with all fours and rocketed over to him, jumped and did the same.

Lastly I remember the dogs I met in the wilderness of Alaska’s interior. I think mainly of my old camp dog Fuzzy, half golden retriever and poodle, whose only training was the deadliness of the land, people and animals around him. He was brave, intelligent and self-reliant beyond compare. I had to earn his respect, not the other way round. Finally, I think of the dogs who hauled my loaded sled across endless frozen trails asking only that they got fed at the end of the journey.

These are the dogs I admire: canine royalty that is experienced and tough beyond compare.

ILLUSTRATION: FARZAN / ADOBE STOCK.

I

have no time for pets. They simply do not interest me in any way other than one might find soft furnishings momentarily pleasing.

In fact, there’s nothing more annoying than following a dog around on some drab walk, collecting its ordure in hideous little bags or standing about watching it squatting in front of me. And let’s not even start on bird murdering cats. I’m also tired of seeing adult dogs which have no true life experience; fully grown dogs which exist within a weird puppy-like realm, endlessly fawned over by their owners.

Despite this rant I am not anti-dog. I just don’t automatically ‘love dogs’. For me the basis of all relationships has to be respect. Thankfully, there are plenty of dogs which I respect – these are working dogs like gundogs, police dogs, search and rescue dogs, sheepdogs and sled dogs.

These mutts I not only like, but admire.

Working dogs offer a unique blend of companionship and vital purpose. Their intelligence, trainability and dedication to the tasks for which they were bred win my enduring respect every time. These dogs don’t drag their owners about on tight leads then spend the day lying about the house like lazy teenagers. In fact many working dogs are happier outside in their kennels when the day’s work is done and their time with human society is over.

I have experience with working dogs, such as my old gun dog Juno, who I trained. That was no great achievement as she was a black labrador from a long line of field trials winners and so was born ready. When I started training her on our smallholding in the Borders, she was almost faultless and I often wander through a gallery of images in my mind of her quartering rough winter ground ahead of me and the miracle of seeing prize meat flushed from cover which looked as barren and unpromising as a desert.

She was almost as good as a spaniel in rough cover and would fearlessly tear through brambles and swim any river or pond on the retrieve. If a bird was winged she would skilfully retrieve the runner, ensuring a quick and humane despatch.

When stalking deer Juno would crawl beside me in expectation of the shot. I used to love

scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 09:49:24

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28/04/2025 14:20:56 01/04/2025 21:59

GARDENS

The Marshall family have risen to the challenge of creating a glorious Fife garden on a site which remains in the shadow of a hill during the winter, says Antoinette Galbraith Images Ray Cox

OUT OF THE 74

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scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 09:54:07

MILLFIELD, FIFE

HIGH ON A HILL: The Walled Garden is set against the backdrop of the East Lomond Hill.

SHADOWS scottishfield.co.uk

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GARDENS

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Georgian House overlooks the north-facing Walled Garden; a metal urn set against Rosa rugosa in the Walled Garden; the blues of ceanothus and nepeta stand out against the garden wall; repeat plantings of purple allium flourish throughout the garden.

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29/04/2025 09:54:58

MILLFIELD, FIFE

I

n early summer, Millfield, Rob and Sarah Marshall’s garden on the edge of the village of Falkland in Fife, is filled with colour. Crimson Rosa rugosa ‘de L ’Hay’ stands out against dark green yew in the walled garden. Translucent, vivid blue Meconopsis, yellow candelabra Primula prolifera, pink campion and fresh green ferns glow in the Stream Garden west of the house. A purple ribbon of scented bearded iris line the paths between the greenhouses, pink peonies shine in the the sunlight and purple alliums line the herbaceous borders in the Lime Tree Walk. The standing stone in the wildflower meadow rises high above a sea of cow parsley following on from bulbs.

Laid out in traditional cruciform style, the Walled Garden takes its shape from the house, while its scalloped hedges mirror the shape of the hills beyond and take inspiration from the Arts and Crafts style. Aaron, the Marshall’s youngest son, who, with his mother, transformed this three-acre plot from an overgrown wilderness into a series of innovative, themed spaces with year-round interest, explains. ‘Like the main aisle of a church, the central path lifts your eye over the orchard, arboretum and bluebell woodland up towards the East Lomond hill,’ he says.

This romantic setting attracted the Marshall family to Millfield in 2008 when they were planning a move back to Scotland from Ireland.

Their early days were far from romantic. The northfacing garden was overgrown with Rhododendron ponticum and cherry laurels and the Victorian Walled Garden behind the house was just a grassy patch with sheep grazing the paddock beyond. The Craklin’ burn fed by the Lomond Hills was a muddy ditch prone to flooding: transformed with the help of Callum Gordon’s company Splash Gordon, it eventually became the Stream Garden.

Despite the devastation and a lack of gardening experience on such a large scale, Sarah was entranced.

Describing herself as more ‘an artist rather than a horticulturalist’, she developed a vision for the north-facing slope where the sun remains hidden behind the hills during the winter. Shaped by books on design the plan was drawn on grid paper. ‘Formal areas reflect the house shape using yew and box hedging following the principles of the Irish gardener William Robinson (1838-1935), and expanding into wilder spaces including the meadow, burn garden and

‘Like the main aisle of a church, the central path lifts your eye over the orchard, arboretum and bluebell woodland up towards the East Lomond Hill’ scottishfield.co.uk

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HUTS, BOTHIES, OPEN SHELTERS, GARAGES Tel 07773 809345 www.grahamsandals.co.uk 78

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scottishfield.co.uk

28/04/2025 14:34:31

MILLFIELD, FIFE

Top tips SAR AH & A ARON M ARSHALL: THEIR PL AN FOR MILLFIELD

• A section of woodland was planted with over 5,000 young trees in partnership with the Woodland Trust and is now home to wildlife like jays and red squirrels. Young trees are protected from deer and badgers, which live among them.

• Crabapple trees and the Amelanchier lamarckii bring spring blossom and bird-friendly autumn fruits into the garden.

• Sorbus berries bring in migratory birds, including Red Wings and Fieldfares and include scarlet berried S commixta ‘Olympic Flame’ and the white with blush pink berried S cashmiriana. The latter chosen as the birds leave the berries a little longer than the red ones.

• Sarah says: ‘We are trying to do things sustainably; perennials give greater longevity of plant and have a lower impact than annuals.’ Small plants such as ferns are purchased in trays and bought on.

• Add Clematis and other climbers to the base of shrubs to lengthen the season of interest.

• Aaron comments on the importance of good pruning. ‘Pruning can be half the work in a garden. It is a real art. Seeing the care and attention to pruning at Ashwood Nursery and garden where it is taken to the finest level was an inspiration. It’s so important to get it right.’

• Plant societies provide a great social aspect to horticulture. ‘All offer talks, garden visits, journals, swap and distribute seeds among members.’

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ABOVE: The framework of existing buildings was worked into the design, while a fountain attracts birds to the garden. BELOW: Beds of purple iris frame the stone path to the greenhouse.

wildwood as you move further from the house.’

While Sarah focussed on the herbaceous planting, Aaron, by now ‘totally hooked on the garden,’ and with a BSc (Hons) in Horticulture with Plantsmanship at the RBGE/ SRUC, developed the burn and woodland gardens. Passionate about every aspect of horticulture he spent formative time under former head gardener Jim Jermyn at NTS Branklyn, moving on to the alpine department at RHS Harlow Carr where he learnt to care for alpines under glass, including Dionysia.

Currently part of the alpine team at the RBGE he cares for the cushion plants from Iran and Afghanistan,

amongst wider departmental duties.

Year round, the Walled Garden, where the scalloped yew hedge features an archway mirroring the shape of the hill beyond, is the jewel in Millfield’s crown. Dating from the early 1800s and positioned directly behind the house it is reached up a flight of stone steps flanked by troughs of Aaron’s plants.

The scalloped yew hedge at the top of the box garden features an archway mirroring the shape of the hill beyond.

Framed with Lutyens benches, it acts as a screen for the spring Box Garden.

Specimen trees continue to be added to the wider landscape, with unusual choices selected at various nurseries on visits. An avenue of Malus ‘Evereste’ links the potting shed to the field gate.

Steps lead up to the Hazel Walk and to the anodised steel gate, by local artist blacksmith Jim Shears, into the field.

The partnership with his mother, Aaron says, works well due to their complementary skills. Ideas are ‘bounced’ between them, and they visit gardens and independent nurseries. ‘I have a very pragmatic and organised ethos when it comes to gardening, which suits a botanical garden collection,’ he explains. ‘My mother is more creative. I like to get the formal structure in place then she does the looser herbaceous planting, focusing on colours and textures.’

Confirmation that this site has been cultivated for nearly 500 years came with the recent discovery of a 79

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GARDENS

TOP: Vegetables are easily tended in the raised beds.

BELOW: Sarah Marshall, on her mower, says gardening becomes increasingly therapeutic.

sundial, dated by the National Museum of Scotland to 1650, buried along the side of the Cracklin’ Burn west of the house.

Professionally restored, it now stands on a plinth in front of the house.

Rob’s interest lies with the lawns and trees which are carefully chosen with mature sizes in mind. ‘We try to envision what they will look like in 100 years in the wider landscape. ‘ He also organises the maintenance of the machinery essential to a large garden. Mo Hutchinson helps twice a week with general work, weeding, planting and pruning. Hedge cutting, tree work and heavier lifting is done by William Stuart.

Describing the garden as ‘an enthusiasm, an obsession,’ Sarah says she has recently become more aware of the environment.

She has expanded into the paddock where Aaron describes the meadow planting as ‘much looser and less formal with naturalistic bulb plantings and specimen trees. Sheep will still be able to graze come late summer.’

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See it for yourself The garden at Millfield, Falkland, KY15 7BN is open by appointment to individuals and gardening groups.

The garden is occasionally open to raise funds for Falkland Gardening Group’s village planting.

scottishfield.co.uk

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jmlgardenrooms.co.uk

Gifts in Wills fund a third of our work, like the clinical trial Liz took part in.

Learn more about gifts in Wills

Thanks to research, she’ll celebrate more milestones with her family.

To find out more about the power of gifts in Wills visit cruk.org/giftsinwills

Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.

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scottishfield.co.uk

28/04/2025 15:15:07

GARDEN NEWS

GARDEN NEWS The latest green-fingered news from around Scotland A SPOTLIGHT ON:

St John’s Wort

TOP RIGHT: KEVIN MCCOLLUM.

There is no other plant that signifies the Summer Solstice like St John’s Wort. I always harvest the flowers on 21 June as its energies represent the sun in Celtic traditions.

Before this plant was given the name we know it by now, hypericum, it was called hypereikon. This old Greek name comes from hyper, meaning ‘over’ and eikon, meaning ‘image’, because the plant was hung over the statues of the Gods to drive any evil spirits off.

So why did this plant become known as St John’s Wort? It wasn’t until the Catholic Church moved into Europe that the priests thought they ought to control the pagan midsummer fire festivals, to which the plant, hypericum, was central.

Just as they had sanctified the winter solstice by connecting it with the birth of Christ, they consecrated the summer solstice with the birthday of John the Baptist, who baptised Christ. The midsummer’s eve bonfires became the ‘fires of St John’ and hypericum naturally became known as St. John’s Wort (wort an old Anglo-Saxon word for a herb or medicinal plant).

HAMISH MARTIN

To read the full article go to www. scottishfield.co.uk

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FLOWER SHOW

BENCHES GET FINISHING TOUCH Members of Down’s Syndrome Scotland visited Edinburgh-based Laurence McIntosh to oin their craftsmen and help add the finishin touches to two benches they are making for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show’s Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden. The benches are made from solid European oak and will feature 21 slats and 3 sets of legs – references to the numbers 3 and 21 to represent the presence of a third copy of Chromosome 21, which causes the genetic condition. www.dsscotland.org.uk

Garden history Green-fingered residents in the Midlothian village of Newtongrange have celebrated 150 years of horticultural heritage. It comes as the Newtongrange Garden Competition, which can be traced back to 1875, returned this year.

The competition was revived in 2023 and since then interest in the annual contest has gained momentum. A horticultural society was formed in the village in 1875. www.newtongrange.org

A SUMMER AWAKENING An Cala on the Isle of Seil has opened for the summer. A wonderful example of a 1930s designed garden, An Cala sits snugly in its horseshoe shelter of surrounding cliffs. It has a waterfall, ponds, many herbaceous plants, as well as azaleas, rhododendrons and cherry trees in spring. www.scotlandsgardens.org 83

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GARDEN NEWS

BUTTERFLY PLEA Last year was one of the worst on record for butterflies in the

. ommon

butterflies that live in ardens, such as ommon lue, ate eeper and ar e hite, had their second worst year since . xperts at utterfly onservation say research shows that lettin parts of your arden row wild with lon

rass

increases the number and variety of butterflies. They have ur ed ardeners not to cut their rass until eptember. www.butterfly-conservation.org

T Author and journalist Helen Cross and landscape garden designer Camellia Taylor have joined forces to launch a new podcast, Gardening on the Mind. Helen and Camellia will explore how gardening serves as a powerful tool for positive change. They will share personal stories from individuals whose lives have been transformed through horticulture and highlight the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of gardening. www.thegardentaylor.com

SEEDS OF TIME Seeds of Time: Scottish Gardens 1600 to Present Day, a new exhibition at Stanley Mills in the centre of Perth, is running until 29 June.

Using material from Historic Environment Scotland’s archives, it explores the history of gardens in Scotland, what they can tell us about the people who grew them and the world in which they lived. www.historic environment.scot

T The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has opened its doors to a new exhibition. Pressed for Time showcases the extraordinary scientific and artistic significance of the Herbarium’s three million preserved plant and fungi specimens. The Herbarium, at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, is one of the most active and significant collections in the world. Encompassing more than 300 years of biodiversity research, the specimens held there represent two-thirds of the world’s plant and fungal species. The exhibition will be open until 29 June at the John Hope Gateway visitor centre. www.rbge.org.uk 84

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Fettercairn distillery will unveil a garden to pay homage to its Cairngorms home at the Chelsea Flower Show. The Fettercairn Wilderness Retreat is inspired by the Scottish Cairngorms landscape, home of Fettercairn’s 200-yearold distillery. It echoes the grassy heathland, rocky outcrops and mossy glens. www. fettercairnwhisky.com

BOTTOM RIGHT: SSH SCAPES

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INTERIORS

A holiday on a Hebridean island had one couple so enchanted that they self-built their own dream home… on a clifftop, says Emma Leask Images David Barbour

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A HARRIS HIDEAWAY

BIRD’S EYE VIEW: The living room has spectacular views over the Sound of Taransay, where minke whales have been sighted.

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INTERIORS

W

hen serial renovators Richard and Debbie Greaves first set eyes on the clear turquoise seas and white sand beaches of the Isle of Harris while on holiday, they were mesmerised. So much so that they bought a clifftop plot there and then.

‘The beaches were unbelievable – it looked like the tropics,’ recalls Richard, a management consultant. ‘For me, it was the fresh air, beauty and tranquillity,’ says Debbie, a holiday cottage manager. ‘It was so peaceful and quiet – I’ve never felt so at ease.’

On the way home from Huisinish beach they saw a for sale sign for two large plots on a croft and stopped to have a look. Dismissing crofting as too big an undertaking, back on the mainland whilst looking through the sale details they noticed a tiny decrofted piece of land within one of the plots, with 90

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A curved turf roof and curved glass frontage takes advantage of the sea views; A roof light allows extra light into the kitchen. The spitfire blue kitchen is from Mackintosh. Richard hand-carved the island benchtop from a piece of Cumbrian elm; Serial renovators Richard and Debbie Greaves weren’t fazed by building a house on a clifftop on an island in the Outer Hebrides.

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A HARRIS HIDEAWAY

planning permission for a compact house. ‘The snag was that it wasn’t on the market,’ says Debbie. ‘The agent rang the owner of the croft who offered to sell it immediately. Nobody knew about the land – it must have been fate.’

The challenge was that the plot of land was on a clifftop. However, Richard and Debbie – who run holiday lets from their Cumbrian farmhouse, cottage and barn conversion – weren’t fazed.

Richard drew up plans to build a one-bedroom luxury home based on Scottish stone brochs found on the island. Along with a curved glass frontage and curved turf roof, Debbie wanted a Scandi modern interior and sense of space.

The original planning consent was for a house which faced south-west looking at the headland and village below. ‘We thought the locals in the village, who we’d got to know and love, wouldn’t want to see light pollution from our house,’ explains Debbie.

Instead, they made an expensive decision to re-submit a planning application to pivot the building to hide it

from view, meaning they would look out over the sea.

The cliffside plot sat on extremely hard granite and basalt. Pivoting the building meant having to quarry more rock out of the cliff-face, which meant more time and expense.

Dynamite wasn’t allowed on the ferry; the worstcase scenario was it would have to be flown in by helicopter. Thankfully, local islander Cally and his 17-tonne pneumatic drill came to the rescue. It took six weeks to dig out the rock. ‘He said it was the hardest basalt he’d ever come across,’ says Richard.

‘We were very close to floor level and for days, one stubborn rock wouldn’t budge. In the end we just left it as an external feature.’

Building on a Hebridean island isn’t easy or cheap.

Building materials and interiors had to be ordered well ahead, there were double delivery fees and sometimes ferry delays.

Having the support of the local villagers helped enormously. ‘We got to know the locals as soon as we arrived and they opened their arms and welcomed

‘Richard drew up plans to build a one-bedroom luxury home based on Scottish stone brochs found on the island’ scottishfield.co.uk

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A HARRIS HIDEAWAY

us right from the start,’ says Debbie.

‘When we’d return to work on the house, they’d greet us with ‘welcome home’, showing what a wonderful community there is on the island.’

Now finished, the couple couldn’t be happier with the result. Tucked into the back of the cliff is the toilet and utility room, while the bedroom, bathroom, sauna plus open plan kitchen and living room have incredible views of the Sound of Taransay.

Aside from luxury touches – a sauna with sea views and an outdoor copper bath perfect for stargazing – the couple love the laidback lifestyle, walking their border terrier, Ned, along clifftop paths and spotting otters in the turquoise bays. A herd of deer live on the hill behind and it’s not uncommon to meet a stag. ‘It’s such a peaceful place, we love the relaxed way of life,’ says Debbie. ‘The variety of birdlife is remarkable – great northern divers, gannets fly in from St Kilda, merlin that chase smaller birds, pipits and razorbills.’

The house is sustainable, with an air source heat pump and planned solar panels. Large roof lights and sun tubes mean the rooms dug into the cliff are bright enough to not require lighting during the day. The house recently won the Jewson Making Better Homes Award for Best Sustainable Project of the Year.

TOP: Debbie and Richard wanted a modern, uncluttered, Scandi-style interior. Chairs, sideboard and side table from House of Isabella, rug made from recycled bottles from John Lewis. Birch bowl turned by Richard Greaves. FAR LEFT: Debbie bought a copper bath on Ebay and had it transported to the island. LEFT: The porch has an open doorway, a dog/welly boot wash and storage space for outdoor gear. The walls are made from corrugated roof sheets in Goosewing Grey from SIG Roofing, chosen to replicate older buildings on the island. Bench made

by Richard from old whisky barrel staves, stone flooring from Angus Maciver Building Supplies on Lewis.

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e Shepherds Hu k o p ts es

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A HARRIS HIDEAWAY

ABOVE: The basalt and granite stone facing, dug out from the cliff, along with a turf roof helps the house blend into its natural surroundings.

RIGHT: A dressing table hidden behind the bed headboard keeps the room clutter free. Mirror and dressing table from John Lewis, white boucle chair from Kave. BELOW: Debbie preferred a contemporary, uncluttered look so screened off the dressing table behind the bed headboard.

BOTTOM: An oval Riluxa Wave bath overlooks the cliff and out to sea.

Make your escape 1a Cliasmol, Huisinish Road, Isle of Harris HS3 3AR www. harrishideaway. co.uk

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The couple plan to enjoy the house for holidays, recoup some costs by renting it out when they are not there, and retire to Harris. As the deadline for their first guests grew near, Debbie stayed in Harris for four months, working with the tradesmen, painting and pulling together the finishing interior touches. A group of friends came up from Cumbria to help lay the membrane and turf roof, which took five days. ‘It was backbreaking but great fun,’ recalls Richard.

It was a big undertaking – Richard and Debbie project managed the build themselves, employing local trades individually. ‘It’s had its challenging moments and it’s been a lot of hard work, but even when we were exhausted, we’ve enjoyed every minute,’ says Richard.

Debbie agrees: ‘We had an open house, inviting everyone from the two nearby villages round for scones and a catch up. We’ve been to a couple of eightieth birthday parties and already feel part of the community. It’s definitely a place we’ll retire to.’

When the house was finally completed, the couple sat down with a cup of tea, admiring their clifftop sea views out to the Sound of Taransay, when a pair of sea eagles flew past the living room window.

‘It’s moments like these that make it all worth it,’ says Richard.

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28/04/2025 15:50:34

INSIDE OUT

INSIDE OUT Interiors inspired by the beauty of nature

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1. EDINBURGH TILE STUDIO: Celebrating their new Arts & Crafts

collection with the lora design featuring blue florals in a trailing, scallop-shaped pattern. Also available with pink florals for a warmer touch. el , www.edinburghtilestudio.co.uk

2. MOZOLOWSKI & MURRAY: Mozolowski

Murray design, manufacture and install beautiful, bespoke glass and timber conservatories, orangeries, extensions, garden rooms, windows and doors. Luxury living through thoughtful design and expert craftsmanship. el , www.mozmurray.co.uk

3. MACDONALD SPEY VALLEY SHOP: he best of gifting, food, drink, homewares and fashion is available in the heart of Aviemore. Located on the Macdonald Aviemore Resort. el , www.macdonald-hotels.co.uk 4. DAVID L DOUGLAS: ach piece is meticulously handmade in their

Scottish factory, combining traditional craftsmanship with your uni ue vision. xperienced designers ensure every detail reflects your style, , www.davidldouglas.com resulting in timeless furniture. el

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perfect serene space to relax. he inn Chair available from effreys Dunkeld. effreys Dunkeld, he ld Church, ay errace, Dunkeld H A . el , www.jeffreys-dunkeld.co.uk

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INSIDE OUT

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6. THE BATHROOM COMPANY: Discover bespoke bathroom products and tile designs to match your style. Visit the Edinburgh and Perth showrooms to start your bathroom and kitchen renovation.

Tel: 01738 440333 / 0131 3373 355, www.thebathroomcompany.co.uk 7. LAURENCE MCINTOSH: Laurence McIntosh are principal contractors,

architectural joiners, and interior designers delivering over 70 years of exceptional craftsmanship, bespoke joinery, and timeless design.

Tel: 0131 652 8100, www.laurencemcintosh.co.uk

8. NEIL PATERSON STONE CARVER: Hand carved traditional Scottish wedding stones. Commissions welcome for all occasions, gardens or gifts. Email: pater5365@yahoo.co.uk, www.patersonstonecarving.co.uk 9. BLACKHOUSE: A range of seventeen luxurious hand-woven Harris Tweeds ensure your choice and combinations are endless. Each bespoke Blackhouse piece is lovingly crafted in Scotland and designed with your comfort in mind. Tel: 01577 898010, www.blackhouse.co.uk 10. BELLTREES FORGE: Add a touch of whimsical charm to your home

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THE GLASGOW GALLERY ART EXHIBITIONS 2025 Spring Exhibition 26th April - 31st May

Beauty of Water With featured artist Senja Brendon 14th June - 19th July

Julie Smith & Bridgette Hunter 2nd August - 30th August

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ANTIQUES NEWS

ANTIQUES Scottish Field’s round-up of the salerooms, interesting lots and prices

June sale dates

Auctioneer Spotlight

EDINBURGH Lyon & Turnbull: 4: Jewellery, Watches.

5: Scottish Paintings & Sculptures.

18: Books & Manuscripts.

WILLIAM HEGGIE

Director/Auctioneer at Three Bridges Auction House, Rosyth

BOTTOM: LYON & TURNULL

Most Expensive: The most expensive item I have sold was a 17th century Norwegian silver peg tankard. Stamped on the base with names engraved in a band around the rim, the tankard was supported on lion style figures and stood 21cm high, weighing 1450grams. Estimated originally at £1,000-£2,000, the tankard sold for £11,200.

This was such a highlight and a great achievement for our small family-run business.

Most Unusual: The most unusual item I’ve sold so far was a 15th century chest. I originally found it in a loft – it was the last item, hidden away in the corner of the loft. It had woodworm holes in it and was in very bad condition. I originally estimated its value as £200-£300 and described it as a 15th/16th century small treasure/ document trunk. Made from wood with cast iron hinges the chest measured 20x27x13cm. I sold the chest for £7,600 and was told by the highly knowledgeable collector who bought it that it dated from the 15th century. www.threebridgesauctionhouse.co.uk scottishfield.co.uk

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OVER THE ASKING A pair of vases thought to be by Alexander 'Greek' Thomson fetched £3,600 at Great Western Auctions. The rare fireclay garden vases were made for the Garnkirk pottery stand at the Great Exhibition of 1851, held in London. www.greatwesternauctions.com

Diary discovery A diary belonging to the acclaimed Scottish artist Duncan Grant which was discovered nearly 50 years after his death has sold for £13,750 at Gorringe's auction. The painter and designer was born near Aviemore in 1885 and became a central member of the influential Bloomsbury Group of artists and intellectuals.

He started the diary, which has never been seen publicly before, in January 1911 on his 26th birthday. www.gorringes.co.uk

GLASGOW Great Western Auctions: 4, 5: Antiques & Collectables.

13:14 Summer Fine Art & Antiques McTear's: 4: Whisky.

5: Scottish Contemporary Art. 12, 26: Antiques & Interiors.

18: Toys, Models & Pop Culture.

PERTH Lindsay Burns & Co: 25, 26: Antiques & Interiors.

Byrne's Beatles An exceptionally rare painting of The Beatles by the late John Byrne sold for £27,700 at a Lyon & Turnbull auction.

The artwork was painted by Byrne in 1969, and in it he represented each Beatle seated beside a ‘spirit animal’. Yoko Ono is seen in a crystal ball held by Lennon. It was bought from the artist by his local parish priest in Renfrew in the 1970s. www.lyonandturnbull.com 101

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ART

ABOVE: Ian Hamilton Finlay in 2001. RIGHT: On the moor at Little Sparta, 11 hewn blocks carved by Nicholas Sloan in 1983, bear words attributed to the French revolutionary Saint Just.

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LEFT: GIFT FROM THE ARTIST (THOMAS JOSHUA COOPER) .

RIGHT: ROBIN GILLANDER / LITTLE SPARTA.

A

nybody whose garden features a plaque or sculptural object carved with an inscription is likely to have been inspired by a visit to Little Sparta. Teased from a bleak Pentlands hillside, Ian Hamilton Finlay’s masterwork attracts visitors from across the world and gained him international commissions.

Yet Little Sparta is different from most outdoor settings where artworks are displayed. Here, garden elements and man-made objects form one harmonious, intellectually complex whole, created cumulatively over 40 years. It is an interactive poetic landscape that, as Jessie Sheeler has written, achieves Finlay’s ‘central ambition to reintroduce a classical tradition: uniting the arts, including poetry and music, to achieve a form of civic humanism, which he later termed “non-secular”.’

In this centenary year of Finlay’s birth, nine international exhibitions and other events shine a spotlight on the poet, artist, philosopher, writer and landscape gardener, who, for all his imitators, remains relatively little known. Sheeler provides biographical context in her books on Little Sparta, describing the journey that brought the agoraphobic polymath to settle at Stonypath near Dunsyre in 1966 and, with his wife Sue (whose parents gave them the property) and numerous craftsmen collaborators, immerse himself in restoring the semi-derelict farmstead and making what historian and gardener Sir Roy Strong described as ‘the only really original garden created in this country since 1945’.

Finlay’s peripatetic early life started incongruously in the Bahamas, where he was born in 1925, the son of a bootlegger who smuggled liquor into Prohibition America. Following boarding school in Helensburgh (he was sent aged six and taught English by W. H. Auden) and Dollar, evacuation to Stirlingshire and a stint at the Glasgow School of Art, Finlay hitchhiked to London, where he hung out in Soho pubs befriending writers and artists. Back in Glasgow, he married his first wife, Marion, in 1947—Hugh McDiarmid was best man—and they moved to Comrie in Perthshire, where he combined painting, writing poetry, plays and stories with working as a shepherd.

Settling in Edinburgh in the late 1950s/early 1960s, he published poetry collections and, with Sheeler, founded the Wild Hawthorn Press and a periodical featuring avant-garde poets. In 1962, through his friend Edwin Morgan, Finlay discovered concrete poetry, the arrangement of words to create images and associated sounds and ideas. In a 1966 work, for example, the appearance of the words Star and Steer tacking down the page suggests a ship navigating through a stormy sea. scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 11:37:05

IAN HAMILTON FINLAY

In Arcadia Ian Hamilton Finlay turned poetry into the unique art form that lies at the heart of his most famous creation, Little Sparta. Mary Miers considers the career of this brilliant, provocative and playful wordsmith

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ART

‘There are many stars—which single star shall we choose to steer by? … The poem presents in an undidactic way the ideas of clarity, resolution and choice,’ Finlay wrote.

In 1967, he showed at the first outdoor exhibition of concrete poetry, at the inaugural Brighton Festival, having become a key figure in the revival of this Ancient Greek form of wordplay.

In Edinburgh in the early 1960s, Finlay had begun making simple painted wooden toys that ‘also brimmed with feeling, if you cared to really look,’ as he wrote to the poet Robert Creeley. They embodied a similar quality to his haiku-like poems, which began to evolve from the printed page into three-dimensional works such as Wave Rock (1966), etched or sand-blasted onto glass. I have ‘come to the end of poems that are about, and want to do poems that just are,’ he said as he moved increasingly towards the sculptures he regarded as poetry.

Although he was interested in kinetic art, and also flirted with Conceptualism, Minimalism and Pop Art – see his bold Marine poster of 1968, produced in collaboration with Patrick Caulfield – Finlay resisted being pigeon-holed and described himself as ‘antimodernist,’ lamenting that most contemporary artists ‘never seem to love anything . . . their work is so cold and cynical, superior; they never seem to look at any part of the world and be moved by it’.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Marble-carved poem, 1976, intertwining a fishing technique with dove netting; 1970 screenprint of a poem evoking a peaceful end to a day and life; sculpted for Little Sparta’s Wild Garden by Sandy Stoddart in 1987, Apollo’s gilded head is inscribed APOLLON TERRORISTE, linking Marsyas’s slayer to Saint Just; a tank replaces Poussin’s shepherds in Virgil’s reflection on the inevitability of death, 1976.

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FAR LEFT: © THE ESTATE OF IAN HAMILTON FINLAY. LEFT: © THE ESTATE OF IAN HAMILTON FINLAY. IMAGE COURTESY OF INGLEBY, EDINBURGH. RIGHT: © THE ESTATE OF IAN HAMILTON FINLAY © ESTATE OF JOHN ANDREW. TOP: ROBIN GILLANDER / LITTLE SPARTA.

IAN HAMILTON FINLAY

His work was radical in an original way. Describing Little Sparta as his ‘avant garden,’ he saw it as a battleground between man and nature, art and cultural imperialism, the classical and the blandly contemporary. The imagery of war is a recurring motif, as seen on the capitals and bases of columns, atop a pair of gate piers with hand grenades masquerading as pineapple finials and in the Front Garden, where two miniature stone aircraft carriers serve as a bird bath and table on which birds land like planes.

Combative and uncompromising, Finlay pursued successive wars with institutions such as the Scottish Arts Council, from whose exhibition he withdrew in protest against certain employees, and Strathclyde Regional Council, which had the audacity to charge commercial rates on his Temple of Apollo because he displayed artworks inside it. When on 4 February 1983 an official came to seize them, Finlay staged the First Battle of Little Sparta, having renamed Stonypath in 1980. A monument on the moor commemorates this event with a bronze plaque featuring a machine gun and a translated excerpt from Virgil—FLUTE, BEGIN WITH ME ARCADIAN NOTES. The vents on the gun’s barrel sleeve echo the finger stops of a flute, conjuring up the music-playing shepherds of Arcady.

As with Alexander Pope in his garden at Twickenham, the poet asserted his social and political views through Little Sparta, which he conceived as an ‘attack’ as well as a retreat. Louis Antoine de Saint Just was a particular hero. Finlay scottishfield.co.uk

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supported the French revolutionary’s moral fervour and inscribed a huge gilded head beside the Upper Pond APOLLON TERRORISTE, linking him to Apollo, flayer of Marsyas. His name appears with those of Robespierre, Michelet, Rousseau, Corot and others carved onto the bases of tree columns.

Relishing the historic resonance of Little Sparta’s relationship with the Athens of the North (Edinburgh, representing the establishment), Finlay thrived on set-tos spiced with vitriolic letters. ‘An aggressive Scots loony’ was how the Guardian art critic Waldemar Januszczak described him. Yet Little Sparta is playful and contemplative as well as threatening, its darker themes leavened with sentiment and humour.

Two bronzed fibreglass tortoises inscribed ‘Panzer Leader’ refer to the ‘fierce aggression’ of the family’s pets, a stone by the pond was inscribed ‘Please do not feed the boats’.

Throughout the seven acres of gardens and parkland, inscribed gates and plaques, sundials and statues, bridges and paving stones, signposts and benches, planters and watering cans testify to Finlay’s fierce intellect and skill at intertwining complex themes using simple, often alliterative, subtly changing

Artist’s timeline 1925 born in Nassau, The Bahamas on 28 October.

1931 sent to boarding school in Scotland.

1943 brief stint at the Glasgow School of Art. 1948 moves to Perthshire, near Comrie, with his first wife.

1955-56 lives in Rousay, Orkney.

1956 settles in Edinburgh.

1960 publishes first collection of poetry, The Dancers Inherit the Party.

1961 co-founds the Wild Hawthorn Press.

1962 launches the poetry periodical Poor. Old. Tired. Horse.

1963 publishes Rapel, his first collection of concrete poetry.

1964 meets second wife, Sue Macdonald Lockhart, and moves to Gledfield, Easter Ross.

1966 moves to Stonypath (Little Sparta) near Dunsyre. Son Alec born.

1967 daughter Ailie born.

1977 exhibits sculptural pieces at Serpentine Gallery, London.

1991 French Communist Party presents him with a bust of SaintJust.

2002 made a CBE. Receives a medal from the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society.

2006 dies in Edinburgh on 27 March.

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ART

‘This is a magical place, rich with meaning, yet full of delight for those who wish to wander without an explanatory guide’

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of boats, fishing and the sea. Finlay was greatly taken by the names and registration numbers of fishing boats, which are inscribed on beehives and bollards, milestones, sundials and stepping stones.

An arch in the Wild Garden commemorates the goddess of hunting with fishing boats from Fraserburgh and Stornoway: ARTEMIS FR 15 and DIANA SY 86.

Brick plinths on the hillside bear the names and silhouettes of the Flower-class corvettes (wartime escort ships) LAVENDER, CAMPION, POLYANTHUS, MONTBRETIA, BERGAMOT. Flowers and the sea combine in two pairs of words mosaiced onto slabs, SEA PINK (a pink being also a small boat) and WAVE SHEAF, their meanings enhanced by the colours of the tesserae.

On a bench around a tree planted to replace a storm-felled ash, THE SEA’S WAVES/THE WAVES’ SHEAVES/THE SEA’S NAVES evokes the rhythm and swell of the ocean, navis, for those who know their Latin, meaning ship.

Wind is ever-present, echoing the sea in trees and grasses and, as Finlay liked to imagine, transforming the garden into an Aeolian harp.

This is a magical place, rich with meaning, yet full of delight for those who wish to wander without an explanatory guide. With centenary exhibitions on show in Edinburgh and further afield, this is the year to go, perhaps combined with a visit to nearby Jupiter Artland, which would not exist without Little Sparta.

FROM TOP: Two examples of concrete poetry: Wave Rock, etched on glass, 1966.

Star/Steer, a screenprint in poster form, 1966.

See for yourself Little Sparta, Stonypath, Dunsyre ML11 8NG www.littlesparta. org.uk ‘Ian Hamilton Finlay’ is at Modern Two, National Galleries of Scotland, 73 Belford Road, Edinburgh, EH4 3DS until 26 May. www.national galleries.org

IMAGES: © BY COURTESY OF THE ESTATE OF IAN HAMILTON FINLAY.

words. Classical antiquity is omnipresent, its myth, verse and architecture celebrated in tributes to ruins, a Roman Garden with a miniature version of the Villa d’Este’s warship fantasies, a temple precinct and pool created from the old farmyard and midden, the wider landscape imagined as an Arcadian setting, and myriad quotes and references to ancient philosophers, poets and gods.

Water flows through Little Sparta, both literally in streams, pools, cascades, rill and lochan, and metaphorically through the language

For other centenary exhibitions, see: www.littlesparta. org.uk/centenarycelebrations/

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TWO PERSPECTIVES

PETER DAVIS RSW AND DAVID SMITH RSW 17th May to 15th June

Discover two distinct visions in one shared space. This dual feature brings together bold oil paintings and delicate watercolours by two Scottish landscape painters, each offering a unique response to the untamed landscapes, shifting environment, and evocative atmosphere of Scotland.

www.strathearn-gallery.com

Strathearn Gallery  32 West High Street  Crieff  01764 656100  info@strathearn-gallery.com The Strathearn Gallery.indd 107

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ADVERTORIAL

Open Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm 14 Bonnethill Road, Pitlochry PH16 5BS Tel: 01796 635 044 E: perthshiregallery@gmail.com

WWW.PERTHSHIREGALLERY.COM

THE PERTHSHIRE GALLERY

T

A welcome addition to Pitlochry’s thriving art scene

he Perthshire Gallery is an exciting, new, contemporary art gallery situated in the heart of Highland Perthshire.

Pitlochry is a friendly, bustling town set amidst stunning hills and lochs. The gallery has had a very warm welcome and is a great addition to the town centre.

Since opening in October last year, the gallery has showcased a carefully curated mix of art, ceramics, jewellery, sculpture, wood,

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textiles and printmaking. Many of the artists are local, some are stalwarts of the Scottish art scene, some are emerging talents. Guest artists from further afield feature as well.

Visit the gallery this summer to see the joyous work of contemporary Scottish artist, Kirsty Wither. Kirsty’s rich, vibrant work brings uplifting colour and texture to any home.

She paints flowers, fruit and landscapes.

The essence of Kirsty’s work is the perfect embodiment of a beautiful sunny Perthshire day in early summer.

Kirsty Wither will exhibit as part of the gallery’s Summer Show opening this June. The exhibition will also include paintings from returning artists Jayne Stokes, Sarah Anderson and Samantha McCubbin. Ceramics are always part of the gallery offering. Pictured here is ceramic work by Emma Baldwin and jewellery

by Jean Frazer. Many exciting newcomers join the gallery this summer too.

Gallery owner Jennifer Wheatley left Perthshire for London twenty years ago. Covid

and family ties brought Jennifer back to the area. The gallery is testament to her passion for art, her support of artists and makers and her love of Perthshire. Jennifer works closely with Co-Curator Emily Crookshank, a local print-maker who studied at The Glasgow School of Art.

CONTACT The Perthshire Gallery, 14 Bonnethill Road, Pitlochry PH16 5BS www.perthshiregallery.com Email: perthshiregallery@gmail.com Tel: 01796 635044 109

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29/04/2025 09:14:09

FIELD CULTURE

FIELD CULTURE A guide to Scotland’s arts and entertainment

Burns

SHETLAND BEGINS FILMING

FOR TENTH SEASON Filming for the tenth season of hit TV show Shetland is underway, with Ashley Jensen reprising her role as

uth alder. lison

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novels by crime writer Ann Cleeves, the new series sees Calder and Tosh travel to the isolated hamlet of Lunniswick to investigate the sinister killing of an elderly woman. The new season is set to air later this year. www.bbc.co.uk/scotland

STEPPING DOWN

A NEW SEASON The oyal cottish

ational

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has launched its new season, featuring cottish talent, contemporary composers and new commissions. Music director Thomas

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for his eighth season, boasting several world premieres. American conductor and bassoonist nthony arnther oins as featured artist. www.rsno.org.uk

After two decades at the heart of one of the UK’s best loved literary gatherings, Adrian Turpin is to step down as the creative and strategic director of Wigtown Book Festival, following this autumn’s event. Adrian first worked on the festival, which takes place in Scotland’s National Book Town in Dumfries and Galloway, as a volunteer in 2006. www.wigtownbookfestival.com

The National Trust for Scotland and theatremaker James Clements are collaborating on the Burns Project, a new theatrical production inspired by the life of Robert Burns. Using the trust’s recently digitised collection of manuscripts and artifacts, Clements will transform the poet’s letters, poems, and personal items into a one-person performance depicting Burns’ life. It will premiere during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2025 and be performed at other trust properties in the autumn before going on tour to the US in 2026. www.nts.org.uk

JOHN BELLANY EXHIBITION TOP RIGHT: KELLY LEVACHER.

He’s regarded as one of the most notable British artists of the 20th century and is widely known for his fearless self-portraits. But now the life of artist John Bellany will be celebrated in Edinburgh, near the fishin town of ort eton where he was born. John Bellany: A Life in Self-Portraiture will showcase more than 80 works, including paintings, drawings, prints and sketchbooks, spanning from the 1960s until 2013. The pieces provide a vivid portrayal of his life as he saw it. The exhibition opens on 31 May at City Art Centre. www.edinburgh.gov.uk

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FIELD CULTURE

THE SOUND OF MUSIC Music at Paxton festival returns this July, with a medley of musical styles including Western classical, opera, contemporary, Indian, folk, jazz and Gaelic. Highlights include ‘one of the greatest pianists of the 21st century’, Yevgeny Sudbin, the Consone Quartet and the London Handel Players. From 18-27 July, the event at Paxton House on the banks of the River Tweed promises

DECADES

ten days of international music.

The Scottish Gallery is celebrating 80 years of Victoria Crowe. The exhibition showcases a collection of new art that reflects six decades of work.

Crowe’s first solo exhibition at The Scottish Gallery took place in 1970, and since then she has worked in partnership with the gallery for over five decades. Decades opens on 31 July. www. scottish-gallery.co.uk

www.musicatpaxton.co.uk

SCULPTURE PARK It has attracted thousands of visitors over the last 13 years, and now Caol Ruadh Sculpture Park has announced its return after a one-year hiatus. Opened in 2012 by Karen Scotland and Anne Edmonds, this open air gallery is tucked away on the Kyles of Bute on Argyll’s Secret Coast. The park covers 18 acres of landscaped gardens and will this year feature artworks and installations from 17 artists based in Scotland and Northern Ireland. www.scottishsculpturepark.com

TOP LEFT: MATTHEW JOHNSON. TOP RIGHT: ANDY PHILIPSON.

New murals

HISTORIC ROSLIN

PHOTOGRAPHS ON DISPLAY An exhibition featuring historic photographs of the Midlothian village of Roslin has been launched online.

Some 40 photographs which are part of The Bryce Collection, including archive images of Rosslyn Chapel, can now be seen in the first online exhibition on the Chapel’s website. From around 1880 to the 1940s, two generations of the Bryce family lived and worked in a draper’s shop and post office on Main Street. The photographs had been stored away and largely forgotten but, in 1993, Meg Campbell (nee Bryce), the great niece of George Bryce, donated the collection to Midlothian Local Studies. www.rosslynchapel.com scottishfield.co.uk

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Two bold murals have been unveiled in Govan, marking a vibrant new chapter in the area’s transformation.

Positioned along the Clyde Tunnel and seen by thousands each day, the works by internationally acclaimed artists Jay Kaes and Gera1 are the latest additions to a growing open-air gallery in Glasgow. www.swg3.tv 113

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SCOTTISH FIELD COLLECTION

SCOTTISH FIELD COLLECTION Our monthly arts round-up

RESIPOLE STUDIOS Nestled on the edge of Loch Sunart in an area of outstanding natural beauty, Resipole Studios displays an incredible selection of contemporary fine art in a peaceful setting. iew artwork in the gallery and online via their website. mage Cuillin Lights, Skye by David Deamer, oil on board, x . cm. el , www.resipolestudios.co.uk

SALTWATER GALLERY Discover Saltwater Gallery on he sle of Arran. nce the laundry building of Brodick Castle, the gallery is now the home of contemporary seascape and big wave painter, Senja Brendon. ith exhibition space on one side and a working studio on the other, the gallery showcases the latest new work straight from the easel to the wall. Along with Senja’s original paintings, drawings and limited edition prints, the gallery showcases an extensive range of ceramics, jewellery, glasswork, ocean related treasures and uni ue gifts. el , www.saltwatergallery.co.uk

GEORGE PIRIE ANTIQUES A recent addition to their stock is this mahogany, Regency, leather-topped, drum table in excellent condition. o keep up with all the latest items have a browse through their nstagram and follow them there, alternatively drop into the shop for a look around their extensive range of stock. el , www.georgepirieantiques.co.uk

SCOTLAND’S WEST COAST PAINTINGS Launching the first of his new collection of large format, deep canvases which capture the colour and vibrancy of key iconic’ locations and allow Charles’s distinctive brushwork to be seen to full advantage. mage Tobermory Bay, Isle of Mull, oil on deep edge canvas, x / x cms. el , www.charlesrandak-art.com

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SCOTTISH FIELD COLLECTION

GREENS AND BLUES ndependent fine art gallery celebrating 25 years of exhibiting art and welcoming customers. ou’ll find us on the High Street in the lovely seaside town of orth Berwick. ull of original oil paintings, ceramics and glassware from Scotland and beyond. A stunning and varied collection with something for everyone. Professional in-house framing service. Gift vouchers and mailing service available. Image: Duet of Peonies by Gillian Henshaw. Tel: 01620 890666, www.greensandblues.co.uk

GARDNER’S THE ANTIQUE SHOP A family-run business which has been trading from Kilbarchan (10 minutes from Glasgow Airport) since 1950.

A traditional, general dealer with antiques of all kinds up to around 1940.

They buy mainly privately and sell their large, single owner stock to both trade and retail. Plenty of parking is available.

Tel: 01505 702292, www.gardnersantiques.co.uk

MILTON ART GALLERY SPEY BANK STUDIO Following the success of last year’s exhibition, Milton Art Gallery present this year’s array of Scotland’s printmakers in the rintmakers xhibition , May une . Milton Art Gallery also exhibits regular Scottish painters and contemporary makers all year. Image: o n n by Gwen Adair.

Milton of Crathes, Aberdeenshire, Tues – Sun 10am-4pm. Tel: 01330 844664, www.miltonart.com

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Explore the stunning art of the Cairngorms and beyond at this bright gallery in the heart of Grantown-onSpey. Showcasing original works in acrylics and oils, as well as beautiful landscape photography. Featured artist this month is Esther Tyson, whose oils of red squirrels are full of life.

Tel: 07919 091324, www.speybankstudio.co.uk

TIN SHED GALLERY Haven is an exhibition by sculptor Lewis Robinson showing at Tin Shed Gallery, Isle of Mull from Friday 6 June until 20 July. These are small-scale works that explore the recurring idea of the ‘House’ motif. Some are made up of reclaimed materials found on the beaches of Mull and other coasts.

Gallery open 12 - 5pm Wed - Sun. Tel: 07917 451607, www.tinshedgallery.co.uk

EION STEWART FINE ART Welcoming spring with an exciting exhibition. Featuring Irene McCann, Julie Morris, Nerine Tassie, Clare Arbuthnott, ohn McClenaghen, and Lindsay urk. A mix of styles celebrating nature, light and movement. Located a stone’s throw from Dunnottar Castle in Stonehaven. mage Favourite Walk, a Year Gone By by Nerine Tassie, 50 x 50 cm, mixed media. el , www.eionstewartfineart.com

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SCOTTISH FIELD COLLECTION

RAMSAY CORNISH

HOLROYD GALLERY

t always pays to consult a valuer. ften the everyday can be overlooked, but this storage jar for peas, a particularly collectable and rare Cornishware container, realised £1,190. Please call to arrange a free home visit.

Tel: 0131 553 7000, www.ramsaycornish.com

Featuring new original work by Rosanne Barr, alongside other gallery artists.

Holroyd exhibits original paintings with a Scottish theme, whether it be landscape or wildlife. The gallery in North Ballachulish has a large selection of oils, watercolours and pastels.

Image: Four Heading Home by Rosanne Barr. Tel: 01855 821277, www.holroydgallery.co.uk

PERTHSHIRE GALLERY

SPROSON GALLERY

The Perthshire Gallery opened in October 2024 and is a bright new addition to the bustling centre of Pitlochry. The gallery exhibits a carefully curated selection of paintings, ceramics, sculpture, jewellery, textiles and printmaking. The Spring Show runs until mid-June, and the Summer Show follows until September. Image: Sardines by Mogs Mellor. Tel: 01796 635044, www.perthshiregallery.com

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Sproson Gallery’s The Glimpses of Summer (May – June 2025) exhibition reflects St Andrew’s uni ue topography nestled between the golfing greens on one side and dune-hugging sands overlooking the North Sea on the other. Artists featured in the exhibition include Margaret Evans, Ken Roberts and Karen Wowk, among others. mage Evening Stroll, St Andrews, by Margaret Evans, pastel/gouache. Tel: 01334 474331, www.sprosongallery.com

THE SCOTTISH GALLERY Pascale Rentsch presents The Living Earth, her first solo exhibition at he Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, 5-28 June 2025. Swiss-born and based in East Lothian, Rentsch paints directly in nature. Her work captures the light, energy and atmosphere of Scotland’s landscapes, coastlines and weather.

Image: Coastal Sea Buckthorn by Pascale Rentsch, 2025, mixed media on paper, 121x153 cm. Tel: 0131 558 1200, www.scottish-gallery.co.uk

FIONA MACIVER MACDONALD Fiona Maciver Macdonald’s love of nature, sea and the countryside was nurtured from a young age on her trips to Islay and Lewis to visit her grandparents. Fiona’s work is inspired by the changing weather and landscapes.

Her first solo art exhibition is in hitespace Gallery from to April, 11am to 6pm. 76 East Crosscauseway, Edinburgh. Tel 07814 514771, www.whitespace76.com

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SCOTTISH FIELD COLLECTION

DOUNE PARK GALLERY

AT THE SIGN OF THE PELICAN

PENTLAND ROSS ART

At the Sign of the Pelican is unique in specialising in Scottish antique furniture such as this set of 12 elm ladderback dining chairs with crossstitch upholstery in the manner of the Wemyss School of Needlework. The showroom in Cupar, Fife, is open by appointment. Tel: 07487 738963, www.atthesignofthepelican.co.uk

Discover the elegance of equine artistry and the charm of country life at entland Ross Art. his ex uisite collection captures the spirit of the horse, blending traditional and contemporary styles. xperience art that resonates with nature’s grace. Visit and enrich your collection with timeless beauty. Tel: 07903 843176, www.pentlandrossart.com

THE GLASGOW GALLERY

THE HOUSE OF BRUAR

THE TORRANCE GALLERY

The Spring Exhibition continues this month, bursting with colour and new beginnings. Next, the gallery will dive into their group summer show, Beauty of Water, with featured artist Senja Brendon, where all artists explore the movement, energy, and serenity of water. pens une - all welcome. mage Breeze and Bloom by Samantha McCubbin. Tel: 0141 333 1991, www.glasgowgallery.com

A keen fisherman and diver, Sam MacDonald’s fascination with aquatic wildlife and habitats continues to inspire and inform his artwork, allowing him to create stunning pieces that capture the singular colours and textures found only in the world beneath the waves. mage Round Bass

by Sam MacDonald. Tel: 01796 483236, www.houseofbruar.com

During the month of May, The Torrance Gallery has the wonderful Rona Kant as their featured artist. ith a mix of original oils and acrylics, this beautiful collection has been created exclusively for the gallery. Please join the mailing list via their website to receive online PV codes and invitations.

Tel: 0131 556 6366, www.torrancegallery.co.uk

Quality restaurant food, contemporary antiques, vintage and modern art and gifts. Doune Park Gallery is within Cafe Circa. pen seven days, . am 4.30pm. Explore the exhibition halls at the Scottish Antique & Arts Centre, Stirling A84 to Callander, FK16 6HG. Tel: 01786 841683, www.scottish-antiques.com

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Perth Audi SF May 2025.pdf

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ADVERTORIAL

RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE Perthshire-based Cameron Motor Group take home five awards at the Audi Q Power Awards

F

amily-run Cameron Motor Group recognise that good customer service doesn't just entail selling new and used luxury vehicles to keen customers. To each member of staff, it means ensuring that every client, whether they are new or returning, is treated with exceptional care and service to match.

This commitment to service was celebrated at the prestigious Audi Q Power Awards in March after Perth-based Cameron Motor Group and their Perth Audi dealership took home five awards for Best ew Car nvestor’, Best sed Car nvestor , Best Small Dealer’, Best verall centre for H ’ and the Best ew Car centre for H ’.

This is an incredible haul for the Cameron Motor Group and Perth Audi who had already previously won 14 awards since the Audi Q Power Awards began in 2009.

The Audi Q Power Awards is an annual -based awards ceremony recognising top-performing Audi dealerships for their

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sales, customer experience and service excellence, celebrating dealerships and their staff who go the extra mile to exceed their clients expectations.

The group largely contributes their continued success to their loyal staff who exemplify the values of the business, offering a tailored family-like approach to a luxury service. hen previous Head of Business George Malcolm retired in early 2024 after four decades with the group, Tony Mellor, who has two decades of experience at Cameron Motor Group, stepped up to embrace the legacy of success left by his predecessor while strategising for the future in an everevolving motor industry.

Customer first is the core value that has been in our daily process for decades – we are 95 years old and in our third generation of ownership,' said Tony Mellor, adding that staff loyalty is indispensable and they often celebrate team members' long service.

'Remaining true to the company values, while embracing the future of electrification and alternative fuel mobility to ensure the customer journey is the best possible outcome for them,' added Tony when asked how he plans to build upon their first-class reputation.

Founded in 1930 by Ian H. Cameron, Cameron Motor Group has seen nearly a century of change within its Perthshire location, with only a small break in operation during the second world war, yet its stalwart, family-run values and exemplary customer service remain unchanged.

CONTACT

To get in touch with Cameron Motor Group or Perth Audi, visit www.cameronmotorgroup.co.uk or call on 01738 630252 166 Dunkeld Road, Perth, United Kingdom, PH1 5AS 119

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WILDLIFE

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CONSERVATION CONFLICTS

Conservation conflicts While there will always be species that struggle to coexist, will we ever manage to find common ground when it comes to which creatures we should protect? asks Andrew Dobson

FROM LEFT: PIOTR KRZESLAK; STP23; DIGITAL NATURE (ADOBE STOCK).

I

n January this year, four Eurasian lynx were released in the Cairngorms National Park. We still have no idea who was responsible; a police investigation is ongoing, and my contacts at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) – whose staff recaptured and now look after the three surviving cats – are remaining understandably tight-lipped until it is resolved.

One should not presume to know the mind of an animal, but it is reasonable to suppose that the lynx were rather grateful for the arrival of RZSS staff, who put out baited cages that had previously been used to release wildcats not too far away from where their larger cousins had been abandoned.

I use the word ‘abandoned’ advisedly as the cats found and entered the cages within hours, and showed every other sign of being wholly unsuited to life outside in the Highlands at several degrees below. Whoever put them there was doing no-one – least of all the lynx – any favours.

First among the suspects was what are sometimes termed ‘guerrilla rewilders’ – that is, people or organisations committed to returning formerly native fauna to Scotland without encumbering themselves with any pesky red tape.

If this were the case, it wouldn’t be the first time; around 2006 a number of beavers were illegally released into the Tay catchment, resulting in what

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LEFT: Four Eurasian lynx were illegally released in the Cairngorms earlier this year. BELOW: Beavers can cause destruction to trees and flood damage to agricultural land.

is now the largest population of these animals in the country. The furore (and real problems) that this caused was ample illustration of the requirement for stakeholder consultation and other forms of due process. When NatureScot later licensed an official release of beavers, it was in Knapdale, where the risk of flood damage to valuable agricultural land was minimal, and where local businesses and residents had been able to engage in years of consultation.

My hunch is that the Cairngorm lynx were unwanted pets. No-one who is sufficiently serious about rewilding to procure four expensive and hard-to-obtain animals for the purpose would

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release them in such an unprepared state. These hapless felines were never going to establish themselves in the wild, and certainly not in January in the Highlands.

The episode does, however, serve to highlight the extent of antagonism that can attend matters of conservation in our small and diverse country.

I have already touched on several such conflicts in the pages of this magazine, including seals vs fish farms, hen harriers (and mountain hares) vs grouse moor managers, and foxes vs just about everyone.

Each of the above fits into a general formula of ‘intangible vs economic’, and therefore presents the same kind of problem – the choice between two quantities that, like the proverbial apples and oranges, cannot be compared. It is clear, for example, that a conservationist will favour hen harriers whilst a moorland manager will favour the viability of their shoot; neither can be reasonably expected to embrace (or even necessarily understand) the values of the other.

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do nonetheless exist. In this case it might be the government, which recognises the various benefits of biodiversity whilst also caring what happens in the rural economy – but how could the books ever be balanced? What is a pair of hen harriers ‘worth’? How much environmental damage is justified by the supporting of an extra rural job?

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: KAREN MILLER; DANIEL; MARKMEDCALF; MICHAEL MEIJER (ALL ADOBE STOCK).

WILDLIFE

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CONSERVATION CONFLICTS

Field facts Lynx probably disappeared from Scotland in the early Medieval period.

There are approximately 500 individual capercaillie in Scotland, and 3,700 pine martens.

These are moot questions, but there have been plenty of government-sponsored attempts to find a path forward. A decade or so ago I was involved in the process myself, and I can report that it was a dismal experience. The problem was never that solutions were unavailable; indeed, several were suggested and a few were trialled. What sunk the endeavour was the profound animosity that the stakeholders on each side of the table felt towards those on the other. A compromise, by definition, would give the enemy at least some degree of ‘victory’, and this was simply unthinkable.

Instead, the only acceptable options were zero-sum, and hence non-starters.

By contrast, the broadly equivalent issue of protected geese that cause agricultural damage in places like Islay has proved relatively tractable. A range of measures have been proposed, discussed and implemented over the last decade, and whilst there are undoubtedly still some grumbles, the process has been functional. The difference between Islay and the grouse moors lies in the prior attitudes of the

stakeholders. Only in the former does one get the sense that resolution – as opposed to routing the opposition – is the main priority.

An arguably more interesting set of conflicts arise when the opposing stakeholders are traditional allies (or even the same people or organisations).

Examples include the opposition to windfarms from bird conservationists, who object to the number of birds that are unceremoniously hacked in half by spinning turbine blades (and one should note that for the largest turbines, even a rotor moving as slowly as six revolutions per minute is still travelling at 140mph at the blade tips).

There will be pro-environment bodies on both sides, but their particular interests are by no means perfectly aligned, and it is not at all clear how to strike a compromise position.

Equally knotty problems are faced by nature reserve managers trying to simultaneously protect rare prey species and their rare predators.

Capercaillie, black grouse and red squirrel conservation efforts have all been hampered by pine martens and goshawks, neither of which are common enough to justify population control.

Some years ago, the RSPB were faced with the frankly embarrassing situation of a single kestrel eating almost every chick hatched at the UK’s only colony of little terns. The kestrel was probably delighted; the reserve staff doubtless were not.

In such a situation one would ideally wish to improve and/or enlarge a reserve to such an extent that predator and prey can coexist sustainably, but this is typically the one option that isn’t available.

This is, however, the root cause of all conservation conflict: space. Ours is a small nation on a small island, with a lot of people and a need to grow food.

Nature will always need advocates to fight on its behalf, and to carve out a place where it can persist. Let us not be too quick to push back.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Red squirrel conservation can be hampered by pine martens; goshawks and pine martens are not common enough to warrant controls; barnacle geese are responsible for agricultural damage in Islay.

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29/04/2025 15:55:23

ADVERTORIAL

THE MAJESTIC LINE

T

The perfect choice for intimate cruises around Scotland

he Majestic Line is a boutique Scottish cruise company offering exceptional small-ship cruises along Scotland’s stunning west coast and the Hebrides. Since its inception in 2004, The Majestic Line has focused on creating intimate and immersive travel experiences, allowing guests to explore some of Scotland’s most scenic and remote areas. By repurposing traditional fishing vessels into comfortable cruise ships, the company offers a unique and eco-friendly way to discover the unspoiled beauty of Scotland’s coastline.

A Bit of History The company was born out of a vision to provide visitors with access to Scotland’s hidden gems, places often inaccessible to larger vessels.

The Majestic Line initially started with just two vessels, The Glen Massan and he Glen arsan, both refurbished wooden fishing boats.

These small ships retained their rustic charm while being equipped with modern amenities for a comfortable onboard experience. Over the years, the fleet expanded to include two purpose-built steel vessels, the Glen tive and the Glen Shiel, designed specifically for cruising in style while minimising environmental impact.

In 2024, The Majestic Line was acquired by Craig of Campbeltown Ltd, a well-established family business from the west of Scotland, with a long history of providing high-quality transport and tourism services. This acquisition has further strengthened The Majestic Line’s operations, ensuring its continued growth while maintaining its unique, small-scale cruising experience. The company’s name, 'The Majestic Line, is inspired by the fictional cruise line mentioned in eil

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Munro’s famous Para Handy stories, set on a Clyde puffer boat. The scene makes note that Majestic Line boats can be recognised by their golden funnels, in another detail that has carried through to the line’s real-life iteration.

The Ultimate Scottish Cruise Experience The Majestic Line offers an unparalleled way to explore Scotland’s rugged coastline, serene sea lochs, and enchanting islands. With a maximum of 12 passengers per vessel, cruises are small-scale and highly personal, creating a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Meals are a highlight of the trip, with chefs sourcing fresh, local produce to create delicious dishes that showcase Scotland’s exceptional culinary heritage. Guests are treated to hearty breakfasts, light lunches, and sumptuous three-course dinners paired with a selection of wines and Scottish whiskies. Itineraries typically include visits to secluded anchorages, uninhabited islands, and historic sites. Activities such as wildlife watching, beach walks, and exploring quaint coastal villages are guest-favourites. Whether you’re keen to spot seals, puffins, and golden eagles, learn about ancient local communities, or simply want to unwind amidst awe-inspiring scenery, there’s something for everyone.

Popular Itineraries The line’s shortest cruise, 'A Taste of the Hebrides,' allows guests to explore iconic destinations such as Mull, Iona, and Staffa on a threenight stay, ideal for visitors who want to witness Scotland’s dramatic coastline and enjoy The Majestic Line’s exclusive cruising experience

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29/04/2025 12:44:42

ADVERTORIAL

than a commercial tour. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply seeking a tranquil escape, these cruises offer something truly special.

Additionally, the small group size fosters a strong sense of camaraderie among passengers and crew, making every trip feel like a journey with friends. The expert crew members, including knowledgeable skippers and wildlife guides, ensure that guests get the most out of their time at sea.

on a smaller budget.

For the more adventurous, 'Outer Hebrides and St Kilda' will be the obvious choice. This extended 10-night cruise will take you to the northern islands of Barra, Harris, and Lewis and along their whitesand beaches and rugged cliffs. Even further removed into the Atlantic Ocean, St Kilda is unparalleled in its wilderness. The remote archipelago and its striking sea stacks haven’t had human inhabitants since 1930, but they are the home of almost one million seabirds.

Many first-time visitors to Scotland will want to see the legendary Loch Ness. Why not cruise it, on the 'Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal' 6-night cruise, where you will encounter other iconic Scottish destinations, such as Neptune’s Staircase, Telford’s engineering marvel; Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles; or the ever-popular Fort William.

Those wanting to see a different side of Scotland than its West Coast will be taken with 'Orkney: A Voyage Through Time,' a 6-night cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage Site archipelago. The 70 islands are best navigated on a small cruise ship and boast diverse landscapes and wildlife, world-renowned produce and some of the best-preserved Neolithic settlements.

updated fixtures, furniture and comfortable carpeting and banqueting, upholstered by a small team in Inverness. Leaning into its strength in offering personalised experiences, each cabin now has its own colour palette and is named after a Scottish bird on the Glen Etive and Glen Shiel, and after a Scottish island on the Glen Massan and Glen Tarsan. With a view to longevity, the project will be ongoing, but guests in the season will be the first to experience these state-of-the-art improvements.

Why Choose The Majestic Line?

The Majestic Line prides itself on delivering an intimate and authentic cruising experience that larger ships simply cannot match. By anchoring in secluded spots and tailoring itineraries to guests’ interests, the cruises feel more like a private expedition

Booking Your Cruise The full calendar of available cruises for 2025 and 2026 can be viewed on their official website, where you can also make reservations. The Majestic Line’s cruises are incredibly popular, so early booking is strongly recommended.

Cruises in March, April and October are available at a 10% discount, offering an opportunity to experience Scotland’s changing seasons at a reduced cost.

Some cabins are offered without a single supplement, making these cruises an attractive option for solo travellers. However, these cabins are limited and tend to book up quickly.

CONTACT

For more information visit themajesticline.co.uk or email info@themajesticline.co.uk

Spruced for Spring After acquiring The Majestic Line, Craig of Campbeltown Ltd decided to invest in its -vessel fleet with an ambitious refurbishment project. The renovations have been respectful of the line’s traditional character, while heightening the luxury with

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FIELD SPORTS

HE STOOPS TO CONQUER Watching the only falconer’s golden eagle allowed to hunt mountain hare was an extraordinary privilege, says Gerry Urquhart Images Crispin Rodwell

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I

t is late February in Glen Clova under gun-metal skies where an inconstant sun appears now and again, like the flash of a welder’s arc at the seams of clouds. Pouring down the throat of the glen the South Esk river seethes in spate after recent heavy rainfall while the high peaks at its head look on impassively.

Climbing the eastern slopes, coveys of red grouse erupting from the heather, you see that the snowflecked corries and bealachs have begun to shed their winter coats as the days start to lengthen and the sun begins to warm the hill ground. But stand still long scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 11:05:54

HUNTING HARES WITH EAGLES

enough and you can be forgiven for thinking that the small patch of snow just in front of you is moving. There it goes again. Then you hear the call over the radio: ‘Flight on!’

Times are tough for those upland falconers that rear and train golden eagles to hunt over the high ground for their natural quarry – the mountain hare. Under the Animals and Wildlife (Scotland) Act 2020, mountain hares become a Schedule 5 protected species which meant from 1 March 2021 it became illegal to hunt, kill or injure them. The legislation was aimed at preventing indiscriminate mass culling of the animal, which is rightly seen as an important native keystone species, but the legislation raised the ire of upland falconers who despite being stakeholders were not part of any consultations. Almost overnight, their birds were no longer allowed to hunt.

These eagles are montane specialists – they simply can’t (and won’t) hunt in any other habitat or for any other quarry. Yet this is the first season in four years that Barry and Roxanne Blyther have been allowed to take their eagles out onto the moors. They are the only practitioners of this ancient art fully licenced to do so, under certain conditions, by the Scottish Government, so they are spending the whole of February in the glen to enable their birds to fully exercise and remember what it is to be an eagle.

Standing close enough to see the cold gleam of his talons as they grip

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Barry’s leather gauntlet, I am struck by 23-year-old Stanley’s sheer presence. The air seems to quiver about him in a haze of energy and anticipation. He has a fine sense of himself as he keenly surveys the heather and peat hag of the plateau at two thousand feet above sea level, a gale ruffling his golden crown, the pale disc of the sun reflected in the obsidian black of his eye. After spending four enforced years flying only in falconry displays or resting in his aviary, Stanley is now in his element.

He is primed and eager.

According to Barry the legislation had unforeseen consequences: with the ban on hunting in place the mountain hare population exploded before disease then tore through the highly concentrated population. There are always peaks and troughs in the density of any animal population but this appeared to be more boom and bust.

Dee Ward, who owns and runs Rottal Estate, believes the presence of mountain hares is important and he enjoys seeing them on the hill, but he is forthright in his belief that control is a key driver of maintaining a healthy population. He believes that Barry and Roxanne’s presence on the hill with the eagles is

TOP LEFT: Barry and Stanley make their final checks before take off.

ABOVE: A mountain hare makes a great escape. BOTTOM: Riddick pointing the way.

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FIELD SPORTS

‘A gale ruffling his golden crown and the pale disc of the sun reflected in the obsidian black of his eye’

a responsible way of ensuring that often elderly or poorly conditioned animals are harvested so those that are left have the resources to sustain them.

The Blythers are conservationists at heart and are firm in the position that if they are working any hill and the hare numbers are obviously low, they simply don’t hunt. On the hill that day, the presence of hare, snipe, curlew, woodcock, blackcock and decent numbers of red grouse – as well as various raptors and mustelids on the lower reaches – all suggested an ecosystem in good health.

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As Barry briefs the beating line, which is charged with flushing hares for Stanley to fly at, he stresses that our priority is to ensure that we do nothing to upset any wild golden eagles in the vicinity. He directs us to a part of the hill where the risk of disturbance will be limited and our quarry may lie. While Barry gains the ridgeline with Stanley, Roxanne issues clear and precise instructions to the beaters below. Riddick, her livewire pointer, quarters in front us as we sprauchle through heather and hag, the wind at our heels. Unexpectedly, a pair of white-tailed scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 11:08:19

HUNTING HARES WITH EAGLES

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Master of all he surveys; Stanley coming in hot; a white-tailed eagle on the soar.

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eagles appear on the soar and we stop to marvel at their awesome presence – then move farther off again to leave them in peace.

The hunting was not easy. The line sighted and flushed several hares, resplendent in white winter coats, and on three separate flights Stanley stooped at them but through a combination of guile and nerve these canny animals outmanoeuvred him. Wild eagles have a success rate of 20% when hunting mountain hares and it appeared that this figure held for their trained counterparts.

This is a contest writ deep in the bones of both hunter and hunted. We keep moving and crest a bank of bright green and orange alpine mosses. In front of us a large patch of snow covers the wall of a deep hag and below that there’s another smaller patch, except it’s moving – it’s a hare and it has its back toward the beating line.

Before I’ve even got hold of the radio, Riddick is flushing it up and over the wall and down into the gulley below. ‘Flight on!’ comes the call from Barry, and we know that Stanley is on the wing.

The hare jinks and steps over tussock and mound, flashes across black peat and floats up a snow bank where, its hour come round at last, the scything talons of its ancient adversary pinion and lock and the hare moves no more. Nothing is wasted.

Stanley feasts on the heart and lungs, Riddick has the innards, while the sirloin is taken home to be made into a fine Hare Wellington, a fitting tribute to a worthy opponent.

Descending the hill in the gloaming, the sky now clear and crisp, we stop to watch an apparition quartering the hillside. The pale outline of a short-eared owl rises and falls in time with the wind as it ebbs through the grasses. It’s a perfect end to a day for the ages.

You can support a petition to retain falconer’s rights to practise upland falconry in Scotland here: petitions. parliament.scot/petitions/PE1859 129

29/04/2025 11:08:51

NEW GOLF ACADEMY LAUNCHING APRIL 2025

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29/04/2025 09:35:59

COUNTRY NEWS

COUNTRY NEWS A round-up of what’s happening in Scotland’s countryside

TRIED AND Tried & TESTED Tested WHAT IS IT? Sprayway Arderin Jacket,

RRP £170, www.sprayway.com I WANT IT BECAUSE: It’s an exceptional shell jacket that’s lightweight (430g), durable and good value for such quality.

USEFUL FOR: All outdoor activities.

HIGH POINT: Its Goretex ePE membrane and DWR finish means it’s very water- and wind-proof. It’s breathable, made from recycled materials and has a host of practical features (eg: elasticised hood, velcro cuffs, drawstring adjustable hem, zippered hand pockets etc).

Comes in four colours – avoid the graphite, the others stand out on the hill.

LOW POINT: The sizing came up a bit small, so err on the side of caution.

NEW STUDY ON

WILD SALMON POPULATION ild salmon populations in cotland, with the fish now classified as endan ered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, have declined to such an extent that conservation stocking may, in some rivers, be the only option available to prevent the complete loss of these threatened populations. A new study by the River arron onservation ssociation demonstrates that fish stoc ed as e

s or uveniles

survive to return as adults and in some years account for over 50% of the rod catch.

Importantly, the study also provides crucial insights into ecologically sound methods

WHAT IS IT? Bestard Explorer AG boots,

for mitigating population decline this way and, in some cases, restoring the DNA

RRP £233, www.bestard.com

integrity of wild populations. www.carronconservation.scot

I WANT IT BECAUSE: I need a high hunting boot that’s breathable, waterproof, tough and reliable.

LOCKDOWN LOUIS IS BACK

THE FACTS & FIGURES

A popular osprey has returned to its nest at Loch

2021

USEFUL FOR: All season hill and hunting

boots for any climate. Breathable, but they come into their own in the winter.

Arkaig Pine Forest in Lochaber, delighting online viewers who had feared they had seen the last of ‘Lockdown Louis’. Louis and his previous mate Aila

TOP RIGHT: ELLIOT ROBERTS.

HIGH POINT: All boxes ticked for the

Scottish hills. High, so provide great ankle support and good waterproofing for boggy ground and crossing burns with their high inner tongue. The full wrap rubber protective band protects from heather brash wear. Impressive grip on compact snow and ice thanks to very well designed Vibram Mottarone soles.

Quick lace and whilst robust they weigh less than 2kg. On first wear, there were no blisters or discomfort whatsoever. Extremely well made and it shows in the detail.

LOW POINT: None.

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were an online sensation during the 2020 lockdown

The year Louis and Dorcha got together.

with viewers watching their antics from all over the world. And now he has returned with his new mate Dorcha. www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

12 A dozen of his chicks have made it to first migration.

400k The number of people who watched Louis in 2020.

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COUNTRY NEWS

Tried & Tested WHAT IS IT? Le Chemeau Men’s LEFT: MAGDALENA BURJAK / ADOBE STOCK.

Zermatt Leather Lined Short Wellington Boot, RRP £280, www.lechameau.com I WANT IT BECAUSE: My pair of Le Chameau wellies have lasted me for five years now, and remain waterproof, supple and comfortable so I retain my confidence in the brand.

USEFUL FOR: These are absolutely perfect for everyday wear like walking the dog or putting out the bins.

HIGH POINT: The leather is supple,

warm and comfortable, and there’s lots of room around the calf for big chunky socks. The D-ring makes them easy to pull on, while the sole seems to be grippy whether on roads or across fields. They also come with a two-year warranty.

COMPULSORY CULL ON A HIGHLAND ESTATE

The Scottish government has used a legal power for the first time to force the owners of a Highland estate to cull red deer on their land. The compulsory deer management control scheme could see NatureScot step in to reduce numbers of the animals on Loch Choire Estate in Sutherland. It comes following concerns the grazing deer are damaging peatlands and woodlands at four sites of special scientific interest (SSSI).

The Scottish government wants the deer density on Loch Choire Estate reduced from 14 deer per square km to 7.5 within five years. www.nature.scot

LOW POINT: Having been

to Zermatt I’m confused about the premise of the name (‘pays homage to pastures overlooked by the majestic Matterhorn in Switzerland’).

WHAT IS IT? Men’s Oboz Bridger Ridge

Mid Gortex Waterproof Hiking Boots, RRP £200, www.obozfootwear.com

FARM INCOME DECLINE

RECORD BREAKING YEAR

Farm incomes experienced a sharp decline in 2023-24. Average income fell 51% from the high of the previous year. At £35,500 for the average farm, income is at its lowest level since 2019-20. Adverse weather played a role in diminishing production. www.gov.scot

The National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride has marked its most successful year since opening in 2001, after welcoming 115,560 visitors in 2024. The attraction showcases centuries of Scottish rural history and a historic working farm. www.nms.ac.uk

I WANT IT BECAUSE: It’s summer so I need a lightweight yet completely waterproof hiking boot.

USEFUL FOR: Hillwalking etc.

HIGH POINT: There’s so much to like about these great boots. They are comfortable out of the box, lock your heels in place and give great arch support. The Goretex and Nubuck leather means they are waterproof yet breathable, while the inside is very spacious despite all the padding. Their toe-protection and excellent footbeds enhance the experience, while they also provide great ankle protection and stability, yet they are still easy to take on and off.

LOW POINT: People with wider feet might struggle (as my son did when he ‘borrowed’ them). Sadly, there’s no gaiter ring.

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Ancient trees under the spotlight

The National Trust for Scotland is embarking on an ambitious project to record all the ancient, veteran and notable trees across its entire estate to secure the future survival of these important living relics. The survey will be carried out across native woodland, wood pastures and parklands. In addition to mapping the trees, the charity aims to carry out remedial work to ensure their future. The work was made possible thanks to funding raised by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. www.nts.org.uk scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 11:58:07

Skin cancer screening specialists If you are worried about a mole, book an appointment at one of our clinics at themoleclinic.co.uk

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29/04/2025 09:38:27

FOOD

ABOVE: Two of the three types of asparagus grown at Denhead.

RIGHT: James, Karen, Douglas and Callum Neill.

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29/04/2025 10:25:14

ASPARAGUS

THE SIREN OF SPRING Scottish asparagus is difficult to establish and has a painfully short growing season, but the benefits when you get it right make it all worthwhile, finds Grizel Baillie Images Laura A Tiliman

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I

chose the date of my wedding so I could have Scottish asparagus on the menu. Seriously. It wasn’t about the flowers. There’s something extraordinarily special about the short but oh-sosweet asparagus season in the UK and there are few vegetables that inspire the excitement and anticipation that those first green spears do. In a world where seasonality has lost much of 135

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FOOD

Try your hand...

ASPAR AGUS & BROAD BEAN SOUP from Carina Contini Serves 4 Ingredients 250g (podded weight) broad beans 1kg Denhead Farm asparagus, washed 100g unsalted butter 2 onions, finely chopped 1 leek, very finely chopped 2 celery stalks, very finely chopped salt 1 litre light chicken stock or vegetable stock (optional) freshly ground black pepper 200ml double cream 50g Maisie’s Kebbuck, or similar semi-mature cow’s milk cheese, grated Method Shell the broad beans and put them in a pan of boiling salted water. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of the beans, until tender. Remove from the heat, drain and cool with cold water from the tap.

Remove the outer skin of the beans by slitting the top and pushing the beans out onto a plate. This takes time but it’s worth the effort. Set the beans aside.

Prepare the asparagus by bending each stalk so the tougher bottom part snaps off. Chop the tender stalks into 2.5cm pieces and chop the top 2.5cm of the tougher bottom of the stalks very finely. Discard the rest of the tough stalks.

Melt the butter in a large pan and add the onion, leek, celery and tough asparagus stalks. Cook until soft, taking time to let the flavours develop. Season with a pinch of salt and add the stock or enough boiling water to cover.

Simmer for about 20 minutes. Add the tender asparagus stalks and cook for another 10-15 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat. Save a few asparagus tips for the garnish and pass the rest of the soup through a mouli or sieve to remove any tough stalks.

Check the seasoning. The asparagus can be bitter but a generous pinch of salt and pepper will counteract this.

Return the soup to the pan, add the broad beans, saving a few for the garnish, and the cream. Heat through gently. Serve hot with some freshly grated cheese sprinkled on top (I love Maisie’s Kebbuck because of its texture, delicate flavour and the way it melts). Garnish with the reserved asparagus tips and broad beans.

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‘Each crown may produce just a dozen spears a season’ its definition, asparagus still, wonderfully, unites a nation of food afficionados every spring.

While quick to cook, it takes a lot of time and care to get it to the kitchen. At Denhead Farm, near Coupar Angus in Perthshire, the asparagus harvest is at its peak in spring. Soft fruit growers for many years, the Neill family were looking for a crop to fill the farming year between fruit ‘husbandry’ in January and picking berries in the summer.

When they realised how much is imported, they decided to try growing asparagus to give people a chance to buy Scottish and

enjoy it at its best, as it’s a vegetable, like peas, that needs to be super fresh. This year will be the Neills’ fifth harvest.

‘Asparagus thrives on the loamy soils where we farm in the Strathmore Valley,’ explains James, who is a partner in the business alongside his two brothers, John and Callum, and his parents, Douglas and Karen, as well as uncle Ian. ‘But it’s in the ground for three years before you get the first crop. We then harvest it all by hand, each spear carefully cut, as if you even slightly nick the one next to it, it goes wonky and doesn’t grow to its full scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 10:26:08

ASPARAGUS

LEFT: Hand-picked asparagus.

ABOVE: Tractor drives the row while the asparagus is cut by hand and placed in the trays at the back by two seasonal workers and Douglas.

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scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 16:40:02

ASPARAGUS

Try your hand...

ASPAR AGUS WITH WILD GARLIC PESTO AND PROSCIUTTO from Sarah Rankin The start of asparagus season and the tail end of wild garlic season happily collide and these two make the most delicious bedfellows. After a trip to Denhead Farm I was inspired to stop on my way home to salvage what I could from my secret wild garlic foraging spot.

Serves 4 Ingredients 2 bunches Denhead Farm’s asparagus 90g wild garlic leaves 200ml Scottish cold-pressed rapeseed oil 75g chopped hazelnuts zest of half a lemon sea salt and black pepper 3 slices prosciutto

BOTTOM RIGHT: SUPPLIED.

Method Preheat the oven to 180°C. Start with the pesto by cleaning the leaves in a salad spinner and drying on a clean tea towel.

Toast the hazelnuts in a dry pan and add to a mortar and pestle. Roughly chop the wild garlic and add with a little of oil. Crush, adding more oil as you break down the leaves. Season with salt, pepper and lemon zest.

Place the three prosciutto slices in the oven and cook for 10-12 minutes until crisp and leave to air dry for another 5 minutes before crushing into dust using the cleaned out mortar and pestle.

Cook the asparagus in well-salted water for 3 minutes and serve, drizzled with the pesto and sprinkled with the prosciutto crumbs.

I served this with a few wild leek flowers as an extra garnish My debut cookbook Kith - seasonal scottish food for family and friends is out now. There are over 100 wonderful recipes celebrating Scotland’s incredible larder, as well as kitchen hints and tips, cocktails, nibbles and special little extras that make any dining experience better. Food is love and as Kith comes from my heart, I’m sure you’ll love it too.

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potential. Once it’s established though, during the season a spear can grow up to 10cm a day, so then it’s all go, and there’s no rest for the team.’

When the Neill family scaled down their soft fruit enterprise in 2020, there was an opportunity to extend the asparagus season by a month at each end by growing ten acres under cover, alongside the twenty acres outdoors. This means they now typically harvest a month ahead of other growers in Scotland, supplying the first asparagus of the year to a number of Scotland’s well-known restaurants as well as to the passing trade via their everexpanding ‘farmstand’ at the side of the road.

‘Asparagus is one vegetable that still has a very strong association with a season – it marks the start of spring and there’s huge anticipation for it as the natural season only lasts a few weeks. It has traditionally been available from the second half of April but we can now offer customers Scottish-grown asparagus from mid-March to mid-July. This is really exciting as, apart from

the food miles, the flavour of fresh home-grown asparagus is so superior to what’s imported.’

Each crown, the big fist-sized root clump planted to start the asparagus growth – and which form a wonderful maze of root life under the soil – may produce just a dozen spears a season. At the end of the season, the ferns are left to grow to head height to get the maximum

TOP: View from one of the fields. ABOVE: Lauren Dowell is a part of the Neill family who farm asparagus at East Denhead – she drives the all-important consumer-facing part of the business.

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29/04/2025 10:28:59

and Spot

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The comfortable and reliable service offers sailings from Aberdeen to Lerwick, Shetland, with regular calls into Orkney’s capital of Kirkwall.

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northlinkferries.co.uk Operated by

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ASPARAGUS

Try your hand...

R ADISH, ASPAR AGUS & BROAD BEAN SAL AD from Carina Contini Serves 4 Ingredients 250g Denhead Farm asparagus, trimmed 50g baby radishes 200g new-season broad beans, podded weight, blanched and skinned 15g mint leaves 1 heaped tbsp small capers in salt, rinsed and drained 5-6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp Dijon mustard zest and juice of ½ unwaxed lemon 100g St Andrew’s Farmhouse Anster, or Cheshire or Lancashire cheese salt and freshly ground black pepper Method Blanch the asparagus by plunging it in boiling salted water for a few minutes until tender but not overcooked. Refresh under cold running water, cut into quills and set aside. Top, tail and slice the radishes thinly so you can see as much of their lovely red skins as possible. Arrange the asparagus, broad beans and radishes on a large platter and sprinkle with the mint leaves and capers. In a jug mix together the olive oil, mustard and zest and juice of the lemon. Drizzle over the vegetables. Very coarsely shave or crumble the cheese on top and season with a little salt and pepper.

SPEARS OF DESTINY: Douglas holds some of their early asparagus which is now grown in unheated poly tunnels.

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sunlight and nutrition over the winter, cut back early in the new year in preparation for the next crop. The crowns will give up to seven harvests before they need to be replanted.

The Neills cultivate three varieties of asparagus to span the extended season. There is no difference in flavour, James explains, but the varieties each mature at different times. ‘We don’t heat the tunnels, like some may do, so the growth is not forced— which can compromise the quality and sweetness—but the tunnels retain warmth which gives us this extra month at the start,’ he says.

‘It’s really the sunlight that the asparagus loves, and we have good daylight hours in Scotland.’

The vibrant fresh green spears dominate restaurants’ Instagram

pages as the first deliveries come through the door, so evocative is it of the start of spring and a new seasonal menu.

Denhead supplies many of Scotland’s restaurants, and in early April they welcomed over eighty chefs from across central Scotland to the farm to see how asparagus is grown and prepared for their kitchens. Comprising chefs of all ages and experience, this included the full team from Restaurant Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, chefs from Ballintaggart, Edinburgh’s Contini Restaurants, young chefs at college and the start of their career, as well as private chefs, including Pittormie Castle near Cupar and Masterchef’s Sarah Rankin.

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FOOD

‘Asparagus is full of nutrients, especially when so fresh, and is supposed to be a cure for hangovers’ to do much to it – it makes a dish just absolutely pop,’ says chef-patron Garry Watson of Gordon’s Restaurant at Inverkeilor. ‘Seeing how it’s grown on the farm makes you appreciate the passion that’s gone in, and how good a product it is when you see the family behind it and all the hard work that goes in. Rather than seeing a bunch of asparagus, I now see the whole journey.’

Asparagus is full of good nutrients, especially when so fresh, and has over the centuries been used for medicinal purposes and as a supposed cure for hangovers. The recurring advice from the visiting chefs is to cook it quick and simple: grilled or roasted with just a drizzle of oil or shaved raw into salads or pasta. Keeping it as close to its natural state as possible was a top tip, as was pairing it with eggs or a Hollandaise sauce. For the more adventurous, velouté is a firm favourite.

The buzz on the day and enthusiasm from all the chefs reiterated the brilliance and power of the connection between people and food, says James.

‘For most, it was the first time on an asparagus farm and it was great to get them in the field and see what matters to them,’ he said. ‘Regardless of how long they’d been in the trade or their level of experience, they said they got so much from seeing first-hand what and why we do what we do. We’ll be hosting an asparagus festival in May to share the same with the wider public.’

East Lothian’s Pop-Conscious Catering cooked up an array of asparagus tasters, from velouté to tempura, and will also be coming back for the festival in May. Denhead Farm’s asparagus is sold directly from the farm at its Denhead 142

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ABOVE: Callum in the shop. BELOW: Seasonal workers in the packhouse, banding asparagus by hand – there are some electric-assisted aspects but it is mainly a task of physical labour.

Farmstand just outside Coupar Angus.

While the three brothers, James, John and Callum, focus on the farm, sister Lauren drives the consumer-facing side of the business.

What started as an honesty stop for their own produce, including potatoes, broccoli, carrots and blueberries, has grown into a burgeoning showcase of local produce as well as being an outlet for the local bakery and butcher.

With an old stone shed refurbished into a lovely indoor space, on the first Saturday of every month, Denhead Farmstand now hosts an indoor farmers’ market, which has become a popular community event with rising footfall at every market. There are plans afoot to offer farm tours and other events to connect more people with food and farming.

Armed with bunches of asparagus and a tray of fresh eggs from the farmstand, I smugly cooked up an instant supper, enjoyed in the spring sunshine, a few weeks ahead of our wedding anniversary, wholly delighted with the prospect of an extra couple of months of asparagus bliss

In season To keep up to date follow @denheadfarmproduce on Instagram

scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 10:43:44

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29/04/2025 09:43:53

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29/04/2025 09:45:06

RESTAURANT REVIEW - BARRY FISH, LEITH

GONE FISHING The Mystery Diner discovers a wonderful new contemporary seafood restaurant to set the foodie pulses racing

ILLUSTRATION: THE EDINBURGH SKETCHER

I

’ve whined on countless occasions about the lack of fish restaurants in our major cities, although the number is expanding rapidly to match the superb restaurants and pop-ups on both coasts. In Edinburgh, the wonderful White Horse leads the charge, ably supported by restaurants such as Ship On The Shore and Dulse.

Across in Glasgow there’s Kelp, Gamba and Crabshakk, among others.

However, the latest newcomer to join this growing shoal of fishy restaurants may just be the best of the bunch. Barry Fish, next door to Martin Wishart in Leith, is headed up by chef-patron Barry Bryson, a well-known Edinburgh caterer who swore he would never undergo the stress of opening a restaurant, but must have gone mad because he’s done exactly that.

All foodies should be thankful that he has relented because his prosaically-named establishment (great restaurant, terrible name, even if ‘Barry’ is also a colloquialism for ‘good’) was responsible for one of the best meals I’ve had in ages. Everything is spot-on, from his classy yet relaxed renovation of what was once Mimi’s Bakery, through engaging and knowledgeable staff, to a menu that starts with relaxed dishes such as kedgeree and crab focaccia until 3pm before moving on to a mix of small and big plates in the late afternoon and evening.

There was nothing we didn’t like about this experience, but best of all was the food served up

by Bryson and fellow chefs Robbie Johnstone and Tom Pethick. We started with a mouth-watering scottishfield.co.uk

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Vital statistics PRICE £64 plus wine, cocktails, coffee and service.

RATING 

62 Shore, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6RA. 0131 625 0000

www.barryfish.co.uk

canape of Eyemouth crab pancakes and a couple of cocktails, and then moved on to the menu proper. Although the main courses looked sumptuous, in the interest of thorough journalistic enquiry, we decided to instead go for six startersized small plates so we could try more of the menu. It turned out to be an inspired choice.

After we started with a fat, silky Iona oyster each, the dishes arrived in pairs.

The first of the two dishes was hugely impressive: an insanely light, fresh bass and bream ceviche with orange, pickled fennel, red onion and cardamom, which was not only a visual treat but also a great palate cleanser. Even better though was Barry’s sublime sea trout pastrami with aioli, capers and dried grapes, which was astonishingly good.

It was always going to be difficult to keep up with that, but the Octopus with whipped feta and persillade somehow achieved it. The special of asparagus from Denhead Farm was also excellent, and the next pair consisted of two pork confit croquettes which my pescatarian companion avoided (they were fine, but without the wow factor of the fishy dishes) and then we rounded off with a perfectly serviceable brown butter crumpet which would have been fine in another environment but felt like a step down in this exalted company.

Our puddings of chocolate caramel and Eve’s pudding with custard (a sort of apple crumble) were fine, if not quite up to the quality of our fishy small plates, and our Picpoul de Pinet wine was perfectly judged. Best of all, though, was the price tag: six dishes and two oysters cost just £64, with the wine adding an extra £30. It was, as you may have gathered, worth every penny.

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29/04/2025 09:47:28

FOOD & DRINK NEWS

FOOD & DRINK The latest happenings on Scotland’s food and drink scene

CRUMBS

BUTCHERY BEST Balgove Larder in St Andrews was named Champion Scottish Butcher at the Scottish Countryside Alliance Awards. Balgove's traditionally reared meat comes from its own farms as well as whole carcasses from other farms across Scotland.

Honouring traditional whole carcass craft skills, it hosts regular butchery masterclasses for customers to learn how to prepare meats. www.balgove.com

YOUNG CHEF OF THE YEAR Jack Coghill, of Jack ‘O’Bryan’s Bar and Kitchen in Dunfermline, is the 2025 Scottish Excellence Young Chef of the Year, beating two other talented young chefs to the title. Jack has an impressive track record in the kitchen, as well as being an acclaimed pastry chef and chocolatier. www.jackobryans.com scottishfield.co.uk

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THE BOTHY DISTILLERY Scottish producer Gin Bothy has unveiled plans for a whisky distillery on a historic smuggling route.

The distillery in Glen Prosen, Angus, sits on land which was previously a sporting estate but is now owned by Forestry and Land Scotland. The estate once formed part of a whisky smuggling route in the 19th century. The Bothy Distillery will offer an ‘immersive whisky retreat’ experience, with the visitor centre set to welcome guests in July and production commencing in August to produce 300 cas s in its first year. The distillery will be open by appointment only. www.ginbothy.co.uk

HOPPY DAYS!

WHAT AN HONOUR

An Edinburgh beer has been crowned the UK’s 'Beer of the Year' at the prestigious London Beer Competition 2025. Edinburghbased Cold Town Beer clinched the top accolade for its flagship beer, Barrel Aged Imperial Stout – Speyside Cask Matured.

The beer stood out among its global peers in one of the most demanding tasting rooms in the industry. www.coldtownbeer.com

Mark Donald, Executive Chef of Two Michelin starred The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant, has been named as an Honorary Vice President of The Master Chefs of Great Britain in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the hospitality industry.

Mark hopes to help nurture the next generation of chefs. www.theglenturretrestaurant.com

Going green

The whisky distillery that featured in the BBC series Monarch of the Glen is set to be transformed into a low-carbon operation after securing planning permission. Nestled at the foot of the Cairngorm Mountain, Speyside Distillery has a rich history in Scotch whisky production, dating back to 1956 when founder George Christie acquired the former barley mill and croft. www.speysidedistillery.co.uk 147

29/04/2025 10:20:32

“Where creativity becomes innovation and curiosity sparks a lifelong love of learning....”

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FOOD & DRINK NEWS

Welcome to producer's cor ner

ANGUS CHEESE IS

A GRATE CHOICE

Anster, a delicate, pale and crumbly cow’s milk cheese, has been named Best Scottish Cheese at the British & Irish Cheese Awards 2025. Typically aged for two to four months, Anster is a crumbly, Cheshire-style cheese, traditionally made using the raw milk from St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company’s own herd of home bred cows. The flavour is mild, yet complex with a touch of citrus on the finish and mushroomy notes next to the natural rind. www.britishcheeseawards.com

A new milestone

The transformation of the historic 19th-century Castletown Mill into a whisky distillery reached a new milestone with the arrival of its copper stills. The renovated mill building, outside Castletown and near the Castle of Mey, is being repurposed into a whisky distillery by Dunnet Bay Distillers with the help of Organic Architects.

King Charles has previously expressed a desire for the mill’s preservation. The pots installation is one of the final steps ahead of the distillery’s opening, planned for this summer. www.organicarchitects.co.uk

DRAM DEEP A Scottish drinks manufacturer has found a new way of developing spirits – by maturing casks of 'whisky' deep below the surface of Loch Ness in a world-first. Domhayn, named after the Gaelic word for ‘deep’, was plunged 214 metres below the surface of the famous waters in February.

It’s the result of 20 years of research with Oxford University, providing molecular analysis that confirms the loch’s extreme depth and pressure lead to subtle but measurable changes to the spirit’s flavour and molecular structure. Just six bottles exist of the spitit, but legally it can’t be called whisky because of the change in its molecular profile after being submerged. www.domhayn.com scottishfield.co.uk

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KAREN ROBINSON, THREE ROBINS When one of Karen Robinson's three sons became lactose intolerant she quickly turned to oat milk. But as she looked for dairy free alternatives, Karen was alarmed by how many plant-based products were high in sugar and failed to take children’s nutritional needs into account.

So, determined mum Karen, from Edinburgh, decided to make her own. In 2020 she bought a nut milk maker and began to experiment making her own dairy-free milk, testing out her recipes on willing friends and neighbours who loved it.

After a 15-year career working to support women’s rights in conflictaffected countries and consulting for the likes of the United Nations, Karen decided to take the plunge and start her business Three Robins.

In the early days, Karen packed all the orders in her front hall and delivered oat milk to local customers herself, with the help of her boys who also lent a hand in the warehouse or at farmers markets.

Karen’s three varieties of oat milk all use gluten-free Scottish oats and have a creamy, neutral taste that appeals to kids.

She has worked hard to create as ‘clean’ a recipe as possible as more people become conscious of what goes into their food and drink.

To read the full interview go to www.scottishfield.co.uk 149

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WHISKY

CASK STRENGTH

A bitter harvest Diageo’s decision to abruptly shut its innovative Distill Ventures start-up incubator is short-termism at its most destructive in an industry that has grown strong on long-term vision

T BLAIR BOWMAN

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here’s an old saying that you don’t cut down an orchard just because this year’s harvest wasn’t as bountiful as expected.

Yet that’s exactly what Diageo has done by abruptly pulling the plug on Distill Ventures, its pioneering investment arm for emerging drinks brands. For an industry built on decades of planning, this is myopic to the point of absurdity.

Distill Ventures (DV) was established by Diageo in 2013 as a venture capital-style incubator to support innovative spirits start-ups. It backed the likes of Seedlip, Denmark’s Stauning Whisky, Japan’s Kanosuke Distillery, England’s Fielden Whisky and other ambitious brands doing things differently, shaping the future of drinks. Then, with little warning, Diageo shut it down. Just like that.

It’s a decision that has left many in the industry scratching their heads. And for me, someone who has spent a career immersed in the whisky world (and, full disclosure, a shareholder in one of DV’s portfolio businesses), it’s incredibly disheartening.

Whisky demands long-term thinking. This isn’t fashion, tech or fast-moving consumer goods.

We plant acorns, not just for the next season, but for the next generation. So to see a supposedly forward-thinking company axe a visionary initiative like DV because the market is in a temporary correction phase is baffling.

What makes whisky unique is its patience.

Casks don’t care about quarterly earnings or annual KPIs. They quietly mature in warehouses, slowly developing into something extraordinary.

But someone needs to believe in that future and have the vision and guts to invest in something that might not pay off for decades. That’s what DV was doing. It was planting seeds.

I think about the incredible work done by family-owned businesses like Gordon & MacPhail.

They can release 50, 60 or 70 year old whiskies because of a legacy of long-term thinking. If those casks had been under the stewardship of a multinational, they’d have been bottled at 25, at best, because someone in sales would have seen an opportunity to hit their target and bank a bonus.

That’s not stewardship. That’s opportunism.

That’s why this decision feels so cynical. It signals a shift from a custodial approach to

something far more transactional. I get that global drinks companies must make tough calls, but they also have a responsibility to the future of an industry they’ve profited from enormously.

DV was a rare example of a big company giving voice to the mavericks and innovators who make this industry exciting. We need mavericks, weird experiments, odd ideas, brands that don’t quite fit the traditional mould. That’s how progress happens, how you avoid becoming stale.

What makes it harder to stomach is that some DV-backed brands were doing incredibly well, winning awards, growing markets and changing how we think about flavour, sustainability and storytelling. These weren’t vanity projects, they were the vanguard. Seedlip, for instance, effectively conceived the non-alcoholic spirits category as ‘The World’s First Distilled Non-Alcoholic Spirit’, a radical idea at the time.

That category is now worth over $20bn globally.

‘DV gave voice to the innovators and mavericks that we need’ I’m a shareholder in a DV brand, so have a vested interest, but my frustration goes beyond the financials. I’m upset because this feels like a failure of imagination, risk-aversion masquerading as strategic thinking.

I hope this is just a blip, that in the big drinks companies there are still people who believe in the long game, who know that the best whiskies often come from unexpected places. People who understand that innovation, the true spirit of whisky, can’t be captured on a spreadsheet.

The industry needs more projects like Distill Ventures, not fewer. The next Seedlip or Stauning won’t emerge because someone in a boardroom decided the ROI looked good this quarter. It will be because someone saw the bigger picture.

We are custodians who benefit from the work of those who came before us. We owe it to the next generation to leave something of value behind.

Let’s not lose sight of that. And let’s not cut down the orchard just because of one poor harvest. scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 12:36:35

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29/04/2025 09:57:58

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29/04/2025 10:00:04

SCOTTISH FIELD SUMMER WHISKY CHALLENGE

5

SCOTTISH FIELD SUMMER WHISKY CHALLENGE 2025 Our panel of whisky experts blind taste 58 of the country’s most exciting new expressions, all of which were released since 1 January 2024.

Here are our winning drams.

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The 5 Steps to Appreciate your Whisky

The Official Whisky Glass

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SCOTTISH FIELD SUMMER WHISKY CHALLENGE

THE

CHALLENGE F

or 25 years – a quarter of a century – the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge has been helping readers to discover some of the best whiskies from Scotland.

The Summer Challenge's goal in particular is to introduce exciting new expressions from industry giants, small and micro distilleries, indie bottlers and beyond.

This year our expert judges had the monumental task of tasting 58 new expressions. Out of these entries, 53 were single malts and five were blends. Forty bottles came from distilleries and 18 from independent bottlers.

With so many scrumptious whiskies to taste, it is undoubtdly a challenge for our judges to single out the best ones – especially when the overall feedback from our judges was that the sample quality was especially good this year.

So while we could only show the winners, there are many excellent drams from 2024 with very respectable scores.

The winning drams this year span regions and ages, from well-established distilleries, like Bladnoch, who not only took the top spot but also placed twice. To brand new distilleries like Ardnahoe whose Society Release made it into our top ten.

As many in the industry know, its been a tough year for whisky sales, so we at Scottish Field are excited to see Scottish distillers and bottlers continue to grow, innovate and produce exceptional whiskies to be loved worldwide. scottishfield.co.uk

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How the challenge is judged The Scottish Field Whisky Challenge gains its impeccable credibility through its acutely egalitarian process. Quality alone determines the winners as our judges select not by label, name, or price, but by taste alone.

The team at Scottish Field decanted 58 expressions into 30ml bottles marked with only an identification number to enable our judges to make as impartial a decision as possible.

After tasting, the judges provided a mark out of five for each whisky. The lowest and highest marks were then taken away, and the remaining scores were used to formulate an average for each expression. Alongside this, the judges provided detailed tasting notes on each of the drams.

When the scores are collected, the whiskies are separated into their price-based categories which include under £50, £50-100 and over £100, and first, second and third place in each category is revealed. There's also a separate category for any distilleries that are less than ten years old. The top whisky in each category then automatically enters the running to be crowned grand prize winner.

The top 10 whiskies from across the four categories are listed in these pages, so readers can follow in our judges' footsteps and taste for themselves some of the finest expressions available in Scotland.

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29/04/2025 10:08:52

SCOTTISH FIELD SUMMER WHISKY CHALLENGE

2025 Judges ROBIN RUSSELL Proprietor, Robbie’s Drams Whisky Merchants

Robin has spent his working life in the licensed trade and was one of the first in the country to launch a whisky festival.

GILLIAN KIRKLAND Owner, Piper Whisky Bar

With over 250 whiskies on offer, Gillian focuses on bespoke whisky tastings in her Glasgow bar. Whisky is her passion.

DARREN LEITCH National Retail Manager, The Whisky Shop

Darren has been involved with the Challenge since 2001 and champions it as the ultimate whisky competition.

VINCE FUSARO Owner, Luvians Bottle Shop

Vince has been in the whisky world since 1983 and believes he is still learning. He has always felt highly privileged to be in the industry.

THE JUDGES’

TOP TEN Of the 58 whiskies blind tasted by our experts, 10 drams stood head and shoulders above the rest

NO.1 OVERALL

FRASER ROBSON Whisky Ambassador, Gordon & MacPhail

Based in Elgin, Fraser has been the Whisky Ambassador at Gordon & MacPhail South Street since 2018.

MANDY SILVER

2

Owner, Curly Coo Bar

3

4

5

Owner of Curly Coo Bar in Stirling, Mandy is a leader in her field. She has a fabulous range of whiskies, giving customers an unrivalled tour of Scotland.

MATTHEW MCFADYEN Co-founder, The Good Spirits Company

Matthew is one of the co-founders of The Good Spirits Company, Glasgow’s leading independent spirits specialist.

SAM BRABBS Purchasing Manager, Royal Mile Whiskies & Drinkmonger

Sam has worked for Royal Mile Whiskies for over a decade after falling in love with whisky while at Edinburgh University.

EWAN MCILWRAITH Owner, Robertsons of Pitlochry

Ewan took over the running of Robertsons of Pitlochry in 2013. His focus is on customer service and helping people enjoy whisky.

DR. CHRISTOPHER WHITE Head of Private Clients, Beamish International

Dr. Christopher White is an awardwinning whisky writer, presenter and host of tutored tastings.

CHECK OUT FUTURE ISSUES FOR THE SCOTTISH FIELD READERS’ CHALLENGE AND THE SCOTTISH FIELD WHISKY CHALLENGE GRAND FINAL.

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Top 10 whiskies from the challenge 1. The Wave I - Master Distillers Collection Bladnoch Distillery 2. Kilchoman Batch Strength Kilchoman Distillery 3. Tamdhu Cigar Malt IV Tamdhu 4. Connoisseur's Choice Glentauchers 1995 Gordon & MacPhail 5. Tomintoul 14yo ¼ Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish Tomintoul Distillery

6. Bladnoch 16yo Bladnoch Distillery 7. WhiskyHeroes, The Relic of the Shore Inchgower 12yo Brave New Spirits 8. Cask Masters, Golden Proof Tamnavulin 13yo Brave New Spirits 9. Ardnahoe Society Release Ardnahoe Distillery 10. Aberfeldy 20yo Distillery Exclusive Dewar's Aberfeldy Distillery 157

29/04/2025 18:10:01

OUR FARM OUR BARLEY YOUR WHISKY From 1777 to 1784, Scottish poet Robert Burns

Would you like to be part of our Distillery’s story?

lived at LOCHLEA with his family, raising livestock and cultivating barley. Over 240 years later, we continue that tradition, growing our own barley to craft our whisky.

At LOCHLEA, we do things differently. Every grain of barley used to distil our spirit is grown on our farm, and all maturation takes place in our on-site warehouses. With full traceability from field to bottle, we take pride in producing a true Single Estate, Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

A limited number of private casks are now available to own from our LOCHLEA Distillery, 2025 Private Cask Programme.

This is your chance to follow the incredible journey from new make spirit to Single Malt Scotch Whisky over the next decade, with the

Our core single malt expression, Our Barley,

opportunity to sample your spirit each year and visit your cask at Lochlea Distillery, Ayrshire, Scotland.

inspired by the barley grown at LOCHLEA, is made of a combination of Bourbon, Oloroso

For more information, please email

of depth & complexity to the final whisky.

sherry & STR casks, resulting in a whole new level

casks@lochleadistillery.com

No chill filtering, no added colour — just good, honest whisky.

Lochlea Distillery . Ayrshire . Scotland lochleadistillery.com

Global (2023) and Scottish (2024) Single Estate Distillery Winner at the Icons of Whisky Awards.

Scan here to learn more

@lochleawhisky

20

23

Scan to view our full range of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies Contact: info@lochleadistillery.com

The first bottling in Scottish Field’s new Whisky Series Exclusively selected single cask of Dailuaine 12 YO PX Sherry Finished 46.9%

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£79.99 + POSTAGE WITHIN THE UK ONLY OVER 18S ONLY

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29/04/2025 10:17:01

SCOTTISH FIELD SUMMER WHISKY CHALLENGE

Category winners The judges revealed their scores and tasting notes on the best new expressions of 2024-2025

UNDER £50 WINNERS

1

Cask Craft, Croftengea Highland, Bourbon Finish murray mcdavid

JUDGES SCORES:

4.85, 2.9, 3.8, 3.9, 3.8, 4, 4.6, 4.2, 2.5 OVERALL SCORE: 27.2

2

Tamnavulin Port Cask Edition 2024 tamnavulin distillery

3

Glengoyne White Oak glengoyne distillery

JUDGES SCORES:

JUDGES SCORES:

4.15, 4.1, 3, 4.1, 3.1, 4, 3.9, 4.2, 3.5 OVERALL SCORE: 26.85

4.65, 4.3, 3.8, 4.1, 3.2, 1, 4.2, 4, 3 OVERALL SCORE: 26.6

TASTING NOTES FROM GILLIAN:

TASTING NOTES FROM EWAN:

TASTING NOTES FROM ROBIN:

NOSE: Overhard fruits, apples and ripe

NOSE: Gentle, sweet, vanilla pods in

NOSE: A beautifully smoked seafood

pears.

custard.

Smörgåsbord.

PALATE: Apple pie with a dry finish.

PALATE: A little whisper of peat with creamy

PALATE: Slightly medicinal with tropical fruit

vanilla. Oily with a long finish.

and toffee mingling with smoked pecans, creosote and tar.

GOLD

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SILVER

BRONZE

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LETTERS

£50-£100 WINNERS

1

Kilchoman Batch Strength kilchoman distillery

2

Tomintoul 14yo ¼ Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish tomintoul distillery

3

WhiskyHeroes, The Relic of the Shore Inchgower 12yo brave new spirits

JUDGES SCORES:

4.5, 4.4, 4.5, 3.7, 4.2, 3.75, 4.9, 4.2, 2.25 OVERALL SCORE: 29.25

JUDGES SCORES:

JUDGES SCORES:

4.75, 1.6, 3.4, 4.5, 3.1, 4.75, 4.7, 4.5, 4 OVERALL SCORE: 28.95

4.65, 3.7, 4.4, 4.3, 3.6, 1.5, 4.4, 4, 3.8 OVERALL SCORE: 28.2

NOSE: Delicious peat smoke with lemon and

TASTING NOTES FROM DARREN:

TASTING NOTES FROM VINCE:

lime wafting through. Incredible esters.

NOSE: Flat cola and aniseed balls, spiced

NOSE: Clothes in wardrobe. Herb sprig,

PALATE: Peat smoke, citrus, pepper. Light

chocolate, treacle toffee and liquorice

white chocolate and wood oil.

and powerful. Phenolic kick with a long, long

allsorts.

PALATE: Chocolate liquor with a touch of

finish.

PALATE: Dark chocolate with cherry fondant

spice. Old liquor.

TASTING NOTES FROM EWAN:

and red laces liquorice. Full bodied with a good mouthfeel and perfectly balanced. On the finish there's ginger nut biscuits.

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

OVER £100 WINNERS

1

The Wave I - Master Distillers Collection bladnoch distillery

2

Tamdhu Cigar Malt IV tamdhu

3

Connoisseurs Choice Glentauchers 1995 gordon & macphail

JUDGES SCORES: JUDGES SCORES:

4.9, 3.8, 4.6, 4.4, 4.2, 3, 4.1, 4.5, 3.75 OVERALL SCORE: 29.35

4.35, 2.1, 4.4, 4, 4.5, 4.5, 3.6, 4, 4.25 OVERALL SCORE: 29.1

JUDGES SCORES:

4, 3.4, 4.4, 4.5, 4.2, 2.5, 4.8, 4, 4.5 OVERALL SCORE: 29

TASTING NOTES FROM SAM: TASTING NOTES FROM MATTHEW:

NOSE: Elegant, old school sherry. Dried

TASTING NOTES FROM GILLIAN:

NOSE: Fruity with plums, dates and a touch

raisins, nuts, boozy drenched fruits.

NOSE: Floral gums, mini gems, strawberry

of cocoa.

PALATE: Great balance of cocoa, walnuts,

laces and sherbet fountain.

PALATE: The palate is broad with fruity

pastry, orange zest & dark cherry.

PALATE: Possibly cask strength, would add

notes of dates, plums and cherries followed

water. Lovely, rich fruit.

by a touch of cacao. The finish intense,

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SCOTTISH FIELD SUMMER WHISKY CHALLENGE

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

DISTILLERIES UNDER 10YO WINNERS

1

Ardnahoe Society Release ardnahoe distillery

2

Lochlea Cask Strength Batch 2 lochlea

3

Ardnahoe Infinite Loch ardnahoe distillery

JUDGES SCORES:

JUDGES SCORES:

JUDGES SCORES:

3, 4.2, 4, 4.6, 3.6, 3.75, 4.9, 4, 3.5 OVERALL SCORE: 27.95

3, 3.1, 4, 4.4, 3.2, 4.25, 4.1, 4.8, 3 OVERALL SCORE: 26.45

4, 3.3, 3.8, 3.9, 3.9, 2.25, 4.2, 4, 1.5 OVERALL SCORE: 25.15

TASTING NOTES FROM MANDY:

TASTING NOTES FROM DARREN:

TASTING NOTES FROM ROBIN:

NOSE: Islay sea air. Vanilla with hints of

NOSE: Fragrant offering black grape and

NOSE: Sweet oak, chocolate and vanilla with

damp oak. A lingering smokiness.

bramble fruits, it then turns chocolatey and

a delicate smoky bouquet.

PALATE: Pear drops, muscovado sugar.

some chocolate covered foam bananas.

PALATE: Macerated autumnal fruits,

Tangy lime marmalade ending with a luscious

PALATE: Big bodied with plenty of sherry

eucalyptus, heather honey and poached

meringue pie. Rich, tangy with a slight

influence. Spice of cloves and cinnamon with

peach with vanilla and cardamom.

sweetness.

fruity undertones. Water adds a blackcurrant and menthol note reminiscent of cough sweets. A cracking winter warmer of a dram.

‘We are excited to see Scottish distillers and bottlers continue to grow, innovate and produce exceptional whiskies’ scottishfield.co.uk

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Discover the Spirit of BOOK A TOUR

Uncork an unforgettable tour experience at Annandale Distillery, where history and craftsmanship intertwine. Annandale Distillery offers a captivating journey for every whisky enthusiast. Whether you're a curious newcomer or a seasoned connoisseur, our range of tours and tastings promises to delight and inspire.

Explore our working distillery on the Classic Tour, perfect for newcomers.

Delve deeper with the 1836 Tour, uncovering Annandale's rich history.

Or, refine your palate at our Whisky Tasting Masterclass.

There's a perfect dram and a perfect tour for everyone.

Come, discover yours.

Annandale Distillery, Northfield, Annan, DG12 5LL - just 30 minutes away on the A75

|

01461 207817

www.AnnandaleDistillery.com

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ADVERTORIAL

ANNANDALE DISTILLERY

T

he rolling hills of Dumfries and Galloway hold many secrets, but few are as captivating as the story unfolding at Annandale Distillery. More than just a whisky producer, Annandale is a living testament to Scotland's rich heritage, a place where history and craftsmanship intertwine to create exceptional single malt whiskies. If you’re seeking an authentic Scottish experience, a visit to this revitalised distillery should be high on your list.

Nestled near the town of Annan, this historic site, dating back to 1836, offers a fascinating glimpse into the traditional art of whisky making. After a period of dormancy, Annandale was lovingly resurrected in 2014, breathing new life into its time-worn walls

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A taste of history and reigniting the fires of its copper stills.

The result is a distillery that honours its past while embracing the future, crafting whiskies that are both classic and contemporary.

Annandale’s commitment to quality is evident in every step of the process. From the careful selection of barley to the patient maturation in oak casks, each stage is overseen with meticulous attention to detail.

The distillery produces both peated and unpeated expressions, allowing visitors to explore the diverse world of Scotch whisky. heir flagship whiskies, the robust and smoky 'Man O’Sword' and the smooth and elegant 'Man O’Words,' pay homage to two of Scotland’s most iconic figures, Robert the Bruce and Robert Burns, respectively, adding a touch of romance and legend to every dram.

A visit to Annandale is more than just a tour; it’s an immersive experience. Three distinct tours cater to different interests and levels of whisky appreciation and run every day. The 1-hour 'Classic Tour' provides a comprehensive introduction to the distillery’s workings, offering a fascinating insight into the journey from grain to glass. For those seeking a deeper dive into Annandale’s past, the 2-hour '1836 Tour' explores the distillery’s historic buildings, including the

iconic Charles Doig pagoda, and grants access to exclusive areas. And for the true whisky aficionado, the hisky asting Masterclass offers a guided exploration of Annandale’s finest single cask malts, allowing you to truly appreciate the nuances and complexities of these exceptional spirits.

Whether you’re a seasoned whisky lover or simply curious about the craft, Annandale Distillery promises an unforgettable experience. It’s a chance to step back in time, witness the magic of whisky making first hand, and savour the taste of Scotland’s rich heritage. So, why not plan your visit today and discover the spirit of Annandale for yourself ou might just find your new favourite dram.

CONTACT

To book a tour call 01461 207817 or visit www.annandaledistillery.com Open daily from 10am, located just 30 minutes from Dumfries, 45 minutes from Carlisle or 95 minutes from Glasgow.

Annandale Distillery, Northfield, Annan, Dumfries & Galloway DG12 5LL www.annandaledistillery.com 163

29/04/2025 12:41:28

THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND

THE NOVEL DOGS Abbotsford House may be best known as the spectacular Borders residence of Sir Walter Scott, but it is also the spiritual home of the endangered Dandie Dinmont Terrier, says Rory Knight Bruce

I

t sits, shimmering, above verdant lawns stretching down to the mighty Tweed, perhaps the greatest literary mansion ever created by a writer in their own lifetime.

Welcome to Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford, one mile from Melrose in the Borders and near Tweedbank station, from where it is an hour by train to Edinburgh Waverley, the terminal that bears the name of his most famous novel series.

For those, like me, who have never before visited Abbotsford, it offers not just a living shrine to perhaps Scotland’s greatest author, but an escape into the glories of The Borders. No wonder, then, that it is visited each year not just by literary pilgrims but dogs of all shapes and sizes who are allowed to walk, exercise and run free in these glorious landscaped grounds.

It was to celebrate the canine contingent that brought me to Abbotsford. For Sir Walter had been a champion and aficionado of that great Border terrier, the Dandie Dinmont, immortalised in his novel Guy Mannering.

With the encouragement of the late Kirsty Archer Thompson, passionate curator of

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DANDIE DINMONTS

TOP: PHIL WILKINSON. LEFT: ROADFUN / ADOBE STOCK. RIGHT: WILL / ADOBE STOCK.

ABOVE: Dandies Lilibet and Clementine, owned by Calum Flanders, enjoying a race in the garden.

LEFT: Abbotsford House. BELOW: Dandie Dinmont terriers originate from the South of Scotland.

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Abbotsford, the Dandie Dinmont Society gathered recently to erect a plaque in the grounds celebrating and commemorating this special terrier, whose declining numbers today place it on the Kennel Club’s list of endangered species.

Last year, only sixty-six Dandies were born from twenty litters, a far cry from

when they were owned by such luminaries as Queen Victoria, Agatha Christie and Sir Alec Guinness.

My role was to dress as Dandie Dinmont himself, that fine Border farmer from which the breed takes its name. I also unveiled the plaque draped in the breed’s own unique black and white tartan, which was granted to that well-known Dandie owner, Richard, Duke of Buccleuch, in 2015.

More than forty Dandies and their devoted owners gathered on a sunny Sunday morning for this historic unveiling, piped beautifully to the location by eleven-yearold Ava Johnson, great niece of Kenny and Shona Allan, who head the Dandie Dinmont Society.

So, what exactly is the relationship between Sir Walter and the Dandie Dinmont? The author himself was the owner of two Dandie Dinmonts, Spice and Ginger, both born in 1823.

John Buchan’s biography of Sir Walter Scott also mentions ‘a further motley of Dandies named after the cruet stand – there being a Pepper, Mustard, Cetchup and so forth.’

What is not in doubt is Sir Walter’s affection for the breed and their abilities, in days gone by, to flush out foxes and badgers. In Guy Mannering, the protagonist asks of Mr Dinmont, after a particularly ferocious encounter: ‘As a particular and personal favour, could I ask that the poor badger, who has made so gallant a defence, should be 165

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permitted to retire to his earth without further molestation.’ It is Scott at his humorous best.

In biographer A.N. Wilson’s magisterial The Laird of Abbotsford (1979), he quotes Scott’s private tutor, Dominic Sampson, on the character of the human Dandie Dinmont: ‘Prodigious! That hard-spoken, totally honest, hunting man, one of the best examples of Scott’s great ability to portray sheer goodness with no trace of sentimentality.’

Although Dinmont was a fictional character, in real life he was the popular Border farmer and friend of Sir Walter, James Davidson of Hyndlee. Having lodged with his relations in the Borders since childhood, Scott could observe the character of the Borderer with great felicity.

But the new plaque and walking trail for the Dandie Dinmonts at Abbotsford is just the latest addition to a rich and fruitful history. At Bowhill, near Selkirk, one of the seats of the Dukes of Buccleuch, there is the earliest painting of a Dandie Dinmont with the third duke, painted by Gainsborough in 1779. The present Duke Richard’s eldest daughter, Lady Louisa Trotter, has just been made patron of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club.

In the new Scottish Gallery extension at the National Gallery of Scotland, there is the proud portrait of Dandie Dinmont Callum, bequested by James Cowan Smith in 1919, a bequest that also allowed the gallery to acquire the magnificent Sargent portrait, Lady Agnew of Lochnaw. Then, in 2022, the illustrious author, Sandy McCall Smith, mounted an opera in homage to the Dandie Dinmonts at the King’s Hall in

‘Dandies were owned by such luminaries as Queen Victoria, Agatha Christie and Sir Alec Guinness’ 166

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TOP: LOURDESPHOTO / ADOBE STOCK. LEFT: SUPPLIED.

THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND

Edinburgh’s South Clerk Street, complete with a choir from Melrose Primary School.

‘This plaque at Abbotsford is the seventh we have unveiled to commemorate places in The Borders associated with the Dandie Dinmonts,’ says Kenny Allan. ‘Abbotsford have been immensely helpful. From their records, we have discovered other bloodline descendants of Sir Walter’s Spice and Ginger.’

Shona Allan also paid tribute to the late Sir Angus and Lady Grossart who, in 2021, staged a Sir Walter Scott commemorative service in St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.

‘We brought forty-seven Dandies into the cathedral that day, and then processed them to the Scott Monument on Princes Street,’ recalls Shona Allan. ‘And not one of them so much as cocked a leg.’

For me, it was an honour for an hour to be dressed as Dandie Dinmont, and to round a particular literary circle.

In 1978, as an undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh, I first met A.N. Wilson when he was researching the life of Sir Walter Scott. From that meeting we became lifelong colleagues and friends and that is down to Sir Walter and the Dandie Dinmonts, truly to be known as ‘The Abbotsford Dogs,’ the only breed in the world named after the character in a novel.

FROM TOP: A trio of Dandies; Rory Knight Bruce unveils the plaque and walking trail at Abbostsford.

scottishfield.co.uk

28/04/2025 16:08:28

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29/04/2025 10:34:08 10:21:11 11/04/2024

THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND

THE BARE BONES: Ian Simpson in his workshop at Norham on the Tweed, where he makes the 14ft 6in wooden clinker boats.

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29/04/2025 11:48:05

THE TWEED’S LAST BOATBUILDER

THE END OF AN ERA

Ian Simpson has spent a lifetime making the Tweed’s distinctive clinker coble fishing boats, but fears he may be the last of his kind, he tells Richard Bath Images Crispin Rodwell

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THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Xxxxxx.

‘Hopefully it will be a good few years until I call it a day, but when I retire this way of life will probably stop with me’

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THE TWEED’S LAST BOATBUILDER

LEFT: LOOP IMAGES LTD / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO.

O

ver the past 120 years, three generations of Ian Simpson’s boatbuilding family have seen life on the Tweed ebb and flow. But now, he fears the family business – and the way of life he has kept alive – is drawing to an end. The last boatbuilder still hand-making the distinctive clinker coble boats which have for centuries been a feature of the great southern river, the 64-year-old has come to terms with the fact that he may well be the last of his kind.

‘My father worked full-time making boats until he was in his seventies and went on hand-making oars until he was in his eighties,’ says Ian. ‘I still feel strong and healthy, and still love making the boats, so it’ll be a good few years until I call it a day. But when I do this way of life will probably stop with me because neither my children nor my grandchildren – and I’ve got five grandsons aged between nine and 19 – have shown any interest in carrying on the family tradition of boatbuilding. Unless that changes, this is the end of the line.’

Although there is still a steady market for his boats, he is the last relic of a once bustling trade. Back in 1904, when scottishfield.co.uk

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his grandfather Thomas and his apprentice first started making the distinctive clinker coble boats which Ian still makes by hand from his workshop in Norham, the boats were made for a whole variety of purposes. The majority were used by the many salmon netting stations along the banks of the Tweed, some by the ferrymen who transported locals across the river, and a few were employed by anglers.

‘My father made some boats for anglers, but most of the boats he made were for the netsmen,’ says Ian. ‘There was a limited call for angling boats because, as recently as the 1960s, the only people who fished were the local landowners and their friends. When I was a youngster we knew all the estate owners, but they fished very lightly so their boats lasted a long time. They would start at nine, have a long lunch and finish at five – it’s not like today, when people are out at all hours, fishing every day of the week except Sunday.

‘So most of the boats my father made – and our record was 13 boats in one year back in 1978 – were for the netsmen.

There was one lad who used to row to Berwick and back every day, towing a second boat which was full of the salmon caught the previous day. I’ve no idea how he did it – those 171

29/04/2025 11:52:23

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29/04/2025 10:24:34

THE TWEED’S LAST BOATBUILDER

TIME-HONOURED: Each boat contains thirteen boards of European larch and 600 copper rivets.

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boats each weigh five hundred weight, or 40 stone, without anything in them.

‘There were thirty netting stations along the Tweed until the 1980s, so you get some idea of how many salmon were taken out of the river.’

Despite the loss of the netting industry, Ian reckons there are ‘well over a hundred’ of his boats on the Tweed, primarily on the wider lower beats like Coldstream, Tillmouth and

Mertoun which are nearer the sea. This ‘gives me great joy’, as does the fact that his boats have gone as far afield as the Eden, Spey, Tyne and Ross-on-Wye. Almost all boats built are now the highly manoeuvrable 14ft 6in versions designed for an angler and ghillie, or two anglers, but which can accommodate a third at a pinch (the netting boats are six inches wider, six inches longer and ‘heavier, but not so good-looking as angling boats’). Made primarily from increasingly hard-tofind European larch on the outside and oak on the inside, with sycamore running boards, pine gunnels and redwood trimmings, they can last up to thirty years if well maintained and cared for. Their production is a passion project for Ian. ‘I don’t do it for the money, I make the boats because ever since I learned how to do so as a boy by watching my father working, it’s what I’ve loved doing,’ he says. ‘My day job is as a joiner on Ladykirk Estate, but there’s something special about working on boats because you’re using traditional hand-tooling skills that are dying out.’

Each boat takes three weeks of hard graft to produce, and when finished cost £6,000 each to buy. The price of wood has sky-rocketed in the past decade, but Ian manages to keep the costs down by using his own sawmill and sourcing wood locally (he is invariably first to arrive after a tree comes down). He cuts 17ft lengths of larch into 16mm boards, and needs 13 for each boat. The whole boat is then secured together with about 600 copper rivets.

Once made, the bottom of the boat is coated with boiled tar and the sides are painted with up to four coats of paint – light blue for netting boats, and Buckingham green or grey for fishing boats. He makes the sycamore oars all year round and these days he also hand-makes the metalwork, such as the rollocks.

Born and brought up in Norham, except for a few years away in his mid-twenties when he worked as an 173

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THE TWEED’S LAST BOATBUILDER

TOP: DEREK BRAID / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO.

‘Ian has watched as the economic eco-system which once sustained the Tweed has disappeared before his eyes’

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A timeless scene of ghillie and angler in pursuit of salmon; an estate’s 58th boat from Ian’s company, T Simpson & Co; tools of the trade; one of 600 rivets.

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RAF engineer fixing airplanes, Ian has had a symbiotic relationship with the Tweed. But despite spending his whole life around salmon fishermen, he rarely wields a rod in anger. ‘I do like to go out trout fishing from time to time, but even they are getting harder to catch and most beats are now catch and release for trout as well as salmon.’

Ian has watched as the economic eco-system which once sustained the Tweed has disappeared before his eyes.

The netsmen are gone, there are far fewer ghillies, and despite a good year last year, salmon fishing appears to be in terminal decline.

But he wouldn’t change a thing. ‘I’ve had a great time doing what I love, as did my father and grandfather before me,’ he laughs. ‘There’s something really wonderful about making these boats and watching people enjoy them.

It’s been a good life.’

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THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND

A

nnan High Street may sound like an unusual place to find a tannery, but alongside his wife Lou in the treasure trove of haberdashery and yarn that is The Courtyard, you’ll find Ben Jones, or Viking Ben as he’s known to his friends.

For Ben, leatherwork was always a side hustle, something he enjoyed to do alongside cobbling. But since moving lock, stock and in-laws from Kent to Annan seven years ago it has grown from a hobby into a business and a real passion.

Ben makes clothing and accessories from leather, many of which are inspired by his Viking ancestry, and even an incredible handmade smoke-breathing dragon. But a course in tanning buckskin organised

by Woodland Tannery on the banks of Loch Tay sent him in a new direction.

Sourcing a variety of deer hides from Millbank Venison Farm in Lockerbie, just 20 miles from his home in Annan, Ben has added tanning buckskins and, more recently, fish skins to his already impressive list of leatherworking skills .

‘I get a mixture of hides from fallow, roe, red and sika deer from Emma at Millbank,’ Ben tells me.

She’s happy for me to take them because they are a waste product and otherwise they’d go in the bin.’

The hides are tanned without any chemicals, using egg yolks as the tanning agent and wood smoke to finish and cure them.

‘Traditionally people would have used the brains of the animal to tan the hide, but it’s tricky to get hold of them, so I use eggs,’ says Ben. ‘My in-laws keep chickens, so I get lovely free-range eggs to do it with so that fits nicely with the sustainable ethos.’

Depending on the weather, Ben can take a hide from fresh to finished in 3-4 days. The process

involves cleaning the hides and stretching them in a frame. To clean the hide, Ben must scrape away dermal layers from the inside and the outside, retaining the strongest part in the centre, which is what holds the animal together. Then it is cleansed with nothing but fresh water before being tanned or dried until they turn into rawhide – just like a dog chew. In summer the hides are dried outside in the sun, but in winter the log burner works a treat.

The rawhide can then be easily stored until Ben is ready to work with it, when he will soak the hide until it becomes soft and ready to tan with egg yolks and a little oil.

The egg yolks break down fatty acids so that they bind with the collagen in the hide. It’s important to keep the hide moving while it is being tanned to stop it turning into rawhide.

‘I wring out as much excess moisture as I can then stretch it on a frame and rub up and down the hide with a tool to keep the fibres moving,’ explains Ben. ‘It’s a wonderful material. It’s soft, strong, quite breathable and is naturally anti-bacterial. So it deals better with oils and sweat than lots of other

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Scraping a buckskin; salmon skin hung out to dry; Ben shows off some of his buckskins as well as a waistcoat he made for himself; Ben’s handmade leather dragon blows out smoke; smoking the skins.

BUCKING THE TREND Making ultra-local, sustainable leather from unwanted deer and fish skins is a million miles away from the unethical world of fast fashion, finds Morag Bootland 176

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VIKING LEATHERS, ANNAN

‘Xxxxxxx’

materials. I like to include buckskin leather with textiles like wool and linen.

I’ve made tunics, shirts, trousers and bags.’

But it’s not just deer hides that Ben is saving from landfill. He now also tans fish skins sourced from St James Smokehouse, which is also in Annan and literally around the corner from The Courtyard.

‘They skin the salmon twice a week, so I go round and pick up the skins. The mechanical blade that skins the fish leaves quite a lot of meat, so my dog is always happy! You can make anything out of fish skins that you can make out of leather. It’s incredibly strong. At the same thickness, salmon skin is stronger than cow’s hide. It’s often used as a decorative element in clothing or pouches, but I’ve seen some fantastic hats, gloves and even an entire dress made out of it. Obviously that takes a lot of sewing.’ scottishfield.co.uk

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Tanning fish skins can be a stinky business, but the smell lets Ben know when the job is done. ‘If it still smells fishy you know it’s wrong. There’s a lot more washing involved than with buckskin. I scrape them then wash them with cold soapy water and then rinse.

I might have to wash them four or five times until all I can smell is lemon soap.’

The fish skins dry quickly when they are hung out in the sun. After around an hour of stretching and keeping them moving you will be left with a strong piece of leather. ‘You can grease it to make it waterproof or colour it, although that’s something I’ve not experimented much with yet,’ says Ben. Tanning is part skill and part trial and error, says Ben, who started tanning buckskins in 2023 is still experimenting to find out what works best in the humid coastal environment of Annan. And he’s incredibly keen to pass on the skills and techniques he has learned along the way by running courses from The Courtyard to teach others the processes he has learned. ‘I really like the idea of passing on my knowledge and spreading the word, because that’s really how society should work’.

Field facts Viking Leathers, The Courtyard, 93b High Street, Annan DG12 6DJ. Tel: 01461 202108, www.vikingleathers.co.uk

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THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND

DESTINATION

THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND There’s so much to see and do in the Borders and Dumfries & Galloway

LOCHCARRON

Selkirk, Scottish Borders Tel: 01750 726100

www.lochcarron.co.uk

BISLEY AT BRAIDWOOD Selkirk, Scottish Borders Tel: 01835 870280

he Lochcarron isitor Centre xperience. ake a guided mill tour and enjoy some shopping or book a private kilt or Highland wear appointment.

Based in the heart of the Scottish Borders in the historic town of Selkirk, Lochcarron is the world’s leading manufacturer of authentic tartans.

THE CRICHTON ESTATE

Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway Tel: 01387 247544

www.bisleyshooting.co.uk

www.crichton.co.uk

Set in over 40 acres of Scottish Borders countryside, Bisley at Braidwood offers the most versatile clay shooting layout in Scotland, the country’s first full-bore rifle pipe range, a relaxing clubhouse with caf , air rifle range and gunroom. hether a beginner or a seasoned pro, Bisley at Braidwood has professional instructors, guns and a versatile setup.

The Crichton Estate in Dumfries offers a remarkable day out. ake a leisurely walk through the botanical gardens, explore the ex uisite Crichton Memorial Church, and indulge in coffee, cake, and lunch at Crichton Central Café, or enjoy a swim followed by dinner at the asterbrook Bistro Spa.

CRAWICK MULTIVERSE

Sanquhar, Dumfries & Galloway Tel: 01659 50242

www.crawickmultiverse.co.uk

JOANNA THOMSON JEWELLERY Peebles, Scottish Borders Tel: 07773 578341

www.jewellery-scotland.com ictured A commissioned pendant in ct yellow and white gold set with rich blue green tourmaline, diamond and pearls.

There is always a range of stunning designs and one-off pieces on display, many set with striking and unusual gemstones including genuine Scottish stones. Remodelling is a speciality.

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he former open-cast coal mine, inspired by the wonders of the universe, is the vision of land artist, Charles encks. A public artland with spectacular landforms and stunning views across the ithsdale alley, Crawick Multiverse is a four-star attraction, uni ue destination and outdoor venue. Great for family adventures, dog walks and more.

MUSEUM OF LEAD MINING

Wanlockhead, Dumfries & Galloway Tel: 01659 74387

www.leadminingmuseum.co.uk Come and smell the leather of the old books in our Miners’ Library, opened in . alk into the s in Lochnell Mine. he only public, underground mine tour in Scotland. See the cottage life of the families through different eras. njoy a cuppa after a walk through the museum and shop.

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28/04/2025 16:26:52

THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND

THE FINDRA SHOP AND CAFÉ

Innerleithen, Scottish Borders Tel: 01896 208170

www.findraclothing.com

MONTEVIOT

Jedburgh, Scottish Borders Tel: 01835 830380

www.monteviot.com

nce the town jail, now a beautifully transformed space full of character.

Bright and welcoming, it’s the perfect place to relax, recharge, and get inspired. xplore the range of stylish, sustainable outdoor clothing for women, savour a fresh brew or speciality coffee and enjoy a wholesome lunch or local baking.

The Gardens at Monteviot lie along a dramatic slope of the Teviot valley.

The sheltered, terraced, rose garden is Victorian and the river garden at the bottom was originally designed in the s by ercy Cane. talianate in inspiration, this sheltered garden slopes down past herbaceous plants and roses. Open Tues-Sun, 12-5 pm.

CRAIGADAM HOTEL

Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway Tel: 01556 650100

www.craigadam.com Nestled in the heart of Dumfries and Galloway, Craigadam Country House Hotel offers timeless charm, gourmet cuisine and warm Scottish hospitality. deal for romantic getaways or countryside escapes, its historic elegance and serene surroundings make every stay unforgettable. xperience luxury, tradition and tranquillity in this hidden gem of rural Scotland.

HAWICO

Hawick, Scottish Borders Tel: 01450 371221

www.hawico.com Their factory outlet store in Hawick features a large selection including ladies’, men’s and accessories in colourful cashmere and other speciality yarns.

CADEMUIR CLINIC

TRIMONTIUM MUSEUM

www.cademuir-clinic.co.uk

www.trimontium.co.uk

Whether you have an issue to discuss, need treatment quickly or would like a thorough health check. As a private G , Cademuir provide fast and flexible access to high-quality services, including health checks, medicals, prescriptions, joint injections, vaccinations, medical paperwork certification, weight loss management, travel health, corporate medical services, family practice services and minor injury treatment.

xperience Roman ron Age Scotland. his five-star visitor attraction explores a turbulent time in Scottish history once lost in the mists of time. Stunning audiovisuals, authentic artefacts, children’s activities, guided walks to the site of the Roman fort of rimontium and immersive experiences bring this unique story to life.

Peebles, Scottish Borders Tel: 07399 689389

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Melrose, Scottish Borders Email: info@trimontium.co.uk

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Protect your farm’s future – secure your land and assets with a prenuptial or cohabitation agreement.

Brodies LLP – Trusted family law experts

Visit: brodi.es/prenups

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29/04/2025 10:29:31

ADVERTORIAL

PROTECTING AGRICULTURAL ASSETS Prenuptial, postnuptial and cohabitation agreements in Scotland

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amily farms in Scotland are not only a source of income for their owners but also a cherished legacy passed down through generations.

Managing these assets can become complex when marriage, separation, or cohabitation is involved. Agreements formulated before or during marriage or cohabitation can be crucial to protect these assets for future generations and to preserve a farm's integrity and sustainability.

Divorce or dissolution The Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985 provides the framework for financial provision on divorce or the dissolution of civil partnerships. The law provides that matrimonial property includes all property accumulated during the marriage, except by way of gift or inheritance. However, if gifted or inherited assets are used to acquire different property, they can be converted into matrimonial property and subject to division in accordance with the rules set out in the 1985 Act. Issues relating to the farming community Farming families face distinctive issues during marital breakdown since farms are often held through complex ownership and business structures. Farms and crofts can be owned or tenanted, and the farming business may operate on multiple holdings with varying ownership or tenancy structures.

When negotiating the division of property on separation where farming or crofting interests are involved, it is essential to have complete information regarding the ownership or tenancy position, the timing of acquisitions and the nature of the business structure, including partnership or shareholders' agreements and the farming business' accounts.

Commonly, farms and crofts (owned or tenanted) and farming businesses are passed down through generations and, if this is the case, (whether or not a party to the marriage inherits the croft or farm before or during the marriage), it is not matrimonial property.

However, it is possible to knowingly or

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inadvertently convert the inherited asset into matrimonial property. Further, that inherited asset can be taken into account when considering the respective resources of the spouses when deciding how the matrimonial property is to be divided.

Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements A prenuptial agreement is a legally binding contract entered into before the marriage or civil partnership which can determine the distribution of assets, financial responsibilities, and make provision for property division in the event of a future separation, divorce or dissolution.

In Scotland, properly prepared prenuptial agreements in respect of which both parties have had independent legal advice are legally binding contracts which are likely to be upheld if challenged. For the farming community, prenuptial agreements can play an essential role in safeguarding the farm from division or sale in the event of divorce.

Farming enterprises often span multiple generations, and an enforceable prenuptial agreement can ensure that the farm remains within the family, continuing to operate without disruption.

Postnuptial agreements are entered into after marriage or civil partnership. They can address changes in circumstances and provide clarity on asset protection and division in the event of separation. They are useful when new assets or inheritances are acquired during marriage or if such assets have been intermingled in some way with matrimonial property.

Cohabitation here has been a significant rise in couples choosing to cohabit rather than marry, however statistics suggest that cohabitants are more likely to separate than married couples. In Scotland, the law provides a different legal framework for cohabitation, with no automatic right to share in assets accumulated during the relationship. In certain circumstances, one partner can make a financial claim against the other if a partner has derived economic advantage from the contributions made by the other or has suffered economic disadvantage in the interests of their partner or a child.

Cohabitation agreements Cohabitation agreements have a similar effect to prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, removing the uncertainties presented by The Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006.

For the farming community in Scotland, prenuptial, postnuptial, and cohabitation agreements are a vital insurance policy and tool for protecting agricultural assets and ensuring the continuity of family farms. They provide a mechanism by which couples can take control of the outcome of any future separation, creating a stable foundation for the farm's future. Seeking legal advice and crafting robust agreements can help preserve the legacy of family farms for generations.

CONTACT

Sarah Lilley, Partner, Brodies LLP You can contact Sarah at Sarah.lilley@brodies.com or find out more by visiting www.brodies.com 181

29/04/2025 12:30:01

YOUR MONEY

W

hich songs would you like to be played at your funeral? On the face of it, that may sound like a morbid question, but actually asking your loved ones about the music that they want played at their funeral can be a gentle way to tackle more difficult questions about wills and powers of attorney.

‘It appears that music is one of the easier questions to spark those tough conversations’ Looking at insurance firm SunLife’s annual ‘Cost of Dying Report’, the longest-running survey of funeral prices, it appears that music is one of the easier questions to spark those tough conversations. Some 27% of funeral organisers know which songs their loved ones want played at their funerals, up from 25% in the previous year’s report, while only 25% know where their loved ones want their ashes scattered and just 13% know who they want invited to the funeral.

And the most popular song? My Way by Frank Sinatra has now overtaken Abide With Me, the classic Victorian song penned by Scottish hymnwriter Henry Francis Lyte, who hailed from Ednam, a village near Kelso in the Borders.

Yet crooning isn’t for everyone, and Ol’ Blue Eyes faces competition from Angels by Robbie Williams and Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin – you may spot a pattern emerging here – which have overtaken classics such as French composer 182

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Claude Debussy’s Clair de Lune. It’s a widespread trend, with 26% of funeral directors reporting seeing changing patterns in the type of music chosen for a send-off, and 13% of people who are planning their own funeral picking the tunes in advance.

Those changing trends and traditions reflect a wider shift in attitudes. Mourners wearing more colourful clothing has been noted by 19% of funeral directors, while 6% have received requests to use personalised coffins.

Some 44% of funeral directors now report their clients want website links or video apps to be shared so that mourners can watch services online, with 39% seeing clients use social media to invite attendees, and 10% being asked to provide video recordings of funerals. Only 9% of providers have seen no changes to trends.

Much of that demand for funerals to be live streamed over the internet began during the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns, when mourners weren’t able to attend services in person. Now, technology has even entered the realms of paying for funerals, with the percentage of people turning to crowdfunding to help fill gaps in the payments for their loved ones’ funerals doubling to 6% from 3% in the previous report.

Running through the figures, it’s little surprise that funeral organisers are needing to turn to the internet for help. The average cost of a funeral in the UK has hit a record £4,285, up 3.5% year-on-year and beating the previous high of £4,184 set in 2020.

Average funeral prices had dipped to £4,056 in 2021 and fell again to £3,953 in 2022, before climbing once more to £4,141 in 2023 and then hitting last year’s record high. scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 15:56:53

FUNERALS

Why more people choose to do funerals ‘My Way’

TOP: KZENON / ADOBE STOCK.

The cost of funerals has hit an all-time high, but trends and traditions are continuing to shift, writes Peter Ranscombe

The rising cost of funerals is also outstripping inflation – prices have risen by 134% since SunLife’s survey began in 2004, whereas they would have climbed by ‘only’ 75% if they had followed the rate of inflation.

In Scotland, we’ve seen prices rise by more than the average UK rate over the past year. Average funeral costs in Scotland hit £4,345, a 7.8% year-onyear rise, which was only exceeded by the 13% increase recorded in the NorthWest of England.

Scots face the third-highest average funeral costs in the UK, beaten only by the £5,449 paid by residents in London and the £4,943 handed over in the South-East and East of England. Prices in those areas rose by 5.4% and 6.5% respectively over the past year.

Away from funerals, the broader ‘cost of dying’ is also rising. The average UK cost – which includes the funeral, professional fees and the ‘send-off’ costs, such as a wake, flowers and transport – climbed by 1.4% year-on-year to a staggering £9,797.

Professional fees dipped by 3.5% – following rises of 10.9% and 6.6% in the scottishfield.co.uk

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previous two years. Yet the average cost of catering soared by 10.7% to £527, the cost of hiring a limousine accelerated by 7.2% to £431, and venue hire ticked up by 1.2% to £351, while the cost of a headstone or other memorial remained steady at £1,038.

Those rises in the ‘cost of dying’ are leading to other changes. The percentage of direct cremations – when mourners don’t attend the cremation – has soared from 3% in 2019 to 20% last year.

Some 89% of funeral organisers said they held a small gathering, wake or other memorial either before or after the direct cremation. One in ten said they chose a direct cremation because they couldn’t afford a funeral with a service, while 14% said they preferred to spend the money in other ways, and 57% said it was requested by their loved one.

Meanwhile, the percentage of traditional cremations attended by mourners has plummeted from 74% to 55% over the same period. By comparison, burials have risen slightly from 23% to 25%.

A third of the people who took part in SunLife’s most recent survey

said that the cost-of-living crisis had affected either how they organised or paid for a funeral. Just over 20% said that paying for a funeral had affected their standard of living.

Cost-cutting measures for funerals included choosing a cheaper coffin – reported by 18% of respondents compared with 16% during the previous year – and spending less on flowers, which was favoured by 17% of those surveyed, down slightly from 18%.

Holding a wake at home instead of a hotel or hall was favoured by 15% of people, with no change over the previous year.

Intriguingly, funeral directors also offered advice on reducing costs, with 91% reporting that their customers spend more than is needed on funerals.

Their top tips included: using social media instead of local newspaper notices; going to a local florist instead of a funeral director; shopping around for prices from other funeral directors; and clubbing together to buy one single floral tribute from everyone, instead of lots of people spending hundreds of pounds on flowers.

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HERE FOR YOU

Providing confidential legal, business and tax advice to private individuals and their families.

turcanconnell.com

Turcan Connell is a Partnership of Scottish Solicitors regulated by the Law Society of Scotland.

Turcan Advert Connell.indd - Here for you184 1pp 297x210 V01 14.04.025.indd 1

29/04/2025 10:31:14 14/04/2025 15:11

ADVERTORIAL

CHANGES TO INHERITANCE TAX Turcan Connell's Sarah Jackson tells us about planning for changes to agricultural and business property relief

I

n last year’s Budget, the Labour Government announced changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) reliefs with restrictions to be placed on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief.

These reliefs apply to certain agricultural or business assets to reduce their value for IHT purposes. Currently, the reliefs can apply at the rate of 100%, resulting in many farms and family businesses passing free of IHT to the next generation.

The government plans to limit these reliefs from 6 April 2026. Taxpayers will instead have a £1 million allowance to relieve qualifying agricultural and business assets at the rate of 100%. The excess will receive 50% relief (an effective IHT rate of 20%). It is likely valuations will therefore be required to assess the extent of the IHT exposure. The IHT may be paid in interest free instalments over ten years. Funding this liability will have to be considered with a view to minimising the impact of the charge on the business.

An open consultation was published in February, providing more detail on these proposed changes. he consultation confirms that gifts made prior to 30 October 2024 are not impacted by these changes. Gifts made between 30 October 2024 and 6 April 2026 will be impacted if the donor dies after 6 April 2026 and within seven years of having made the gift.

From 6 April 2026, individuals will have a £1 million allowance to set against total qualifying assets (i) gifted post 30 October 2024 and within seven years of death; and (ii) held at the date of death. Any excess over £1 million will attract 50% relief. The allowance will refresh every seven years (in the same way as the nil rate band does currently).

Any unused allowance on the death of the first spouse or civil partner cannot be transferred to the survivor. This differs from the treatment of the nil rate band.

Consideration should therefore be given

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to ensuring both spouses or civil partners hold qualifying assets and advice should be sought on the structuring, valuation and matrimonial law implications, of any transfers between spouses or civil partners.

The consultation also focuses on the application of the changes to existing and new trusts. A trust may hold an interest in a family business to facilitate succession planning, whilst retaining control and flexibility.

From 6 April 2026, trusts holding qualifying assets will also be entitled to a £1 million allowance which will be applied when calculating IHT charges within the trust itself. This is separate to the £1 million allowance available to individuals. Where the gift to trust takes place after 30 October 2024 only one £1 million allowance will be available amongst the donor’s trusts,

to prevent planning involving multiple trusts with multiple allowances. For trusts established before 30 October 2024, each will benefit from its own million allowance.

The policy announced in last year’s Budget remains and it seems likely the legislation will reflect these proposals. ith less than a year to go until the new regime comes into force, advice should be sought as soon as possible to allow sufficient time to undertake any required planning. There may be opportunities for tax planning prior to 6 April 2026 which are not available after that date.

CONTACT

Tel: 0131 228 811, Email enquiries@turcanconnell.com, www.turcanconnell.com 185

28/04/2025 16:40:59

ADVERTORIAL

PREPARING FOR CHANGES TO INHERITANCE TAX Essential planning for rural business owners

T

he restrictions to Inheritance Tax (IHT) Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) announced in the Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget in October 2024 have already received widespread coverage. At this stage it appears unlikely that the UK government will materially alter these proposals which will see APR/BPR, where they apply at 100%, capped at a maximum of £1 million of agricultural and business assets from 6 April 2026. Any balance of value above this will be taxed to IHT at an effective rate of 20%. Whilst this might be more favourable than the 40% which typically applies to the rest of an individual’s estate, it will be of little consolation to land and business owners who will see their H liabilities increase significantly, potentially impacting the ongoing viability of their business after death.

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Draft legislation setting out how these changes will operate has not yet been published. However, with 6 April 2026 less than a year away, it makes sense to start a review of your tax and succession plans sooner rather than later: The review may cover: • An assessment of the current business structure and anticipated IHT exposure on APR/BPR assets from 6 April 2026. The £1 million cap will encompass not only land and buildings but all assets of the business, marking a shift from previous practice. This is likely to result in additional costs and delays in the administration of estates, both in terms of instructing as well as paying for valuations and with HMRC who will agree valuations at death on which H is payable. his analysis will allow a broad uantification of the scale of the IHT liability, from which planning and IHT-

scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 18:24:59

ADVERTORIAL

funding options can then be considered.

• Maximisation of the £1 million allowance between spouses and civil partners. This is on the basis that one party’s £1 million allowance cannot be 'transferred' to the survivor and instead will operate on a 'use it or lose it' basis. For example, if a couple hold APR/BPR assets in excess of £2m, but these are not allocated equally, some degree of lifetime transfer may be appropriate. A lifetime transfer to a spouse or civil partner is exempt for IHT purposes and will also not result in an immediate capital gains tax liability but there will be factors, such as the impact of matrimonial law on gifts, to take into account when determining whether this type of transfer is appropriate.

• Making use of the £1 million allowance between multiple members of the wider family. The new rules may essentially bring forward an individual’s succession plan for their farming or business interests. Provided the individual making

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John McArthur, CTA TEP, Partner, Head of Tax and Co-Head of Private Client.

David Mowlem CTA TEP, Partner, Private Client.

the gift survives for seven years, gifts will generally fall out of account for IHT purposes, although the capital gains tax position will also need to be considered.

In many cases the inherent capital gain can be 'held over', so that the recipient acquires the asset at its original cost (essentially deferring the capital gains tax).

• he Gift with Reservation of Benefit antiavoidance rules – a gift is only effective for IHT purposes if the person making the gift does not derive a benefit from the asset gifted, as the normal seven year rule does not apply to gifts where there is a reservation of benefit. n some cases, where the individual retains an active role in the business, they may take a reasonable salary but that should cease when they are no longer able to carry out those services.

• Business structures – if additional individuals are brought into the business, the impact on running and overall management should be considered. How will decision-making be impacted and should any controls or rights of veto be considered, all of which have valuation implications? This could be documented in a Partnership Agreement or appropriate company Articles. Asset protection considerations will also be relevant – is there exposure in the event of a divorce or bankruptcy? Pre and postnuptial agreements may be relevant here.

• Life insurance will play a role in planning for IHT liabilities relating to assets retained

until death which do not qualify for 100% APR/BPR. It may also be used to cover IHT if a gift is made now but death occurs within seven years but after the 6 April 2026 rules take force. In many cases it will be possible to pay the IHT liability relating to the APR/ BPR assets following a death in annual instalments over 10 years. However, even then this may cause financial hardship or even impact the viability of the business, as Executors will want to retain these assets to make sure that IHT will be paid. If they do not, then potentially they become personally liable for the IHT. This may impact on a business’s ability to borrow against assets which are being retained by Executors pending payment of IHT. Reviewing tax and succession plans now will allow land and business owners to plan accordingly and protect their rural business for years to come.

CONTACT

If you would like to discuss any points raised in this article, contact the Gillespie Macandrew team by emailing enquiries@gillespiemacandrew.co.uk, calling 0131 225 1677 or visiting www.gillespiemacandrew.co.uk 187

29/04/2025 14:20:00

LIFE & STYLE ADVERTORIAL

RIGHT: Sahara patchwork maxi dress, £225.

FAR RIGHT: Fluid denim boxy jacket, £169; Handwoven rainbow stripe raffia hat, £75.

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29/04/2025 12:33:15

SAHARA

HELLO SUMMER! As the days grow longer and the light turns golden, Sahara’s Summer ’25 collection arrives – filled with vibrant colour, artful design and easy elegance

C

rafted for warm days and sun-soaked getaways, this season celebrates effortless style through expressive prints, fluid fabrics, and silhouettes made to move with you.

Drawing inspiration from global craft traditions, vintage embroidery, and the soft hues of faraway landscapes, each piece offers a fresh take on summer dressing - rooted in Sahara’s enduring love of textile artistry and timeless design.

This season’s prints are rich with story and soul. ainted garden florals echo the brushstrokes of modern British artists, while lush botanicals and palm motifs offer a playful nod to tropical escapism. Patchwork designs, pieced together from Sahara’s own archives, blend feminine palettes with heritage charm, while delicate tileinspired graphics add a soft, handcrafted feel.

Signature silhouettes return, joined by new styles including floaty midaxis and relaxed kaftans crafted from breathable viscose and linen. Think dresses that sway with every step, lightweight tunics perfect for layering, and effortlessly cool co-ords designed to take you from beach to city and beyond.

Summer layering takes on new life with textured linens, and ethereal jac uards. An etched floral weave introduces a subtle transparency for soft, elegant layering, while easy shirt dresses and draped jackets offer practical beauty for every occasion. very look deserves the perfect finishing touch.

This season’s accessories include woven crochet bags, metallic artisan sandals, and handcrafted earrings designed to catch the light. From subtle sparkle to statement colour, these accents pull the whole look together.

Explore the full collection online at www. saharalondon.com or visit in-store and discover your new summer favourites.

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LIFE & STYLE ADVERTORIAL

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28/04/2025 16:37:30

SAHARA

LEFT, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Cross stitch embroidered shirt £179; Tropical fusion print bubble dress £189, Camila two tone leather sandals £95; Boho embroidery jacket £225, Organza linen jumpsuit £239; Wild garden linen dress £215. RIGHT: Textured stripe linen viscose dress £185, Cascade checkers necklace £45.

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LIFE & STYLE ADVERTORIAL

TOP: Modern mosaic top £155, Stretch cotton slim trouser £125.

ABOVE: Impressionist garden jersey tunic £125. RIGHT: Abstract painted garden dress £195, Abstract painted garden scarf £65.

Sahara Edinburgh Boutique 39 Frederick Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1EP www.saharalondon.com Tel: 0131 226 2009 192

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28/04/2025 16:38:05

Farming is the heart of our business; this is where it all began. Nadia & Murray Alexander are redefining what sustainability means within garment production at Alexander Manufacturing, one of the last remaining luxury garment factories in Scotland. They take immense pride in telling Scotland’s stories through the creation of beautiful bespoke collections. Each unique piece, reflecting the heritage of the artisans who craft them.

The “Flock-to-Frock” initiative, where Nadia & Murray use wool from their Perthshire Farm woven into exquisite yarns and crafted into beautifully designed handmade garments for the Mause Collection. This signature Nadia Alexander Mause Collection delivers exceptional durability, softness, and traceability, bringing the farm-to-fashion vision to life.

To view the collection: www.oliami.co.uk OLIAMI.indd 193

www.oliami.co.uk

29/04/2025 10:33:18

WEDDING BELLES WEDDING BELLES

WHICH COLOUR FOR YOU?

WWW.MANDARINASHOES.COM Tel: UK 01307 819488 WWW.MANDARINASHOES.COM WWW.MANDARINASHOES.COM Tel: UK 01307 819488

London 020 7224 7888

Glasgow 0141 942 8900

www.joyceyoungcollections.co.uk 161st Year

The North East’s Premier Agricultural Show

From fleece to fashion

Sunday 3rd & Monday 4th August 2025 The Haughs, Turriff, AB53 4EF

MAIN SPONSOR

THE BIGGEST, TWO DAY AGRICULTURAL SHOW IN SCOTLAND

SUNDAY

Horses & Ponies, Goats, Rabbits, Cavies, Pigeons, Carriage Driving & Open Dog Show, Vintage Vehicle Display

MONDAY

Clydesdale Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Poultry, Show Jumping, Companion Dog Show & Highland Dancing, March of Time

VI SITOR CENTRE & SHOP GUIDED MILL TOURS

LOCHCARRON WE AVERS HERITAGE SHOP

01750 726100 | visit@lochcarron.com Waverley Mill, Rogers Road Selkirk TD7 5DX

shop@lochcarron.com | 01520 722212 Ribhuachan, Strathcarron Wester Ross IV54 8YS

www.lochcarron.com

ENTERTAINMENT

Flyin Ryan Stunt Show, The Sheep Show and much more......

Additional Amenities

Blue Badge parking, accessible adult changing, baby changing facilities & drinking water refill points w w w . t u r r i f f s h o w . o r gturriffshow.org 001888 1888 5 62219 562219

info@turriffshow.org

info@turriffshow org

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Gina Smart Boutique OCCASION WEAR SPECIALISTS

NEW SPRING SUMMER 2025 STYLES NOW ARRIVING 51 Alloway Street, Ayr KA7 1SP

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Tel. 01292 263919

| www.ginasmartboutique.co.uk

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Auchterarder

Open Monday - Saturday 10 - 5

www.bearnecessitiesfashion.co.uk 185 High Street, Auchterarder, PH3 1AF (Just off the motorway between Stirling and Perth)

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Telephone: 01764 664 559 info@bearnecessitiesfashion.co.uk

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If you are on a budget, why not visit our sales shop at 84 High Street, Auchterarder

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ADVERTORIAL

KNOCKANDO WOOLMILL Discover a story woven into the heart of Speyside

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estled in the picturesque Spey Valley, Knockando Woolmill stands as a rare surviving example of a rural district woolmill.

Surrounded by rich farmland and with the waters of the Knockando Burn babbling gently by its side, it might seem that little has changed at the mill since 1784.

In the past, local farmers would bring their fleeces to the mill to be made into blankets and tweed. Over time, the weavers passed their knowledge and skills from one generation to the next, ensuring the continuity of their craft.

By 2000, the mill, its machinery and historic buildings benefited from a remarkable restoration project, led by the Knockando Woolmill Trust, which has seen the Victorian machinery and Grade A-listed site restored to its former glory.

Today, contemporary designs are woven alongside traditional tweeds and classic woollen blankets, all produced with the same meticulous attention to detail and skilled craftsmanship that has been the hallmark of the woolmill since the beginning.

The mill boasts an impressive collection of Victorian weaving machinery, including

TOP: Aerial view of Knockando Woolmill. RIGHT: British Wool cloth currently being woven at Knockando. LEFT: Anna (left) and Constance (right) holding British wool cloth they have woven on the Dornier loom.

a blending machine that processes raw wool, a carding machine that further refines it through combing the fibres, a spinning mule that twists the wool into yarn, and a remarkable 126-year-old Dobcross loom that weaves the cloth. Remarkably, all these machines are still in working order today.

In addition to the historic machinery, the mill also houses two 1989 Dornier looms.

As well as restoring the mill, the Knockando Woolmill Trust was established to promote and educate people about the heritage site.

Anna and Constance are passionate about continuing the 200-year-old legacy of producing high-quality woollen textiles and are now weaving full time at Knockando.

Being part of production at Knockando and keeping its legacy alive is massively fulfilling, said Anna. t has been fantastic to

get to know the machines over the past nine months and speaking to visitors, sharing appreciation for the skills required to create bespoke woollen cloth.

Learning how to produce bespoke, woollen cloth in a one-of-a-kind historic environment has been a fantastic opportunity, providing a unique chance to acquire skills needed to master all processes involved. From warping, beaming, drawing in, to weaving and darning the cloth. It is fascinating to see a design come to life on our looms during the process, said Constance.

CONTACT

The mill’s historic buildings, retail shop and Red Roof Coffee shop are open to the public for the 2025 summer season.

Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm. Guided tours are available to pre–book via the website at www.kwc.co.uk Visit - Knockando Woolmill, Knockando, Moray AB38 7RP. Tel: 01340 810345 or Email: office@kwc.co.uk scottishfield.co.uk

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HAND PICKED

Scottish Field Hand Picked FASHION, HOMES AND INTERIORS

Covering Scotland and The Western Isles

CUSHIONS & THROWS

DESIGNED & HANDCRAFTED IN THE COLOURS OF SCOTLAND

GAMMIES COUNTRY CLOTHING Forfar, DD8 3BT www.gammiescountryclothing.co.uk

The Granary, Fossoway KY13 OUP

07957 936 738 www.tailormadefurniture.co.uk

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HAND CARVED TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH WEDDING STONES

Patricia in Petrol Blue Perfect fit Peruvian Pima Cotton top.

Available in twelve colours. £40

We offer Jewellery Repair & Bespoke Jewellery Design Services, Pearl & Bead Restringing, Engraving & Valuations.

42 West Princes Street, Helensburgh G84 8TD T: 01436 671575 E: info@anneofloudounville.com www.anneofloudounville.com

R&I MACDONALD K I LT M A K E R S Kiltmakers for over 75 years.

Highland dress specialists plus full Highland dress hire.

We make only full hand sewn kilts of the highest standard.

Sporran - Musquash copper top £250 Buckle £38 Kilt Pin £28 45 Main Street, West West Calder EH55EH55 8DP 8DP 45 Main Street, Calder Tel/Fax 01506 872678 Tel/Fax 01506 872678 Email todd@macdonaldkiltmakers.co.uk 45 M ain Street, W est Calder E H 5 5 8DP Email sales@macdonaldkiltmakers.co.uk www.macdonaldkiltmakers.co.uk

Tel/ Fax 015 06 872 678 www.macdonaldkiltmakers.co.uk E mail sales@ macdonaldkiltmakers.co.uk www.macdonaldkiltmakers.co.uk

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One of 32 style/colours.

Commissions welcome for all occasions E: pater5365@yahoo.co.uk www.patersonstonecarving.co.uk

ALPACA PIM A COTTON SILK

www.artisanroute.co.uk

Tel: 01896 823 765 (Monday – Friday 10.00 - 18.00)

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Your attention is drawn to the following terms and conditions which relate to the placing of advertisements in all publications owned

by Wyvex Media Ltd. Parties to this agreement are the Publisher, Wyvex Media Ltd. on the one part and the Advertiser on the other part. The Publisher publishes newspapers, magazines, books and provides advertising space therein or provides for the delivery of advertising materials to the public within these publications.

01 Advertising copy shall be legal, decent, honest and truthful and comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice and all other codes.

02 The Publisher does not guarantee the insertion of any particular advertisement. 03 The Publisher reserves the right to cancel or alter the advertisement by giving reasonable notice. 04 An order for an advertisement shall be deemed to be made on acceptance of the advertisers’ order by the Publisher whether placed by telephone, mail, fax, email or in person. 05 Cancellations or postponements of orders must be notified in writing and cannot be accepted later than 30 days prior to the scheduled publication date. Cancellations not in accordance with these terms will be subject to payment of the full cost of the advert. Advertisments that are part of an agreed discounted campaign or series and have appeared prior to cancellation will be re-charged at full rate. 6 The parties submit to the jurisdiction of the Scottish Courts and Scots Law. In the event of any dispute or action by the Publisher to recover payment from an advertiser, it is agreed that matters will be settled in the Oban, Argyll Sheriff Court or such other Court as the Publisher may choose. 07 The Publisher shall not be liable for any loss or damage occasioned by any total or partial failure (however caused) of publication or distribution of any newspaper or edition in which any advertisement is scheduled to appear. In the event of any error, misprint or omission in the printing of an advertisement or part of an advertisement, the Publisher will either re-insert the advertisement or relevant part of the advertisement, as the case may be, or make reasonable refund or adjustment to the cost. No re-insertion, refund or adjustment will be made where the error, misprint or omission does not materially detract from the advertisement. 08 Errors must be notified to the Publisher in writing within fourteen days of publication. In no circumstances shall the total liability of the Publisher for any error, misprint or omission exceed the amount of a full refund of any price paid to the Publisher for the particular advertisement in connection with which liability arose or the cost of a further or corrective advertisement of a type and standard reasonably comparable to that in connection with which liability arose. 09 The Advertiser/Advertising Agency agrees to indemnify the Publisher in respect of all costs, damages or other charges falling upon the publication as the result of legal actions or threatened legal actions arising from the publication of the advertisement in any one or more of a series of advertisements published in accordance with copy instructions supplied to the publication in pursuance of the Advertiser/ Advertising Agency order. 10 Adverts under the value of £75 must be paid on acceptance of order by the Publisher. All advertising on a credit basis must be agreed with the Publisher in advance. 11 Payment of any invoice raised by the Publisher will be due 15 days from the date of invoice or as otherwise directed on the invoice. In the event of non-payment the Publisher may charge late payment interest at a rate of 2% and this is chargeable on a daily basis from the due date until the bill is paid. In addition the Publisher may charge a late payment levy of £10 as an administration fee. In the event of late payment the Publisher reserves the right to disallow any discounts given and to raise an additional invoice for the discount which will be treated as though it has been raised with the original invoice. 12 A request to insert an advertisement assumes acceptance of our conditions. Photographs etc. must be accompanied by a SAE. Although every care will be taken, Scottish Field is not responsible for loss, damage or any other injury as to material provided.

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G i f t i d ea s f or th e wh ol e f a m i l y f rom cl oth i ng to a ccessori es i n tra d i ti ona l H a rri s T weed ®

Tel: 01859 502040 | 01859 502505 | 01859 502727 Email: info@harristweedisleofharris.co.uk Website: harristweedisleofharris.co.uk

GAMMIES COUNTRY CLOTHING Station Yard, Carseview Road, Forfar DD8 3BT

T 0743 679 3717 www.gammiescountryclothing.co.uk scottishfield.co.uk

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Sheila Kerr Jewellery has a working studio based in the Courtyard Studios, 128 Harbour Street, Irvine.

She designs and creates the jewellery on site and has displays of finished pieces available to purchase.

Sheila also offers a fully bespoke service both online and by appointment at her studio. www.sheilakerrjewellery.com 07858257455 199

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BOLD & BRIGHT FASHION

BOLD & BRIGHT FASHION Add a pop of colour to your wardrobe

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BOLD & BRIGHT FASHION

1. HARRIS TWEED: Harris Tweed Isle of Harris offers a

super selection of Harris Tweed bags, purses, shoes, hats, jackets and many more items in their stores in Harris and Inverness, and online. Tel: 01859 502040, www.harristweedisleofharris.co.uk

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2. HAWICO SCOTLAND: The Telford vest is the perfect

timeless style. Crafted from 2-ply 100% cashmere. The fitted shape and -neck design provide versatility, blending classic appeal with a modern twist.

Tel: 0131 225 8634, www.hawico.com

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3. SHEILA FLEET: Lunar stretch bracelet in tropical enamel, £117. This Lunar stretch bracelet in sterling silver features Sheila’s textured cup-mark charm design.

Tropical enamel captures the iridescence of sun on a calm and peaceful sea. Tel: 01856 861203, www.sheilafleet.com 4. NUMBER FIVE GOLDSMITHS: Stunning hand-painted acrylic jewellery. his bright and bold jewellery typifies the unique design and individuality of pieces by this maker. Gail takes inspiration from different sources such as nature, ethnic traditions, the ideas of various artists and artistic movements, modern architecture and wallpaper/textile designs. Number Five, 17 High Street, Perth PH1 5JS. Tel. 01738 634196, www.numberfivegoldsmiths.co.uk 5. THE HOUSE OF BRUAR: House of Bruar oversized

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patchwork shirt, £59.95. A true multi-season piece, this shirt will look fabulous under an autumn blazer with your favourite jeans, but will also work equally well with your favourite cropped chinos or Bengalines during summer.

Tel: 01796 483236, www.houseofbruar.com

6. JAMIESON & CARRY: Make a statement with these bold 18ct gold ruby and diamond drop earrings. Total carat weight Ruby - . ct, Diamonds - . ct. , from Jamieson & Carry. Tel: 01224 641219, www.jamieson-carry.com 7. MACDONALD AVIEMORE RESORT SHOP: Barbour,

Dubarry, Marble, Robell and many more fashion brands are available instore at Spey alley Shop. Located on the Macdonald Aviemore Resort. Tel: 01479 815175, www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk 8. MANDARINA SHOES: Get your sneakers on! Mandarina Shoes has an unrivalled range of colourful and reasonably priced sneakers and trainers for Summer and why not add on some fun with their pretty patterned laces? Change your look according to your mood!

Available exclusively online or by phone.

Tel: 01307 819488, www.mandarinashoes.co.uk

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9. SHEILA KERR JEWELLERY: Sheila Kerr creates jewellery from her Irvine studio. Stacking rings in sterling silver with diamonds, topaz and amethyst. POA. Tel: 07858 257455, www.sheilakerrjewellery.com 10. NADIA ALEXANDER: Shown are the Olivia Blazer and Dunkeld Pant, both in Modern Blair Tartan from the Nadia Alexander Bear Co Collection. Both available online.

Tel: 0131 556 0988, www.oliami.co.uk 11. LAINGS: 18ct white gold 0.47ct pink, 0.39ct yellow and 0.99ct white diamond ring. RRP: £19,675. Yellow and pink diamonds perfectly harmonise in this exquisite 18ct white gold ring. A marriage of pear, cushion and oval cut diamonds, this jewellery creation weaves a tale of summer. Tel: 0141 221 0121, www.laingsuk.com

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HOTEL REVIEWS

Walk this way There’s nowhere quite like Scotland to go for a walk, and whether you’re a hardened hiker or a gentle dog walker it’s imperitive to have the perfect digs in which to rest your weary feet after your exertions

Drummond House

BY MARK & LIZ MCKINNEY, HARRISON (16) AND LUNA THE DOG (13) FROM DUNNING

Drummond House sits on the edge of the astonishingly beautiful Drummond Castle Gardens. The private guestonly access during the winter season meant we could really pretend that we lived here permanently (I wish!).

After receiving excellent instructions on how to find and access Drummond House, we were met by a welcoming committee of young roe deer, two swans and a beautifully presented and welcoming home. The woodburner was laid and ready and along with the delicious treats on offer meant that we could immediately melt into the coorie/hygge/cosiness of Drummond House.

The décor and eye for detail in furnishing really gives a ‘wow’ factor, not in the slightest bit stuffy or pretentious.

In the morning we watched the clear, star-studded sky (including a shooting star) turn to a beautiful sunrise on the deck. After consulting the maps and guides thoughtfully provided, we spent the day walking and exploring the many routes and attractions on offer in Crieff and Comrie. I deserved my long soak in the awesome slipper bath in the bedroom.

The next morning was very windy and wet, but we nonetheless had a lovely walk through the enchanting gardens. We are determined to visit again in summer to witness them in their prime – which will give us the excuse we need to stay at Drummond House again.

DRUMMOND CASTLE, MUTHILL, CRIEFF PH7 4HN www. drummond castlegardens. co.uk From £1,135 for 2 nights.

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The Black Bull

BY IRENE & JOHN SHEARER FROM GLASGOW

I have always loved the Borders, so a stay at the historic Black Bull in Duns was right up my street.

A careful refurbishment hasn’t taken anything away from this 200-year-old pub, but the accommodation is worthy of a five-star hotel. We were ushered upstairs to a breathtaking ensuite bedroom, with a vast bed and freestanding designer bath, but couldn’t spend too long relaxing there as dinner called and I’d heard about the renowned meals! We love good food and were delighted with our huge plates full plus an excellent red wine.

One could spend hours checking out the prints and ornaments, including a collection of Toby jugs. There are bookshelves in various areas (and a current Scottish Field in our bedroom). After a long day’s drive, a short walk, and a big dinner, it was an early night for us – in the huge bed with snow-white bed linen and a massive duvet.

The owner himself brought our selected breakfast and told us a little about local and longer walks from the Black Bull. A fellow guest had stopped off in Duns for a good meal and a bed before continuing to walk the Southern Upland Way. We’re less ambitious with a walk to the Jim Clark Museum and to see Wojtek the bear – a statue commemorating the mascot of the Polish forces, some of whom were stationed by Duns during World War Two. Having thanked our truly hospitable hosts, it was off towards the A68, hopefully to return in the very near future.

15-17 BLACK BULL STREET, DUNS TD11 3AR www. blackbullduns. co.uk From £110 per night.

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29/04/2025 09:46:07

WALKING BREAKS

Williamstone Farm Steadings

BY MYRA & HARRY ARMSTRONG WITH PEGGY THE DOG FROM CULCHARRY

In the heart of North Berwick, this stunning property is the epitome of modern luxury. It blends contemporary design with rustic charm, creating a truly special retreat.

From the moment we arrived, we were captivated by the elegant interiors, impeccable furnishings, and welcoming atmosphere. Every detail, from the stylish decor to the high-end amenities, was carefully considered for a truly relaxing escape. The open-plan living area is bright and inviting, with plush seating and tasteful accents. The sleek, fully equipped kitchen was perfect for preparing a leisurely breakfast before heading out to explore.

Each of the three bedrooms offers sumptuous bedding and a serene ambiance for a restful night’s sleep. North Berwick is a fantastic destination. With its scenic coastline, dog-friendly beaches, and excellent dining options, it’s the ideal spot for a weekend escape. Peggy loved long walks along the shore, while we enjoyed fresh seafood and breathtaking views. Returning to such a luxurious home after a day of adventure was very special.

Stephanie, our host, was wonderful. She made us welcome, leaving locally-made dog treats and recommendations for the best walks, restaurants and places to visit. Our weekend was nothing short of perfect, and we would wholeheartedly recommend this property to anyone looking for an indulgent, dog-friendly stay.

The Annexe, Pitilie

BY NANCY & LES ANDERSON AND LINDA & KENNETH OVENS FROM THE BORDERS

We arrived on a sunny afternoon to a warm and friendly greeting from Jean. To say the view from The Annexe was stunning would be an understatement. It stretches from Schiehallion down the Tay valley with Farragon opposite.

The Annexe is tastefully decorated and furnished, wellequipped, cosy and comfy. The glass sliding doors allow you to relax and take in the landscape as it changes with the weather. It is ideally situated 1.5 miles from Aberfeldy’s restaurants, coffee shops, shops and a supermarket.

There is an abundance of walks for all levels of walkers.

For experienced hill walkers, Glen Lyon, Ben Lawers Range, Killin, Rannoch Moor and Loch Tummel are all within a one hour drive. There are also forest walks and riverside walks along the Tay, including the Birks of Aberfeldy walk. The owners have provided an extensive list of walks with their gradings. On day one, we took a ten minute drive to Griffin Forest for a nine mile walk round Loch Kennard and Loch Scoly, which was well signposted and had lovely views. On day two, we climbed two Grahams in the Amulree hills just a twenty minute drive away. Being able to return to the hot tub at the Annexe was a real bonus and it had ample space to dry our wet gear.

This is an excellent spot to stay and explore the outdoors in a particularly scenic part of Scotland. We will definitely be returning.

NORTH BERWICK, EAST LOTHIAN EH39 5DG www.william stonefarm steadings.com From £240 per night.

PITILIE PODS, CRIEFF ROAD, ABERFELDY PH15 2EL www.pitilie pods.com From £625.

Location

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1 Drummond House Tel: 01764 681433 2 The Black Bull Tel: 01361 302876 3 Williamstone Farm Steadings Tel: 07968 133310 4 Pitilie Pods Tel: 01887 292050

fancy yourself

If you are a subscriber and would like to spend a free night away in one of our chosen establishments and send us your review, then please email us on e itor

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EXCLUSIVE USE AT ARCHERFIELD HOUSE A once-in-a-lifetime stay 17th century mansion house | 15 exquisite en suite bedrooms | Dedicated team Inclusive of afternoon tea, tailored three course dinner and breakfast | House drinks included

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EXCLUSIVE USE

EXCLUSIVE USE Especially for you...

PITLOCHRY HOLIDAY COTTAGE Pitlochry Tel: 07456 597422

www.pitlochryholidaycottage.com

THE SUSAN REID COLLECTION Multiple locations Tel: 0131 556 4020

The Retreat Cabin is the perfect romantic getaway in Highland Perthshire. In the private garden during your stay you will have exclusive use of a large, covered hot tub, cedar barrel sauna, and cinema room with reclining chairs, popcorn machine and snack bar.

You won’t want to leave!

VERDANT WORKS Dundee Tel: 01382 309060

www.susanreid.co.uk

www.dundeeheritagetrust.co.uk

The Susan Reid Collection offers some of Scotland’s most luxurious properties located from Loch Lomond and Loch Tay to St Andrews and beautiful Highland erthshire. rom to bedrooms, your own private property is exclusively yours. If you are looking for a luxurious property for your event, holiday or special celebration, look no further.

njoy special occasions steeped in inspiring heritage at Verdant Works; a beautifully restored mill in the heart of Dundee. With charming architecture, the finest service and an unforgettable atmosphere, this ictorian mill makes the perfect setting for gatherings with friends and colleagues, weddings, performances and more!

INSTABILLIE SELF CATERING Orkney Tel: 01856 841733

www.orkney-accommodation.co.uk

THE ART HOUSE APARTMENTS

14 Ardross Street, Inverness Tel: 01463 630690

www.arthouseapts.co.uk he Art House Apartments, located in the vibrant capital of the Highlands, Inverness.

Offering eight serviced apartments and three cottages. Each accommodation designed with character and comfort in mind, ensuring your stay feels just like home.

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Stunning views and a great location Situated one mile from the Bay of Skaill and the world famous Neolithic village of Skara Brae.

Instabillie Self Catering comprises of three cottages completed to a high standard, each with their own individual character.

DEVERON VALLEY COTTAGES Huntly Tel: 07983 770561

www.deveronvalleycottages.co.uk ive beautiful properties on the banks of the River Deveron for the perfect spring break. Situated just minutes from the Moray irth coastline with castle and whisky trails right on the doorstep, along with coastal villages and towns with spectacular views. All cottages have wood burners.

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8 APARTMENTS + 3 COTTAGES

The Art House Apartments are located in the heart of the Highlands, Inverness. Enjoy a unique stay in one of our eight stylish serviced apartments or three cozy cottages— each thoughtfully designed for comfort and fully equipped with top-tier amenities. Free parking and electric charging stations are included. We can’t wait to welcome you.

B R IN G IN G E X C L U S IV E U S E P R O P E R T IE S IN S C O T L A N D D IR E C T L Y T O Y O U w w w .susa nreid .co.uk

Book directly with code ScottishField25 for 10% off.

+ 4 4 (0 )1 3 1 5 5 6 4 0 2 0

14 A RDROSS S TREET , I NVERNESS IV3 5NS | 01463 630690

Set amongst spectacular scenery on the Isle of Mull, with magnificent wildlife on your doorstep, our pods are the ultimate island retreat.

• Fully fitted kitchens • Ensuite shower rooms

• King size beds • Luxury robes

• Free WiFi • Onsite e-bike hire

Whether you are looking to conquer your first Munro, explore a Scottish Castle, encounter White Tailed Sea Eagles or Puffins, or simply relax and detox from the hustle and bustle of working life… our luxury glamping pods are ready and waiting for your arrival.

Email: stay@islandpods.co.uk | Phone: +44 7483 352 262 | Website: islandpods.co.uk 206

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EXCLUSIVE USE

ARCHERFIELD

GREENFIELD MARQUEES

www.archerfieldhouse.com Surrounded by 550 beautiful acres, near North Berwick, a stay at Archerfield offers exceptional levels of comfort and style, from luxury self-catering lodges and a cosy coastal cottage to an elegant clifftop villa. Book a single night or a week’s holiday for ten whatever you’re looking for, Archerfield offers a fabulous range of accommodation. Add a spa experience to create the perfect break. Because there’s nowhere uite like Archerfield.

www.greenfieldmarquees.com

Dirleton, East Lothian Tel: 01620 897050

Edinburgh Tel: 0131 531 0683

hether you’re planning a luxury wedding, private party, temporary storage facility, school speech day, or anything in between, Green ield Mar uees are the answer. heir consistent attention to detail, ability to adapt to your plans, and professional delivery from first contact until after the event is what sets them apart. rusted across Scotland, they bring the experience, expertise, and personal service needed to ensure your event is in safe hands.

F4F EVENT SERVICES Tel: 0800 772 0636

www.f4feventservices.co.uk

VENTURESAIL

Tel: 01872 487288

www.venturesailholidays.com xplore the hidden gems of Scotland’s estern sles on a sailing holiday adventure with entureSail. Soak in the views from the deck as you sail to the furthest corners of the Hebrides. ith no experience needed, take your pick of vessels, from classic tall ships to modern yachts, each run by experienced crews.

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riginally designing and building timber furniture for hire to events, they now offer many of their products for sale to businesses and individuals. very product is handmade at their workshop in inross and they guarantee high uality and value for money. lease contact for further information info f feventservices.co.uk

THE MAJESTIC LINE PRIVATE CRUISE CHARTER West Coast & The Hebrides Tel: 01369 707951

www.themajesticline.co.uk/ private-charter A private cruise for up to people includes the boat, four crew, all meals, wine with dinner, shore trips, and a flexible itinerary the perfect way to experience Scotland’s stunning west coast with your favourite people for a uni ue celebration.

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Scottish Field LOTG Ad April 25.qxp_Layout 1 17/04/2025 09:03 Page 1

Cruise the Caledonian Canal with Lord of the Highlands

SAVE

ALL-INCLUSIVE CRUISES FROM £3,140* PER PERSON

What’s Included • Six or seven night’s accommodation on board Lord of the Highlands • All-inclusive including fine dining • All drinks including Taittinger Champagne by the glass • Engaging shore visits

• Knowledgeable on board guide • Gratuities on board and ashore • Free wi-fi on board • Complimentary transfers between Inverness and Lord of the Highlands at pre-determined times

To make a booking please call one of our experienced reservations team who will be pleased to help you. Alternatively, contact your preferred travel agent or cruise specialist. *The fare shown includes the 15% saving, are for new bookings only and cannot be combined with any other offers.

Tel: 01756 704704 www.hebridean.co.uk

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EXCLUSIVE USE

HIGH TRODIGAL

RED MOON CRUISES

Machrihanish, by Campbeltown Tel: 01586 810305

Tel: 07768 101667

www.redmooncruises.co.uk

www.hightrodigal.co.uk Secluded but not isolated. Enjoy the luxury of your own, light and airy, earth sheltered eco house set into the Kintyre hills.

Wonderful views with stunning sunsets, excellent kingsize bed, and smooth cool bed linen, sauna, spa bath and soft fluffy towels, log burner, fire pit/barbecue. Discover unspoilt sandy beaches and hidden coves, abundant wildlife and Kintyre’s ancient heritage. Take a Springbank or Glen Scotia whisky distillery tour, learn and taste at the Beinn an Turin gin school, or just wander around the independent shops of Campbeltown.

Red Moon Cruises offer exclusive, bespoke trips which are perfect for couples, families or friends. Escape on a private cruise to seek out fabulous wildlife, hidden locations and enjoy some gorgeous local food, freshly prepared onboard.

Superb spring and summer cruising experiences exploring the islands, coves and coast close to Mull or Skye, all from the comfort of Red Moon’s cosy interior or spacious decks. Almost fully booked for 2025, but open for 2026 bookings.

COILLABUS

Islay Tel: 07824 567435

www.coillabus.com www.coillabus-cottage.co.uk

BENMORE ESTATE Isle of Mull Tel: 07483 352 262

www.islandpods.co.uk Set in spectacular scenery, these luxury pods are the ultimate island retreat.

Whether you are looking to conquer your first Munro, explore a Scottish castle, encounter eagles, or simply relax from the hustle and bustle of working life.

scottishfield.co.uk

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A warm welcome awaits at these fabulous places to stay on Islay. For island lovers, whisky lovers, wildlife lovers or just lovers. Book five-star luxury in the amazing turf-roofed lodges or traditional three-star comfort at the nearby three-bedroom cottage with room for all the family. Or book them all together to sleep up to 14 guests.

LOCH GORM HOUSE Bruichladdich, Islay Tel: 07775 666850

www.lochgormhouse.com Loch Gorm House is a luxury five-star Gold B&B with spectacular sea views of Jura and across Loch Indaal. Recently refurbished, the guesthouse offers wellappointed accommodation that is close to all of the island’s main attractions.

This peaceful and tranquil place is a perfect destination for a short or long break and an ideal location from which to explore the beautiful island of Islay.

Here you can simply be.

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LOCH GORM HOUSE IS 5-STAR GOLD BED & BREAKFAST ON THE SHORE OF LOCH INDAAL, WAITING TO OFFER YOU A WARM WELCOME

THE RETREAT CABIN Luxury self catering lodge in Highland Perthshire

Located near the village of Bruichladdich on Islay, Loch Gorm House has been renovated and restored to a very high standard and commands stunning sea views of Jura and across Loch Indaal.

This peaceful and tranquil getaway is a perfect destination for a short or long break and an ideal location from which to explore the beautiful island of Islay.

At Loch Gorm House, you can simply be...

www.lochgormhouse.com 07775 666850 210

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The Retreat Cabin is a private romantic place to create magical memories together for getaways, anniversaries, birthdays, honeymoons or even to propose.

This self-catering spa cabin with private all-weather roofed hot tub and quirky cedar barrel sauna. Inhouse cinema room with a snack bar! You won’t find anything quite like it and it is the perfect place to get away from everything in total comfort.

• BBQ • Firepit • Sun loungers • Out seating • Cinema room with reclining chairs • Popcorn machine • Fully equipped inside Set on a quiet south-facing hillside, surrounded by beautiful countryside, luxury and total privacy, it is another world.

www.pitlochryholidaycottage.com 07456597422 scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 14:43:31

Wild islands, deep fjords, coastal shores Explore Arctic Norway on an all-inclusive HX expedition.

Experience winter-kayaking, exhilarating hikes, a beach bonfire under the stars, a polar water swim and authentic sauna – all included with HX.

Change the way you see the world.

FREE FLIGHTS All-inclusive Expeditions to

Norway

Prices from £3,999pp PLUS

Northern Lights Promise**

Call 0203 811 7090 | Visit travelhx.com | Contact your preferred travel agent Scan the QR code to learn more

ANTARCTICA | AL ASK A | GAL ÁPAG O S | G R EEN L A N D | I C EL A N D | N OR T H WES T PA S S AGE | N OR WAY | S VA L BA R D

Terms and Conditions: *Free flights offer applies to new bookings only when booked by 31 May 2025 and is capacity controlled for selected HX departures from 24 January – 21 March 2026.

Economy flights only - available direct and in-direct from London Heathrow and Manchester airports. Bookings outside of these periods do not qualify and departures may be removed at any time.

Single supplements may apply. Offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Price shown is for 24 January 2026 departure – correct at time of printing (April 2025).

Offer is combinable with HX Explorers loyalty programme but not other offers. See travelhx.com for full booking terms and conditions. **Northern Lights Promise: If there is no recorded sighting of the Northern Lights from your ship during your 8-day Ultimate Norway – Arctic Expedition Under the Northern Lights expedition cruise, we’ll give you a Future Cruise Credit worth up to £1,000pp towards a new HX voyage. See travelhx.com/uk/nlp for full Terms and Conditions including restrictions, booking requirements and terms for redemption of credit. Images: © Espen Mills/Karsten Bidstrup.

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Instabillie Self Catering Three cottages located in the west mainland of Orkney, just a mile north of Skara Brae and the beautiful sandy Bay of Skaill.

This is the ideal base for your Orcadian adventure.

www.orkney-accommodation.co.uk Welcome to your next holiday destination...

We have five beautiful properties situated on the banks of the river Deveron.

F or a perf ect cosy w inter b reak come stay w ith us! W e are just 20 minutes f rom the g org eous M oray F irth C oastline. T he castle and W hisk ey trails are on our doorstep, along w ith stunning coastal villag es and tow ns w ith spectacular view s. ll our cottages have wood burners to snuggle up to a er a day of exploring.

Perfect for romantic breaks or a family holiday.

Use code SFIELD24 with 10% off all bookings

Two traditional Orkney cottages which T have been totally renovated, with all have beenmodern totally comforts. renovated, with all modern comforts.

Situated just over a mile from Skara Brae Situated over a sandy mile from Brae and thejust beautiful Bay Skara of Skaill. and the beautiful sandy Bay of Skaill.

Christmas and New Year stays available.

Christmas and New Year stays available.

Tel: 07753 378917 Tel: 07753 378917 info@orkney-accommodation.co.uk info@orkney-accommodation.co.uk www.orkney-accommodation.co.uk www.orkney-accommodation.co.uk

Host your unforgettable occasion at

verdant works established 1833

© Peter Clark

KINNAIRD WOODLAND LODGES ARE THE PERFECT DESTINATION FOR A STAY IN HIGHLAND PERTHSHIRE

T: 01856 841733 M: 07753 378917 info@orkney-accommodation.co.uk

The perfect location for a relaxing holiday, a romantic hideaway or a memorable honeymoon. Our 5 luxury log cabins are set against the picturesque Pitlochry landscape of farmland, hills and mountains. Situated 1.5 miles up from the main street, you gain elevation of the beautiful backdrop from your private hot tub.

All our luxury lodges have their own private space and hot tub with beautiful views of Pitlochry hills & countryside. Open plan living, dining and kitchen area and en-suite shower room; outdoor furniture and BBQ’s in season.

Roughly 1.5 hours from all major cities in Scotland, Pitlochry is accessible by bus & train and is a 5 minutes taxi drive from both stations in Pitlochry.

www.selfcatering-in-scotland.co.uk 07456 597422 212

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Be enchanted by this Victorian mill in the heart of Dundee; an atmospheric setting for special celebrations and gatherings of all shapes and sizes weddings

parties

receptions

Get in touch today 01382 236 516 www.dundeeheritagetrust.co.uk/venue-hire scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 11:28:55

HOLLAND COOPER

FIND US AT THE

ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW STAND 19C ON 4TH AVENUE

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TRAVEL & LEISURE

Destinations ARGYLL

ARGYLL

Getaway to the 5* luxury of High Trodigal, an earth sheltered eco house in unspoiled Kintyre. Fabulous sea views and big skies capture sunshine and stars. Beautiful beaches, forest walks, golf at world class courses, whisky/gin tours, history and excellent local produce. The welcome hamper of local goodies and Champagne will add the finishing touch to an unforgettable break.

Gorgeous, well equipped holiday cottages with loch views, all in glorious Argyll. The perfect, comfortable, relaxing base for exploring all this wonderful area has to offer. Our cottages are in Strachur, St Catherines, Newton and Leachd, sleeping 4 -10 people.

www.holidaycottageswestcoast.co.uk Tel: 07585709992 email: amanda@holidaycottageswestcoast.co.uk

Website: hightrodigal.co.uk E-mail: stay@hightrodigal.co.uk Call Linda and Mike 01586810305

AVIEMORE

AVIEMORE

Kyloe Holiday Lodges

Two beautiful self-catering lodges in Boat of Garten, near Aviemore. Great for walkers, cyclists, golfers and skiers.

Dogs very welcome!

The Polchar - idyllic country retreat just outside Aviemore in the Rothiemurchus Estate. This 5 bedroom Gamekeepers cottage is perfect for relaxing with your family.

Quote Web: polchar-aviemore.com ScotField10 for Email: team@amore-property.com a 10% discount Tel: Seonaid on (07557 192885)

For bookings contact Boat of Garten Holiday Park on 01479 831652 or info@boatofgartenholidaypark.com and ask for Kyloe Holiday Lodges.

Find us on Facebook or Instagram

EDINBURGH

AYRSHIRE

Grassyards House Stunning luxury holiday home nestled amid 400 acres of beautiful countryside in Largs for up to 12 people.

Dog friendly

www.grassyardshouse.com Hannah 07833102641

Georgian Gem in the New Town - Immaculate double upper combines original Georgian splendor with a luxurious modern living feel. Tastefully renovated to offer the amenities of modern luxury, set in the refines of Georgian Edinburgh at its best.

Web: amore-stay.com Quote Email: team@amore-property.com ScotField10 for Tel: Seonaid on (07557 192885) a 10% discount

EDINBURGH

EDINBURGH

Super Central Double Upper with Castle Views - Beautifully presented 2-floor apartment combines original Georgian splendor with all the comforts of a modern home. Built in 1792 for Lord Cranstoun, an accomplished Royal Navy officer, this spacious 3 bedroom property is the perfect base from which to explore Edinburgh.

Web: amore-stay.com Quote Email: team@amore-property.com ScotField10 for Tel: Seonaid on (07557 192885) a 10% discount

Rock House is a historic gem in the heart of Edinburgh. From its secluded position at the foot of Calton Hill, it has an elevated terrace which has wonderful panoramic views over the sites of the City.

Web: rockhouse-edinburgh.com Quote Email: team@amore-property.com ScotField10 for Tel: Seonaid on (07557 192885) a 10% discount

FIFE

ISLAY

fife cottages From stunning St Andrews townhouses to romantic coastal retreats Fife Cottages have something to suit everyone.

Visit us at fifecottages.co.uk or call David or Emma on 01334 208330

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Our fabulous turf-roofed A Mhoine Bheag lodge sleeps 2-4 guests in style in a spectacular location on Islay. Outdoor tub, sauna and exceptionally comfy beds.

Special offer: free nights on 4 night min low season stays and on high season full weeks. Flexible start dates. In-house chef service. Chilled meals to order. Dogs welcome.

www.coillabus.com

scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 14:23:51

ORKNEY

ORKNEY

Beautiful, modern 3 bedroom house with luxury Hot Tub in Kirkwall

nal Orkney cottages which totally renovated, with all totally renovated, with all odern comforts. odern comforts. over a mile from Skara Brae Adding to our two existing self catering properties, our newest cottage “Hooveth” is now over a sandy mile from Brae autiful Bay Skara of Skaill. utiful sandy Bay of Skaill.ready for booking. Great location just over a mile from Skara Brae and the Bay of Skaill. d New Year stays available. d New Year stays available.

07753 378917 mob: 07753 378 917 info@orkney-accommodation.co.uk 07753 378917 -accommodation.co.uk www.orkney-accommodation.co.uk -accommodation.co.uk -accommodation.co.uk Two traditional Orkney cottages which T have been totally renovated, with all accommodation.co.uk

Aurora Self Catering Upper Crantit Road Kirkwall, Orkney Isles KW15 1RW www.auroraorkney.co.uk info@auroraorkney.co.uk 07749 941 679

Days OutDays out SUMMER | WINTER Opening times are 8.30am - 5pm (7 days a week during season) Base café is open daily 8.30 to 4.45pm

Tel: 013397 41320 E-mail: info@ski-glenshee.co.uk Website: www.ski-glenshee.co.uk Braemar, Aberdeenshire AB35 5XU

HEBRIDES

Let us take you on a voyage of discovery to the Hebrides and the West Coast of Scotland Discover the Hebrides and Scotland’s west coast with The Majestic Line. Our five ships offer unforgettable all-inclusive 3, 6 and 10-night itineraries to the region’s most beautiful, secluded spots.

Private charters are also available for exclusive gatherings and celebrations.

MARCH, APRIL AND OCTOBER CRUISES - 10% DISCOUNT T: +44(0)1369 707951 www.themajesticline.co.uk

SCOTTISH BORDERS

MONTEVIOT HOUSE & GARDENS •

•

Photo: Jonathan Neville

ABERDEENSHIRE ABERDEENSHIRE

have beenmodern totally comforts. renovated, with all modern comforts.

Situated just over a mile from Skara Brae Situated over a sandy mile from Brae and thejust beautiful Bay Skara of Skaill. and the beautiful sandy Bay of Skaill.

Christmas and New Year stays available.

Christmas and New Year stays available.

Tel: 07753 378917 Tel: 07753 378917 info@orkney-accommodation.co.uk info@orkney-accommodation.co.uk www.orkney-accommodation.co.uk www.orkney-accommodation.co.uk

ST ANDREWS

The Persistent Imagination Garden, recently developed, is an eclectic mixture of natural stone structures and living art - a tribute to 20th century Art Nouveau and Surrealism. The terraced rose garden is Victorian: the adjacent garden, redesigned in the 1960’s by Percy Cane, slopes down past mixed borders towards the river Teviot.

Open 1st April - 31st October 12noon to 5pm (closed 4pm)

www.monteviot.com

FLOWER STUDIO

Wardlaw Museum St Andrews 01334 461660 museumenquiries@st-andrews.ac.uk

Weddings

STRETCH TENT HIRE

THE GREENSHED FLOWER STUDIO www.greenshedflowers.co.uk l @greenshedflowers

VENUE DUNDEE IN LANARKSHIRE

www.presenttents.co.uk info@presenttents.co.uk

WEDDING STATIONERY 19/01/2023 15:23:07

A Scottish themed wedding barn, ten minutes away from the heart of Glasgow. We offer you, exclusive use of the whole venue on the day of your hire.

There is a variety of locations for you to host your day, with space for up to 80 day guests and further 60 evening guests. We will help you through every step to make sure your day is stress free.

Contact details: 0141 779 4913 thegatheringscotland.uk

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COMPETITIONS

OFFERS & COMPETITIONS To enter, send entries with your name, address, telephone number and email address to Scottish Field Competitions, The North Quarter, 496 Ferry Road, Edinburgh EH5 2DL or enter online at www.scottishfield.co.uk Closing date is Monday 30th June 2025, unless otherwise stated on the competition.

WIN

A TWO-NIGHT STAY IN THE LUXURIOUS RANNOCH SUITE AT LOCH RANNOCH HOTEL & ESTATE A warm welcome, a breathtaking landscape, and a touch of Highland legend – your perfect escape awaits at Loch Rannoch Hotel & Estate.

Tucked away in the heart of Highland Perthshire, where rugged peaks meet the calm, mirror-like waters of Loch Rannoch, lies a destination that feels a world apart. The Loch Rannoch Hotel & Estate is an elegant retreat where timeless Scottish charm meets modern luxury – and now, you have the chance to experience it for yourself.

In partnership with Loch Rannoch Hotel & Estate, we're offering one lucky reader the chance to win a two-night stay in the luxurious Rannoch Suite – a truly unforgettable getaway surrounded by natural beauty and tranquillity.

From the moment you arrive, you’ll be welcomed with a chilled bottle of Prosecco waiting in your room, setting the tone for a stay that’s all about indulgence. Wake up each morning to sweeping lochside views and enjoy a hearty full Scottish breakfast for two, served with all the warmth and hospitality that guests have come to expect.

Your evenings will be equally memorable. On one night of your stay, dine in style at The Estate Room, the hotel’s signature restaurant, where Scotland’s larder is the star. You and your guest will enjoy a three-course dinner for two paired with a bottle of house wine, expertly selected to complement the seasonal menu.

To complete your experience, you’ll each be treated to a 30-minute spa treatment – the perfect way to unwind. Take full advantage of the hotel’s spa facilities, including the heated indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and gym. Whether you're hiking nearby trails or simply soaking in the serene atmosphere, this is your chance to truly switch off and reconnect with nature – and with yourself.

Explore the Rannoch Magic Your time at Loch Rannoch isn’t just about indulgence – it’s about discovery. The surrounding area is a haven for walkers, photographers, and nature lovers alike. Stroll or cycle through Rannoch Forest, kayak across the loch, or take the famous Scenic Road to Rannoch Station, one of the most remote and picturesque train stops in Britain.

Wildlife enthusiasts might spot red deer, golden eagles, or even a cheeky pine marten. History buffs can explore Clan MacGregor territory, with tales of Rob Roy echoing through the glens. Or simply find a peaceful spot by the loch and let the beauty of the Highlands wash over you.

This is more than just a getaway. It’s a Highland experience to remember.

Which legendary Highland rogue might you discover a tale about near Loch Rannoch?

T&Cs: Prize must be taken before 31 March 2026 (subject to availability), excluding Christmas and New Year. Travel is not included. The winner will be contacted by Loch Rannoch Hotel & Estate to arrange how to claim the prize. Over 18s only. No cash alternative. Other terms and conditions may apply.

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29/04/2025 14:18:47

COMPETITIONS

WIN

A LUXURIOUS NORTHUMBERLAND GETAWAY TO THE TEMPUS Nestled within the heart of Northumberland on a picturesque estate, lies The Tempus, surrounded by Northumberland’s breathtaking coastline, castles and countryside. A 41-bedroom boutique hotel, designed by the award-winning team at Jeffreys Interiors, offering ultimate comfort and style, providing an unforgettable countryside retreat.

Featured in The Times Top 100 Best Places to Stay in the UK and named one of the Top 10 Most Romantic Hotels, The Tempus is more than just a place to stay – it’s a destination to indulge, unwind, and lose track of time.

One lucky reader will win an unforgettable two-night stay in the hotel’s elegant Boutique Suite, complete with breakfast each morning and a warm welcome courtesy of a chilled bottle of Champagne waiting in your room. On your first evening, enjoy a delicious dinner with a £70 allowance in The Orangery at The Tempus, an award-winning restaurant – named an OpenTable Diners’ Choice 2024.

Whether you're exploring nearby Bamburgh and Alnwick, or simply sinking into the luxurious comfort of your suite, this prize promises a retreat to remember – worth over £865.

Enter now for your chance to discover The Tempus – where indulgence isn’t just encouraged, it’s expected.

Which interior design company created the luxurious style of The Tempus?

T&Cs: Terms and conditions apply. Travel not included. Valid for a 2-night stay in a luxurious Tempus Boutique Suite, inclusive of bed and breakfast, dinner in the Orangery Restaurant on your first night of the stay. The allowance towards dinner is £35.00 per person. Prize includes a bottle of House Champagne in your room upon arrival. Valid for overnight stays from Sunday – Thursday throughout 2025 subject to availability. This prize cannot be exchanged for cash and cannot be combined with any other offers.

Scottish Field is part of Wyvex Media Limited. By entering these competitions, you agree to Wyvex Media and their competition brand partners contacting you if you win or contacting you about their products and services. If you do not wish to be contacted, you should not enter this/these competitions. Your information will be kept for a period of three months after which it will be destroyed, unless you agree to an extension to be contacted further with Wyvex Media or the third party company.

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Puzzle

PAGES

Put your feet up, grab a cup of coffee and pit your wits against our puzzles and quizzes

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR CROSSWORD. CLUES MARKED (SC) AcrossWORDS AND PHRASES, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT FEATURE SCOTTISH DIFFERENT PARTS OF SCOTLAND USE DIFFERENT WORDS, I’M SURE 7 Well known (4-4) ALL THE DIFFERENT DURING THE MONTHS TO COME, WE (Sc) WILL COVER DIALECTS FROM ALL OVER SCOTLAND!

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THESE CROSSWORDS MAY NOT BE COPIED FOR ANY OTHER USE. CREATED BY SALLY CAPECLEAR BOTTOM LEFT: JENNIFER. RIGHT, FROM TOP: 4KCLIPS; INK DOT & VINTAGE CLASSICS; DELPHOTOSTOCK. (ALL ADOBE STOCK).

SCOTTISH FIELD CROSSWORD 6

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CROSSWORD NO 6

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Mr/Mrs/Miss________________________________________________

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Address ___________________________________________________

ANSWERS TO APRIL CROSSWORD (NO 4)

Across: 7 Pirola, 8 Collogue, 9 Gardyloo, 10 Muckle, 11 Helmstok, 12 Lesson, 13 Astronomers, 18 Sclaff, 20 Easement, 22 Toorie, 23 Interval, 24 Plockton, 25 Eleven. Down Down: 1 Pirates, 2 Condemns, 3 Ballet, 4 Glim-glam, 5 Forces, 6 Gullion, 8 Crockaneetion, 141Rafferty, 15 Remarked, 16 Schools, 17 Engaged, 19 Africa, Gender ma found in mixed sense (6) 21 Settee.

2 Livid from cold (Sc) (4) APRIL CROSSWORD WINNER 3 Disorderly (4-4) 1ST E. FLETCHER, LOCHGILPHEAD 2ND MARYANN HARDY, DUNFERMLINE

4 Range found in advantageous moves (6)

_____________________________________________________________________________ Postcode __________________________________________________ Tel / Email: _________________________________________________________

TO ENTER: Send your completed crossword to Scottish Field, Crossword No 6, The North Quarter, 496 Ferry Road, Edinburgh EH5 2DL, to reach us no later than Monday 23 June 2025.

5 Jamie Fraser actor (3,7)

WIN A GIFT BOX FROM HOUSE 6 Labhruidh, Scottish songwriter (8) OF CHEVIOT

Set pen to8paper, fill in the blanks and at be Glasgow in with a chance Music festival staged Greenof winning a fabulous gift (6) box from House of Cheviot to the value of £50 for 1st prize and £30 for 2nd prize.

13 An unlikely story! (Sc) (3-1-6) 15 Equestrian (8)

Spot the difference 17 Period to bury by the lady (8)

18 Walk with a slow step (Sc) (6)

20 Fish guard (6) THERE ARE FIVE DIFFERENCES BE 22TOBusy (Sc) (6) FOUND IN THESE TWO 24OFHairstyle pads for informers (4) PHOTOGRAPHS GLASGOW – CAN YOU SPOT THEM ALL?

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Ruthwell, Dumfries, DG1 4NN | Tel: 01387 323001

29/04/2025 12:05:46

Put your feet up, grab a cup of coffee and pit your wits against our puzzles and quizzes

What year is it?

USE THE CLUES AND PICTURES TO HELP GUESS THE YEAR.

General knowledge

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

1. Which university welcomed Britain’s first female student in

Summer Wine airs its WHAT YEAR IS IT?

first series, eventually USE THE CLUES AND PICTURES TO HELP GUESS THE YEAR. becoming the longest running comedy 1. Scotland hosted the programme in history.

Rugby World Cup Sevens at Murrayfield, Edinburgh.

2. The Vietnam War ends withMV theBraer, signing 2. Oil tanker, ran of peace pacts. spilling 01 aground off Shetland 84,700 tonnes of oil.

01 3. The United Kingdom joins the European 3. Craig Brown replaces Economic Community Andy Roxburgh as manager (which subsequently of the Scotland national became the European football team.

Union) along with Denmark Ireland.

4. Singer andand entertainer Andy Stewart died.

4. Patrick White and HenryWelsh’s Kissinger win 5. Irvine book 04 the Nobelwas Prizes in 05 Trainspotting released.

Literature and Peace, respectively.

5.WORD David Bowie performs SEARCH: SCINTILLATING for many the last time as How English words can you make from the word above?

We find 264.

Try to find as many as possible. Words must hiscan vibrant alter-ego, beZiggy at least three letters long.

Stardust.

100-149 WORDS: GOOD, 150-199 WORDS: EXCELLENT, 200 WORDS OR MORE: YOU ARE A GENIUS

05

WHERE ARE WE?

1862?

GENERALKnowledge

2. Who is the only Scotsman to serve as Prime Minister four

separate times?

3.

What Britain’s most northerly town?

1. In whatisyear was the sitcom Still Game first aired?

4. What do Scotsmen John A Macdonald and Alexander 2. Who were the two kings at the battle of Bannockburn?

Mackenzie have in common?

3. Scotland is home to the tallest what?

5. Richard Madden played which character in the hit TV series,

of Thrones?

4. Game The oldest tree in Scotland is the Fortingall Yew, but how old is it?

6. Which country is the largest international importer of the Outer Hebrides’ famous Harris Tweed?

5. In what year was the first Edinburgh Fringe Festival held?

7. What closely fought rugby trophy is battled for every year 6. From what did the renowned author Robert Louis Stevenson between England and Scotland? die from at the age of 44?

8. JK Rowling did a midnight reading at Edinburgh Castle for 7. which Which of Scottish author wrote the character Sherlock Holmes? her Harry Potter books?

8. Which Which city in Scotland thebenickname ‘Auld 9. animal was theholds first to purchased byReekie’?

Edinburgh

Zoo?

9. What knighted animal resides in Edinburgh Zoo? 10. The Duke of Edinburgh was born in Corfu under what 10. The import Royal title?of which Scottish food was banned by the USA in 1971?

ANSWERS 1. St Andrews 2. William Ewart Gladstone 3. Lerwick 4. The first two Prime Ministers of Canada 5. Robb Stark 6. Japan 7. The Calcutta Cup 8. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 9. Gannet 10. Prince Phillip of Greece

1. BBC series Last of the

HARD SUDOKU DIFFICULTY: DIFFICULTY: HARD

ENTER DIGITSFROM FROM 9 INTO THE ENTER DIGITS 1 TO19TO INTO THE BLANK BLANK EVERY MUST SPACES.SPACES. EVERY ROW MUSTROW CONTAIN ONE CONTAIN ONE OF EACH DIGIT. SO MUST OF EACHCOLUMN, DIGIT. SO MUST EVERYEVERY COLUMN, EVERY AS MUST 3X3AS MUST EVERY 3X3 SQUARE. SQUARE. LAST MONTH’S SOLUTION IS SHOWN RIGHT. LAST MONTH’S SOLUTION IS SHOWN RIGHT.

This former fishing village is found on the shores of Loch Carron Bay. This idyllic settlement is known as the ‘Jewel of the Highlands’. It has featured in many films and television shows, most notably though in the BBC’s ‘Hamish Macbeth’. A 15 minute drive away is Kyle of Lochalsh, the gateway to the Isle of Skye.

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ANSWERS: GENERAL KNOWLEDGE 1. 2002 2. Robert the Bruce & Edward II 3. Hedge 4. 3,000 years old 5 . 1947 6. A stroke 7. Arthur Conan Doyle 8. Edinburgh 9. A penguin named Sir Nils Olav 10. Haggis WHAT YEAR IS IT? 1993 WHERE ARE WE? Plockton

requirements of this competition – your name, address and telephone number. Should you be selected as the winner, Scottish Field will contact you by post and your personal data will be passed to the crossword sponsor for the purposes of verification. Scottish Field (Wyvex Media) will retain your information for a maximum of 3 months after the crossword competition closes and then it will be deleted.

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WORD SEARCH: FUNDAMENTAL How many English words can you make from the word above?

We can find 267. Try to find as many as possible. Words must be at least three letters.

100 WORDS: GOOD, 150 WORDS: EXCELLENT, 200 WORDS MORE: YOU ARE what A GENIUS We will protect your OR personal data. We only gather we need for the

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BOOK REVIEWS

Cover to cover Art Deco Scotland

BY BRUCE PETER HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND £30

 This 362-page doorstopper of a hardback book is subtitled ‘Design And Architecture In The Jazz Age’ and is as impressive in its scope as in its stature.

Art Deco is the futuristic design which emerged from Paris and New York in the 1920s – the Exposition Internationale in Paris in 1925 is considered the official origin of the art form – and which was adopted enthusiastically in Scotland. But, as Peter, a Professor of Design History at Glasgow School of Art, suggests its antecedents predate Rennie Mackintosh and include work by

This Bright Life

BY KAREN CAMPBELL CANONGATE £16.99



Having read only the first line I was in stitches, which made me worry for the pain my sides would need to endure if the comedic writing was set to continue.

This Bright Life tells a heartbreaking story expertly woven with humour and hope as young Gerard makes a decision to care for his younger siblings when his mother, who suffers from drug addiction, cannot. Campbell touches on some serious and heavy subject matter with poise, writing scenes that hook onto your emotions. Dive deeper into the characters as the plot progresses, both seeing and feeling what their lives are and become. (GD) 224

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The Devil’s Draper

BY DONNA MOORE FLY ON THE WALL £11.99



1920s Glasgow may not be the first setting you’d imagine when I tell you that the protagonist of The Devil’s Draper is a feisty and ambitious young police officer who is determined to make her mark on the force. But much of the charm of this novel is in a plot that reveals the constant challenges thrown at a woman in a society offering very few rights, little respect and a distinct lack of equality. However, not content with taking a backseat to her male counterparts, Mabel is determined to get to the bottom of a spate of thefts and reports of abuse at a local department store, making this is a gripping and entertaining mystery. (MB)

noted architects like Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson and William Leiper in the 1850s and 1860s, while its later examples centre around the 1938 Empire Exhibition.

Art Deco influenced a wide range of designs, from boats like the Queen Mary and educational establishments like the Glasgow School of Art, to iconic cinemas in Kilbirnie and Aberfeldy, the monumental office building of St Andrews House in Edinburgh, celebrated restaurants like Rogano in Glasgow, and houses like Basil Spence’s majestic masterpiece Gribloch in Kippen.

Peter’s book, which draws heavily on Historic Environment Scotland’s substantial photographic archive, is comprehensive, easy to navigate and full of facinating factoids.

For readers interested in art and design, this is an absolutely invaluable tome. (RB)

Waters of Life

BY TOM BOWSER BIRLINN £14.99



A powerful and emotional account that explores the hardships that accompany rewilding. Bowser’s passion for life and unwavering loyalty to wildlife drive the heart of this book; the beaver family, headed by Mull the father, are threatened by the possibility of being shot until Bowser takes them under his wing and reintroduces them to his Perthshire farm in Argaty. Bowser writes well, and always provides the crucial historical context which underpins the case for the wild beaver. Although dealing with hostility from some farmers, Bowser’s dedication and the way he connects reader and beaver is nuanced and reasoned. A must-read for those invested in the rewilding debate. (RF) scottishfield.co.uk

28/04/2025 16:33:25

COVER TO COVER

A look at the latest Scottish books by Richard Bath, Megan Amato, Rachel L Barne, Morag Bootland, Grant Dickie, Ellie Forbes and Rowan Findlay Lest We Forget

The Scottish Colourists

BY TESSA DUNLOP HARPER COLLINS £22

THE SCOTTISH GALLERY PRESS £14.95



This paean to Britain’s top 100 war memorials – 18 of which are in Scotland – is surprisingly glorious. Highly readable and packed full of bite-size stories of iconic conflicts and the extraordinary men and women who fought in them (the chapters on Nelson and Glencoe are particularly good), Dunlop has fashioned a book which provides both entertainment and enlightenment. (RF)



Editor Guy Peploe and the Scottish Gallery team explain the pioneering impact of Peploe, Cadell, Fergusson and Hunter on Scotland’s young modernist movement in the early 1900s. This small, lushly illustrated hardback is a great guide which deftly explains the significance and enduring appeal of the Scottish Colourists. (RF)

The Death of Shame

BY AMBROSE PARRY CANONGATE £18.99



Dr Will Raven and Sarah Fisher are back for the final time with a newly opened medical practice and a masterapprentice relationship that remains as ambiguous as ever.

Just as our duo are getting settled into a routine, the death of Raven’s famous doctor father-in-law pulls him home to his already fragile marriage, while Sarah’s sister-in-law asks for help finding her niece who has mysteriously vanished. Shocking discoveries bring them back together with interconnections to both cases as they are pulled into a dark web of lies, blackmail and human trafficking. It’s sad to part with Sarah and Dr Raven, but real-life husband and wife authors Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman have written a satisfying conclusion to a well-crafted and decisively-plotted series that is perfect for crime lovers and history buffs alike. (MA)

The Moon’s More Feeble Fire

The Midnight Secret

BY ALLAN GAW POLYGON £9.99

BY KAREN SWAN MACMILLAN £20





This is the middle novel in Gaw’s Tartan Noir triptych. A Glaswegian doctor and pathologist, Gaw has created a superb character in pathologist Dr Jack Cuthbert. As the bodies pile up after the killing of a prostitute in the 1930s, Cuthbert is drawn into the seedy underworld of the upper classes as they search for the truth. (EF) scottishfield.co.uk

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Beautifully romantic and evocative, the final novel in the Wild Isles series set on St Kilda does not disappoint.

Jayne Ferguson, married to a handsome but nasty bully, is cursed with second sight, and foresees her fellow islanders’ deaths. As evacuation nears, her best friends Effie, Mhairi and Flora are all implicated. (RLB)

The Pocket Guide To Edinburgh’s Best Buildings

BY ROBIN WARD BIRLINN £9.99



This wee book is the perfect size and format for visitors to Scotland’s capital. Broken down into six walking tours of the city (each accompanied by a map), plus a chapter on those attractions on the edge of the city, architectural writer Ward gives readers a whistlestop tour of 300 of Auld Reekie’s finest buildings. Ward even includes a smattering of iconic bars, such as the Canny Man’s, Ensign Ewart, The Dome, Cafe Royal and King’s Wark.

If you’ve got a short attention span, this is the book for you. Short, pithy descriptions of each building (accompanied by one image each) mean this is only ever an overview, with even Edinburgh Castle getting barely 150 words. It is, however, all the better for that - this book knows what it is, and delivers exactly what it promises. (RB) 225

28/04/2025 16:33:57

THE LAST WORD

THE LAST WORD

Spring to life In Scotland we are blessed with some of the finest H₂O in the world, but recent events have reminded our columnist that it’s not something we should ever take for granted

LOUISE GRAY

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People take the mick out of Scotland because it rains all the time but water, especially clean potable water is such a precious resource.

Despite the lochs and burns and bogs, Wester Ross regularly suffers from drought. Already this year our brave fire crew have had to put out a fire on the flanks of Liathach. Less snow on the mountains means lower water levels in the ground and peat is like a tinder box once it is dried out. Climate change is expected to make water scarcity a more regular occurrence.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) warn that the number of drought events is projected to increase from an average of one in every 20 years to one every two years in Scotland in the near future.

‘It inspires our songs, fills our rivers and makes our whisky’ Across Scotland, land managers are allowing rivers that have been straightened to meander once again, while planting buffer strips along the banks so that more water is stored in the landscape. On Ben Damph Estate we have planted trees along the rivers as part of efforts to regenerate the riparian environment.

When guests come to visit we urge them to enjoy our watery environment. We offer fishing on the rivers, encourage wild swimming in the lochs and, of course, provide fresh drinking water from the mountain.

Pure, clean, Scottish water is key to our culture, even when it is falling from the sky. It inspires our songs, fills our rivers and of course makes our whisky. The gaelic name for whisky is uisge beatha, meaning water of life. As any decent distiller will tell you the best whisky is made from good, soft, Highland water. I think it tastes better with a tot of water added from a nearby burn. I take my whisky just like my grandfather: ‘Half and half, with plenty of water…’

ILLUSTRATION: BOB DEWAR

‘W

ater, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink…’ Samuel Taylor Coleridge may have been talking about the sea in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner but a few weeks ago I was talking about Ben Damph Lodge. As usual the water was gushing from the burns and flowing out of our taps when Environmental Health came along and declared it as ‘non-potable’. We were more than a little surprised, especially as we had been drinking it quite happily up to this point without any ill effects. How could our private water supply, fresh from the mountain, be less drinkable than the water I drink in Edinburgh which has been through God know how many toilets and a sewage treatment plant before it reaches my glass? The answer was little microscopic critters.

Thankfully some new workaways, Ben and Phoebe, had just arrived so I handed them a chemical suit and a scrubbing brush each and threw them into the empty water tank. A few hours later they emerged from a pristine tank and we all enjoyed a sandwich while admiring the views over the Torridon Hills. We refilled the tank with water from the burn and scooshed the whole system out with a little bit of chlorine, about the same as you would put in a swimming pool. We changed our filter, replaced our UV bulb that zaps bacteria and let the taps run until the system was once again flowing with fresh spring water. When the nice lady from the Highland Council returned we were declared critter-free.

It is a bit embarrassing to have to provide guests with plastic bottles of Highland Spring to drink when they are surrounded by, er, Highland springs. I guess it is just another consequence of being off grid in a remote part of Scotland. Yes, we have to do regular checks of our system, and quite rightly so, but most of the time we get to drink water fresh from the mountain. And yes, it does taste better. I believe the peat in our water, that makes it the same colour as the weakest Orange Pekoe tea, gives it a lovely flavour - and it makes you look better in the bath.

scottishfield.co.uk

29/04/2025 12:01:48

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