Axel Piper

Women Travel Tribe (WTT) is planning its biggest year yet, unveiling fifty women-only trips for 2026, with a spotlight on destinations from Ireland and Scotland to Kenya and Croatia. A Growing Market With Deep Pockets The demand for women-only travel isn’t just a niche trend anymore—it’s a thriving, global movement. WTT’s own numbers tell the story: over 12,000 members now form its community, and bookings have surged to the point where the organisation is tripling its offerings for next year. This growth isn’t random. Industry data shows women aged 55 and over now account for more than 40% of all…

Scotland is putting high-tech robots to work in its fields, hoping faster data and pinpoint accuracy can reshape how food is grown. Farmers are betting this could mean healthier crops, less waste and higher profits. Precision Over Tradition Instead of treating a whole field the same way, these robots get down to the nitty-gritty — plant by plant. They don’t just roll across acres spraying and hoping for the best. They’re fitted with cameras, sensors, and connected to 5G networks so they can spot a single sick plant or a pest problem before it spreads. It’s a complete shift from…

In just one hour, a sweaty, hilarious, and unexpectedly tender one-man show at Assembly Roxy is making Fringe audiences laugh, cry—and reflect on the messiness of being human. A Relatable Sex Comedy That’s Not Really About Sex Joey Kavanagh just wants to “get his hole.” It sounds crude—because it is—but Homo(sapien) is anything but one-note. Written and performed by Conor O’Dwyer, this one-man play tackles queer shame, Catholic guilt, sex (or the lack of it), and the ridiculousness of dating apps with jaw-dropping honesty. Joey is Irish. He’s Catholic. He’s gay. And most importantly, he’s horny. But this isn’t a…

It’s official: 33 everyday Scots doing extraordinary things are in the running for one of the most heartfelt recognitions in the country. The BBC Make a Difference Awards finalists have been announced — and their stories are nothing short of inspiring. From quiet acts of kindness to bold community initiatives, this year’s shortlist reflects the spirit of Scotland in full force. Finalists chosen from hundreds of heartfelt nominations BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal spent weeks sifting through nominations submitted by listeners. The challenge? Narrowing down hundreds of moving stories into just a few finalists across nine award…

“The Most Damaging Summer Storm in Recent Memory” In the wake of Storm Floris, tens of thousands across Scotland are still without electricity, stranded by blocked roads and suspended trains. The storm, which barrelled through the country on Monday with wind gusts reaching up to 90 mph, is now being called the worst summer storm in years by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN). More than 50,000 homes lost power at the height of the storm. While many were reconnected overnight, thousands remain in the dark across the Highlands, Moray, and Aberdeenshire. “This was the most damaging summer storm in…

The 516-mile loop meant to revive northern Scotland's fortunes became a tourism success story — and then, a cautionary tale. Now locals and visitors are wondering what’s next. At first, the North Coast 500 sounded like a clever fix. Take Scotland’s underappreciated north — windswept moors, stone crofts, cliffs that look borrowed from Iceland — and rebrand it as a dream drive. Simple. Romantic. Marketable. The kind of route that makes influencers squeal and road-trippers pack their bags. But what started as a hopeful campaign in 2015 — backed by the North Highland Initiative and then-Prince Charles — has mushroomed…

Ten martial artists from Legacy Tae Kwon Do head to Glasgow for the ITF World Championships, bringing family spirit, grit, and hometown pride to the global arena. For a small group of athletes from southern Alberta, July wasn’t about summer breaks or lazy evenings. It was about Glasgow. Sweat. Sparring. And representing Canada on one of the world’s biggest martial arts stages. From July 19–20, ten athletes from Legacy Tae Kwon Do in Lethbridge flew across the Atlantic to compete at the International Tae Kwon-Do Federation (ITF) World Championships at Braehead Arena in Scotland. They weren’t just there to compete—they…

The Scottish Government has officially approved SSE’s Berwick Bank offshore wind project—an enormous step that could soon make the UK home to the largest wind farm on Earth. With the last major consent now secured, the project is inching closer to becoming reality. But it's not a done deal just yet. SSE still has to win a power contract and make its final investment decision. Still, this marks the most significant progress in over a decade of planning—and positions the UK for a potential leap in global renewable energy leadership. A Decade-Long Dream Moves Closer to Reality This isn’t some…

A rugged, untouched island in the Highlands is up for grabs at a price lower than many suburban homes in Sydney or Melbourne—if you don’t mind the cold, the seals, and zero chance of building a house. 30 Acres of Isolation in the Scottish Highlands Eilean Mòr, a 30-acre island nestled in the icy waters of Loch Sunart on Scotland’s west coast, has just hit the market for £435,000 (approximately $560,000 USD or AUD 864,000). That’s less than the cost of a modest inner-city apartment in many parts of Australia. But you’re not buying a home. You’re buying wilderness. Thick…

An independent review praises Scotland’s “compassionate” approach but warns that too many disabled people still find the system confusing and hard to access. Scotland’s flagship disability benefit, hailed for its humanity and a gentler tone than its UK counterpart, is facing a reckoning. A new report has urged ministers to simplify the Adult Disability Payment system before a dramatic rise in claimants and costs puts it under serious pressure. The warning comes as projections show the number of people receiving the payment is set to nearly double within six years — from 379,000 today to more than 703,000 by 2030.…