Axel Piper

Each spring, the North Sea comes alive. Shoals of herring move like liquid silver along Scotland’s coast, following the tiny, fat-rich Calanus copepods that drift south on coastal currents. And for generations, a second migration followed — not of fish, but of people. Behind the fishermen who hauled in the catch came the women who would make the herring business possible. Known as the Herring Lassies, they gutted, salted, packed, and travelled the length of Britain, carving out a place in industrial history — and defying expectations of what women’s work could be. Following the Fish Herring were never a…

US Vice-President JD Vance has arrived in Scotland for the second leg of his UK trip, settling into a secluded Ayrshire estate under heavy police presence and airspace restrictions. Air Force Two touched down at Prestwick Airport on Wednesday evening, before Vance’s motorcade made the short drive to Hulford. The stay marks the start of a five-day visit — matching the length of President Donald Trump’s recent Scottish holiday. Prestwick Arrival Draws Attention Vance stepped off the blue-and-white jet wearing an open-neck white shirt and a navy suit. His arrival at Prestwick, a familiar gateway for US political figures, was…

LONDON/EDINBURGH — England and Scotland are setting the pace in reshaping how young people access education, employment, and social opportunities, using free bus travel as a lever for greater mobility and inclusion. The push is clear: remove the cost barrier, and a world of options opens up. Scotland’s Head Start Scotland has been running its free bus travel scheme for residents aged 5–22 since January 2022, a move widely credited with boosting youth travel, linking rural and urban communities, and cutting transport-related exclusion. Transport Scotland data shows a steady increase in bus usage among younger passengers, reversing a pre-2022 decline.…

Scotland’s service economy is back in growth mode, with fresh data showing a sharp rebound in business activity during June and renewed optimism for the year ahead. The Royal Bank of Scotland Growth Tracker’s mid-year analysis points to a sector that has weathered spring’s softer spell and is now benefiting from buoyant consumer spending, global demand for tech services, and—yes—even a burst of unseasonably warm weather. Service Sector Back in the Fast Lane June’s numbers weren’t just good—they were the joint-strongest monthly output growth in seven months. That’s a clear sign momentum has shifted after a slow patch earlier in…

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…