Axel Piper

A new directive from Scotland’s leading animal welfare charity has sparked an outcry from staff and the public alike. The Scottish SPCA has told its frontline workers they can no longer euthanise suffering animals themselves — meaning wounded wildlife may now endure painful, drawn-out deaths if no vet is immediately available. Until now, SSPCA inspectors could carry out on-the-spot euthanasia in the most dire cases, using a fast-acting drug combination that ensured a quick, painless passing. But as of last Thursday, that responsibility has been pulled from their remit. Why the New Rule Has Staff Worried For years, SSPCA staff…

A new gem has joined Scotland’s luxury scene — Seaton House, a five-star boutique hotel in historic St Andrews, is already creating quite the buzz. At the heart of its promise? A blend of local culinary brilliance and world-class hospitality. A Culinary Star Draws Top Talent Michael Davern, the hotel’s new general manager, knows his way around high-end hotels. But what sealed the deal for him?Two words: Roy Ondine. Davern says the celebrated seafood maestro was a huge pull. Ondine’s name rings bells in foodie circles for his artful takes on Scotland’s coastal treasures.One line: It’s not every day a…

A chance brush with a metal detector turned a misty Scottish field into the site of one of the most breathtaking Viking finds in UK history — and maybe, just maybe, a reminder that sometimes the past really does sit just beneath our feet. A Field in Dumfries and Galloway: Treasure Beneath the Plough Derek McLennan wasn’t expecting to change history when he set out on a metal-detecting trip in 2014. Like countless hobbyists before him, he swept his Minelab detector over the soil of Dumfries and Galloway, a region thick with stories of ancient raids and hidden fortunes. One…

A grand old bank, sweeping staircases, and tartan details — The Edinburgh Grand has flung its iconic doors open once again, proudly claiming the title of Scotland’s first Luxury Collection Hotel. For a city steeped in history, this move feels like a fitting new chapter. Yesterday’s relaunch on St Andrew Square sees the landmark residence join Marriott International’s prestigious Luxury Collection, slotting in alongside more than 130 unique properties worldwide. Locals say it’s about time Edinburgh got in on the action — and maybe it’s just the push the city’s hotel scene needed. From Bank Vaults to Velvet Sofas Not…

A streak of blazing light split Scotland’s night sky wide open this week, astonishing countless people from the Isle of Lewis to Glasgow with what many called an unforgettable cosmic show. For a few seconds just before 1 a.m., the heavens lit up like a camera flash — only much, much bigger. One moment, silence. Next, a crackling boom. Some said it rattled windows, others said their Wi-Fi blipped out. All agreed: nobody will forget it anytime soon. A Sky Lit Up from Lewis to Lanarkshire It was the kind of spectacle you never expect to catch on a late-night…

Who’d have guessed that the rugged Scottish Highlands and Jeju’s legendary women divers would share a cultural thread? Yet that’s exactly what Pernod Ricard Korea’s CEO says lies at the heart of a fresh strategy to bring Scotch whisky into Korean homes — and hearts. For Frantz Hotton, boss of the spirits giant’s Korean arm, selling Aberlour isn’t just about bottle displays and glossy ads. It’s about connecting stories — and finding respect for traditions that span continents. Scotch Makers and Sea Women: A Surprising Cultural Echo Aberlour might be more than a century old, but its spirit is far…

True crime fans in Scotland have something gripping on the horizon. BBC Scotland has officially ordered another series of its acclaimed documentary ‘Murder Case’ — promising an unflinching look at two devastating cases that shook communities to their core. The new three-part series, landing this autumn on BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer, will delve deep into the tragic stories of charity cyclist Tony Parsons and mother-of-two Lucretia ‘Kiesha’ Donaghy. The Vanishing Cyclist: Tony Parsons’ Haunting Disappearance One evening in September 2017, 63-year-old Tony Parsons set out on a 104-mile charity cycle. He never made it home. A grandfather from Tillicoultry,…

It’s not every day you see a river so famous for its salmon fighting to keep even a handful of them alive. But that’s exactly what’s happening on the River Dee in Aberdeenshire — once a world-class fishing spot that brought in millions and taught even royalty to cast a line. Now, salmon numbers are plummeting, the climate is warming, and a controversial plan to plant trees might just be the last, best hope to cool the waters and save a species on the edge. A River That Once Teemed With Life Edwin Third stands on the bank of the…

A sudden shift in weather is adding fresh worry to parts of northern Scotland already hit hard by raging wildfires. Emergency services are now racing to handle the threat of flooding on top of smouldering hillsides and scorched countryside. Wildfires Stretch Resources Thin In Moray, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) confirmed six appliances have been tackling a major blaze near Forres. Fire crews, already exhausted after days of dry conditions, now face the risk of heavy rain washing ash and debris into local streams and roads. One sentence. A separate wildfire near Carrbridge in the Highlands has kept…

Fire crews in the Scottish Highlands are battling relentless wildfires for a third straight day — a crisis some locals are calling the worst in living memory. Blazes Stretch Firefighters to the Limit Early Saturday morning, crews rushed to tackle a fast-spreading fire near Carrbridge. By Monday evening, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said multiple wildfire incidents were still raging across the region. A spokesperson put it bluntly: “Our firefighters continue to work tirelessly to tackle several wildfire incidents from Carrbridge in Highland to Dallas, outside Forres in Moray.” They urged locals to keep doors and windows closed…