Axel Piper

A new chapter is about to begin for Scotland’s most remote island link. The Shetland Islands Council has officially awarded a £5.6 million construction contract to Parkol Marine Engineering to build a replacement ferry for the Good Shepherd IV, the lifeline vessel that’s served Fair Isle since 1986. It’s taken years of planning, lobbying, and a sizable chunk of "levelling up" cash from Westminster — but locals are finally getting the green light on a more modern, more resilient connection to the mainland. A Long-Awaited Lifeline for Fair Isle Let’s be honest — the Good Shepherd IV has had a…

Scotland’s biggest local authority has been hit hard by a cyber attack that’s left digital services in tatters and sparked serious fears about the security of citizen data. Glasgow City Council confirmed the breach late Thursday, triggering a multi-agency probe and pushing critical online systems offline for tens of thousands of users. The council’s public-facing services ground to a halt, residents were redirected to jammed phone lines, and the full scale of potential data theft remains unclear. Major services grind to a halt, phones overwhelmed It wasn’t just a blip. The cyber hit on Glasgow City Council appears both targeted…

Cruising through the Scottish islands in a floating boutique hotel might sound like fantasy. But aboard the Emma Jane, it’s real — and apparently even fit for royalty. When whispers emerged that William and Kate marked their 14th wedding anniversary with a quiet escape to Mull, locals weren’t surprised. The Hebrides aren’t just breathtaking — they’re discreet, untamed, and gloriously under-the-radar. The kind of place where even the future King can blend into the sea mist. The Emma Jane Is Not Your Average Cruise Ship You won’t find 2,000 passengers queuing for buffet shrimp here. The Emma Jane — part…

Scotland’s salmon farming sector just scored a big win for sustainability, with global agribusiness giant Cargill securing certification for its aquafeed plants under the tough new ASC Feed Standard. It's a move that could ripple across the seafood supply chain. The certification means that all of Cargill’s EWOS-branded feed operations for salmonids — including those in Scotland — now meet the stringent benchmarks set by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council. It’s not just about fish anymore. It’s about traceability, ethics, and the climate footprint of everything that goes into that feed bag. A First for Scotland, a Signal to the Industry…

The monsoon doesn’t just bring rain. It brings drama, color, renewal—and in some parts of the world, it turns already-beautiful places into something unforgettable. For travelers who don’t mind getting a little wet, countries like India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and even Scotland offer some of their most magical moments during the rainy season. Rain polishes waterfalls until they thunder. It greens the hills, mists the valleys, and hushes the crowds. In the following seven countries, the monsoon isn't a downer—it's a spectacle. Kerala, India: The Emerald State in Full Bloom In Kerala, monsoon isn't an inconvenience—it’s a season of rebirth. As…

Princess Kate touched down in Scotland solo ahead of a key royal event alongside Prince William—drawing fresh attention to her growing role in ceremonial duties. The couple are set to reunite at the HMS Glasgow naming ceremony later today, but for now, she’s gone ahead alone. William had already arrived north of the border a day earlier, focusing on community outreach in Edinburgh. Their separate arrivals stirred quiet buzz, but the real spotlight is on the Royal Navy’s newest anti-submarine warship and Kate’s ceremonial role in its future. A Symbolic Solo Arrival by the Princess of Wales Kate’s solo journey…

There’s something magical about exploring Scotland in summer — longer days, gentler skies, and the promise of adventure around every bend. But what if you could skip the stress of driving, the scramble for parking, and the stop-start pace of traffic? Instead, picture this: panoramic windows, comfortable seats, and a front-row view of some of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes. This is the ScotRail experience — and this summer, it’s your ticket to hundreds of unforgettable destinations. Discover More, Stress Less ScotRail’s Inspiration Hub is designed to help you plan easy escapes, whether you’re craving a beachside break, a mountain…

Scotland’s road network isn’t just tarmac and traffic—it’s a sprawling, aging, often stubborn web of over 5,000 structures that quite literally hold the country together. And as Hazel McDonald puts it, keeping them standing is anything but straightforward. McDonald, the chief bridge engineer at Transport Scotland, is responsible for one of the most thankless yet crucial jobs in the nation’s infrastructure ecosystem. Her team looks after everything from culverts and gantries to high masts, retaining walls, and the 2,070 bridges that dot the national trunk road network. “We’re basically working with infrastructure that’s showing its age,” she says, without sugarcoating.…

The long-running Stagecoach pay dispute that disrupted bus services across Ayrshire and Arran has officially ended after hundreds of drivers accepted a new pay deal, securing an 11.5% uplift in basic wages. The agreement brings a close to a strike that began on 9 June and followed months of tension between Unite the Union and Stagecoach West Scotland, which operates routes across much of the region. Pay Deal Ends 2024–2025 Dispute The accepted offer marks a significant improvement on the company’s earlier proposal of a 4% raise, which Unite had rejected as “unacceptable.” Under the newly approved terms: Basic hourly…

A school project from 1994 has finally made its way back to sender — across the North Sea and three decades on. Back in 1994, a 12-year-old girl in Moray slipped a handwritten letter into a Moray Cup bottle and let it go into the North Sea. She didn’t think much of it. Fast forward to 2025 — she’s now in her 40s — and the bottle has finally been found. Not just found, but replied to. By a kind stranger in Norway. With a postcard. Alaina Beresford’s message in a bottle just closed the loop on one of the…