Dayna Bass

A quiet patch of land near Inverness just turned into Scotland’s hottest archaeological site after a construction crew stumbled upon something truly extraordinary: a 2,200-year-old Iron Age ceremonial wheel. The find is already sparking debate among historians who say it could reshape how we think about ancient Highland societies. A Chance Find on a Golf Course It all began when workers started clearing ground for a new golf course. They expected rocks and rubble — maybe a few old coins at best. But instead, they hit metal. One sentence: What they found was a complete iron tire, once clamped around…

How often do work nights out end up blurry, with regretful Monday hangovers and tales you’d rather forget? Scotland’s top health experts say it’s time we stop laughing it off — and start treating workplace drinking as the serious health risk it is. Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), the medical alliance fighting Scotland’s alcohol harm crisis, is using Alcohol Awareness Week to kick-start a blunt national conversation: Should booze be so normal in work culture? Scotland’s Stubborn Booze Problem Let’s not kid ourselves. Scotland has a deeply rooted relationship with drink — for better or worse. The latest…

A fresh breeze, golden sand, and a hidden harbour like something out of a storybook — Scotland’s coastlines have made quite the splash this year. The Sunday Times has just dropped its eagerly-awaited Best UK Beaches guide for 2025, and Seacliff in East Lothian has nabbed the crown as Scotland’s beach of the year. Chris Haslam, the Sunday Times’ much-loved chief travel writer, did the hard miles. He toured 756 beaches in a campervan, scoring each one on water quality, cleanliness, dog-friendliness, and all the stuff that makes or breaks a beach day. His verdict? Scotland’s got coastal gems worth…

A pocket-sized harbour, dramatic coastal views, and a quiet stretch of sand have propelled Seacliff in East Lothian to the top of Scotland’s beaches for 2025. Seacliff’s Secret Allure Tucked away just south of Tantallon Castle, Seacliff isn’t your average seaside spot. In fact, many locals would prefer it stayed a secret. One sentence here: But word’s out now. Chris Haslam, the chief travel writer for The Times and Sunday Times, singled out Seacliff from more than 750 contenders across Britain and Northern Ireland. It’s the 17th edition of the famous Best UK Beaches guide — so yes, the competition’s…

Scots from Skye to Bute are being told to pack umbrellas, plan for delays, and keep a wary eye on rising rivers as the Met Office rolls out a fresh yellow warning for heavy rain and possible flooding this weekend. The alert covers much of Scotland’s rugged west coast from early Friday morning through to Saturday afternoon — bringing potential travel headaches and soggy plans for thousands. A Wet Start to July for the Highlands and Islands No one in the west is a stranger to rain — but this one’s set to hit harder than your average drizzle. One…

A landmark building, a fresh coat of luxury, and a nod to the past — The Edinburgh Grand has flung open its grand doors again, stepping up as Scotland’s first Luxury Collection Hotel. It’s not every day an old bank becomes a modern icon for high-end stays. After months of light refurbishments and careful repositioning, the historic address on St Andrew Square is promising a blend of Scotland’s timeless charm and the polish of Marriott’s Luxury Collection. Locals and regulars alike can’t help but wonder: is this the start of a new chapter for Edinburgh’s hospitality scene? A Historic Gem…

Scotland’s digital health ambitions came under fresh fire this week as Westminster’s Scottish secretary branded First Minister John Swinney “an analogue leader in a digital world”. At the heart of the row? The glaring gap between England’s fully operational NHS app and Scotland’s delayed rollout. NHS Tech Divide: Six Years Behind Standing in the Usher Institute at the University of Edinburgh, Ian Murray didn’t mince his words. He told Holyrood magazine that Scotland’s “analogue” leadership had left patients and GPs frustrated while their neighbours to the south book appointments, manage prescriptions, and check records with a few taps. One short…

A new plan could see centuries-old hydro power stations in Scotland’s south-west get a sunny upgrade. Renewable energy giant Drax says it’s looking at adding hundreds of solar panels to its historic sites in Galloway and Lanark — some of which have been powering Scottish homes for nearly a hundred years. If the scheme goes ahead, the panels would help supply vital back-up power on site, slashing reliance on the local grid and boosting the overall resilience of these much-loved hydro landmarks. Nearly a Century On: Hydropower Still Pulling Its Weight It’s easy to forget just how far back Scotland’s…

The morning mist clings to the breakwaters of Johnshaven like an old cloak, and you can almost taste the salt drifting in from the North Sea. Here, in this pocket-sized Aberdeenshire village with just 664 residents, tradition breathes through every weathered stone cottage and rusty lobster pot. For more than 300 years, Johnshaven’s harbor has sent its prized lobsters across the Channel, landing on the white-linen tables of Parisian brasseries and Michelin-starred kitchens in Barcelona and Copenhagen. Not bad for a village you could stroll across in ten minutes. A Legacy Built on 26 Boats Locals say it started with…

Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, says he wants to deliver what he’s calling a once-in-a-generation overhaul of how public services support families — promising real improvements that people can see and feel in their daily lives. A New Era for Public Services? In an exclusive piece for The Herald, Swinney — newly at the helm of the SNP — says he gets it: Scots are fed up with overstretched services and want more for their taxes. Standing at Glasgow’s Oakwood Medical Centre, he struck a note of realism but also hope. One sentence. “People expect their public services to be…