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Holidaymakers dreaming of stress-free drives across Scotland this summer should brace for extra checks, longer routes and plenty of blue lights. Police Scotland’s new crackdown on drink and drug driving is in full swing — and it’s reshaping how people hit the road. The operation runs until mid-July but its effects could linger, especially for those planning big family getaways. Extra patrols, surprise checkpoints and random tests mean travellers will need more patience than usual. Glasgow Tops the List for Offences New data makes it plain: Glasgow is Scotland’s drink-driving hotspot. According to the latest Recorded Crime in Scotland report,…

Drivers across Scotland are being urged to stay sharp behind the wheel as deer-related crashes become an all-too-common hazard on country lanes and even busy roads. With more than a million deer roaming the nation’s hills, glens and fields, the odds of an unexpected encounter are climbing — sometimes quite literally. New figures from NatureScot paint a clear picture: an estimated 1,850 collisions a year since 2016, and no sign of that number dropping any time soon. Scotland’s Four Wild Species, One Growing Problem Let’s start with the basics. Scotland is home to four main types of deer — red,…

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…

A game once seen as the pride of everyday Scots is starting to feel out of reach. From St Andrews’ storied links to the windswept fairways along the Lothian coast, the spirit of golf as a people’s game is clashing with big money from across the Atlantic. And folks aren’t shy to say it stings. For decades, golf here wasn’t about who you knew or how much you could drop on green fees. Now, with dollars flooding in, that old image feels like it’s slipping through Scottish fingers. Where Golf Began — But at What Cost? They call Scotland the…

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…

Move over Edinburgh and Glasgow — Falkirk is officially Scotland’s best spot for families, and it’s got the stats to prove it. A fresh report by LNER, the UK train operator, has declared Falkirk the top family-friendly getaway in Scotland, thanks to its winning mix of activities, green spaces, and iconic landmarks. 511 Ways to Keep the Kids Busy Forget the “I’m bored” chorus. Falkirk has more child-friendly things to do per capita than anywhere else in Scotland — a whopping 511 activities to pick from. That’s everything from boat trips on the Falkirk Wheel to running wild at Helix…

It takes more than a dreich Scottish morning to keep the royals indoors. King Charles and Queen Camilla showed just that as they carried out duties in rain-soaked Kirkcaldy, umbrellas in hand, to mark a century of the town’s beloved War Memorial. A Cornerstone of Local Remembrance Despite the drizzle, the royal couple were all smiles as they arrived in Fife. Kirkcaldy’s War Memorial, established back in 1925, holds deep meaning for generations of families. It was created through a donation from local businessman John Nairn, who dedicated it to his son Ian, killed in World War I. One short…

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 fresh lifeline is being offered to Scotland’s historic churches as a new project gets underway to map out their heritage and find ways to keep their stories — and doors — open. Backed by a £229,015 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Finding Futures for Scotland’s Churches project aims to gather vital information on the value these buildings hold for local communities before they disappear. Hundreds of Churches at Risk of Shutting for Good Scotland is home to nearly 3,000 churches, scattered across cities, towns, and tiny villages. But the numbers tell a stark story. Since 2020,…

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…