News

The fight to save hundreds of bus manufacturing jobs in Scotland isn’t over yet — and now workers in Falkirk and Larbert have bought themselves a bit more time. Bus maker Alexander Dennis (ADL) has confirmed it will extend its consultation period by two weeks as hopes grow for a rescue plan. The move follows mounting pressure from unions and local leaders to give negotiators more breathing space before any final decision is made to shift all manufacturing to North Yorkshire. A Stay of Execution — But No Guarantees Yet For the 400 skilled workers whose jobs hang in the…

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…

Wildfires that raged across parts of the Highlands for four days have left vast swathes of countryside scorched — and now a full-scale probe is underway to figure out what sparked them. Fire crews, police, and local volunteers battled the flames near Carrbridge, Grantown-on-Spey, Dava, and Upper Knockando after the first reports came in around 4pm last Saturday. Helicopters, Volunteers, and Long Nights on the Moors It was all hands on deck. Dozens of firefighters worked alongside volunteers, digging trenches, cutting back fuel lines, and dousing hotspots to stop the flames from spreading. Thick smoke poured into the sky above…

Scotland’s skate scene is about to get a major boost. For the first time ever, the World Rookie Tour is rolling into the UK — and it’s landed on Dumbarton’s legendary Unit 23 Skatepark to make it happen. Young shredders, mark August 23 on your calendars. This one’s going to be huge. Unit 23: A Homegrown Icon Ready for the World Stage Unit 23 isn’t just any old skatepark. It’s a rider-built, rider-run cathedral of concrete, wood, and pure skate energy. Opened back in 2002, it’s grown into the UK’s largest indoor skatepark — and a beating heart for the…

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,…

Edinburgh’s hospitality scene just got a serious glow-up. The city’s iconic Edinburgh Grand has swung open its doors again, reborn as Scotland’s very first Luxury Collection Hotel — a move that’s turning heads from the Royal Mile to the boardrooms of global travel brands. Housed in that grand neo-classical building on St Andrew Square, the hotel mixes old-world elegance with all the perks modern travelers expect — and maybe a few they didn’t see coming. A Landmark’s Storied Past Meets Today’s Luxury Standards You can’t stand in front of The Edinburgh Grand and not feel a bit small — those…

Tree planting across the UK is painting a mixed picture this year: England has notched up its highest planting rates in two decades, but Scotland — long the UK’s woodland powerhouse — is facing a sudden slump that’s raising eyebrows among climate experts. New figures released by Forest Research show that while the UK added nearly 16,000 hectares of new woodland this planting season, Scotland’s contribution has halved compared to its record year in 2024. So what’s really going on? England’s Green Gains For the first time since 2003, England has pushed past the 5,700-hectare mark for new woodland. That’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…

The royal grapevine has been buzzing this week — from Meghan Markle’s surprise apology to King Charles and Queen Camilla’s heartfelt stops across Scotland. And if that wasn’t enough, Princess Anne’s got her boots on the ground too. Let’s unpack the headlines, the soft diplomacy, and the side of bubbly that’s got everyone talking. King and Queen’s Emotional Return to Scotland King Charles and Queen Camilla are deep into their visit north of the border — and it’s not just ceremonial ribbons and photo ops. This week’s agenda has been packed with moments that tug at the heartstrings. On one…

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…