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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…

Shock and sorrow ripple through a tight-knit community after a wooden crucifix was set alight and dozens of headstones were wrecked in what locals are calling one of the worst acts of cemetery vandalism in recent memory. Five-Metre Crucifix Burned Overnight The overnight attack at St Conval’s Cemetery in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, has left families distraught and the Diocese of Paisley reeling. Police say a 39-year-old man has been charged in connection with the destruction, which included burning a towering five‑metre‑high crucifix and smashing around forty headstones. One sentence. Officers were alerted around 8.50am on Sunday after horrified visitors discovered…

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…

A fresh link across the Atlantic now ties Quebec and Scotland closer than ever. Air Canada’s new direct Montreal–Edinburgh service is up and flying, promising to boost tourism, trade, and maybe even a few family reunions. Nonstop Flights Bridge the Atlantic Gap On June 26, Air Canada officially launched its nonstop Montreal–Edinburgh flights — the only direct route connecting Quebec with Scotland. Operated three times a week, the new service plugs Montreal into Edinburgh’s historic cobbled streets, vibrant festivals, and whisky bars. One sentence. It’s no small feat: four Canadian cities now have direct links to the Scottish capital, broadening…

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…

Scotland’s villages are the kind of places that make you pull over just to stare. From Highland hamlets to coastal hideaways, these ten gems show off the country’s raw beauty, history, and a good dose of local quirk. Plockton: Highlands Charm by the Sea Plockton feels like a place the world forgot — in the best way. Just one main street hugs the sheltered shores of Loch Carron. Whitewashed cottages stand proud, palm trees sway oddly in the breeze (thanks to the Gulf Stream), and boats bob lazily offshore. Artists flock here for that light you can’t quite capture on…