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US vice-president to spend time in England’s scenic countryside before taking his views north of the border — and they may not go down smoothly It’s a long way from the Appalachian hollers to the honey-hued villages of Gloucestershire, but JD Vance seems ready for the shift in scenery. The US vice-president is set to holiday with his family in the Cotswolds next month — a region better known for its Range Rovers and posh weekenders than political firestorms. Vance, whose rise from Rust Belt roots to political stardom has drawn both admiration and controversy, won’t be lying low for…

A rare lunar eclipse set to bathe the skies in red this September is turning into something far more than an astronomical event — it’s shaping up to be a major tourism moment for Scotland and its global partners. Cosmic Curtain Call Set for September 7 Mark your calendars: the night of Saturday, September 7, 2025, will feature one of nature’s most hauntingly beautiful performances. As the Earth’s shadow passes over the full moon, skywatchers will witness a deep red transformation — the Blood Moon. This eclipse won’t be limited to just the UK. Spectators in France, Germany, Ireland, parts…

The sun burned through grey skies just in time for Day 2 of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, where a swirl of Scottish grooves, Canadian tributes, and Moroccan punk-funk lit up the shoreline. But not everything hit the right note. A Breezy Start Gives Way to Full-On Groove Saturday kicked off under a layer of cloud and chill. Not ideal for sun-lovers, but for everyone else? Pretty close to perfect once the sun fought its way through. By the time the main stage got moving, the sky was blue, and the air buzzed with anticipation. Opening acknowledgments from representatives of…

Scotland's first full year of ethnicity-based childhood vaccination data has revealed troubling gaps in uptake—especially among African, Caribbean, and some Asian communities. Health officials say the consequences could be deadly if the trend continues. The figures from Public Health Scotland (PHS), released alongside broader vaccination updates, show that children from several ethnic minority groups are significantly less likely to receive full protection against diseases like measles, HPV, flu, and Covid-19. The disparities are prompting urgent calls for action. Startling Drop-Off After First Dose Scotland’s MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) programme remains one of the most critical public health defences, but even…

HGTV star Erin Napier is back in the U.S. after a whirlwind trip to Scotland with her family, and she's got plenty to say about it—from midges and missing ranch dressing to magical Highland resorts and the mystery of Nessie. In a candid Instagram post on July 18, Napier offered a refreshingly honest take on international travel. Equal parts funny, heartfelt, and slightly delirious from jet lag, her reflections resonated with fans who know that traveling abroad—especially with kids—is no joke. An Honest Take on Jet Lag and Transatlantic Travel Right out the gate, Napier didn’t sugarcoat how she was…

Heavy rain and fierce thunderstorms brought Scotland to a standstill over the weekend, triggering major travel disruption, flooding risks, and growing concerns over passenger safety across rail, road, and air. From midday Saturday to Monday morning, large parts of the country have been drenched with intense downpours. As emergency teams scramble and warnings stack up, daily life for many Scots has been turned upside down—again. Yellow Warnings Blanket the Map The UK Met Office issued multiple yellow weather warnings stretching from the Highlands to the Borders, kicking in from Saturday afternoon and sticking around through Monday. Forecasters say some places…

Tom Holland and Zendaya took a quiet Sunday stroll through the Scottish Highlands before returning to film scenes for what’s shaping up to be one of Christopher Nolan’s most ambitious works yet — The Odyssey. The couple, who got engaged late last year, were seen enjoying coffee and time off in Inverness, just hours before jumping aboard a speedboat to shoot coastal sequences for the mythological blockbuster. With fans snapping photos and speculation swirling around Zendaya’s role, the film’s momentum is clearly building — and so is the buzz. Sunday Sweethearts: Calm Before the Storm It was one of those…

Tucked into a bay on Scotland’s rugged west coast, Oban has quietly become the country’s biggest surprise of 2025—claiming the top spot as the UK’s most affordable and stunning seaside town. It’s not just about the views, though they’re postcard-worthy. Oban is showing that you don’t need southern England prices to get the full coastal package: history, seafood, island escapes, and homes that won’t bankrupt you. A Top Spot No One Saw Coming The latest figures from the Co-operative Bank’s annual coastal affordability index have turned heads. Oban, long considered a local treasure, officially ranked number one out of dozens…

One of Europe’s biggest battery energy storage projects just took a major step forward in Scotland—and it’s happening at the site of a former coal mine. Independent renewables firm RES has officially signed on to manage the Coalburn battery energy storage system (BESS), a 500MW/1GWh installation that could shift how the country handles its surging wind power supply. From Fossil Past to Storage Future The Coalburn site isn’t your average clean energy location. It’s set on the remnants of a coal mining operation in Lanarkshire, a place that once powered the nation with fossil fuels. Fast-forward to 2025, and it’s…

Everyday life in Scotland turned stunning this past week—as locals from Stirling to Bute shared a handful of candid, heartfelt moments. Nature, family, and sheer serendipity all collided in frames that speak louder than words. No filters. No fuss. Just the raw charm of a Scottish summer caught on camera. Dolphins at Kilchattan Bay Chris Bowen wasn’t planning a wildlife shoot. He was just enjoying a sunny day at Kilchattan Bay on the Isle of Bute when something sleek cut through the water—a dolphin. A few seconds later, another surfaced. With perfect timing and a bit of luck, he snapped…