Douglas Dickie

JK Rowling has attacked former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, calling her a misogynist, a disloyal political ally and the “blindest wife ever” after her estranged husband Peter Murrell was convicted of embezzling more than £400,000 from SNP funds. Sturgeon has denied knowing about Murrell’s crimes, while Rowling also criticised her views on transgender rights. The dispute follows criticism of Sturgeon’s memoir foreword, which attacked John Swinney’s leadership and the SNP’s position on oil and gas; Swinney defended their past record while emphasising his own mandate.

An eerie settlement near Huntly in Aberdeenshire, containing cottages, a chapel and Danish objects, has attracted YouTubers and urban explorers who have described it as a mysterious or cult-like village. Local accounts and a 2024 Sunday Times investigation indicate it was instead the farm and estate of Danish-born farmer Gunnar Slemming, a wealthy but unconventional man who later moved to Canada. His strong Christian faith may explain the chapel, while many of the buildings are now being reclaimed by nature.

Carol Kirkwood is leaving the BBC after more than 25 years, prompting a look back at Morar, the picturesque Highland village where she grew up. She has described the area’s white beaches, Loch Morar, scenery and clear skies as especially beautiful and tranquil. Kirkwood, who married Steve Randall in 2023, says she is looking forward to spending more time with her husband after stepping away from broadcasting.

Food historian Peter Gilchrist argues that macaroni and cheese should replace or accompany the traditional neeps and tatties at Burns Suppers because Swedish turnips were unavailable during Robert Burns's lifetime, while macaroni was sold in Scotland from the 1740s. The article also recounts the origins of the first Burns Supper in 1801 and the traditions that remain central to celebrations of Burns's legacy.

Luss, a village on the shores of Loch Lomond, ranked as Scotland’s top Burns Supper location by searches per capita in January 2025, recording 650 searches among roughly 450 residents. The study, commissioned by tourist shop Geraldo’s, examined Google searches for traditional Burns Night foods across 109 Scottish locations. Glasgow had the highest total search volume, followed by Edinburgh, while Luss led the per-capita rankings. The findings highlight the continuing popularity of Burns Night and Luss’s appeal as a scenic tourism destination connected to Robert Burns.

The first recognised Burns Supper took place at Burns Cottage in Alloway on July 21, 1801, five years after Robert Burns’s death. The gathering featured haggis and sheep’s head, recitations of Burns’s work, and a tribute believed to have inspired the modern “Immortal Memory” address. Burns clubs later helped establish January 25, Burns’s birthday, as the customary date, and the tradition has since spread worldwide with piping in the haggis, poetry, songs, a dram and Auld Lang Syne.

Rutherglen, a historic Royal Burgh near Glasgow, will celebrate its 900th anniversary in 2026 with a year-long programme of arts, cultural, heritage, sports and environmental events organized by Rutherglen 900. Founded under a royal charter granted by David I in 1126, the town has links to Robert the Bruce, the Scottish Wars of Independence, William Wallace, the Scottish Parliament and the Covenanter movement. Although its two castles have disappeared, restored landmarks including Rutherglen Town Hall and the Old Parish Church remain central to its heritage. The town’s modern attractions and proximity to Glasgow are also highlighted.

A severe geomagnetic storm produced widespread Northern Lights across Scotland and much of the UK on January 19, with sightings from Orkney to the Borders. Further aurora activity may be visible on January 20, particularly in northern Scotland, the Western Isles and Orkney, but declining activity, cloud and rain are expected to limit viewing opportunities. The displays are driven by charged particles from solar eruptions interacting with Earth’s atmosphere. NASA says similarly intense displays may not return for more than a decade as the current period of peak solar activity passes.

Tesco Clubcard data shows Coca-Cola has overtaken Irn-Bru as the most popular drink selected by Scottish shoppers in the supermarket’s meal deals. The typical Scottish combination was a ham sandwich, McCoy’s Salt and Vinegar crisps and bottled Coca-Cola, while meal deal preferences varied across the UK. The findings come as Irn-Bru prepares a major rebrand for its 125th anniversary in 2026, including the return of its “made in Scotland from girders” slogan and changes to product names.

Motherwell has been ranked as the UK location with the strongest prospects for house price growth in 2026, with an average house price of £134,700. Zoopla’s ranking places Glasgow second and Paisley third, with nine of the top ten locations in Scotland. The assessment considered affordability, selling times, unsold housing stock and price reductions, while markets in southern England and London are expected to experience slower growth because of higher mortgage rates and property taxes.

Aberdeen has been named Scotland's most fun city in a ranking by Braw Scottish Tours, placing sixth overall in the UK and ahead of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Its position was driven largely by affordability, including the UK's cheapest listed pint at £4 and cinema tickets costing £6.50, as well as its museums, parks, beach, shops and golf courses. Glasgow ranked eighth overall due to its strong live-music and lifestyle offerings, while Edinburgh placed 13th despite its cultural attractions. Newcastle upon Tyne topped the UK-wide list.

Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) have entered administration after owner Modella Capital said last-ditch rescue efforts failed. Nine remaining Claire’s stores and all 30 TOFS branches in Scotland are at risk, putting around 2,500 UK jobs in jeopardy across both chains. Modella blamed weak consumer confidence, cost inflation and difficult trading conditions, while Claire’s has already closed more than 140 UK stores and reported substantial debt during US bankruptcy proceedings.

Papa Stronsay, a small island in Orkney owned by the Transalpine Redemptorists, observes “Little Christmas” on the 25th of every month except December, when Christmas Day is celebrated. The community’s religious devotion includes meditation, Mass, a nativity scene and carols, reflecting its aim to venerate Jesus as a child. The island also contains Neolithic archaeological remains and early Christian sites, including St Nicholas’ Chapel, and was deserted for several decades before the Redemptorists established a monastery and agricultural operation there.

Christmas Day football remained a Scottish tradition until 1976, with the last Rangers and Celtic fixtures on December 25 taking place in 1971. Rangers defeated Hibernian 1–0 at Easter Road through a late Colin Stein header, while Celtic beat Hearts after goals from Harry Hood, Jimmy Johnstone and Dixie Deans. Stein remains the last Rangers player to score on Christmas Day, while Deans is the last Celtic player to do so. The article also notes Billy Stark’s late equaliser for St Mirren and Gordon Forrest’s winner for Alloa in the final Christmas Day fixtures played in Scotland.

A McGill’s bus driver named Pummy helped deliver a baby during a Service 29 journey in Glasgow after a pregnant passenger went into labour while travelling to hospital. She contacted traffic control and emergency services, kept the newborn warm and supported the mother until paramedics arrived. Both mother and baby were taken to hospital and confirmed to be in good health, while McGill’s area director Jamie Reid praised Pummy’s quick thinking and response.

The Taybank in Dunkeld, Perthshire, has been recognised by The Times as Scotland's cosiest pub. Located beside the River Tay, the historic 1809 building offers rustic interiors, marble fireplaces, regional cuisine, a wood-burning sauna and a scenic beer garden. Its winter programme includes sauna sessions, cold-water dips, Christmas carols with complimentary mulled wine, Father Christmas visits and a Hogmanay ceilidh. The pub is also known for hosting musicians and is accessible from Glasgow and Edinburgh by road and rail.

Historic Environment Scotland has awarded Glasgow's Barlinnie prison A-listed status, describing it as an outstanding and exceptionally important example of Scottish prison design and the most complete surviving historic prison complex in Scotland. The designation covers original elements built between 1880 and 1908, including residential blocks, the chapel, medical wing, entrance building, workshops and perimeter wall. The listing follows a public consultation and is intended to ensure the site's heritage significance is considered as plans develop for a replacement superprison. Barlinnie's history includes executions, harsh prison labour and the pioneering Barlinnie Special Unit, which operated from 1973 to 1994 and supported the rehabilitation of inmates including Jimmy Boyle.

Edinburgh-based entrepreneur Victoria Miller is launching Sip Seekers, a dedicated search and booking platform for whisky distilleries, breweries and other drinks-tourism experiences. More than 50 businesses, including Aberfeldy, Glen Garioch, Benromach and Sam Heughan’s co-founded Galloway Distillery, have joined ahead of the launch. The platform will let visitors compare venues by availability, location and beverage type while helping producers reach customers and gather market insights. Industry figures have broadly welcomed the initiative as a way to simplify bookings and expand Scotland’s drinks-tourism audience.

A nationwide Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels survey recorded more than 1,000 confirmed red squirrel sightings, with Perth and Kinross emerging as the main hotspot and notable populations also found in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen, the Moray Firth, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, Dumfries and Galloway, and the Borders. Red squirrels remain threatened by competition from invasive grey squirrels and squirrelpox, but scarce grey squirrel sightings north of the Highland boundary and expanding populations in parts of Scotland offer grounds for optimism. Conservation groups are urging the public to continue reporting sightings to guide monitoring, control efforts and habitat restoration.

Which? named JD Wetherspoon the best-value hotel chain in Britain among operators with at least 30 sites, giving it four out of five stars for cleanliness, comfort, service and other measures. Its average overnight price of £70 made it the third-cheapest major chain and cheaper than all 20 smaller chains surveyed. The Coaching Inn Group ranked first overall among large chains, while Britannia Hotels came last; Andrew Brownsword led the smaller-chain category and Q Hotels ranked last. Scottish Wetherspoon hotel locations include properties in Broughty Ferry, Glenrothes, Dunfermline, Inverness and Edinburgh.

Oban’s Oban Winter Festival will run from November 14 to December 21, 2025, with around 300 events including Christmas markets, concerts, winter walks, lights, reindeer parades, workshops and the Scottish Winter Swim Championships. The market is expected to be the festival’s biggest yet, spanning three Saturdays and four locations and showcasing local producers and artisans. Oban, named Scotland’s Town of the Year at the 2024 Scotland Loves Local Awards, is also promoted as a scenic winter destination, with attractions including McCaig’s Tower, Oban Bay and ferry links to the Hebrides. A Wowcher offer advertises an overnight stay for two at The Pier Rooms for £45, discounted from £99.

Edinburgh’s Victoria Street and surrounding Old Town have been ranked among the UK’s most vibrant and enchanting high-street areas for Christmas, placing sixth in Scotland in a Sweepstakes Table analysis. Known for its colourful buildings, independent shops, pubs and resemblance to Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley—though J.K. Rowling has denied it inspired the novels—the street is presented as a festive base for nearby attractions including the Christmas market, Castle of Light, Torchlight Procession and seasonal events at venues such as The Dome and Summerhall.

Wildlife expert and television presenter Steve Backshall says Inverness is arguably Scotland's finest city for a break, ranking it above Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee. The article highlights Inverness's access to Loch Ness, the firths, the Black Isle, the Cairngorms, Speyside and the UNESCO-listed Flow Country, as well as local attractions including Inverness Castle, Ness Islands and the city's entertainment venues. Backshall also describes plans for a family trip through Knoydart, Skye, Rum, Mull, Coll, Tiree and the Cairngorms.

Deaf Dundee father Richard MacQueen mistakenly believed he had tested positive for HIV after a hospital nurse with only basic signing skills communicated his negative result unclearly. A qualified British Sign Language interpreter arrived two days later and clarified the result. MacQueen shared the experience while promoting SignPort, an app developed by Deaf Action and Burrotech through the Scottish Government’s CivTech programme to help deaf people book interpreters more quickly and securely.

BBC Scotland is ending Good Morning Scotland after 52 years and replacing it with Radio Scotland Breakfast, a weekday programme running from 6am to 9am from 24 November 2025. Martin Geissler and Laura Maciver will host the new show, with Phil Goodlad presenting sports news, while Gary Robertson and Laura Maxwell move to other roles. The change follows declining listenership and a wider restructuring of BBC Scotland’s radio output, alongside controversy involving Kaye Adams, who denies bullying allegations. Good Morning Scotland currently reaches about 800,000 weekly listeners, according to RAJAR data.