Nicola Roy

Warm summer weather prompted a visit to Troon, where quiet beaches and mild evening conditions set the scene for a standout meal at The Wee Hurrie. The harbourfront chip shop served exceptionally fresh scampi and offered a creative seafood menu, making the trip worthwhile. After eating, a walk through the town revealed closed shops but busy pubs, rounding out a short but enjoyable visit to the coastal destination.

Nicola Roy visits Troon, a seaside town around 45 minutes from Glasgow, during a warm summer evening. She praises The Wee Hurrie’s freshly caught seafood, particularly its £14.30 scampi, and highlights the chippy’s inventive menu, generous portions and harbour setting. The article also recommends Troon’s beach, high street, independent shops and pubs as attractions for a short summer visit.

Stonehaven on Scotland’s northeast coast is highlighted as one of the UK’s most affordable seaside destinations, with overnight stays costing about £90. The fishing town is praised for its coastal scenery, Dunnottar Castle, beach, seawater lido and highly rated food and drink scene, including seafood, pub food, ice cream and the deep-fried Mars bar associated with The Carron Fish Bar. Other budget-friendly towns identified by Which? include Whitby, Llandudno and Lytham St Annes.

Portobello, a seaside town 15 minutes from Edinburgh, is presented as an appealing day-trip or weekend destination with a clean two-mile beach, Victorian promenade and views across the Firth of Forth. The town also offers independent shops, varied food and drink, strong transport links and attractions including a Victorian Turkish bath. Highlights include Shrimp Wreck’s fish finger sandwich, The Portobello Bookshop and the gift shop Cove, making Portobello an attractive alternative to Edinburgh’s busier tourist areas.

Lower Largo in Fife is presented as a peaceful, lesser-known Scottish seaside destination with clean sand-and-rock beaches, scenic views over Largo Bay, quiet streets and a strong sense of community. The village offers appealing places to eat and drink, including The Aurrie, The Crusoe and the Railway Inn, while local attractions include an abandoned railway viaduct and a statue commemorating Alexander Selkirk, the inspiration for Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. Nearby St Andrews provides additional pubs, restaurants, shops and cultural attractions.

Mutti has warned that UK prices for tinned tomatoes and related products could rise if oil and energy costs remain high during the crucial July-to-September Italian harvest and processing period. The company says energy expenses are already about 50% above expectations and that it uses roughly three-quarters of its annual energy budget during the peak season, but it has so far avoided increasing prices. A decision is expected after the harvest. UK shoppers are already facing higher fresh-tomato costs, while British glasshouse growers are being squeezed by rising fertiliser and electricity charges, contributing to occasional shortages of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.

Largs on Scotland’s west coast is recommended as an appealing seaside destination even in poor weather. The town offers waterfront walks, restaurants, independent shops, Nardini’s ice cream parlour and Viking heritage attractions, including the Vikingar museum and annual festival. Nearby options include a ferry trip to the Isle of Cumbrae and visits to Kelburn Castle, making Largs suitable for day trips or longer family breaks.

Households are advised to check their refrigerator seals using a strip of cling film, ensuring the film is held firmly when the door closes. A faulty seal can allow cold air to escape, causing temperature fluctuations, faster food spoilage and unpleasant odours. The article also recommends storing milk on a middle or lower shelf rather than in the warmer door, keeping raw meat and fish on the bottom shelf, and cleaning the fridge with lemon juice, baking soda and salt or using coffee grounds to neutralise smells.

Five UK businesses have recently entered administration amid rising operating costs, weak trading and difficulties securing funding. Belfield Group, which owns Westbridge Furniture and Belfield Leisure, employs about 500 people and has appointed Interpath Advisory administrators. Denby, the Derbyshire pottery maker, entered administration on March 31 with around 600 UK employees at risk, but is expected to continue trading. Autostructures UK, a Telford-based supplier of automotive and highway components, entered administration on March 27. Tile retailer Stonecrest Marble Limited has also appointed administrators, while Ilesbus UK has a preferred buyer that could restart operations and complete outstanding orders.

Experts at Auckland Clotheslines warn that prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can fade dyes and weaken clothing fibres, especially in black, brightly coloured, natural-fibre, embroidered and printed garments. Households are advised to check laundry about every two hours, avoid leaving it out overnight, turn clothes inside out, space garments evenly and rotate large items while drying. These measures can help clothes last longer and reduce replacement costs.

A household and gardening expert recommends grating Irish Spring soap around flower beds or rubbing it along door frames to deter ants and other pests without chemical treatments. Cinnamon, vinegar, citrus and peppermint are also mentioned as possible repellents, although the claims about their effectiveness—particularly cinnamon causing ants to suffocate—are presented as expert or anecdotal advice rather than firmly established evidence.

St Andrews is recommended as an appealing Easter or weekend destination combining golf heritage, medieval history, coastal scenery, shops and food. The visit highlights the Old Course and its 700-year-old Swilcan Bridge, lunch at the Jigger Inn, the University of St Andrews, the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral, West Sands Beach and the extensive Topping and Company bookshop. The trip concludes with Fisher and Donaldson’s celebrated custard-filled fudge doughnuts, which the writer considers a standout local treat.

Lower Largo in Fife is presented as a peaceful, picturesque seaside retreat overlooking Largo Bay, with clean beaches, quiet streets, sea views and a strong community atmosphere. The village offers welcoming places to eat and stay, including The Aurrie café, The Crusoe hotel and restaurant, and the Railway Inn. Its attractions also include a disused railway viaduct and links to Alexander Selkirk, who inspired Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. Nearby St Andrews provides additional pubs, cafés, bookshops and historic attractions.

Penryn in Cornwall has been named one of the UK's best places to live by The Sunday Times. Although described as rougher around the edges than neighbouring Falmouth, the town was praised for its strong sense of community, creative businesses, arts scene, community groups and access to surrounding countryside and water. The guide prioritised thriving communities, local initiatives and value for money over prestige or high property prices.

Actor Mathew Horne has spoken warmly about his strong connection to Scotland, particularly the remote Highland village of Helmsdale in Sutherland. He is believed to have divided his time between London work and a quieter life in the village, which he discovered partly through his Scottish ancestry. Helmsdale is highlighted for its historic harbour, shingle beach, Emigrants statue, Timespan Heritage Centre and proximity to several whisky distilleries. Horne also counts Glasgow and Edinburgh among his favourite Scottish cities and hopes eventually to own a place in the country.

Nicola Roy describes a winter day trip to Troon on Scotland’s west coast, highlighting its beach, waterfront views, shops and eateries. The visit was nearly spoiled when The Wee Hurrie, a much-recommended seafood shack, was closed because the Scottish fishing fleet was tied up for Christmas. The visitors instead ate battered prawns and chips at Tempura and enjoyed the town despite the cold, prompting plans to return in spring.

Portobello, a seaside suburb around 15 minutes from Edinburgh city centre, is recommended as a spring or weekend destination. The article highlights its two-mile, clean beach, Victorian promenade and views across the Firth of Forth, as well as its independent shops and seafront food venues. Shrimp Wreck’s fish finger sandwich receives particular praise, while The Portobello Bookshop and Cove are singled out as worthwhile high-street stops. The area’s coastal reputation is supported by a national ranking and a Keep Scotland Beautiful award, and its Victorian Turkish baths are identified as an attraction for a future visit.

Gardening expert Ali Lijee recommends using ketchup to remove light rust and tarnish from garden tools, furniture and brass or copper ornaments before spring. The mild acids in ketchup can loosen surface oxidation; the suggested method is to apply it for about 15 minutes, scrub gently, rinse and dry thoroughly. Fizzy drinks are offered as an alternative for soaking small metal objects, with careful rinsing and drying advised to prevent new rust.

Japan's Eshima Ohashi Bridge connects Matsue in Shimane Prefecture with Sakaiminato in Tottori Prefecture across Nakaumi Lake. Its 6.1% gradient on one side and 5.1% gradient on the other have earned it the nickname “rollercoaster bridge,” although telephoto photography makes it appear steeper than it is. Built between 1997 and 2004 at a cost of about £119 million, it replaced a restrictive drawbridge and now carries roughly 14,900 vehicles daily. Visitors can also cross on foot or by bicycle, but winter ice and snow require caution.

Largs on Scotland's west coast is presented as an appealing destination even in rainy weather. The town offers waterfront walks, Viking history at the Vikingar museum and annual festival, independent shops, varied restaurants and the famous Nardini's ice cream parlour. Nearby attractions include ferry trips to the Isle of Cumbrae and Kelburn Castle, while the Old Rectory provides a spacious family accommodation option. The experience suggests that Scottish drizzle need not deter visitors from a day trip or weekend break.

Extreme rain in the UK and Europe, particularly in southern Spain and Morocco, has disrupted berry production and left gaps on supermarket shelves. Strawberries are especially affected, with producer Freshuelva warning that exports could fall by half compared with 2025. Industry groups expect possible price increases and shortages of raspberries and blackberries, but urge shoppers not to panic buy. FreshDirect says it is working with suppliers to reduce the impact on customers.

Acrylic Nail Art Kit with UV LED Lamp & Gel Polish Set sold through TikTok Shop has been urgently recalled after the Office for Product Safety and Standards found it contained 4-Vinylcyclohexene, a substance prohibited in cosmetic products because it may be carcinogenic to humans. The product has been removed from the marketplace, and purchasers are advised to stop using it immediately and contact the retailer or distributor to request redress.

Nicola Roy visits Gloriosa, a Mediterranean restaurant in Glasgow’s Finnieston district that Dua Lipa praised after dining there. She describes the bright venue, welcoming service and high-quality small plates, particularly the artichoke rigatoni, salad and focaccia. Although the usual small plates cost around £15–£20, a weekday lunch deal offers pasta and salad for £12, which she considers excellent value and recommends trying before it ends.

Nicola Roy recommends adding curry paste to lentil soup to give it more flavour and prevent the recipe from becoming monotonous. Her version combines shallots, carrots, leeks, potatoes, red lentils and stock, with optional spices and toppings, and can be served chunky or blended smooth.