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Scotland Magazine Issue 40
Celebrating Scotland Across the World
Tuesday 16th March 2010

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Scotland Magazine Issue 40
Scotland Magazine Issue 40
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Food Review Scotland

 

Scotland Magazine author Dominic Roskrow

Culture in the capital

Edinburgh is world famous for its festivals and its history. But it has a comtemporary artistic side too. Dominic Roskrow reports.

Followers of the British version of The Apprentice will be well aware that in the latest series Sir Alan Sugar’s two assistants have come in to their own. Margaret and Nick have come out of their shells and are capable of stopping the contestants dead in their tracks with a withering look or sharpl...

Regional Focus from Issue 39 published on 23/06/2008

WHAT TO DO

National Galleries of Scotland The Mound Tel: +44 (0)131 624 6200 www.nationalgalleries.org The Collective Gallery Cockburn Street Tel: +44 (0)131 220 1260 www.collectivegallery.net Royal Scottish Academy The Mound Tel: +44 (0)131 225 3922 www.royalscottishacademy.org City Art Gallery Market Stre...

Regional Focus from Issue 39 published on 23/06/2008

WHERE TO STAY

Swallow Albany Albany Street Georgian townhouse in a quiet location but close to the city centre. Its restaurant is highly regarded, its luxury rooms impressive. Twentyone tastefully decorated rooms Tel: +44 (0)131 556 0397 Rick’s Frederick Street Style and informality in perfect unison. There are ...

Regional Focus from Issue 39 published on 23/06/2008

WHERE TO EAT

9 Cellars Restaurant & Bar York Place The head chef won the international Indian chef of the year last year. Excellent and unconventional Indian food. The Goan fish is particularly recommended Tel: +44 (0)131 557 9899 www.9cellars.co.uk Britannia Spice Commercial Street, Leith Docks Stylish and unu...

Regional Focus from Issue 39 published on 23/06/2008

City rhythms

Edinburgh might claim to have the picture book history, but Glasgow is the pulsing heart not just of Scotland but arguably of Britain too. Dominic Roskrow reports

Do you remember the Sensational Alex Harvey Band? You can learn a lot about a place by looking at the musical groups that grew out of them. And The Sensational Alex Harvey Band were quintessentially Glaswegian. The band were a raunchy, rough and ready rock band fronted by a singer who seemed to be...

Regional Focus from Issue 38 published on 11/04/2008

WHAT TO DO - MUSIC

Carling Academy Eglinton Street Features major national and international bands Tel: +44 (0)141 418 3000 www.glasgow-academy.co.uk Babbity Bowsters Blackfriars Street Glasgow institution with traditional music nights Tel: +44 (0)141 552 5055 Baby Grand Elm Gardens Live piano music Wed to Sat Tel: ...

Regional Focus from Issue 38 published on 11/04/2008

Annie Lennox

Annie Lennox has been a star for 30 years, the latest in a long line of fine Scottish singers. Dominic Roskrow reports

When Annie Lennox burst out of the punk rock scene with The Tourists there was little indication that she would join the elite group of fine singers from Scotland. But it’s well possible that had she not joined a rock band, she would have accomplished success in classical music. But it was rock tha...

Scotland Geneology from Issue 38 published on 11/04/2008

Caithness, Sutherland & Ross-Shire

Exploring the Northern Highlands The region of Caithness and Sutherland and over to Ross & Cromarty is stunningly and exhilarating. Dominic Roskrow reports. There is no feeling quite like it. It’s a mixture of trepidation laced with fear, of excitement and euphoria, and of uncontrollable, overwhel...

Regional Focus from Issue 37 published on 20/03/2008

Regional Focus

Where to visit Assynt Visitor Centre Lochinver Sets the scene for the geology and wildlife of the area. Tel: +44 (0)1571 844 330 Badbea Clearance Village Nr Helmsdale A walking trail round a deserted settlement, a stark reminder of the Clearances that took place here. Castle of Mey Thurso Beautifu...

Regional Focus from Issue 37 published on 20/03/2008

Pirates of the Atlantic

Scotland’s a long way from the Caribbean glamour of Jack Sparrow and crew. But as Dominic Roskrow
reports, it’s still well and truly on the pirate map.

Sunday afternoon at Madam Tussaud’s in London, and a large throng of tourists are going through the ritual of having their photo taken with a wax dummy of someone famous they will otherwise never get close to. All the stars of film, politics and sport are here, and some attract more interest than o...

Scotland Piracy from Issue 36 published on 14/12/2007

Perthshire and Kinross

Perthshire and Kinross is the perfect destination for a healthy, happy and inexpensive summer holiday as our man discovers.

It’s funny how life goes round in circles. Who would have thought a few decades back as cars grew in popularity and bus, train and underground transport reached new levels of efficiency, that the ageing tram, consigned seemingly to museums, would find its way back into cities across the world and b...

Regional Focus from Issue 36 published on 14/12/2007

Out and about in Scotland - Perthshire and Kinross

Where to visit Adventure Park at Active Kid Toys Stanley, Perth Large children’s play area with fort and go kart track. Café overlooks it so you can relax as the children play Tel: +44 (0)1738 827 286 www.activekidtoys.co.uk Alyth Museum Alyth Friendly museum looking back to life over the years wi...

Regional Focus from Issue 36 published on 14/12/2007

Sean Connery

Sean Connery is one of the world's best loved stars, and as Dominic Roskrow reports, his is a true rags to riches story.

The moment Sean Connery joined the band of true screen legends came in the last frames of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. In one of Hollywood’s best cameos he stole the film in a 90 second appearance as King Richard The Lionheart, one of England’s greatest kings. Connery wore the part of king with a...

Scotland Genealogy from Issue 36 published on 14/12/2007

Life on the ocean wave

One of the best ways of seeing Scotland is by sailing round it. And if you’re going
to sail you might as well do it in style says Dominic Roskrow

As rites of passages go, facing the elements by helping sail a tall ship takes some beating, it really does. Even when the sun is beating down and a carnival atmosphere has kicked in, when the beer has been flowing liberally and you know that you’ll be back on dry land in a few short hours, there’s...

Scotland Seas from Issue 35 published on 15/11/2007

Aberdeen and Grampian: Wild country

Few areas offer as much variety to the rambler as Aberdeen and the Grampians . Whether it is history, scenery or even whisky, the region is unparalleled. Dominic Roskrow reports

The region stretching from Aberdeen on Scotland’s east coast and up to the north was recently described by British television personality Griff Rhys-Jones as among the most remote rural and mountainous regions of Britain. Add to this that it retains a direct link to its varied and evocative past, an...

Regional Focus from Issue 35 published on 15/11/2007

Where to stay

Atholl Hotel Aberdeen Specialises in hearty and traditional Scottish food and furnishing. Comfortable and reasonably priced. www.atholl-aberdeen.com Tel: +44 (0)1224 323 505 Cluny Bank Hotel Forres Small, but well run four star hotel noted for its excellent service and attention to detail. It has ...

Regional Focus from Issue 35 published on 15/11/2007

Where to eat

Atlantis Restaurant, Mariner Hotel Great Western Road, Aberdeen Mix of seafood and Scottish-themed food as well as some classic lamb and steak offerings. Reasonably priced. www.themarinerhotel.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)1224 588 901 Darroch Learg Braemar Road, Aberdeen Scottish menu featuring among other th...

Regional Focus from Issue 35 published on 15/11/2007

Home from Home

Fancy experiencing Edinburgh in a different way when you next visit? Then why not set up temporary home there? Dominic Roskrow reports

What sets Edinburgh apart from so many other cities isn’t just its castle, its history, or its age – it’s the way you can envelope yourself in it and let it wash over you. It has none of the remoteness of other big cities such as London, Paris or Rome; and you can base yourself in its very heart and...

Best of Scotland from Issue 34 published on 30/08/2007

Stirling, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs

Stirling, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs are within easy reach of Glasgow but offer solitude and scenery. Dominic Roskrow reports

The heart of Scotland The area around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs is a vast historical playground, the buffer between the Highlands and Lowlands, a vast expanse of variety just a few miles from Scotland’s main population centres. And between the boundaries to the north and south, and across to t...

Regional Focus from Issue 34 published on 30/08/2007

Fife & Dundee - Three's a crowd

The east coast north of Edinburgh is dominated by three vastly disparate towns. Dominic Roskrow explains why that is good for visitors

If you’ve been following news events in Scotland recently, you’ll be aware of the social and political undercurrents swirling just beneath the surface in the eastern regions beyond Edinburgh. In recent months St Andrews has played its now traditional role as the stage set for royalty, acting as mat...

Regional Focus from Issue 33 published on 22/06/2007

Fife & Dundee

What to do Dundee Camperdown Park Coupar Angus Road A country and leisure park with a range of activities including golf. Great for walking. www.camperdownpark.com Tel: +44 (0)1382 431 818 Dundee Contemporary Arts Nethergate Stylish and contemporary arts gallery with café, cinema facilities and so...

Regional Focus from Issue 33 published on 22/06/2007

Scots abroad: how to trace your Scottish ancestry overseas

In the first two parts of this series we looked at how Scottish ancestry can be researched within Scotland. But what happens when the trail leads overseas? Dominic Roskrow reports

It’s debatable whether crime pays or not. But when it comes to genealogy, a criminal past can be an advantage. That’s the view of Doctor Brian Thomson, a leading genealogist who specialises in smoothing the information highway for people seeking information about their past. For once the trail le...

Scotland Genealogy from Issue 33 published on 22/06/2007

Walk this way (Isle of Arran)

The Isle of Arran is best experienced on foot. Dominic Roskrow reports

Of all Scotland’s islands the Isle of Arran is the most clement, the most varied, and arguably the most interesting. But to fully appreciate it you need to get around it on foot. The description of Arran as Scotland in miniature may be over-used but it is no less valid for all that. To the south it...

Regional Focus from Issue 32 published on 13/04/2007

Ayrshire & Arran

Where to stay Arran Argentine House Whiting Bay Seaside home in a pleasant setting and rated for its food including a good range of vegetarian options. Tel: +44 (0)1770 700 662 www.argentinearran.co.uk Auchrannie House Brodick Has benefited from investment and is bigger and more modern with facilit...

Regional Focus from Issue 32 published on 13/04/2007

Making the journey

In the last issue we looked at how to about researching your family tree. But how do you go about actually visiting the home of your ancestors? Dominic Roskrow reports

If you‘ve been bitten by the genealogy bug and decide that you want to take your enthusiasm to its logical conclusion and actually travel to the land of your forefathers, then you should heed three pieces of advice: prepare for your trip properly, don’t cut financial corners when employing a travel ...

Scotland Genealogy from Issue 32 published on 13/04/2007

Smuggling

It’s been called the national vice of Scotland, and smuggling is ingrained in the country’s history. Dominic Roskrow seeks out some smuggling hotspots

You feel it most acutely on the hills close to The Glenlivet Distillery in Speyside. Climb up here on a spring day, when the sun is up and casting watery light over the glimmering crags and bullish grass, and the wind, chilled by the last cries of winter, tingles the skin and ruffles the hair; star...

Scotland History from Issue 32 published on 13/04/2007

The best of three worlds (Argyll)

Argyll has something for everyone, offering visitors a taste of the very best of Scotland. Dominic Roskrow reports

If you’re of the view that Scotland is actually three countries in one – The Lowlands, The Highlands and The Islands – then Argyll should hold a special place in your affections because it offers a taste of all three. Stretching up from the Lowland region round Glasgow to the rough and ready Highla...

Regional Focus from Issue 31 published on 16/02/2007

Argyll and Bute

Where to eat The Anchorage Restaurant Harbour Street, Tarbert Small, intimate restaurant producing fresh, colourful food with the accent on seafood, beef and lamb cooked in a simple, classic style. Tel: +44 (0)1880 820 881 The Bistro Isle of Bute Discovery Centre, Rothesay Outstanding all day café...

Regional Focus from Issue 31 published on 16/02/2007

Finding your roots

Genealogy has grown into big business, but how easy is it to track your ancestry and find out about your relatives? Dominic Roskrow reports in part one of our guide

Have you ever noticed that the more globalised and homogenised our world becomes the more we seek out the small and local? Or that the easier it is to communicate across the planet and dig in to its furthest corners, the greater our desire to find our roots and know ourselves? Perhaps these trends ...

Scotland Genealogy from Issue 31 published on 16/02/2007

A perfect day (Edinburgh)

Edinburgh is one of the world’s great capital cities, and its sites well documented. Dominic Roskrow plans an indulgent and less obvious day out there

Some cities simply look after themselves. They are so familiar from photographs and travel programmes that you feel you know them before you ever set foot there. And a few – Prague, Paris, London, Milan, Madrid and most definitely Edinburgh – live up to the hype. Cities such as these are to the cul...

Regional Focus from Issue 30 published on 01/12/2006

Planes, trains and automobiles

Visiting some of the most remote and beautiful spots in the world remains a challenge. But as Dominic Roskrow reports, the options are much better than they were

Whatever your views on the rights and wrongs of cheap airline travel, there can be no doubting that for small and more remote countries such as Scotland, they have been a Godsend. Where once a journey to Edinburgh, Glasgow or beyond had to be prepared like it was a military campaign, now direct fli...

Scottish Travel from Issue 30 published on 01/12/2006

Skye and the Western Isles

Skye and the Western Isles take some reaching, but the journey is worth it. Dominic Roskrow explores the region

There’s something otherworldly about the road that takes you west and north towards Skye. It’s a deceptively long and challenging drive for starters, though a stunningly picturesque and stimulating one. But it’s also unnerving as the landscape gradually changes and you move in to the rawest and rug...

Regional Focus from Issue 29 published on 25/10/2006

Beyond your wildest dreams

For the right money Dream Escape will provide your dream Scottish holiday.

What would constitute your ultimate Scottish short break? Perhaps it entails being met at the airport by a chauffeur-driven vintage car, and being driven to the Balmoral Hotel for dinner and an overnight stay; collecting a sports car the following morning, maybe, and driving yourself down to Turnber...

Best of Scotland from Issue 29 published on 25/10/2006

Whisky galore

Some of Scotland’s best whisky is found in the Lowlands and the islands. Dominic Roskrow acts as tour guide

You’re going to have to have a great deal of energy and a considerable amount of time if you’re planning to visit the distilleries in the Lowlands of Scotland and the islands: with the exception of one special whisky island, the distilleries making up these broad groupings are not concentrated as th...

Scottish Whisky from Issue 29 published on 25/10/2006

The perfect ending

Dominic Roskrow is standing down as editor of Scotland Magazine. But he is going out on a high

This is my last issue as Editor of Scotland Magazine after four wonderful years of telling people about the country’s many, many highpoints. I am not leaving Scotland behind altogether – much of my future is tied up with its greatest product, whisky. But if I had to choose a way to go out then this...

From the Editor from Issue 28 published on 20/09/2006

Rocky mountain way

The vast majority of Scottish distilleries are based in Speyside and the Highlands. And there’s something there for everyone, from the diehard enthusiast to the complete beginner

You can argue forever where the distilleries of the Highlands begin from the south, but if you head out of Glasgow, the newly-refurbished Glengoyne is as good a starting point as any – both in terms of geography and education. The distillery offers a range of tour packages to suit all levels of know...

Scottish Whisky from Issue 28 published on 20/09/2006

There was this bloke in the front once...

Dominic Roskrow talks Scotland to a Glasgow taxi driver

If you use taxis a fair bit then from time to time you get lucky and you stumble across one who is less the moaning cynic and more part tour guide and part information centre. It happened to me the other day in Glasgow. My journey was a short one – 10 minutes or so – but in that time my driver was ...

From the Editor from Issue 27 published on 09/06/2006

Don’t take the easy option

Dominic Roskrow argues that there’s nothing like a good dose of nature to get the emotions stirring

Regular readers of Scotland Magazine will have noticed a pattern emerging in recent months. For some time now the two most important words when deciding what should go in to the magazine have been ‘travel’ and ‘history’. Virtually everything we publish is designed to encourage the reader to visit Sc...

From the Editor from Issue 26 published on 21/04/2006

Warriors true and proud

Scotland’s rugby team might have struggled in recent years but watching an international in Edinburgh is still a treat says Dominic Roskrow

The beginning of the end of winter in Great Britain comes when the rugby union six nations tournament starts. This is a traditional event involving Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales as well as European teams France and Italy. Each nation plays each other once so the tournament lasts over five we...

From the Editor from Issue 25 published on 17/02/2006

Other worlds... (Orkney and Shetland)

The Shetland isles and the Orkney isles are both far enough away to have carved out unique personalities, but near enough to get to and enjoy easily. Dominic Roskrow reports

Of all Scottish destinations the Orkney isles and the Shetland isles are the most mystical, magical and exciting. Their location, far off the coast of Scotland in a sort of Nordic no man’s land, means they have developed in their own unique way, partly Scottish but partly not. And everything about ...

Regional Focus from Issue 25 published on 17/02/2006

A slice of paradise

The Loch Torridon Hotel takes some getting to, but as Dominic Roskrow finds out, it’s worth the effort

The journey from Inverness to Torridon in terms of miles isn’t that far – less than the distance from Aberdeen to Inverness. But as you make your way west and the roads become increasingly track-like, as you cut through the stunning mountainous terrain, perhaps pulling up just to breathe the air an...

Best of Scotland from Issue 25 published on 17/02/2006

Thrilled to chill

Dominic Roskrow on the joys of a Scottish winter

I have always loved winter more than summer and unlike just about everybody else I know, I look forward to late Autumn and the falling of the leaves with glee. I anticipate lighting the first fire of the season with relish, and celebrate waking up to frost on the window and underfoot for the first ...

From the Editor from Issue 24 published on 05/01/2006

Great service isn’t just child’s play

Dominic Roskrow says a big thank you on behalf of his son, Louie

Every parent knows that the shapeless lump of dirty, sticky, toy their toddler won’t let go of might not be much to most people, but is the whole world to that youngster. It’s his best friend and companion, his comfort and confidante. Life apart is beyond comprehension. And every parent will know ...

From the Editor from Issue 23 published on 14/10/2005

Hogmanay hotels

IN EXCLUSIVE ASSOCIATION WITH HotelReviewScotland.com

Ceilidh Place Ullapool, Wester Ross Tel: +44 (0)1854 612 103 An hour west of Inverness, the single word ‘hotel’ just isn’t enough to describe what you’ll find – for this is a unique place, one we admire hugely. Anticipate a Highland inn, coffee shop, restaurant, bar, parlour, bookshop, bunkhouse, ...

Best of Scotland from Issue 23 published on 14/10/2005

Scotland’s whisky islands

The islands around Scotland’s coastline are ruggedly beautiful and home to some of the nation’s best whisky. Dominic Roskrow acts as tour guide

A couple years ago I spent a very pleasurable afternoon drinking whisky with some of the staff of Royal Mile Whiskies in Edinburgh debating which country could claim to be ‘God’s Own’ – Scotland or New Zealand. I had argued for the open spaces of Aotearoa and the fact it divided two very different ...

Scottish Journeys from Issue 23 published on 14/10/2005

Getting away from it all for charity

Dominic Roskrow reports on two days of walking in Speyside

It has been a strange summer in both Scotland in particular and Britain in general. World politics and events came knocking at our door in a barbed triple whammy in July. First we had the G8 summit at Gleneagles and the protests and concerts that accompanied them. Then it was announced that London ...

From the Editor from Issue 22 published on 10/08/2005

A Kingdom to explore (Fife)

A journey from Edinburgh to Dundee is an ideal way to discover the Kingdom of Fife. Dominic Roskrow reports

Mention the Kingdom of Fife and almost certainly the words ‘St Andrews’ spring to mind. But if you don’t know all about St Andrews and the golfing heritage of the region, then you’ve either not been reading carefully enough or you’re from the planet Zog, and we do not intend to repeat it all here. ...

Regional Focus from Issue 22 published on 10/08/2005

Facelift for the future

Edinburgh’s “Caley” celebrates more than 100 years of hospitality by seamlessly blending historic with modern

What does it take to bring an historic hotel into the 21st century? For one of two grand dame hotels (the other is the Balmoral) on Princes Street in Edinburgh, it took 130 site operatives a little more than nine months, working on 125 guestrooms, a restaurant and bar, and the leisure club. Though ...

Best of Scotland from Issue 22 published on 10/08/2005

Taste of the country

IN EXCLUSIVE ASSOCIATION WITH HotelReviewScotland.com

Roxburghe Hotel. By Kelso, Roxburghshire. Tel: +44 (0)1573 450 331. The Roxburghe Hotel and Golf Course, near the handsome market town of Kelso on the confluence of the Tweed and Teviot rivers, is an ideal choice for a break – be it relaxing, active or even romantic. Enjoy walking, fishing, horseb...

Best of Scotland from Issue 22 published on 10/08/2005

The whisky regions of Scotland

Different regions of Scotland produce different styles of whisky. Dominic Roskrow explains how each area can vary

Been to one distillery and think you’ve seen them all? Think again. Not only do distilleries vary enormously in terms of size and operation, and with regard to the facilities they offer and the tours that they provide, but the product itself varies massively too. Indeed no other drink offers so man...

Scottish Whisky from Issue 22 published on 10/08/2005

A life on the ocean’s wave

Dominic Roskrow explains his love for boats

I love boats. Always have done. Always will. Any type of boat will do: rowing boats on lakes, sailing boats, historic tall ships, liners, I don’t care; the combination of water and vessel is one that draws me back again and again. And there’s nothing I love more than being surrounded by water, espe...

From the Editor from Issue 21 published on 10/07/2005

Hidden treasures

Pulau Sipadan, the Red Sea, the Great Barrier Reef and, erm, Scotland. It might not sound quite right, but Scotland is actually one of the most unique places to dive in the world. Alex Mead found out more…

Admittedly, it doesn’t offer the luxury of luke-warm water temperatures, palm-tree lined beaches or ‘Nemo-fish’ (also known as clown fish), but Scotland is a hotbed of dive sites and, if you want to consider yourself a proper diver, it really is the place to go for an underwater adventure. Whether ...

Scottish Activities from Issue 21 published on 10/07/2005

Those who lay beneath us

You don’t normally associate mummies – the wrapped up kind – with Scotland. But the ones at Cladh Hallan are worth investigating

Scotland goes with mummies about as well as Egypt goes with bagpipes. Traditionally, the two are most definitely mutually exclusive. So to say that the islands of the Outer Hebrides are an unlikely place to find mummified remains would most certainly be an understatement. The world’s most famous m...

Scottish History from Issue 21 published on 10/07/2005

Something for everyone (Ayrshire and Arran)

Ayrshire and Arran don’t enjoy as much attention as destinations further North, but they have a lot to offer

If you’re of the view that Scotland is that piece of land north of Glasgow and Edinburgh, think again. The Borders in the South East and Dumfies and Galloway in the South West offer a different but no less stunning landscape. And further up the West Coast Ayrshire and the gateway it offers of Arran ...

Regional Focus from Issue 21 published on 10/07/2005

Where business is a pleasure

Acanthus is a private conference and dining facility in Glasgow’s fashionable West End. Dominic Roskrow visited it

These days it’s becoming increasingly common to mix business with pleasure, and if you’re coming to Scotland it may well be you’ll want to take the opportunity to catch up with some business associates while there. And if the thought of trying to impress some potential client while seated in the st...

Best of Scotland from Issue 21 published on 10/07/2005

Everything a port should be

Oban is a great centre for exploring the West coast and some of the islands. Dominic Roskrow reports

They say location is everything. In which case, the Oban Caledonian Hotel has it all. The town itself nestles on a rugged stretch of the West coast and you can only approach it from two directions: South, after winding your way along the roads North of Loch Fyne, past Loch Awe and on the winding ro...

Best of Scotland from Issue 21 published on 10/07/2005

Entertain like a laird

Provenance of food is key to internet company Caledonian Connoisseur. Dominic Roskrow spoke to managing director Gillian Bell

It’s something many of us have dreamt about: hiring some beautiful house or even a castle in Scotland, inviting over friends we have met there, and entertaining them with the very best of Scottish produce. Beyond the realms of possibility? Not if a growing band of people who have discovered self ca...

Best of Scotland from Issue 21 published on 10/07/2005

Hot in the city tonight

In exclusive association with HotelReviewScotland.com

Malmaison Edinburgh. Leith, Edinburgh. Tel: +44 (0)131 468 5000. The Malmaison Edinburgh is in the capable hands of Lizzy Kelk, winner of The Scottish Hotel Manager of the Year Award 2005. Management matters: over the past year this hotel has returned fully to form and now offers guests some of th...

Best of Scotland from Issue 21 published on 10/07/2005

2005 Hotels of the Year

When you plan your holiday in Scotland – or even a business trip – it’s sometimes a challenge to know which hotel to book. There are several guides, one of which is the leading independent website HotelReviewScotland.com with which Scotland Magazine has an exclusive partnership – this means we can b...

Best of Scotland from Issue 21 published on 10/07/2005

Sign of spring times

Dominic Roskrow marks the end of winter by returning to his beloved West Coast

In the four years when I lived in New Zealand, the thing I missed most about Britain was the change in seasons, and particularly the adjustment from winter to spring. In Britain spring arrives symbolically. We put the clocks forward an hour so evenings suddenly become lighter: Easter arrives and wi...

From the Editor from Issue 20 published on 10/04/2005

Edinburgh International Festival

The dates of the 59th world-class Edinburgh International Festival have been confirmed. For three weeks Edinburgh, one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site, will play host to world class symphony orchestras, classical ballet companies, actors, ensembles...

Scottish Events from Issue 20 published on 10/04/2005

Edinburgh Fringe

And you can’t have the Edinburgh International Festival without the Edinburgh Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world. While the EIF focuses more on opera, ballet and classical music, the Fringe is focused almost exclusively on the performing arts (particularly theatre and comedy). It also h...

Scottish Events from Issue 20 published on 10/04/2005

Variety is the key to Icon awards

Tartan Week 2005, and New York was abuzz for the Scotland Magazine Icons of Scotland awards dinner held in the Starlight Room of the Waldorf=Astoria on Manhattan’s Park Avenue. Held in tandem with the American Scottish Foundations’ Wallace Award, now in its 49th year, the Icons of Scotland awards, ...

Icons of Scotland from Issue 20 published on 10/04/2005

Where all of Scotland meets

Dominic Roskrow argues that the area between Loch Lomond and Stiirling encapsulates all facets of Scotland

If you were given just 24 hours to get a taste of Scotland where would you go? Where best would you be able to experience everything that makes Scotland special to you? The history? The beauty? The intriguing mix of warmth and rebelliousness, the blend of Highland and Lowland, of city and countrysid...

Regional Focus from Issue 20 published on 10/04/2005

Success comes from running a tight Chip

The Ubiquitous Chip is celebrating 30 years at its current location. Dominic Roskrow visited

Thirty years in the restaurant business is impressive anywhere. In Glasgow it represents a lifetime. Back in the 70s the city had little at all in the way of a dining culture. What it did have tended to come courtesy of the city’s Italian residents. And when it came to finding anywhere Scottish, we...

Best of Scotland from Issue 20 published on 10/04/2005

Joys of living on an island

In exclusive association with HotelReviewScotland.com

Kilmichael House Glen Cloy, Isle of Arran Tel: +44 (0)1770 302 219 The Isle of Arran is renowned these days for several principal things: quality food and drink produce; it’s the family home of first minister Jack McConnell; people call it ‘Scotland in miniature’ and as a favoured holiday destinatio...

Best of Scotland from Issue 20 published on 10/04/2005

Worth a visit?

It’s hard to believe that just a few years ago public access to a distillery was rare. Now many offer tours or tastings and they’re becoming increasingly sophisticated. Dominic Roskrow reports

Later this year our sister title, Whisky Magazine, will publish its 50th issue and reach its sixth birthday. Inevitably it will look back at the world of whisky and what has changed. Almost certainly among the scores of new and successful launches and the distillery sales, closures and takeovers, t...

Scottish Whisky from Issue 20 published on 10/04/2005

A question of balance

One of the greatest challenges facing the Scottish hospitality industry is getting the balance right between all those quaint and traditional things that the overseas tourist visits the country for, and the demands of the modern traveller.

One of the greatest challenges facing the Scottish hospitality industry is getting the balance right between all those quaint and traditional things that the overseas tourist visits the country for, and the demands of the modern traveller. It might be a sad reflection of the too fast, too numb mode...

From the Editor from Issue 19 published on 20/3/2005

Scottish icons are all set for honours

New York’s glitterati are set to turn out in force for April’s Icons of Scotland Award, staged by Scotland Magazine.

New York’s glitterati are set to turn out in force for April’s Icons of Scotland Award, staged by Scotland Magazine. The Icons of Scotland Awards, to be held at the Starlight Roof, Waldorf Astoria on Tuesday April 5, celebrates the essence of what makes Scotland great and will feature the finest mu...

Scottish Events from Issue 19 published on 20/3/2005

Letters to the Editor

IN OUR LAST ISSUE WE DEFENDED SCOTS HOTEL STAFF AGAINST THE CHARGE OF BEING DOUR AND RUDE. WE GOT A RECORD MAILBOX. HERE’S PART OF IT

After reading your comments in the March 2005 issue I felt I had to comment. You are absolutely correct. Scottish hoteliers are the kindest people in the business. As Americans, we spent a wonderful two weeks in Scotland last summer on vacation. On our next to last day, we left Kyle of Lochlash in ...

Letters to the Editor from Issue 19 published on 20/3/2005

Top of the historical pops

What are the most important events in Scotland’s history? And where can you find out more about them? Ian Sclater makes his selection

We Scots like to think that we know our history. Stop any local on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and ask them about our nation’s most important events, and they are likely to bend your ear about inventions by Scots which changed the world (television, penicillin, Irn Bru), intellectuals and artists who inf...

Scottish Events from Issue 19 published on 20/3/2005

Wild nature at its best

Glen Affric in the Highlands is an outdoor enthusiast’s delight. Our not so outdoorey Editor Dominic Roskrow went for a look

About 60 seconds. That’s how long it took us to realise that we’d made a terrible mistake. All the clues were there: the children were rolling down the mud bank in front of us laughing manically as their clothes turned from smart light blue to dark, dirty, muddy brown. I was free-skating just behin...

Best of Scotland from Issue 19 published on 20/3/2005

Hotels making a meal of it

In exclusive association with HotelReviewScotland.com

Three Chimneys & House Over-By By Dunvegan, Isle of Skye Tel: +44 (0)1470 511 258 The dramatic Isle of Skye is a perennialfavourite: but where to eat and stay? Well a witty cast-iron lobster weather vane, artfully placed over the Three Chimneys House Over-By and its designer bedrooms, swivels in the...

Best of Scotland from Issue 19 published on 20/3/2005

It's your round

Fancy a golf break while staying at a quality hotel? Here’s a rough guide to some of the best

The famous and great golf hotels of Scotland need no introduction of course: The Old Course at St Andrews, Turnberry on the West Coast, Gleneagles, The Carnegie Club at Skibo…and the newer St Andrews Golf Resort and Spa all set a standard that matches the best of their type on the planet. But there ...

Scottish Golf from Issue 19 published on 20/3/2005

He cannot be serious

Dominic Roskrow defends Scottish hotel staff

In your experience of meeting Scots in Scotland, have you found them pleasant and helpful, or rude and aggressive? Would you say that many of the Scots you have met have been in hotels, restaurants and bars? And would you say, on balance, that the Scots you have met have broadly speaking enriched yo...

From the Editor from Issue 18 published on 8/1/2005

Perfect for the family

The Isles of Glencoe is the perfect base for exploring some of Scotland’s most impressive and intimidating regions. Dominic Roskrow reports

It’s not the smartest hotel in the world, or the most stylish. Indeed, by the end of a hard tourist season it looks a little battered and frazzled at the edges. For all that, though, the family hotel Isles of Glencoe is charming, friendly, welcoming – and the ideal family launch pad for exploring th...

Best of Scotland from Issue 18 published on 8/1/2005

Perthshire: perfect for winter

Kinloch House by Blairgowrie, Perthshire Tel: +44 (0)1250 884 237 Relais & Châteaux member Kinloch House stands in 25 acres of grounds near Blairgowrie. Built in 1840 at a time when it was fashionable for newly-rich industrialists to establish seats for themselves in the country, Perthshire, with r...

Best of Scotland from Issue 18 published on 8/1/2005

Trains, planes and automobiles

It’s never been easier to get to Scotland nor to travel around it once you’re there. In this special feature we look at the options

Travelling to Scotland has never been easier, with airlines such as Continental, KLM/North West and United offering services in to Scotland without the need to go through London. Principle destination airports are Glasgow Prestwick, Glasgow and Edinburgh, but an increasing number of flights are fly...

Scottish Travel from Issue 18 published on 8/1/2005

Glasgow's warm beating heart

Dominic Roskrow champions Scotland's second city

Many months ago, in one of my first editorials for this magazine, I compared the relevant merits of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and concluded that while I loved them both, Edinburgh would get the edge if I was forced to choose one over the other. But in recent months I have spent a great deal of time in...

From the Editor from Issue 17 published on 29/11/2004

True pride on the Clyde

Clydebuilt is an astounding look at the shipbuilding at Glasgow’s Braehead shopping centre. Dominic Roskrow reports

It’s not everybody’s idea of historic Scotland. It’s not very bonny. It’s not likely to end up on a biscuit tin. Indeed, it’s very Glasgow. But as an eye opener it takes some beating. And if you want to make a day of it, a trip down the Clyde on the Pride of the Clyde ferry, a few hours in the stun...

Best of Scotland from Issue 17 published on 29/11/2004

St. Andrews: open all year

St. Andrews Golf Hotel sits high above the impressive West Sands – famed for the beach running sequence in the film Chariots of Fire.

St Andrews Golf Hotel 40 The Scores, St Andrews Tel: +44 (0)1334 472 611 St. Andrews Golf Hotel sits high above the impressive West Sands – famed for the beach running sequence in the film Chariots of Fire. Book a front-facing room and enjoy not only the most spectacular view of the crescent beach ...

Best of Scotland from Issue 17 published on 29/11/2004

Blends not blands

While single malt whisky tends to get all the critical acclaim, the vast mass of sales are in the blended sector. Dominic Roskrow reports

Talk to a Scottish whisky lover and chances are he or she will be disparaging about blends. But with more than 90 per cent of all bottles sold in this sector, it can’t be dismissed lightly – and nor should it be. Blended whisky is whisky created by mixing single malt whisky with whisky made with an...

Scottish Whisky from Issue 17 published on 29/11/2004

Scotland's beating heart

Dominic Roskrow sings the praises of Scotch whisky

Eagle-eyed readers of this column will have noticed that in recent issues my travels in Scotland have taken me further and further west and north, and particularly to the islands that ring Scotland’s rugged coastline. Particularly well-informed readers will note something else about my destinations...

From the Editor from Issue 16 published on 15/9/2004

Scotland’s top adventure playground?

The Aviemore and Cairngorm district of the Highlands is undergoing a major transformation. Dominic Roskrow gives this special report

If you’ve visited Aviemore in recent years then chances are you won’t have made plans to rush back. From Scotland’s most progressive ski resort in the ‘60s, complete with state of the art hotels and leisure facilities, it has over the last decade or so most visually represented the declining fortun...

Best of Scotland from Issue 16 published on 15/9/2004

No better time to try seafood

The first week of October is Seafood Week organised by the Seafish Industry Authority. We mark it by publishing some recipes using Scottish fish and seafood

When it comes to compiling lists of essential things you really must do once in your life, sailing on the west coast of Scotland should figure somewhere. Not only is the coast rugged and beautiful, but it provides the ideal opportunity to try fantastic whisky. And of course fantastic seafood. These ...

Scottish Food from Issue 16 published on 15/9/2004

The lifeblood of Scotland

It’s often said that whisky runs through Scotland’s veins. But it influences the country’s culture and heritage, too. Dominic Roskrow introduces some of the country’s greatest malts

Scotch whisky is tangible proof that miracles exist. Why make a pilgrimage to Fatima or Lourdes in the hope of witnessing something supernatural when you can find such proof in any distillery in Scotland and in any glass of single malt whisky? Hyperbole? Possibly. But think about it for a minute: t...

Scottish Whisky from Issue 16 published on 15/9/2004

On the isle of Islay with Mr Toad

Dominic Roskrow visits one of the greatest centres for malt whisky.

One of the most disturbing aspects of modern Scotland is the fact that there is a net migration of people, and those people that are coming to the country are doing so part-time and buying homes to be used only for holidays. The trend is most acute on the west coast, which, with the exception of Or...

From the Editor from Issue 15 published on 18/7/2004

Icons comes of age in downtown New York

Celebrities and politicians attended a glittering awards night in the heart of New York as a highlight of Tartan Week. Dominic Roskrow reports

Crazy place, New York. Crazier still when it’s packed from one end to the other with Scotsmen. So it was for Tartan Week, which imposed itself on the Big Apple in some style. Pride of place in a week of activities was Scotland Magazine’s own Icons of Scotland Awards, in association with VisitScotla...

Icons of Scotland from Issue 15 published on 18/7/2004

A touch of grandeur

GRAND VALUE ROOMS - Where to stay for far less pay! This month’s top three tips in association with HotelReviewScotland.com

Glenapp Castle Near Ballantrae, Ayrshire Tel: +44 (0)1465 831 212 Glenapp may be a relatively recent addition to highly prestigious Relais & Chateaux membership but the castle itself is no less than 134 years old. Now one of Scotland’s finest establishments, Glenapp was grandly restored a few years...

Best of Scotland from Issue 15 published on 18/7/2004

Room with a view

CairnGorm Mountain has reinvented itself as a destination for all seasons. Dominic Roskrow reports

Damn the tabloid journalist in me! I just can’t help myself. Tell me that winters just aren’t consistent enough to make ski-ing in Scotland worthwhile and every pun tumbles out like I’m Lou Grant or someone – you know the sort of thing; the situation being ‘snow joke’, the resort having ‘snow future...

Best of Scotland from Issue 15 published on 18/7/2004

All things to all people

Edinburgh’s The Dome has something for everyone says Dominic Roskrow

The Dome is one of those magical places which balances decor, decadence and indulgence in equal amounts; the sort of place that no matter what age you are, whatever reason you find yourself in the centre of Edinburgh or what time of day it is, it beckons to you as you pass it by and you have to figh...

Best of Scotland from Issue 15 published on 18/7/2004

Making golf a family affair

Scotland’s leading golf hotels are now going to considerable lengths to be more family-friendly. Dominic Roskrow visited four of the best-known.

Their reputation precedes them; the sort of Scottish destination hotels so famous for their golf that the mere mention of their names evokes images of sun-stroked championships or stimulates a frisson of excitement among those that dream of not just playing them but taming them, too. But for that h...

Scottish Trends from Issue 15 published on 18/7/2004

Get back in the garden shed

Dominic Roskrow goes head to head with a top British journalist

Jeremy Clarkson is a British journalist who has made a name for himself on television for his knowledge of motoring and the motoring industry. He also writes for the Sunday Times in London and along with his pal AA Gill, provides controversial, opinionated, inspired and often excellent prose that g...

From the Editor from Issue 14 published on 2/5/2004

Hidden gems close to Edinburgh

In association with HotelReviewScotland.com

OROCCO PIER 17 High Street, South Queensferry, by Edinburgh Tel: +44 (0)131 331 1298 You don’t have to stay in the city centre to enjoy Edinburgh. Why not stay a few miles away by the seaside? Orocco Pier is a new, cool and contemporary hotel – best described as a restaurant with rooms – located on...

Best of Scotland from Issue 14 published on 2/5/2004

Stunned and speechless

Dominic Roskrow gets back to nature

Richard and I spotted them at about the same time, our gaze almost instinctively drawn upwards; four dots on the skyline, one larger than the other three. And we stood in awed silence as they approached, squinting through the sun-hazed cloud as we realised what we were watching. The golden eagle le...

From the Editor from Issue 13 published on 25/3/2004

The pipes are calling's

Scotland called is anew company which aims to give tourists an alternative view of Scotland in total luxury. Dominic Roskrow spent three days exploring Scotland's west coast.

It’s an overwhelming experience standing at the top of Bealach Na Ba – Gaelic for cattle pass and a road which can lay claim to being both Britain’s highest road and one its most dramatic. Even on wet and misty days like today the view is truly spectacular and a little disconcerting. Indeed the mis...

Scottish Journeys from Issue 13 published on 25/3/2004

Much Mor for your money

Fancy a week's holiday at Gleneagles for the rest of your life? The hotel's new seasonal homes offer just that opportunity. Dominic Roskrow reports.

It says much about the world fame of Gleneagles and its reputation for golf that when it announced plans to open 50 seasonal homes the week covering the Ryder Cup – still some years away – sold out almost immediately. The seasonal home concept – launched last year and still in the construction proc...

Best of Scotland from Issue 13 published on 25/3/2004

Hire a piece of history

Myres Castle is a nine-bedroom castle near Auchtermuchty, a few miles south of Perth. You hire it exclusively, and it might well be haunted. Dominic Roskrow spent a night there all alone.

It’s not often you get the chance to sleep in a room which played host to Mary Queen of Scots. But there is plenty of evidence to suggest that the Queen’s Room at Myres Castle was used regularly by the monarch when she was a little girl. Had I been choosing a room to stay in, this would have been m...

Best of Scotland from Issue 13 published on 25/3/2004

Windy, wonderful Orkney

Editor Dominic Roskrow visits the Orkney Isles

For some reason lately there seems to have been a spate of television programmes or magazine articles featuring lists of things we ought to have done before we die. The selections normally have three things in common: they are prohibitively expensive; they are prohibitively exclusive; and I haven’t...

From the Editor from Issue 12 published on 19/1/2004

The perfect fit

DOMINIC ROSKROW praises the benefits of the kilt

I have just picked my own highly personal kilt, and I don’t think I have ever looked forward in such eager anticipation to a piece of clothing in my life. To those of you who know me, hearing that clothes aren’t normally high on the agenda will come as no surprise. I don’t do sartorial elegance wel...

From the Editor from Issue 11 published on 17/11/2003

Give them a drop of winter warmth

Winter is the ideal time to invest in Scottish whisky or give it to a loved one as a gift. Dominic Roskrow picks out some of the best

Excuse the sweeping generalisation, but to my mind nobody does winter better than Scotland. Oh, there are some fine places to see out the cold; The Rockies, Lapland, southern New Zealand might all make a case. But let’s face it, Scotland has some very distinctive advantages. Let’s start with food...

Scottish Whisky from Issue 11 published on 17/11/2003

Music up close and personal

The Bein Inn is attracting world-class musicians and letting you get face to face with them. Dominic Roskrow reoprts

Imagine the scene. It’s late afternoon and you’ve just completed an exhilarating round of golf on one of Perth’s many courses. You’ve returned to your hotel, a cosy enough place nestling in Glenfarg, and you’re about to ask for your key when you notice someone sipping tea in one of the lounge’s sofa...

Best of Scotland from Issue 11 published on 17/11/2003

No better place on the planet

The Scotsman and the Balmoral are the best hotels in the World to enjoy Hogmanay argues Dominic Roskrow

Scotland has long laid claim to be the perfect place to enjoy Hogmanay. Edinburgh now makes a case as the Hogmanay capital of the world. And if both those claims are true, then you could certainly make a bid for the hotels at either end of North Bridge as the perfect venues for New Year festivities...

Best of Scotland from Issue 11 published on 17/11/2003

Andrew Bradford's Grampians, Orkney and Shetland

Andrew Bradford, Manager of Kincardine Estate, gives us his views of the region

Q: Why did you choose to live and work in the Grampians? A: I took over the running of my family’s estate in Deeside. I grew up here and anyone who has travelled would appreciate that it is one of the most beautiful places on earth and one of the finest places to live. Q: How would you describe th...

Questions and Answers from Issue 11 published on 17/11/2003

Tales from the riverbank

DOMINIC ROSKROW discovers the delights of fishing – and swimming – in the Spey

They say that the key to salmon fishing – even at novice level – is patience. Providing you’re in the right river and you’re prepared to wait, sooner or later you will encounter a game fish or two. And it’s true. After two hours in the Spey recently I had my moment. Unfortunately it happened as I w...

From the Editor from Issue 10 published on 5/9/2003

First great homes of the Scots (Argyll)

DOMINIC ROSKROW LOOKS AT HOW THE STUNNING REGION OF ARGYLL AND THE ISLES HAS PLAYED A ROLE IN MODERN SCOTLAND’S DEVELOPMENT

In a country blessed with more than its fair share of natural beauty, the region that makes up Argyll and its Isles is, to many, the jewel in the crown. Characterised by lochs, sea and mountains, Argyll has a timelessness and variety about it that makes it like no other part of Scotland. And that s...

Regional Focus from Issue 10 published on 5/9/2003

Drinking neat and sweet

DOMINIC ROSKROW AND A SMALL TEAM OF TASTERS SPENT A LUNCHTIME DRINKING LIQUEURS

THE VENUE A five star hotel it may be, but The Scotsman is kooky – and we mean that in the nicest possible way. Where else is reception on the fourth floor, where you have two lifts which serve different floors and don’t stop at all of them, and where the rooms are built in a rabbit warren of a form...

Scottish Whisky from Issue 10 published on 5/9/2003

Hospitality Heaven

DOMINIC ROSKROW has been travelling into Scotland’s heartlands in recent weeks. And he’s been amazed at how the country has changed

I’m not really sure I should be telling you this, but whenever I go out to a bar or restaurant, I develop an unhealthy interest in the establishment’s serving staff, and its toilets. The washroom is important to me because I believe it is the last place many of us visit before we leave, and the est...

From the Editor from Issue 9 published on 20/7/2003

Elspeth King's Loch Lomond, Stirling and Trossachs

ELSPETH KING HAS BEEN DIRECTOR OF THE STIRLING SMITH ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM SINCE 1994, AND SHARES HER LOVE OF THE REGION AND ITS RICH HISTORY

Director of the Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Elspeth King explains: 'The Smith is in the King’s Park of Stirling, the ancient hunting and pleasure ground of the Stuart monarchs. Part of the royal gardens survive in the form of a 15th-century knot garden. The Smith was founded in 1874, and contain...

Questions and Answers from Issue 9 published on 20/7/2003

A golf resort for the 21st century

ST ANDREWS BAY GOLF RESORT AND SPA IS CHALLENGING CONVENTION IN THE
HEARTLAND OF GOLF. DOMINIC ROSKROW VISITED IT

The grain and the grape. Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic. Sugar and salt. There are some combinations that are simply not designed to go together. And pretty high up on that list would be golf and families. There are plenty of male golfers who still think it’s bad enough that women are allowed t...

ScotMag Recommends from Issue 9 published on 20/7/2003

The stuff of legends

ROB ROY MACGREGOR ATTRACTED HERO STATUS EVEN IN HIS OWN LIFETIME, AND IT HAS GROWN EVER SINCE. SO HOW CLOSE TO TRUTH ARE THE STORIES?

Few Scottish characters have been accredited with more heroic exploits and stories than Roy MacGregor – known as Rob Roy because of his striking red hair. His dramatic life was to capture the public imagination even during his own lifetime. But for all the tales, captured in writing and more recent...

Remarkable Scots from Issue 9 published on 20/7/2003

Lie back and think of Scotland

Editor DOMINIC ROSKROW gets his kit off – and his kilt on – in public

One of the first things I learned as a reporter was always to try and find a new angle. And lying on my back looking up at the ceiling of New York’s Explorers Club seemed as good an angle as any. The fact that there were 100 people trying to get a glimpse of me while a man fiddled with my sporran s...

From the Editor from Issue 8 published on 17/5/2003

Making waves in the Big Applie

OUR ICONS OF SCOTLAND AWARDS, HELD TO MARK THE MAGAZINE’S OFFICIAL LAUNCH IN THE STATES, SHOWED HOW BROAD THE APPEAL OF SCOTLAND IS. DOMINIC ROSKROW REPORTS

Do you know that feeling of overwhelming well-being that you get at the end of doing something that you’re really proud of? You’re dog-tired, but the weariness mixes with your contentment so that you sit in a reverie until someone invariably says, “which bit did you like the most?” So it was with t...

Icons of Scotland from Issue 8 published on 17/5/2003

Inverlochy Castle

IN THE FIRST OF A SERIES CELEBRATING SCOTLAND’S CASTLES, DOMINIC ROSKROW LOOKS AT THE SETTING OF A FAMOUS SCOTTISH BATTLE

Nestled in the woods and fields in the shadow of the imposing Ben Nevis, Inverlochy Castle has been witness to hundreds of years of Scotland’s history. Inver is Gaelic for ‘at the mouth of’, and Lochy is the name of the river that runs into Loch Linnhe close by. The old castle ruins on the estate d...

Scottish Castles from Issue 8 published on 17/5/2003

Josef Tarnowski's Fife

ORIGINALLY FROM POLAND, JOSEF TARNOWSKI TRAVELLED OVER 30,000 MILES IN AN AMAZING JOURNEY WHICH FINALLY ENDED IN ST ANDREWS, FIFE

Q: Tell us a little about your life history, and how you came to settle in Fife. A: I was born in Poland. I joined the underground resistance after the country’s invasion by the Soviet Union in 1939, was arrested and sentenced to 10 years hard labour in a Siberian camp. The average survival period ...

Questions and Answers from Issue 8 published on 17/5/2003

The richest man in the world

WE PROFILE THE DUNFERMLINE WEAVER’S SON TURNED AMERICAN STEEL MAGNATE AND PHILANTHROPIST, ANDREW CARNEGIE

At the age of 65, entrepreneur Andrew Carnegie sold his business, the Carnegie Steel Company, for $480 million, making him the world’s richest man. But let’s begin at the beginning … Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Fife, in 1835, the son of a skilled weaver. When steam-powered looms were i...

Remarkable Scots from Issue 8 published on 17/5/2003

The magic is still there

Editor DOMINIC ROSKROW renews his love affair with Edinburgh

Over the years, it has been my custom to travel to Edinburgh in a positive and happy mood and to depart sadly, knowing that I might not be back for months. For my first visit to the capital as Editor of Scotland Magazine, however, those feelings were strangely reversed, for several reasons. One of...

From the Editor from Issue 7 published on 7/3/2003

On the trail of Robbie Burns

BRAVEHEART ACTOR JAMES COSMO IS HELPING TO PUMP NEW LIFE INTO THE SCOTTISH FILM INDUSTRY. DOMINIC ROSKROW MET HIM

If ever someone was suited to the task of championing Robert Burns, it’s Braveheart and Trainspotting actor James Cosmo. Indeed, you could say Burns has been in his life from the day he was born. “I was born in a little cottage hospital on the site where the Cutty Sark was built,” he says. “The nam...

Scotland on film from Issue 7 published on 7/3/2003

Rosamunde Pilcher's Perthshire and Kinross

BEST-SELLING NOVELIST ROSAMUNDE PILCHER HAS LIVED AND WORKED IN
PERTHSHIRE & KINROSS FOR 57 YEARS, AND GIVES HER IMPRESSIONS OF THE REGION

Q: How long have you lived and worked in Perthshire? A: I have lived in Perthshire for nearly 57 years, and been working writing and selling fiction for just about as long a time. Q: Describe the region to someone who has never visited it. A: Between Dundee and Perth lie the rich arable farmlands...

Questions and Answers from Issue 7 published on 7/3/2003

I wanna be like you

New Editor DOMINIC ROSKROW explains why he’s qualified for the job

So here I go. My first column, and if the typing looks shaky, well that’s because I’m just a tad nervous. Whenever you start on a new venture such as this, people ask what qualifies you for the job. But do you really need special qualifications to oversee a specialist magazine? After all, did the ne...

From the Editor from Issue 6 published on 6/2/2003

A golden triangle (Speyside)

Speyside is a magical mix of the very best of Scotland - and on top of that, it's the sunniest part of the country.

Speyside is particularly famous for its huge number of distilleries. People travel from all over the world to take the tours, sample the wares and walk the grounds of some of the world’s best-known distilleries. But there’s a lot more to Speyside than first meets the eye, as with so much of Scotland...

Regional Focus from Issue 3 published on 5/7/2002



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