Travel

Following a buyout by the worldwide Karma Group, Karma Lake of Menteith is launched with exciting plans to collaborate with local visitor attractions and further develop its impressive whisky vault.A beautiful country hotel in a truly idyllic Scottish location which has become the latest addition to a worldwide collection of outstanding resorts and estates. It was this tempting proposition...

Kendal. One of the go-to towns in The Lake District and an ideal location for touring, but where to stay, that was the question. There are many options and varying prices. We've stayed high-end but this time we through, let's try mid-range with a deal.Up popped the Riverside Hotel (pictured), a family-owned, converted, 18th-century tannery. It ticked a number of...

A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP THAT’S 20 YEARS IN THE BAKING!Kenmore Bakery used its special 25th Anniversary Afternoon Tea, held on Saturday at the bakery in Acharn, Kenmore, to thank one of its most loyal customers in the Highland Perthshire area, which has been buying the bakery’s award winning shortbread for nearly twenty years.Five star Mains of Taymouth Country Estate & Golf...

The High Street will be closing between Blackfriars Street and St Mary’s Street from Monday 24th May for works to replace the setts on the road and various other improvements.This is to allow for works involving the re-construction of the existing setts using re-claimed setts, the final road level at the junction will be raised to the footway level...

Next weekend on 2 and 3 April children between five and fifteen will travel for free.The scheme is funded by The Scottish Government to mark the historic change for ScotRail which will now be owned and run by the government.The ‘Yours to Use’ Kids Go Free weekend will allow families to discover train travel, giving them a chance to...

The Chris Stewart Group is a name which has become more and more familiar in Edinburgh with firstly the Old Town Apartments on Advocate's Close, and now development of the building at Baxter's Place into a Courtyard Marriott.Advocate's Close was Scotland’s Best Building 2014, and received the RIAS Andrew Doolan Award.The building in Baxter's Place has been empty for some considerable time,...

Scotrail's Highland Explorer service which offers cycle carriages is making changes to give even more support to active travel.The train operator is cutting the additional fares on the Highland Explorer service and is adding carriages to two of the daily services on the Mallaig branch of the West Highland Line, This will introduce more seats and improve on-board facilities...

Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel brings a new, approachable luxury hotel offering tohistoric EdinburghKimpton® Hotels & Restaurants, the leading global boutique luxury brand from IHG®, today opens its doors to its first Scottish property: Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel.Formerly The Principal, (and the Roxburghe before that!) Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel is located in one of Edinburgh’s most beautiful squares in the...

BRACKENHILL, BY CRIEFF NOW OPEN & LOOKING AHEAD TO A BUSY SUMMER SEASON  Described as “an amazing secluded retreat for friends looking for a relaxing break or an adventure holiday”, Brackenhill near Crieff has opened its doors to paying guests as Scotland’s hospitality and tourism sector bursts back into life.The four bedroom, 5 star detached cottage, situated on the Ochtertyre...

United Airlines will resume daily nonstop services between Scotland and the United States next spring.Starting on 5 March 2022, the airline will resume its year-round daily nonstop service between Edinburgh and New York/Newark. The airline is also set to resume daily nonstop seasonal services from Edinburgh to Chicago O’Hare and Washington D.C. on 7 May 2022. United will be the first...

Edinburgh based Flavours Holidays is excited to announce its “Big Painting Competition”. The painting holiday tour operator is searching for Britain’s best amateur artist.With the rise of painting TV shows such as the Big Painting Challenge, Flavours has seen an astonishing increase in holiday enquiries. Flavours founder and director Lorne Blyth said: “It’s amazing how many people wish to...

Forget the over-rated North Coast 500 – Visit East Lothian has reminded day trippers of three routes that start right on Edinburgh's doorstep.The tourism body initially suggests using a car, although there will be some cyclists out there able to take on the challenge by bike or e-bike.Taking inspiration from over 40 miles of stunning coastline, an expanse...

Some clever joined-up thinking might temptingly lead to some West Highland first-class eating, drinking and panoramic feasting courtesy of Caledonian Sleeper’s latest announcement.Scenic connoisseurs, island-hoppers and railway buffs can be well chuff-chuffed as they travel to the northern isles looking to experience the tranquillity and beauty of Scotland’s islands and the West Highlands. This summer's experience is now enhanced...

Strathmore Golf Centre near Alyth is celebrating its fourth major win in six years at the recent Scottish Golf Tourism Awards.The centre, which has the 18 hole 72 par Rannaleroch Golf Course at its heart, together with the nine hole 27 par Leitfie Links course, has once again been named Scotland’s Best Golf Course in the “£75 a...

Scotland's first direct flight to the Caribbean takes off on 5 December 2021, when Virgin Atlantic starts flying from Edinburgh to Barbados.Here's our guide to a Caribbean isle that packs a lot into a small package:Just over 20 miles from north to south and 14 miles across at its widest – roughly the size of Arran - and...

More young people visit Scotland from Spain than anywhere else in Europe.And VisitScotland is this week promoting the country at an international trade fair in Madrid this week.Last year it was attended by a record-breaking 245,000 travel trade professionals and consumers.The VisitScotland team will meet key travel trade partners from the Spanish and South American markets to develop new...

Ryanair have announced more routes to be added to their Winter 2021/22 schedule from Edinburgh Airport.The total number of routes which the airline is flying from Edinburgh is now 50 with hopes for tourism recovery in Europe. The four new routes include Cork, Madrid, Palermo and Paris. Beauvais.Ryanair’s Director of Marketing, Dara Brady said:“Ryanair remains committed to re-building...

Brexit still looms large but people from the Lothians still look to Europe for short-breaks and longer holidays. Insight Guides have published a Western Europe guide with nearly 500 pages of detailed maps, in-depth features, great photography and bags of essential information.A quick guide to top attractions is provided with an editor’s choice for great buildings, art and culture, ancient...

Loganair has cut the number of flights from Edinburgh Airport and others throughout Scotland due to the impact of coronavirus.The airline has cut half of its flights for April and May and will put a quarter of its aircraft into temporary storage.Loganair’s Chief Executive Jonathan Hinkles said: “The coronavirus situation has worsened materially in the last four...

We have been told to stay at home for over fifteen months, and we have. Looking around for a change from our own four walls it was a little odd at first to choose a mini break just a mile from the front door.But it turned out to be a wee adventure, and a wonderful way of looking...

Ascot House is a small hotel and, the website claims, a big welcome. Yes, it is small but we didn't receive a big welcome. Adequate certainly, but not gushing.Notwithstanding that, it has free parking, wi-fi and it is a two-minute walk from the vast convention centre and only ten minutes from the bustling town centre.Ideal, it is also quite easy...

A SIMPLE product switch is set to dramatically cut plastic waste at a top Edinburgh hotel. By swapping individual L’Occitane bottles of shampoo, shower gel, conditioner and body lotion in favour of topped up large bottles, Nira Caledonia will save 400 cubic metres of plastic waste each year – enough to fill the load-space of 62 standard-size Ford Transits. It comes...

The westbound carriageway of the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass will be closed for resurfacing between Baberton and Calder Junctions from 20:30 until 06:00 on the night of 27 March.A diversion route for westbound traffic will be signposted from Baberton Junction via the B701 and A71 before rejoining the A720 at Calder Junction. This diversion will add an estimated 8...

18.56: Dusseldorf Airport Station. Next train to Dusseldorf Hauptbahnhof platform four. We board after asking the guard if this was the correct train. Seconds later the same man said: "You are on the wrong train."We were shocked. Yes, it was the train to Dusseldorf Hauptbahnhof, one stop, around five minutes. He summoned the ticket collector. "You are fined 60E each." Why? "You...

MAINS OF TAYMOUTH OFFERS TWO LOCATIONS FOR HOLIDAY HOME OWNERSHIP Mains of Taymouth Country Estate & Golf Course is offering those in the market for a luxury holiday home two fantastic opportunities to secure a property on the five star estate.Overlooking the picturesque nine hole golf course, fully furnished and decorated lodges from Willerby Bespoke are available at the Cairn...

When travelling with Norwegian recently we mentioned more than once the lovely tail fins on the distinctive planes, and also the late Sir Freddie Laker who first offered low price fares across the Atlantic.Now the low cost airline Norwegian flew to the US from Edinburgh Airport using the brand-new Boeing 737 MAX this weekend featuring the British aviation maverick.The...

Jet2 has confirmed that it can take passengers and holidaymakers to 32 sunshine destinations next year from Edinburgh Airport, and flights are on sale now.There are three new weekly Greek routes to Skiathos, Santorini and Preveza, as well as Izmir, Naples and Thessaloniki.Flights are also on sale now to the Canaries, Spain, Greece, Turkey and Portugal.Gordon...

LOOK FORWARD TO PERTHSHIRE STAYCATIONS WITH LAUNCH OF NEW CRIEFF LETTINGS PROPERTY The business which created Gamefield, Crieff, one of Perthshire’s finest self catering & exclusive use venues, is back with another luxurious property.The launch of Brackenhill, a four bedroom, detached cottage, sleeping eight, on the Ochtertyre Estate, Crieff, is being viewed by its owner as an important investment in...

A Coupar Angus hotel is doing its bit to fight the cost of living crisis and boost golf in its home area. The family run Red House Hotel, the only hotel in Coupar Angus, has, since the start of the year, already booked in 1,400 golfers who plan to visit and play golf on a range of courses all...

Virgin Atlantic has announced plans to begin flying form Edinburgh Airport to Barbados from December and to Orlando in Florida from April 2022.This will be a first for the company and will be Scotland's only direct flight to the Caribbean with fares starting from £419 per passenger.The twice weekly Caribbean flights will begin on 5 December 2021...