Scottish

If Celebrity Traitors has you thinking about visiting rural Scotland, here’s a beautiful country estate that offers a perfect mix of countryside, cosy and entertainment

With Celebrity Traitors sparking interest in Scottish holiday spots, we visited a country estate that’s a blend of Center Parcs and a five-star hotel. Nestled in 27 acres of Perthshire countryside, Wyndham Duchally Country Estate has nine hotel rooms and 55 self-catering lodges, rivalling the grandeur of the Highlands.

The lodges, all two or three bedrooms with matching bathrooms, are as well-equipped, if not more so, than what you’d find at Center Parcs. The kitchens are kitted out for a proper self-catering holiday – no mini fridges here! Expect a toaster, kettle, oven, hob, dishwasher and microwave, plus a full-size fridge and freezer.

Despite the chilly weather outside, our lodge was kept cosy and warm thanks to efficient electric radiators with individual controllers (though do keep an eye on these if you’re travelling with little ones – they can get hot), reports OK!.

Complimentary WiFi is available in all the lodges and the main hotel, and we found it worked a treat. You can connect up to four devices per room or lodge.

Many of the lodges are currently being upgraded to top-of-the-range new buildings. We didn’t notice any signs of the works, but it might be worth ringing the Estate to check on timelines.

There are often deals to be had if you book direct, such as 25% off lodge stays between 1 December 2025 and 21 March 2026.

Restaurant and bar

There are two on-site options for food and drinks – the a la carte Monteath’s Restaurant, and The Gatehouse Bar.

The latter serves a light menu from 12.30pm to 9pm, and you can also order from the restaurant between 5pm and 9pm. A tip – we can recommend trying the Estate’s very own Gatehouse Gin – and our bartender made a mean espresso martini.

The restaurant has a solid menu, with traditional Scottish fare like smoked salmon pate (£10) and haggis pakora (£10) on the starter menu (we can vouch for the haggis pakora although be warned – the portions were generous!), and fish and chips (£18.50), mac and cheese (£17) and 8oz sirloin steak (£39) on the mains.

The steak was particularly good, and despite emptying our plates, we still had room for a delicious sticky toffee pudding (£9) for dessert.

Is it child-friendly?

Yes, very. There’s lots of safe spaces for young ones to run around, plus a separate kids’ pool in the Leisure Centre.

Our lodge had a retractable stair gate downstairs, useful for keeping both four-legged and small children on one floor. The pub has a large outdoor area with lots of tables – and if you’re lucky with the weather, a selection of things to entertain large and small kids, including an inflatable slide and a giant Connect 4 game.

The Beauty by Brenda spa also offers a Little Miss Manicure for ages seven to 12 (£15), which we thought was a sweet addition to the menu.

Spa and pool

The spa area is complimentary for Estate guests, you just need to ring ahead to reserve a slot, or turn up and cross your fingers. Towels were supplied and we could store our clothes in electronic lockers using a pin number, so there was no need to fret about keeping tabs on wristbands, which is always a plus.

In addition to the heated indoor pool, there’s also a hot tub, sauna and steam room – not forgetting a gym, for those more committed than us.

The leisure centre’s Beauty by Brenda spa appears to have something of a cult following around these parts, and while we didn’t encounter Brenda herself, we can vouch that our head and shoulders massage, and our 30-minute luxury facial, lived up to the buzz. There’s one treatment room, so booking is crucial.

We were particularly fond of the range of treatment durations (and prices) available – from a half hour aromatherapy massage (£50) up to a 90-minute Top to Toe massage (£90).

Is Wyndham Duchally Country Estate dog friendly?

This is one of the benefits – it’s a dog-friendly site and a maximum of two dogs are permitted in selected lodges. Just a heads up, you need to book a pet space in advance, and they’re not allowed in the main hotel rooms, Monteath’s restaurant or hotel bar.

The location is an ideal base for walkers and their well-behaved dogs (we felt a bit sorry for the bloke in chest-high pond water trying to retrieve his overexcited duck-chasing dog!).

What is there to do around Wyndham Duchally Country Estate?

This is the perfect spot for those who love the great outdoors (though snuggling up in a lodge for the weekend is equally appealing), with an abundance of countryside, public footpaths, fishing spots and mountain bike trails to explore.

It’s just a half-hour drive from Perth, and you’ll find Drummond Castle and Scone Palace nearby.

For those with children (or animal lovers), Blair Drummond Safari Park is also about 30 minutes away by car, and Estate guests receive a 10% discount on the entrance fee.

The renowned Gleneagles hotel and golf course is just a stone’s throw away, as is Auchterarder Golf Club. So if you fancy a round of golf without splashing out on hotel prices, Wyndham Estate is a win-win.

A Murder Mystery evening

As avid fans of all the Traitors series, we were over the moon to partake in our very own murder mystery night at Wyndham Estate. Hosted by Spirit of Glasgow company, we were treated to a thrilling live-action murder mystery play – The Dalliance – complete with a three-course dinner and plenty of chances for some real detective work.

The cast members remain in character and occasionally mingle in the dining area to converse with each other and answer guest’s queries (not that it aided our team…).

Regrettably, our team performed about as well as the current batch of Celebrity Traitor devotees, failing to correctly pinpoint the killer… However, it was a fantastically enjoyable evening, with a blend of singles, couples, mates and a hen do.

Find out more about the Estate and book at Wyndham Duchally Country Estate.

The sitcom star is thought to split his time between London and a quaint Scottish village, with which he has a ‘very special relationship’

A tiny Scottish village captured the heart of Gavin and Stacey star Mathew Horne. Worlds away from the Essex residence of his character in the beloved television programme, the 46-year-old actor is previously thought to have abandoned city life and relocated to Helmsdale on the eastern coastline of Sutherland.

Hailing originally from Nottingham, the sitcom star, who has also featured in the Catherine Tate Show and Dad’s Army, was believed to divide his time between his working commitments in London and a calmer, more serene lifestyle in the picturesque yet isolated village.

Discussing his passion for the Highlands, Horne previously revealed on That Gaby Roslin podcast that he “would very much like to live there. I am all things Scotophile.”

During another interview, the actor told the Sunday Post, calling Scotland “the best country in the world. My shoulders drop and I feel free. It is where my heart lies and hopefully one day I will have a place of my own there so I can retreat as and when I need to.”

He added: “I love the peace and tranquillity and the people. The food is wonderful, the weather is nowhere near as bad as everybody says and midges don’t like me, so that’s good.

“Most of my downtime when I’m not working is now spent in Scotland.”

Helmsdale, a picturesque village on the North Coast 500 (NC500) route, offers a breathtaking 516-mile journey through the stunning beauty of the Scottish Highlands, reports the Daily Record.

Chatting with the Sunday Post, he shared: “I have a very special relationship with Helmsdale. It’s partly because of discovering it when I was in the Highlands because of my ancestry through my great-great-grandparents who were from Huntly.”

He further added: “That makes me one-eighth Scottish, although I wish I was more.”

The village’s roots can be traced back to 1814 and are deeply intertwined with the 19th-century herring boom, which brought prosperity to many coastal Scottish communities.

The once bustling harbour still remains in use by local fishermen and is a favourite spot for a scenic walk. Nearby, there’s a small shingle beach offering incredible views across the Moray Firth.

The village is also home to the Emigrants statue. A poignant reminder of the town’s darker past, the landmark pays tribute to those who were forced to leave their homes and travel far and wide to start a new life.

Today’s visitors can drop by The Timespan Heritage Centre, a popular community hub that houses not only a local history museum but also a contemporary art programme, herb gardens, a shop, a bakery and a cafe.

Helmsdale could also be the ideal location for those partial to a drink or two. The charming village is conveniently located near the Old Pulteney, Clynelish, Glenmorangie and Dornoch Distilleries.

Mathew also previously named Glasgow as his ‘favourite city’ and has a special fondness for the city of Edinburgh, where he first made his comedy debut at the Fringe Festival in 2000.

Scottish schools are now required to enforce toilet polices on the “basis of biological sex.”

Back in April, the UK Supreme Court dealt a devastating blow to trans rights when it ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.

The decision stemmed from a dispute centring on whether a trans woman with a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) should be treated the same as a cisgender woman under the UK’s Equality Act 2010.

A week later, a Scottish judge ordered that schools must provide single sex toilets after a case against the Scottish Borders Council (SBC) was brought to the court, per the BBC.

In light of the aforementioned rulings, the Scottish government issued “revised guidance for schools on supporting transgender pupils” on 29 September, which includes new recommendations for campus toilets and changing rooms.

The updated guidance says that under the law, schools must provide separate toilet facilities for boys and girls “on the basis of biological sex” – which the document refers to “sex recorded at birth – and accessible facilities for young people with a disability.

It also says that “educational authorities and schools should consider toilet provisions necessary for transgender pupils,” such as “gender neutral provisions.”

“The design of gender neutral facilities should ensure privacy for all young people. In practice, this should include features such as full height walls and doors and should take account of the particular needs of female pupils,” the guidance adds.

“Where any change is being introduced to the arrangements that a pupil has been familiar with, there should be additional planning and consideration of their needs, including relating to their safety and wellbeing.

“It is necessary to recognise and mitigate as far as possible, the risk of ‘outing’ a young person. This may mean that it is necessary that practical arrangements such as enabling young people to use facilities outwith usual breaktimes, or for particular facilities to be available aligned to the young person’s activities within school, to reduce visibility of them moving across and within the school building to access toilet or changing room facilities.”

Previously, schools were told that trans students could use any toilet they felt most comfortable in.

In an interview with BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth gave further insight into the adjusted guidance.

“The Scottish Government has made it absolutely clear that we accept the Supreme Court ruling, and since April we’ve been taking forward the detailed work that is necessary as a consequence of the ruling,” she said.

“Now we know in Scotland all schools are required to provide separate toilets for girls and boys, and in addition, the guidance makes clear that councils should give careful consideration to the individual needs of transgender pupils in light of the school context.”

Gilruth went on to say that the guidance was not mandatory, just suggestions from the Scottish government.

“That’s because of the statutory legal requirements that mean under the 1980 Education Act that our councils run our schools, not the government directly,” she continued.

“There are not penalties, but of course it is incumbent on the government to update our guidance in line with legal changes.”

While Gilruth confirmed that the guidance isn’t mandatory, she confirmed that schools are “required by law to have separate toilet facilities for boys and girls and also to have accessible toilet provisions.”

“And of course the guidance has been updated to recognise the clarification of the definition of sex under the Equality Act 2010 following the Supreme Court judgement,” she added.

In a separate interview with Good Morning Scotland, the general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) discussed the challenges that arise with the new guidance, stating that it doesn’t fully address the needs of trans youth. 

“Considering the nature of the Supreme Court judgement, it would be difficult for the Scottish Government to advise anything other than something which is considered to be compliant with the law,” she explained.

“The difficulty with it is that it perhaps does not fully address the needs of transgender young people in that many of them will not feel comfortable whatsoever using the toilets that the guidance suggests that they should.

“There’s suggestion in the guidance that perhaps those young people could use disabled toilet facilities or even staff toilet facilities, and neither of those are perfect.”

‘Wake naturally. Ride bikes. Wild camp.” I’m in Perthshire on a three-day bikepacking trip – cycling with all my gear – and this is my itinerary for the day. For an endlessly calendar-checking parent of three, the simplicity of this schedule is almost dizzying. I feel like a child with my summer holiday stretching out ahead of me.

Comrie Croft Journeys is a new initiative from eco-camping and mountain-biking destination Comrie Croft, started by experienced mountain bike instructor Emily Greaves. The off-grid cycling adventures aim to immerse visitors in Scotland’s wild landscapes while providing everything they need, from food to equipment. Guests can choose to be self-guided or led – and I’m heading out with Emily to explore on a mountain bike for the first time in my adult life.

The croft is set across quiet woodland and bucolic meadows and I arrive early to explore the onsite organic market garden Tomnah’a and enjoy a hearty mixed grain bowl with roast root vegetables and local Wee Comrie cheese at Gorse cafe. I’ve driven here, but for the ultimate emission-avoiding trip, it’s possible to get the train to Gleneagles from Edinburgh or London, then be picked up in the Croft’s electric car.

Before we hit the trails, Emily puts me through my paces with a mountain-biking lesson on the gravel pump track. We’re cycling for three days and everything we need – clothes, food, camping stove, tent, sleeping bags and mat – has to be strapped to our bikes. Beside me a French family is getting set up for a self-guided adventure. Emily has planned their route, pre-loaded on a GPX device with detailed trip notes, and prepped their bikes and equipment. I thought I’d packed light, but most of my clothes are soon in a discard pile. “You need clothes to cycle in, warm layers to sleep in, and waterproofs – that’s it,” Emily says.

Fully laden we head off, uphill through ancient woodland and the pretty village of Comrie, then on to rough farm tracks heading into the hills. Tonight’s destination is a youth hostel, a last-minute change due to thundery weather. Bikepacking doesn’t always have to mean camping – many long-distance cyclists combine camping with stays at hostels and even hotels. It’s about enjoyment, not endurance, or “smiles not miles”, as Emily puts it.

Today’s ride is 20 miles (32km), taking in 520 metres of ascent. It’s an intentionally gentle start, but for me still pretty challenging, as I get to grips with my cycling position, descending on loose gravel, and learning to trust the bike. We pass through fields of sheep, splash through little streams, slowly gaining height over the lower slopes of Carn Labhruinn and Meall Odhar. By the time we descend towards Callander, the clouds darken, obscuring the mountain tops, and heavy rain soaks in the seams of my jacket: I’m delighted not to be putting up a tent. At Callander Hostel, run by a local social enterprise, we stay in a cosy pod in the garden (from £81), dry our soggy clothes, and sleep deeply.

Day two is our longest in the saddle, with 44 miles to cover. Emily, sensibly, doesn’t tell me the ascent until later (it’s 1,020 metres). We set out in high spirits, fuelled by egg and haggis rolls from Mhor Bread in Callander.

We’re riding through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs national park, an area I’ve often driven through but never stopped to fully appreciate – I’ve been missing out. With mountains aplenty, peaceful lochs and glens, and a well-connected network of paths and trails, there’s so much to explore. Emily’s well-designed route takes us along some quiet single-track roads, but is mostly off-road, on gravel tracks through heathery glens, forestry plantations and native woodland, and on winding lochside paths through the bracken.

We pedal along the quiet side of Loch Venachar before joining the Three Lochs Forest Drive, a rough track that links Loch Drunkie, Lochan Reòidhte, and Loch Achray. It’s hilly, but I’m getting to love the calf-burning push of a long uphill, and the thrill of the downhill too. At Aberfoyle, we stop at Liz MacGregors coffee shop for lemon drizzle cake. “You have to keep your energy up,” Emily says. She has completed many long-distance cycles, including the epic Highland Trail 550, often named one of Scotland’s toughest off-road cycling races. If she says it’s time to eat cake, I’m only too happy to agree.

After a rugged stretch along forestry tracks past pretty Loch Chon, we reach the head of Loch Katrine, where we have the option to catch the Steamship Sir Walter Scott, which takes daytrippers the length of the loch (from £19 one way, £27 return). It’s tempting, but given steamships have been running on Loch Katrine for over 180 years, it seems safe to leave it for another day. Today is all about the bikes, and I don’t want to miss a moment. Later we pitch tents by the shores of Loch Achray, with just a slight dance with the midges until the breeze returns. We collect water, heat up instant meals on our camp stoves, and drink in the views of Ben A’an and Ben Venue.

In the morning, the loch shimmers silver in the pale sunlight and Emily and I wade in for a beautifully refreshing swim, then warm up with bowls of porridge. The last day of cycling has come round all too soon, and it’s 37 miles back to Comrie, with a lunch stop at Mhor 84 in Balquhidder. The last stretch takes in Glen Finglas estate singletrack, a popular local cycling route along an undulating ridge. I’m loving feeling the power in my legs.

Back at Comrie Croft we’ve reserved seats at Nowhere Sauna (from £16), one of the 12 micro-businesses that operate at the croft. Tucked into a quiet corner of woodland, it’s the perfect place to stretch and relax, interspersed with refreshing dunks in the icy tin bath. From here, it’s a short walk uphill for a decidedly more luxurious evening, at the croft’s newly opened cabin. Joining the site’s camping pitches, Nordic katas (conical, tipi-like tents) and its eco-lodge hostel, the handbuilt wooden cabin is a beautiful hideaway for two adults (plus a child or two on a convertible sofa, if you must). With a wood-burning stove, full kitchen, mezzanine bedroom and big private deck, it’s likely to be popular with onsite weddings and honeymooners. Tonight it’s all mine, and even better, local deli Hansen’s Kitchen has dropped me off supper, including local beers and a lasagne made with vegetables from the market garden. I sit out on the deck until the first stars appear, resting my tired legs and soaking in the scenery, reflecting on an incredible few days.

The cycling trip and accommodation were provided by Comrie Croft and Comrie Croft Journeys. Bikepacking trips are bespoke; a three-day, two-night trip, including route planning and all gear costs from £295pp, excluding bike rental . Rooms at the eco-lodge from £5opp pn; the cabin sleeps two from £250 a night (two-night minimum)

I don’t remember the picture being taken. Somewhere in Scotland, sometime in the 1980s. It has that hazy quality you get with old colour prints: warm but also somehow melancholy. I’m wearing blue jeans, white trainers, an army surplus jumper – and am perched on a standing stone.

My mum gave me the photo when I turned 50. She found it up in the loft. Some of these childhood pictures, souvenirs of trips with my grandparents to historic sites, have the place names written on the back. This one was blank, a tantalising mystery. Though I didn’t recognise the location, something about the landscape and quality of light suggested it was Islay, an island I’d visited just once – when I was not quite 12. So I decided to see if I could find the spot, slipped the photograph into my notebook and set off.

Islay is the southernmost point of the Inner Hebrides, lying on the same latitude as Glasgow. That makes it sound an easy hop from the city, but the watery fractures of Scotland’s west coast require a long drive north and then south along the shores of sea lochs, before a two-hour crossing from the port of Kennacraig. Islay is the eighth largest of the British Isles (bigger than the Isle of Man and Isle of Wight) and yet not, I think, well known. Some of its communities – Ardbeg, Bowmore, Lagavulin – have given their names to famous whisky brands, but the island as a whole feels a little obscure.

A saltire (Scottish flag) flapped on the prow as the CalMac ferry eased up the Sound of Islay. The cloud-shrouded mountains of nearby island Jura were a dark presence to starboard. Islay, to port, appeared far more friendly, with its purple heather and bright strand. But appearances can deceive. A cormorant – the devil’s bird – flew in front of the ship in the direction of Islay, not Jura, and I wasn’t at all surprised. I remember, as a boy, being much taken by an illustrated map in which the island was made to look like a demon. The Rinns peninsula formed its horns and snout, the Oa peninsula its claws, and the north-east headland its leathery wings. It sat hunched on the edge of Scotland, poised to take flight for Irish shores.

Disembarking at Port Askaig, I drove to Port Charlotte, where the Museum of Islay Life, housed in a former church, is a charming jumble. A wooden figurehead poses next to the island’s old telephone switchboard; a stuffed red squirrel sits glassy-eyed in a bell jar; and an American flag, sewn by Islay women to be flown at the burials of the many US soldiers whose bodies washed ashore when the SS Tuscania was torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1918, hangs faded with age.

I’d spent a lot of time in this museum during my childhood stay, fascinated by one exhibit in particular: the skull of an Irish elk. It had been found in a peat bog in the 19th century, and in my recollection was stained almost black, but seeing it again now I realised that memory had played me false; it was greyish brown, no darker than an oatcake. Yet I had not misremembered its great size – an almost 2-metre span between the tips of its antlers. This creature, now extinct, lived and died on Islay about 12,000 years ago, at about the same time, it is thought, as the first people, a party of hunters, arrived on the island, travelling from Scandinavia or northern Germany. Perhaps they glimpsed the elk across the virgin landscape. Perhaps it scented the unfamiliar human stink and wisely kept its distance.

Islay has a great many ancient sites. The standing stone in my photograph could be any of them. I had arranged to speak with Steven Mithen, an archaeologist with a particular interest in the island, in the hope he would identify it. I was lucky to catch him. The University of Reading professor would soon leave for a few days camping on Nave, a tiny island off Islay’s northern coast, where he hoped to find a Viking boat burial. We met for a cuppa and I showed him the picture.

“That’s Cragabus,” he said. “Lovely photo. Wonderful place.”

The stone on which I was sitting, he explained, was a surviving part of a chambered cairn – a Neolithic stone tomb probably built around 3,500BC. It had been excavated in 1902. Human remains were found along with fragments of clay vessels, known as beakers, their presence indicating that the cairn had been reopened in the bronze age and used by those later people for the burial of their own dead. I knew a bit about beaker burials. I’d excavated one myself – in 1984, the same year, I think, as my visit to Islay, helping my grandparents to trowel up the bones of the person buried alongside a decorated pot.

My grandfather, Eric Ross – Grumps to his grandkids – was a coachbuilder. That was how he earned a wage, building buses in a factory, but archaeology was what he loved. He fell for it during the second world war. He had joined the RAF in 1941, aged 20, serving in north Africa and Italy. “He was the only man I knew who had used a genuine working Roman bath,” one of his friends once told me. “Just before the victory parade in Tunis, his squad was given a few minutes in the still-operational baths fed from the hot springs.”

So, washing desert sand from his body in Roman ruins is how history got under his skin? I like this very much as an origin story. I wish I could have asked him but, of course, it is too late. People slip away before we are ready to hear their stories. I wish, too, that I had become an archaeologist myself. Whenever I think back to our old adventures, it feels like a path not taken. This trip to Islay, and my new book, Upon a White Horse: Journeys in Ancient Britain and Ireland, are attempts to walk it a little.

Prof Mithen told me where to find Cragabus: in the south-west of the island, just off a single-track road, marked on the map with that gothic type so evocative of strange old places. At Port Ellen, I followed a sign marked Mull of Oa and was soon there. Climbing a farm gate, I walked up a short, steep rise. There was the megalith I had sat upon: nearly 2 metres tall, the same distinctive shape, tip bristling with a pelt of lichen, its lower parts soft with snagged wool where sheep had rubbed. I propped my phone on a fence post and took a photograph, 41 years after the first: a middle-aged man touching a stone.

People who were taken to ancient places as children often have fuzzy old photos of themselves at the sites. Such pictures increase in power as the years go by. The people who took us pass away, and we ourselves grow up and change, but the stones stay the same. So, when we return as adults, we can measure ourselves against them, see our little lives in relation to eternity. That was how I felt at Cragabus: bigger yet smaller, older yet no age at all.

Peter Ross’s Upon a White Horse: Journeys in Ancient Britain and Ireland is published by Headline at £22. To buy a copy for £19.80, go to guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.

Aug. 30 (UPI) — Ewan, Jamie and Lachland Maclean of Edinburgh, Scotland, set a new record by completing a 9,000-mile row from Peru to Australia that lasted nearly 140 days.

They bested the prior record of 162 days by solo Russian rower Fyodor Konyukhov in 2014 by posting a time of 130 days, five hours and 52 minutes during their non-stop and unsupported row across the Pacific Ocean, the BBC reported.

“It’s still slightly surreal,” Ewan, 32, told the BBC. “It’s going to take a wee while for our feet to touch the ground, but what an amazing reception we’ve had in Cairns.”

They intended to arrive in Sydney, but several tropical storms forced them to end their journey in Cairns, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

One storm swept Lachland overboard, but his brothers pulled him back to their boat, as they rowed from Lima, Peru, to Cairns, Australia, where they landed on Saturday.

They battled seasickness and a defective water converter, caught fish and ate freeze-dried meals to stay fed, but they ran out of the meals on Friday.

About 100, including friends and family, watched and cheered as Ewan, Jamie, 31, and Lachlan, 26, arrived at Cairns Marlin Marina and were greeted to the sound of bagpipes playing, the Cairns Post reported.

They set foot on land for the first time since departing Peru on April 12 and rowing across the ocean.

The brothers raised the equivalent of about $920,000 in U.S.funds in contributions to provide clean water for people in Madagascar, with more possibly being donated.

“It’s foundational for everything, Lachland said. “You need clean water to live a flourishing life, to bring communities out of poverty.”

He estimated 40,000 people in Madagascar will get clean water for the rest of their lives if they reach their goal of about $1.3 million in equivalent U.S. funds.

The brothers previously rowed unassisted across the Atlantic Ocean, which took 35 days to complete in 2020.

The week started full of optimism and zeal.

Celtic were facing a decidedly inferior team and overwhelming favourites to progress, Rangers were down but determined not to be out, Aberdeen had fought back at Pittodrie to have even footing in their tie, and Hibs were ready to make some history.

Best-laid plans and all that…

Celtic huffed and puffed against Kazakh side Kairat Almaty, but they were unable to even come close to finding the back of the net in a blunt display.

Regulation time was stuffy, extra-time was turgid, and the penalties were remarkably unremarkable.

Adam Idah, Luke McCowan and Daizen Maeda all missed from the spot as they suffered one of the most ignominious defeats in their history.

Next up, Russell Martin’s Rangers.

Trailing 3-1 to Club Brugge after an almighty shambles from the first leg at Ibrox, they were outsiders but retained a fighter’s chance if they could find their footing.

Brugge, instead, found the back of the net six times without reply as many of the travelling punters decided it was time for the head coach to vacate his position.

It was 9-1 of an aggregate scoreline for the tie as fans branded Martin a “coward” with some hastily fashioned banners.

A humbling and a hammering so far.

A small quaint seaside village may be the perfect place for those looking to escape the bustling city life – and the charm comes from the narrow paths where cars and bikes aren’t even allowed

If you’re after some peace and tranquillity, this remote Scottish village may be exactly what you’re looking for.

Crovie, nestled in the north-east of Scotland on the coast of Aberdeenshire is one of the most quaint seaside communities in the country. The slow-pace sleepy village is home to picturesque narrow streets, chunky cottage walls and lots of fishermen – but what makes Crovie so spectacular is there are no roads leading through the cliff-foot village located right on the waters edge.

Cars are to be left outside it and even bikes aren’t allowed in. You can only access the row of some 60 houses on foot, with a steep cliff behind them. Only accessed by a steep hill, the residents of Crovie transport their groceries with wheelbarrows, adding to it’s quaint and secluded charm.

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Visit Aberdeenshire call it Europe’s best-preserved fishing village, as Crovie boasts the narrowest space between shore and cliff in Scotland. It is characterised by it’s unique layout, with many houses built with their backs to the sea to protect them from the quick changing weather patterns on the coast, but still offer a sight found nowhere else on earth.

According to the Scotsman, Crovie is no stranger to visitors. One Aberdeenshire local, who owns a holiday cottage for him and his wife, said there are just five permanent residents in the village as the rest are holiday homes. You can explore holiday homes and self-catering accommodations adorned with brightly painted pebbles and maritime art.

The village was once a fishing village, until 1953, when a storm washed away some of it and made it impossible for the fishermen to carry on working from there. This led to many fishermen moving along the coast to the larger village of Gardenstown.

For visitors hoping to explore Crovie, there is a car park at the viewpoint overlooking the village and further parking by the final bend as you head towards the village. Drivers are discouraged from driving all the way down and once parked, there is a steep walk down to the houses or you can choose to take the stairs.

It’s an incredibly small place, and those taking the trip to Crovie have shared their thoughts. One visitor took to TripAdvisor and wrote: “Finally made the journey of 9 hours from my hometown. The place is in the middle of nowhere with no shops, cafe, pub etc so you need to take lunch with you[…]Very secluded and no one about.

You get a good view from the viewpoint. It’s a steep walk down and obviously steeper going back up. At the bottom there’s a stoney beach that you can only access at the end!”

While another penned: “Scottish village directly on the sea. Wonderful even just for a visit. You have to walk a very short distance because the cars stop a little further up. There is a small car park, but it’s absolutely worth it. Mandatory stop.”

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Four of Scotland’s five European representatives are still standing as we prepare for this week’s play-off rounds, with three guaranteed league phase action across Uefa’s competitions.

However, the bigger picture is not quite so rosy, with much harder qualification routes on the horizon unless significant strides are made in this campaign.

Celtic and Rangers are bidding for places in the Champions League, against Kairat and Club Brugge respectively, while Aberdeen take on FCSB of Bucharest in the Europa League.

The losers of those ties drop to the next tournament, but there is no such safety net for Hibernian, who take on Legia Warsaw for a Conference League spot.

“It’s a huge week,” Gavin Noon, who runs the X account Scotland’s Coefficient, told BBC Scotland.

“At the end of the season, Uefa will rank all the nations based on the amount of points collected over the last five years.

“As it stands, Scotland are 17th and we really need to finish 15th, so we want as many teams to pick up as many points as possible.”

This town in East Ayrshire, Scotland, has been named one of the most affordable places to live in the UK, with locals praising its vibrant shopping scene and friendly atmosphere

An historic town in East Ayrshire has been crowned one of the UK’s most affordable places to live, with locals praising its bustling shopping scene and welcoming atmosphere. Property website Rightmove has ranked Kilmarnock as Scotland’s top spot for first-time buyers, offering average house prices significantly below the national average.

Rightmove reports that homes in Kilmarnock have sold for an average of £154,688 over the past year. Flats have been snapped up for an average of £75,868, while semi-detached properties have commanded £161,391 and terraced houses £115,793.

Prices have risen by seven per cent compared to 2024 and are four per cent higher than the 2022 peak. This news comes after images show the cheapest seaside spot in England is full of abandoned £40k homes ‘nobody wants’.

READ MORE: Beautiful island has amazing views and three beaches but costs less than a 3-bed houseREAD MORE: Life in Scotland’s ‘most affordable’ town where three-beds cost less than £140k

Home to over 47,000 people, Kilmarnock’s housing costs are more than five times lower than London, where the average flat will set you back a whopping £590,543. The town’s blend of cultural heritage, green spaces and retail options has made it a popular choice for homebuyers.

Kilmarnock is home to a wealth of cultural landmarks, including Scotland’s largest Burns Monument, the Dick Institute and the Palace Theatre. The town centre boasts a range of independent shops as well as popular high street brands, reports the Daily Record.

The tourism board Visit Scotland has described Bank Street as: “a charming cobbled street in the historic core, with the elegant John Finnie Street boasting one of the best examples of provincial Victorian architecture in Scotland.”

The board also spotlighted Dean Castle and Country Park as “a fantastic day out for all the family” and commended the Burns Monument Centre’s picturesque location in Kay Park.

For many locals, the town’s charm and easy access are its main attractions. Andrew Reith, 41, who runs Zenith Coins and has been working in Kilmarnock for five years, said: “The town has some nice parks, and there are a few spots for public entertainment. The shopping area is quite popular, and both tourists and locals enjoy wandering around it.

“What I feel is that the town could benefit from a couple of large organisations, such as factories, to create more job opportunities for people living in the area.” However, not everyone shares this positive view. One local told The Express: “Many people in Kilmarnock rely on Government benefits and lack ambition and zeal to work.

“Most people are looking to send their children to the schools in Troon which is around 15 to 20 minutes away from Kilmarnock and is home to some of the most affluent people in the town.” While some streets offer homes priced between £75,000 and £84,000, others feature properties worth £500,000.

Tracey Oakley, a property adviser with Donald Ross Residential, noted: “Kilmarnock is a huge area and it would not be right to say that the houses are cheap [everywhere] here. The town is not very far from Glasgow and has a lovely shopping centre. “The properties which are put on the market are being sold in just two to six weeks, showing its popularity among the buyers.”

East Ayrshire Council says the town’s energy is being enhanced by regeneration initiatives. David McDowall, head of economic growth, said: “We are happy to see Kilmarnock is featuring as one of the more economical places to live.

“Over the past 15 years, our Regeneration and Business Support teams have attracted investment to enable the redevelopment of the town centre…breathing new life into the town’s conservation area.”

He added that Kilmarnock has “weathered the storm of closures of the mass industries such as whisky bottling, shoe making, carpet making, textiles and heavy engineering” and is now “experiencing a resurgence” with new small and medium enterprises.

Hunters Quay Dunoon Holiday Village is located near the town of Dunoon on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, approximately 90 minutes from Glasgow

A Scottish family holiday village near a stunning beach is currently on offer with a whopping 50 per cent discount.

Hunters Quay Dunoon Holiday Village can be found close to Dunoon town on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, roughly 90 minutes from Glasgow. And it boasts sweeping views across the Holy Loch and has plenty to keep adults and children busy.

Currently, voucher site Wowcher is selling three, four, or seven-night breaks at the holiday park for half the usual cost. Visitors can secure the getaway for just £199, slashed from the regular rate of £394.25 which includes four or six people staying in a two or three-bedroom static caravan. It comes as locals say a Devon village is like a ‘time warp’ that has never changed.

Each caravan features central heating, a complete kitchen setup, a flat screen television, and fresh bed linen, reports the Daily Record

Holiday guests will also gain complete access to Hunters Quay’s recreational amenities. These feature two swimming pools – including one exclusively for adults – a fitness centre, a sauna, a steam chamber, and various on-site entertainment options.

Activites on offer include axe throwing, aqua run, ‘superhero academy’, sand art, and a teddy bear hunt. Additionally, there’s evening live shows and a children’s play zone and there’s an on-site pub serving “delicious meals” according to Wowcher.

Visitors can opt to dine in or request a takeaway and enjoy their meal back at their caravan. The Wowcher package also features a complimentary late checkout of 11am. Pet owners can bring their furry friends along for an additional £15 per dog per night.

While holiday parks remain a favourite for staycations, some travellers might fancy a traditional hotel instead. Popular nearby alternatives include the Royal Marine Hotel and the SGE Argyll Hotel.

Hunters Quay Dunoon Holiday Village has received largely favourable reviews from visitors. The resort boasts a 4.1 out of five rating on Tripadvisor based on 1,074 reviews.

One guest wrote: “The park was lovely and clean. Lodge was very clean and spacious. We had a great stay. Staff were friendly and worked hard.”

Another delighted holidaymaker commented: “This was our first proper family holiday and I couldn’t have wished for anything better. Everyone was so amazing and kind. Nothing was too much for anyone!”.

Another visitor said: “Caravan lovely and clean, quiet location at the bottom of the hill. So [it’s a] trek to the facilities. Very busy as [it was the] height of season.

“Would avoid restaurant due to length of time it takes to serve food after ordered. We had dog and granddaughter with us, who wre both fed up.”

However, another five-star guest gushed: “Amazing holiday at Hunters Quay, highly recommend this park. The staff are so helpful and friendly. The food was really nice and we enjoyed the evening entertainment.”

For further details on the Hunters Quay Dunoon Holiday Village offer, head over to the Wowcher website.

Forrest, who lifted his maiden European Tour title at St Andrews almost exactly four years ago, took control of windy conditions over the weekend but saw his three-shot overnight advantage trimmed to two after Todd Clements’ birdie on the opening hole.

However, when Forrest birdied the fourth and Clements carded a triple-bogey eight at the same hole, the Scot led by five and never looked back.

The world number 294, who double-bogeyed the last, added two more birdies and a dropped shot in a closing 72 to finish with an eight-under-par total.

“It’s amazing, just speechless,” Forrest said. “I think it is the same week as I won four years ago on the calendar so just amazing, that must say something about this week and being at home.

“I just can’t believe it. It’s been such a tough year on the golf course. It’s just a crazy game that you can go and come out and do this, with what feels out of nowhere.

“It’s just that old chestnut that one week can turn things around and it has.”

While Hibs were cruising in Belgrade, around 400 miles north in Vienna, Dundee United displayed character and dig to stun Rapid in a 2-2 draw.

Also a third-round qualifier in the Conference League, Jim Goodwin’s side twice came from behind inside a bouncing Allianz Stadion against one of last season’s quarter-finalists.

First it was Max Watters who brought them level, before Zac Sapsford repeated the feat in the second half.

But the goals are only half the story. United faced 21 shots while having just 38% of the ball. Brave defending, acrobatic goalkeeping from Yevhenii Kucherenko, and a bit of luck all played their part.

History plays its part in emphasising how significant this result could be.

Last week, United progressed in Europe for the first time in 28 years by seeing off UNA Strassen of Luxembourg.

It hints at how hard life can be on the continent. The last time United played in Europe prior to this season they lost 7-0 to AZ, albeit after winning the first lef.

But they’ve given themselves a chance here. In a second-half of constant pressure, they didn’t buckle, and an already sold-out Tannadice awaits next Thursday.

“Outstanding away performance from Dundee United to a man,” said former Tannadice midfielder Scott Allan.

“Jim Goodwin will be absolutely delighted. Take this game back to Tannadice and it’s all to play for.”

A woman who lives on one of Scotland’s most visited islands and shares her everyday life online has opened up on how it may not match what many tourists imagine

Scotland is renowned for its breathtaking terrain featuring peaks, such as the Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness. Countless visitors flock to the nation to experience its natural beauty and scenery, alongside attractions like historic castles.

The country is equally celebrated for its cultural heritage, made up of its diverse selection of whisky, tartan kilts, bagpipes and the traditional delicacy haggis. Scotland is believed to provide a tranquil retreat from England’s bustling cities, but one woman has revealed the stark truth about living on the nation’s most sought-after island, the Isle of Skye. Stretching 50 miles in length, it’s the biggest island in the Inner Hebrides, distinguished by its striking landscape and charming fishing communities.

Niamh Mackinnon, 22-years-old, documents her island life through clips on TikTok and YouTube.

In a recent TikTok upload, the Scottish local explained: “I live on the most popular island in Scotland and the reason we’re so popular is because of specific landscapes, one of them being the Old Man of Storr, so I thought today I would show you what it’s like at the height of summer because it might not be the picturesque, tranquil, peaceful dream that you are being sold online sometimes but we’ll see, let’s go.”

The Old Man of Storr is a soaring rocky formation on the Trotternish Ridge that is considered the most iconic hike on the Isle of Skye.

Niamh prepared for her journey to the beloved landmark, bundling up in several clothing layers, waterproof trousers and hiking boots.

As she arrived, Niamh was faced with rows of parked cars and dreary weather, prompting her to say: “I’m not trying to just complain in this vlog but the midges are so bad. I need to get a move on and look how busy it is.”

She embarked on the trek up the Old Man of Storr, but the conditions were far from ideal – grey skies, rain, fog, and a muddy path surrounded by grass.

The young vlogger reflected on the changes over time: “I’m not even that old and there was a time when I was younger where you would come up here and know every single person that you passed. Tragic.”

Sitting amidst the bustle, Niamh shared her mixed feelings: “I’m just sitting here like looking at how busy it is and everything and I don’t know, this is when I start to feel a bit like hypocritical or like bad about how much I post Skye online because it also makes me sad seeing this place so busy when I remember a time when it was so quiet and peaceful.”

She continued, grappling with her emotions: “And of course it’s nice for other people in the world to get to experience this and it’s on my doorstep so I don’t wanna be greedy but yeah, it’s a weird feeling to be honest.”

Although the Old Man of Storr was the focus of her video, the fog meant it was barely visible.

Niamh concluded her video early, opting to head back down due to the wet conditions, crowds, and limited visibility of the Storr. She pointed out that this is “just the reality of Skye sometimes.”

Niamh’s TikTok video has racked up an incredible 2.4 million views, alongside thousands of likes and comments. A shocked viewer asked: “This is…the HEIGHT of summer???”

Another user shared their experience: “I know this weird feeling. It’s the same here in the Swiss alps.

“As a kid you knew almost everyone you met on a hike. Now it’s packed and most tourists don’t even say hello.”

A third remarked: “A lot of places seem to struggle with excessive tourism having a negative impact. Hope that a happy balance can be found for the area you live in.”

BALMEDIE, Scotland — Golf and Scotland are close to President Trump’s heart, and both were in play Tuesday as he opened a new eponymous course in the land of his mother’s birth, capping a five-day trip that was largely about promoting his family’s luxury properties.

Dressed for golf and sporting a white cap that said “USA,” Trump appeared to be in such a jolly mood that he even lavished rare praise — instead of the usual insults — on the contingent of journalists who had gathered to cover the event.

“Today they’re not fake news,” Trump said. “Today they’re wonderful news.”

The golf-focused trip gave him a chance to escape Washington’s summer heat, but he could not avoid questions about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the deepening food crisis in Gaza or other issues that trailed him across the Atlantic. The trip itself teed up another example of how the Republican president has used the White House to promote his brand.

Trump addresses Gaza and Epstein

Trump on Monday expressed concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do more to get food aid to hungry Palestinians.

Asked if he agreed with Netanyahu’s assertion Sunday that “there is no policy of starvation in Gaza and there is no starvation in Gaza,” Trump said he didn’t know but added, “I mean, based on television, I would say not particularly because those children look very hungry.”

The president also offered a reason why he banished Epstein from his private club in Palm Beach, Fla., years ago, saying it was because the disgraced financier “stole people that worked for me.” A top White House aide said last week that Epstein was kicked out for being a “creep.”

Trump tees off on newly opened golf course

Flanked by sons Eric and Donald Jr., Trump counted “1-2-3” and wielded a pair of golden scissors to cut a red ribbon marking the ceremonial opening of the new Trump course in the village of Balmedie on Scotland’s northern coast.

“This has been an unbelievable development,” Trump said before the ribbon cutting. He thanked Eric, who designed the course, saying his work on the project was “truly a labor of love for him.”

Eric Trump said the course was his father’s “passion project.”

Immediately afterward, Trump, Eric Trump and two professional golfers teed off on the first hole with plans to play a full 18 before the president returns to Washington on Tuesday night. Trump rarely allows the news media to watch his golf game, though video journalists and photographers often find him along the course whenever he plays.

Trump’s shot had a solid sound and soared straight, high and relatively far. Clearly pleased, he turned to the cameras and did an almost half-bow.

“He likes the course, ladies and gentlemen,” Eric Trump said.

Billed as the “Greatest 36 Holes in Golf,” the Trump International Golf Links, Scotland, is hosting back-to-back weekend tournaments before it begins offering rounds to the public on Aug. 13.

Trump fits White House business into golf trip

Trump worked some official business into the trip by holding talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and reaching a trade framework for tariffs between the U.S. and the European Union’s 27 member countries — though scores of key details remain to be settled.

But the trip itself was centered around golf, and the presidential visit served to raise the new course’s profile.

Trump’s assets are in a trust and his sons are running the family business while he’s in the White House. Any business generated at the course will ultimately enrich the president when he leaves office, though.

The new golf course will be the third owned by the Trump Organization in Scotland. Trump bought Turnberry in 2014 and owns another course near Aberdeen that opened in 2012.

Trump golfed at Turnberry on Saturday, as protesters took to the streets, and on Sunday before meeting there in the afternoon with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

New course blends things dear to Trump

The occasion blended two things dear to Trump: golf and Scotland.

His mother, the late Mary Anne MacLeod, was born on the Isle of Lewis on the north coast.

“We love Scotland here. My mother was born here, and she loved it,” Trump said Tuesday. She visited “religiously once a year” during the summer with his sisters, he said.

Perhaps the only mood-buster for Trump are the wind turbines that are part of a nearby wind farm and can be seen from around the new course.

Trump, who often speaks about his hatred of windmills, sued in 2013 to block construction of the wind farm but lost the case and was eventually ordered to pay legal costs for filing the lawsuit — a matter that still enrages him more than a decade later.

Trump said on a new episode of the New York Post’s “Pod Force One” podcast that the “ugly windmills” are a “shame” and are “really hurting” Scotland. The interview was conducted over the weekend and released Tuesday.

“It kills the birds, ruins the look. They’re noisy,” he said, asserting that the value of real estate around them also plummets. “I think it’s a very bad thing. Environmentally, it’s horrible.”

Weissert and Superville write for the Associated Press. Superville reported from Washington.

TURNBERRY, Scotland — It may not be typical golf attire, but one of the most ubiquitous outfits seen on President Trump’s golf course Friday ahead of his visit was the reflective yellow vest worn by Scottish police.

The standard issue garb that is far removed from the traditional Turnberry tartan was highly visible on the dunes, the beaches and the grass as thousands of officers secured the course in advance of protests planned during the president’s visit to two of his Scottish golf resorts.

Trump was expected to arrive Friday evening to a mix of respect and ridicule.

His visit requires a major police operation that will cost Scottish taxpayers millions of pounds as protests are planned over the weekend. The union representing officers is concerned they are already overworked and will be diverted from their normal duties, and some residents are not happy about the cost.

“Why isn’t he paying for it himself? He’s coming for golf, isn’t he?” said Merle Fertuson, a solo protester in Edinburgh holding a hand-drawn cardboard sign that featured a foolishly grinning Trump likeness in a tuxedo. “It’s got nothing whatsoever to do with public money, either U.S. or U.K.”

Policing for Trump’s four-day visit to the U.K. in 2018 cost more than $19 million, according to Freedom of Information figures. That included more than $4 million spent for his two-day golf trip to Turnberry, the historic course and hotel in southwest Scotland that he bought in 2014.

Police Scotland would not discuss how many officers were being deployed for operational reasons and only said the costs would be “considerable.”

“The visit will require a significant police operation using local, national and specialist resources from across Police Scotland, supported by colleagues from other U.K. police forces as part of mutual aid arrangements,” Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney said the visit would not be detrimental to policing.

“It’s nonsensical to say it won’t impact it,” said David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, the officers’ union.

Kennedy said he expects about 5,000 officers to take part in the operation.

He said a force reduction in recent years has police working 12-hour shifts. Communities that are understaffed will be left behind with even fewer officers during Trump’s visit.

“We want the president of the United States to be able to come to Scotland. That’s not what this is about,” Kennedy said. “It’s the current state of the police service and the numbers we have causes great difficulty.”

The Stop Trump Scotland group has planned demonstrations Saturday in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dumfries. The group encouraged people to “show Trump exactly what we think of him in Scotland.”

Trump should receive a much warmer welcome from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is expected to meet with him during the visit. Swinney, the left-leaning head of Scottish government and former Trump critic, also plans to meet with the president.

Ha and Melley write for the Associated Press. Melley reported from London. Will Weissert contributed to this report from Edinburgh.

Scotland’s former First Minister Humza Yousaf and his wife say their relatives in Gaza, including a baby, are being deliberately starved. In an Instagram video, the couple plead for borders to open and aid to reach Palestinians.

World number one Scottie Scheffler has confirmed he will play in this year’s Scottish Open at The Rennaisance Club in East Lothian from 10-13 July.

It means the top five players in the world rankings – and seven of the top 10 – will all be using the tournament as final preparation for The Open Championship, which takes place at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland the following week.

American Scheffler, who continued an impressive season when he successfully defended his title at the Memorial Tournament on Sunday, will now be included in one of the strongest ever Scottish Open fields.

The 28-year-old returns to the Scottish Open after a tied third-place finish on his last appearance at the Renaissance Club in 2023.

Scheffler said he is looking forward to playing “in such a strong field”, adding: “It’s an event and a course I enjoy playing given we only get to play links golf a couple of times a year.”

Group A

Falkirk, Queen’s Park, Cove Rangers, Spartans, Brechin.

Group B

Ross County, Partick Thistle, Queen of the South, Edinburgh City, Stranraer.

Group C

Dundee, Airdrie, Alloa, Montrose, Bonnyrigg Rose.

Group D

St Mirren, Ayr United, Arbroath, Annan Athletic, Forfar.

Group E

Hearts, Dunfermline, Hamilton, Dumbarton, Stirling Albion.

Group F

St Johnstone, Raith Rovers, Inverness CT, Elgin City, East Kilbride.

Group G

Motherwell, Greenock Morton, Stenhousemuir, Peterhead, Clyde.

Group H

Kilmarnock, Livingston, Kelty Hearts, East Fife, Brora Rangers.