Travel

Thinking of a spring getaway? You may have to as one B&B on Skye, currently in the midst of a significant £250,000 upgrade, is already being booked for next year.Following its purchase of the former MacKinnon Country House Hotel on the Isle of Skye, which will be rebranded as the Isle of Skye Guest House, The Fusion Group of...

PEMBERTON RIVINGTON IS LODGE OF THE MONTH AT THE MEADOWS FORFARA stunning Pemberton Rivington residential lodge at £65,000 is the current Lodge of the Month at The Meadows in Forfar, a superb new gated development from Stewarts Leisure Parks.Complete with two bedrooms, including master bedroom en-suite with bath, and a fully integrated luxury kitchen, the Pemberton Rivington is a...

New direct flights to Turkey will begin next year.A new service between Edinburgh and Turkey will launch for summer 2022 as SunExpress will begin to fly to and from Edinburgh Airport.The new service to Antalya will begin in April 2022 operating on Tuesdays and Saturdays, then stepping up to Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from May 24 2022. The service...

A new visitor trail based upon the three bridges over the Forth at Noth and South Queensferry has been launched by VisitScotland.The Forth Bridges Trail is a five-mile circular route with 16 points of interest in North and South Queensferry and along the Forth Road Bridge. There is a historical element to it sprinkled with local tales and folklore,...

Leonardo Hotels have an extensive portfolio throughout Europe and there are several in Scotland, including three in Edinburgh. The 52-bed Simpson Townhouse intrigued as it was listed as boutique, was central, they advertise attractive deals and we were also curious to experience to look through the keyhole to discover what bosses have done to transform a former hospital building into...

Ryanair announced its new Edinburgh to Cornwall route for Summer 2023, operating twice per week from June to September. Edinburgh customers looking to bag a bargain on their summer staycation can now book Ryanair’s new Cornwall route on Ryanair.com.Ryanair’s Dara Brady said: “Ryanair is pleased to announce our new Edinburgh to Cornwall route for Summer ‘23, giving Ryanair’s Edinburgh customers even...

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...

Jet2.com has partnered with Yorkshire Tea to introduce the popular tea brand to its new in-flight menu and the hot drink will be available to buy on-board or offered as a hot drink option with pre-ordered adult meals.It will be served in Yorkshire Tea’s well-known, 12oz plant-based red cups and the airline's in-flight menu also has a number of other...

London North Eastern Railway (LNER) will have hundreds of thousands of tickets for sale from Tuesday to cover the Christmas and New Year period.Tickets will apply to travel between 21 December and 6 January 2023.You can sign up today for alerts on the LNER website and App.David Horne, Managing Director at LNER, said: “We are looking forward to...

You can stay overnight in the newly renovated apartments right next door to the Palace of Holyroodhouse - and live like royalty.Abbey Strand Apartments at Holyrood have been undergoing complete renovation over the last two years and have now opened their doors to guests.The nine apartments are in the building just on the left of the Abbey...

Have you tried out Flybe’s new London Heathrow service which launched at the end of March?  The service will operate four times daily year round and Flybe is the first domestic carrier to begin operating at Heathrow since 2013. The airline now offers daily flights from both Edinburgh and Aberdeen.It was a very early start for all of the journalists and tourism...

A chance to step back in time and travel by steam train on Scotland’s newest scenic rail route as well as cross the iconic Forth Rail Bridge is back on the timetable this summer.Passengers will have the opportunity to travel on a train hauled by a Black Five steam locomotive when it travels for the first time on the...

REFURBISHMENT PROGRAMME CONTINUES APACE AT THE GREEN HOTEL KINROSSThe Green Hotel in Kinross has announced that the latest part of its £100,000 refurbishment, which includes the flooring in the main reception, together with carpeting in corridors, decoration in additional bedrooms, and installing new TVs in bedrooms, will begin in the next few weeks.The new look in the popular Jocks...

According to the market research which Leonardo Hotels have carried out, more than one in ten of you have not ever been to London.The hotel group would love you to put that right and highlight the fact that it might not be as expensive as you think. They have just expanded into three new hotels in the UK...

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays has more good news for Edinburgh holidaymakers.They have just announced a BRAND NEW destination – IZMIR in Turkey - as part of their Summer 20 programme from Edinburgh Airport, which goes on sale today.Jet2.com and Jet2holidays has put flights and holidays on sale to 33 destinations from Edinburgh Airport for Summer 20. The addition of more capacity means over 850,000 seats are going on sale today. As well...

On a visit to South East Asia recently I went to see a new botanical garden in Laos. Coming from Edinburgh where the Botanics are such a popular attraction it seemed like an interesting place to go. The garden, Pha Tad Ke, is the first ethnobotanical garden in the country, shining a spotlight on the local and traditional knowledge of...

On the occasions when we get away from Edinburgh, we like to really get away. Now that the whole of the US has become reachable in only a couple of hops from Edinburgh Airport it is all the more accessible.On a recent visit to California we were invited to have lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe San Francisco to see...

BLAIR ATHOLL PARK PARTNERS LEADING MANUFACTURER TINGDENE TO OFFER  NEW HOLIDAY HOME SELECTIONSpring is here, and with it the desire to purchase a luxury holiday bolthole to escape to, whenever you wish! Parc Royale in Blair Atholl is a well established, family owned park which has teamed up with leading manufacturer, Tingdene. Under two hours drivetime from Edinburgh, it’s...

The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa has begun its multi-sensory bath experience, offering you a moment or two to relax even if you are a busy business traveller.While the hotel has its own spa, some people just don't have time. It is only £20 extra to upgrade to include the Soak Your Senses bath experience in your room.What this...

WINTER OFFER TO WOO CITY GUESTS AT THE TOWNHOUSE! The Townhouse Aberfeldy, a small boutique B&B for couples with its own 'Upstairs Restaurant', is currently running a winter accommodation offer which takes the price of a three night stay, in a double room, (with full Scottish Breakfast), from £237 to £177.75.  This works out at only £59.25 per night. The two...

It is always a pleasure to meet Gavin MacLennan of Lateral City Apartments, but of course part of that is just being able to soak up the view from Old Town Apartments in Advocates Close where he is based and which looks down over Princes Street (and admire the inside of the lovely self catering penthouse where we had...

UNST SELF CATERING HOUSE IS A RARE FIND FOR SUMMER WILDLIFE WATCHERS!  The island of Unst in Shetland, the UK’s most northerly island, really comes into its own in May and June for bird and nature watching – possibly the best time of the year to visit.Self catering Belmont House on the island has put together a special...

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...

Yet another transatlantic route has opened up direct from Edinburgh Airport. Following all the flights offered by Delta and Norwegian, now it is the turn of United to fly somewhere new.This time the route is to the nation's capital, Washington DC which is such a lovely city to visit.From next summer United Airlines will operate the service beginning on 23...

Staycation is the word on everyone’s lips this year, but it's a term I’m not fond of.A holiday can happen whether you’re travelling for a half hour bus ride or a long haul flight. My daughter and I were rather excited to head off to Coupar Angus for a couple of nights. I’m not a fan of driving...

Scottish Thistle Awards Regional Final success.A year after it suffered severe storm damage, eco self-catering business, Cairngorm Bothies, situated in the Cairngorm National Park, is celebrating being chosen as a national finalist in the Scottish Thistle Tourism Awards.The business, which is fast becoming a byword for green tourism, won the “Working Together for Tourism” Award for the...

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,...

The Mercure Edinburgh City Princes Street Hotel has undergone a locally inspired refurbishment to the public spaces including the bar and restaurant. The city centre hotel, which looks out to Edinburgh Castle, the Old Town and Princes Street Gardens, has made improvements to its entrance, reception, bar and restaurant, and has renamed their Princes Street Brasserie.Interior designer Helen Hooper of HH Interiors,...

Balloch Park, Mains of Taymouth’s residential, holiday and buy to let development has only a few luxury timber lodges left for sale in its current phase, including one set in a stunning aspect by the banks of the River Tay.This property, priced at £179,900, would be suitable for an idyllic retirement property.These final few eco friendly lodges, which...

London North Eastern Railway (LNER) can help Scots save time and money with its Family Return Ticket.  Available now, families of six can travel from Edinburgh Waverley to London King’s Cross for as little as £159 – a saving of £195.Helping families squeeze the most out of weekends away, the saving can be used to enjoy the city’s many attractions...