Hickory golf comes to Scotland’s Gleneagles Hotel

Visitors to Scotland’s Gleneagles Hotel can now enjoy a round of golf as if it was 1924.

Until the end of July, hotel guests and visitors can take to the fairways with hickory clubs to recreate an early 20th-century golfing experience on Gleneagles’ PGA National Academy Course. 

British Museum to loan six Lewis chessmen to Scotland

Six of the Lewis chessmen are to go on permanent display at Lews Castle, Stornoway, from 2014 as part of a loan agreement between the Western Isles Council and the British Museum. 

The medieval chess pieces will be displayed in a new museum funded by a £4.6m Heritage Lottery Fund grant and supported by National Museums Scotland (NMS) and the British Museum. 

Scotland's Big 5 campaign in quest for favourite

The Scotland’s Big 5 campaign has been launched by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Visit Scotland.

The Big five are all high-profile species, widely associated with Scotland, with a broad geographical spread. They are the red deer, otter, red squirrel, golden eagle and common seal. 

Interestingly wild cat, capercaillie and pine marten all miss out. 

The campaign encourages people to enjoy the wider experience of exploring some of the places where the species can be found, and to take part in a web-based vote to discover the nation’s favourite wild animal, even if it’s not one of the Big 5.

Bunnahabhain unveils 40-year-old Islay malt whisky

Islay-based whisky distillery Bunnahabhain is to release a one-off rare single malt that has lain undiscovered for four decades.

Only 750 bottles will be released and each will be numbered and signed. 

Review: Aikwood Tower, Selkirk, Scottish Borders

Aikwood Tower: the Reiver's return…

The Border Reivers weren’t big on luxury. After a hard day spent stealing their neighbours’ cattle or otherwise getting up to mischief they’d retire to their strongholds for a few mugs of ale before falling asleep in a heap – and quite possibly in their armour – in front of the fire.

The Reivers roamed the No Man’s Land between England and Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries, and traces of their presence can still be seen today.

One of the more obvious of these is Aikwood Tower, 40 miles south of Edinburgh. While from a distance the Reivers would find it familiar, however, they would probably be left dumbfounded by its luxurious interior.