Latest News | The Scotsman

Fri, 10th October 2025

Nicola Sturgeon with Alex Salmond

Analysis SNP gathers in Aberdeen under the shadows of Sturgeon and Salmond
The party continues to grapple with the complex legacy of its two former leaders

A general view of Edinburgh Castle. which is managed by Historic Environment Scotland.

Exclusive Chief executive of Historic Environment Scotland suspended

Ash Regan

Ash Regan quits Alex Salmond's Alba Party

Don't Miss

Antique dealers Richard Drummond and his son Alfie who believe they have discovered a a stained glass window with connections to Robert the Bruce.

£20 charity shop stained glass window 'belonged to Robert The Bruce'

North Sea oil and gas companies' expertise in offshore engineering can help build renewable energy schemes (Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images)

Exclusive SNP 'all over the shop' as conference set to shun oil and gas debate

The Scottish port city of Aberdeen

Scottish billionaire businessman's 'utterly remarkable' donation

Andy Robertson and Billy Gilmour celebrate Scotland's huge win over Greece at Hampden.

Analysis Fortune favours battling Scotland as they benefit from Iwelumo moment

Alastair King, Lord Mayor of London, addressing audience

Why Scotland Inc is rolling out the red carpet to the world Jeremy Grant

People cried, sang and dancing in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv after the news of the Gaza ceasefire deal (Picture: Maya Levin)

Trump's Gaza peace deal will be his greatest achievement if it holds Scotsman comment

Robert Jenrick congratulates Kemi Badenoch on beating him to become Conservative party leader in November last year, but many suspect he still has leadership ambitions (Picture: Dan Kitwood)

Huge decision facing liberal Tories as party moves towards hard-right Alistair Carmichael

Margaret Thatcher waves to the crowd during a campaign event ahead of the 1987 general election (Picture: Derek Hudson)

The one lesson the left needs to learn from Thatcher to avoid disaster Joyce McMillan

Highlights

Winner – Panda & Sons
Highly Commended – Hey Palu

‘Spectacular’ hidden Scottish pub named in World’s Best 50 Bars list
A Scottish speakeasy has been named as one of the best in the world in the 2025 top 50 bars list.

The 13 best new Scotch whiskies for autumn

Val McDermid, author

Silent Bones by Val McDermid review: a political murder for Pirie

Inside the craft exhibition that's opening in top Edinburgh gallery

Perfect conditions on the Spring Run at Glencoe Mountain Resort

Unlimited skiing in Scotland now the price of two days in Colorado

Often described as Pitlochry’s hidden woodland retreat, Black Spout Wood comes alive in autumn. This enchanting forest is a haven for walkers seeking quiet trails and nature-lovers hoping to glimpse red squirrels or roe deer among the trees.

The highlight of the walk is the spectacular Black Spout Waterfall, where the Edradour Burn plunges nearly 60 metres into a dramatic gorge. Hidden among the woodland, you’ll also find the remains of an Iron Age homestead, which has now softened by moss and time.

Explorers looking to indulge in some luxury after their walk can retreat to Fonab Castle Hotel & Spa, positioned in the heart of Pitlochry.

Complete with cosy furnishings and places to coorie in with a book in front of the fire, the five-star hotel is also home to the triple AA-Rosette award winning restaurant Sandemans, which welcomes guests for a seven-course tasting menu with matching wines that celebrate Scotland’s rich, autumnal larder.

9 of the best autumn Scottish walks that end with cosy pitstops

I Swear

Film reviews: I Swear | A House of Dynamite | Good Boy

The Scottish company behind world’s favourite whisky glass

Siân Brooke, star of Blue Lights, the Belfast-based BBC crime drama

'There's a lot of my mum in Grace' - Blue Lights star Siân Brooke

Arts news

Fringe by the Sea was held over ten days with around 250 events.

Visitor spend a fifth higher as Fringe by the Sea bucks trend

The festival has been running since 2008

Romesh Ranganathan to star in first play 'since primary school'

The play will be Romesh Ranganathan’s stage debut

Crowds at a previous incarnation of Edinburgh Oktoberfest.

7,000 litres of beer and thousands of bratwurst destroyed after storm

The event was one of many cancelled across Scotland due to Storm Amy

The breakout artist of award claimed by Lewis Capaldi and Paolo Nutini Jane Bradley

Jane Bradley

Fringe boss who won £7m funding for new HQ to lead Edinburgh theatre

Lyndsey Jackson, is to take over the role from Mike Griffiths

I'm more of a Sindy girl but still want to go to the Barbie exhibition

Childhood preferences will be set aside for Glasgow showcase

Scotsman Video

Scotsman Video

The latest video from The Scotsman

Featured Videos

Sam Heughan at a bothy at the newly rebranded Galloway distillery

Outlander star Sam Heughan opens Galloway distillery

I went along to Pluscarden Abbey for a spiritual retreat.

A day living with monks at Scotland's functioning medieval monastery

Claxton's general manager Martin Burrnett, Scotsman food and drink editor Rosalind Erskine and Claxton's director Tom Roskams

The Scotsman Whisky Club: First virtual tasting a sell-out success

Caroline Lamb, chief executive of NHS Scotland and director-general health and social care, and Health Secretary Neil Gray at the launch of The Scotsman Health Awards 2025, which will be held in the O2 Academy in Edinburgh in November.

Nominations open for Scotland's Health Awards 2025

Puzzles

Quick CrosswordTo test and hone your word skills

SudokuThe ultimate logic-based numbers game

WordwheelPit yourself against the clock with our simple anagram game

Sport

Rangers managerial candidate Steven Gerrard was most recently with Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.

Rangers assess manager options as Gerrard clamour intensifies

Former Ibrox boss held talks with club chiefs earlier this week

Russell gives injury-hit Bath timely boost for derby weekend

Stand-off is back in action after Lions duty

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke and his captain Andy Robertson.

Scotland team to play Belarus - and where Clarke could make changes

The Scotsman has a crack at picking its team for next qualifier

Why Scotland's clash with Greece could be tenure defining for Clarke Graham Falk

Edinburgh hand debut to Scotland internationalist as champion returns

Richardson to make debut at flanker away at Munster

Clarke tells fans how to feel on team, injury update and 3 vacancies

Manager once again hails character but has issues to solve for Belarus

Readers Gallery

A tranquil late summers day in Glen Etive in Argyll from reader, Colin Riddell

September 2025: A selection of beautiful pictures from Scotland taken by our rea...

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

August 2025: A selection of beautiful pictures from Scotland taken by our reader...

July 2025: A selection of beautiful pictures from Scotland taken by our readers

Get The Scotsman app for mobile and tablet

The Scotsman app brings you exclusive, quality news and analysis from The Scotsman, Scotland’s National Newspaper.

Scotsman Sessions

Just a few of the artists who have performed Scotsman Sessions

The Scotsman Sessions: links to numbers 1-400

James Yorkston and Nina Persson

The Scotsman Sessions #431: James Yorkston & Nina Persson

Kevin Lennon and Molly Innes

The Scotsman Sessions #430: Kevin Lennon and Molly Innes

Constant Vigier

The Scotsman Sessions #429: Constant Vigier

Business

Last year saw Highland Spring roll out a flavoured still water range including apple & blackcurrant.

Double-digit growth and new products put Highland Spring on road to £200m goal

Gold is traditionally seen as a very safe haven for investors in times of volatility.

Gold price could hit $5,000 an ounce but investors should tread carefully

Politics

Douglas Ross’s Right to Recovery Bill has been voted down.

Douglas Ross's Bill to tackle drug deaths voted down
Scottish Labour says Scotland ‘will never get to grips’ with the drugs crisis under the SNP.

While Labour is planning to expand the college sector, in SNP-run Scotland colleges are facing cut backs with Forth Valley College's Alloa campus threatened with closure (Picture: John Devlin)

Starmer and Badenoch are dead right about problem with universities John McLellan

First Minister John Swinney (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Swinney did not raise Covid results scandal with SQA despite warnings

Pro-independence protesters hold up Scottish National Party (SNP) emblems as they join a march organised by the grassroots organistaion All Under One Banner

John Swinney accused of 'dangerous dishonesty' over independence plan

Disillusioned independence supporters are drifting away from the SNP (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

From independence to Israel: Eight SNP conference motions to watch

Douglas Ross (left) and John Swinney (right) were involved in a tense exchange.

John Swinney: 'SNP has no failures on Scottish education'

Palestinians celebrate in Khan Yunis following news of a new Gaza ceasefire deal.

Israel and Hamas agree to first phase of peace plan, Trump announces

Activists protest outside Bute House last month after the scrapping of a key climate change target (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

SNP says net zero 'never in question' despite 'slowing' climate action

Opinion

Catherine, Princess of Wales plays with children as she visits the charity Home-Start Oxford (Picture: Kirsty Wigglesworth/pool)

Princess of Wales shows the importance of messing around Scotsman comment

First Minister John Swinney launching his 'Fresh Start with Independence' document in Edinburgh (Picture: Lisa Ferguson)

Readers' letters: John Swinney has become an embarrassment

The cap on rent increases was supported by the Scottish Property Federation (Picture: John Devlin)

Bill is step forward in bid to tackle housing emergency

John Swinney with the SNP's 'A Fresh Start with Independence' paper (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Pie-in-the-sky promises like these are why trust is low in politicians Scotsman comment

Heritage and Retro

Here are 31 brilliant retro photos of Hampden Park that show how the famous stadium has changed over the decades. Cr: PA/SNS Group.

31 brilliant retro photos of Hampden Park

The 14 Scots who deserve their own statue in the country

Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, one of the properties posing a "real challenge" for Historic Environment Scotland given the deterioration at the site.

The historic buildings of Scotland fighting for their future

An apprentice stonemason at work at the Elgin Training Centre, which is run by Historic Environment Scotland. PIC: Daniel Overturf.

The stonemasons crucial to the future of Scotland's historic buildings

The tree was planted in 1617 by King James VI of Scotland

Sycamore tree planted by King of Scotland 'severely' damaged by storm

Part of Fort George recently fell into the sea as a result of coastal erosion (Picture: Andrew Milligan/WPA pool)

Never underestimate value of buildings that bring our history to life Scotsman comment

The future of Skara Brae, the Neolithic settlement in Orkney, is under discussion given the impact of climate change on the monument and how that can be managed going forward. PIC: geograph.org/Sandy Gerrard.

Scotland's historic buildings must not be 'left to rot'

Arts and Culture

Katy Perry at the Glasgow Hydro

Katy Perry, Glasgow review: 'like a pop Tinkerbell'

Jay Capperauld

Jay Capperauld on taking centre stage for the SCO's new digital season

Val McDermid, author

Silent Bones by Val McDermid review: a political murder for Pirie

Richard Ashcroft

Album reviews: Richard Ashcroft | The Orb | Say She She | Shears

I Swear

Film reviews: I Swear | A House of Dynamite | Good Boy

The Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Milwaukee, where Thomas Pynchon's new novel begins

Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchon review: 'slapstick and eldritch'

A still from DIAGNONSENSE, screening as part of this year's Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival

Healing through discomfort at the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival

Education

Joanna Cherry (Image: Russell Cheyne/Getty Images)

School censors interview with Joanna Cherry on gender critical belief

Tory leader brands incident inidicative of ideological capture of Scottish institutions

Catriona Stewart

Catriona Stewart

Maintaining good behaviour in schools benefits pupils and teachers alike (Picture: Matthew Horwood)

What happened after boy's anti-English abuse of teacher will shock you Cameron Wyllie

Overall, 17 UK universities made it into the QS global top 100 list

UK's top universities according to prestigious global league table

100 assaults a day taking place in Scotland's schools and nurseries Catriona Stewart

Catriona Stewart

Hay's Way

Many areas in Scotland are facing an extreme risk of wildfire, and the public have been warned against using naked flames.

Muirburn licensing delayed a second time in wake of major wildfires

Mavis Paterson, known as Granny Mave, poses with her bike in the countryside of Dumfries and Galloway. Picture: Paul Hackett

Woman, 87, takes on bike ride with a twist in memory of her children

Fish farms on the west coast of Scotland

Plan for new guidance could see fish farms prosecuted for poor welfare

Health

Autumn allergies could last for longer, warns a leading pharmacist.

Warning as autumn allergies hit 'high risk peak'

Public satisfaction with the NHS has plummeted. Photo: Jeff Moore/PA Wire

Trust in Scottish Government revealed as NHS satisfaction plummets

Cases of Covid have been steadily increasing for several weeks.

The one thing you can do to stay Covid-free this autumn

Should children be able to buy caffeine-loaded energy drinks? (Picture: Clive Brunskill)

Why everyone needs to know about the deadly dangers of energy drinks Jackie Baillie

A pram has been recalled after it was found to have a 'high risk of injuries'.

Urgent product recall warning over 'high risk' pram

Drug consumption rooms are an attempt to reduce the harm caused by taking substances like heroin (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Explainer What Douglas Ross' Right to Recovery Bill will do as fear raised

Warning to check eligibility for Covid vaccines - as people 'turned away' from pharmacies.

Warning to check eligibility for Covid vaccine - as criteria changes

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Mirabello Bay Luxury Resort

Discover Crete's hidden gem: Luxury and family bliss at Mirabello Bay

WUKA period pants: A new era of sustainable menstrual care, but are they any good?

What are WUKA period pants?

Espresso Martini anyone? Yes, you can even make cocktails with Ninja’s amazing coffee machine

This Ninja coffee machine turns any countertop into a home café

Dr Sam’s Flawless Moisturiser: Why beauty influencers are obsessed with this eczema-approved formula.

Beauty influencers are raving about this moisturiser

These are the three must-have products from the award-winning Dr Sam’s skincare range

October is Eczema awareness month

Amazon Music Unlimited can be used for four months for just 99p - but the deal runs out at 4pm

New way to stream millions of songs and download audiobooks for 99p

Four months of music, podcasts, AND audiobooks for 99p. There are now just a few hours to sign up for this deal

Hours left to get ad-free music and four free audiobooks for 99p

Sport Opinion

Former Rangers head coach Russell Martin during the 1-1 draw with Falkirk which resulted in his sacking. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

Rangers becoming like Man Utd - current SPFL manager could be answer
Ibrox chiefs may want to look closer to home for next appointment
Alan Pattullo

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend will work with Red Bull for 30 days a year.

Scotland job should be more than enough to occupy Townsend Graham Bean

Team Europe’s Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry were smiling at the end of their Saturday fourball match after silencing a hostile US crowd in the 45th Ryder Cup on Long Island

Shameful scenes should never be repeated in future Ryder Cups Martin Dempster

The Hearts squad celebrate in front of the fans at full time after the 2-0 win over Rangers at Ibrox. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

Hearts' challenge has substance as Rangers rue missed opportunities

Obituaries

Alan had a great love of the outdoors

Scotsman Obituaries: Alan McMillan, musician and music teacher

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Obituary: Doreen Graham, SSPCA spokesperson who championed animal welfare

Cars

Renault 4 E-Tech-2

Renault 4 E-Tech Review: Retro formula, with added practicality

BOTB's Katie Knight helps Kevin celebrate

Bus driver in shock after winning £77,000 BMW from a 21p ticket

Peugeot's e-208 looks exactly like its petrol-powered sibling - and that's a good thing

Peugeot e-208 review: small car, big charm, and electric appeal

Robert Mason had spent around £3 on tickets - and bagged himself a £60,000 car

Decking installer wins £60,000 BMW M5 for just 7p

Anna Birt could not believe she had won her dream car

‘This is crazy’ – shock reaction as woman wins £100k car in prize draw

The unusual Battle Green colour really sets this car off

Win a Porsche 911 Turbo Convertible for just 7p in BOTB prize draw

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The launch marks a major milestone for a spirit rooted in East Neuk hospitality and golfing tradition

Ad Feature UK-based distillery launches 10-year-old statement single malt whisky

The survey reveals that girls with two or more characteristics of inequality are significantly more likely to not be active every day

Ad Feature Girls twice as likely not to take part in sport as boys, data shows

The book that could shatter the wealth management industry

Ad Feature “Why Your Wealth Manager Is Robbing You Blind”