How was your 2022, Scotsman readers? Wonderful, good, bad… Horrendous? Regardless of where you sit emotionally on the topic, what’s for sure is that this year has been a chaotic one indeed.
From the death of Queen Elizabeth II, to navigating 3 prime ministers in one year on top of reports of energy crises and looming threats of war just as normality appeared to tiptoe back in following Covid-19, even the toughest amongst us can be affected by it all.
But what’s easily forgotten is that life goes on and life finds a way (no film reference intended) and we mustn’t lose sight of that amid any troubled times. That’s why we’ve assembled these 22 news stories from Scotland in 2022 that tell the tales of kindness, triumph, brevity and hope.
We hope you enjoy them as we approach Hogmanay and boldly enter 2023.
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It's not all doom and gloom in the world and these Scottish news stories from 2022 prove it. Photo: Submitted
. Scottish Sheep Dog still herds sheep like a boss after losing a leg in accident
After this border collie went missing in July his owner, Anna MacKinnon, was sick with worry and didn’t find him until 8 days later when it was discovered his leg had sustained nerve damage and needed to be amputated. Despite this, this hardworking pup is still living his best life at the farm. His name? Boss (because he gets it done like a boss!) Photo: YouTube Screenshot via The Independent
. Scottish Islanders turned tourists’ nightmare trip into a dream wedding in Skye
American tourists Paul and Amanda Riesel planned to get married in Scotland but their trip from Florida was plagued by multiple delays, cancellations and even lost luggage, leaving them to arrive at Skye at 11pm the night before their wedding without their things. Thankfully, wedding photographer Rosie Woodhouse posted an appeal to the locals who provided a kilt for Paul and a beautiful dress for Amanda resulting in a magical wedding day. Photo: Love Skye Photography - Rosie Woodhouse
. Scottish Highlands put in National Geographic's 'Best of the World 2023' list
The Scottish Highlands was named one of National Geographic’s ‘Best of the World’ destinations of 2023, proudly standing side-by-side with the likes of Botswana, Slovenia and Big Bend National Park in Texas, US - beautiful locations that are no small feat to share the spotlight with. Photo: Submitted
. Alpaca who thinks she's a dog receives a car bought just for her
Annie the Alpaca was rejected by her mum and had to be bottle-fed as a baby every 2 hours by owner Dannie Burns. Burns first bought 2 alpacas 14 years ago on a whim after losing his job but now has 10 staff on hand at The Alpaca Trekking Centre in Stirling. Annie, along with her 3 Labradoodle dog brothers, thinks she’s also a dog and loves to travel with them in their Vauxhall estate car which was bought to accommodate her stretching. Photo: Submitted
. 100-year-old volunteer commutes 4 hours to do charity work
Talk about dedication! Despite recently celebrating his 100th birthday, David Flucker went to work at the St. Columba’s Hospice shop in Edinburgh the following day. Rain or shine, this dedicated volunteer spends 12 hours weekly commuting to the job regardless of his years. Photo: Submitted
. 800-year-old Highland castle saved from ruin by local community
Castle Roy is one of Scotland’s oldest castles dating back to 1200 which was saved from ruin by the local community. Local resident Richard Eccles pledged 30 years ago to protect the remains for the future and now Eccles, chair of the Castle Roy Trust, said: "It has taken 29 years from standing on that mound to re-opening the castle. That was wonderful and it also came with a great sense of relief. There were certainly times when I never thought the trust would see it finished.” Photo: Submitted
. Man quits job to offer Highland tours in a yellow New York school bus
Angus Luff graduated university in 2019 and began his career as a management consultant in Leicester (England) but after only 3 months on the job he concluded, ‘I don’t want to do this’. Instead, he chose his passion and created a hostel on wheels that offers trips to tourists across the Scottish Highlands (in quite possibly the least authentic vehicle for such a location but that’s the beauty of it!) Photo: Submitted
. One-eyed cat safely returns to his owners after a 5-year disappearance
This cat was ‘well-loved’ at Her Majesty’s Prison Grampian in Peterhead where he was regularly fussed over by staff who nicknamed him ‘One-eyed Joe’. Yet one day Joe somehow entered a shipping container almost 2 miles away at the town’s port which saw him shipped offshore to an oil rig where he started a new life with the rig workers where he was reportedly “spoiled rotten”. Eventually, he was reported to the SPCA who got him on a helicopter and returned him home after so many years. Photo: Submitted
1. Scottish Sheep Dog still herds sheep like a boss after losing a leg in accident
After this border collie went missing in July his owner, Anna MacKinnon, was sick with worry and didn’t find him until 8 days later when it was discovered his leg had sustained nerve damage and needed to be amputated. Despite this, this hardworking pup is still living his best life at the farm. His name? Boss (because he gets it done like a boss!) Photo: YouTube Screenshot via The Independent
2. Scottish Islanders turned tourists’ nightmare trip into a dream wedding in Skye
American tourists Paul and Amanda Riesel planned to get married in Scotland but their trip from Florida was plagued by multiple delays, cancellations and even lost luggage, leaving them to arrive at Skye at 11pm the night before their wedding without their things. Thankfully, wedding photographer Rosie Woodhouse posted an appeal to the locals who provided a kilt for Paul and a beautiful dress for Amanda resulting in a magical wedding day. Photo: Love Skye Photography - Rosie Woodhouse
3. Scottish Highlands put in National Geographic's 'Best of the World 2023' list
The Scottish Highlands was named one of National Geographic’s ‘Best of the World’ destinations of 2023, proudly standing side-by-side with the likes of Botswana, Slovenia and Big Bend National Park in Texas, US - beautiful locations that are no small feat to share the spotlight with. Photo: Submitted
4. Alpaca who thinks she's a dog receives a car bought just for her
Annie the Alpaca was rejected by her mum and had to be bottle-fed as a baby every 2 hours by owner Dannie Burns. Burns first bought 2 alpacas 14 years ago on a whim after losing his job but now has 10 staff on hand at The Alpaca Trekking Centre in Stirling. Annie, along with her 3 Labradoodle dog brothers, thinks she’s also a dog and loves to travel with them in their Vauxhall estate car which was bought to accommodate her stretching. Photo: Submitted