Books
Absolutely & Forever by Rose Tremain by Liz Treacher, Author Athough it was only published in paperback this year, Absolutely and Forever (Vintage, 2024) by Rose Tremain feels very retro. Set in 1960s London, the novel describes the struggles of Marianne to forget her first love, Simon, who she met
News
The Flow Country, located in Caithness and Sutherland, is a vast, ecologically significant landscape spanning 4,000 Km2. By Elizabeth Lunardini It features Europe’s largest blanket bog, a type of wetland ecosystem that plays a crucial role in global climate regulation by storing around 400 million tonnes of carbon
Nature
As summer starts to retreat into autumn, the hills and woods of the Highlands put on a spectacular show of mauves and purple. The heather is in flower. By Cherry Alexander The ling heather on our surrounding hillsides is Calluna vulgaris, a member of the heath family of plants which
Films
Release date (UK): 2024 | Country: Japan | Running time: 127 min | Genres: Drama, Thriller | Director: Kore-eda Hirokazu | Starring: Sakura Andô, Eita Nagayama, Soya Kurokawa. | BBFC 12 By Jack Weir Hirokazu Kore-eda’s latest film is a tender portrait of the connection between two young boys told from a number of interwoven
Books
Blàs, Across the Machair by C C Hutton By Liz Treacher, Author C C Hutton / Ceitidh Hutton is an award-winning writer of Gaelic children’s picture books and writer of English women’s contemporary fiction with a dash of Gaelic, a large sprinkling of humour, and a wee drop of
Nature
Secretive and rarely seen, the European Pine Marten, (martes martes) is about the size of a cat. It can be ferocious, with sharp teeth and claws which help it to hunt birds and rodents. By Cherry Alexander Dark brown on their backs and with a distinctive yellow bib, this is
Films
Release date (UK): 2023 | Country: Japan, Germany | Running time: 124 min | Genres: Drama | Director: Wim Wenders | Starring: Koji Yakusho, Tokio Emoto, Arisa Nakano. | BBFC PG By Jack Weir Perfect Days is the latest film from German director Wim Wenders of Paris, Texas fame. The film follows Hirayama, a man in
Books
Ardgay Girl, by Lily Byron By Liz Treacher, Author I f you have read and enjoyed Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee, you will love Ardgay Girl (Byron, 2023) by local author Lily Byron. It’s a journey back in time, a dive into Highland life in the post-war era
Nature
Common frogs are one of the only six native species of amphibians found in Scotland. They come to ponds to breed during the spring and spend much of the rest of the year feeding on dry land. They generally appears shiny and wet, in contrast to the dryness of a
Films
Release date (UK): 2023 | Country: USA | Running time: 206 min | Genres: Crime Drama | Director: Martin Scorsese | Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone. | BBFC 15 By Jack Weir Martin Scorsese’s latest film is an epic historical crime drama about the murders of Osage Native Americans that took place
Books
The Last Witch of Scotland, by Philip Paris By Liz Treacher, Author I love to read novels about the area penned by other local writers. So it was with great excitement that I picked up The Last Witch of Scotland (Black & White 2023) by Philip Paris. Philip has already
Heritage
Built by 66 Plant Squadron Royal Engineers in July to September 1975, under the Army´s Military Aid to the Civil Community scheme, it has proven hugely beneficial in revitalising the strath and improving communications for those living here. By Colin Gilmour If you cross over the Bailey bridge, which