Advertisement
Advertisement
13K views

A Country Without Tellers: How Scotland Lost Its Banks

13 August 2026
In little more than a decade, Scotland has watched a familiar piece of civic life disappear from hundreds of communities. The story begins with quiet rationalisation, passes through mass closures and parliamentary revolt, and ends (for now) with a new

Policy & Government

Clear reporting and explanation of Scottish Government, councils, public bodies, FOI releases, public policy and institutional decision making.
VIEW ALL

Energy

Coverage of Scotland’s energy system, including renewables, grid infrastructure, oil and gas transition, energy policy and energy security.
VIEW ALL

Infrastructure

Reporting on the physical systems Scotland depends on, including water, roads, ports, public buildings, grid, broadband, construction and civic facilities.
VIEW ALL

18.9K views

The Two Water Systems Of Scotland

3 August 2026
Thousands of people in rural Scotland rely on private water supplies, but ministers have never assessed how their costs and responsibilities compare with those of households connected to the public network. A

Transport

Coverage of Scotland’s roads, rail, ferries, buses, airports, ports, active travel and transport infrastructure.
VIEW ALL

Economy

Reporting and analysis on Scotland’s businesses, industries, investment, employment, manufacturing, rural economy and commercial life.
VIEW ALL

Environment

Reporting on Scotland’s land, water, climate, biodiversity, conservation, pollution, agriculture and natural heritage.
VIEW ALL

Heritage & Arts

Coverage of Scotland’s historic buildings, museums, archives, archaeology, language, culture, landscapes and public memory.
VIEW ALL

Community

Local and national stories about Scottish communities, public life, voluntary work, social change and everyday civic issues.
VIEW ALL

12.9K views

American Coffee and Other Emergencies

I was back at the wee fish shop somewhere between Thurso and Scrabster last Thursday, minding my own business, as I generally am when other people happen to be speaking loudly enough for me to hear them. Effie was standing by the haddock having a very quiet conversation with Elspeth. It was one of those conversations conducted at precisely the volume required to make every woman within twelve feet immediately interested. They both stopped talking when they saw me coming. I looked at Effie. I looked at Elspeth. “Well, spit it out,” I said. “What’s the matter?” Effie sighed. “Elspeth

Scotland In Focus

Gingerbread

Vintage Dundee Gingerbread

134.3K views
NOTE: This is a vintage Scottish recipe from the WW2 era where eggs were often replaced with dried eggs. If you would rather use 1 fresh egg, add it to step 3 right before you add the fruit. You will need: – 3 cup fulls of flour – 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon – 2 oz. butter – 3 tablespoonfuls syrup – 1 tablespoonful dried egg (or 1 fresh egg) – 1 teaspoonful of ground ginger – 1 teacupful of milk – 4 tablespoonsful of treacle – 1 teaspoonful of baking soda – 6 oz. fruit (if desired) Method: 1. Put

Clothes Don’t Make The Woman

19K views
I had finished afternoon tea at a lovely establishment in the Highlands and was sitting on a bench outside, waiting for Mr Gunn. It had been a very satisfactory afternoon tea. The sandwiches had been small enough to suggest refinement, the cakes had been large enough to restore confidence, and the bill had been folded discreetly inside a little leather wallet so that one could discover the consequences in private. Mr Gunn had gone to fetch the car. This sounds like a simple undertaking, but Mr Gunn does not merely fetch a car. He checks it. He walks around it.
Strathclyde 1090b

Project Mapping – Scotland’s Trains

60.5K views
In the fascinating world of rail network mapping, Andrew Smithers’ Project Mapping stands out as a rich repository and a critical platform that redefines how we perceive and engage with transportation maps. His website, Project Mapping, not only showcases innovative rail maps but also serves as a vibrant forum for discussions on map-making. He has a page dedicated to Scotland here. Andrew Smithers, inspired by the iconic London tube map during his youth, developed Project Mapping out of his graphic design consultancy. The site is a deep dive into the intricacies of designing maps that are both functional and reflective