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13.3K 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.
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Energy

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

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

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

Reporting on Scotland’s land, water, climate, biodiversity, conservation, pollution, agriculture and natural heritage.
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Heritage & Arts

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

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

Visual accompanying “Vintage Dundee Gingerbread”

Oatcakes

131.6K views
This is a Scottish traditional recipe that has not been modified from its original version. You will need to substitute for modern ingredients as required. You will need: – 1 cup of oatmeal – 1 teaspoonful of melted fat – pinch of baking soda – 1/2 teaspoonful of salt – hot water 1. Mix dry ingredients and add fat. 2. Add sufficient water to make a moderately stiff dough. 3. Roll out as thin as possible. 4. Bake one side on girdle till corners begin to curl, toast in front of fire or under grill. 5. May also be baked

Clothes Don’t Make The Woman

19.1K 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.
68827100 outdoor shoe on a stack

Walk Highlands

25.5K views
Founded by Helen and Paul Webster in 2006, the Walk Highlands website features more than 2,200 awe-inspiring, spectacular walking routes all over Scotland. In this easy-to-navigate directory, journeys can be planned by location with routes available in the Highlands, Islands, and Lowlands. The database can further match your requirements based on options such as walking difficulty, with Grade 1 routes listed as the easiest and Grade 5 the most challenging. You can also select the minimum or maximum distance you’d like to walk. At first glance, it is a straightforward thing: a free guide to walking routes across Scotland, covering