I have always struggled with the pronunciation of Scottish place names. Dougie hoots with laughter when I read names from the map phonetically. Who knew that Milngavie is pronounced ‘mil-guy’ rather than ‘mill-un-gav-ee’? Likewise the lovely
Douglas comes home to Threave Castle
Earlier this year readers of the BBC’s Countryfile magazine voted Dumfries and Galloway the ‘Holiday Destination of the Year’ award. You can’t have a more resounding recommendation than an accolade from such a trusted, wonderfully
Wigtown: Scotland’s National Book Town
Book towns were established in 1961 by book dealer Richard Booth from Hay-on-Wye. Whilst this one is the biggie in the UK there is a smaller book town in the village of Sedbergh in the Yorkshire Dales.
A room with a view at the Balcary Bay Hotel
Each of the independent hotels we chose from the Luxury Galloway website has a unique selling point. It hardly seems appropriate to stamp these beautiful, esteemed establishments with such a modern term as a USP but
Taking a dip in Churchill’s bath
Out of all the hotels on the Luxury Galloway website, the one I was most curious about was Knockinaam Lodge. Built in 1869 as a hunting lodge, its secluded location, on the south-west tip of Scotland,
Scotland’s Chef of the Year at the Blackaddie House Hotel
One of the four hotels we picked for our romantic road trip around Dumfries and Galloway was the Blackaddie House Hotel in Sanquhar. It’s owned by Ian and Jane McAndrew and if you love your
Dumfries and Galloway road trip – Cavens Hotel
Every once in a while my husband Dougie has a hankering to return to his homeland and soak up a healthy dose of Scottishness. While our son Rory was heading off on a 10-day tour of European cities
The Crown at Woodbridge, Suffolk
“Was my gin strong or is this floor uneven?” Always a good question to ask when you’re feeling a little fragile but, in this case, the floor of our bedroom at The Crown at Woodbridge, Suffolk,