Six stunning properties selected as finalists for Scotland's Home of the Year 2025
The properties will face off against each other in the much-anticipated series finale next week.
Six stunning homes have been selected as finalists for Scotland's Home of the Year 2025.
The properties will face off against each other in the much-anticipated series finale of the popular BBC Scotland property show next Monday night. Judges Anna Campbell-Jones, Banjo Beale and Danny Campbell travelled the length and breadth of the country in their hunt for the perfect property.
They visited 18 worthy contenders in the West, North East, Northern Isles, East, Central and Tayside and the Highlands and Islands. Each search showcased a variety of styles from period properties to modern new-builds, cosy cottages to bespoke flats, farm steadings to contemporary abodes.
And although it was no easy decision, judges managed to narrow down six houses metting this years' Scottish Home of the Year criteria.
The homes were 'Sandstone Bungalow' in Giffnock, 'Hilltop House' in Aberdeenshire, 'Wee City Nook' in Edinburgh's Stockbridge area, 'The Tree House' in Broughty Ferry, 'An Cala Cottage' on the Isle of Skye and 'Craigmount' in Dalbeattie.
All finalists will come face-to-face with one another for the first time at the finale filmed at Glasgow's House for an Art Lover.
There, they will have the chance to cast their eyes over each other's homes.
Judge Anna said: 'As always, we have a set of finalists that are each uniquely different from each other, from restored modernist dreams to handcrafted miniature perfection there's inspiration for everyone.
"When we film the final we are never sure who the winner will be - it could genuinely be any of these amazing homes.
"Through debate, much discussion and not a little heartbreak, we gradually whittle them down to one that we all agree has that magical edge - the home that best exemplifies what home means.'
For the judges, meeting the finalists for the first time at Glasgow's House for an Art Lover is a real highlight.
Anna said: 'We get so excited to meet the creators of these dazzling finalists once we have completed our judging, we have so many questions and love matching the faces to the homes.'
Banjo added: 'It's like meeting old friends - you feel like you know them through their walls and wallpapers!"
Danny said: 'It's genuinely emotional finally meeting the SHOTY finalists. We spend so much time absorbing every detail of their homes, trying to understand their mindset and motivations — to then meet them is like stepping into the final page of a book you've loved reading. There's laughter, shock, and always respect for what they have achieved.'
Faced with six unforgettable and unique homes, Anna, Banjo and Danny cast their votes based on architectural merit, distinctive design, original style and what makes a house a home. Who will be crowned Scotland's Home of the Year 2025?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
'Two pints for a fiver' - How Wetherspoons reinvented the pub
The Counting House, Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns) The Counting House, Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns) The Counting House, Glasgow (Image: The Counting House, Glasgow) 'It's not the most salubrious bar, but it's where we like to drink,' Donald Munro tells me. He and his partner of more than two decades, Christine Watt, have managed to snag a table outside, but it's in the shade. The Counting House is their favourite place to get a drink when they come into the city centre from East Kilbride. Today's trip was to get a few bits for their upcoming holiday in Benidorm. 'Two pints for less than a fiver,' Christine says, waving at the glasses of half-drunk cider on the table. 'You just can't beat the price, and we like the atmosphere.' And the people watching is good. But it's the price more than anything else, Christine emphasises. A table in the sun becomes free, and they're off. Marion Duffy (Image: The Counting House, Glasgow) The Counting House, Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns) Sisters Marion and Tracey Duffy are catching up over £4.42 mini bottles of Teresa Rizzi Sparkling Rosé at a table nearby. 'Everyone comes to Wetherspoons!' Marion says, letting out a burst of laughter. The bubbly 42-year-old florist says she has been coming to the Counting House for years, though she can't nail down just how many. It's their favourite location. 'Every year,' she says. 'Maybe four or five.' 'They've got cheap food and it's quite fast,' says Tracey, 43. Though she prefers somewhere a bit nicer for breakfast. For Marion, Wetherspoons has the best variety of people (specifically this one). It's the main reason she is so loyal to the establishments. 'People just chat normally, rather than having to push a conversation,' she says. 'People are really chatty when you go to the bar. When you're out here and you're in amongst it, it's just really lovely.' Last weekend, she met a couple from Australia at the Counting House. 'Only me,' she says, giggling. They have been keeping in touch on WhatsApp, messaging back and forth. A flicker of seriousness crosses her face. 'I don't know if you get this, but see when you meet people and you have a connection and you know that you'll always keep in touch,' her voice trails off. 'It's crazy'. They're in Ireland just now, but they are coming back in a couple of days, 'and they'll probably be back in here'. READ MORE MARISSA MACWHIRTER The beer garden is dissected by one long table. A group of more than a dozen students from Glasgow Caledonian University's podiatry department are celebrating their last exam. I ask them why they have picked Wetherspoons, what's the draw? Gary Mitchell (Image: Colin Mearns) 'Cheap bevvy,' says Gary Mitchell. Quickly and with a smirk. They find it easier to get a seat here than in other places, 'which are expensive'. 'The drilling just adds to it, that's Glasgow, man,' he adds, gesturing at Prince Albert in his white sling. Another student at the table motions to the building behind us. Someone has put a sign in the window that reads 'Trump is a jobby'. Everyone at the table agrees that Wetherspoons just is what it is. 'It attracts a multitude of people, no one is in the same age group or doing the same thing.' A pair of 19-year-old students from City of Glasgow College are sitting in the shade against the side of the building. Behind oversized sunglasses, they watch the sunny tables like hawks, waiting for one to free up. Anna, from Hamilton, and Sophie, from Uddingston, are not too sentimental about being at Wetherspoons. 'It wouldn't be my first choice, but it's cheap and close,' says Anna. It's just an easy option after attending lectures on campus. And the beer garden gets sunshine. No sooner has she said it than a table opens up. They pick up their pitcher of red cocktail and move along. Sophie and Anna (Image: Colin Mearns) The Counting House is just as busy inside as out. JD Wetherspoon reported that the recent good weather had buoyed sales as of late. Despite warnings from owner Tim Martin that pint prices would soon be hiked by 20p to offset elements of the latest budget, like-for-like sales are up 5.6% in the 13 weeks to April 27 across the chain's 795 UK pubs. It's a Tuesday afternoon, and a tour around the Merchant City proves that business is not so booming elsewhere. Punters are dotted around the outdoor tables of independents and smaller chain outlets, but nowhere is enjoying the same success as the Counting House. The latest edition of Wetherspoons News (more than 100 pages of pro-Spoons' copy) boasts that the pub is number three on Google Maps' list of best-loved pubs, making it number one in Glasgow. It also has a special article titled 'Killing Off An Urban Myth', in which the idea that the pub chain buys beer close to its sell-by date to keep the prices low is dubbed a 'ludicrous fairytale'. It is, perhaps, a symptom of the times that price takes precedence over all when it comes to choosing one's watering hole. Getting out and socialising is important no matter how tight one's belt is, and Wetherspoons appears to have dominated the cash-conscious market, though well-heeled punters are always about. The irony is not lost on me as I climb the marble steps leading inside the Counting House, a former bank. It's breathtaking inside. (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) The Counting House, Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns) The Italian Renaissance-style former Bank of Scotland head office, designed between 1867 and 1870 by JT Rochead, became a JD Wetherspoon in 1996. Scotland's flagship Spoons. The walls are decorated with paintings, drawings, photographs, and quotes about money. Beautiful caryatids adorned with symbolic objects, like scales, watch over punters as they fiddle with the Wetherspoons App, trying to order a pint of Stella. When they are not hunched over their smartphones, patrons are gazing up at the magnificent glass dome ceiling. Earlier in the morning, I had visited two other Glasgow Wetherspoons: The Society Room on West George Street and Hengler's Circus on Sauchiehall Street. The silence inside the pubs during the breakfast hours was unbearable. Neither venue is as impressive as The Counting House, but both embodied the same accessible Wetherspoon spirit. I watched as £5.75 plates of Scottish breakfast were ferried off to tables scattered around each venue's different seating areas, the scent of fried oil wafting through the air. All around, people were clutching white porcelain mugs. Coffee is just £1.71, and the refills are free. Morning, regular John McDonald is poring over a crossword while having his coffee. He tells me he likes that it's so quiet. He comes in once or twice a week because it's open early (7.30am), unlike the coffee shops near his Dennistoun home. 'Nowhere else really provides the same thing,' he says, before joking that the prices keep going up. Love it or hate it, Wetherspoon's provides a crucial meeting place for many people in Scotland. The prices are accessible to many, the quality is consistent, and the staff are friendly. They allow people from every corner of society to brush elbows, often in beautiful buildings. The growing need for such cut-price provisions says more about where we are as a society than anything. And one thing is for certain, everyone in Wetherspoons is happy with the price. Marissa MacWhirter is a columnist and feature writer at The Herald, and the editor of The Glasgow Wrap. The newsletter is curated between 5-7am each morning, bringing the best of local news to your inbox each morning without ads, clickbait, or hyperbole. Oh, and it's free. She can be found on X @marissaamayy1
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Love Island fans work out ‘real reason' couple have split again as on/off Islanders unfollow each other
LOVE Island fans claim to have worked out why one of the show's couples has split again. The Sun revealed today how Harriett, 25, and 28-year-old Ronnie have called time on their relationship while on holiday in Ibiza. 5 Love Island fans are suspicious about Ronnie and Harriett's split Credit: Rex 5 The Sun revealed today how the pair have broken up again Credit: Rex Although the pair have not formally confirmed their break-up, Harriett has complained to fans about the "bad day" she's having. Harriett and Ronnie have unfollowed each other on Instagram, with him deleting all trace of her on the photo sharing site too. But fans are suspicious about the on/off couple's latest split. Mulling it over on Reddit, many claim to have worked out why Harriett and Ronnie have broken up again. It has been suggested that Ronnie might be being lined up to make a shock entrance in this summer's Love Island for Casa Amor. The twist, which comes later in the series, always sparks drama as the couples are put to the ultimate test with a host of new bombshell arrivals. Writing on the social forum, one fan said: "They'll be back together in a month." But another replied: "Ronnie will be the big post Casa bombshell by then." Agreeing, someone else added: "No kidding. He'll cry about Harriett while hitting on other women." A fourth chimed in: "And then Harriett will come back in for him to win her back." Ronnie Vint breaks silence on rumours he's split from his Love Island girlfriend Harriett Blackmore Another viewer begged: "Please don't give the producers ideas!" Ronnie and Harriett originally split last summer - just weeks after leaving the villa. The pair then rekindled their connection on Love Island: All Stars in January. Last week, the couple were at the centre of break-up rumours after fans noticed Ronnie had deleted photos of Harriett from Instagram. A mystery post appeared on the site which claimed to show Ronnie confirming: "Yeah it's true. Will explain my side of things later." Have YOU got a story or an amazing picture or video? Email exclusive@ and you could even get PAID But Ronnie quickly hit out and insisted he was the victim of a hoax by a malicious troll. He wrote online: "This is clearly a set up. Edited because we are sweet and I haven't commented a thing. Thank you." Following today's news that the couple have in fact broken up, Harriett has spoken out. Refusing to address the reports directly, she told her Instagram followers: 'I've never felt this exhausted in my entire life. 'Love you guys! Bad day, not a bad life.' 5 Ronnie and Harriett rekindled their romance on Love Island All Stars Credit: Getty 5 Ronnie has deleted all trace of Harriett on Instagram Credit: Instagram/@ronnievint
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Dan Snow comes face to face with an Inca ‘ice mummy': "Nothing can prepare you"
TV historian Dan Snow goes to the ancient site of Machu Picchu in Peru where he makes some exciting discoveries Dan Snow comes face to face with an Inca 'ice mummy' in this latest travel show, Dan Snow & The Lost City, on 5 tonight (Thursday 5th June) at 9pm. The 'mummy' is a young girl who was frozen in time when she was sacrificed to the mountain Gods at Machu Picchu in Peru around 600 years ago. But now, using new archaeology and recently discovered ancient records, a picture can be pieced together of life and death in this extraordinary place. In this 90-minute special, Dan explores the unfolding story of these amazing finds. On his journey to the incredible UNESCO heritage site of Machu Picchu, Dan climbs into the mountains on the trail of the incredible lost city of the Incas. The magical metropolis perched high amongst the clouds, was rediscovered, overgrown by jungle, over 100 years ago. Dan says: 'Machu Picchu is the most overwhelming location for a historical site. Nothing can prepare you for arriving there - it's like a great big Coluseum. It is truly like a lost city in the jungle. It's the thing you dream about when you're a little kid and it's right there, sitting high up in the Andes.' He adds: 'I was lucky enough to go when they were doing some scientific research on an Inca Ice Mummy. It turned out to be the body of a 12-year-old Incan girl, and she was perfectly preserved in the ice. I had to hold it for a minute and I ended up with her in my arms and she's the age of my daughter. It was one of the most overwhelming things.' *Dan Snow and the Lost City is airing on 5 tonight at 9pm There's plenty more on TV tonight - here's the best of the rest.. THE BRITISH SOAP AWARDS 2025, ITV1, 8pm Looking back on 12 months of murder, make ups, break ups, mystery and mayhem, this is the night to celebrate the nation's best loved soap operas. Jane McDonald hosts the glam affair at The Hackney Empire, London, where the four biggest soaps - Corrie, Enders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks, battle it out for awards. It's been a big year, in which Gail Platt left the cobbles after 50 years, the Albert Square residents celebrated 40 years on air, a dramatic limo crash shocked Emmerdale fans and Hollyoaks jumped a year into the future with explosive twists and turns. The Platts, Slaters, Dingles and Osbornes will be vying for Best Family, while Jack P. Shepherd (David), Patsy Palmer (Bianca), Nicola Wheeler (Nicola) and Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra) are all hoping to win Best Comedy Performance. Other gongs up for grabs include Best Storyline, Villain of the Year, Scene of the Year and of course Best British Soap. Jane says: 'I can't wait to get my glittery frock on.' AMBULANCE, BBC1, 9pm More stories of heroism from the frontlines as we follow ambulance workers working to save lives. It's a tonic for the soul. In this episode call handlers are frustrated as they deal with a sexually abusive caller who has already rung 999 seven times in the past hour. It's proving difficult to trace his calls. A call comes in for a patient who has been stabbed in the chest in Croydon. Paramedics Phillipa and James are immediately dispatched alongside another ambulance, police, an incident response officer and London's air ambulance, HEMS. Working in Wimbledon, crewmates Astrid and Lydia are dispatched to an 85-year-old woman who has broken her ankle after falling down the stairs. Arriving on the scene, they find Enid lying on the floor in extreme pain, with her ankle bone exposed. Enid's concerned neighbours are at a loss for what to do as the elderly lady reveals she has never felt the need for an ambulance before. EMMERDALE, ITV1, 7pm Finally, the grim discovery of the body in the lake is revealed to be Nate's. Cain and Moira are blindsided when they find out. When Cain hears that the body is so decomposed that he can't even visit his son, he starts to experience flashbacks to their last interaction. Cain is also now in the frame due to the fight he had with Nate on the day he died. He's furious as the police question him. Chas and Tracy become suspicious. EASTENDERS, BBC1, 7.30pm Kat and Alfie prepare to celebrate their joint stag and hen party. Kat is thrilled when Kim reveals the theme of the 'hag', but her happiness is short-lived when she makes a worrying discovery on the family computer. At The Vic, the karaoke party is a flop and Elaine is furious when Kim reveals that Cindy's relaunch party is a success. Elaine decides to attend the party to annoy Cindy. Tommy is furious when Kat reveals that Amy is babysitting.
