How to save hundreds on a last-minute summer holiday – just follow expert's five savvy tips
But not all Scots will have planned ahead for the six-week break.
And with so many places to choose from – and prices soaring by the day – it can be hard to know where to start.
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Getting away can be pricey - but not if you follow these tips
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Linda Armit gives her expert advice
But the experts at Barrhead Travel, which is celebrating 50 years in the business, say holidaymakers can still make the most of last-minute deals.
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Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Stunning Scots road trip with magnificent mountains and serene lochs named one of best in UK – and it's not the NC500
Scroll down to see the five Scots entries in the top 20 DRIVING SWEET Stunning Scots road trip with magnificent mountains and serene lochs named one of best in UK – and it's not the NC500 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A STUNNING Scots road trip has been named one of the best in the UK - and it's not the NC500. New research from Isuzu UK has uncovered the nation's most awe-inspiring, breathtaking and peaceful driving routes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The Scots trip came in a close second 4 The Lake District trip took first place 4 The survey was carried out by Isuzu From the dramatic fells of the Lake District to the wild coasts of Wales and the highland passes of Scotland, the study highlights the UK's love affair with the open road. And it proves just how many unforgettable journeys are waiting to be explored right on our doorstep. Coming in a very close second place in the whole of the UK is the gorgeous Loch Lomond to Glencoe route. The scenic route takes in the stunning Argyll Forest Park, Loch Tulla, and Loch Ba. From magnificent mountains to serene waters, it can't fail to impress - which is perhaps why it was chosen as the backdrop for Bond movie Skyfall. And it's also a haven for nature-lovers with herds of wild deer and birds of prey regularly spotted on the journey. The jaw-dropping trip was only just pipped to the post by the Kendal to Keswick drive. Following the A591, and stretching for 30 miles, it takes in some exceptional scenery, including views of Lakeland fells and the banks of Windermere. The historic Coastal Way in Wales came in third place, followed by the winding road through Cheddar Gorge then the journey around the New Forest. There was two a few more Scottish mentions in the top 20. The North Coast 500: Scotland's Must-Visit Road Trip Beats the Grand Canyon The now iconic NC500 made it into 11th place on the ranking. Taking in 500 miles round the coast of Scotland, the journey is a magnet for tourists. And it's not hard to understand why as it includes secretive hill lochs, mist shrouded mountain peaks and beaches that wouldn't look out of place in the Med. In 16th place is the Isle of Skye loop, which takes motorists round the popular holiday isle. And in 18th place is The Hebridean Way. This is an island-hopping adventure which takes in 10 isles, six causeways and two ferries from Vatersay to the Butt of Lewis. Rounding off the top 20 is the Glen Etive to Steall Falls route. This short hour-long trip ends at a stunning waterfall. The research founds that on average Brits take seven road trips a year covering 93 miles per trip. And 88 per cent consider car journeys as part of the holiday, with nine in ten wanting to go on more. 20 BEST DRIVES HERE are the top 20 drives in the UK Kendal to Keswick in the Lake District, Cumbria Loch Lomond to Glencoe, Scottish Highlands The Coastal Way in Wales Cheddar Gorge in Somerset The New Forest in Hampshire The Lake District Western Loop in Cumbria Snake Pass in the Pennines in Derbyshire Yorkshire Dales Circular in North Yorkshire The Cotswolds Romantic Road across Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire Llanberis Pass in Snowdonia, Wales North Coast 500 in Scotland Dartmoor National Park in Devon The Atlantic Highway (A39) from Devon to Cornwall The South Downs Way in Sussex The Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland Isle of Skye Loop in Scotland Black Mountain Pass (A4069) in Wales The Hebridean Way in Scotland Hardknott Pass and Wrynose Pass in the Lake District, Cumbria – Glen Etive to Steall Falls in Scotland George Wallis, Head of Marketing at Isuzu UK, said: 'It's fantastic to see just how much Brits appreciate the incredible scenery that we have in the UK, with routes like Kendal to Keswick and Loch Lomond to Glencoe topping the list. "With 92 per cent saying the UK has some of the world's best road trips, and two-thirds believing they can be just as enjoyable as going abroad."
The Herald Scotland
5 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
The Gannet's innovative use of traditional Shetland delicacy
The islands boast a unique blend of Scottish and Scandinavian influences, evident in their language, music, festivals, and even their flag – a Nordic cross emblazoned on a blue and white background, mirroring the colours of the Scottish Saltire. Shetland was under Norse rule for almost 600 years, a legacy that continues to shape their cultural landscape. Its traditional music bears a closer resemblance to Scandinavian folk than to the bagpipe-heavy sounds of mainland Scotland. Similarly, the islands' culinary traditions, featuring fresh seafood, roast lamb, and hearty soups, echo the flavours of their Nordic neighbours. Shetland has not hitherto exerted a conspicuous influence on Scottish cuisine but that may be changing, primarily through its prodigious output of shellfish and farmed salmon. The Gannet restaurant in Glasgow's Finnieston area – which prides itself on its use of authentic Scottish produce – has set tongues wagging with its innovative use of the traditional Shetland delicacy, reestit mutton. Read more: Derived from the Scots word reest – meaning to cure by drying or smoking – reestit mutton is considered by many islanders to be the closest thing Shetland has to a national dish. The air-dried, salted meat, similar to Scandinavian skerpikjøt, is made by brining and drying 18 month-old lamb in the rafters of croft houses where it is exposed to peat smoke and the island's salty air, which helps to flavour and preserve it. This traditional method was used to ensure that islanders had a continued supply of Shetland lamb to eat through the winter. The meat has long been a staple of Shetland cuisine, enjoyed in soups, stews, or pies, and is particularly associated with Up Helly Aa fire festivals and New Year's celebrations. Peter McKenna, head chef and owner at The Gannet, has taken this traditional ingredient and applied it in an elegant modern context, pairing it with the islands' renowned, plump scallops, in a sweet reduction made from Lerwick Brewery ale. The result is a delicious celebration of island produce and a quirky local take on surf and turf. The cured element of the reestit mutton is showcased to its full potential, giving it a salted quality that is more akin to a good quality Iberico ham than the kind of fatty lamb you would expect in a soup or a stew. Served with sauted girolles and pickled kohlrabi the dish is brought together with the rich sticky sauce – made from Lerwick IPA – one of a range of craft beers produced by the UK's most northernly brewery, to give it an authentic 'Made in Shetland' seal of approval. On the wall of the gents' toilet in The Gannett is a map of Scotland reproduced from the names of local whisky distilleries, but the same could be done from the names of ingredients in the dishes that have graced its menu over the years. To Loch Creran oysters, Borders hogget, Perthshire pigeon and Hebridean mackerel, can now be added Shetland reestit mutton. McKenna, who prides himself on personally sourcing all his ingredients based on their impeccable Scottish provenance, insists the dish will remain on the menu for as long as it remains popular among his customers. Reestit Mutton is available to order from the Taste of Shetland online shop. Lerwick IPA is available at the Lerwick Brewery online shop The mutton was supplied by Sound Butchers in Shetland.
Press and Journal
10 hours ago
- Press and Journal
Protestors rally near Donald Trump's Balmedie golf course with signs saying 'make Aberdeenshire great again'
Protestors marched in Balmedie, just a stone's throw from Donald Trump's Aberdeenshire golf course, to protest the US president's visit. Mr Trump is currently in Scotland on a four-day 'private' trip, visiting his golf courses in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire. He arrived in the north-east this evening, along with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The highly publicised trip is atypical for a sitting US president to make, but Mr Trump is here to open his latest golf course, Trump International Scotland, near Balmedie. The Macleod course is named after his Scottish mother and has been in the works for years. However, Mr Trump's visit to Aberdeenshire has been met with backlash and protests, along with heightened security in several places, including Lossiemouth and Balmedie. Dozens of protestors marched from the White Horse Bar down to the border of the US President's golf course. Jenna Halpin, from Aberdeen, also attended a previous protest in the city at the weekend. She said: 'I am disgusted that this visit has been allowed to be honest. 'The fact that it's costing so many millions of pounds for this man to go on a golf jolly is ridiculous. 'There is so much going on in the world. The fact is he and Starmer are sitting having lunch while children in Gaza starve. 'Everything about the man stinks, and we need to show him he is not welcome here.' Jenna says people who have been quiet before are now speaking out. Protestors brought an array of creative signs on their march, including inventing the term 'MAGA' into 'Make Aberdeenshire Great Again'. Others included 'Children starve, Trump plays golf' and 'Food not bombs'. Two protestors even brought Trump-themed toilet brushes with them. Luca Quinn told the Press and Journal why he decided to come from Fife to protest. He said: 'I just wanted the opportunity to show that we Scots want nothing to do with Donald Trump. 'Having him in our country goes against everything I hold dear. 'The state of his country at the moment, he should really be there and not coming anywhere near ours.' Luca added: 'It's infuriating the number of police officers here today. 'He should be footing the bill himself.' Many of the protestors echoed those same thoughts that the money spent on policing and security could have been better spent. One protester said: 'Trump is the figurehead for a lot of the awful things going on in the world at the moment, and we should not be inviting him into our country. 'Security has been really over the top. 'Considering he's only spending 24 hours at Balmedie, the beach has been shut for four days. 'It doesn't seem proportionate.' The latest demonstration comes after a large protest took place over the weekend in Aberdeen city centre. A crowd gathered outside Union Terrace Gardens to voice their opposition to the visit, with key north-east representatives including MSP Maggie Chapman in attendance.
