Latest news with #Culloden
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
The 'Outlander effect': How a time-travel romance transformed Scottish tourism
The impact of Outlander-inspired travel to Scotland has been intense. A 2023 visitor survey by VisitScotland found that 8% of respondents – nearly 700,000 people – were inspired to visit by a TV show, with many citing Outlander specifically as their reason for travelling. A separate 2022 report created in collaboration with the Moffat Centre for Travel and Tourism at Glasgow Caledonian University, found that filming sites across Scotland saw an average 19% increase in visitors between 2014 and 2022, with some locations seeing extraordinary spikes – Blackness Castle, which doubles as Fort William, has seen visits rise by 379% since the show first aired. What makes the Outlander Effect so powerful is the kind of travel it inspires. According to Steele, Outlander fans are much more interested in the country's rural, cultural and historical destinations, choosing places like the picturesque village of Culross or the windswept Culloden Battlefield, both of which had prominent roles in the show, over well-known cities like Edinburgh or Glasgow. "There were actually quite a lot of attractions that had lower footfall, but then once the series showcased that location, the fans were really coming," said Steele. "Some of them [saw an] increase in visitors [that] was absolutely incredible. More than double in some cases." Of course, this level of popularity presents its own challenges. Many of the featured sites are not equipped to manage a surge in foot traffic. "You have to think about the conservation of it," said Steele. "[Can] this building, which is a really ancient castle or monument or something, sustain the number of visitors? Is it somewhere that's actually manned and people pay a ticket and go in, or is it somewhere that's maybe a little more rural and maybe doesn't have a person attending? We have to be quite careful about that." Alamy Still, overall, the Outlander Effect has been embraced by the Scottish tourism industry, with a wide variety of tours, Scottish heritage events and self-guided driving routes now available across the country. "I have been doing Outlander tours since 2017," said James Kennedy, who offers private full-day Outlander tours via ToursbyLocals. "I was an on-screen Jacobite in season two and being able to show clients pictures of me on set and tell them a few stories about what it was like has certainly made me one of the busier guides."
RTÉ News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
'Truly special' free art exhibition set for Northern Ireland
A "truly special" collection of Irish and international art will be showcased for free in Northern Ireland from next Sunday. More than 350 works by artists including Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Banksy, Julian Opie and Salvador Dali will be on display when Art and Soul returns to the Culloden Estate and Spa outside Belfast. The event will also feature a major outdoor exhibition of 90 large sculptures and installations set throughout the 12 acres of gardens overlooking Belfast Lough. More than 70 smaller, more intimate sculptures will be on display throughout the hotel interior. Art lovers can also discover works by celebrated Irish and international artists, including Ian Pollock, Eamonn Ceannt, Giacinto Bosco, Bob Quinn, Paddy Campbell, Sandra Bell and John Fitzgerald. The show is Gormleys' 13th major art and sculpture event, with the Culloden hosting the exhibition for more than a decade. Oliver Gormley said: "Art and Soul gives art lovers a unique opportunity to view these incredible works of art in the beautiful surroundings of the Culloden, the perfect setting to showcase some of the most celebrated artists of our time. "Adults and children will enjoy the event equally, and our previous events in The K Club, Russborough, and the Castlemartyr resort attracted over 10,000 visitors." Howard Hastings, chairman of the Culloden Estate and Spa, said Art and Soul brings "something truly special" to the venue. "We're thrilled to welcome guests to explore this exceptional celebration of creativity and culture in one of the most beautiful settings in Ireland," he said.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Inverness Bellfield Park community sauna plan approved
Councillors have approved plans for a 26-seat electric community sauna in an Inverness public park despite concerns from local Sauna Highland's proposal for Bellfield Park, which is in a residential area on the city's riverside, includes a cold plunge pool and changing and Ardersier councillor Morven Reid said some objectors were concerned "mad late night sauna parties" could disturb their neighbourhood if she said council officers had "more than adequately" addressed concerns around noise on the site. Highland Council received 12 objections and 13 messages of support to the at the local authority recommended Wednesday's south planning applications committee grant full planning permission, but with include restrictions on noise and a requirement that a member of staff is at the site at all times when objectors' concerns were a lack of parking at the park and noise from supporting the application said it would help bring the community together and improve an "unsightly" corner of the a report to the committee, officials said the sauna would be screened from view by hedges and there were no plans for music or alcohol to be permitted. 'Community benefit' During the planning meeting, Inverness councillor Isabelle MacKenzie and Caol and Mallaig councillor Liz Saggers attempted to reduce the sauna's operating hours to address noise concerns, but neither received majority councillor Central councillor Michael Gregson said a sauna was not something the city was used said: "The hope is we'll achieve something of community benefit which will enhance the area and it'll be attractive, inclusive, accessible and good for mental health and wellbeing."Sauna bathing is described as a form of therapy that takes place in a room usually heated by burning wood or is popular in parts of northern Europe including Finland, Sweden and Park, on Inverness's Riverside area, already has tennis courts and a council-maintained children's play by local democracy reporter Will Angus.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- BBC News
Inverness priest's car targeted by vandals
Vandals left a priest's car unusable after throwing about 30 stones at the vehicle while it was parked overnight at an Inverness Domenico Zanré was planning to visit parishioners at the weekend when he discovered the windscreen, windows and bodywork said the vandalism likely occurred overnight Friday into Saturday, and believed it was an "act of mindless violence" and not Domenico told BBC News Scotland: "It was heart-breaking to see it. Once I got over the shock I was just thinking about all the people I had to go and see." The car was parked at St Columba's Roman Catholic Church in Domenico said he found about 30 large stones on the ground next to the vehicle. He was unable to drive the car because of the smashed windscreen and windows, and he was prevented from visiting several parishioners."People who were quite vulnerable or in very poor health, and at least one person who is towards the end of life," he said."I felt slightly powerless, and that I had let them down." Police Scotland said it was aware of the incident and its inquiries were at an early stage.
CBS News
10-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
West Virginia couple overcome tragedy to give foster children hope
After daughter's tragic death, parents take in 4 more foster kids Foster parents take in 4 more kids after tragedy Foster parents take in 4 more kids after tragedy Culloden, West Virginia — It's generally not socially acceptable to air a person's dirty laundry. But in the case of foster mother Kari Cox of Culloden, West Virginia, the sheer volume of her daily load of laundry speaks volumes about her capacity for love. "She's like Mother Theresa, almost," one of her 14 children, most of whom were adopted, told CBS News. "My mom does 99.9% of the work, my dad does 0.1," jokes another. It's a gross exaggeration for sure. But even Bill Cox, a special education teacher, admits that without his wife Kari, their children, many with special needs, would fall to pieces. Thirteen years ago, Kari and Bill adopted Maribeth from China. "Very high-functioning autism," Kari said of Maribeth. "Extremely black and white. The first time she saw me she said, 'Oh, I didn't know I was getting a fat mom!' That was our relationship with each other, and it was actually phenomenal." Maribeth was doing great. "She was valedictorian of her class," beamed Kari. "She'd won tons of math awards." But then, tragedy struck. In 2021, while a senior at Marshal University in Huntington, Virginia, Maribeth was struck and killed by a car. For Kari, the pain of losing a child, especially in that way, convinced her to never adopt again. "Why put yourself through that anymore?...Honestly, people that don't have children don't have to feel this pain," Kari said. However, Kari then stumbled on something that transformed her perspective. "Maribeth changed us," Kari said of her late daughter. "She changed us." When going through her things, Kari found a journal where Maribeth, who had never been effusive with her feelings, wrote this to herself: "God gave you what many may never have — a loving family that will always be here no matter what." Since reading that, Kari and Bill have taken in four more children, to give them 14 total. "Their need was greater than my pain," Kari said. That's the essence of a mother's instinct, that unwavering selflessness that goes beyond the biological to create something truly divine.
