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Daily Record
6 days ago
- Daily Record
Scotland's 'best places to go snorkelling' this summer named as sea loch tops list
Summer is a great time of year for a snorkel adventure. The "best places to go snorkelling" in Scotland have been revealed. Swimming spots in Argyll, Aberdeenshire, and East Lothian were all singled out. With July almost over and the end of summer in sight, it is important to make the most of the season while we can. For those looking for a unique activity, Scotland is home to many beauty spots that are perfectly suited for a snorkel. On Tuesday, July 22, The Times published a list of the top destinations around Scotland for snorkelling. A total of five scenic spots for a snorkel are featured on the roundup. The best snorkelling spot in Scotland according to The Times is Loch Craignish. The attractive sea loch is found on the mid-Argyll coast, between Oban and the Crinan Canal. Loch Craignish is a gateway to the Isle of Jura sound, and is known for featuring in the 1963 James Bond movie From Russia With Love. The loch is described as a "great site for beginners" by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, with plenty for swimmers to discover in the seagrass bed close to the shore. According to The Times, the loch is bursting with "colour and life". It also praised the Seawilding rewilding project, which is the first community-based native oyster and seagrass restoration project in the UK. The newspaper wrote: "Twenty-five miles south of Oban, Loch Craignish is home to seagrass and native oyster restoration projects by the Seawilding rewilding project, a community-led initiative. Now packed with colour and life, shoals of two-spot gobies dart about. "If you look closely, you will almost certainly spy a sea slug or two. Access directly opposite the village hall." Loch Craignish has also been praised by day trippers, with the beauty spot having an overall rating of 4.7 out of five on Google based on 11 reviews. Previous visitors have described it as "breathtaking" and "spectacular". Meanwhile, following behind in second place on The Times' roundup is High Shore Beach. The pebble beach is found near the Macduff Marine Aquarium in the Aberdeenshire town of Macduff. According to the Scottish Wildlife Trust, High Shore Beach offers a wide selection of tide pools to investigate. Snorkellers may be able to spot a variety of interesting species—with octopuses found there in the past. The newspaper stated: "Rocky fingers project out to sea, hosting a maze of kelp-filled gullies that are part of the Moray Firth Snorkel Trail. Look for the red eyes of a nimble velvet swimming crab, or slow-moving starfish between the rocks." Coming in at number three on The Times' list is the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick. As stated by the newspaper, the attraction is one of five sites situated along the East Lothian Snorkel Trail. The Scottish Seabird Centre was praised for being suited to both beginner snorkellers and those with more experience. According to The Times, less advanced swimmers can investigate the sizeable shallow tidal pool beneath the attraction and those looking for more of a challenge can try the rocky gullies on the headland. The full list of Scotland's "best places to go snorkelling" can be found on The Times website.
Daily Record
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'Greatest' James Bond film of all time ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
The James Bond film franchise has been running since 1962, with 27 movies released over the years - and now the entire collection has been ranked from worst to best Across 27 films and seven actors taking on the role of the iconic 007 agent, James Bond has established itself as a quintessential British film franchise since the swinging sixties. But which film claims the crown as the best Bond flick? Rotten Tomatoes, one of the most reliable film and telly review sites, is often the first port of call for those seeking the truth about a film's quality, giving power to the people. Its 'Tomatometer' calculates an overall score based on cinema-goers' reviews, and this has enabled them to rank all of the James Bond films in order, with the top spot boasting an impressive 99% score. James Bond was initially conceived in 1953 by Ian Fleming as a fictional British Secret Service agent, whose life and missions spanned 12 novels and two short stories. However, in 1962, Fleming's character made his screen debut, altering the trajectory of British film history with Dr No, the inaugural Bond film, which remains one of the best-reviewed of the 007 movies. Since then, the franchise has soared to new heights, with fans eagerly awaiting each new release and watching the international man of mystery traverse the globe, undertake new missions, and don swanky new suits. While the worst-reviewed film of the Bond franchise is the 1967 spoof Casino Royale, featuring David Niven, claiming the top spot is Goldfinger, released in 1964, reports the Express. Goldfinger, the dazzling third James Bond offering, reigns supreme as viewers' top pick of the series, featuring Sean Connery's iconic portrayal as the suave MI6 operative. After the success of its predecessors, the budget for Goldfinger was ramped up to match the combined expenditure of the first two films, setting the stage for the enterprise's first major blockbuster and paving the way for future extravaganzas. An enthusiast on Rotten Tomatoes lavished praise, writing: "The Bond film to which all others must be compared. The girls, the guns, the gadgets, the locations, the villains, the evil master plan... it may not have been the first Bond film, but it is, and likely always will be, the standard-bearer." Another fan said: "Goldfinger hands down is one of the best in the entire series. It simply has everything great to offer: you have action, one-liners, a great villain, a memorable Bond girl and Sean Connery as Bond. Absolutely iconic." Not to be outdone, From Russia With Love claims second place with an impressive 97% score, attributed to its 'spectacular' scenes, and remaining unforgettable with Connery at the helm. One viewer summed up: "Sean Connery will never truly be replaced as Bond," adding: "And, if 'Dr No' wasn't enough proof of that, look no further than this funny, thrilling and sexy adventure." We must track down to fourth place in the rolodex of Bond films to encounter the modern-era 007s, with Daniel Craig's debut in 'Casino Royale' leading the charge. 'No Time to Die', which graced the silver screen in 2021, nestles at number seven amidst the top-rated Bonds. This chapter marked the curtain call for Daniel Craig as the iconic spy, passing the famed baton on to an as-yet undisclosed successor. Fans were vocal about Craig's swansong, with one critic saying: "Daniel Craig's final Bond is EVERYTHING we hoped for! Action, emotion, and a perfect goodbye to the 007 who redefined the role." Another added: "The multiverse-level excitement of bringing his journey full circle with heart & high stakes. It's not just about stopping the villain; it's Bond facing his past & legacy. Craig is on fire, balancing grit & vulnerability like no other. We came for the action and stayed for the emotion. This film gave us closure & left us in awe. A proper farewell to a Bond we'll never forget." Bond aficionados eager for a dive into espionage nostalgia or simply wishing to treat themselves to the unparalleled 'Goldfinger', can find solace as it's available for streaming on ITVX and Amazon Prime.
Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
The James Bond film Sean Connery almost died filming is on TV tonight
Sean Connery almost died filming one of the James Bond films, but despite the near death experience, the movie still remains one of his favourites The James Bond movie that 'almost killed' legend Sean Connery is airing on TV tonight (Friday, May 30). The legendary actor was the first to play 007, but just a year after his first appearance, the star 'almost died' filming the second. ITV will be taking fans all the way back to 1963 tonight, as they air the second film in the James Bond franchise, From Russia With Love. Out of the 27 James Bond movies, many fans name this one as one of their favourites, as does actor Sean Connery. The movie will be airing at 22.45 tonight, shortly after the ITV News at Ten. The movie will play into Saturday morning, wrapping up at 0.40, allowing times for adverts. Despite being one of Connery's favourite James Bond films, it was revealed that the actor, who did a lot of his own stunts in this film, almost died during filming. It was the helicopter scene near the end of the movie that gave all a fright. The pilot in the scenes was reportedly inexperienced, and flew too close to Connery, causing him to nearly fall to his death. It wasn't the only near miss during filming of the movie. Director Terrance Young was involved in a helicopter crash while filming one of the film's thrilling scenes. Young was being carried across a body of water shooting a scene when the vehicle crashed. He was then reportedly trapped underwater in an air bubble, while those around tried to rescue him. Not even letting a near death experience stop him, a relentless Young came back to finish off the picture. In the 1963 film, which follows on from Dr. No, James Bond is sent to Istanbul on a mission to obtain a highly sought-after Lektor decoder device from Russian defector Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi). However, she's actually a ruse devised by crime cartel SPECTRE as an attempt to gain revenge for the killing of Dr. No. Connery originated the role of 007 in 1962's Dr. No, and then went on to star in fan favourite, From Russia with Love just a year later. After a break following Diamonds Are Forever in 1971, the star's final movie was Never Say Never Again in 1983. Sean died in October 2020 at the age of 90. The star died peacefully in his sleep in the Bahamas, having been "unwell for some time", his son said.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Craigslist Cruise Ship That Cost Man $1 Million And 15 Years Of His Life Is Now A Pile Of Scrap
I've got regrets man, I mean, who doesn't? I'll tell you who: the man who bought a derelict cruise ship, poured his money and energy into saving it, only for the ship to end up on the business end of a steel-eating crane. That is a downright impressive amount of folly to embrace. Chris Willson, who purchased the 294-foot Aurora on Craigslist of all places, says he has no regrets even after his beloved ship became a minor ecological disaster in a city that could ill afford the clean up. But the Aurora wasn't just a dream project of one very optimistic man. Thousands of people volunteered their time to save this ship and it's historic roots. It was the first significant ocean liner built by Germany following World War II. It appeared in a Bond film and served as a cruise ship for two decades before Willson took delivery. Now its been ground into nothing at a pier outside of Lind Marina, on Mare Island, California. Willson told CNN that his regrets lie, not with buying the massive money pit, but not seeing the rehabilitation of the Aurora through to the end. Read more: Nobody Does Land Yachts Like Cadillac, And These Are Five Of The Best Ones I know what you're thinking and no, this isn't the story of some weirdo Libertarian trying to create a lawless sea-based society. It seems Willson just really likes old ships. He bemoaned the state of historic ships in the U.S. to CNN and called the Aurora "one of the most historic on the planet," which might a bit of an overstatement due to his affection for the vessel. Still, the Aurora certainly has a fascinating providence. Built in 1955 and dubbed the Wappen von Hamburg, the ship served as the headquarters for the nefarious Spectre organization in the 1963 James Bond film "From Russia With Love." For two decades the Aurora operated as a pocket-sized cruise ship and changed hands several times until Willson spotted it on Craigslist in 2008. Willson negotiated a "really good deal" with the seller, and from there it was just a question of finding a place to put the nearly 300-foot-long derelict ship, a challenge that would prove its undoing. He eventually parked the boat in a shallow, fresh water berth about 14 miles outside of Stockton, California. This worked for a few years, even after the Marina closed, but locals demanded the Aurora's removal after other ships left at the site started sinking. Things got more complicated from there, according to CNN: "The ship was trapped in that channel," he says. "There was no getting it out without dredging and that's something that the city would have to do... So there was absolutely no getting out of that situation." As time went on and the pressure mounted, Willson felt more and more out of his depth and the situation began to take an emotional toll on him. Feeling dejected, he says he ultimately chose to sell the Aurora to an interested buyer who seemed just as passionate about saving the ship as he was."I didn't see myself being able to fight that battle anymore," he says, adding that selling the ship "destroyed" him."It became far too in depth for me. And I decided for mental health reasons, just to kind of stay away... To move on and find another project and do something else with my life." Willson sold the Aurora, believing the new owner had the wherewithal to keep her afloat. But seven months later, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office announced the ship was slowly sinking and "leaking diesel fuel and oil into the Delta Waterway." The spill required the removal of an "estimated 21,675 gallons of oily water, 3,193 gallons of hazardous waste, and five 25-yard bins of debris," according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response. This is exactly the outcome the folks who put pressure on Willson originally were worried about. By December of last year, the U.S. Coast Guard of Northern California was over the polluting ship with seemingly absent owners. The ship was transported to Mare Island for disassembly. It seems the city of Stockton, which already has its own share of problems, is on the hook for the disassembly and clean up as no one can get a hold of who owned the ship when it fell into such a state of disrepair. One cruise ship historian estimated the clean up would likely cost between $10 and $20 million, CNN reports. On April 9, the Aurora was chewed apart by cranes designed to scrap ships. As for Willson, he regrets parting with the Aurora now, but doesn't regret the time he sank into the vessel. "I wouldn't trade the experience for anything," Willson told CNN. "There were so many almosts with that ship. We almost had the right people involved in order to save that ship for many, many more generations. But things fall through and we just kept waiting for the next one to happen. So I think it was worth it to take the chance." I guess there just isn't enough room in this world for the love of a man for his 294-foot vessel. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hearts 'gave Gordon blank cheque to reject Celtic'
Romanov: Czar of Hearts - listen to the bonus edition, From Russia With Love Former Heart of Midlothian owner Vladimir Romanov has claimed he handed Craig Gordon a blank cheque to reject a move to Celtic before the "psychologically weak" Scotland goalkeeper's eventual record-breaking £9m transfer to Sunderland. The revelation comes in the Russian businessman's first UK interview in more than a decade as part of BBC Scotland's Romanov: Czar of Hearts podcast series. In the special bonus edition, From Russia With Love, Romanov revisits his claim that he was once offered the chance to buy Liverpool, repeats his belief that all Scottish referees support either Celtic or Rangers, and says George Burley walked away from the club rather than be sacked as manager. He recalled the "revolution" inside the Hearts dressing-room in October 2006 when captain Steven Pressley, Paul Hartley and Gordon went public with the squad's unhappiness at the Lithuanian-based owner's methods. Romanov interview will make Hearts fans 'laugh & cry' Remarkable tale of Czar of Hearts Vladimir Romanov Romanov claims the trio had previously been offered deals by Celtic and wanted to move to the Glasgow club along with manager Burley and two other players - Rudi Skacel and Roman Bednar. Pressley and Hartley did eventually join Celtic, but Romanov claims he told Gordon: "Your contract is running out and I know Celtic has made you an offer, but you'll end up being their second-choice goalkeeper, not the first. "If you stay and sign with us, I promise you'll play in the English league. He laughed, not taking me seriously. So, I said, 'If you don't believe me, here's a blank contract. Write down the amount you want.' "Gordon wrote down a very large sum - something unheard of at Hearts and all of Scottish football. I looked at it, signed it, and handed it back. That's how we managed to keep him." Romanov claims he had a buyer lined up for Gordon at the end of the season with "a rough valuation" in mind for the then 24-year-old. "Gordon had incredible abilities, but he required a very careful approach," he said. "Psychologically, he was weak - if things didn't go well, he'd get physically sick, sometimes even vomit. "He needed delicate handling. Despite all that, he was an exceptionally talented player. Ultimately, I sold him for £9m - at the time, it was the highest fee ever paid for a goalkeeper in Britain." Hearts say Gordon, who returned to the club in 2020 after eventually joining Celtic, did not wish to comment on Romanov's claims. Burley and Hearts "mutually agreed" to part ways in October 2005 despite the side sitting unbeaten at the top of the Scottish league table, but Romanov claims that "even a housewife" could have achieved those results "under my leadership". He claimed that Burley "had a heavy drinking problem" and "ran away" when told he could stay in charge if he tackled that problem. Burley's assistant at the time, Simon Hunt, disputed Romanov's claims about the manager's drinking. Visit our Hearts page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views Get Hearts news notifications in the BBC Sport app
