Latest news with #ScottishFisheriesMuseum
Scotsman
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
SkiffieWorlds championship: The 2,000-strong rowing extravaganza descending on this Scottish town
The youngest rowing competitor at the SkiffieWorlds championship is 14, while the oldest is thought to be 81 years old. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... More than 2,000 rowers from four continents will descend on Scotland next week for the largest rowing event of its kind. The SkiffieWorlds championship is taking place Stranraer, on the west coast of Dumfries and Galloway, and will see a record-breaking 79 clubs compete. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Skiff rowing groups often centre around St Ayles skiffs, a 22-foot fixed-seat rowing boat designed specifically for community building and coastal rowing. Each boat is typically built by the community that rows it. SkiffieWorlds set to take place next month and will see a record number of clubs competing, organisers said | Colin Hattersley / Stranraer Wat They are popular in Scotland, with clubs dotted around the country's coastline. Participants to the week-long event, which takes place from July 6 to 12, will come from as far afield as Australia, South Africa, USA and Canada, alongside teams from across the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The championship race, involving a 2,000m multi-lane course, will see more than 100 races across multiple age categories from under 17 to over 60, plus mixed and open competitions. 2,000 plus competitors from four continents are set to compete in the largest ever gathering of community-built St Ayles coastal rowing boats. | Colin Hattersley / Stranraer Wat The youngest competitor is 14, while the oldest is thought to be 81 years old. Wendi Cuffe, trustee of Stranraer Water Sports Association, said: "SkiffieWorlds is a world championship rowing event, but it's about so much more than competition. It's a celebration of community, connection, active participation and coastal heritage. 'The shoreside festival programme reflects everything that makes this sport special, from the international friendships forged through shared love of the water to the wellbeing benefits that keep people coming back to rowing.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Organisers said there are now more than 350 St Ayles skiff boats registered around the world, making it one of the fastest-growing water sports globally. St Ayles coastal rowing, inspired by traditional Scottish fishing boats, emerged in 2009 from a collaboration between the Scottish Fisheries Museum, Jordan Boats, and renowned boat designer Iain Oughtred, an expert in historic boats. It is said the project aimed to revitalise community involvement in coastal regattas, echoing historical traditions of Fife miners' rowing and sailing. Rebecca Edser, head of EventScotland, said: 'We are delighted to be supporting Stranraer SkiffieWorlds through EventScotland's National Events Funding Programme and it's great to see the event offer on land as well as on the water. 'Events like the SkiffieWorlds help encourage economic growth for the region and elements like the Wellness Hub bring further physical, mental and social benefits to the local community.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Stranraer previously hosted SkiffieWorlds in 2019. Organisers said the event attracted about 30,000 visitors over the week-long event and generated an estimated £3.5 million-£4m for the local economy. They said the 2025 event was expected to have an even greater economic impact given the increased participation. The event showcases Stranraer's ongoing transformation as a major water sports destination, with construction underway on a £6.7m Water Sports Hub scheduled to open in summer 2026.
Daily Record
16-05-2025
- Daily Record
The Scottish seaside village home to two of the country's top fish and chip shops
The chippies have earned rave reviews from critics and customers alike. Scotland's many seaside towns and villages are a great place to head when the temperature warms up. They all have something unique to offer, but if it is good fish and chips you are after then one place stands above the rest. Anstruther is a coastal village in Fife, around an hour and a half out of Edinburgh by car. The fishing village, which is situated in the East Neuk of Fife along the Fife Coastal Path, is home to a population of around 4,000 people. A popular destination among day-trippers and holidaymakers alike, top sights in Anstruther include its historic harbour and the Scottish Fisheries Museum. The village is also just a short distance from a number of fabulous sandy beaches. What Anstruther is arguably most famous for, however, is its world-class fish and chip shops. Two chippies in particular have earned acclaim from both critics and visitors. The Anstruther Fish Bar is tucked along Anstruther's scenic harbour-front and is a family-owned business that serves up fish suppers that customers often eat at the picturesque seating area opposite the shop. Only four people in the world are said to know the secret recipe for the restaurant and takeaway's renowned light and crispy batter. The eatery has a huge and varied menu that includes everything from Scottish haddock deep fried in batter to lemon sole in breadcrumbs. It also offers pizzas and burgers, and even home-made curry. The Anstruther Fish Bar has won many awards throughout the years. It has been named Seafish Fish and Chip Shop of the Year, Takeaway of the Year and more. As we previously reported, the Anstruther Fish Bar was also praised by a top online reviewer as "perfect". Danny Malin from the YouTube channel Rate My Takeaway, who reviews takeaways all across the UK, described the food at the chippy as "full of flavour" and "absolutely fantastic". It isn't just critics that the Anstruther Fish Bar is popular with. The takeaway currently has an average rating of 4.5 out of five based on 7,218 reviews on Google. One happy customer shared: "Food was delicious, so fresh and not greasy. Smoked fishcakes were very nice too. "I've cream conveniently placed for a cheeky wee scoop on departure. Only downside is a queue and a long wait but the taste is worth it." Another positive review reads: "Always the best fish and chips In beautiful surroundings. From first bite to last, they are simply the best." Elsewhere, Anstruther is also home to The Wee Chippy takeaway. The family-owned business prides itself on its fresh produce, with its local seafood supplier "delivering fish second to none" according to The Wee Chippy website. The takeaway fries to order in vegetable oil utilising a "tried and tested method". As a result, the takeaway's batter is known by visitors for being light and crispy. The Wee Chippy's takeaway menu includes classics such as battered or breaded haddock suppers, fishcakes, and wholetail scampi. It also offers a gluten and dairy-free menu. Similar to the Anstruther Fish Bar, it has been recognised with a range of awards. The eatery has received prizes from The Food Awards Scotland, The Scottish Takeaway Awards, and the Scottish Fish and Chip Awards. Also like The Anstruther Fish Bar, The Wee Chippy has an overall score of 4.5 out of five on Google. It has received 1,627 reviews from customers. One posted: "Heard great things about here and was very excited to try it. After a 10 to 15 minute wait I wasn't disappointed. "Easily up there with the best fish supper I've tasted. Chips were spot on, batter not too hard or soft and the fish very fresh and tasty. Can't recommend enough." Another echoed: "Other chippies may be available, but this one came recommended by locals and did not disappoint. We had a fish cake supper and a haggis supper. Freshly cooked, beautifully flavoured, not greasy, and great value."
The Courier
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Perth's Lindsay Burns auction house selling Fife royal souvenirs
Three rare signed portraits of the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will be auctioned in Perth next week. The photographs were signed by the royal couple on a visit to the Craw's Nest Hotel at Anstruther in 1982. The pair had enjoyed a meal there between carrying out engagements in St Andrews, Anstruther, Methil and Glenrothes. The large official portraits were taken by photographer Peter Grujeon. They feature the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, posing solo and together. And they could fetch £100-£200 apiece when they go under the hammer at Lindsay Burns auction house in Perth on Tuesday. Auctioneer Nick Burns says it's possible they'll sell for much more. 'It's quite unusual to see something like this and there's been a lot of interest in them,' he said. 'The one of the Queen on her own is getting the most online attention.' He added: 'They were presented to the Craw's Nest Hotel as a thank you gift in 1982. 'The Queen and Duke had gone there for lunch when they visited the Scottish Fisheries Museum at Anstruther, and they've been in the same family ever since.' The royal souvenirs are just one of the talking points in Lindsay Burns' upcoming antique, art and interiors sale. Nick says buyers will find a 'treasure trove' of items among the 860 lots. Another highlight looks likely to be a traditional Maori wooden fighting staff. The carved weapon, known as a Taiaha, dates back to the 19th century. They were used in warfare and as sacred treasures, often passed down through generations. 'They've become quite desirable objects,' said Nick. 'Often incantations (or karakia) would have been said over them, giving them a spiritual significance.' This one is excpected to fetch at least £1,500. From closer to home comes a bronze model of a Modena pigeon, mounted on a stone plinth. It's one of a number of auction lots made by the Perthshire sculptor William Hepworth (1934-2014). Hepworth established the Alyth Art Foundry. Best known for his wildlife bronzes, he also made the Torso de Femme sculpture outside the Fergusson Gallery in Perth and the Queen Mother Memorial Gates at Balhousie Castle, home of the Black Watch Museum. His pigeon has an estimate of £150-£300. Also notable is the amount of gold jewellery and other objects in the two-day sale. 'The gold price has been at an all-time high,' said Nick. 'And it looks like sellers are taking advantage of this.' The antique, fine art and interiors sale will run over Tuesday and Wednesday, April 29-30, starting at 10am both days. Buyers can bid online or in person. The Lindsay Burns and Company Auctioneers sale room in King Street, Perth, will be open for viewing on Saturday from 9am-2pm, Sunday from 1-3pm, and Monday from 9-5pm.
