Latest news with #Cairngorm
BBC News
02-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Kincraig community hopes to buy historic church
A new project is gathering information on the heritage and community value of Scotland's churches and their Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Scotland's Churches Trust said there were almost 3,000 of the places of worship across said about a third were expected to close by the end of this decade, and already 200 had shut since charities' Finding Futures for Scotland's Churches project has been supported by a £229,015 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project will also look at practical solutions to avoiding the loss of heritage when churches close. Dr Helen Spencer, of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, said the funding would allow "crucial" work to said: "Working with Scotland's Churches Trust and the many other groups involved in caring for these places of worship, we hope to make the heritage sector much better prepared when churches are closed or repurposed, to ensure that important treasures are not lost to the nation forever."Meanwhile, people in Kincraig in the Cairngorm National Park hope to buy a local church which has roots dating back to the 6th Insh Old Kirk is expected to be put up for sale by the end of next year by the Church of Scotland, which is looking to reduce the cost of its property portfolio. Residents are setting up a charity with a view to continuing Christian worship at the site, and they are also hoping to hold concerts and exhibitions current church building was erected in the 1700s but the site has connections to St Columba who brought Christianity to the Highlands. David Hull, a church elder and chair of the charity working group, said the church drew visitors from all over the Inverness, a community group hopes to take over the city's Old High Church. Falling numbers The Church of Scotland said it had identified a need for radical change due to challenges posed by falling minister numbers, a decline in membership and a reduction in income both nationally and part of this process, a new grouping had been created in the southern Abernethy Church of Scotland said this meant Insh and Laggan churches would be released for sale by the end of 2026. A spokesperson said: "We recognise that Insh Church, as with many other church buildings across the country, is important and valuable to the local community. "However, our mission plans take into consideration what is best for the whole of the Presbytery area, making the best use of our resources, both human and financial, and ensuring they are best placed to continuing our mission of sharing the good news of Jesus and serving our communities."
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Daily Record
Scotland's 'best outdoor dining restaurants' for summer 2025 crowned
Five eateries across the country have been named the best for al fresco dining. The best restaurants in Scotland"for outdoor dining" have been named. The top eateries for an al fresco meal were crowned on Wednesday by experts at restaurant-reservation service OpenTable. With Scotland enjoying clear skies and warm temperatures in recent days, OpenTable research has revealed that 60 per cent of people in the UK prefer to dine outdoors when the weather is nice. As Scots flock to sun-soaked terraces and beer gardens, OpenTable's new Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining for 2025 list reveals the best places to make the most of al fresco season. Out of the 100 restaurants included in the roundup, five are located in Scotland. Four of these are situated in Glasgow, while one is found in Edinburgh. The first Scottish restaurant to be named among the best for outdoor dining is Ardnamurchan. Located on Hope Street in Glasgow, the restaurant serves up a range of Scottish meat and seafood dishes. The eatery sources "unique and artisan products" from the Highlands and Islands. Its a la carte menu includes dishes such as Ardnamurchan Estate braised wild venison stew, charred Shetland coley, and grilled Isle of Skye landed langoustines. Elsewhere, Bucks Bar West Regent Street is a lively venue in Glasgow that specialises in American-style fried chicken. Among the options available are classic buttermilk fried chicken, Nashville hot style chicken, and various wings. In addition to having both indoor and outdoor seating available to book, Bucks Bar West Regent Street also offers live music. Every Saturday, the restaurant and bar hosts rock concerts with bands and DJs. Also in Glasgow, Kelp is dedicated to serving up high-quality and sustainably sourced Scottish seafood. Situated on Cowcaddens Road, it is the sister restaurant of Ardnamurchan. Almost every different type of sea food on Kelp's menu comes from somewhere different in Scotland. Among the dishes on its a la carte menu are oysters, razor clam tostada, Isle of Mull cheddar tart, and Orkney crab dougnut. The final Glasgow restaurant to be named among the best places in Scotland for outdoor dining is The Prancing Stag. The family-run and award-winning neighbourhood restaurant can be found in Jordanhill. The Prancing Stag serves up mains including fillet of Scottish salmon, Cairngorm roe deer, and fish of the day. Meanwhile, it also offers Sunday Roast specials every week. Over in Edinburgh, the last restaurant to be included on OpenTable's list of the best al fresco destinations is Angels with Bagpipes. The acclaimed eatery can be found just off the iconic Royal Mile. The kitchen and wine bar offers a variety of both small and larger plates. Dishes include Scottish crab with lemon and crumpet, smoked salmon with crème fraîche and cucumber, and sirloin steak with peppercorn sauce and fries. Additionally, it is not just humans soaking up the rays this year. According to OpenTable, dining at pet-friendly restaurants has increased by 17 per cent year-over-year and 21 per cent of UK dog owners now regularly take their four-legged friends out for a meal. UK and Ireland's Senior Director at OpenTable Sasha Shaker commented: "More than half of UK dog owners find it difficult to discover pet-friendly restaurants, with 32 per cent sharing that they would definitely eat out more often with their pet if it were easier to discover more suitable spots. "That's why we've launched this list, to make dining out a joy for diners and their furry friends. "From a seaside supper to a beer garden bite, our Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining celebrates amazing al fresco spots across the country, with plenty of places where pups are not just welcome but encouraged." The full list of the top 100 restaurants for outdoor dining in 2025 can be found on the OpenTable website. Scotland's top restaurants for outdoor dining
