Latest news with #Lochaber
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Lochaber beat Inveraray to lift Ferguson Balliemore Cup
Lochaber won the Ferguson Balliemore Cup for shinty's intermediate championship thanks to a 2-0 triumph over Inveraray in the final at Spean Artemis Macaulay Cup final in Oban on 23 August will match holders Kingussie, 3-0 winners over local rivals Newtonmore in the north semi-final at Beauly, and Oban Camanachd who eliminated Glasgow Mid Argyll 3-1 in the south tie in Premiership relegation concerns increased for Lovat, who lost 2-0 to Kinlochshiel at Rearaig, and Kyles who went down 4-2 to visitors also unbeaten in the National Division and favourites for a Premiership return, went ahead through Martin Johnstone early in the first half. However, the destiny of this trophy, where top tier clubs are excluded, wasn't settled until late on when Ben MacDonald and man of the match Max Campbell secured a repeat of Lochaber's 2023 success.A week on from their 52-game unbeaten run ending, Kingussie wrapped up their Macaulay final place in the first half with a Savio Genini double which bookended a single from Dylan Borthwick. Daniel MacVicar scored for Oban either side of half-time, and Daniel MacCuish made it 3-0 before Scott Craig pulled one back for Mid MacRae and John MacRae grabbed both points for Kinlochshiel in the second Tighnabruich, Ethan Kerr drew first blood for Kyles, but Cabers went 3-1 up by half-time with two from Kevin Bartlett and one from Cameron Grant. Kerr pulled a goal back, before Bartlett completed his hat Beauly already relegated Kyles, who have a game in hand, just avoid the second relegation place on goal difference from Lovat, with the rest now three points clear of danger.
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Community wins funding to buy 'ceilidh house' Glenuig Inn
A historic west Highland pub that provides a focal point for traditional music is to be bought by the local community after a funding award. The Glenuig Inn in Lochaber contains stonework dating back to a building burned down in 1746 by soldiers pursuing Bonne Prince Charlie after the Jacobite the years the inn, about 30 miles (48km) from Fort William, has become known as a traditional "ceilidh house" where trad and folk musicians gather to play.A grant of nearly £353,000 from the Scottish Land Fund will allow the community to buy the site and associated buildings. Musicians travel from the surrounding area to play at informal ceilidhs at the inn, with as many as 30 people sometimes playing together. Glenuig Community Inn Ltd plans to continue operating the inn as a pub, restaurant and accommodation. Chairman Peter Langhorne said the funding award was "wonderful news". "We will now be able to buy the inn which we have been leasing and operating for the last four months," he said. "The Glenuig community has a long history of developing and managing community assets but this really is the cherry on the cake." The Scottish Land Fund is a Scottish government funded initiative, delivered in partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands grant is one of 10 that have been made, totalling about £1.45m. Mairi Gougeon, cabinet secretary for rural affairs, land reform and islands, said: "Vibrant community spaces are the lifeblood of our towns and villages- places where people can meet, access services, and simply enjoy being together. "The latest awards from the Scottish Land Fund will deliver exactly that; welcoming, reliable facilities offering childcare, recreation and wider opportunities for local people."Other funding recipients are: £239,005 for Balerno Village Trust to buy the police station, providing community spaces for hire and after school care£197,658 to buy three parcels of land on Rousay in Orkney for community facilities, tourism and a community-led island marina£185,800 for Alloa Community Shed to purchase a town centre building for a community hub offering DIY lessons£100,465 to buy Barthol Chapel Parish Church in Aberdeenshire for a community hub, café and exhibition space£93,600 for community purchase of Fearn Abbey£92,239 to acquire a shop for the community in Glenelg£82,001 to purchase the Polmont Community Hub to allow its continued use.£63,961 to buy the former library building at Beatlie school in Livingston for Spark, a group supporting socially isolated people
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Writing about romance? It's a lot easier after I found love second time around says TV favourite Carol Kirkwood
She once said love is lovelier the second time round when she found romance again following divorce. Now, Scots TV presenter and author Carol Kirkwood has said the joy she has found after marrying her second husband is what allows her to write freely about love. The 63-year-old, from Morar in Lochaber, tied the knot in December 2023 with policeman Steve Randall, 49. While coy about her personal life, she says the bliss she has experienced since meeting Mr Randall plays a significant part in her literary freedom. Ms Kirkwood spoke to MailOnline ahead of the release of her new book, Meet Me At Sunset, which tells the story of a glamorous woman who jets off to Majorca as she runs from a shattered love affair. Asked if she uses any personal details in her books, she said: 'No element of our romance is in any of my books but Steve makes me happy and that makes it easier to write about romance. 'He makes me smile when I come in from work. It puts you in a good position mentally.' It isn't the first time that Ms Kirkwood has turned her hand to writing – she is also the author of Under A Greek Moon, The Hotel on the Riviera, Secrets of the Villa Amore and Once Upon a Time in Venice. Discussing what inspires her, she revealed the main protagonist of her latest novel is based on a mysterious stranger she saw on holiday. She said: 'I was in Majorca with my husband and we went to this restaurant a couple of times. 'There was a lady who sat very upright and was impeccably dressed. She always had a salad and a glass of wine. 'She was always looking out to sea. It got me wondering 'what is her story?' 'I thought 'She's going to be a character in my book.'' She added: 'I'm a nosy parker – I love people watching.' Ms Kirkwood was married to property developer Jimmy Kirkwood but the pair split in 2008 after 18 years of marriage, with the divorce finalised in 2012. She recently made a cheeky comment when asked about her second marriage, telling one newspaper: 'Love is lovelier the second time around. 'No disrespect to my first husband, but this is better.' Ms Kirkwood, who was on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, appears regularly across all of BBC Weather's output on both radio and TV and is the main weather presenter on BBC Breakfast. Asked how she fits in writing with her TV commitments, she said: 'If you want a job done, give it to a busy person. I write everywhere and anywhere.'
BBC News
08-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Proposals to refurbish and extend Invergarry church
An 87-year-old Lochaber church could undergo a major plans for St Finnan's RC Church in Invergarry aim to preserve its historical character and refurbish the building's interior and extension has also been proposed which would increase seating capacity, improve accessibility and provide toilet facilities. The external refurbishment would include repairs to leadwork, gutters and downpipes. A stained glass window would also be added. There would be improved external lighting and access pathways, as well as the installation of an energy-efficient lighting and heating system. Reconfiguration of the internal layout has been proposed to create a community planning application from the church is currently under consideration by Highland Council.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plan launched to tackle Fort William congestion problems
Consultants have been appointed to come up with a plan to ease congestion on Fort William's have been long-running complaints about gridlock, particularly on the A82, which runs through the town and is a major link connecting Inverness with engineering firms are expected to spend 18 months developing a package of priorities and potential funding sources for transport improvements.A previous study suggested emergency services staff faced delays getting to work and some teachers and pupils were late for school due to congested traffic. AECOM and Stantec have been tasked by Highland Council and regional transport body Hitrans to produce the integrated transport is part of a wider vision for Fort William and Lochaber area called Council's economy and infrastructure committee chairman Ken Gowans said the appointment of the consultants was a significant but long overdue said: "The appointment of AECOM and Stantec to take forward the integrated transport plan brings renewed momentum and a real opportunity to tackle the long-standing issues of congestion and connectivity that affect residents, businesses and emergency services alike."Mr Gowans added: "This plan is a key step in shaping a better future for Fort William and the wider Lochaber area."Transport Scotland the plan would explore measures to improve local connections, and journey times on the A82 through Fort William. 'Magic wand' Frazer Coupland, of West Highland Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the development describing it as a "lifetime opportunity" for Fort William and the wider Lochaber told BBC Scotland News: "We are a town of low resilience when it comes to our transport infrastructure."It only takes a small mistake to really congest the place up and gridlock us on occasions."A four to five-mile journey can take up to an hour if you go at the wrong times of day."Mr Coupland said everyone wished for a magic wand to sort out the traffic problems but added that it would take time to come up with solutions. In September, businesses warned that traffic congestion in and around Fort William was preventing them from Chamber of Commerce said getting through the town had been a problem for years but it was now at "crisis point".BSW Timber and fish farm company Mowi were among businesses which expressed frustration at delays at getting raw materials in and products Scottish government said at the time it had plans for improving travel through the town. Fort William is a popular Highland tourist destination as well as a base for industry, including an aluminium town has road and rail links to Inverness, Glasgow and Mallaig.A previous report, the Fort William Strategic Transport Study in 2018, set out some of the challenges to these reported congestion could get so bad through the town that emergency services staff and teachers could be prevented from getting to their work on firms said they had to put on extra vehicles at congested times to catch up with their timetable, while some residents avoided shopping in the town flow was highly seasonal with busiest months being May to August, according to the also told of their being only one way in or out of the town, which could present study said if there was an accident on the A82 just north or south of Fort William, motorists were faced with a 162-mile (261km) diversion via report also said improvements were constrained by the geography of the William has high mountains on one side, including Ben Nevis - the UK's highest mountain - and Loch Linnhe sea loch on the other.
