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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Stunning UK harbour town with 'haunting' castle home to breathtaking walk trail
Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire boasts some gorgeous scenery and even a castle (Image: Atlantide Phototravel via Getty Images) If you're looking for a sign to get outside and discover the UK's amazing landscapes, consider this your cue. A picturesque harbour town in the UK, boasting stunning coastal views and even a castle to explore, should be on your travel list, as there is so much to see and do there. Stonehaven, located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, is an ideal destination for a summer getaway. According to a recent study by CEWE experts, this charming location boasts one of the most scenic walks in the UK. If you've visited before, you'll understand why - the incredible landscape could easily have come straight from a postcard. Each spot on the list was evaluated based on star ratings, review count, and descriptive terms such as 'beautiful', 'stunning', 'amazing', and 'lovely' - words typically linked with photogenic locations that leave lasting impressions. The walk around Dunnottar Castle tied for second place overall with Powis Castle in Wales, surpassed only by Mount Stewart in Northern Ireland, reports the Express. Dunnottar Castle in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire stands as one of Scotland's most precious landmarks, having shaped the nation's story across 1,000 years of history. A walk around the grounds of Dunnottar Castle is a must (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) Boasting dramatic clifftop panoramas, this remarkable fortress has welcomed legendary figures including Mary Queen of Scots throughout the centuries. The castle has also served as the backdrop for numerous Hollywood productions, including Disney's Brave and Mel Gibson's Hamlet, with its official website noting that the 'haunting' castle has featured on the big screen many times. They said: "Perched on a cliff-top amidst striking scenery with stunning seascape views, it's not hard to understand why the beauty of this outstanding location has been captured on the silver screen on numerous occasions." Positioned dramatically on a towering 160-foot precipice and encircled by sparkling waters, this magnificent structure truly must be seen to be believed. Visitors can venture to the Aberdeenshire coast to secure tickets for exploring the castle itself, or alternatively wander the surrounding grounds whilst admiring the view. Stonehaven is the perfect place to spend a summer staycation (Image: Getty) Dunnottar Castle is about 1.6 miles south of Stonehaven, so it's the perfect place to visit if you're in the area. But aside from the castle, there are so many brilliant things to do in this town. No trip to Stonehaven would be complete without dedicating time to the charming harbour area. There are so many places offering the perfect spots to dine, sip drinks and unwind, whilst there's nothing quite like observing the boats gently swaying in the water. During your stay, make sure to explore the Tolbooth Museum, which is the town's most ancient building and previously served as a jail many years ago. Many original elements remain intact, including the traditional prison cell entrance. And if you're in the mood for a bit of adventure, you could also give paddleboarding lessons a go out on the water. However, if you're not quite up for braving the sea, there's an outdoor swimming pool situated along the seafront that remains open until September.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Saoirse Ronan and Jack Lowden are ‘Happy and Excited' As They Await the Arrival Of Their First Child
Saoirse Ronan and Jack Lowden are expecting their first child — just a year after the actors wed in Jack's native Scotland. 'Saoirse's always wanted to be a mom,' says an insider. 'It was just a question of finding the right partner.' The Irish Oscar nominee, 31, met the 35-year-old on the 2018 set of Mary Queen of Scots. Though they typically shun the spotlight, they occasionally open up about their love, with Jack calling the Ladybird star a 'force of nature,' and Saoirse swooning that he's 'someone that [I] really trust.' Now they are busy feathering their nest for the new arrival. 'It's still a few weeks to go, and Saoirse plans on taking time off work to bond with the baby,' says the insider. 'They are extremely happy and excited.'
The Herald Scotland
28-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's best seaside picnic spots with incredible views
While beach dining isn't for everyone, I certainly have a real fondness for it. If you do too, then this list will be just the ticket. Here, we round up five of Scotland's most scenic seaside picnic spots, all with incredible views to gaze at as you eat. Culzean Castle, Ayrshire There is a majestic stretch of towering cliffs, rocky shores and sandy bays around Culzean Castle that is perfect for picnicking and has plenty of scope for adventure. Not least when it comes to guddling in rock pools – or scouring the beach for other magical treasures. Read More: At low tide, the volcanic rock formations and lava platforms are brilliant for glimpsing pockets of marine life. Keep your eyes peeled for ghost prawns, sea urchins and starfish. Geology buffs, meanwhile, can enjoy looking for semi-precious stones, such as agate, jasper and amethyst. Tuck into a leisurely feast with vistas of Arran, Kintyre and Ailsa Craig. Afterwards, head back up into the castle grounds to grab dessert at the Aviary Ice Cream Parlour beside the Swan Pond. Seacliff, East Lothian This private and unspoilt beach, around five miles from North Berwick, offers spellbinding views of the Bass Rock and the ruins of Tantallon Castle. The tiny sandstone harbour, dating from the 1890s, is widely credited as the smallest in the UK. Popular among surfers, dog walkers and, yep, picnic lovers, Seacliff has graced the screen in a clutch of star-studded TV shows and films in recent times, including Outlaw King, Mary Queen of Scots and The Buccaneers. Car entry is controlled by a coin-operated barrier. If you fancy topping up your beach banquet with some coffee and cake, you are less than a 10-minute drive from Drift, a gorgeous cliff top cafe that operates out of converted shipping containers and a former horse trailer. Kingsbarns, Fife Fife is packed with coastal gems, from the family-friendly Burntisland and Aberdour Silver Sands to low-key beauties such as Leven Beach, which is believed to have inspired Jack Vettriano's famed painting The Singing Butler. Leven beach (Image: Alamy Stock Photo) There are the unmistakable golden panoramas of St Andrews West Sands, as captured on celluloid in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, and the classic East Neuk charm of Elie, Crail Roome Bay, Lower Largo and Kingsbarns. The latter beach, also known as Cambo Sands, has something for everyone, proffering soul-salving solitude and sheltered dunes, with ample opportunities for wildlife spotting, fossil hunting and rockpooling. In addition to being heavenly for hosting a picnic, Kingsbarns is a great place to tap into the growing outdoorsy wellness trend for 'wild saunas', aka 'hot boxes'. Wild Seaside Sauna has a location here – as well as at St Andrews West Sands and Elie – if you fancy giving it a whirl. Balmedie Country Park, Aberdeenshire This corner of north-east Scotland has the best of both worlds, with a beach and sand dunes, alongside heathland and wooded areas – all connected by a network of boardwalks and paths. These include the mile-long (1.7km) Ice House Route, which gives a window into a bygone era when fish caught along the coast would be stored in a series of underground, stone-vaulted structures deep within the dunes – an early form of refrigeration. Read More: If you hanker after a post-picnic ice cream, the Sand Bothy kiosk is open on weekends. Another excellent facility is Balmedie Beach Wheelchairs, a free, volunteer-run service, which is staffed on Sundays from noon until 3pm and bookable in advance at other times. Westport Beach, Kintyre, Argyll Picking a picnic beach on the Kintyre peninsula is no easy task, simply because you are spoiled for choice. Westport Beach, with its six miles of golden sand, rarely feels overcrowded. It is set against a backdrop of the mighty Machrihanish Dunes which, the largest of their kind in mainland Argyll, are designated as a Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI). Don't be surprised if you see folk with binoculars and fancy cameras: the area is renowned for myriad bird species – Leach's petrel, Balearic shearwater, grey phalarope and Sabine's gull – with Machrihanish Seabird and Wildlife Observatory only a short jaunt down the coast. Susan Swarbrick is a columnist and freelance writer who loves history and the outdoors. Follow her on X @SusanSwarbrick and Bluesky @
The Independent
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Decoded letters expose Mary Queen of Scots' political plotting
Fifty-seven secret letters written by Mary Queen of Scots were recently decoded after being mistakenly labelled as Italian in the French national library. Computer scientists George Lasry and Satoshi Tomokiyo, along with German music professor Norbert Biermann, solved the cipher system used by Mary during her imprisonment. The letters, dating from 1578 to 1584, reveal Mary's cunning political schemes, including attempts to manipulate Queen Elizabeth I 's spymaster, Francis Walsingham. Addressed mostly to the French ambassador, Michel de Castelnau de Mauvissiere, the correspondence shows Mary providing direct instructions about feeding information about her. Historians involved in the project describe Mary as a "clever" and "adept player" who strategically used her limited position to orchestrate plans, with the full content to be published in 2027.
The Independent
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Mary Queen of Scots' political scheming revealed in decoded missing letters
Historians have revealed the cunning schemes Mary Queen of Scots orchestrated while she was imprisoned in England by her cousin Queen Elizabeth I. In 2023, codebreakers decoded secret and previously feared lost letters written by the 16th century monarch. Hidden in the French national library, the 57 letters were mistakenly labelled as Italian - until computer scientist George Lasry, computer scientist, astrophysicist Satoshi Tomokiyo, and German music professor Norbert Biermann found them. The trio solved the cipher system used by Mary, Queen of Scots during her imprisonment to encrypt the messages. Since the discovery, historians Alex Courtney and Estelle Paranque joined the project, unveiling fascinating insights into the letters' content - which are due to be published in a book in 2027. They say the letters see Mary orchestrate a number of political schemes, including trying to manipulate Elizabeth I's spymaster, Francis Walsingham, according to The Times. Most of the letters are addressed to Michel de Castelnau de Mauvissiere, the French ambassador to England, who was a supporter of Catholic Mary. She asks him to feed information about her, including direct instructions on what to say. 'Honestly, if you read the letters that are not ciphered, I thought she was a moron,' Ms Paranque said at the Chalke history festival in Wiltshire, The Times reported. 'But our ciphers — if you really try to put yourself back in 1581, as if you don't know who is going to win … I was reading them and thinking, she's going to win. They're that clever.' She also mentions her son, the future King James I of England, repeatedly, calling him 'my poor infant' at one point. 'She's very good at turning on the waterworks when, rhetorically, it might be the best strategy,' Mr Courtney said. 'She is a particularly adept player of the very weak hand that she has.' The letters date from 1578 to 1584, a few years before Mary's beheading 436 years ago today – February 8th 1587. Mary Queen of Scots was the cousin of Queen Elizabeth I. She was imprisoned for 19 years in various castles in England. While in captivity, Mary communicated with her associates and allies, making extensive efforts to recruit messengers and to maintain secrecy. After being found to be plotting against Elizabeth, letters in code written by Mary were found and she was deemed guilty of treason and executed in 1587. Speaking at the time of the letters' discovery, Mr Lasry said: 'Upon deciphering the letters, I was very, very puzzled and it kind of felt surreal. 'We have broken secret codes from kings and queens previously, and they're very interesting, but with Mary Queen of Scots it was remarkable as we had so many unpublished letters deciphered and because she is so famous. 'This is a truly exciting discovery.'
