Tomorrow sees the premiere of film by another acclaimed director who has (very wisely if you ask me) chosen our beautiful nation as a stunning and atmospheric backdrop for his newest work. A Lonely Place to Die joins the ranks of other notable films, such as Dog Soldiers, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,… [Read more…]
Scotland is a land of legends, from kelpies (water-horses) to faeries and giants to selkies (seal-folk); there are no shortage of stories about supernatural creatures which thrived in the wild and untamed Scottish landscape in times gone by. Possibly the most famous of all these beings is Nessitera rhombopteryx who some believe still resides in… [Read more…]
Throughout history there have been plenty of famous people who have hailed from Scotland. Rightly so, many of them have become local heroes who are celebrated and remembered by their fellow Scots in various different ways. Jim Clark is one such star who lives on in the hearts of his countrymen, and back in 1970… [Read more…]
I’m of the opinion that reading is definitely ‘medicine for the soul’ and that a good book can transport you to another place, a world away from any worries or stress. Whether it be a gritty crime mystery, a heartwarming romance, an epic historical thriller or a light hearted comedic satire, there are books suit… [Read more…]
May joins us this year with the sun shining and a pleasant warmth which promises that it going to be a fantastic summer weather wise, and I for one am looking forward to the opportunities that dry and warm conditions offer! Indulging in a little (or in my case a lot of) alfresco eating is one… [Read more…]
With the extended May bank holiday weekend pending, lovers of good whisky will be delighted to hear that the date coincides with this year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. Running from this Thursday (28th) to the Monday May-day bank holiday, it offers 5 days of whisky, food, music and fun throughout the Speyside region. A… [Read more…]
As our property manager Eelin reminded me, Easter is not all about chocolate, but I have to admit, for me it definitely plays a very big part of my celebration of the festival! There is something about the taste of chocolate when it’s been made into the shape of an egg which somehow makes it… [Read more…]
If you’ve perused our cottages in the Perthshire area, it is likely that at some point you will have come across some mention in the cottage descriptions of the Cateran Trail. But what exactly is the Cateran Trail? And why would being in a cottage in close proximity be such an attractive prospect? With no… [Read more…]
For all those already signed up to receive the Unique Cottages’ Newsletter I’m pleased to say that the April-May issue should have arrived in your inbox this week – we hope you enjoy! Our bi-monthly e-newsletter has now been electronically whizzing its way to our customers in its current format for over a year and… [Read more…]
It is the time of year that the necessary chore of cutting the grass of any green space that you are responsible for begins. Indeed, here at Unique Cottages, the office Flymo was dragged out of hibernation in the garage and put to work in the garden this morning! However, with much of Scotland’s fine… [Read more…]
It occurred to me when driving home last night that the interior of my car was illuminated more than usual, so much so that I check if I had accidently left one of the car reading lights on! Normally as I make my way along the twisting country road which eventually takes me to the… [Read more…]
I don’t know why I do it! Every week I buy a lotto ticket for the Saturday draw with the vague hope that I might win enough to ensure a luxurious lifestyle, at least for a little while. Yes, I know that the chances are slim, 14 million to one apparently, but knowing this doesn’t… [Read more…]
For me, one of the greatest advantages of living in Scotland is the ability to enjoy the countryside around me! Whenever I choose I am fortunate to be able step out of the front door of my cottage on to the hillside and roam across the landscape, as long as I do so responsibly. I’ll… [Read more…]
This weekend I decided to take part in the RSPB Big Garden Bird watch. I have to say, purposeful bird watching is not something I’ve done before or really wanted to do before – don’t get me wrong, if I’m out and about and I happen to see some rare or unusual bird life I’m… [Read more…]
The news at the beginning of this week reporting the introduction of new laws to protect Scottish seals brought to mind an old Scottish legend told me as a child by my dear old, if not a little superstitious, grandmother. The story went like this: A seal hunter is woken one night by a stranger… [Read more…]
When I was at school (not so long ago – honest!) there was a period of time when sightings of unidentified big cats in places such as Cornwall and Dartmoor were common place in the tabloid newspapers. As a teenager I found these stories rather intriguing. Perhaps it was the allure of the unknown that… [Read more…]
The fact that grew up in “the most dangerous valley in Scotland” was brought to my attention this week! Why was I not aware of this before now you may ask? And how did I survive? It seems that the key to my continued existence, and my obliviousness to my home’s worrying reputation, is simply… [Read more…]
It’s that time of year again! The one day of the year when even the most unromantic among us are forced by social pressure to consider how we show the one we are closest to just how much we appreciate them. Whether you’re a believer in Valentine’s day or not, failure to show your partner a… [Read more…]
Yesterday saw the start of the Glasgow Film Festival. Ok, I accept that it doesn’t yield the same type of media hype and excitement as Cannes but Scotland is a country that attracts all manner of filmmakers, much more so than most people realise! Saturday night has increasingly become “movie night” for me over the… [Read more…]
Prince William and his soon-to-be wife Kate Middleton visit Scotland this week and return to the place there their relationship first started – St Andrews University. Their trip is prompted by the university requesting that William be patron for their 600th Anniversary appeal. One of the main aims of the appeal is to raise money… [Read more…]
A trip out of the office this week taught me that you don’t need to go to Africa to embark on an expedition which surrounds you with fascinatingly diverse habitats and puts you in to close proximity with an assortment of rare and fascinating wildlife! Just as the game reserves of Kenya and the Serengeti… [Read more…]
I don’t know about where you are, but for us here in Scotland this weekend it has really started to feel like spring has arrived! No longer do I have drive to work in the dark as the days get increasingly longer. The sun which was shinning most of the week (and is doing so again today) has taken the crispness out of… [Read more…]
With our portfolio of over 450 unique cottages throughout Scotland, we often get to hear some interesting stories about the properties and their pasts. One such history rich account caught my attention this week, it was the story of The Cottage by the Shore, let me share it with you- The Cottage by the Shore… [Read more…]
It’s Pancake Day tomorrow all across the UK (also known as Shrove Tuesday) and I for one am looking forward to the excuse to cook an old favourite. As a child, I used to be thrilled at the thought of returning home from school to the warm farmhouse kitchen where my mother would be making Scotch… [Read more…]
If you too have watched Top Gear and observed the Stig, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond or James May getting up to their interesting antics in a variety of cars and thought “I wouldn’t mind a shot of that”, then I think I’ve found the perfect holiday cottage for you… In a part of Scotland well… [Read more…]
It is easy to write about the cute, cuddly, cretins and beautiful, bodacious, birds that make up Scotland’s abundant wildlife. However this week I feel I should give mention to a rather unusual fish that has been in the news this week. The Sparling, a fish indigenous to Scotland, was once very common in Scottish rivers… [Read more…]
We are proud to say that the winning dog at this year’s Crufts was Scottish! Jet, a flatcoated retriever and winner of the Best Gundog Category, beat 21,000 other dogs to get the prestigious title of Best in Show at the National Championships as the show celebrated its 120th anniversary. Jim Irvine, Jet’s breeder who… [Read more…]
As the readership of “Our Unique Blog” continues to rise, it occurred to me that we’ve never really taken the time to let you get to know Unique Cottages a wee bit better. So, in an attempt to address this, I’ve put together - “5 things you might not know about Unique Cottages“ 1)We’re completely… [Read more…]
Here in Scotland we have enjoyed a fabulous week weather wise. In fact, on Monday Aberdeen was reported as having the highest temperatures in Britain and hotter than many well know sunny holiday spots including Ibiza, Majorca and Malaga! The bright sunshine and warm weather seems to have a greatly uplifting effect on people, and… [Read more…]
After the ice age, when the glaciers melted, greenery once again reclaimed the lands of Scotland and pioneer native trees began to grow and spread. At one time, much of Scotland was covered in indigenous forest, with trees such as Birch, Willow, Ash, Hazel, Yew and Rowan dominating the landscape. However, now only 1% of… [Read more…]
So, this Sunday is Mother’s Day which, for me, always brings with it the quandary about what to give my dear old Mum as a token of my appreciation for her and all she has done for me (a great deal if I’m honest). When I needed her she was always there and continues to… [Read more…]
In the USA (and for the first year in Canada) this week is Scotland Week, which runs from the 3rd of April to the 10th of April and celebrates all things Scottish. 4.8 million Americans reportedly have Scottish ancestry (2000 census) and 4,719,850 people in Canada can be described as ‘Scottish-Canadian’ (2001 census), so both… [Read more…]
September 6, 2011
by Amber
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