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We’re excited to bring you another edition of ‘Hidden Scotland Weekly’. As always, we hope you enjoy reading and find inspiration for your next adventure.

Enjoy this week’s edition, and have a fantastic Sunday!

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ISSUE 10 SPOTLIGHT - KIM AND ANDY MURRAY: CENTRE COURT TO CROMLIX

Their names are synonymous with tennis. But now Kim and Andy Murray are putting match point in the past and looking forward to the next chapter of their lives together. We sat down with the couple to chat about Cromlix — their award-winning luxury hotel, set in and inspired by the Scottish countryside near Andy’s hometown of Dunblane — and what the seasons ahead will bring.

Swans of Loch Sunart

On the banks of Loch Sunart lived an ambitious Clan Chief and his wife who had high hopes for their only son. They longed for him to fulfil his duty by marrying well, adding to the clan's power and lands. But little did they know that their son was already in love. His intended bride was just a simple crofter's daughter, not that something like that mattered to him one bit.

The lovers would sneak down to a hidden spot on the banks of the Loch and spend hours together talking about what their life would be like once they were married. Eventually the young man plucked up the courage and told his parents of his intentions. They were furious that he would be so selfish as to put his happiness above the future of the clan. He was forbidden from seeing the girl ever again.

Like many young people in love, he took no heed of his parent's instructions. His mother knew her headstrong son would carry on regardless and she followed him to discover when and where the couple met every day. There was no way she was going to let her boy bring misfortune on the clan.

She approached a local witch and paid her to deal with the crofter's daughter by any means necessary. The next time that the girl arrived at the meeting point by Loch Sunart, the witch cast a spell and transformed her into a beautiful swan. The boy arrived soon after and waited for his partner to appear as usual, but she was nowhere to be found.

He waited by the loch every day from sunrise to sunset, until with a broken heart he eventually gave up. To try and cheer him up, his friends organised a day of hunting. When one of the many swans on the loch swam nearby, the boy instinctively took aim and struck it with his arrow.

As the majestic swan died, it turned back into his lost love. The Chief's son was distraught and dived into the water next to the girl’s body before any of his friends could stop him. Wracked with guilt, he pulled out his knife and stabbed himself in the heart.

As the bodies of the lovers disappeared below the surface, all the swans on Loch Sunart flew away and it’s said that none have ever been seen there since.

Story by Graeme Johncock

Spending A Day On The Isle Of Bute

If there’s one Scottish island that gets overlooked far too often, it’s the Isle of Bute. It took me far too long to make my first visit there, but once I did, I was immediately hooked. Just a short ferry ride from Wemyss Bay, this wee island blew me away and it’s somewhere I’m determined to convince more people to visit!

Rothesay Town

Begin your day in the obvious place – Rothesay. It’s the main settlement on the Isle of Bute and was once a major destination for Victorian holidaymakers. Nowhere is that more obvious than the Victorian Toilets beside the ferry terminal. It’s a slightly odd visitor attraction, but the elaborate marble and interesting design draws more than a few curious heads through the door.

Rothesay is nowhere near as bustling as it once was, but a walk down the palm-lined promenade gives you great views and a couple of curiosities. Get your picture taken with the “I Love Bute” sign or cross back and forward from the Highlands to the Lowlands over the marked boundary line!

Rothesay Castle
2 Minute Walk

It’s impossible to miss Rothesay Castle, the medieval walls proudly standing guard right in the middle of the town. This is one of the oldest stone castles in Scotland, built the protect the island from the Vikings. It was home to the Stewards of Scotland who would go on to become the Stewart Kings & Queens. Cross the mote and explore everything the great hall, grassy courtyard and climb from the cramped dungeon to the top of the battlements!

Bute Museum
2 Minute Walk

I love a local museum. There’s so much history around the Isle of Bute and you can learn all about it at Bute Museum. It’s small, but there’s a lot packed in from every chapter of the island’s past!

St Mary’s Chapel
3 Minute Drive

On the outskirts of Rothesay, most visitors would drive straight past St Mary’s Chapel without another look. Tucked away to the side of the United Church, this medieval chancel dates back over 700 years.

It’s tiny, but inside you’ll find two incredible carved effigies of an unknown members of nobility, a man and a woman. It’s thought that the male effigy might have been carved for the future King Robert II before he took the crown, but used by a different Stewart after the King was buried at Scone.

Lunch at Ambience Café
3 Minute Drive

It’s best to grab lunch before leaving Rothesay behind and my pick of the cafes is Ambience. I usually stick with soup and a sandwich, but there are plenty of bigger options if you’re looking for more of a meal!

Mount Stuart House
10 Minute Drive

After a relaxing drive around Bute’s coast, step into the most popular attraction on the island – Mount Stuart House. This luxurious mansion was where the Stuarts of Bute moved to as a more modern home than old Rothesay Castle. It was entirely rebuilt by the 3rd Marquess of Bute in the 1870s after a fire destroyed the earlier house. The Marquess was incredibly wealthy and more than a little eccentric, qualities that are evident as you wander the rooms of Mount Stuart. It was the first home in Britain entirely lit by electricity and to have an indoor, heated pool. The elegant Marble Hall is outdone by the crystal stars displaying astrological signs in the ceiling. As if the interior wasn’t interesting enough, the gardens and woodland trails could give you a whole afternoon’s worth of walking!

St Blane’s Chapel
10 Minute Drive 

Almost at the very far south of Bute, a short walk uphill leads to my personal favourite place on the island. There’s something very special about St Blane’s Chapel, an overwhelming feeling of history and serenity that’s hard to put into words. Set in a wee hollow surrounded by trees, the chapel itself sits on a raised platform surrounded by an enclosure. It was established by St Catan in the 6th century, now named after his nephew St Blane. The building we see today dates from the 1200s, after the Viking occupation. Abandoned after the 16th century Reformation, the parish priest firmly refused to leave his home. He was so much trouble, the authorities let him live here for another 30 years! I can fully understand why he wanted to stay so badly.

Scalpsie Bay Beach
10 minute drive

Bute has a wealth of beautiful beaches, but my pick of the bunch is Scalpsie Bay. There’s a good chance you’ll spot seals near the golden, sandy beach, but the real highlight is the views across to the Isle of Arran. It’s a beautiful spot to end the day as the sun goes down, just a short trip back to the main base of Rothesay.

This itineary was written by Graeme Johncock 

Greame has recently written a book called ‘Scotland's Stories by Graeme Johncock’ Grab a copy here.

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

The first time I set out to explore Speyside’s Malt Whisky Trail, meandering through the gently rolling, distillery-peppered hills, it blew me away. The landscape is bucolic, an undulating patchwork of farmland and forest, one of Scotland’s most magnificent rivers, the salmon-rich Spey, flowing through it to the coast. As roadtrips go, it ticks a lot of boxes. The Trail links eight of the country’s most famous distilleries - and a cooperage - offering tours and tutored tastings. The actual number of working distilleries here, however, is 51.

Most are not normally open to the public, but during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which kicks off this Wednesday, many of them throw open their doors for a few days which is one of the biggest draws.

Now in its 26th year and the world’s largest whisky event, the festival, founded in 1999, has evolved over the years into a six-day programme of masterclasses, blending workshops, behind-the-scenes tours, ceilidhs, whisky pairing dinners (Jack Stein has travelled up from Cornwall this year for a five-day seafood and whisky pairing residency at Linn House) and fireside gatherings.

Last year, its 25th anniversary, was a record-breaker with visitors from 39 countries making their way to the region generating over £2.2million for the local economy and this year looks set to be another bumper one. There are over 500 events to dip into – a few admittedly now sold out but there’s still plenty of availability if you fancy wending your way here for a dram or two.

Some are geared to serious connoisseurs, but for your average whisky lover there’s so much to do to – although maybe not the three and a half-day Whisky School which delves into the history, science, and craftsmanship behind malt whisky.

New this year is ‘Fire at the Fiddich’ a central hub open every day from 8am-10pm with live music, a pop-up bar and food cooked over the fire. Some of the highlights you might want to check out are the Whisky Picnics at the beach huts in Findhorn. You can take a tour at one of the area’s newest distilleries, Dunphail, now in its second year of operation or bottle your own whisky from the cask with the team at Murray McDavid. At Cardhu they’re holding whisky and ice-cream pairing sessions. There are whisky walks, whisky safaris, canoeing trips on the ‘whisky river’, whisky tumbler carving workshops - you can even learn how to make a whisky barrel – and whip up great whisky cocktails with a mixologist at Strathisla Distillery.

The festival runs from April 30th – May 5th. For more information please visit https://www.spiritofspeyside.com/ 

Written By Lucy Gillmore

Lucy Gillmore is a freelance journalist who left a newspaper travel desk for the Highland hills. Dipping into Scotland’s ever-evolving food and drink scene she will be bringing us the latest news stories, dates for the diary and shining a light on local food heroes in a regular column. You can follow her on @lucygillmore

Borradil

On Scotland's remote Ardnamurchan Peninsula sits Borradil, a luxury self-catering retreat named after a legendary Viking warrior. Two timber-clad hideaways—the spacious House and intimate Cottage—offer stunning Loch Sunart views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Set within 25 acres of private woodland, guests enjoy direct access to nature alongside thoughtfully designed interiors blending Scandinavian simplicity with Highland comfort.

To book a stay or to Find out more, click here.

Interested in booking? For 20% off bookings for the rest of 2025 use code HiddenBorradill when booking.

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The Isle of Skye is a place of rare wonder, a wildlife-rich spread of bays, peaks, cliffs and ridges. The views are big, but the prospect of adventure is even bigger. We hope this curated Hidden Scotland guide – which takes in everything from the best walks to the finest restaurants – helps you to have your own unforgettable island escape.  

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The Mermaid of the North by Simon Hird

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