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12/08/2026

💗 Barbie has arrived in Glasgow! 💗

If you grew up with Barbie, this is one of those exhibitions that will probably bring back a lot of memories! 👠👗🎀

Barbie: The Exhibition is currently at the magnificent Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, bringing more than 250 objects together and taking visitors through Barbie’s story from her very first appearance in 1959 right through to today.

And it’s so much more than just dolls. There are iconic outfits, furniture, vehicles, Dreamhouses, accessories and plenty of Barbie’s friends, showing how the design of Barbie has changed alongside fashion and popular culture over more than six decades.

I particularly love exhibitions like this because they’re not just about nostalgia — they tell us quite a lot about the changing world around us too. Barbie has been an astronaut, a doctor, a president and countless other things over the years, reflecting changing ideas about what women and girls could be.

And of course, the exhibition is very pink! 😂💗

The exhibition runs at Kelvingrove until 18 October 2026, and advance booking is recommended as some time slots have already sold out.

So… who remembers their very first Barbie? 🙋🏼‍♀️💗

12/08/2026

Midhope Castle – the real Lallybroch 🏰❤️

Tucked away on the Hopetoun Estate in West Lothian, Midhope Castle is a beautiful 16th-century tower house with a history that goes back centuries. The castle was originally associated with the Drummond family and later became connected with the Earls of Hopetoun.

But for millions of people around the world, Midhope is better known by another name: Lallybroch.

In Outlander, Midhope Castle became the Fraser family home, where Jamie Fraser grew up and where so many important moments in the story take place. The exterior and courtyard were used extensively for filming, making that familiar arched entrance one of the most recognisable Outlander locations in Scotland.

And standing there, looking at the old stone walls and that famous gateway, it really is easy to understand why the location was chosen. There’s something incredibly atmospheric about it — even without the Outlander connection.

One interesting thing to remember is that Lallybroch itself is fictional. Midhope Castle is very real, but the Fraser family, Jamie and the history surrounding Lallybroch belong to Diana Gabaldon’s world. The real castle has its own fascinating Scottish story that stretches back hundreds of years.

So whether you’re an Outlander fan or simply love Scotland’s old castles, Midhope is a rather special place to visit. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

And yes… you absolutely have to stand at the gate and say: “I’m home.” 😉

12/08/2026

Edinburgh’s North Bridge – a piece of the city’s history restored 🏛️

If you’ve walked through Edinburgh recently, you can hardly have missed the work on North Bridge. After eight years of refurbishment, it’s finally reopening fully — and what a transformation it has been!

The North Bridge we see today dates from 1894–1897 and was built by Sir William Arrol, the same engineer whose company was responsible for the Forth Bridge. It replaced the earlier North Bridge, which had opened in the 18th century and provided the first direct road connection between Edinburgh’s Old Town and the developing New Town.

The Victorian bridge is much more than just a road across Waverley. It’s a Category A listed structure and an important part of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site, carrying the A7 between the Old and New Towns above Waverley Station.

The restoration turned out to be a much bigger job than originally expected. Once engineers could properly access parts of the structure — some of which hadn’t been seen for around 125 years — they discovered considerably more deterioration and corrosion than anticipated.

The project included repairing and repainting the huge steel structure, restoring the decorative cast-iron façades, repairing the deck and masonry, improving drainage and waterproofing, installing new lighting and road surfacing, and even restoring the King’s Own Scottish Borderers War Memorial.

What was initially expected to cost around £22 million ultimately became a project costing roughly £85–86 million. But after years of scaffolding, diversions and restricted traffic, it’s rather lovely to see North Bridge looking like itself again. ❤️

So next time you cross North Bridge, take a moment to look up and appreciate what you’re actually walking over. It’s not just a convenient way from the Royal Mile to Princes Street — it’s a magnificent piece of Edinburgh’s Victorian engineering heritage.

And yes… I think quite a few Edinburgh residents are going to miss making jokes about “the never-ending North Bridge works.” 😂

12/08/2026

There’s something wonderfully Scottish about exploring a historic village and then stopping for a proper scone with jam and clotted cream. ☕️🍓

On a recent visit to Culross, I stopped at Bessie’s Café, right beside Culross Palace, which is cared for by the National Trust for Scotland. Their homemade scones and cakes are freshly prepared, making it a lovely little place to sit down and enjoy a coffee and a sweet treat.

And Culross itself is absolutely worth exploring. This beautiful Royal Burgh is one of Scotland’s best-preserved examples of a 17th- and 18th-century burgh, with its cobbled streets, historic houses and the distinctive ochre-coloured Culross Palace. It was once a busy port on the River Forth and is also well known to Outlander fans, with the village appearing in several seasons.

So, if you’re visiting Culross, give yourself plenty of time to wander around, soak up the history — and, of course, finish with a scone at Bessie’s. Because some Scottish traditions are simply too good to miss. ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

07/08/2026

If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, I can highly recommend Amorino Gelato on North Bridge. What makes it special isn’t just the Italian gelato, but the way it’s served. Instead of traditional scoops, each order is carefully shaped into a beautiful flower using a spatula. You can even choose several flavours, with each petal representing a different one—almost too pretty to eat!

07/08/2026

If you’re looking for a unique souvenir, the West End Craft Market is well worth a visit during August. It’s held in the beautiful grounds of St John’s Church at the West End as part of the Edinburgh Festival season. You’ll find local artists and makers selling everything from handmade jewellery and ceramics to prints, textiles and woodwork. It’s a great chance to support local craftspeople and take home something that’s genuinely made in Scotland.

16/07/2026

⚡️ Do you remember Scotland’s spectacular thunderstorm on 26 June?

It followed one of the hottest days of the year, when temperatures reached 31.2°C in Dumfries & Galloway. The clash between the hot, humid air and a cold front created an incredible display, with around 32,000 lightning strikes recorded across Scotland in just 24 hours!

The storm also brought torrential rain, flash flooding and travel disruption, and even a house in Dalkeith was struck by lightning and caught fire.

Nature can certainly put on an unforgettable show! 🌩️

Were you watching the lightning, or did the thunder keep you awake? 👇

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