Welcome to issue 11

This is a time of year when the evenings draw in – a time when fires are lit, drams are poured and tales are shared - and as such, we wanted the following pages to capture something of that sense of comfort and community. 

Some of the features stand in defiance of the approaching cold weather. Our round-up of the best wild saunas in the country travels from the Cowal Peninsula to the Cairngorms, working up a healthy sweat in the process, while our interview with architect Mary Arnold- Foster celebrates the rawness of nature and how it can inspire our creativity. 

The outdoors features heavily, in various guises. We journey to the stirring landscapes of Mull and Iona on a family break, highlight the green-valleyed gifts of the Isle of Arran and retell the legendary tale of Schiehallion, the Fairy Hill of the Caledonians. Elsewhere, Hamish and Liberty Martin talk us through their passion for life in the country, and as our cover star hints in handsome fashion, we look more closely at the red squirrel, one of Scotland’s most charismatic native species. Devotion to a cause is about passion, purpose and doing things the right way. In this issue we uncover several businesses who are living proof of the fact. These include Stewart Christie & Co, the oldest bespoke tailor in Scotland; The Free Company, an à la carte rural restaurant with a committed farm-to-fork ethos; and Yard 97, a treasure trove of reclaimed furniture and salvaged architecture. 

And there’s more. Artist Zanna Wilson shares her local insights to the wonderful town of Aberfeldy, Lucy Gillmore takes a look at the work involved in restoring forgotten buildings, and Emily Rose Mawson highlights six of Scotland’s best self-catering Landmark Trust properties. As you’d expect, the list includes some absolute beauties. 

Above all, we hope the following pages bring you joy and inspiration. Happy reading, and enjoy the journey. Slàinte mhath.