Issue 12

This is an issue we’re very proud of. The 12th issue of Hidden Scotland Magazine, like its predecessors, shines a light on some of the many elements that make this country such a special one.

Over the following 150-plus pages you’ll encounter people and places with rich and meaningful tales to tell. We visit the quiet bays of the Borders, travel to the green contours of the Isle of Rum, meet experts in ceramics and wildlife film-making – Gordon Buchanan fans are in for a treat – and turn deserved attention to everything from modern lifestyle stores to medieval castles.

A common theme in the issue is a sense of character and purpose. We round up some of the country’s best farm shops, all of which reconnect people with local produce; visit a truly stylish selection of independent boutique hotels; and take a bracing dip in some of Scotland’s most notable open-air lidos (this is, after all, the spring/summer issue).

There’s much more to enjoy, too. Artist Lorna Freytag gives excellent advice on how best to spend time in and around Oban, Darcie Maher of Edinburgh’s Lannan Bakery shares a recipe for spelt jammies, while writer Laurie Goodlad rambles the shorelines to highlight the many pleasures of beachcombing. You’ll want to head straight out and hunt for groatie buckies.

Upping the coastal adventure stakes further, we also speak to Jamie Maclean, who with his two brothers spent almost 140 days rowing non-stop across the Pacific Ocean last year, unsupported by any vessels and carrying all they needed. It’s a remarkable story. And returning to terra firma, we take a detailed look at Inverness and the surrounding area, spotlighting what to see, where to eat and stay, and how to make the most of a trip to one of Scotland’s most varied regions. We hope the following pages bring you joy and inspiration. Happy reading, and enjoy the journey.

Slàinte mhath