Issue 9

We hope this issue gives you as much pleasure to read as it’s given us to produce. Welcome to our Autumn/Winter 2024-25 issue.

This is the ninth edition of Hidden Scotland Magazine, and the features over the next 160 pages dive into some of the country’s most spectacular corners. We head, for example, to the often overlooked Small Isles with photographer Simon Hird, whose images and recollections not only conjure the archipelago’s tranquillity but introduce some of its remarkable characters.

Also on the coast, we give an overview of ten of Scotland’s most historical fishing towns and villages – from picture-perfect Plockton to far-flung Portmahomack – and take a detailed look at the stirring highlights of the Moray region, where whisky distilleries, salmon streams and windblown shorelines concoct an atmosphere of rare drama.

Scotland is nothing, of course, without the people who call it home. In this issue, we talk to illustrator and shop-owner Tori Gray, who shares her love of homeware, the Highlands and life in the Black Isle; meet writer and researcher Kat Hill, whose book ‘Bothy’ is a fascinating celebration of the history and culture of the country’s bothies; and hear from iconic designers Paul Simmons and Alastair McAuley, the men behind Glasgow studio Timorous Beasties.

Elsewhere, we rejoice in the nocturnal awe of Scotland’s best stargazing sites, delve into the joys of after-dark wildlife-spotting, profile award-winning landscape artist Ellis O’Connor, spotlight some of Scotland’s most impressive interiors with Banjo Beale, and follow writer Lucy Gillmore as she joins a ‘wild wellness’ retreat.

You’ll also find no shortage of other treats along the way, from walking guides and tales of folklore to a simple but sensational recipe for roast potato and herb gnocchi with sage-fried butter – the perfect dish for the colder months.

And as ever, we hope this issue brings you warmth and inspiration, wherever you are. Happy reading, and enjoy the journey.

Slàinte mhath.