Jack Senior leads the Scottish Open as Englishman holds off Lee Westwood and his Renaissance Club connections

lockdowns across Scotland and the rest of the UK forced thousands of households to dip into savings and rainy day funds to help them stay afloat during uncertain financial times brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. It's easy to get swept away on the sea of relaxed restrictions and the Covid confidence that a double vaccination brings.

Getting there: Ferries from Oban to Colonsay take just over two hours, with services also running from Islay.

The experienced distillery team will be on hand to help but the final recipe is down to you, and as one of Scotland's top absinthe makers, the option is there to create your own if you'd prefer.

The Queen heads to the Balmoral estate in the Scottish Highlands every summer for 12 weeks. Royal expert Duncan Larcombe says the trip provides the monarch a break for her sanity as she relaxes and enjoys special time with her family.

The Queen's annual visit to Balmoral is 'key for her sanity' royal expert Duncan Larcombe tells OK! Her Majesty has been paying a 12 week visit to the Scottish Highland estate for the past 68 years and Duncan explains that the escape is the one time she can take off her crown and be a mum, grandmother and great grandmother. "Balmoral plays a key part in the Queen's sanity," he explains.

It is a bittersweet moment for Queen Elizabeth.

East Lothian, on Sunday July 11 when he was mauled by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross American Bulldog. Dean had taken Kaitlin Millar's family dog on a morning stroll after leaving his friend's house on Lynn Lea Avenue when a dangerous dog attacked.The 30-year-old told the Record: "I was walking and the next thing I heard this guy shouting and I seen this dog running."The dog came running right round my leg and clamped onto the side of my partner's dog's neck.

iOS - Android Operating since 2005, Fosters now have 24 funeral homes across Scotland.Funeral arranger Jessica Love told Lanarkshire Live: “I believe it’s a privilege to help a family plan a dignified and personalised funeral for their loved one and my job is to ensure every little detail is taken care of.“I’ve lived in Wishaw all my life and I hope that seeing a familiar face will make it easier for families when they first come through the door.“Our funeral home is modern and comfortable, and

Summer is a great time of the year to make changes that will impact your monthly budgets and according to experts, there are some things we should be doing to avoid big future payments.This week in Scotland, it is set to be a scorcher with temperatures hitting 24 degrees and this will no doubt mean more time outside in the sun and less time thinking about central heating.The good news is that by turning our thermostats down by even one degree we are saving around £80 on our annual bill, but we

iOS - Android The hub is one of 12 projects to be awarded a share of £15.8 million of funding from the Scottish Government through the Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund.

 MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo has long been vocal about his Scottish and Italian pride throughout the season.WATCH MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo explains why he carries worry beadsAnd ahead of the show's grand finale, Jock took to Instagram to reveal the heartwarming meaning behind the kilt he is wearing for the big TV event. Taking to Instagram, Jock Zonfrillo revealed why he is wearing a kilt to the grand finale."Wearing a 3-piece suit that talks to the Italian side of my family is one

Nina Nesbitt has shared a brand new single called ‘Summer Fling’ – you can watch the song’s video below.The Scottish singer-songwriter’s latest track is her first solo release since 2019’s ‘The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change’ album, and marks the next chapter in her career rebirth.Written and produced solely by Nesbitt, ‘Summer Fling’ is a sun-soaked jaunt that leans on nostalgic ’80s synths to paint its dreamy soundscape, nodding to ABBA in the process.“Salt waves on an ocean drive/

Get the latest Scottish parenting news sent straight to your inbox each week with our newsletter.Foodbank charity Start Up Stirling is appealing for help to support children and their families through the summer.For many families the summer holidays can be a particularly challenging time as they try to ensure they have enough food each week to live on, as well as finding enough money to buy school uniforms, schoolbags and shoes for the school year ahead.Start Up Stirling spokesperson Julie

Join thousands of others in getting the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox.A total of 1,253 deaths were registered in ailing West Dunbartonshire last year –the second highest figure by council area in Scotland.It comes as national figures show the highest number of excess deaths since wartime, due to the coronavirus pandemic.But the West Dunbartonshire figure marks the third highest death rate by council in Scotland on crude data – at 14.1 per 100,000 population.However, that

“We are moving forward and there is a feeling that massive weight has lifted but the Scottish Government asked us to found the Scottish Wedding Alliance - which was formed in November, prior to that there was no industry body.“The Scottish Government needed us because they don’t understand weddings and, at times, we have been completely ignored.”

Parent campaigners are demanding the Scottish Government scrap isolation rules which they says has excluded tens of thousands of healthy children from school. Pressure group UsForThem Scotland says the Scottish Government must ditch the isolation rules ahead of children returning to the classroom after the summer break.

National Trust for Scotland is full of favourite places that will keep everyone occupied and happy.The Trust is the conservation charity that preserves and maintains many of the country’s most loved places and spaces.From Glencoe to St Kilda and Craigievar Castle to Culloden, these are places that mean so much to so many, and where spending time is good for the body and soul.And with almost 100 important sites in their care, from historic castles and country houses to national nature reserves

Glasgow on Saturday, July 31. The Alliance has received permission for the march from Glasgow City Council and will begin from Frankfield Street.