Latest news with #IsleOfMull
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Ascot absence is just a blip in Princess of Wales's remarkable recovery
As the sun blazed down on Royal Ascot on Wednesday, racegoers were abuzz with news that the Princess of Wales would be attending the meeting. The official list of carriages in the Royal Procession had her name on it, along with those of the King, the Queen and the Prince of Wales, in what was expected to be her return to the summer season after her chemotherapy this time last year. In the end, it was not to be. In the hours ahead of the procession, Kensington Palace confirmed that the Princess would be unable to attend. It is said that while she was understandably disappointed not to attend, the Princess was mindful of treading a careful line as she returns to work. It is a salient reminder that life, even for the royals, is not a fairytale. There is no magic wand for health. There is no cause for alarm, we are told, backed by evidence of the Princess laughing and happy at the Garter Day ceremony at Windsor Castle just two days ago. She has, in truth, been staging a remarkable comeback. Since the September video in which she announced that she had finished her chemotherapy, the Princess has surpassed all expectations in her steady march back to work. From a lively anniversary trip to the Isle of Mull to placing a considered spotlight on Britain's creative sector at the V&A last week, she has looked happy, healthy and – as far as the public could see – as if she had never been away. At Trooping the Colour on Saturday, she appeared flawless, standing beside the King in the public eye for hours and watching over her well-behaved children. However, behind closed doors, it seems, things have not been so blissfully uncomplicated. The 'cancer journey', Catherine said in September, 'is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you'. 'Much needed time to heal' Almost exactly a year ago, as she attempted to reconcile her deeply private health issues with her public role, she said she was experiencing 'good days and bad days'. 'Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal,' she said. Since then, the Princess has made a valiant effort to get back into the public eye. At a time when the public would have given her grace in recovery, she has signed up to public engagements (more than 20 this year), and high-profile Royal events at which every camera lens is focused on her face. Her appearance, recently so healthy, has belied how difficult things were last year, and how hard the fight to return to normality has been. The King and his daughter-in-law have walked similar paths this year in very different ways. While the King, as a 76-year-old head of state, has largely ploughed on during cancer treatment, packing his diary with domestic engagements and international travel, the Princess – correctly – has had her mind on other things. With three small children, a future King among them, she is focused on the long term, supporting her husband and being there in all senses for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. She is disappointed to miss Ascot. But the big picture, as she, William and their advisers know, is more important. The watchword at the Palace is 'balance'. Her illness was serious, sources emphasise, and the long-term effects for any patient are unpredictable. The public are kind enough, nowadays, to understand that royals are human and they cannot perform at all times. The summer season at Ascot will survive, with royals aplenty. The presence of the Prince of Wales, who would have no qualms about shouldering criticism to skip the event to be by his wife's side if needed, as well as that of Carole Middleton, the Princess's mother, was reassuring. The Princess is likely to be seen again very soon, at Wimbledon as well as official engagements, before the children break up for their school holidays. 'Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes,' she said in September. This year, she has made it look easy – but it is not.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Forbes
Where To Go: Amazing Tours For Solo Travelers
Scotland is one of those destinations that you must see in person to truly experience. Just because you don't have someone to travel with, doesn't mean you shouldn't go at all. The world is full of incredible places to experience first-hand, from outdoor adventures to city escapes to serene and quiet vacations. Keep reading to learn about the best tours for solo travelers as well as tips for planning and what you should do once you arrive. The perfect time to visit is now. Experiencing the Scottish Highlands by rail is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Discover the incredible and indelible beauty of the Scottish highlands, full of lochs, glens, castles and fluffy highland cows and sheep on a journey with Vacations by Rail. You'll be well taken care of as a professional tour guide leads you through the nine-day Edinburgh, the Highlands and Islands tour. Highlights of this once-in-a-lifetime tour include rides on the Jacobite Steam Train, or the 'Hogwarts Express', as it crosses the stunning 21-arched Glenfinnan Viaduct; Kyle Line, a lovely route that begins in Inverness and snakes through the rugged and verdant landscape; and West Highland Line, which has the most isolated train station in the UK, where you'll travel from Glasgow to Fort William. Beyond beautiful train crossings, you can expect this value-forward trip to also include a delightful cruise from Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle, a visit to the colorful chocolate-box village on the Isle of Mull, and a stop at the 13th-century well-preserved Eilean Donan Castle, located on a tiny island surrounded by Loch Duich. By the time you reach Edinburgh, at the end of the trip, your cameral roll will be jam packed with beautiful photos, and you'll have a lifetime of memories that you can sift through like multi-hued gems in your hand. A tour manager is included from start to finish. Once you arrive in Edinburgh, all of the logistics and planning will be taken care of. This local expert is always available should you need anything or want to ask questions to provide valuable context to what you're experiencing. Luggage transfers and all breakfasts are included as well. The views from the London Marriott Hotel County Hall are spectacular. There's much to experience in this massive city of nine million people, whether you want to see important historic landmarks like the Tower of London, a castle and former prison in the heart of the city, as well as the home to the famous Crown Jewels; Westminster Abbey, a gorgeous and looming Gothic church; Buckingham Palace, the home of the British monarch; St. Paul's Cathedral; or Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Best explored on foot, wear your comfy shoes (the Dillon Canvas shoes from Xero Shoes are a solid choice) and prepare to get your steps in. There's nothing more special than walking over the Victorian-era Tower Bridge or strolling around Kensington Palace and the British Museum. Located within walking distance to much of what London has to offer, the historic London Marriott Hotel County Hall, next to The London Eye, is perfect for you home-away-from-home. Gareth Walker, The Library restaurant manager at the hotel, is also a celebrated graffiti artist who offers masterclass opportunities for guests at Leake Street Arches, a former railway tunnel beneath Waterloo Station. 'I run the afternoon tea here, which is very shocking to people as they see me in my suit serving afternoon tea, then by night in the grimy tunnel working my magic on the walls,' Walker says. 'Marriott have been very supportive on my journey.' Expect to see wildlife and glaciers on this tour through Alaska's Kenai Fjords. One of the most diverse national parks in the US in terms of wildlife viewing is Kenai Fjords National Park. Hugging the south-central Alaska coast, just over two hours south of Anchorage, this national park is home to a wide range of marine wildlife: humpback, gray, and orca whales; sea otters, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, and Dall's porpoise; and a plethora of bird species including horned and tufted puffins, cormorants, and eagles. And, yes, big ole land mammals live here too: black and brown bears, moose, mountain goats, and porcupines, among other woodland creatures. For a one-stop-shop planning and logistics juggernaut, look no further than Pursuit, leaders in curating exclusive one-of-a-kind wilderness experiences in Alaska and beyond. You'll begin your adventure at Windsong Lodge in Seward, your gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, before heading to Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge, located on the remote and rugged Fox Island. Kenai Fjords Tours will deliver you safely across Resurrection Bay, a 12-mile journey from Seward—the only way to reach the island. For a two or three-night stay, you'll be treated to delectable meals, a sweat session in the dry barrel sauna, a hike through the weathered forest to a panoramic look out, and a kayaking adventure like no other. Enjoy private waterfront cabin accommodations, with views of either Halibut Cove or the lagoon. You'll love searching for heart-shaped rocks on the beach and harbor seal noses poking out of the water. When you've finished your stay, you'll get the ride of your life as you see an abundance of wildlife and flora as well as glaciers on an educational cruise with Kenai Fjords Tours, operating since 1978. This multi-hour tour is led by a professional captain who will narrate the entire tour, giving you indispensable context and information for what you're seeing and experiencing. Be prepared for outdoor adventure by packing weather appropriate clothing—layers are key. From warm base layers to rain jackets to study footwear to clothing you can move in, check out new styles from Cotopaxi, Helly Hansen, Arc'Teryx, prAna, or Danner.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Campaigners launch legal challenge over new Mull school
Campaigners on the Isle of Mull have launched a legal challenge over the local authority's decision on where to build a new and Bute Council decided earlier this year to build a new £43m school campus close to the current high school in parents wanted a more central location so that pupils in the south of the island would no longer have to travel by ferry to Oban for schooling and stay in hostels during the say they felt they had "no choice" and have now hired a layer to take the case to a judicial review at the Court of Session. A judicial review is a type of legal case where a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public and Bute council have been approached for comment. Tracy Mayo, chairwoman of the Mull Campus Working Group, told BBC Scotland News: "This is about all our children - it affects the whole of Mull and its future sustainability and its unique island way of life."When we first learnt the terms of the bid for funding in August 2024, we immediately raised our concerns the offer didn't make sense - it seemed irrational."How we define our community appears to differ from that of our council. We have been highlighting flaws in the process for many years as have other communities."Effective partnership working fosters trust and mutual trust. We have stated all the way through this we want to work with our council but not like this."It has taken a huge amount of work to get this far. Volunteers have lost huge swathe of family time, our families have been very patient and supportive and so has the amazing community of Mull." Mull Campus project The location of the island's only high school has long been a source of division on living in the north go to the school in Tobermory, but the commute is more than 90 minutes for those living in the south, and most travel to Oban on the mainland, staying in hostels during the was secured in 2023 to build a new secondary school on the Isle of Mull to replace the depilated Tobermory High School.A number of sites where the new school could be built were identified across the island. Campaigners argued for a new secondary school to be built in a more central location such as Craignure, while keeping a primary school in the council said splitting the campus would cost the authority an extra £12m, and that any further delay could jeopardise promised Scottish government councillors voted to go ahead with building the new school in the Island's main town of Tobermory, near to the existing launched a petition and held protests against the decision, and the issue has been debated at Holyrood.
BBC News
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Banjo and Ro's Grand Island Hotel - New BBC Scotland series to follow the two designers as they transform a derelict mansion on a remote Scottish island
New six-part series Banjo and Ro's Grand Island Hotel sees interior designer Banjo Beale and husband Ro take on their biggest design project – turning a derelict mansion on the remote Isle of Ulva in Scotland into a stunning boutique hotel. Together, Banjo and Ro hope to transform the fortunes of the crumbling house and the island community. Banjo and Ro's Grand Island Hotel is a Hello Halo production for BBC Scotland with filming beginning in June. Situated 150 metres off the west coast of the Isle of Mull in Scotland, Ulva used to have a population of 800 but now just 14 call it home. At the centre of the island stands Ulva House, a once enchanting Regency home, the former residence of the first Governor of Australia, Lachlan MacQuarrie. However, in recent years, Ulva House has stood abandoned, falling into disrepair until the local community bought it in 2018. Banjo and Ro's Grand Island Hotel will follow the trials, tribulations, design dilemmas and community spirit it takes to bring Ulva House back to life and, hopefully, turn it into a must-visit getaway. Along the way, the couple - who have relocated to Ulva along with Grampa the dog as well as their chickens and pigs - will face the challenges of remote island life and a limited budget but these two dreamers are determined to transform the crumbling mansion into a stunning destination hotel. Says Banjo: 'This is my biggest project yet with an absolute nightmare of a client - myself. Ro and I have officially lost the plot. We're going to try and rescue a crumbling, abandoned manor on the wild and windswept Isle of Ulva. With 16 residents, no roads and no clue how we're going to pull it off, it's going to be my boldest and muddiest adventure yet. There'll be midges, madness, and hopefully a miracle or two.' Banjo's husband Ro adds: 'I thought we were just here for a quiet escape, next thing I know, I'm knee-deep in filth, chasing pigs out of the hallway, and somehow in charge of sourcing vintage chandelier crystals from 1855. Banjo calls it a vision; I call it grounds for divorce.' The Executive Producers on Banjo and Ro's Grand Island Hotel are Wendy Rattray and Joff Wilson for Hello Halo and Steve Allen for BBC Scotland. The series will be directed and produced by Joe Sharpe. Wendy Rattray, Executive Producer, says: 'An abandoned house, a wild, untamed landscape. No road access. No running water. Barely any electricity. Banjo and Ro may have lost the plot but have no shortage of dreams and schemes as they attempt the most staggering of transformations in one of the most magical parts of the UK. We're delighted to be joining Banjo and Ro on this real world, high stakes renovation as they attempt to turn around the fortunes of this once stunning mansion and breathe new life into the island.' Steve Allen, BBC Scotland's Executive Producer, adds: 'Banjo and Ro's Island Grand Hotel, the duo's biggest design challenge to date, will provide pure escapism for our audiences. Combining the nation's love of interior design and renovation, this series will be full of emotion, skill, and heart. Set amongst a stunning Hebrides backdrop, the weather might not always be warm but the welcome to Ulva will be.' Filming on Banjo and Ro's Grand Island Hotel begins in June through to October. The series is expected to air on BBC iPlayer and BBC Scotland in 2026. JM2
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘The fandom was rock'n'roll. Sophie Ellis-Bextor loved our rap song!'' How we made Balamory
After graduating from Rada I'd been a jobbing actor for 20 years. One day I was with my kids watching Play School, and thought: 'I could be a presenter on this.' So I became one, and then the BBC trained me up as a preschool director and I went on to be a freelance director and producer specialising in preschool. The BBC wanted to do a preschool drama centred around travellers in Ireland. It didn't get commissioned but it gave me the idea to create something set in a community. I had a health hiccup, which put me out of work but gave me downtime to think. Play School had been a new programme every day, so it had an immediacy. I thought: 'Why not make a preschool soap?' A year later, BBC had created CBeebies and had masses of airtime to fill and were looking for a programme that was about the world around us, so I pitched my idea. The commissioning editor said: 'How can you do a soap for preschool kids?' I said: 'Well, instead of the Queen Vic you could have a nursery school.' He said: 'That's quite a good idea.' I was made series producer and we had to film 126 episodes in 10 months, beginning in January 2002. I went down to the EastEnders set. They were very helpful and I came back with a formula. We were originally going to film in Kirkcudbright but that was too far from Glasgow, where we needed to film some of the indoor shots, so we moved it to Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, which is a child's dream with all its colours, water and hills. I'd already written the theme song: What's the Story in Tobermory? But there was a Womble called Tobermory, so a researcher in the Gaelic department came up with Balamory. It wasn't a nod to Oasis's (What's the Story?) Morning Glory, which I'd never heard of! We put out feelers for the cast, such as 'a child's dream nursery teacher' for Miss Hoolie. Lionel Jefferies, who'd played the grandfather in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, applied, but we weren't really looking for named actors, plus – it's terrible to say – I think I was too terrified to audition him in case I had to say no. Mary Riggans, who'd been in Scottish soap opera Take the High Road, wowed us, and we cast her as Suzie Sweet. We constructed our own school in Barmulloch, in the north of Glasgow. The kids would come in and believe it was their nursery, so they didn't have to act. Kids programmes aren't just for children. They're meant to be a shared experience. The characters we created all had their quirks. There was friction between [school bus driver] Edie McCredie and Suzie Sweet [who runs the village shop and cafe]. Miss Hoolie [nursery teacher] and PC Plum quite liked each other. I think the quirks made them seem more relatable. We created a community on this little island that felt realistic and had humour no matter what age you are. I think that's probably why people are so fond of the characters and the place. I'm not involved in the reboot, at least, not yet. I was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at the age of two. It was amazing how many people thought my wheelchair was a prop. A small role in ITV drama Blind Ambition that centred on disabled athletes gave me the itch to act, although being disabled often means playing a character who specifically has a disability issue or medical problem. Eventually I found myself in a room with Brian Jameson and lots of other actors who were all being considered for the role of Penny. My disability was never openly discussed in front of me, which is what made the role so very important to me. Penny runs the village shop and cafe with Suzie Sweet. She's a bit of a maths wizard and likes organising. As the writers got to know me and realise how active I was, Penny went on to be the football and rowing coach. I spent the best part of three years filming up in Scotland, doing 14-hour days but having the best of times. Working on Balamory was such joy. I was surrounded by such a brilliant cast and crew. We laughed a lot! The scripts were funny but also sometimes surreal, like one about a party at the nursery when Penny and Suzie were dressed as Pearly Queens but nobody else was in costume. It was also emotional – I particularly remember the episode when Penny and Suzie went to Finland to visit Santa. I got to meet him and cuddle a litter of husky puppies – there were sobs! The Balamory fandom quickly grew. We were able to meet many of them when we performed live on the arena tours. It all felt a bit rock'n'roll. I remember Sophie Ellis-Bextor coming to the show and saying she loved Penny's rap song. For the first time my son started to think I was cool. I started to realise how popular the show had become when I went to St James' Park to watch Newcastle United play and the fans, in their thousands, all sang What's the Story? when they saw me. It gave me goosebumps, and still does, thinking about it.
