A

S

Ailsa Sheldon

Latest articles from Ailsa Sheldon

Aizle opened in 2014 on St Leonards Street, the first solo venture for chef Stuart Ralston and his wife Krystal

BEST OF SCOTLAND Inside the 'revolutionary' Scottish restaurant where there is no menu
Meaning 'burning ember' in Scots, Aizle is a beacon of star dining where the tasting menu makes the difficult choices for you

This 13-century monument is the real deal, ramparts and all, with stunning views over the Sound of Mull

BEST OF SCOTLAND 10 of the best restaurants with rooms to stay in across Scotland

There’s something extra special about going out for dinner and not having to think about the journey home afterwards

1

As the autumn chill comes in, our thoughts turn towards slower cooked, warming, and comforting dishes

BEST OF SCOTLAND Forget pumpkin patches, try an autumnal farmers' market instead
It's a great way to try the best seasonal produce

Fhior has been quietly excelling on Broughton Street since 2018, run by husband-and-wife team, Scott and Laura Smith. It’s won awards aplenty and is listed in the Michelin Guide.

BEST OF SCOTLAND Popular Edinburgh restaurant launches new autumnal menu
The award-winning Fhior celebrates a new season with a la carte options that make the most of autumn’s fruitfulness

Pam Brunton refuses to ‘gloss over the truth’

BEST OF SCOTLAND Book offers a brave, bold plan for shaping Scotland's food culture
“I could have written a book that said, ‘yeah, haggis, neeps and tatties, and haggis bonbons, this is the modern Scottish way.” Instead Brunton offers alternative, more hopeful directions for Scottish food culture. “Telling these stories is the start to making them real,” she says.

Lochranza distillery on Arran, which opened in 1995

BEST OF SCOTLAND Why Arran is fast becoming a whisky hotspot

It has enjoyed a long history of whisky making, both legal and illegal, but an island distillery is now forging a stronger future for the industry

1

The Shoregate, Crail, opened in 2022 after a major restoration

BEST OF SCOTLAND Inside the Fife venue that's bringing back old-fashioned hospitality
The Shoregate is not only an Eighteenth-Century restoration, but is also restoring faith in the art of friendly service

Dunedin in Florida@Visit St.Pete and Clearwater

Why there will always be a little corner of Scotland in the Sunshine State
Dunedin is a town of cyclists, shrimp sandwiches, craft breweries, and cocktail happy hours. With pastel coloured cafes and seashell-jewelled boutiques the Florida town encourages an unhurried holiday feeling, all year round. I leave Edinburgh with huge puddles on the tarmac and slate-grey skies on a flight full of Disneyland-bound families in Mickey Mouse ears. While they head east from Tampa to Orlando, I travel west towards Tampa Bay, where cities are built on islands and sandbanks, and multi-lane highways are suspended above shallow, once swampy waters.

You can meet and feed the Alpacas in Kelso

BEST OF SCOTLAND Ten things to do this summer in Scotland that you might have never heard of
Looking for something new to do this summer? We have you covered, from e-biking to art installations, wellness to going truly wild in the water

Umi is a cosy Japanese eatery with wooden booths and an extensive menu

BEST OF SCOTLAND Heading to the Edinburgh Festival? Here's where to eat

These 20 great food spots will top up your energy levels near the main venues – for a quick bite or a big breather

1