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Ailsa Sheldon on Muck Rack

Ailsa Sheldon

(She/Her)
Leith
As seen in: MSN Malaysia, MSN Singapore, MSN UK, Yahoo Life, MSN South Africa, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Yahoo News UK, National Geographic Traveler, The Times and
Covers:  Travel, Food, Drink, Sustainability
Freelance journalist- food, drink, travel and sustainability - NCTJ trained + MSc. in Gastronomy. Usually cooking or eating. (she/her)
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Aberdeenshire has a wealth of riches to delight the intrepid traveller

Aberdeenshire has a wealth of riches to delight the intrepid traveller

The Herald (Scotland) — My introduction to Aberdeenshire is from the water. I've driven from Edinburgh in the dark and as the sun comes up, I pull on a damp wetsuit and buoyancy aid. I've roped in my sister and a friend (similarly bleary eyed) and we follow our guide Dave Jacobs, owner of Stonehaven Paddleboarding, into the sea.
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Heron restaurant review: Bold flavours are no flights of fancy

Heron restaurant review: Bold flavours are no flights of fancy

The Herald (Scotland) — On the first bitingly cold night of the year we arrive at Heron and take a table by the window, shivering out of winter coats. Tomás Gormley and Sam Yorke's restaurant has been open a year or so but has remained under the radar with no splashy launches or fuss, just two head chefs quietly changing the fine dining scene in Leith.
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Our pick of Edinburgh's newest foodie spots

Our pick of Edinburgh's newest foodie spots

The Herald (Scotland) — As it turns colder and darker, we're heading indoors to eat and drink... happily Edinburgh has some brilliant brand new venues to while away an autumnal afternoon or evening. By Ailsa Sheldon Dulse Seafood lovers, rejoice! Edinburgh's hottest new restaurant, Dulse, by chef and restaurateur Dean Banks, is a glorious celebration of Scottish fish and shellfish.
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Discover the organic Scottish food and drink producers causing a stir

Discover the organic Scottish food and drink producers causing a stir

The Herald (Scotland) — FOOD and energy price rises are leading to tough decisions for many at the checkout this autumn. Against this turbulent background, the quality and environmental impact of food is being discussed less - but organic food advocates believe this isn't the time to lower food standards.
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Chef Nick Nairn is firmly back on course

Chef Nick Nairn is firmly back on course

The Herald (Scotland) — After a series of calamities that kicked off with the business-bashing pandemic lockdown, followed by a flood, and climaxed in a fire, Nick and Julia Nairn are back on course. In 2000 Nick Nairn, Michelin-starred chef, TV presenter and author, opened Nick Nairn Cook School by the quiet shores of Lake of Menteith.
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Why Lochaber is a natural playground for outdoor enthusiasts

Why Lochaber is a natural playground for outdoor enthusiasts

The Herald (Scotland) — For an adventurous break in Scotland you can't beat Lochaber. Yes, it might rain, but pack for all weathers, stay flexible with your plans, and go explore this incredible outdoor playground. With Glencoe and the Mamores, the dramatic scenery of Lochaber has always attracted climbers, mountaineers and skiers.
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Best of Scotland: How to enjoy a mini-break around Loch Ness and the Black Isle

Best of Scotland: How to enjoy a mini-break around Loch Ness and the Black Isle

The Herald (Scotland) — Loch Ness needs no marketing to visitors to Scotland, it's a shimmering must-see, perhaps sometimes a box to be ticked. No monster? Back in the car. But if you go a little slower and detour from the tour bus routes you'll discover an area rich in wildlife, culture and scenic spots, with great food and drink.
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Review: The new Gleneagles dining experience in Edinburgh

Review: The new Gleneagles dining experience in Edinburgh

The Herald (Scotland) — At long last Gleneagles Townhouse has thrown open its doors with an invitation "to gather and be glorious". The grand St Andrew's Square address is part of the fabric of Edinburgh's New Town. It's even mentioned in Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novel Kidnapped as the British Linen Company and later was the most impressive Bank of Scotland branch.
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Heading to the Fringe? Here's our favourite spots to refuel

Heading to the Fringe? Here's our favourite spots to refuel

The Herald (Scotland) — There are plenty of opportunities to treat yourself to time-out, not so far from the madding crowd of festival fans but close enough to Edinburgh's coolest places toeat and drink, as Ailsa Sheldon reveals Happily, the Edinburgh Festival returns for real this summer and with it all the energy, colour, and vibrancy we've missed.
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Hollywood on location down the wild west coast of Lewis

Hollywood on location down the wild west coast of Lewis

The Times — T he Road Dance was mostly shot at Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, which is now a museum and holiday cottages, but is where my granny was born and raised. It's where we would go every summer from Glasgow. It was a strange thing because my family called Gearrannan home.
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Explore the wonders of Caithness and Sutherland

Explore the wonders of Caithness and Sutherland

The Herald (Scotland) — The popularity of the North Coast 500 has brought a surge in tourism to the most northerly part of the mainland, however moves are afoot to encourage visitors to venture away from the route and experience the wider area and its rapidly expanding range of attractions.
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How to spend 48 hours in Dundee

How to spend 48 hours in Dundee

The Herald (Scotland) — With a regenerated waterfront, lauded new cultural attractions and a renewed self-confidence that is accelerating countless new initiatives, Dundee is a city reborn. And with its plethora of enticing food and drink opportunities, you've got Tay see and taste it to truly appreciate it, says Ailsa Sheldon Dundee is a city on the rise.
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Restaurant review: Aurora, Leith

Restaurant review: Aurora, Leith

The Herald (Scotland) — Ailsa Sheldon tries the tasting menu at Aurora in Leith, a restaurant which is gaining a loyal following for its daring, experimental and well-crafted cuisine. We arrive at Aurora in a mad out-of-breath rush, garbling apologies.
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Explore Fife's venues and activities with the family

Explore Fife's venues and activities with the family

The Herald (Scotland) — By Ailsa Sheldon With beaches, rockpools and ice-creams around every corner, Fife is a brilliant place to explore as a family. The beautiful Fife Coastal path stretches for 117 miles but even the smallest legs should manage a short section.
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Four Scottish food firms that successfully made the jump from the kitchen table

Four Scottish food firms that successfully made the jump from the kitchen table

The Herald (Scotland) — Susie and Steve Anderson of East Coast Cured began by learning to make charcuterie at home. Having wondered for years why Scotland with its high-quality meat didn't have a cured meat tradition, and greatly enjoying European charcuterie, they decided to experiment. Steve had a career in craft brewing then distilling, and decided it was time for a new hobby.
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History, romance, castles and culture, the Scottish Borders has it all

History, romance, castles and culture, the Scottish Borders has it all

The Herald (Scotland) — Winter is an ideal time to visit The Scottish Borders, the low sun burnishes the hills in golden light, roads are quiet and the lonely castles are even more atmospheric. Recently the South of Scotland earned a place on Lonely Planet's Best in Travel guide for 2023 as one of the guidebook publishers' top global destinations to visit.
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