The general public are being invited to contribute to the bid for the Highland Region to be appointed UK City of Culture 2029, the first time a region has been put forward for the title.
The bid will aim to demonstrate how culture thrives not just in cities, but beyond and how it plays a key role in tackling depopulation and shaping sustainable rural and island communities.
A new website and a social media campaign give residents, communities, cultural organisations and supporters the opportunity to become part of the bid by sharing what Highland culture means to them and how their hopes and beliefs might shape the cultural community of the future.
The bid will be submitted on Monday 10th August with public support before then invited at www.invernesshighland2029.co.uk
For the first time, the Scottish Government has published secondary schools’ statistics relating to Gaelic Medium Education.
The figures show that thirty seven local authority secondary schools in Scotland offered subjects in Gaelic in 2025-26, five more than in the previous year with thirty two subjects being offered throughout the country.
The most popular subject taken by pupils was Gaelic Learning taken by over 3,300 pupils, followed by Gaelic Fluent Speakers, History, Religious Studies and Modern Studies. Statistics are collected annually with the next publication planned for March 2027.
Ledgowan Lodge Hotel at Achnasheen has been granted planning permission for the replacement of existing staff accommodation and the construction of five new holiday lodges.
A new bunkhouse will have eight bedrooms and the staff accommodation will have four bedrooms. Papers lodged with the application state that the planned developments will allow the hotel to take on more visitors and in turn to employ more staff. Several local residents objected to the application which was approved by The Highland Council on 22nd June.
