Scotophile Monday

Photo of the week:
Ebbing Tide by Mark Ferrier. Ayrshire, Scotland.
Source: Flickr Scotland blog

Blog of the Week:
Mountainman - "Exploring the hills and coasts of Mull and Iona and occasionally elsewhere, with a close eye on the geology."

Rare Elvis Memorabilia Found in Edinburgh House
Rare Elvis Presley memorabilia has been recovered from a property in Edinburgh.
The items, which include a gold Elvis record and a framed signed picture of the singer, were found during a recent house search in the centre of the city. A framed scrap piece of paper was also recovered featuring the lyrics to the hit song American Pie, apparently written by Don McLean himself. Lothian and Borders Police said the items may have been stolen and urged the original owner to come forward. Read more

And The Oscar for Ugliest Location Goes To...
From the Hogwarts Express steaming across Glenfinnan Viaduct to the towering Wicker Man being consumed by flames on the Galloway coast, Scotland has produced some of the most iconic images in film history. But now the national film agency has claimed that our scenery cannot compete with the unspoilt beauty offered by countries such as New Zealand and Canada. Instead, Scottish Screen is promoting a series of jaw-droppingly ugly locations in a bid to make Scotland the grim and gritty film capital of the world. Read more by Marc Horne

Red Alert! Saving the Scottish Red Squirrel
They are one of the rare delights of the Scottish countryside, a picture of nature at its best. But the red squirrel is under threat and Scotland on Scotland is today launching a major bid to help save one of the country's most iconic and endangered animals. Scotland on Sunday has teamed up with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to support a project which aims to preserve the future of the red squirrel population. Scientists believe that the much-loved native mammals face extinction unless urgent action is taken, and we are calling on our readers across the country to report from the front line of the red's battle for survival. The greatest threat to the species is the steady northwards encroachment of their larger and more aggressive grey cousins. Read more