Anne Cameron lives on Speyside, close to the picturesque village of Archiestown surrounded by some of the area’s most stunning scenery; scenery that has, over the years, inspired much of her work as a quilter.

While visiting Malawi in April 2015, my companions and I set off to climb Mount Michiru. When we told native Malawians of our plan, they looked at us with a quizzical glance: ‘Why?’ they all asked one after another. The very idea of climbing a mountain for ‘fun,’ ‘exercise’ or ‘to enjoy the view’ was deemed absolutely ludicrous. Although the pastime (some would say obsession) of ‘bagging Munros’ in Scotland is well known, Malawi is not Scotland, in fact it is nowhere near Scotland, and the thought of climbing a hill for any other reason than to pray or get somewhere, is the height of madness.

Twenty-two year old Moray woman, Beth Sands, recently faced the challenge of a lifetime, taking part in one of the top-ten most difficult mountain bike races in the world.

by Louise Innes

“Dementia is a syndrome, usually of a chronic or progressive nature, caused by a variety of brain illnesses that affect memory, thinking, behaviour and ability to perform everyday activities beyond what might be expected by normal ageing.” While the dictionary definition defines what dementia is, it does not tell you what it is not, and contrary to the common perception, dementia is not a thief of memories. It does not, in itself, erase memories, they are forever there, trapped most of the time with sufferers sadly losing the power of recall.

So far, this winter of 2015/2016 has been dominated by stories of destruction caused by serious flooding. News reports pour into our homes through various mediums showing the devastation caused by inundations of water – the misery of the affected and afflicted. Today we blame and explain nature’s tantrums in scientific terms. Climate change, building on flood plains and neglected dredging are among listed causes. Morayshire itself is no stranger to flood, traversed as it is by networks of rivers and tributaries draining from the Cairngorms to the sea. But the worst flood in Scotland’s history and far beyond, happened in 1829 here in Moray, largely explained in those days as a calamity from the hand of God, and likened to Noah’s flood.

A few miles from Aberlour lies the village of Archiestown. It straddles the B9102 en route to Knockando and although small, Archiestown offers a warm welcome to those who visit.

Now that flip flop weather is officially over, your feet might be feeling a little exhausted. While you’ve been rocking your Birkenstocks, taking endless dips in the pool, and feeling the sand between your toes, your feet have been working overtime. They aren’t used to being exposed to the elements and they can start to feel pretty dried out once the fall hits (and that crisp autumn air certainly doesn’t help either). Thankfully, getting your feet back to normal isn’t tough!

Keeping your nails in good condition and looking perfectly polished can be a bit of task, even for the most nail-savvy! Here’s a simple step-by-step guide for a home manicure to rival even the best mani-pedi salons.

In summer we try so hard to take care about our hair and protect it against harmful effects of dry weather, hot sun and salty water.

Too much sun? Not enough? Whatever your summer experience was, your skin will need some help to get ready for the colder weather to come. Whether it's dry skin repair or combating the pale skin blues see what you need to be doing to get perfect skin this fall.

Contrary to the popular belief that Scotland has three native equines, it actually has four; the Clydesdale, massive, powerful and originating from the central belt, the Highland pony, traditionally used for light draught, farm and hill work, the Shetland pony, tiny, useful and from the islands, and another island breed, the Eriskay pony.

Scotland, 1750 – A land of two parts: The Lowlands: civilised, prosperous, wealthy, successful and improving. The other, the Gaelic speaking and clannish Highlands, bruised and brutalised by the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden and whose topography made it wild, remote and all but inaccessible from the rest of Britain. One English visitor gave the following impression of life in the Highlands as follows: “My eyes encountered, in a cluster of mud-built sheds, a number of miserable wretches, ragged, bare-footed and squalid, almost beyond the power of description. Nor was this misery confined to a single spot, for it attended every village I met with”