A lovely two-bedroom cottage with two sun rooms, located on the roadside in Bilbster with enclosed mature garden grounds and views across the open countryside. Accommodation comprises vestibule, hallway, lounge, kitchen/diner, two double bedrooms, newly fitted modern shower room and two sun rooms, one to the rear and another to the side.
There is a price to war even when the bombs are falling somewhere else. That is perhaps the uncomfortable reality facing Britain and the rest of Europe as governments embark on one of the biggest increases in defence spending for generations.
There is something rather deceptive about the price of food at the moment. Walk into a supermarket and it is not immediately obvious that Britain is facing a potentially difficult combination of drought, poor harvest prospects, rising energy costs and an oil price that has climbed back above $90 a barrel.
Brent crude oil has moved back above $91 a barrel, and the question now being asked by businesses, consumers and governments is where does oil go from here?. The answer depends less on the normal workings of the oil market than it does on geopolitics.
The UK economy grew by 0.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, slowing from the strong 0.6 per cent expansion in Q1 in line with economists’ expectations, the Resolution Foundation said last week. This slowdown from our bumper first quarter continued a multi-year trend of growth coming in fastest in Q1.
Britain's labour market is not collapsing, but the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest something potentially more worrying for the economy: employers are becoming increasingly cautious about taking on staff. The ONS Labour Market Overview for August shows that the number of people on company payrolls has continued to fall over the past year, while the number of vacancies has slipped to a level not seen outside the pandemic since 2014.
Planning authorities will be required to notify Scottish Ministers of new data centre applications within seven days of validation. A new direction, issued by Public Finance Minister Hannah Mary Goodlad, applies to data centre developments exceeding 50 Megawatts (MW) power capacity.
There is a new electricity consumer on the block and it is potentially enormous. Bill takes a closer look at this big change that is already underway This new phenomenon does not have a television, an electric shower or a heat pump.
There is an interesting twist to the UK Government's latest cost-of-living announcement: England is introducing a benefit that disabled people in Scotland have effectively had for years. The UK Government has announced that from 1 April 2027, eligible disabled people in England will be able to use their concessionary bus passes free of charge at any time of day, seven days a week.
There is a figure in Scotland's local government statistics that deserves rather more attention than it has received. Scottish councils lost 2.65 million working days to sickness absence in 2023/24.
When the oil price rises, who really wins? There is something rather uncomfortable happening in Britain whenever the price of oil surges. For motorists, fishermen, farmers, hauliers and households heating their homes with oil, a higher oil price is bad news.
In my previous article I suggested that Highland Council could perhaps take an Andy Burnham-style approach to the cost of living — looking at what it can do to reduce the everyday costs facing households rather than simply concentrating on balancing its own books. There is an obvious objection.
Andy Burnham has certainly been making his presence felt so I have ben giving some thought to how we could look at things more from a costof living view for residents of our region. Since becoming Prime Minister, his early approach has been to concentrate on the things that people notice in their everyday lives the cost of electricity, bus fares and some of the irritating practices that make household finances feel even tighter.
There is something slightly uncomfortable about the way Scotland talks about road investment. Billions are being committed to transforming the A9 between Perth and Inverness, yet once we look north of Inverness, the conversation seems to become much quieter.
Young people, particularly men, are spending more time alone today than a decade ago, driven by a shift to solo working as well as increased screen time, according to new Resolution Foundation research published on Wednesday. All by myself – supported by the Economic and Social Research Council-funded (ESRC) Connecting Generations research programme explores how patterns of time spent alone have changed by age over the last ten years, and what explains these changes.
The stories making the news in Caithness are not just isolated events. Taken together, they reveal a county dealing with change in transport, politics, energy, housing, fishing, tourism and community life.
In this podcast, I am joined by my elder son, James, to ask a deceptively simple question: why do schools prepare young people for examinations but not for adult life? James describes arriving at university with a student loan and an overdraft, yet almost no understanding of budgeting, saving, rent, debt or credit. We discuss why this absence of financial education particularly disadvantages many young people.
Britain’s pubs can be busy, football grounds can be full, and airports can be crowded while millions of people are still struggling to pay for life’s essentials. The cost-of-living crisis has not disappeared simply because some people cannot see it.
For more than a century, aviation has been tied to one remarkable invention: the jet engine. It transformed the world, shrinking continents and making international travel commonplace.
Britain's Energy Handicap: How Can We Compete With America When Our Electricity Costs Twice as Much? Britain likes to describe itself as an energy superpower. We have North Sea oil and gas, some of the world's best offshore wind resources, substantial nuclear expertise, hydroelectricity, tidal potential and an electricity grid increasingly supplied by renewable generation.
Chair of HIE, Angus Campbell, explores how our islands are at the heart of a £100bn pipeline of investment opportunities, helping to drive economic growth, clean energy and community prosperity across the Highlands and Islands. The Highlands and Islands has long been recognised for outstanding natural assets, entrepreneurial spirit and resilient communities.
Britain is spending billions supporting a power station that burns enormous quantities of wood to produce electricity. Now Drax wants to add carbon capture to the process, potentially turning one of Britain's most controversial power stations into a giant carbon-removal project.
More than 150 rural 4G mast upgrades are now live, boosting mobile coverage across remote UK areas and helping walkers, visitors and communities stay connected. More than 150 government-funded 4G mast upgrades are now live across the UK through the Shared Rural Network, bringing 4G coverage from EE, Virgin Media O2, and Vodafone and ThreeUK to some of Britain’s hardest-to-reach rural areas.
A total of 10 charities will receive a share of a £20 million fund in 2026-27 to deliver wide ranging support to improve wellbeing, boost incomes, and help parents towards employment as part of the Scottish Government’s drive to eradicate child poverty. The charities involved estimate that up to 35,000 families could benefit from the Scottish Government’s package of whole family support, spanning almost all of Scotland.
A vacancy has arisen for the election of a Councillor to represent Ward 3 Wick and East Caithness following the resignation of Willie Mackay. Ward 3 is a 4-member ward.
Millions of people will receive essential financial support before the August bank holiday weekend, as the Government has confirmed that benefit payments will be brought forward to Friday 28 August. Pension and benefit payments to be brought forward to Friday 28th August to account for bank holiday.
Set in a prominent location on the popular NC500 route is this well established 8-bedroom hotel (all ensuite), with public bar, lounge bar, dining room, owners’ accommodation, covered beer garden, detached garage and large commercial tarmacadam carpark. Originally a church manse, dating back to the 19th century, this impressive and substantial property boasts many original features throughout including a beautiful feature staircase, ornate cornicing, high skirtings and ceilings, and decorative internal archways.
Hugh Simpson (Contractors) Ltd. is the largest crane hire and heavy lifting services company based in Caithness.
Here at Riverside house care home in Wick we are looking to employ full or part time care assistants to join our team. SVQ level 2 in care would be an advantage but not essential full training will be provided.
Here at Riverside house care home we are looking to employ a dedicated and reliable domestic assistant to join our team. Hours to be worked are 8am-2pm covering four days including some weekends.
Gingerbread House is a beautifully presented detached cottage situated in the peaceful village of Mey, close to the Castle of Mey and on the world-famous NC500 route. Currently operating as a highly successful Airbnb holiday let, the property offers an excellent opportunity as either a lifestyle business or a charming private home.
A&D Sutherland Ltd have vacancies for general labourers. The positions are based on the main Quarry site in Spittal.
Patti Bremner, the Countryside Ranger for East Caithness explains why dune systems need our protection and why recreational fires pose a real risk to these habitats. Working in an office alongside the Dunnet Bay sand dunes I have come to appreciate and respect them more and more each working day.
This 3 bedroom detached bungalow is situated in a popular residential area in Thurso. It is a few minutes walk from the coast and a short walk into town.
Some medicines can make you more sensitive to the sun or increase the risk of dehydration without you realising it. The MHRA is encouraging people to know the risks and stay protected this summer.
We are looking for a cook in our busy pub kitchen to cook pub grub. Hours are 4.30 to finish.
A story on BBC by Luke Mintz caught our attention. Read it and think hard if your children remain unvaccinated.
This lovely two-bedroom bungalow has two garages and is located in a quiet cul-de-sac in a sought- after residential area of the town. The accommodation comprises a lounge with multi-fuel burner, kitchen with electric oven and hob, two double bedrooms, bathroom with corner shower, bath, W.C.
Do you know someone affected by hoarding. An article by Barbara Potter, Kerry Musselbrook caught our attention.
Here at Riverside house care home we are looking to employ a full time domestic assistant to join our team, hours to be worked are 8am-2pm over five days including some weekends. Duties include dusting, hoovering, mopping and sanitizing surfaces in all areas of the home including kitchen areas, bathrooms, living spaces and bedrooms.
They are certainly not as exciting as dolphins, or as awe inspiring as eagles or even wonderful to watch like otters, but they are members of our Highland wildlife suite that are often talked about and they are both fascinating and worrying. They are ticks - animals that are part of the class of arachnids, along with spiders, scorpions, mites, harvestmen (see my blog about these harmless long-legged ones here).
Andy Summers, Ranger describes the efforts he and local volunteers have taken recently to help save this species. Oyster plant is one of Scotland’s northern coastal specialists, a species more at home on the cold shores of the North Atlantic and Arctic than further south.
Community groups invited to apply for funding to support projects that reduce waste and promote a circular economy The Highland Council is encouraging community organisations across the region to apply for the latest round of its successful Reuse and Repair Fund, which supports projects that help keep valuable materials and products in use for longer. Grants of between £2,000 and £50,000 are available to support a range of community‑led initiatives that will help people repair, reuse and upcycle materials - reducing waste and supporting a stronger circular economy.
For some of you out there this article is old hat so it is really aimed at people who may never have tried some of the old ways to save money and still make nutritious food When food prices are rising, the obvious response is to look for cheaper products. But there is another way to reduce the pressure on the household budget: Make the food you already buy go further.
Why Trump Keeps Using Tariffs – And Why the Whole World Pays Attention. Whenever President Donald Trump announces a new tariff, the headlines usually focus on the country involved.
When President Donald Trump announces a new tariff, the message is usually simple. "Foreign countries will pay." But that is not quite how tariffs work.
President Donald Trump has announced new 50% tariffs on around US$20 billion of Canadian imports, marking a major escalation in the trade dispute between the two countries. The tariffs are due to take effect on 19 August 2026 unless there is a negotiated settlement before then.
Are Britain's Best Companies Being Sold Too Cheaply? And What Happens When the Profits Leave the UK? Hardly a week seems to pass without another well-known British company becoming the target of an overseas takeover. American investment funds.
Who Owns Britain Now? A Look at Foreign Ownership of UK Businesses and Infrastructure. If you ask people whether Britain is being "sold off", the answers are likely to be passionate.
If the Profits Leave Britain, Does It Make Us Poorer? Every time another British company is bought by an overseas investor, the same question appears. "If the profits go abroad, doesn't Britain become poorer?" It sounds like a simple question.
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