Home   News   Article A Highland mansion set in 127 acres of woodland and lochans south of Inverness has gone on the market for £1.35m which sits off the B861 Inverness to Farr road features a main house featuring five bedrooms and three reception rooms as well as a self-contained annexe with a further two bedrooms and a reception room The modern building sits amid mature fir woodland near Farr and estate agency Galbraith says it features well managed woodland with lochans and tracks and has potential for stalking and wildfowling A spokesperson for Galbraith said: “Silverdale lies close to the village of Inverarnie in Strathnairn lying just to the south of Inverness “The property is in a unique setting with a sense of remoteness and total seclusion and yet is just minutes from the city centre They continued: “Silverdale was constructed about 15 years ago and designed and with careful attention to detail to create a house that combines the best of traditional style with modern comforts “The exterior is beautifully proportioned and has crow step gables deep window openings and a Welsh slate roof while the interior has gracious family accommodation and finishes of the highest standard including teak flooring stone fireplaces and magnificent glass chandeliers which can be either self-contained or incorporated into the main house has previously been a successful holiday let.” You can view the full listing and more photographs here Further expansion planned at Inverness Campus will be discussed by Highland councillors next week A hotel plus commercial and academic space are set to form the next phase of major development at the site owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) the NHS National Treatment Centre and several life sciences and tech ventures HIE has now lodged a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) for phase two of the campus which would be “substantially bigger” than phase one • Global Infrastructure eyes up future growth with Inverness Campus move • Inverness Campus could see major expansion under newly revealed plan • Planned campus apartments key to widening access to medicine for students in north of Scotland Members of the south planning applications committee will have the chance to discuss the proposed development when they meet on Wednesday The proposed phase two development includes up to 70,000 sq m of commercial floorspace 3000 sq m of ancillary floorspace and 2500 sq m of academic floorspace plus associated infrastructure A report to be presented to the committee states: “The submitted location plan and draft masterplan includes areas extending beyond the boundary of the original 2009 planning permission in principle for the campus but is in line with land identified for future development in the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan 2.” The site includes several undeveloped plots within phase one of the campus but mainly consists of areas of agricultural land and scrubland located to the north and south of the existing developed campus area The eastern boundary is defined by Caulfield Road North while the northern expansion area leads across the Aberdeen to Inverness rail line and extends just beyond the proposed East Link Road where it connects with Eastfield Way The southern expansion area is defined by the B9006 Culloden Road and includes land parcels either side of the main access to the campus Find out more about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal The iconic Rose Window that once delighted Inverness city centre onlookers but has languished in storage for decades has finally taken up pride of place in its new home at Inverness Castle Its installation within the historic building’s South Tower marks the latest milestone in the transformation of the castle into a major tourist visitor attraction It is due to reopen later this year as The Inverness Castle Experience following a multi-million pound refit. This has also included a new link building, the glazing for which has also know been completed. That means the link building, which will house the Saltire Bistro eatery, is also now wind and watertight. Celebrating these two major milestones as the castle project enters its final months, Cllr Ian Brown, leader of Inverness City and Area committee, and co-chair of the Inverness Castle Project Delivery Group, said: "We are delighted to celebrate these major milestones for the Inverness Castle Experience.” “The completion of glazing on the link building and the restoration and installation of the Rose Window highlight the project’s balance between contemporary design and respect for the Highlands’ heritage. “Visitors will be able to savour the unique atmosphere of the Saltire Bistro in the new building, and marvel at the beautifully restored Rose Window as part of their journey through the experience in the South Tower.” The Rose Window, which once adorned the gable end of a Victorian era Methodist church - and later restaurant - in Inglis Street, was removed in the 1980s when widening of the road took place as part of the construction of the Eastgate Centre. This resulted in the building being demolished, but the window was saved for future generations to enjoy. It has spent the intervening decades sitting in storage, but will be a major feature of the South Tower ‘Story Room’ when the castle reopens to the public. It has been suspended from the ceiling within a bespoke steel frame, and the intricate window has been restored to showcase its original craftsmanship, creating a breathtaking focal point in the room where visitors will immerse themselves in the stories of the Highlands. The glazing, meticulously crafted and installed by specialist contractors, has been delivered to the highest standards under the supervision of Bancon Construction, the project's main contractor. Those behind the castle project say both milestones mark “significant progress” in the castle’s journey towards its future as a major tourist attraction focal point in the city centre. The Inverness Castle Experience project will benefit from £30m investment to support its redevelopment from the Scottish and UK Governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and a range of other partners. The Inverness Castle project is part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, which is a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Firefighters are continuing to tackle a wildfire near Inverness which has burned throughout the night and reportedly covers an area a mile long Six fire engines remain near the village of Daviot in the Highlands after the fire broke out on Saturday afternoon The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland on Saturday warned people nearby to stay indoors and close all windows and doors to prevent smoke inhalation people in Inverness reported being able to smell smoke during the night said firefighters were facing an “almighty challenge” on Saturday night He tweeted: “The wildfire at Daviot south of Inverness stretches over a mile long between Craggie and Moy and presents an almighty challenge for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to try and contain as the wind blows the flames further across the landscape.” Images posted by Neil Wallace on social media show large plumes of grey smoke in the sky above Meallmore Hill The fire started close to a caravan park at about 2.45pm on Saturday during what was the hottest day of the year so far in Scotland A temperature of 26.7C was recorded in Auchincruive in South Ayrshire and 23C in Inverness. Meanwhile, the fire service has extended a “very high” wildfire warning which was in place until Saturday through to Monday. The Daviot fire follows one near Cannich in the Highlands, which began on May 28 and is believed to be one of the largest in the UK. Firefighters said the total area covered by that fire was about 30 square miles. Another wildfire started on the Campsie Fells to the north of Glasgow. Two firefighters have been taken to hospital as crews try to contain a wildfire that has been burning near Cannich, south west of Inverness A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) confirmed the pair were flown to hospital by air ambulance after sustaining injuries while responding to the blaze at a farm near the village at about 9am on Tuesday It is understood five fire crews comprising about 30 firefighters are working to put out the flames down from a total of nine crews who were despatched to the scene to tackle the fire when it was at its worst The SFRS also called for a helicopter to waterbomb the site at one point to try and bring the fire under control Residents living nearby have been advised to close their windows and doors due to the increased levels of smoke in the area A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 12.46pm on Sunday May 28 to reports of a fire in the open at a farm near Cannich “Operations Control initially mobilised one fire appliance increasing to nine appliances including specialist resources a helicopter was brought in to waterbomb the wildfire we currently have five appliances on the scene where firefighters are continuing to extinguish the fire and prevent further fire spread.” A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “We received a call at 9.03am to attend an incident near Cannich, south of Inverness. “Multiple resources were dispatched to the scene and two patients were airlifted to hospital.” The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers When you purchase through links on our site From glorious castles worthy of Bonnie Prince Charlie to modern marvels here’s our pick of the best places to stay in Scotland’s Highland capital For a small Scottish city, Inverness sure packs a punch. Primarily, it attracts monster hunters on their way to Loch Ness – especially now there’s a 360-degree linked hiking and cycling trail that allows adventurers to circle the entirety of Nessie’s home However, more recently, Inverness has developed an urban swagger, helped by the insanely brilliant (and ridiculously popular) North Coast 500 This road trip starts and ends in the city mesmerising landscapes and the imposing Dunrobin Castle over the course of 516 miles Of course, the Highlands’s capital oozes with museums including a Victorian-era marketplace and a jaw-dropping cathedral sitting on the banks of the River Ness The city is also awash with creative chefs and only-in-the-Highlands bars. And then there are the must-visit craggy castles and nostril-tingling distilleries To help you get to grips with such Scottish spirit here’s our pick of the most fabulous hotels to call your Highland home ferociously good… throw any labels at this luxury city-centre hotel and you’ll still come up short it comes flooded with River Ness panoramas individually designed bedrooms and plenty of sunken baths The building itself is a renovated Georgian townhouse and the interior colour scheme smacks of a Thornton’s chocolate box all red and gold with swishes of hazelnut and vanilla And with refurbishment happening until April 2024 this sophisticated spot will be even more slick come spring Read more: Best spa hotels in Edinburgh This centrally located luxury boutique has 30 bedrooms – all awash with tartan bedspreads and a treat of shortbread biscuits for bedtime – plus three apartments Then there’s the restaurant and one whisky and piano bar which is stocked with more than 260 malt whiskies and 50-odd gins All that adds up to a convivial scene overlooking one of the prettiest stretches of the River Ness Before strolling to nearby Eden Court Theatre loosen your belt for one of the best dinners in the city at the hotel’s Contrast Brasserie – the menu brims with venison tartare Read more: Best hotels in Edinburgh 18th-century Palladian manor is now the most atmospheric country hotel in Inverness It was slept in by Bonnie Prince Charlie himself while he campaigned to overthrow English rule and he used it as his battle HQ prior to defeat at nearby Culloden Moor library bar and 40 acres of grounds draw in Outlander fans on set-hopping Highland tours Royal Stuart tartan drapes and marbled fireplaces whisk you back to the Jacobite era The funky brainchild of the globetrotting Rosewood Hotel Group this living room concept hotel is designed in the spirit of “living like a local” – slouch with a book on the comfy sofas Decor is straight from the world of click-bait furniture – all crumpet sofas industrial bar stools and novelty units – but it adds to the hipster and the 90 box-size budget rooms come with free pay TV It’s aimed at a younger crowd and the staff are equally fresh-faced this collection of period townhouses sounds worthy but it’s a wonder – there are 110 bedrooms divided across 10 Victorian buildings rooms (the deluxe river view rooms are the pick of the bunch) the perks are the lovely river location and multi-lingual staff What was built as a private home in 1786 is now a sprawling central hotel with indoor pool bells-and-whistles gym and four acres of grounds besides Inverness Golf Club Much of the action happens at the two restaurants and whisky bar – there’s Inglis Restaurant for traditional set menus and the light-flooded Conservatory Restaurant for Sunday roasts family and patio pads to more elegant affairs family-friendly restaurants and no-taxi-needed distance to Inverness’s best entertainment and shopping make it easy to see why this Best Western outpost is so popular but some have been upgraded with bright Dulux colour schemes and broad windows Want a window-wide-open peek at Inverness Castle across the river Make sure to request a room with a view when booking the facade of this chain hotel has all the glamour of a multi-storey car park – but looks can be deceiving it bristles with Highland charm and personality Think wall-mounted kilts and sleek furniture in the lobby funky wallpaper and banana-coloured sofas in the restaurant and bar and the fitted wardrobes and feature walls highlight vivid Highland landscapes and celebrated characters from Scottish history Views from the river-facing rooms are among the city’s best A distinctively different stay beckons at this palatial retreat dating back to 1790 and overlooking formal gardens two miles south of the city A romantic Georgian house – protected by Historic Scotland down to the last tree – it features four-poster where breakfast is exclusively served in bed there are garden views and Netflix is complimentary the first property in Scotland to be placed on the Ordnance Survey map Read more on Scotland travel: Eight rooms in a rainbow of soft colours, a lively restaurant, two bars (one cocktail-themed, the other showing sports) and family-friendly service at every encounter – the slick Heathmount taps into all that’s refreshing about Inverness. There are plenty of nice touches in the loft rooms and doubles (DVD players, free Sky, iPod docs), and the place fizzes with locals on weekends, particularly on the heated terrace with open fire pit. Best not expect an early night. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies {"adUnitPath":"71347885/_main_independent/in_travel/in_uk/image/gallery_mpu_sb","autoGallery":true,"disableAds":false,"gallery":[{"data":{"title":"iStock-1438080057.jpg","description":"Inverness, United Kingdom – October 05, 2018: A Beautiful scenery shot of Luxurious Hotel Palace in Inverness","caption":"Many of Inverness’ hotels provide excellent views of the city Many of Inverness’ hotels provide excellent views of the city OWNERS of the Highlands’ only mixed martial arts gym are seeking permission to permanently base their activities in an Inverness warehouse premises HMAC Inverness was given the nod in April 2020 to temporarily operate from the Depot at Thornbush Road the work in kitting out the 750 square metre venue is already complete It now wants to establish the South Kessock facility which boasts 110 members and is open 24 hours a day The business has past Cage Warriors world title winner Ross Houston as head coach and bills itself as training everyone from beginners to world champions Highland Council planning officials will consider the application Planning documents show the applicants would also look to create two parking spaces Conditions on installing an outdoor shower and air conditioning have already been met although noise issues have recently led to the AC unit being switched off The papers said that HMAC now intends using soft landscaping planting as a secondary sound barrier among other design revisions It’s time for Planning Ahead – a round-up of the latest proposals lodged across Inverness There’s a major housing development in the pipeline for the outskirts of the Highland capital A contamination assessment of a city supermarket will be required before plans to bring a drive-thru coffee shop there become a reality And more letters of objection and support have come in for the plan to bring a community sauna to a public park let’s take a look at the latest with major plans for Inverness Campus Highland councillors will be given the chance to discuss the major development in the pipeline for Inverness Campus Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has lodged a planning application notice for a hotel and 750,000 sq ft of “commercial floorspace” The proposal is denoted as phase two of Inverness Campus it will be “substantially bigger” than phase one But the work won’t be completed until the A9-A96 East Link Road – which currently has no expected construction date – is built The matter has included on the agenda for next week’s south planning applications committee Councillors will be given the chance to bring any possible concerns to the applicant’s attention on April 2 A contamination assessment must be carried out before a bid to bring a drive-thru coffee shop to the city centre moves forward Motor Fuel Group wants to build the drive-thru within the grounds of the Morrisons supermarket on Millburn Road The site has a historic use as railway land and later The current supermarket development was granted planning permission in 1999 just prior to contaminated land regulations coming into force in 2000 There has therefore been no contamination investigation on the land and this now needs to take place before any further development is allowed A total of 45 parking spaces would be axed to make way for the venture accompanied by an exclusive EV charging zone The development is the second of its kind to be lodged by the firm in the last few months with plans for a similar venture in Inverurie bosses struck a deal with the supermarket giant to take ownership of hundreds of their petrol stations A number of objections have rolled in from local residents to plans to bring a community sauna experience to Inverness for the first time As the Press and Journal has reported a company called Community Sauna Highland has submitted proposals to Highland Council The sauna would be based in the city’s Bellfield Park Plans show the sauna could fit up to 26 people inside for people seeking “relaxation and rejuvenation” The sauna would be heated by an electric sauna stove with an option for ladling water to create the signature steamy experience Community Sauna Highland’s Pippa Hembry said sauna bathing has been a “game changer” for her health and wants other in Inverness to experience it But there have now been six objections made against the project Bellfield Park resident John Finnie outlined several concerns about the development, including noise, loss of green space and the impact on local businesses. He said: “The implications of ceding public particularly an area Highland Council has clearly designated on their directory as a ‘play area’ is not something that should be taken lightly and could a create a council-wide precedence.” Neighbour Anne Jackson added: “Large groups of people partially outdoor area will make a disturbance “This is not an appropriate business to run close to residential properties She said: “This project has the potential to bring significant benefits to our community A plan to build 400 new homes at Milton of Culloden will be debated by Highland councillors next week Springfield Properties has applied for planning permission in principle for the site 25% of the 400 units would be classed as affordable homes A report from planning officer Christine Macleod has recommended that members of the council’s south planning applications committee grant planning permission in principle on April 2 there have been nine objections to the plans – including from the local Culloden Community Council The group is concerned about the environmental impact the loss of agricultural land for farmers and increasing the strain on the area’s already suffering services the secondary school roll is already forecast to be over capacity within the next 10 years “The school cannot cope with any more additional housing.” Spotted any plans you think we should know about? Get in touch at north@ajl.co.uk For more Inverness news and updates visit our dedicated page and join our local Facebook group. Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments The Inverness South vote is considered one of the best bell-weathers the north is likely to get for voting intentions in the upcoming general election and it does not look like good news for either party of government Though too much can be read into one local government by-election and the general election has not even been called what is certainly clear is that this does not look good for either the SNP or the Conservatives Inverness South is that rare ward which is almost evenly split between rural and urban voters and on top of that it is the heartland of current SNP MP Drew Hendry prompting a number of seasoned watchers to point out the implications of the vote Ballot Box Scotland tallied the numbers from the previous local government election and showed that comparing the first preference votes to the previous vote back in 2022 the SNP lost almost 16 per cent of its vote and the Conservatives lost just under one per cent Inverness South (Highland) by-election 1st prefs (vs 2022):Ind: 730 (22.1%, new)LD: 652 (19.7%, +11.1)SNP: 641 (19.4%, -15.8)Con: 533 (16.1%, -0.8)Lab: 364 (11%, +3.8)Grn: 237 (7.2%, +1.8)Alba: 107 (3.2%, +1.4)Sov: 41 (1.2%, new)(diff Ind 24.8% in 22)Ind elected stg 8 pic.twitter.com/jeDZG1iob1 The Liberal Democrats on the other hand surged by more than 11 per cent while Labour increased its share by 3.8 per cent and the Greens and Alba grew by 1.8 per cent and 1.4 per cent respectively a former top lieutenant to then First Minister Alex Salmond and a hugely respected figure in the Independence movement felt the vote bodes very badly for the SNP He said: “Confirms downward trajectory for SNP Labour taking a haul in central belt is all but priced in so must hold areas like this to have any chance of winning GE in Scotland not frippery & remind themselves what got them to Gov in first place.” Confirms downward trajectory for SNP. Labour taking a haul in central belt is all but priced in so must hold areas like this to have any chance of winning GE in Scotland. Party needs to focus on core issues, not frippery & remind themselves what got them to Gov in first place. https://t.co/cMayqw43H0 The LibDems are making a serious run at the newly redrawn seat of Inverness Skye and West Ross-shire seat against Mr Hendry were delighted with the performance in what is seen as the heartland of Mr Hendry from Lochaber and would be expected to shore up support there if he or the LibDems are able to secure similar support in Inverness then the seat would be one of the most hard fought in the country Mr MacDonald said: "With Independent candidates unlikely to play a major role and the Tories not strong on the west coast it is clear that the forthcoming general election will be a straight fight between the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the SNP in Inverness the Lib Dems have strong momentum to oust the SNP in the General Election and turn Inverness Skye and West Ross-shire from yellow to orange once again "People need local representatives who will stand up for local health services boost Highland businesses and improve local transport links." Mr Hendry said: “Congratulations to Duncan McDonald on his election today Strong representation at a community level is vital for a healthy democracy and that’s why I have always worked across the political divide with local councillors and I look forward to working with Duncan to serve the people of Inverness South.” Six fire crews – including an aerial platform – were called out to South Kessock last night after an abandoned building caught fire The alarm was raised at 6.48pm and crews were sent from Inverness and Dingwall When they arrived in Thornbush Road flames were seen coming from the roof and there was a large volume of smoke coming from the two-storey building into the surrounding area A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said the building was well alight on arrival Police closed the road during the emergency for safety reasons As the blaze came under control the operation was scaled back with three appliances and the aerial platform left at the scene before the building was declared safe at 8.34pm Click for more. Fears have been voiced by a Highland councillor that some projects on the £315 million Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal may not be achieved within the set time frame includes an impressive shopping list aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth It is backed by funding from the UK and Scottish Governments and Highland Council plus Highlands and Islands Enterprise and University of the Highlands and Islands But Inverness South councillor Duncan Macpherson is worried that in the current economic climate some projects could be delayed and believes an extension should be sought As previously reported by the Inverness Courier Cllr Macpherson has raised concerns that the planned major East Link road – which will connect the A9 and A96 between Inshes and Smithton and open up land for thousands of new homes and ease traffic congestion – has gone “suspiciously quiet” “The city-region deal was hailed as a great fund for the city and the region,” he said “There was a shopping list of items which were signed off “But I do worry that we will exceed the time limit before all the items on the ‘to-do’ list actually get done.” Cllr Macpherson said he wanted clarification on the projects and if necessary there are a lot of pressures and inflation,” he said “I think we need clarification from all parties to see if the projects we have put forward are going to come to fruition “I do fear they may not unless there is an extension to the time allowed to deliver them.” which has an estimated price tag of up to £35 million he said: “We are now in the eighth month of this year and soon will be talking about setting budgets for 2024 “I would like reassurance and my constituents and community councillors would like reassurance They should keep us informed if there is any slippage and the reasons for that I think it would helpful to see one in view of the current economic climate.” Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is also concerned no start date has been published yet for the East Link road “Clarification is definitely needed on where this project stands especially with the current inflationary pressures,” she said “Time is ticking and we need to ensure that the City Region Deal money is wisely invested.” A Highland Council spokesman said the local authority was working closely with Transport Scotland and with other partners to meet the time lines of other projects delays have occurred on City Region Deal projects due to the pandemic,” he said we are working closely with partners to minimise the impact of delays to the City Region Deal objectives.” He added: “Highland Council is monitoring progress of all the City Region Deal projects before considering requests for any extensions,” he said A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish and UK Governments have no plans to extend growth deal time frames consider the potential for flexibility with individual project time lines where exceptional circumstances merit that approach and finances allow.” He said Aberdeen City Region Deal had requested access to some time limited funding for one project beyond the deal term and both governments were considering the unique circumstances surrounding this request Asked what would happen to the allocated money if no extension was granted and plans had not been achieved he replied: “The two governments are in regular contact with regional partners on all growth deals to monitor progress and will consider such issues Close to 400 primary school pupils took place in a cross country event at Bught Park this week Open to schools across the south Highland area 31 institutions sent entrants to the Schools Athletics Association race in Inverness with Farr Primary School's boys winning the gold medals with Crown Primary School in second and Tomnacross in third Milton of Leys pupil Archie Grant crossed the line first in the boys' race in a time of five minutes and 58 seconds Lochardil's Nial Macbean was just behind in 6:20 closely followed by Auldearn's Finlay Ayres in 6:24 The girls race saw Hilton Primary School pupil Lexi MacRae in front Eilidh Offord (Kirkhill) was next to cross the line in 6:31 with Emily Cameron (Crown) only just behind in 6:33 See the winners with their medals in the gallery below Fiona Shearer has dedicated her Proud Scotland Award win to teaching staff across Highlands who champion equality and diversity as an "important part of the curriculum" The Highland Council south area education and learning manager was presented with the Proud Scotland Award for education at the beginning of the month beating off competition from other teachers Glasgow Science Centre and the Musselburgh Sea Cadets Shearer says her entire career in education has been rooted in inter-personal relationships something that stemmed from her own mentors and head teachers That has continued through to her regional role so she sees the efforts that earned her the Proud Scotland Award as merely enabling others – like Muirtown Primary School who have each earned recognition for inclusive approaches – to make a difference relationships and connections have always been the first priority and I was very fortunate to have had some amazing head teachers as a role model for me with this throughout my career," Shearer explained "In school it is about how we connect with the children and young people in our care it is about how we do that with staff as well I try to take those same values and I see my job as being there to support our head teachers in delivering the best outcomes for children and young people in our schools "Part of the reason I was nominated for this award was for doing just that – providing support when colleagues needed it – and I feel very humbled and proud that in doing my job I have been able to make a difference to someone in that way "This award is really for all of the staff I work with who do an amazing job day in day out to support our children and young people across the Highlands It is for all of our young people who are doing amazing work in our schools to promote equalities and diversities which is such an important part of the curriculum "It is important that we support all children and young people but also that our staff know they are supported too "Highland Council had the rainbow flag flying first thing on June 1 both at HQ and at the town house and I feel proud to work for such an inclusive authority." Even though so much work has gone in to help everyone thrive Shearer still was not expecting to win in Glasgow had it not been for a gentle nudge from Highland Council's executive chief officer for education and learning Nicky Grant Shearer may still be waiting to actually hold her prize "Getting to the finals was amazing in itself but to win was a real shock and I was not expecting it at all," she said Nicky Grant had to remind me that I needed to actually get up and go collect the award seeing and hearing about the work that so many individuals and businesses do to support promote and be allies to the LGBTQ+ community was really moving and inspiring "It was also good to be able to catch up with Emma Roddick MSP, who was also nominated for an award and it was great that we were both there to represent the Highlands at these awards too With a significant documented rise in hate crime against LGBTQ+ people over the last decade it is easy to think that education is the proverbial silver bullet that will help reverse the trend educators and schools are coming under attack too Most recently, this could be seen in Highland Council's neighbouring Moray, where a Drag Queen Story Hour event became a national talking point – although it did eventually proceed with minimal protests, enjoyed by over 100 people that has only served to reinforce how important inclusive education is "There has been so much hatred and misinformation in relation to LGBTQ issues recently particularly online and it saddens me that this is being whipped up to create fear and panic against people "This is why education is key in making the change through an inclusive approach and being able to inspire future generations "The work of our children and young people in Highland is having an impact on this already "Unfortunately I was unable to attend the Drag Queen story time recently with lots of fun stories for children with singing and dancing What better way to encourage a love of reading in our young folks?" A Highland councillor has hit out at owners of an abandoned caravan next to the busy A9 near Daviot SEPA and Zero Waste Scotland in a bid to have the caravan and other dumped items removed from the site The councillor has already had a number of abandoned vehicles removed from his ward Cllr Macpherson said: "I was very disappointed to see an abandoned and vandalised caravan at Daviot Bridge over the River Nairn beside the A9 "Fly tipping of building waste materials have been deposited beside it "It’s close to the junction of the A9 with the Daviot to Moy road Auchnahillin Holiday Park (formerly The Deerstalker) "I will contact the Environmental Health Department of Highland Council along with registering this incident with Dumb Dumpers - Zero Waste Scotland and󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)." "I think it is despicable that people would dump a caravan it shows blatant disregard for our beautiful countryside "Most items can be broken down and salvaged I see that someone may have already taken the tow bar off the caravan "As so often happens with fly tipping other people follow suit It is a blight on the landscape and it something that constituents regularly contact me about He added: "I know there have been a few cases of caravans being stolen across the Highlands throughout this year and I was wondering if this could maybe be one that was stolen and police are still keeping a lookout for?" I would be grateful if anyone with information about the ownership of the caravan could contact me directly on duncan.macpherson.cllr@highland.gov.uk READ: Tickets now on sale at Vue for new Bond movie No Time To Die screenings in Inverness