Rural Scotland

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AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Scotland must embrace AI revolution or risk missing out, warns minister

SNP minister Alyn Smith urges Scotland to seize the AI moment, comparing sceptics to opponents of the lightbulb but environmentalists and campaigners fighting hyperscale data centres say their concerns are being dismissed.

Parents in the Scottish Borders have joined together to boycott a council consultation on a proposed school closure, citing concerns about the process's fairness.

Parents in the Scottish Borders have joined together to boycott a council consultation on a proposed school closure, citing concerns about the process's fairness.

Under-fire council faces boycott in fresh school closure consultation

Ian Murray, the UK Government’s new telecoms minister, has been urged to look beyond headline 5G coverage figures as rural and island communities continue to struggle with mobile blackspots.

Ian Murray, the UK Government’s new telecoms minister, has been urged to look beyond headline 5G coverage figures as rural and island communities continue to struggle with mobile blackspots.

Why Scotland’s 5G rollout is leaving rural and island communities behind

‘The cavalry is coming’ for Scotland’s rural mobile not-spots, says Murray

Map shows where 50 rural 4G mast upgrades have gone live in Scotland

Campaign group CHAT meet up to discuss travel concerns for pregnant women in Thurso

Campaign group CHAT meet up to discuss travel concerns for pregnant women in Thurso

'Terrified of giving birth on A9': fears over rural maternity services intensifies

Some rural on-call stations do not have enough crew to operate.

Some rural on-call stations do not have enough crew to operate.

Fire service grapples with 'complex' lack of on-call staff in rural Scotland

A community campaign has been launched to save the pub.

A community campaign has been launched to save the pub.

Dumfries and Galloway

How a rural community plans to save beloved village pub from being 'lost forever'

Depopulation: The Scottish Government has been urged to look towards Canada and Norway Photo by Peter Thompson/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

Depopulation: The Scottish Government has been urged to look towards Canada and Norway Photo by Peter Thompson/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

What Scotland could learn from Norway's student loans policy

SNP faces criticism as rural communities voice transport dissatisfaction

SNP faces criticism as rural communities voice transport dissatisfaction

SNP faces criticism as rural communities voice transport dissatisfaction

More than 30% of schools in the Highlands are in 'poor condition'.

More than 30% of schools in the Highlands are in 'poor condition'.

Highland Council

Highland schools 'left to rot' as estate survey finds 34% are in disrepair

The mothballing process is intended to give rural schools and nurseries a chance to survive. However, campaigners fear that the process is now being used to close them quietly.

The mothballing process is intended to give rural schools and nurseries a chance to survive. However, campaigners fear that the process is now being used to close them quietly.

Mothballing was meant to protect rural education – is it now being used to attack it?

Scottish Borders Council has voted to temporarily close Fountainhall Primary School.

Scottish Borders Council has voted to temporarily close Fountainhall Primary School.

Parents condemn council vote to mothball 150 year-old rural school

Children sledging near Montrave House in Fife

Children sledging near Montrave House in Fife

Historic festive photographs provide unique insight into Christmas in Scotland

Nearly one in five people in Scotland live in places considered remote or rural, but health and care services are struggling to meet the needs of this population

Nearly one in five people in Scotland live in places considered remote or rural, but health and care services are struggling to meet the needs of this population

When it comes to healthcare, is rural Scotland a victim of 'geographical narcissism'?

Staff retention remains one of the key challenges in delivering health services in remote and rural areas

Staff retention remains one of the key challenges in delivering health services in remote and rural areas

Urgent action needed to address access to rural healthcare, MSPs say

The community in Strontian built its own school after acquiring the site but new research has shown rural communities are struggling to access 'gold standard' right-to-buy laws in Scotland.

The community in Strontian built its own school after acquiring the site but new research has shown rural communities are struggling to access 'gold standard' right-to-buy laws in Scotland.

Councils 'flat out refusing' to apply SNP Gov's 'gold standard' right-to-buy laws

The Screen Machine Cinema

The Screen Machine Cinema

Highlands & Islands

Last-ditch bid to save rural Scotland's mobile cinema as Screen Machine faces closure

The truths, myths and costs of heat pumps explained

The truths, myths and costs of heat pumps explained

Rural homes should be prioritised in shift to heat pumps to tackle fuel poverty

Pupils from remote small towns have poorer education outcomes than peers in other areas.

Pupils from remote small towns have poorer education outcomes than peers in other areas.

Why are children from 'remote' small towns being held back? Nobody seems to know

An artist's impression of the new distillery and visitor centre

An artist's impression of the new distillery and visitor centre

New whisky distillery seeks to revive dwindling Scottish community

Communities in remote areas face risks from changes to the telephone network

Communities in remote areas face risks from changes to the telephone network

Rural communities 'at risk' from telephone network switch

Councillor Dougie Campbell is among those opposing the permanent closure of the cottage hospital in Kirkcudbright

Councillor Dougie Campbell is among those opposing the permanent closure of the cottage hospital in Kirkcudbright

Dumfries and Galloway

'Easy target': The hospitals under threat in one of our most elderly and rural areas

Madeleine and David have both been supported by the charity WithYou

Madeleine and David have both been supported by the charity WithYou

Scotland & Alcohol

Isolated – and prying eyes: The challenges of addiction recovery in rural Scotland

R100 superfast rural broadband programme

R100 superfast rural broadband programme

Claim of 'stitch-up' as Scottish Government says R100 scheme delivered

Kinlochbervie High School is one of the most recent where worries about possible closures have sprung up.

Kinlochbervie High School is one of the most recent where worries about possible closures have sprung up.

Rural schools everywhere are fighting for their futures

College unveils new £100k robot horse for equestrian event training

College unveils new £100k robot horse for equestrian event training

College unveils new £100k robot horse for equestrian event training

Jamie McGowan, Essence of Harris

Jamie McGowan, Essence of Harris

Island business Essence of Harris looks to growth on foreign shores

Dr Iain Kennedy said there was no area of the country not facing a medical staffing crisis

Dr Iain Kennedy said there was no area of the country not facing a medical staffing crisis

Warning patients at risk from 'dangerous and worsening' shortage of rural doctors