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Slow Living Scotland, Peterculter (2026)

11/04/2026

What’s in Season: April 🌷🌿

It’s April, and it finally feels like things are shifting here in Scotland. This month’s ‘What’s in Season’ guide is a little later than planned, but still in good time for the weeks ahead.

It’s been so lovely to see flowers starting to bloom and buds appearing on the trees. That little bit of colour and new life really does brighten everything — even on the rainy days!

There’s so much to plant this month. It’s one of the busiest times in the growing calendar, and with longer days and the soil beginning to warm, it’s the perfect time to get outside. Even if it’s just a quick tidy or scattering a few wildflower seeds, it all counts. I’m definitely a bit behind in the garden this year, but trying not to feel too guilty as life is busy. I do love seeing what everyone else has been getting up to though 🌱🌼

Wild food is really picking up now too. Wild garlic is everywhere at the moment, you’ve probably spotted it on your own walks. If you haven’t picked any yet, now’s the time! Leanne Leanne Townsend has created a lovely ebook full of wild garlic recipes (link in bio). Such a nice, simple way to get started with foraging, and a great activity to do with kids too 🧄🌿

Leanne has also very kindly helped me pull together this month’s list of what you can forage in Scotland. My favourites are dandelions and nettles which are easy to find just now and are packed with benefits. I’m hoping to share a few simple recipes later this month to help you get started.

As always, I hope these lists help inspire you to grow or forage your own food. I’d love to know what you’re spotting or planting this month 🌱 Tag me Rachael Hunter | Slow Living Scotland if you’re using these lists, I love seeing and sharing what you’ve been up to.

Wishing you a calm and colourful April 🌷🌿✨

08/04/2026

Happy (belated!) Easter everyone! 🐣💛✨

Hope you all had a lovely time and the holidays have been a chance to slow down a bit and enjoy the longer days 😊

I wanted to share a few photos from my time over Easter. We had a very full on week preparing for and working our 4 day Easter event at Crathes Castle. As one of our biggest events of the year, it’s always a huge amount of work but comes with a great sense of achievement once it’s over!

I am, however, looking forward to getting back to my normal duties next week and checking out the gardens again to see what’s popped up! 🌷

Some of you may also have noticed that I haven’t posted April’s “What’s in Season” post yet. I’m working away on this now and will get it posted later this week too. Definitely a little later than usual but still in good time for the month ahead! 🌷🪻🌿

How’s your April been so far? What exciting things are happening this month? Let us know in the comments below 👇🏼 we’d love to hear from you! 🌿✨

10/03/2026

Days two & three at 🌿✨

Day two of our Reconnect Retreat began with a gorgeous morning yoga session led by Nala from . It was such a lovely way to start the day and the stretches were needed more than I realised! Nala was incredible and so knowledgeable about our bodies and helping us get the most out of the sessions 🧘🏻‍♀️🤍

After yoga we headed out for our afternoon walk with , which I shared more about in my previous post! 🥾 Back at Ballintaggart we had a little time to relax in the farmhouse before the evening’s cocktail making masterclass with Amy.

Using seasonal ingredients like rhubarb, we learned how to make delicious cocktails before sitting down to an incredible five-course dinner celebrating local, seasonal produce🍹Safe to say we all slept very well afterwards that night!

Our final morning arrived far too quickly. After packing up, we enjoyed one last yoga session with Nala followed by a relaxed farewell brunch before heading home.

I wasn’t quite ready to leave Perthshire just yet, so I stopped at in Grandtully to pick up some treats for the kids (their chocolate is amazing!) before a peaceful wander around Loch of the Lowes near Dunkeld on the way back 🌿

The team at Ballintaggart really were exceptional, and I couldn’t have asked for a lovelier, more relaxing few days. If you’re considering their Reconnect Retreat in November, I couldn’t recommend it more 🌿✨

08/03/2026

Kenmore Hill with 🥾🌿

Earlier this week, on day two of our Reconnect Retreat at , we swapped the kitchen for the hills and spent an afternoon exploring the Perthshire countryside with the lovely Ross from Beyond Adventures.

We travelled just a few miles away to Kenmore Hill where Ross was a fantastic guide, sharing his knowledge of nature and the area along the way.

It may have been a slightly calmer activity than Ross is usually used to, but we thoroughly enjoyed the climb stopping at the cairns and even sheltered under a tree for lunch, very much in true Scottish weather fashion! 🌧️

Despite the grey skies, the views over loch Tay and beyond were stunning, and the walk was a fantastic way to slow down and reconnect with the landscape. A special mention to little Brenna, whose tiny legs managed the climb better than mine the whole way up 😂

I’ll definitely be doing this walk again next time I’m in the area hopefully when the heather is in bloom and the grey skies have cleared so we can enjoy those views in full!🌿✨

07/03/2026

Reconnect Retreat at 🌿✨

I’ve just had the most wonderful few days down in Perthshire celebrating the changing seasons, our stunning landscape and I think… ourselves! 🤍

I’ve had to divide these post into days as there’s just so much I want to share with you about my visit.

On day one, we were already in heaven, settling into our gorgeous rooms and enjoying a delicious lunch served in the library. Afterwards, we joined Chef Derreick in the Cook School, where we tried our hand at fermenting and pickling. As always, the class was fun and informative, and I’m definitely a convert now! 🧄🥬🫜 pass me the kimchi!

After a bit of downtime, we met Dereick again for a cooking demonstration. He cooked local venison over an open fire and paired it with smoked butter and wild garlic oil. It was incredible! 🤤

We ended the day with a four-course meal made with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Each course was better than the last and honestly, I’m still thinking about that venison!

If you’re ever considering a stay at Ballintaggart or taking part in one of their Cook School classes, I can’t recommend it enough. The attention to detail and genuine care throughout the experience were outstanding. They really did go above and beyond!

And there’s more!! I’ll share day two and three with you later! 🌿✨

02/03/2026

We’ve done it! We’ve made it to March, and what a welcome sight it is here in the north east of Scotland 🙌🏼

While I suspect we may still have a few wintery days ahead, it’s such a relief to finally be stepping into spring 🌷🌼🌱

One of the most anticipated wild foods in March is, of course, wild garlic. I shared on my stories yesterday that l spotted some along one of my regular dog walking routes, and it was such a joy to see. There are countless wild garlic recipes online, but my favourite is always a simple, delicious wild garlic butter. That said, I’m looking forward to trying a few new recipes this year and will take you along for the journey when I do! 💚

Leanne from has kindly helped me put together a list of other foods we can forage this month, as well as what’s ready to be sown, planted, and harvested in March. The lists are definitely getting longer. We’ve moved to a two-image spread for growing this time, and I have a feeling they’ll only get longer from here!

There’s so much to look forward to in the months ahead as the days grow brighter and longer. I would absolutely love your feedback on these posts - have I missed anything?

Have you plans to grow any of the food mentioned? Any tips for healthy plants? If so, please share in the comments below or send me a DM.
..And if you have spotted or planted anything from our monthly lists, please tag in your photos so I can re-share and follow your seasonal living journey too! 🌿✨

02/03/2026

It’s time! Spotted yesterday on my dog walk. Spring really is upon us! 🙌🏼💚🌱

02/03/2026

We’ve done it! We’ve made it to March, and what a welcome sight it is here in the north east of Scotland 🙌🏼

While I suspect we may still have a few wintery days ahead, it’s such a relief to finally be stepping into spring 🌷🌼🌱

One of the most anticipated wild foods in March is, of course, wild garlic. I shared on my stories yesterday that I spotted some along one of my regular dog walking routes, and it was such a joy to see. There are countless wild garlic recipes online, but my favourite is always a simple, delicious wild garlic butter. That said, I’m looking forward to trying a few new recipes this year and will take you along for the journey when I do! 💚

Leanne from has kindly helped me put together a list of other foods we can forage this month, as well as what’s ready to be sown, planted, and harvested in March. The lists are definitely getting longer. We’ve moved to a two-image spread for growing this time, and I have a feeling they’ll only get longer from here!

There’s so much to look forward to in the months ahead as the days grow brighter and longer. I would absolutely love your feedback on these posts — have I missed anything? Have you plans to grow any of the food mentioned? Any tips for healthy plants? If so, please share in the comments below or send me a DM.

…And if you have spotted or planted anything from our monthly lists, please tag in your photos so I can re-share and follow your seasonal living journey too! 🌿✨

growyourownfood

24/02/2026

Another little appreciation post this time for some of the plants I found inside the walled garden at Crathes Castle this week. The Corkscrew Hazel in particular - how cool are its twisted branches!!

I cannot wait to watch the garden bloom this year and learn all about the plants inside it along the way 🌿

As some of you may already know, I work as part of the events team at Crathes Castle and we actually have two garden tours organised this year with head gardener James. If you fancy coming along, let me know and I’ll send you the booking link. Might have to book myself a spot too! 🌱🌷

21/02/2026

Little appreciation post for February time at Crathes Castle, Banchory. Of course there so much more to see than what’s in this little post but these are just some of my favourites; Snowdrops, Hazel catkins and winter Daphnes 🤍

Will make some Hazel catkins tea this weekend. Any forager friends know what else I can do with them? Send me your tips if you do!

I believe these dangly wee flower clusters are the males of the hazel tree (obviously 😉😂) and the females are the little buds which will eventually open as red flowers.

I’m super excited to (hopefully) gather some hazelnuts myself later in the year. I will, of course, leave plenty for the wildlife but I really need to try at least one! My favourite nut EVER! 🤤🐿️

Is there anything else I should be looking out for this February? 🌱🧡

Slow Living Scotland

11/04/2026

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