EDINBURGH, Scotland, April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 2012 is the year of Creative Scotland, making it the perfect time to experience the country's culture and creativity for yourself.

Details of the lifestyle of mink, which escaped from fur farms and now live wild in the UK, have been revealed through analysis of their whiskers.

This Sunday, the ferry will run to the island of Lewis, the last of Scotland's Outer Hebrides to cave to demands for service on the traditional day of rest. The expanded ferry service is sparking at least one legal challenge. Caledonian MacBrayne, the government-owned company that provides ferry service in the region, said it decided to begin Sunday sailings after being advised it might be violating the Equality Act, The Scotsman reported.

By DAVID ROSS HIGHLAND CORRESPONDENT WESTERN Isles councillors last night voted 18-11 to continue to close all seven of their two-year secondary schools, a day after the Scottish Government announced measures to protect rural schools from closure.

By DAVID LEE 1 BARRA AIRPORT http://www.hial.co.uk/ Terrific fun to see the planes land and take off on a beach, which - just hours later - is covered in water. The future of the Twin Otter service may not be 100 per cent secure but for now, this is a fabulous and unique piece of aviation lore.