Good morning, Welcome to your midweek newsletter from The Scotsman. We need your support. Like many businesses, we have been hit by the economic crunch of the pandemic. If you like and value what we do, please consider taking out a digital subscription with us. Subscribers get unlimited access to thousands of Scottish stories a week, award-winning writers, agenda-setting opinion, sport, arts, features and much more. Try us out today from just £3 a month. Nicola Sturgeon promises routemap out of lockdown next week A new routemap for Scotland out of Covid lockdown will be published next week, Nicola Sturgeon has told the Scottish Parliament. But she warned it was likely to rule out Easter holidays either abroad or in Scotland, though summer staycations might be possible. The First Minister said it was difficult to overstate the importance of being “careful, cautious and gradual” in lifting restrictions. Here's what the FM said and what we can expect in the weeks ahead Private security firm G4S hired to 'escort' travellers inside quarantine hotels Private security staff have been hired to escort quarantining travellers whenever they leave their hotel rooms, despite assurances isolation would not be enforced by guards. The revelation comes despite claims from Scottish health chiefs last week that “guards and fences” would not be used to keep guests – who must pay £1,750 to quarantine - from absconding. Read the full story here Castle for sale A 15th Century ruined castle in Scotland with a tennis court is on the market for the same as a one-bed flat in London. It has the potential to be turned into a dream home but Historic Environment Scotland urged for care to be taken 'to preserve cultural significance' and that restoration 'should be sensitive'. It's definitely a fixer-upper! Check out the centuries old castle here. We're offering more FREE newsletters We're increasing the number of specialised newsletters we offer. Particularly during lockdown many of our readers like the convenience of us bring the news to them via email. In March we'll be offering three new newsletters. Like this they'll be totally free. Scotsman politics: The latest Scottish political news and analysis from our specialist writers direct to your inbox (twice a week) Opinion: Expert analysis and agenda-setting opinion from our team of columnists with insight from our comment editor (once a week) History and Heritage: Features on Scottish history, heritage news, nostalgia and archive picture galleries (once a week) Sign up to any of these for free right HERE. Thanks for reading, more headlines below, Sam Shedden, engagement editor |