Wheelie Wild Lothian Buses Unveiled
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Zoo has entered into a two-year deal with Lothian Buses to create a fleet of Zoo-branded buses for service 26. Ten buses now feature five different animal designs (chimpanzee, penguin, tiger, zebra and rainbow lirikeet) that dramatically wrap around all four sides of the bus. The tagline ‘’Zoom to the Zoo’’ also features on all the designs.
In a further initiative with Lothian Buses, visitors to Edinburgh Zoo can now purchase “fast track” admission tickets from Edinburgh Bus Tour ticket sellers located on Waverly Bridge.
www.lothianbuses.com
Scotrail’s Got Summer Licked
Scotland-wide
Each adult who buys a Kids Go Free Ticket can take up to two children with them for free, off peak all week. With holidays at home becoming even more popular and families feeling the pinch, this is a perfect opportunity to take the kids on a summer adventure – without stretching the purse strings. Scotrail’s value for money ticket also gives free child entry to a number of Scotland’s top attractions which include the Edinburgh Dungeon, Glasgow Science Centre and Loch Lomond Aquarium.
www.scotrail.co.uk
New Camera Obscura at Cairngorm Mountain
Highlands
Located at the top of the mountain garden, adjacent to the Base Station, the camera obscura will be open mid July. Visit The Dark Room to enjoy the fascinating real-time view of the surrounding landscape made possible by the wonders of optical science. Watch walkers on the hill, boats plying Loch Morlich and cars travelling in the distance, all projected onto a table before you. On opening, these real time images will be cut in with moving images of the views to be had from distant points North, South, East and West of Cairn Gorm.
www.cairngormmountain.org
Shetland Museums and Archives in the The National Lottery Awards 2009
Lerwick
Shetland Museum and Archives, based on Lerwick’s waterfront, is launching its campaign for your vote as it goes head to head with other Lottery-funded projects from across the UK in the semi-finals of The National Lottery Awards 2009.
The Museum and Archives has been named as one of only 10 projects to make it through to the semi-finals in the Best Heritage Project category of The National Lottery Awards, which are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects. The winning project in each category will receive national recognition on a special BBC 1 TV show later this year, and a £2,000 cash prize to spend on their project.
Since opening in June 2007, Shetland Museum and Archives has created a new hub for Shetland’s heritage and culture, acting as a gateway to the islands, telling Shetland’s story and providing a changing programme of events and exhibitions. Lottery funding helped develop the stunning new building and restore the surrounding dockland area, the last remaining original part of the Lerwick waterfront, which acted as a catalyst for the regeneration of a dilapidated part of town.
www.shetland-museum.org.uk
Scone Palace study sheds new light on the Hawfinch
Perth
A study at Scone Palace near Perth is shedding new light on one of Britain’s most elusive and enigmatic wild birds, the Hawfinch. The study, which is jointly financed by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Tay Ringing Group, is already providing some exciting and surprising results for project leaders and local ornithological experts Neil Morrison and John Calladine.
Neil, who is based in the village of Scone and has been working on the project for the last five years said: “We’re carrying out an ongoing programme of ‘ringing’, which essentially involves attaching identity tags to birds. Ringing can provide us with very useful information including patterns of movement, ages of individual birds and, of course, survival rates”
“Hawfinches seem to thrive in the grounds of stately homes, perhaps because of the proliferation of Yew trees which provide both food and nesting sites. This is certainly the case at Scone, where we believe there are over 100 Hawfinches regularly over-wintering, and smaller numbers nesting in the spring. One of the reasons we think Scone is so rich in Hawfinches is that the grounds have essentially not changed for decades, meaning that the birds have a undisturbed habitat in which to live and breed”
www.scone-palace.co.uk
Lining up for a big family gathering
Edinburgh
25-26 July
The Gathering 2009 has unveiled its world-class line up and programme for the Highland games and Scottish festival taking place in Holyrood Park on 25 and 26 July, in what will be the family gathering of the year. International best-selling authors Alexander McCall Smith and Diana Gabaldon will be joining the big names in contemporary Scottish culture performing over the weekend, such as musicians Dougie MacLean, Capercaillie and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
The Gathering 2009 is a celebration of Scottish culture, and the feast of events range from the Deuchars World Highland Games Heavy Events Championship, piping, Highland dancing and clan village, to live music, whisky tastings, food and crafts fairs, children’s activities, and a large genealogy area.
Alexander McCall Smith, whose works include the Scotland Street series, and Diana Gabaldon, the American creator of the Outlander series of historical novels about an 18th century Highlander Jamie Fraser are just two of a host of writers, historians and genealogists who will be speaking in the Scotland Lives auditorium.
The Gathering 2009 will cover the entire area of Holyrood Park behind Holyrood Palace and involve hundreds of participants, including 125 clan and family associations, more than 350 Highland dancers, and 60 crafts and food producers, all housed within 200 individual marquees covering almost 8000 square metres. Thousands of visitors from more than 34 countries have already secured their tickets. There will also be a clan parade of around 6000 people along the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.
www.clangathering.org
New Ensemble to Record Spectacular Soundtrack for The Gathering 2009
Edinburgh
25th July
The Gathering 2009 is bringing together some of the country’s finest musicians to record the soundtrack for the event’s spectacular centrepiece, Aisling’s Children; Tales of the Homecoming. The music, which fuses classical, folk and traditional Scottish genres, will be performed by The True North Orchestra, a new bespoke ensemble, which has been specially commissioned for this unique event at Edinburgh Castle on Saturday 25th July. The finest musicians from all over Scotland have been specially invited to form The True North Orchestra which will truly represent 21st Century Scotland and its diverse and constantly evolving Scottish Culture.
www.clangathering.org
New tartan launched for Return of the Ridings
1 June – 8 August
A new Tartan has been created to celebrate Return to the Ridings, a major Homecoming Scotland 2009 event taking place in the Scottish Borders. The tartan not only represents the history, heritage and colours of the Scottish Borders Common Ridings & Festivals but, using Scottish Borders textile expertise, the tartan also incorporates Retroreflective® reflective yarn for night-time safety.
The tartan has been submitted to the Scottish Tartans World Register. The inclusion of the tartan in the Scottish Tartans World Register will create a lasting legacy for Homecoming Scotland in the Scottish Borders.
www.returntotheridings.co.uk
The Hidden Jewel
Oban
17-23 July
Oban will come alive with drama and history when an innovative theatre production, The Hidden Jewel, is performed on the move at and around Dunollie Castle, ancient seat of the Clan MacDougall. The outdoor event, presented by The MacDougall of Dunollie Preservation Trust, is part of the national programme of Homecoming Scotland celebrations.
The Hidden Jewel, by The Walking Theatre Company, follows the fortunes of The Brooch of Lorn after the spectacular Scottish jewel was stolen by the Clan MacDougall from Robert the Bruce in 1306. The drama tells of centuries of sieges and loss, to the iconic jewel’s disappearance in Campbell hands and then dramatic rediscovery, and the admiration of Queen Victoria in more recent times
www.dunollie.org
‘Speedsters’ racing legends exhibition
Perth
12 June – 5 December
A new photographic exhibition at Perth Museum and Art Gallery will highlight the prowess Scottish drivers have shown in the world of motor sports down the decades, and also sets the scene for the Council’s success in attracting the prestigious Royal Automobile Club Motor Sports Association Rally of Scotland to the area later this year.
‘Speedsters’ features 47 portraits and action shots, courtesy of the LAT Photographic archive, of some of Scotland’s many motor sports legends, triumphs, and tragedies. ‘Speedsters’ contains images of both Sir Jackie Stewart and his elder brother, the late Jimmie Stewart, as well as Jim Clark, Colin McRae, Alan McNish, Dario Franchitti, Louise Aitken-Walker, Ninian Sanderson, Ron Flockhart, Innes Ireland, Andrew Cowan, David Leslie, “Johnny Dumfries”, David Murray and Peter Mitchell-Thomson and David Coulthard.
www.pkc.gov.uk
“Champion of the People”
Eriskay
12 – 15 July
The ‘Champion of the People’ symposium takes place this month, and recently confirmed as attending are Sr Margaret MacDonell and her brother Fr Malcolm from Nova Scotia, who have been committed to supporting Gaelic in Nova Scotia for almost 70 years through correspondence with Gaelic scholars around the world. This high profile event has attracted speakers from around the world, including broadcasters, Angela MacKinnon and Jo MacDonald, Canna House Collection: Hugh Cheape and Magda Zagarazazu, Dr. R Campbell on the medical conditions at the time, Isabel T MacDonald will do a workshop on the hymns and Fr Michael MacDonald will provide insight into Fr Allan’s Priestly life as well as lead the excursion to Uist.
www.ceolas.co.uk
Ancestral research
Ancestral history website Tayroots.com has introduced a fantastic new voucher scheme for family history researchers who are investigating their Angus and Dundee roots. With special offers such as two-for-the-price-of-one tickets to selected Angus and Dundee visitor attractions, free guide books, specialist help with ancestral history research and much, much more, having ancestral links to Angus and Dundee is a definite bonus this summer!
Full details of the special offers are detailed in a passport which can be downloaded and printed by visiting www.tayroots.com and clicking on the Walking in the Footsteps of your Ancestors logo. These exclusive offers, which can be redeemed with a voucher from the same website, include free access to the database at the Glenesk Folk Museum; a free guide book to Verdant Works, Dundee’s museum of the local textile industry; a specially- arranged meeting with the Glamis Castle archivist; and two-for-the-price-of-one at Pictavia, which tells the story of the Angus people of many, many generations ago – the Picts.
Only one voucher may be redeemed per visit but there’s no limit to the number of vouchers you can download and print. For more information, visit www.tayroots.com.
Visitors Invited to Pick their Own Holiday with New Kitchen Garden Trail
Scotland-wide
With the ever-increasing demand for seasonal and local produce, VisitScotland has launched its first ever Kitchen Garden trail. The trail allows visitors to find and stay in establishments that serve up produce direct from their own gardens for the ultimate in low food miles. The trail is part of VisitScotland’s Perfect Day campaign. The new Kitchen Garden Trail showcases home-grown hotspots for every budget, ranging from luxury hotels and prestigious castles to cafes, B&Bs and youth hostels.
Stretching the length and breadth of Scotland, the trail includes hotels in Dumfries & Galloway in the far south of the country to a small café- croft in Shetland. Island-lovers may also enjoy the hotel based on the tiny island of Iona or the self-catering cottage on the scenic island of Mull.
www.visitscotland.com/perfectfood
Harlequin’s Tapas International
Glasgow
Tapas International is an utterly unique and exciting new concept in eating out with a menu featuring a comprehensive selection of freshly prepared tapas dishes from throughout the world.
Sanjay Majhu, chief executive of Harlequin, said, “Tapas International calls an end to any argument about which restaurant to go to because everyone can sample and share from a variety of dishes from throughout the globe at the one restaurant. “Our research has revealed that diners want more choice when eating out and tapas provides the perfect food to fulfil that demand. Whilst we’ve taken traditional Spanish tapas as our inspiration, we believe that tapas has evolved beyond its Spanish origins to encompass small portions of food from around the globe.”
www.tapasinternational.com
Roman Camp House Hotel’s new green gym
16 August and 18 October
Callander
Ian Crump joins an illustrious line of gardeners who have lovingly tended down the centuries the historic gardens of Roman Camp House in Callander. Ian is passionate about horticulture and is eager to share the historical gardens of the property with visitors and guests. He has therefore instigated a series of green gym dates to help undertake some of the plans he has in place and allowing individuals to have a chance to tend first hand the formal gardens of this historic property.
Green Gyms are a popular way for small groups of adults of all ages and abilities to work on horticultural and environmental projects as volunteers. Green gyms enable volunteers to get outdoors, keep fit and meet new people. Gardening has been proven to be a stress reliever and the therapeutic nature of working outdoors and tending to plants is both rewarding and interesting.
The Gym is being offered on Sunday 16 August and Sunday 18 October between 10-4 pm. Activities on offer include weeding, rhododendron rooting and clearing, pruning, lawn edging, laying a mile of gravel paths, planting the vegetable garden and flower borders and path clearing. As well as being given a light lunch, refreshments and one of the hotel’s famous homemade afternoon teas. To book your place please contact Shona at Roman Camp on 01877 330003 or email mail@romancamphotel.co.uk
World Porridge Making Championship 2009
Carrbridge, Inverness-shire
11 October
The annual World Porridge Making Championships is followed with interest by connoisseurs of the traditional national dish across the globe. This celebration of Scottish culture includes a pipe band parade of judges and competitors, the official Toast to the Porridge, local craft and produce stalls, cookery demonstrations, live music and street entertainment as well as the Carridge Challenge 5km & 3km Forest Run and minis fun run.
www.goldenspurtle.com
Chef’s Table at Hilton Glasgow
Glasgow
As part of Homecoming Scotland 2009, Cameron’s Restaurant at Hilton Hotel Glasgow has just launched a new menu. “Chef’s Table” is a six course dinner chosen specially from the gourmet menu and has a cost of £99.00 per couple including a bottle of wine.
The menu includes:
Champagne and Canapés on Arrival
New Season Asparagus and Quails Egg Salad
Poached Langoustines, Star Anise Butter
Prime Scotch Beef Fillet, Oxtail Parmentier, Tarragon Jus
Cameron’s Tasting Plate
Fine Selection of Cheese with Oatcakes and Vine Fruits
www.hilton.co.uk/glasgow
A Taste of Edinburgh with the Natural Trust for Scotland
Edinburgh
In a travel trade exclusive, the National Trust for Scotland has launched a new special offer for visitors to explore two contrasting historic gems in Edinburgh’s New and Old Towns followed by a traditional cream tea in their Coffee House in the heart of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site.
For the all-inclusive price of £17.50 per person (standard price £25.95), this exciting package includes a visit to the National Trust for Scotland’s Gladstone’s Land on Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile, a tall narrow tenement from the 17th century with fabulous painted ceilings and furnishings. Following a visit to the Trust’s 4-Star Georgian House, an 18th-century Robert Adam-designed masterpiece and the only authentically furnished New Town house in Edinburgh, guests will be invited to enjoy a scrumptious cream tea at the elegantly refurbished No. 28 Coffee House in Charlotte Square. Flexible packages can be arranged to suit Trade requirements, making this an ideal extra to the Edinburgh experience. Prices are based on minimum group bookings of 10.
For all bookings and enquiries email the National Trust for Scotland at traveltrade@nts.org.uk or telephone 0844 493 2104
Fraser Suites now open
Edinburgh
Fraser Suites Edinburgh is a sumptuous new property, boasting 79 luxurious and contemporary apartments in an enviable location. This historic building is ideally located just off the Royal Mile, moments to Edinburgh Castle, on St Giles Street, the former Fleet Street of Scotland, housing the Edinburgh Daily Mail and The Herald amongst others. Dating back to the 1800’s, the property boasts superb views across Princes Street Gardens to the Forth of Firth beyond.
www.edinburgh.frasershospitality.com
Castleton House Hotel special offer
Angus
Castleton House Hotel, a six bedroom luxury property set in the idyllic Angus countryside close to historic Glamis Castle is offering a romantic one night break for just £199 per couple. For this price guests will receive a four poster premier or superior room complete with a chilled bottle of champagne, fresh Scottish strawberries, homemade chocolates and a vase of fresh garden flowers in their room awaiting their arrival. As the board basis is dinner bed and breakfast they’ll also enjoy a three course dinner in the hotel’s Eat Scotland gold award winning restaurant after which perhaps take a romantic stroll in the hotel’s extensive grounds or relax in the cosy drawing room or residents bar to complete this romantic break away from the crowds. This offer is valid for stays from 26 June to 31 July subject to availability.
www.websterhotels.co.uk
Old Loans Inn reopening
Ayrshire
The Old Loans Inn, the heartbeat of the quaint village of Loans just outside Troon, has undergone a major £1.8 million redevelopment project over the last nine months and will reopen its doors to the public in July, in time for the British Open Championship at Turnberry.
Renowned for its warm friendly service and excellent fare, The Old Loans Inn has kept its traditional values of a country pub, but in moving with the times, the redeveloped property introduces a brand new bar and restaurant.
www.gaileshotel.com
New Spa for Hilton Craigendarroch
Aberdeenshire
The Retreat Spa at Hilton Craigendarroch Hotel has recently undergone major refurbishment works renewing the spa in harmony with the traditional values of the Hilton brand and in tune with the natural beauty of its stunning surroundings in Royal Deesside. The treatments and therapies have been redesigned to offer an holistic experience that will leave guests refreshed and reinvigorated and will ensure that guests will return to visit the Spa time and time again.
The Retreat Spa facilities include:
4 treatment rooms
Double room for total relaxation together
Pamper stations for manicures and pedicures
“The Den” for moments of reflection and relaxation
Spa retail
St Tropez tanning suite
Hair salon
specialist treatments for Mothers to Be and Men.
www.hilton.co.uk/craigendarroch
AA Guest Accommodation of the Year
Highlands
A five star hotel in a unique location overlooking Loch Ness has scooped the AA Guest Accommodation of the Year Scotland. Loch Ness Lodge, a luxurious Highland retreat just 15 minutes from Inverness and set in its own landscaped gardens, landed the prestigious title in June at the AA B&B Awards in London.
Now in their 16th year, the AA B&B Awards recognise and reward the excellent services provided by the UK’s very best B&B establishments across six categories. All winners and finalists from this year’s awards will be included in the 40th edition of the AA B&B Guide to be launched in September. The guide gives a definitive rundown of over 3000 AA-inspected properties offering guest accommodation throughout the UK.
www.loch-ness-lodge.com
New pub The Saint
Edinburgh
The Saint opened in May 2009 in St. Stephen Street, in the trendy Stockbridge area of Edinburgh. They offer some interesting draught & bottled beers from across the globe and an extensive wine list, sourced from several different suppliers. The Saint brings the same ethos from Bramble, excellent service with a selection of great products both in the drinks and the food on the table. They aim to bring customers a traditional local pub, but with a twist.
www.thesaintedinburgh.co.uk
21212 Edinburgh
Michelin-starred chef Paul Kitching’s new restaurant 21212 opened its doors in May 2009. Facilities include three luxury bedrooms, a 38 seater restaurant, bar, reception area and private dining facilities. Based in a listed Georgian townhouse over four light, airy floors with a number of period features, the restaurant will be a modern space with an emphasis on environmentally friendly practices. While Paul is staying true to the modern French style of cookery which he championed at the Michelin-starred Juniper, the new venture promises a more grown up approach to his menu combinations. A five course gourmet dinner menus costs £60 per person with a lunch menu priced from £20 per person. Bedrooms are priced from £250 per night.
www.21212restaurant.co.uk
Quality Street City
Edinburgh
Location, space, luxury and service merge to make Princes Street Suites at 16 Waterloo Place a modern Edinburgh classic. Whether you check in for two nights or two weeks you’ll enjoy the unrivalled space to entertain, work or simply relax that these superb serviced apartments have to offer. You can choose from our luxurious 1500 square feet three bedroom penthouse overlooking Edinburgh Castle to our spacious studio, one, two and three bedroom luxury apartments.
www.qualitystreetcity.com/edinburgh
The Edge Festival 2009
Edinburgh
August
The Edge Festival has announced two more fantastic additions to this year’s programme, which takes place in Edinburgh throughout August. Scotland’s own Red Hot Chilli Pipers and lo-fi stars Jeffrey Lewis & the Junkyard are the latest acts to join the line-up. The new acts contribute even more variety to this year’s festival, which is the most diverse yet, with a host of local and international talent, from influential legends such as David Byrne, Faith No More and Magazine to the latest new kids on the block like Mumford and Sons and Young Fathers and established acts The Streets and Calvin Harris to alternative stars Amanda Palmer and Frank Turner.
Bag-rock sensations Red Hot Chilli Pipers play at the HMV Picture House on 26th August. With a triple-platinum release, BLAST Live, and a sold-out Scottish tour already this year, as well as gigs in far-flung places such as Kuala Lumpar and Dubai, their Edge gig is going to rock your kilt socks off! Anti-folk pioneer Jeffrey Lewis and his band, the Junkyard, also visit the capital to play at Cabaret Voltaire on August 31.
After picking up last year from where T on the Fringe left off, this year’s Edge Festival marks the 10th anniversary of a dedicated popular music programme at the Edinburgh Festival, and promises a storming month-long series of gigs throughout August featuring the very best in established favourites, leftfield acts and ones-to-watch in what is the festival’s most diverse line-up yet. Visit www.theedgefestival.com to sign-up for regular updates and to stay informed of all the latest announcements and ticket news.
Unspoken Lines – The Henderson Gallery
Edinburgh
9 July- 15 August
The Henderson Gallery is an exciting new space which aims to showcase the best in contemporary art. Their opening festival show is ‘Unspoken Lines’ by Joyce Gunn Cairns, which continues an important strand in Joyce’s work, the portrayal of key figures in Scottish life and culture.
www.thehendersongallery.com
Jupiter Artland
East Calder
Open until 31 August
Jupiter Artland is a contemporary sculpture garden in the private grounds of Bonnington House on the Western fringes of Edinburgh. Works by many of today’s leading artists, sculptors and land artists have been commissioned and then constructed in situ. The relationship of each artwork with its specific topographical location is a crucial feature of the artland, that is, art within the landscape.
The garden is a garden of discovery – an earthwork here, a copse of cradled rocks there, the entrance to a fathomless burrow right before your feet. They provide a map but no set routes.
www.jupiterartland.org
New Mountain Bike Trailed Opened at Nevis Range
Fort William
Nevis Range has opened a new mountain bike trail which shares the gondola uplift with the famous World Cup downhill track. The new trail will bring the Aonach Mor downhill experience to a much wider range of cross country mountain bike enthusiasts.
The new trail, known as the Nevis Red route, is accessed by bikers and their bikes on specially adapted carriers fitted to the UK’s only mountain gondola. The trip takes riders from the Nevis Range car park to 650m up the mountain. The start of the new track is beside the base of the Snowgoose chair, which transports skiers and boarders further up the snowy slopes during winter.
www.visitscotland.com/adventure
Auld Reekie launch free walking tours
Edinburgh
The free tour covers Edinburgh’s Historic Old Town and the Royal Mile. Discover the true story of Cannonball House and the Witches Well at Edinburgh Castle. Hear about the Luckenbooths. Deacon Brodie and The Heart of Midlothian. Learn about St. Giles Cathedral , the Mercat Cross and the Tron Kirk. See John Knox’s House and the last remaining Sedan Chair storage building, as well as Edinburgh’s oldest hotel. St. Andrews Churchyard, the Secret Garden and lots more. The tour duration is 2 to 2.5 hours, departs from outside the Tron Kirk, and finishes at Holyrood, beside the Royal Palace and the new Parliament Building. Times vary, please contact 0131 557 4700 for further details.
www.edinburghfreewalkingtours.com
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