Scotland correspondent issue 10

Model entrepreneur Nikki MacDonald creating a bit of a do Spooktacular Scotland Halloween special

p1

Golf trumps slump in Aberdeenshire Reviving the spirits of lost distilleries Gathering the clans in New Hampshire

p2

Photo by Guy Phillips

p3

inside this issue 8 Supernatural

Scotland

Strange tales to celebrate Halloween

p4

26 Six

best

of the

Haunted hotels where you holiday with a ghost

34 Whisky

revival

Bringing Port Ellen and Brora distilleries back to life

42 Doing

porridge

International flavour for annual porridge making championships

50 Putting

Aberdeenshire on the golfing map

66 Let’s

party

Turning Scotland into a destination for fun lovers

cousins

Gathering the clans in New Hampshire for a festival of Scottishness

98

Old and new courses spearhead drive to attract golfers north

It’s a date

A round-up of what’s on this month

Cover Photo 74 Demonic

debut

First novel establishes Dundee author as horror writer

80 Give

twirl

p5

90 Kilted

us a

A Victorian tradition still supporting the tweed industry

Bonnie Affair - Nikki MacDonald

Contacts: Advertising:

ads@scotlandcorrespondent.com Tel: 0141 255 0965

Editorial:

news@scotlandcorrespondent.com Tel: 0141 255 0965

General Enquiries:

info@scotlandcorrespondent.com Tel: 0141 255 0965

Scotland Correspondent is an independent magazine published by Flag Media Limited.

The monthly digital title provides an international audience of readers with comprehensive coverage of modern day Scotland, its people, achievements, culture, history and customs.

Every issue covers a variety of topics of interest to thousands of people every month, many of them visitors to Scotland or part of the great Scottish diaspora.

The digital edition incorporates audio, video and text in a single platform designed for use on Apple, Android and Windows devices. The magazine is free to subscribe to and download.

Printed copies of Scotland Correspondent magazine can be obtained from selected distributors.

For more information on how to get a copy, subscribe or enquire about advertising please contact the relevant departments at www.scotlandcorrespondent.com.

The publishers cannot accept responsibility for any claim made by advertisements in Scotland Correspondent magazine or on the Scotland Correspondent website. All information should be checked with the advertisers.

The content of the magazine does not necessarily represent the views of the publishers or imply any endorsement. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior agreement in writing from Flag Media Limited.

p6

p7

Happy Halloween?

Photo by VisitScotland/Kenny Lam

p8

A

s the witching hour of All Hallow’s Eve fast approaches, and a chill wind casts a cloak of winter darkness over dimly lit streets, it bodes well to remember there are more mysteries in Heaven and Hell than can be imagined on earth.

For those willing and brave enough to delve into the shadows of the past there may be phantom figures, playful poltergeists, mystery beasts and even a sea serpent or two lying in wait.

Fireside stories of ghosts and ghouls, mythical monsters, warlocks and witches have chilled and thrilled young and old for generations, especially at this time of year.

p9

Photo by VisitScotalnd/ Kenny Lam Crathes Castle

Photo by VisitScotland/Paul Tomkins

p10 Greyfriars Kirkyard

Although Halloween is now more often associated with the USA some of its roots can be traced back to Scotland and the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain to celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of the dark cycle.

Long before pumpkins became part of the Halloween tradition generations of Scottish children patiently carved out turnips to make ‘neepie lanterns’ and dressed up as ‘evil spirits’ to go guising.

They would go from neighbour to neighbour performing songs, poems or tricks in return for an offering, usually sweets, cakes or fruit.

Failure to reward a guiser was often regarded as inviting bad luck.

Superstition and the supernatural are tightly entwined in the Scottish psyche to the extent that every corner of the country has its tales from the darkside and nerve-tingling treats to trick the imagination. A fact not lost on the nation’s tourism organisation, VisitScotland, which produces a dedicated map of spooky places to cater for the growing interest in paranormal activity.

Visitors are encouraged to seek out a 7ft vampire roaming the streets of Glasgow, a poltergeist haunting an iconic Edinburgh graveyard and a monster locked up in an Aberdeenshire castle. They are just a few of the terrifying tales featured in Scottish Ghosts, Myths & Legends, an online guide to the country’s tales of the unexpected and unexplained.

Among the spine-chilling places explored is the 16th century Crathes Castle in Aberdeenshire where even Queen Victoria is said to have witnessed the Green Lady, a forlorn spectre believed to be a harbinger of doom for the Burnett Family. Thought to be a servant girl who vanished after falling pregnant out of wedlock her true identity is unknown.

Photo by VisitScotland/Paul Tomkins

p11

However, in the 1800s the tale was given an extra twist when workmen carrying out repairs discovered the skeletons of a woman and baby buried beneath the fireplace in the room where she is often seen.

In Edinburgh the ghost of Lord Advocate George “Bluidy” Mackenzie is reputed to attack unwary visitors to the city’s Greyfriars Kirkyard. In the last 17 years hundreds of tourists visiting the Mackenzie mausoleum have reported having things thrown at them and of being pushed or pulled by an unseen entity.

Sir George Mackenzie

Photo by cc Kim Traynor Mckenzie’s Mausoleum

p12

And then there are the ghosts of soldiers spotted on the bloody battlefield of Culloden near

Inverness. More than 270 years after the last battle on British soil ended the Jacobite dream of Bonnie Prince Charlie ghosts of weary, tired and hungry Highlanders still roam the moor where heather does not grow on the clan graves.

Such is the draw of the dead that the National Trust for Scotland actively promotes its haunted venues to an internationally eager audience.

p13

Photo by cc Magnus Hagdom Greyfriars Kirkyard

Photo by VisitScotland/Damian Shields Fyvie Castle

Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire is billed as one of the largest of the Trust’s properties available for corporate events, and it comes complete with three resident ghosts and an indelible bloodstain.

There’s the Grey Lady, thought to be the ghost of Lady Meldrum. She died

p14

in the 13th century and requested her remains should be interred in the walls of the castle. Unfortunately, in 1920, they were discovered and moved to a nearby cemetery and her spirit has haunted the castle ever since.

Sometimes the sounds of a trumpet

can be heard in the castle. It’s said to be the ghost of lovelorn Andrew Lammie, who died of a broken heart.

A figure dressed in tartan has been spotted near the castle wall but vanishes when approached.

Perhaps the most chilling story of Fyvie relates to Lilias Drummond, the

wife of Sir Alexander Seton. Despite giving her husband five daughters his obsession for a male heir resulted in his transferring his affections to the cousin of his wife, Grizel Leslie.

Heartbroken by his betrayal Lillias died and soon afterwards her husband married Grizel. However,

p15

on their wedding night of 27 October 1601 the couple were disturbed by the sound of heavy sighing outside their window 50ft above the ground.

In the morning the name D LILIAS DRUMMOND was carved upside down in neat 3 inch high letters into the stone windowsill where it remains to this day.

Rebecca Sloan, national hospitality manager for the National Trust, said: “Stories of the supernatural really help bring the history of our venues to life and provide an even richer experience to believers and sceptics alike.�

Such tales of the supernatural have

Photo by Stewart Cunningham

given new life to many old attractions quick to realise they can draw visitors outside traditional daytime visiting hours.

It is an opportunity not lost by Inverary Jail in Argyll. In the 19th century a night in the cold eerie cells of the Victorian prison was something to be avoided but now it’s seen by some amateur ghost hunters as a leisure experience.

As the County Court anyone from the surrounding area sentenced to prison or transportation would have spent time in the jail. Even children as young as seven could be detained for minor crimes and subjected to whippings or pointless manual labour.

“The place in the prison that most people react to is cell 10. It doesn’t tend to be something people see so much as a feeling they get,” said Gavin Dick, manager of Inveraray Jail.

p16

“We’ve got a whole file full of spooky stuff that puzzled visitors have sent in. I don’t know what causes it but we did find a lot of weird stuff while cleaning out some of the backroom stores, including a hangman’s noose and face masks of Burke and Hare.

“The kitchen, which is in many ways the most unremarkable room, is particularly active. We’ve had people claiming to have seen someone cowering behind the door. There are various areas that cause reactions, and not just on ghost hunts.”

One woman, who found a blurred image in a photograph which wasn’t there when the picture was taken, was so terrified by her visit she has refused to return.

Michelle Affleck, from Crewe, was visiting the jail with her husband Ian and young daughter Gemma, when she became aware of an ‘unsettling presence’ in the prison. However, it wasn’t until she looked at the family photographs that her worst fears

were confirmed.

“When me and Ian first went into the jail we both felt light headed and dizzy and we had a strange sickly feeling but, because we didn’t want to alarm Gemma, we couldn’t say much about it at the time.” said Michelle.

“Later on I told Ian that all the way through I felt like there was someone there with us. It was a strange feeling because there was nobody else going round the jail at the time. It was the weirdest strange sensation and in one room there was a strong smell of body odour, then a door shut behind us.

“It wasn’t nice I had nightmares about it afterwards. Then when we saw what was in the photographs that did it for me. I decided I would never go back to Inveraray Jail and I’ve not even dared speak about it much since then.”

Her husband is equally at a loss to

explain the experience.

“I took the shot with an old camera which only had quite a small screen so it wasn’t until I downloaded it on the computer that I thought ‘what the Hell is that,”’ said Ian. “It was terrifying because when I looked out of the window to take the shot it definitely wasn’t there. I took two photographs at the time and in one it was there and in one it wasn’t.”

However, the Afflecks are not alone

in sensing an unseen presence in the 200-year-old prison.

of the stairs but he said he heard and felt nothing but I definitely felt it.

“One evening I was going up the stairs in the Old Prison I was trying to pick the right key out to close down the sound system when something black shot clean through me, I dropped my keys and fell to my knees.” said Rob Irons, who played the warder for visitors.

“It actually hurt it was so cold. That was the worst thing that’s ever happened to me in here.”

“I was frozen to the bone every hair on my body was standing on end I called to my colleague at the bottom

But it’s not only ancient properties that can claim to be haunted.

Staff at one of Scotland’s most famous 20th century buildings have reported a spate of shadowy apparitions and the eerie smell of ghostly pipe smoke.

Mysterious Image at Inveraray Jail

p17

The haunting of Hill House in Helensburgh has left workers and paranormal experts wondering whether the spirit of Charles Rennie Mackintosh has returned to keep an eye on the mansion he created more than 100 years ago.

Hill House was designed by the renowned architect and artist in 1902 for the Glasgow publisher Walter Blackie. In addition to the outside, Mackintosh also designed many of the interior rooms, fixings and furniture.

p18

The property was donated to the National Trust for Scotland in 1982 and has since become world famous as an example of Mackintosh’s best work, attracting fans from around the world.

However, over the last few years staff working within the property have reported a series of spooky encounters.

“The housekeeper who has worked here for a number of years has seen a tall figure wearing a dark cloak and hat coming out of the dressing room,

which was used by Mr Blackie, and then disappearing after walking into the White Bedroom,” said Lorna Hepburn, manager of the property.

“The cape was covering part of his face and head. She has seen the figure on more than one occasion and other people have reported seeing shadows.

“The figure is of a tall man and that wasn’t Mr Blackie. He was quite small. He was known for shortening the legs on chairs.”

Photo by cc Remi Mathis

p19

Among the other ghostly phenomena is the smell of pipe tobacco which appears out of nowhere and sometimes fills the library and dining room where Mr Blackie was known to enjoy his pipe.

Both the publisher and Charles Rennie Mackintosh were keen pipe smokers. Mackintosh died from throat and tongue cancer aged 60 in 1928.

Ron Halliday, one of Scotland’s leading authors on the supernatural

Photo by VisitScotland/ Paul Tomkins Culloden

p20

and a paranormal investigator, admits he would not be surprised if the apparition was Mackintosh.

He said: “Mackintosh was very interested in mysticism and a lot of things he produced have mystical connections to them. I am not surprised to hear there have been apparitions at Hill House as he obviously had a very close connection with the property. It is regarded as one of his most impressive pieces of work.

“The smell of pipe tobacco doesn’t surprise me either. Lots of people have reported picking up scents and particular smells, of which tobacco smoke is one of the most common, when there is no obvious sign of where it comes from. It fits in well with reports of ghostly manifestations.”

Both Mackintosh and his artist wife Margaret Macdonald incorporated secret emblems, signs and allusions from the occult into their work.

Photo by VisitScotland/ Kenny Lam Greyfriars Kirk

Photo by cc Samantha Littler

p21

which has been incorporated into the Scottish Parliament complex. It’s most famous resident was James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry who threw his weight behind the Treaty of Union in 1707.

In Mackintosh’s famous watercolour painting, The Wassail, which has been reproduced on posters and prints around the world the shape of a scarab beetle, which was held

by Egyptians to be a mystic sign of renewal, can be clearly seen.

Even the relatively new Scottish Parliament is reputed to have had its share of ghostly goings-on. Inside the administrative offices where the brutal murder of a young boy took place hundreds of years ago there have been reports of several unexplained events.

The legend surrounds Queensberry House, a 17th century building

Photo by VisitScotland/ Paul Tomkins Celebrating Samhain

p22

It is said that on the same evening the 2nd Duke was sighing the Act of Union, his son, the insane Earl of Drumlanrig, escaped from his room and roasted a servant boy on a spit in an oven in the kitchens.

The oven can be seen in the Parliament’s Allowances Office and according to Ron Halliday the young boy’s spirit is still there.

“Over the years I’ve heard numerous tales of strange incidences and smells in the Allowance Office, where they sort out the MSPs expenses,” said Ron who was denied a request to carry out an investigation of the building.

But it’s not just buildings or battlefields that are haunted.

Throughout the country demon drivers and phantom pedestrians lie in wait for unsuspecting motorists.

The headless highwayman has given way to the horseless carriage when it comes to putting the frighteners on the twilight zone travellers of the 21st century.

A speed loving ghost is said to haunt the remote Hebridean island of Benbecula. A dark coloured Austin 1100 has often been reported tearing along a bleak cliff road at dawn without any sign of a driver at the wheel. Any attempt to track or follow the vehicle fails when the car simply vanishes.

The A75 in Dumfries & Galloway is notorious for various unexplained phenomena, the most peculiar happened in April 1962.

Two brothers driving along the road were terrified by strange entities suddenly appearing in front of their car, including phantom animals, an old man and a woman described as an old hag or witch. The ordeal ended when a white van drove straight at them as if to crash headon but vanished on impact.

In Aberdeenshire, about a mile north of Banchory a dark hooded figure, thought to be a monk, can sometimes be seen walking by the side of the road.

But it is not all doom and gloom.

‘Dark Tourism’ is big business, according to Professor John Lennon of Glasgow Caledonian University who coined the phrase.

“It is all about the fascination we have with the dark side of human nature, our ability to do evil and witness the evidence of horror which has a proven draw in literature, film and all forms of media. Such sites have proven appeal to visitors and locals alike,” he said.

p23

p24

p25

Six of the best Haunted Hotels

Photo cc Sian Abrahams Ackergill Tower

p26

I

f you’re looking for a ghostly getaway or weird weekend there’s plenty of options to choose from in supernatural Scotland.

From the Highlands to the Borders it appears not everyone who books in to some of the country’s finest hostelries checks out.

p27

For more than 300 years guests have wandered the halls of the Drovers Inn at Inverarnan by the banks of Loch Lomond.

This historic pub has been in use since 1705 and gets its name from the Highland Drovers who used to stopover on their way down south to take their cattle to market.

Crossing the threshold is like stepping back in time to the days of Rob Roy MacGregor, a former frequent visitor, and his ilk.

Surrounded by a variety of stuffed animals, birds and even a bear the atmosphere feels as if little has changed over the centuries.

In addition to the spirits behind the well-stocked bar there are also a few of the other kind.

Over the years guests have reported seeing the spectre of an old cattle drover, know to locals and staff as “Angus”. He is believed to be the ghost of a drover murdered at the pub by a rival clan sometime in the early 18th century.

Then there is “George”, a former regular patron whose ashes used to be kept by the side of the fireplace and who loved the Inn so much he’s never left.

Despite the spectacularly beautiful

Photo cc Rosser1954 Drovers Inn

scenery outside the Inn has had its share of tragedy over the years.

Sometime in the 19th century a young girl drowned close to the pub and she was laid out in room six.

Some unfortunate guests who have slept there since claim to have felt a wet, icy-cold body slip into bed beside them.

Surrounded by picturesque countryside by the banks of the River Esk just eight miles from Edinburgh city centre its easy to see why Dalhousie Castle is so popular.

Situated within several acres of wooded parkland this magnificent former fortress dating back to the 13th century makes for a great romantic retreat, wedding venue or luxury escape.

But, as with many of Scotland’s historic properties there are sometimes chills to go with the thrills.

Every now and again the ghost of Lady Catherine of Dalhousie can be seen wandering the grounds or occasionally sitting quietly at the foot of a guest’s bed. The daughter of a previous owner she died aged 16 of a broken heart in 1695 after being forbidden to see her lover.

Photo cc Roger W Haworth Dalhousie Castle

p28

The castle is also said to be haunted

by Sir Alexander Ramsay who died in 1342 but never left.

Centuries later she is said to still visit the castle and has been seen wandering its halls in the middle of the night. And, she’s not alone.

Borthwick’s bloody history has left its mark. Besides the scarred walls caused by cannon fire strange voices, flickering lights and loud bangs have been heard throughout the castle.

Ackergill Tower, Wick is another

former fortress with a bloody past.

The scene of several skirmishes between rival Keith and Gunn families it is said to be haunted by the ghost of Helen Gunn.

Legend has it that the unfortunate woman threw herself from the tower to escape the amorous advances her abductor John Keith who had abducted her.

Today Airth Castle in Stirlingshire

Photo cc Kim Traynor Borthwick Castle

Borthwick Castle near Gorebridge is just 30 minutes from Edinburgh.

Its most famous resident was Mary Queen of Scots. She stayed here on her honeymoon and, in 1567, sought refuge in the 600-year-old fortress from traitorous noblemen but escaped through a window dressed as a boy.

Photo cc Roger W Haworth Dalhousie Castle

p29

Photo cc Supergolden Airth Castle

claims to be central Scotland’s most exclusive retreat but this 14th century former home of the family of Robert The Bruce has a number of permanent residents who no longer live there.

they have seen the children.

It is said to be haunted by two young children and their nanny who died in a fire there more than 200 years ago.

There have even been cases of the woman speaking to guests to ask if

Finally, in our six of the best, there is Castle Stuart near Inverness. This former fortified country house on the Moray Firth dates from the early 17th century.

Photo cc Stara Blazkova Castle Stuart

p30

There have also been reports of a ghostly gardner, mysterious footsteps and even a ghost dog nipping at the ankles of unsuspecting guests.

p31

Situated not far from the battlefield of Culloden there have been reports of screams in the night and even a headless man wandering the corridors.

Legend has it that in the distant past the Earl of Moray offered a £20 reward (a lot of money then) to anyone willing to spend the night in the tower to prove it wasn’t haunted.

Discoveries of hidden rooms and staircases, previously walled up hideaways and the legend of the Three-Turret Haunted Bedroom at the top of the East Tower all help to fuel the imagination of the paranormal.

A local poacher, known as Big Angus, confidently took up the challenge and was locked in for the night. The next morning his lifeless body was discovered in the castle courtyard with a look of sheer terror frozen on his face.

p32

p33

New lease of life for long lamented spirits

Photo cc Colin Kinnear Brora Beach

p34

T

wo of Scotland’s iconic ‘lost’ distilleries are to reopen in the wake of a £35million investment buy drinks giant Diageo.

Port Ellen on the island of Islay and Brora in Sutherland are to be brought back to life after more than 30 years in what has been hailed as a powerful statement of confidence in the future of Scotch whisky.

p35

Both distilleries closed in 1983 but since then the whiskies they produced have become some of the most highly prized and sought after among connoisseurs of Scotch whisky.

The whiskies are renowned for their exceptional quality and character which has led to the ghost distilleries being elevated to cult status among

p36

enthusiasts.

Since the start of this millennium, limited-edition bottlings of Brora and Port Ellen which have been released annually from Diageo’s rare original stocks have been highly sought after by collectors willing to pay a small fortune for the privilege of owning a few drams.

For many years whisky fans around the world have called on Diageo to reopen these closed distilleries.

According to the company that owns both brands the decision is partly a response to those demands from existing enthusiasts but also a reflection of the strong growth in the single malt Scotch market and the opportunity to create new generations of whisky consumers.

Dr Nick Morgan, Diageo’s Head of Whisky Outreach, who played an instrumental role in building the reputation of Port Ellen and Brora whiskies through the Diageo Special Releases programme, which has been running since 2001, announced the plans on behalf of the company.

He said: “This is a truly exceptional moment in Scotch whisky. Port Ellen and Brora are names which have a

Photo cc Ayack Port Ellen Distillery

p37

Photo cc Alan Jamieson Brora Distillery

uniquely powerful resonance with whisky-lovers around the world and the opportunity to bring these lost distilleries back to life is as rare and special as the spirit for which the distilleries are famous.

“Only a very few people will ever be able to try the original Port Ellen and Brora single malts as they become increasingly rare, so we are thrilled that we will now be able to produce new expressions of these whiskies for new generations of people to enjoy.

“Scotch whisky is Scotland’s gift to the world and the rebirth of these distilleries is a great gift to malt whisky lovers everywhere.”

Port Ellen Distillery on the famous whisky island of Islay, and Brora on the remote eastern coast of Sutherland, will both be reinstated to distil in carefully controlled quantities, with a meticulous attention to detail, replicating where possible the distillation regimes

p38

and spirit character of the original distilleries. Cask filling and traditional warehousing will also be included on the sites of both distilleries.

The distilleries will also have dedicated Brand Homes to welcome guests and they are expected to become iconic attractions in the Scottish tourism landscape, attracting whisky pilgrims from around the globe.

“This is no ordinary Scotch whisky distillery investment. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring these iconic distilleries back to life,” said David Cutter, Diageo President of Global Supply & Procurement, who is responsible for leading the capital investment programme to reinstate the distilleries.

“We will take great care to be true to the spirit of the original distilleries in everything we do and to operate them with all the knowledge, skill, craft and love of Scotch that our people and our company has

gathered through centuries of whisky-making.”

The new Brora and Port Ellen distilleries will be among Diageo’s smallest distilleries, capable of producing 800,000 litres of alcohol per year. They will replicate as closely as possible the previous taste profiles of Port Ellen and Brora, with medium peated character at both sites.

The site of Port Ellen distillery is on the island of Islay, adjacent to Diageo’s Port Ellen Maltings facility and a few miles from Lagavulin distillery. Brora is situated in the village of that name on Scotland’s north east coast, adjacent to Diageo’s Clynelish distillery.

Subject to planning permission and regulatory consents, detailed design, construction and commissioning work, it is expected the distilleries will be in production by 2020. However, whisky aficionados will have to wait until after 2030 before the get to

taste the revived spirits of Port Ellen and Brora.

Scotland’s Economy Secretary Keith Brown welcomed the decision by

Photo cc Bjarne Henning Kvaal Lagavulin Distillery

p39

Diageo to reopen the distilleries and said the investment would help to create employment in these rural and remote communities.

“The return of these distilleries will help to act as a catalyst to draw in tourists to see where these iconic brands are produced, and to discover why they are so revered.”

p40

p41

Putting the oat in haute cuisine

Photo by Fergus Thom

p42

I

t may have been derided by Dr Samuel Johnson in 1755 as fodder for horses but porridge lovers the world over are having the last laugh.

Now regarded as one of the world’s greatest superfoods, with everything from heart disease prevention to an improved sex life being attributed to its powers, the simple dish has been transformed into an international delicacy.

And, if proof was needed of its enduring global appeal the 2017Annual World Porridge Making Championships has just been won by a couple of Swedes.

p43

p44

Ellinor Persson took the coveted title of World Porridge Making Champion, with Per Carlsson taking the Speciality title.

The 23-strong international line up included competitors from the USA, Russia, Switzerland, Holland, Iceland, Sweden and across the UK and Ireland.

The title of World Porridge Making Champion is awarded to the competitor who makes the best traditional porridge using only three ingredients – oatmeal, salt and water.

The porridges are judged on three factors - consistency, taste and colour.

Ellinor, who works in sales in the the steel industry, adds the World Porridge Making Champion title to the Swedish Traditional Porridge Making Champion title, which she has won for the last two years in a row.

She said: “The World Porridge Making Championships is such a great event. It’s a real honour just to compete in the competition, never mind to win. I can’t really put how I’m feeling into words, it’s just a fantastic feeling. I was very excited when Per

Photo by James Ross Winners Per Carlsson & Ellinor Persson

p45

Photo by Fergus Thom

won the Speciality title and when the judges called out my name as World Champion I couldn’t believe it – I was jumping up and down, it was very exciting.”

Ellinor believes that it’s very important for people to think about what they are eating. In her spare time she runs foodie tours in Sweden, both in the woods and fields around her local town of Halmstaad in South West Sweden, and in some of the speciality restaurants in the town.

It was third time lucky at the competition for Per, who describes himself as “an extremely devoted porridge maker who practices making porridge practically every morning making guests at the Steninge hostel enjoy happiness through porridge made with perfection and love.”

Famous

In the ‘Speciality’ competition, oatmeal must be the main ingredient in any sweet or savoury porridgebased dish.

Held every year in the picturesque 18th century Highland village of Carrbridge, which sits in the shadow of the Monadhliath Mountains in the Cairngorms National Park and is famous for its historic packhorse bridge, the event attracts competitors from around the world.

This year’s speciality winner Per Carlsson impressed judges with his dish Nordic Porridge – Caramel Sweet and Sour, a porridge made with oatmeal, cloudberry liqueur, orange peel and whipped cream, topped with flambéed cloudberries and whipped cream.

The event is organised by Carrbridge Community Council and sponsored

by Hamlyns of Scotland. The winner is the competitor who produces the best traditional porridge, made from untreated oatmeal, pinhead, course, medium or fine, and with only water and salt. A further award is made

p46

for the best speciality porridge made with oatmeal which can have other ingredients added.

Health experts have shown that oats have many health benefits.

They have a high content of complex carbohydrates and soluble fibre so they release energy slowly. A bowl of porridge for breakfast should provide the body with all the energy the body needs until lunch time.

Oats can also help in lowering cholesterol, which may help reduce the risk of heart disease, and also contain a number of necessary vitamins that may be able to help reduce diabetes.

Organiser Michelle Green said this year’s competition had been a fantastic day for competitors and villagers alike.

“We’re already looking forward to the 2018 competition, when the Golden Spurtle will be celebrating 25 years as one of Scotland’s favourite culinary events,” she said.

Photo by James Ross Speciality winning dish

p47

p48

p49

Golf boom helps trump oil slump

Photos by VisitAberdeenshire Royal Aberdeen

p50

A

drive to attract more visitors to the North East of Scotland has seen a huge influx of international holidaymakers keen to explore some of the best golf courses in the world.

Once an afterthought in the minds of many who used to view Edinburgh and the Lothians, Fife or Ayrshire as the heart of Scottish golf Aberdeenshire is now being seen as a first class destination.

The area is undergoing a major investment in infrastructure to bring in more visitors. There’s a deep water anchorage for cruise ships being built at the harbour and a new bypass which will cut travel time around the city.

p51

The airport is also benefitting from a ÂŁ50million expansion as international air links are improved with Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the rest of mainland Europe and Scandinavia. There are already seven flights a day into Aberdeen from Norway.

For many years Aberdeenshire, which has some of the oldest and most challenging courses in the world designed by the likes of Old Tom Morris and James Braid, has unfairly escaped attention. Only now it seems the world is waking up.

Bob Jones, 64, a semi-retired outdoor education worker from Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire, England is typical of UK domestic golfers

who have discovered Aberdeenshire.

He has been making an annual trip to the North East for the last two decades.

“I come up once a year to play golf and I have been doing that for the last 20 years. I like links golf because the courses suit my game and I especially love playing Cruden Bay. It’s a really top notch course as good as you’d play anywhere.

“I’ve also played Meldrum House,

Trump International Golf Links

p52

which is more of an American-style parkland course with a little bit of water on it and a slightly different layout, and that is an excellent course.

“To be honest there are so many golf courses in Aberdeenshire to choose from. I’ve played quite a few and they are all very good.”

According to Hector Emslie, 58, Golf Project Manager for the marketing organisation VisitAberdeenshire, a

major effort to promote golf tourism in this corner of Scotland is paying off big time.

“Aberdeenshire is now one of the premier golfing destinations in Scotland,” he said, adding that a major milestone in the transformation has been the creation of the Trump International Golf Links at Balmedie, about six miles from the city of Aberdeen.

“We have 54 courses within an hour’s

p53

Royal Aberdeen

p54

drive of the city and with Trump International Golf Links we have a real quality product to offer the premier links golfer. ‘We’ve always recognised that there has been golf product here. We have two of the oldest links courses in the world. Royal Aberdeen is number six in the world and Fraserburgh Golf Course is number seven.

p55

“We also have Cruden Bay which is always in Golf Digest’s World Top 75. Further round the cost there’s Peterhead, Cullen and an

Cullen

p56

abundance of quality links courses, not only quality in terns of play and play-ability but in terms of value for money.

“Trump International has added a new dimension, particularly for the North American market which is now the largest for us, although emerging

markets such as China, Korea and Russia are becoming more important. “Martin Hawtree is an internationally

p57

recognised designer and when he was asked to design the Trump course he wanted to leave a legacy for future generations and he has

certainly done that. Many people who come here have played around the world and they say it is one of the top three they have experienced so

we reckon we have a Disney World on our doorstep for golfers,” said Mr Emslie. He added that many visitors were spending longer in the area.

Instead of staying for two or three nights on short breaks, as most people did before, many new visitors to the area are now staying for five, seven or even 10 nights. That’s great news for an area which has recently suffered from the slump in the oil and gas industry. According to tourism experts it is estimated that for every £1 spent on the golf course at least another £4 is spent in the local economy.

Cruden Bay

p58

Although recent reports have shown that Trump’s Aberdeenshire golf course made a loss last year its presence is being felt by other courses.

Les Durno, 54, General manager at the neighbouring Cruden Bay Golf Club, about 20 miles from Trump International, is in no doubt that the international image of Aberdeenshire has been transformed.

“In the last four years we have increased visitor numbers quite dramatically. We’ve gone from about 4,000 golfers per annum to almost 5,500 a year,” he said.

p59

“In the past Aberdeenshire was probably best known for oil and gas but now we are known as a golf destination. The Trump Organisation gives people an added reason to come here. We’re very lucky to have him close by.”

However, it’s not just the golf courses which are doing well from the Trump affect. Hotels, taxi companies, coach companies, restaurants and bars have all seen an increase in business.

Gary Leiper, 52, Director of Rainbow Prestige Chauffeur Drive, an Aberdeen-based executive car company specialising in golf tours, has seen a a rise in demand since Trump International opened.

Royal Tarlair

p60

“We do a lot of executive travel for golfers and there is a big increase in the last couple of years, especially since Trump International opened in Aberdeen. There is now a large number of people coming here who wouldn’t have come before. They all want to play golf at three or four courses and Trump is most definitely one of them.

“People are staying at hotels throughout Aberdeenshire and using us to ferry them to Trump International and back. The are also using restaurants in the city after playing one or two games of golf in a day.”

At the luxurious Marcliffe Hotel and Spa in Aberdeen an increase

p61

in American visitors has been complimented by a rise in visitors from Scandinavia, Germany and China too.

Stewart Spence, 70, owner of the

Cullen

p62

Marcliffe welcomes the upturn in golfing tourism. “We always had a good number of golfers coming here but my numbers have trebled over the last three years.

I’ve gone from doing an average of 400 room nights for golfers per year to 1,400 room nights in six months,” he said.

“I put that down to Aberdeen and

p63

the north east of Scotland becoming a true golfing destination since Donald Trump built his course. There can hardly be a golfer in the world who doesn’t know about this area because of what Trump has done.”

YOUR CHANCE TO INFLUENCE WHAT WE DO, AND HOW WE DO IT p64

S

cotland Correspondent Magazine is eight-months old and we’re going from strength to strength, but we can be better.

We created the magazine to showcase the best Scotland has to offer. Every issue covers a variety of topics, including history and heritage, travel and events, food and drink, entrepreneurship, great achievements, arts and culture, outdoor activities and celebrity interviews.

following in more than 22 countries.

We know you, our readers are among some of the most passionate in the world with an interest in, and love for, all things Scottish and we want to hear from you.

Your opinions matter very much to us. We really do care what you think about the words, pictures and videos we feature.

Scotland Correspondent combines traditional words and pictures with video and audio, embedded in the text or advertisements, to provide readers with an all-round media experience.

We want to know what you like or don’t like. What you think we should cover more or less of. Understanding what you want from Scotland Correspondent Magazine is essential for us to evolve into the kind of publication that best promotes all things Scottish.

In the last eight months we have had thousands of new readers discover the magazine by word of mouth and now have a regular international

Please, take a couple minutes to follow the link to our website and take part in our reader survey. It is very important to us and ultimately

to how your magazine, Scotland Correspondent, develops.

Scotland Correspondent is a FREE magazine and we want to keep it that way. But, to do that we need you help. If you like what we do and how we present it please share Scotland Correspondent with all your family, friends, guests and customers for free. You can do this by embedding the magazine in your own website, sharing the link to each issue via Facebook, Twitter, Linked-in etc or just plain email.

We want to produce a magazine that our readers enjoy, find informative and entertaining. A publication we can all be proud of.

The deadline for completion of all the online surveys is 30 September 2017.

Click for Survey

www.scotlandcorrespondent.com

p65

Girls (and boys) just wanna have fun

S

cots have many talents and knowing how to throw a good party is just one of them.

Since setting up her personalised events company, Bonnie Affair, model, actress and entrepreneur Nikki MacDonald has almost singlehandedly helped re-enforce that reputation.

The 32-year-old Glaswegian is fast

p66

becoming one of the most popular independent events organisers in Scotland, especially when it comes to arranging customised hen parties, stag dos and corporate fun days.

Whether it’s playing the gambling tables in a glamorous casino, creating cakes in a boutique bakery, taking to the great outdoors for a taste of adventure or just indulging in a spot of pampering Bonnie Affair promises lots of fun and laughs along

the way.

“Scotland is the perfect place to enjoy a range of fun and thrilling activities. We have something for everyone to enjoy, both indoors and outdoors, and I should know because I’ve tried everyone of them,” said Nikki.

“Every activity is tried and tested by me. I would never send people anywhere or suggest they do

p67

Nikki MacDonald

anything I haven’t experienced myself.

“It’s very important I can answer questions about how good something is and how suitable it is for various ages, abilities or even fitness levels.”

waiting at airports for hours and having to go through all the security checks and such like. There is a growing demand for fun events in the UK and both Edinburgh and Glasgow are world-class party cities,” said Nikki.

Increasing problems with travel and the rising costs of heading abroad for a stag or hen party has created more demand for fun events closer to home.

“There are loads of great pubs, clubs, restaurants and other venues to guarantee a great time. A short break in either place can be as fast-paced and adrenaline fuelled or laid back and relaxing as you want.”

“People don’t want the hassle of

Bonnie Affair prides itself on having

p68

everything on tap that clients could want for a unique and enjoyable experience.

“Nothing is too much trouble for us and there is no extra fee for using our services.,” said Nikki. “If anyone has an idea which isn’t listed on our website we will work with them to create the perfect package.”

Nikki who has arranged events for parties of all sizes from as little as four people to more than 35 admits that her job is too much fun to be considered work.

p69

“I’ve always really enjoyed organising parties and weekends away for my friends, getting good deals and finding fun things to do that are out of the ordinary so it seemed a natural fit to do this full time,” she said.

“I realised there was a gap in the market in Scotland as most companies that arrange hen parties and such like are based in London.

They don’t always have their finger on the pulse of what’s happening here and they almost all charge huge mark-ups on everything.

“Women especially are very careful with their money. They want to know exactly what something costs and what they are getting.

“When I used to organise my friends’ hen parties I would go to big companies and get passed

p70

from person to person. It wasn’t personal. All they were interested in was the money. Often people aren’t told where they are staying or given details of the activities until everything has been paid up front. I always give people details of what they are going to do and where they are going at the time they make the booking because I know I’ve arranged a good deal.

“I know I can give people a great experience at a reasonable cost without all the hassle and stress of having to make the arrangements themselves.”

Among the most popular events, especially for hen parties, is Bonnie Affair’s own particular brand of arts and crafts called ‘Bling My Boaby’.

The game involves participants decorating plastic moulds of that most private of male body parts with paint, glitter, feathers, gem stones, googly eyes, various fabrics and other accessories. There are even prizes for the most original or lavishly decorated.

“It’s a great ice-breaker, especially when a hen-party is made up of women of different ages. We’ve had brides with their mothers, future inlaws and even grannies joining in,” said Nikki.

“After a couple of glasses of Prosecco everybody is usually in fits of giggles. The older women are usually the first to get stuck into the game and they are definitely the most outrageous when it comes to telling jokes and stories.”

p71

p72

p73

Scary success for debut novelist Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

I

Love You are three of the most powerful words in the English language but what happens when they are not reciprocated or lack sincerity?

That’s the premise of a new book written by up and coming author Jane Robson whose debut novel ‘Three Little Words’ is fast finding popularity among fans of the horror genre.

p74

Photo by Wikimedia Co..CC BY-SA3.0

A demon who feasts on the souls of the heartbroken and rejected makes for an unusual and exciting twist to the usual stories of unrequited love.

Set in the present day amid the sunshine and desert landscape of California’s Death Valley it’s all a far cry from the normal routine of the 46-year-old grandmother of two from Dundee.

By day Jane runs a successful Quality, Heath, Safety and Environmental Consultancy but by night she transforms into a mistress of the macabre as she lets her imagination run riot.

“I wanted to write a horror book that was a bit different. The words ‘I love you’ are usually associated with feelings of warmth and happiness but I decided to explore what might

Jane Robson

p75

happen to a person who feels the subject of their affection doesn’t feel the same way. It makes for a good twist,” said Jane.

‘Three Little Words’ is not your usual horror story. There is very little graphic violence or gore but the pace and style of the book is enough to create suspense and keep the reader hooked.

The story starts with a young pregnant woman, Lilly Anne, who is finding it difficult watching her husband die of cancer. When he

p76

suddenly awakes from a coma and whispers the words ‘I love you’ she finds herself too upset to say them back. Her reaction breaks the heart of her dying husband and allows a demon to possess his soul, thereby setting in motion a train of horrific events.

Great Reviews Distraught by her loss and frightened the demon may come after her and her unborn baby, Lilly Anne sets out to find out all she can about this evil demon. Through the Internet

she finds Bertha who seems to be the next best thing to an expert on the evil entity. They team up with a couple of other like-minded people, all of whom have had similar experiences to Lilly Anne, and set about hunting the demon before it can hunt them.

So far the novel has had some great reviews online with the majority of readers recommending it as a great Halloween read or one to enjoy over a coffee during the daily commute.

“I’ve had some really good feedback

Devil’s Golf Course, Death Valley Photo by cc Brocken Inaglory

and the reviews so far have been very encouraging,” said Jane who admits that it took her almost 10 years to find the courage to send her manuscript to Pegasus Publishers.

Sequel “I really started writing about 15 years ago but never had the confidence to approach a publisher until my husband Wayne finally persuaded me to follow my dream.

Fortunately the publisher liked it and they’ve already got me working on my second novel, a thriller called

p77

‘I am the Walker’, and a sequel to ‘Three Little Words’.

“I’ve always wanted to write horror and thrillers. I am an avid reader, especially anything by Stephen King, Agatha Christie or James Herbert.

His book The Fog is my favourite of all and is the one that got me started in this genre.

“I like to write stories that encourage the reader to use their imagination to get involved with the story and the characters, not just have every last tiny detail handed to them on a

plate.”

Jane has already started to build a following in India, Germany, France and now the USA as more readers discover her novel through online book stores and a number of traditional bookshops.

“I’ve had a number of people contacting me to say they liked the book and that they can’t wait for the sequel,” said Jane. “That’s the best compliment of all and the greatest boost to any writer’s confidence.”

p78

p79

p80

Tradition started

by Queen Victoria woven into history

A

tradition started by Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert more than 200 years ago is finding favour among a new generation of dedicated followers of fashion.

Bespoke tailoring is normally the preserve of Savile Row but now shooting estates are at the forefront of showcasing the best of Scotland’s world class tweed industry.

Although tweed is known as Scotland’s signature fabric, each shooting estate is promoting the tradition of having its very own special tweed, uniquely designed and reflecting the estate’s natural landscape. As such, gamekeepers are measured up for a new set of estate tweeds every year.

p81

This practice supports the Scottish tweed industry and in a recent survey conducted across Scotland’s seven regional moorland groups, the estimated annual spend on estate tweed this year was in excess of a quarter of a million pounds at £268,924.

A new Pace Productions film created by the Angus Glens and Grampian Moorland Groups ‘Tweed - Hill to Hill - A Rural Tradition’ celebrates the tradition of estate tweed, its origins and the contemporary master weavers and tailors who are clothing today’s working gamekeepers.

Campbell’s of Beauly, one of Scotland’s top tailors of tweed, often described as the ‘guardians of tweed’, relies heavily on the estate market and says estate tweed is vital for their business.

John Sugden, owner of Campbell’s, said: “All our bespoke suits are made on site, which is a real skill. We work with over 100 estates, making up

p82

60 – 70 per cent of our work in the tailoring department.

“Our retail business also benefits from the estate market through field sport guests purchasing tweed products in our shop, another very important revenue stream for us.

We are closely linked to estates and without their business it would be a very different outlook for us.”

The tradition of estate tweed began

in the early 1800s, when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert set a precedent by having a bespoke tweed designed for their staff at Balmoral.

The unique blend of colours, patterns and textures of an estate tweed reflects the natural make-up of its surroundings and serves as a camouflage for gamekeepers and ghillies. It also allows the identity and heritage of each and every estate

throughout Scotland to live on for generations to come.

Gamekeepers’ tweed on Invermark Estate for example is grey to reflect the natural rock and granite of the landscape, while the tweed worn by pheasant keepers on a lower ground estate will be a yellowy green to blend into the farmland environment.

Callum Low, Invermark gamekeeper, said: “Each estate tweed is

p83

distinctive with its own use of colours, pattern and chequered work. On Invermark it’s very much a family heritage and it’s the same tweed worn by gamekeepers today that has been passed down several generations. It is something that every gamekeeper is proud to wear as their uniform.”

“Tweed is a working bit of gear to us, it’s a great fabric which is completely silent – a must when

stalking – and although it’s not water proof, it is very warm and as each suit is made-to-measure, it is also extremely comfortable. It is highly practical and suits its purpose very well particularly when we have to brave the harsh Scottish winter months out on the hills.”

Tweed is constantly being reinvented for a younger generation of fashionconscious consumers, national and international buyers and is used in

accessories from belts and handbags to iPad covers. Scottish tweed is supplied to Savile Row as well as bespoke tailors throughout Europe and high-fashion designers including Balenciaga, Miu Miu, Victoria Beckham and Vivienne Westwood.

Gordon Covell of Islay Woollen Mill, said: “The demand for tweed from the field sports industry makes up 25 per cent of our business turnover,

p84

weaving tweed for 30 estates in Scotland. We also supply tweeds to Savile Row as well as tailors in Italy, Germany and Sweden. Another part of our business has been to produce tweed for big box office hits, with Braveheart being our biggest one yet and notable others including The Life of Ernest Hemingway, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman’s film Far and Away, Forrest Gump, and most recently The BFG.”

p85

Lianne MacLennan of the Angus Glens and Grampian Moorland Groups, has just finished working on the Pace Productions film ‘Tweed - Hill to Hill - A Rural Tradition’ which celebrates the tradition of estate tweed, its origins and the contemporary master weavers and

Photo by Pace Productions

p86

tailors who are clothing today’s working gamekeepers.

“Tweed has stood the test of time where its integrity remains as important today as it did back in the Victorian era. Field sports are a vital component supporting the local

economy and the business estates generate for the tweed industry is paramount,” said Lianne.

“Each estate has its own identity by owning its very own tweed and it is something that every gamekeeper takes pride in.”

p87

p88

p89

Photo by Pam Sullivan

p90

Mountains of magic as clans gather in New Hampshire

F

or more than 40 years the clans have been gathering at the Loon Mountain Resort in Lincoln, New Hampshire to keep alive their Scottish heritage in the United States.

What started off as a small event in 1976 with little more than 800 people in attendance has grown to become one of the largest Scottish cultural events in North America.

This year the 42 NH Highland Games & Festival drew a crowd of more

p91

than 35,000 people over a three-day period between September 15 and 17.

More than 65 Scottish clans were represented in the Clan Village and there was a special youth program that included crafts, storytelling, and athletic games to encourage the up and coming generation of Scottish Americans to embrace their heritage.

Since its inception in 1976 the games has evolved to become an annual event and led to the forming of an organisation which became known as The New Hampshire Gathering of the Scottish Clans, Inc. Incorporated as a nonprofit corporation the organisation, NHSCOT, is dedicated to the furtherance of dance, music, athletics and customs of the Scottish people and the continuance of the Gaelic culture.

Each year the organisation has strived to add something new,

p92

p93

culminating in a spectacular event which incorporates everything from amateur athletic challenges and piping competitions to a clan dinner, ceilidh and even a craft fair offering Scottish goods.

This year was no different. The Games showcased Scotland’s rich history and traditions through a variety of competitions, performances, and cultural offerings.

On the first day, the crowd enjoyed watching the border collies as they herded sheep through an obstacle course.

The performances and competitions for solo pipers and drummers, pipe bands, and drum majors brought the iconic sound of Scotland to the

p94

festival grounds all weekend.

series ‘Game of Thrones’.

Dancers competed in pieces including the sword dance and the Highland fling.

Hafthor broke a heavy stone lifting record, lifted a car to demonstrate his strength, and also participated in other heavy athletic competitions.

Scotland’s pageantry was on display during the Massed Bands event, which featured over 30 pipe bands marching onto the parade grounds to perform together!

Throughout all three days, worldclass athletes competed in heavy athletic competitions of strength and skill, including the caber toss.

A Games highlight was the appearance of Europe’s strongest man Hafthor “Thor” Björnsson, known for his portrayal of Ser Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane in the HBO

Other cultural offerings included whisky and beer tastings, Scottish cooking classes, seminars, and traditional Scottish to “bagrock” musical performances.

Already the countdown has begun for next year when, in 2018, the Games will again take place on September 21-23 at Loon Mountain Resort.

For more information about the NH Highland Games & Festival visit www.nhscot.org.

Photo by Pam Sullivan

p95

p96

p97

Date 4 ur diary

Scotland

28 September - 29 October The Enchanted Forest Pitlochry.

Set amid the stunning Autumn woodland of Faskally Wood in Highland Perthshire the Enchanted Forest is Scotland’s premier sound and light event. It is a feast for the senses and a chance to experience outdoors at night with spectacular imagery. http://www.EnchantedForest.org.uk 29 September - 30 October Loopallu Festival The Pier, Ullapool The 13th annual music fest set amid the spectacular surroundings of Ullapool - a great way to end the summer. http://www.loopallu.co.uk 29 September - 1 October Callander Jazz & Blues Festival Callander.

The 12th annual Callander Jazz and Blues Festival is the largest rural Jazz & Blues festival in Scotland offering a long weekend of jazz and blues provided by over 30 international, national and local bands. http://www.callanderjazz.com 30 September - 15 October Highland Archaeology Festival Glenurquhart Road, Inverness Two weeks of celebrations to explore the heritage of the Highlands from earliest settlers to modern times, below ground and above. http://www.highlandarchaeologyfestival.org 1 - 31 October The Mackintosh Festival Glasgow Celebrate the life of Charles Rennie Mackintosh through a series of exhibitions, events, workshops, talks & tours in Glasgow Mackintosh and partner venues throughout Glasgow and further afield. http://www.glasgowmackintosh.com/festival 5 - 9 October Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival Esplanade, Lerwick, Shetland Come and enjoy the best in traditional Shetland music. http://www.shetlandaccordionandfiddle.com

p98

If you have a future event you would like included in our diary please email details to news@scotlandcorrespondent.com 5 - 7 October Ayrshire Real Ale Festival South Beach, Troon The festival, organised by the Ayrshire & Wigtownshire branch of CAMRA showcasing over 150 real ales from around the UK, along with a range of real ciders and perry from around the country. http://www.ayrshirebeerfestival.co.uk 5 - 15 October Edinburgh Restaurant Festival Edinburgh A perfect recipe of one glorious city, mixed with some incredible restaurants and cafés along with a generous sprinkle of mouth-watering delis makes for a foodie experience to remember. http://www.edinevents.com/edinburgh-restaurantfestival/ 6 - 15 October CowalFest Cowal This annual Walking and Outdoors Festival is one of the largest and most varied walking festivals in Scotland, with many walks led by expert and knowledgeable walk leaders. http://www.cowalfest.org 6 - 8 October Edinburgh Cocktail Weekend Edinburgh The first Edinburgh Cocktail Weekend offers a weekend of sipping, sampling and socialising the way across the city. https://www.edinburghcocktailweekend.com 6 - 8 October Ullapool Guitar Festival West Argyle Street, Ullapool A weekend of music old and new, of electric and acoustic, of steel and nylon, of seasoned performers and those just starting out amid some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery. http://ullapoolguitarfestival.com/wp/ 7 - 14 October Crieff and Strathearn Drovers’ Tryst Walking Festival Crieff, Strathearn, Perthshire Celebrate the life, work and play of the people who made Crieff the cattle-droving crossroads of Scotland in the 1700s. The Tryst walking festival features a programme of guided walks amid stunning scenery. https://www.droverstryst.com

7 October World Porridge Making Championship Carrbridge, Inverness The World Porridge Making Championships drawing competitors from across the globe to compete for the coveted Golden Spurtle trophy and title of “World Porridge Making Champion.” http://www.goldenspurtle.com 13 - 21 October Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail / The Royal National Mod Inverness Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival supporting the teaching, learning and use of the Gaelic language and the study and cultivation of Gaelic literature, history, music. http://acgmod.org

http://www.tracscotland.org/festivals/scottishinternational-storytelling-festival 21 October Marine Harvest Shinty/Hurling International Inverness Scotland’s top shinty players take on their Irish counterparts. https://www.shinty.com 21 - 29 October Tweed Valley Forest Festival Peebles Come celebrate connections between with the area’s Halloween customs and growing forest culture. http://forest-festival.com

13 - 15 October Loch Ness Knit Fest Bught Drive, Inverness Loch Ness Knit Fest pulls on the rich cultural crafting traditions of Scotland. Come join the thousands of visitors expected to flock to Inverness from all over the world for this wonderfully woolly event. http://www.lochnessknitfest.com

25 October - 12 November Woodland Light Experience Balfron Station, Balfron An outdoor light show set in the magnificent woodlands near Balfron. Stroll round woodland roads and be in awe of beautiful lighting effects and dazzling projections featuring the natural landscape, light, music and water. http://www.woodlandexperiences.co.uk/light-experience/

14 - 21 October Tiree Wave Classic Isle of Tiree, Tiree The Tiree Wave Classic is the longest running professional windsurfing event in the world. It showcases the best of the UK’s windsurfing talent across a number of fleets ranging from Juniors to World Cup Professional Windsurfers. http://tireewaveclassic.co.uk

26 - 29 October St Andrews Voices North Street, St Andrews, Fife Scotland’s only festival dedicated to the voice and vocal music set in the beautiful town of St Andrews and featuring a broad spectrum of genres. https://www.standrewsvoices.com

15 - 21 October St Andrews Golf Week 7 Pilmour Links, St Andrews, Fife An opportunity to achieve the dream and play the world famous links where names such as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros and Old Tom Morris claimed some of their most memorable wins. https://www.standrewsgolfweek.com 19 - 29 October Biggar Little Festival Biggar A family-friendly festival in the historic market town of Biggar celebrating music, dance, arts and crafts, literature, and drama. https://www.biggarlittlefestival.com 20 - 31 October Scottish International Storytelling Festival 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh A 12-day celebration of live storytelling, oral traditions and cultural diversity exploring how the traditional art of storytelling is more vital than ever in connecting people worldwide, across cultures, places and generations.

p99

26 October - 12 November Sound Festival Aberdeen Scotland’s Festival of New Music breaking down barriers to new music and encouraging experimentation. http://sound-scotland.co.uk 27 - 29 October Tamfest Ayr A unique celebration of Halloween and Heritage as the spirits of Ayr’s past come alive for a weekend of fun and frights; drawing on Robert Burns’ infamous 18th century epic ‘Tam o’ Shanter’. http://www.tamfest.co.uk/index.html 27 - 30 October Dornoch Whisky Festival Dornoch An opportunity to learn about and savour malt whiskies in the beautiful location of Dornoch in the North Highlands of Scotland. https://www.dornochwhiskyfestival.com

Date 4 ur diary

28 October Glenfiddich Fiddling Championships Blair Atholl, Pitlochry, Perthshire, PH18 5TL The romantic locale of Blair Castle in Highland Perthshire is the setting for a superb display of fiddle playing at the annual Glenfiddich Fiddling Championships. http://www.glenfiddich.com/uk/explore/latest-events/ glenfiddich-fiddle-championship/ 28 October Illuminator Run Bridgeview Road, Aboyne Go wild through the night on Scotland’s toughest night half marathon. Run or walk 15 dark miles over rugged hill trails with just the glow of your head torch to lead the way. http://www.illuminatorrun.co.uk 31 October Samhuinn Fire Festival Edinburgh Samhuinn celebrations take place in Edinburgh’s Old Town which has historic significance as a site of ancient markets and All Hallows fairs, street theatre and performances https://beltane.org

Australia

7 October Canberra Burns Club Highland Gathering Kambah, ACT A great day of Scottish culture, Highland sports, music and dance at the Kambah District Playing Fields, off Kett street in front of the Canberra Burns Club. http://canberragathering.com.au 14 October Collie Clan Gathering Collie, WA An Inaugural event organised by The Collie Pioneer Masonic Lodge and The Elliot Clan Society in Australia providing a full day of Scottish events and entertainment http://www.collieclangathering.org.

Canada

6-9 October Scots Gathering in the Canadian Rockies Canmore, AB Unleash Your Inner Scot at a unique Cultural Gathering being held in Canmore, Alberta, Canada. Explore the arts with dancing, music and needlework workshops. Learn

p100

If you have a future event you would like included in our diary please email details to news@scotlandcorrespondent.com new things with whisky tasting and cultural lectures.

Enjoy meeting new friends at the classes, ceilidh and ball. www.calgaryscots.org 7-15 October Celtic Colours Cape Breton Island, NS An experience like no other. For nine days in October, Cape Breton Island is alive with music, energy and excitement as people come from far and wide to celebrate our rich culture. From concerts to dances and workshops to community suppers, we offer a full range of events against a gorgeous backdrop of autumn colours. www.celtic-colours.com 13-15 October The Great Canadian Genealogy Summit Halifax, NS Join us at the Lord Nelson Hotel in Historic Halifax for the second annual Great Canadian Genealogy Summit. A quality learning experience for anyone who is researching their Canadian ancestors. www.cangensummit.ca 13 October Taste of Scotland – Whisky Tasting Night Montreal, QC The St. Andrew’s Society of Montreal annual Whisky Tasting Night at the Officers’ Mess at The Black Watch Armoury, 2067 Bleury St. will allow guests to sample over 25 different brands of whisky and enjoy a buffet featuring a variety of delectable Scottish dishes. www.standrews.qc.ca 20-22 October Re-Jigged October 20 - October 22 Dartmouth, NS Canada + Google Map Atlantic Canada’s first and only new trad Celtic festival, celebrating new directions in music and dance. Think Celtic-with attitude. Info: www.rejiggedfestival.com 28 October RSCDS Windsor Ball Windsor, ON. The RSCDS Windsor Branch has been dancing in Windsor for over 50 years. The ballroom dancing of Scotland is a social dance but you don’t need to be Scottish to enjoy the Annual ball at 7:30 p.m. in Mackenzie Hall, 3277 Sandwich Street West. www.rscdswindsor.org

New Zealand

7 October City of Auckland Pipe Band 75th Anniversary Concert & Ceilidh Balmoral, Auckland.

Join City of Auckland Pipe band in Celebrating it’s 75th Anniversary. The afternoon & evening will be a fantastic opportunity for the friends & family of CAPB to mark this very special occasion. www.cityofaucklandpipeband.org.nz

USA

5 October 16th Annual Kilted Classic Golf Tournament Woodridge, IL. The Kilted Classic is a uniquely Scottish golf outing.

Dressed in kilts of every color, our golfers follow the skirl of a bagpiper around the course and play the game that many regard as one of Scotland’s greatest inventions. www.chicagoscots.org/kiltedclassic2017 7 October Scotland County Highland Games Laurinburg, NC. The games provides an immersion into the ScottishAmerican heritage of this region. Local hotels and restaurants will offer Scottish-inspired Southern hospitality to welcome you to Laurinburg and Scotland County, North Carolina. Come celebrate Scotland at the North Carolina Rural Heritage Center, 13040 X-Way Rd. www.schgnc.org 14-15 October Ventura Seaside Highland Games Seaside Park, Ventura Co. Fairgrounds, Ventura, CA The premier Scottish Event on the Central California Coast atwww.seaside-games.com 14 October Indianapolis Scottish Highland Games & Festival German Park, 8600 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN The 8th annual celebration of Scottish culture and tradition. www.indyscotgamesandfest.com 20-22 October 45th Annual Stone Mountain Highland Games Atlanta, GA Come and join us on the meadows of the Stone Mountain Park in the Northeast suburbs of Atlanta GA as we transform meandering tree-lined paths into the impressive mix of sights and sounds of a Scottish Highland Games presented in a uniquely southern style.

Don your tartans if you have them and come join us. No tartan? That’s OK too! EVERYONE can be Scottish for

p101

this special weekend celebration. www.smhg.org.

21 October Sarasota Celtic Music Festival Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota, FL Need a kilt wearing, Highland ale drinking, meat pie nibbling, must have a new trinket, bagpipe rock fix?

Come join us and celebrate Celtic culture in the New World. www.celtoberfest.org 28-29 October Carolina Caledonian Fest Fayetteville, NC. The Carolina Caledonian Fest is a celebration of the Argyll Colony, the largest and most significant community of Scot Highlanders in America. www.caledonianfest.com 28-29 October Central Virginia Celtic Festival & Highland Games Richmond Raceway Complex, 600 E Laburnum Ave, Richmond, VA. A weekend of family-friendly events celebrating Celtic culture. www.vacelticfestival.com 28 October Bakersfield Celtic Music Festival Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield, CA Promoting Scottish heritage and cultural traditions in Kern County, including Highland Games, Highland and Scottish Country Dancing, genealogy, piping and drumming, tartans, Highland dress, and Gaelic. www.kernscot.org

p102

p103

p104