Scotland correspondent issue 18

Searching for truth in Loch Ness Mapping out the Outlander trail Celebrating history Borders style

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Harry Lauder’s personal tragedy remembered

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inside this issue 8 Remember

the Reivers

Experience some of the unique traditions of the Borders.

22 Thyme

gin

for a

The Colonsay gin that is the Bees Knees.

33 Tales

Gaels

of the

Celebrating the start of summer.

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36 Monster

hunt

The search for unknown life in the depths of Loch ness.

48 Smokin’

The entrepreneur who turned a hobby into an awarding winning business.

74 Cream

o’ the festivals

Music, adventure and family fun at Perthshire mountain bike weekend.

86 No

58 Timeless

style

Littlehouse Jewellery on course for big success.

end of the road for Lauder memorial

Project to save tribute to comic’s war hero son.

94 Whale

trail

Mapping out the best places to see sea life.

66 Saved

for the nation

The early photos that offer a unique window on the past. p5

104 Showcase

for Sundown

Former Dr Who stars get screen time at Inverness festival.

110 In

the footsteps of Outlander

Set-jetting fans flock to visit new iconic locations of hit TV show.

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It’s a date

Quick look at what’s on this month.

Cover Photo

Photo by Ian Rutherford / VisitScotland Flying the Burgh flag at the Selkirk Common Riding celebrations.

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Riding through history

Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Looking along the River Tweed toward Peebles

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E

very summer residents of the Scottish Borders celebrate their remarkable history and unique identity with a tradition dating back more than 500 years.

Hundreds of horses and their riders will gather in 11 of the region’s towns over the next few weeks to ride the boundaries of their homelands.

The Common Ridings provide more than 110,000 visitors every year with an unforgettable equine spectacle and a variety of associated festivals.

Torchlight processions, fancy dress parades, ceilidhs, gymkhanas, athletic displays and theatre performances all make for a fun and memorable occasion for locals and visitors alike.

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Throughout June, July and August each Borders town takes its turn to uphold a tradition aimed at bringing communities together and remembering their common heritage.

The Ridings date back to the 14th century when the Borders was a place of constant upheaval, turmoil and lawlessness as notorious families, from both sides of the Scottish-English divide, raided and plundered each other’s lands.

In a bid to safeguard themselves from these so-called Reivers local townsfolk would ride their boundaries to protect their lands.

Today 11 Borders Towns each carry on the tradition with an annual festival celebrating their history with music, dancing and spectacle. This month will see Commons Ridings and Festivals taking place in Hawick (7-9 June); West Linton (1-9 June); Selkirk (11-15 June); Melrose (17-23); Peebles (17-23 June) and Galashiels (22 June - 1 July).

“The Common Ridings and summer festivals are iconic events in the Scottish Borders, which people from across the world visit every year,” said Councillor Mark Rowley, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Business and Economic Development.

“It is now even easier to access much of the Borders so I would encourage people of all ages who have not experienced one of our festivals to see for themselves what a fantastic day out it is.”

Situated among the spectacular rolling hills of the Borders, less than an hour from Edinburgh, the picturesque market town of Peebles has even more to celebrate as it combines the festivities with Beltane, the ancient Pagan ritual of marking the end of winter and return of summer.

Photo by Ian Rutherford / VisitScotland Carrying the Blue Banner at Hawick Common Riding celebrations

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Originally celebrated on 1 May, as it has been in other communities across the country for over 1,000 years, Beltane in Peebles was moved

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Photo by Paul Tomkins / Visit Scotland Two cyclists by the River Tweed at Neidpath Castle near Peebles

to June to coincide with a revival of the Riding of the Marches ceremony in Victorian times.

The combined celebration is now regarded as the pinnacle of the social calendar for the town, declared a Royal Burgh by King David I of

Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Peebles seen from the banks of the River Tweed

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Scotland in 1152, which is a popular destination for visitors all year round.

Aside from Beltane Week the town has a lots to offer from family outings, beautiful walking and cycling routes to plenty of opportunities for fishing, golfing, horse riding and shopping.

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Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Peebles High Street

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The timeless high-street, medieval closes and intimate alleyways provide a stunning backdrop for a variety of award winning restaurants, arts and craft shops. Regarded as the Top Independent Retailing Town in Scotland, and second in the UK,

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it has a huge range of independent traders which gives Peebles a unique atmosphere.

There are also plenty of spectacular walks, bike trails and local attractions, including nearby

Neidpath Castle, an L-plan rubblebuilt tower house overlooking the River Tweed about 1 mile west of Peebles. Entry is by appointment only although there are some public open days each year ( http://www.neidpathcastle.com ).

The castle has a rich and colourful history dating back to about 1190 and the days of Sir Gilbert Fraser whose grandson, Sir Simon the Second, was executed alongside Sir William Wallace in 1307.

Over the centuries the castle has been associated with three famous Scottish families, Fraser, Hay and Douglas before eventually passing in 1810 to the current owners, the Wemyss.

This year VisitScotland is encouraging visitors to take a trip Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Looking from the Tweed Bridge toward Peebles Old Parish Church

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Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Neidpath Castle by Peebles

on the Borders Railway and explore all that’s on offer across the region, often regarded as the overlooked jewel in Scotland’s tourism crown.

“The Common Ridings are one of the oldest equestrian festivals in the world and a wonderful spectacle

Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Peebles

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to witness. Their many association traditions and celebrations also offer fantastic opportunities for visitors, especially families, to get involved, and not just on horseback!,” said Paula Ward, VisitScotland Regional Leadership Director.

“Where else in the country can you wake up to the sound of a pipe band and witness hundreds of horses and their riders gallop across the dramatic landscape of the Scottish Borders. And this can be topped off with great music, dancing in the street and fancy dress competitions all in one day!�

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Photo by Guy Phillips

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Wild Thyme for Colonsay gin p22

F

ollowing a busy and exciting few months Wild Thyme Spirits has now produced its first ‘island batch’ of award winning Colonsay Gin.

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Founders of Wild Thyme Spirits, husband and wife team, Fin and Eileen Geekie relocated from the sprawling landscape of Oxfordshire after 30 years to a new self-built home on the remote, tiny Hebridean island of Colonsay with the sole aim of developing their unique brand of gin.

After negotiating an exclusive agreement with the Colonsay Estate to hand-forage for botanicals on the island the couple now have access to a huge array of local ingredients to create a gin with a unique and unmistakable provenance.

Fin and Eileen Geekie

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Colonsay Gin is juniper led, in the classic London Dry style, and is made in a 100L copper still in small batches of only 162 bottles.

The spirit is distilled with 7 botanicals; juniper, angelica root, calamus root, liquorice root, orange peel, orris root and coriander seeds and is distilled very slowly before the spirit is held for a further 4-5 days to allow the flavours to mellow.

It is bottled at 47 per cent ABV, slightly higher than most gins, and is ideally served over ice with premium tonic and a garnish of either orange zest, or, most unusually, a slice of green chilli.

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Last year Colonsay Gin was awarded a silver medal in the New York International Spirits Competition and subsequently a silver medal at the prestigious Global Gin Masters.

Inspiration for the artisanal spirit is rooted in the island’s wild landscape and its mythical Celtic folklore.

Legend has it that every Scottish estate possesses its own ‘Brownie’, a spirit that assists with household chores; the WTS HQ’s spirits are the mischievous Doughal and Ferghus, as depicted in the brand logo, and Alva, the centrepiece of the brand’s Alphonse Mucha inspired, Art Nouveau-style label designs.

Alva is a red-haired maiden who was marooned on the unforgiving coastline and a taste of her indomitable Viking spirit is encapsulated in all her secret recipes, none more so than in the concomitant pepperiness and sweetness of Colonsay Gin.

Wild Thyme Spirits’ new Colonsay home

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Tucked away between the better known islands of Islay and Mull, and nestling close to neighbouring Jura, Colonsay is just under a two and a half hour ferry journey from Oban on the West Coast of Scotland.

The tiny island is quietly renowned for its tranquillity, exquisite sandy beaches, rare flora and fauna and abundance of wild life. It is a treasured destination for the holiday cognoscenti.

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In addition to producing international award-winning gin, the two entrepreneurs also offer a ‘Gin Lover’s Retreat’ weekend package which allows guests to relax and unwind, enjoy all things gin, while immersing themselves in, and fully embracing, the island experience.

The package includes full board, cocktails on arrival, a formal gin

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tasting and access to the couple’s ever growing collection of gins from around the world.

This burgeoning business has already contributed to the sustainability and ongoing development of the island economy and continues to support the local community wherever it can.

Taste of summer

There is little better on warm sunny day than a refreshing cocktail so why not try this herbal and citrusy creating from the folks at Wild Thyme.

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he ‘Colonsay Bees Knees’ pays homage to the island’s native population of rare Black Bees and is easy to whip up at home.

All you need to create a delicious, aromatic summer cocktail is 50ml Colonsay Gin, 20ml fresh lemon juice, 20ml fresh orange juice, 2 tsp Colonsay honey & thyme syrup and a sprig of thyme to garnish.

Once you’ve gathered the ingredients mix the gin and honey in a shaker and stir until the honey dissolves.

Then add the lemon and orange juice with a little ice before shaking well and straining into a martini glass with a thyme and a little orange zest to garnish.

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Tales of the Gaels:

“Celebrating Beltane”

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nce again later day bard or Seanchaidh, Pàl Ó Siadhail, takes listeners on a journey into the realms of history to explore the origins and importance of Beltane.

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In his own unique style of the traditional bards who would wander between hamlets and villages across the country Pàl explains how the changing of the seasons impacted the lives and imaginations of the Gaels.

As we celebrate the summer side of Spring, which started with Beltane, Pàl looks at the origins of the word and its connections to the people of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

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Scientists hope to solve mystery of Loch Ness

Photo by Paul Tomkins / VisitScotland Urquhart Castle overlooking Loch Ness at night

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n international team of scientists are to explore the depths of Scotland’s most famous stretch of water in a new attempt to solve the ancient riddle of what really lies beneath the surface of Loch Ness.

The Loch Ness monster is one of the world’s greatest mysteries with recorded sightings of a giant creature lurking in the murky depths going back as far as 565AD. Every year hundred of thousand of visitors are attracted to the loch, many with a hope of seeing something, while world-wide internet searches for information about the monster average more than 200,000 a month.

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Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition features a full size model of “Nessie�

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The possibility of something unknown is made more plausible because of the sheer size of the loch.

It is the second biggest in Scotland and holds a greater volume of water than every freshwater lake, river and reservoir in England and Wales combined. If it was ever drained the entire population of the world could fit into the empty crater.

But now, with the aid of the latest science and technology, a team of international experts hope a final answer to the mystery may be just months away.

A global team of investigators led

by Professor Neil Gemmell of the

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Illustration of early 1930s rare sighting of the monster out of the water.

University of Otago, New Zealand, is set to carry out a scientific examination of the murky waters of the loch in the hope of finding definitive evidence.

The team plan to use environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling of the waters to identify tiny DNA remnants left behind by life in the loch. They will then establish a detailed list of all life living in the waters and make comparisons between it and several other lochs to find how or if Loch Ness differs from other sites.

Should the team find any evidence of DNA sequences similar to those predicted to come from a large extinct marine reptile, as put forward by the so called “Jurassic hypothesis”, Prof. Gemmell admits he will be very surprised, but says he is open minded about what they might find.

“Large fish like catfish and sturgeons, have been suggested as possible explanations for the monster myth, and we can very much test that idea and others,” he said, adding that the investigation is much more than a monster hunt and could provide very

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valuable scientific knowledge.

“While the prospect of looking for evidence of the Loch Ness monster is the hook to this project, there is an extraordinary amount of new knowledge that we will gain from the work about organisms that inhabit Loch Ness – the UK’s largest freshwater body,” said Prof.

Gemmell.

It is envisaged the team will be able to document new species of life, particularly bacteria, which will provide important data on the extent of several new invasive species recently seen in the loch, such as Pacific pink salmon, while also gaining a better understanding of the native species that reside there.

The use of eDNA sampling is already well established as a tool for monitoring sharks, whales, fish and other animals. It should readily reveal what species live in the dark, mysterious waters of Loch Ness.

Professor Gemmell says the approach works because life is messy.

“Whenever a creature moves through its environment, it leaves behind tiny fragments of DNA from skin, scales, feathers, fur, faeces and urine,” said Prog. Gemmell.

“This DNA can be captured, sequenced and then used to identify that creature by comparing the sequence obtained to large databases of known genetic sequences from 100,000’s of different organisms – if an exact match can’t be found we can generally figure out where on the tree of life that sequence fits.”

The team taking part in the Loch Ness investigation includes a number of renowned leading scientists from the UK, Denmark, USA, Australia and France, including some of the pioneers and leaders in this new field of study.

Veteran Nessie hunter Roland Watson who has spent more than 30 years investigating sightings in the loch welcomed the eDNA initiative but questioned whether it will really solve the mystery.

“It’s a good idea. We know it works

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Photo by Paul Tomkins / VisitScotland Looking across the bay at Drumnadrochit

as it has been tested in other lakes.

They should find DNA of salmon, trout, char, eels and other species we know are resident in the loch but will they find anything else? That is the big question,” he said during a recent lecture to the Scottish Society of Psychical Research in Glasgow.

“I say resident because if the monster only visits the loch every so

Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Urquhart Castle

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often its DNA is unlikely to persist in the water.”

While Dr Gemmel’s experiment should record all of the loch’s indigenous inhabitants Mr Watson has reservations that it will identify every transient visitor able to access the loch via the River Ness or through underwater caverns rumoured to exit in the depths.

Believers in the monster claim there have been so many eye witness accounts over the years, more than 2,000 sightings, that not all of them can be hoaxes, frauds or cases of mistaken identity.

Floating logs, boat wakes, seals and giants sturgeons may explain some of the sightings, many of which have been made by sensible and rational

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people who have lived by the loch all their lives and know the water and its moods intimately.

“Some explanations are creative and even plausible but not necessarily probable. While theories can be put forward for a lot of sightings there is still about 5 per cent which can’t be so easily explained and those are the ones that keep the mystery going,” said Mr Watson.

Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Urquhart Castle commands great views of Loch Ness

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Smoke and dinners

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hat started out as a garden experiment to create an extra ingredient for a home cooked meal has turned into an award winning business loved by professional and amateur chefs across the country.

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In less than three years former freelance designer and marketing expert Graham Johnson has devised, launched and grown a part-time cottage-industry into Scotland’s leading artisan smokehouse.

Producing naturally smoked ingredients by hand, and using only the finest raw materials and sustainable Scottish hardwood supplies, Smoky Brae is the only food company producing dried smoked ingredients that are stocked all over Scotland.

“I had absolutely no intention of setting up a food business before I started this. I went to art school, studied design and worked as a freelance in the marketing industry for a while after university. That’s where I thought my future lay,” said Graham.

But after moving out of the city to a small holding in the countryside of Chapelton, South Lanarkshire for a taste of the good life with his wife Jennifer and their two young boys he found life taking a new, unexpected direction.

“I’ve always had a passion for food and basically I was making a barbecue sauce for myself and

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Graham outside 10 Downing Street in London at a reception for entrepreneurial businesses.

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wanted something smoky to go into it,” said Graham.

“I was looking for a smoked sugar or smoked syrup and couldn’t find one.

It didn’t exist so I decide to make one myself. I’d done a little bit of smoking, things like mackerel in the past, so I thought I would have a go with a wee bit of sugar. Off the back of that I set up a small commercial unit and that’s where it all started.”

Indeed, his smoked sugar proved so popular that it has been used by confectioners to make

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smoky fudges, smoky marshmallows, smoky chocolates, smoky doughnuts, smoky ice-cream and even smoky caramel sauce.

Now, the 35-year-old is a full time food producer, often travelling across the country attending trade fairs, food shows and meeting with professionals and amateurs alike who love his products, especially as they are all gluten free and suitable for vegans.

From the family home on the side of a hill, hence the name Smoky Brae, Graham and Jennifer have expanded production to create around 13 different products while maintaining the original ethos of using traditional hand-crafted methods.

“I was able to turn an outbuilding into a smokehouse where we still do everything by hand. Every ingredient

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is naturally smoked for three to five days using wood sourced in Scotland and then blended by hand to create the different seasonings,” said Graham.

“We use a very traditional process in which the sugar or whatever we are smoking is placed on trays, raked every four hours and cold smoked for days at a time in specially

constructed units where we can control the temperature, humidity and air flow. It’s essentially the same process that has been used for centuries.There are no shortcuts.”

Smoky Brae now has a range of 10 different ingredient lines and 13 products, including several gift box sets which have proved very popular with visitors to Scotland which have been taken back to North America, Europe and elsewhere.

Already Graham has had to start thinking about expanding to meet demand, especially after he won a Great Taste Award for his smoked BBQ rub, equivalent to an Oscar of the food industry, and a BBC Good Food Show Award.

“It’s been a lot of hard work but fun too. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens over the next few months and years as we keep extending the range of products. It’s very exciting,” said Graham.

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Understated elegance with a traditional twist

Sally Cuthbert’s Albert21 range of jewellery is now available

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Sally makes all her pieces by hand

by Helen Lloyd

Eye Gallery during a solo exhibition.

new collection of jewellery inspired by traditional heirlooms of the past has been unveiled by a Highland designer with an eye for understated elegance.

More than 20 unique necklace designs, all handmade in Sterling Silver and focused on the key design elements of elegance, timelessness, durability went on display at the gallery to great acclaim.

Sally Cuthbert’s latest Littlehouse Jewellery collection, titled ‘Albert21’ was unveiled at Edinburgh’s Open

Renowned for the unique quality of her one-off creations, which predominantly but not exclusively

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appeal to women, Sally has developed a recognisable brand that combines a confident and unobtrusive style with practicality and durability.

In developing the Albert21 range Sally was motivated by conversations with friends and commission requests from clients which highlighted a desire for timeless, understated and classically

elegant jewellery pieces for women suitable for both professional and everyday wear.

The Albert21 collection was specifically conceived to meet this requirement as Sally drew inspiration from the past and in particular from men’s workwear jewellery pieces, such as the Albert Watch Chain, which is often passed down through the generations.

Sally decided to claim this piece of jewellery for the girls! She redesigned and reimagined it for today’s

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professional women. Sally believes by successfully designing to meet these requirements the Albert21 collection of necklaces will be worn by her clients and will in time become heritage pieces that can become family heirlooms to be treasured and loved for years to come.

From her BA Hons and Post Graduate studies at Edinburgh College of Art Sally’s love of design was formed. Her designs are all influenced by her constant curiosity of shape, and how shapes relate to other shapes. With a linear simplicity

and yet three-dimensional form in her designs, Sally constantly strives to create an elegant, understated simplicity. Her previous collections ‘Shape on Shape’ and ‘PDBQ’ are perfect examples.

Sally aims constantly to under design, to allow each piece to be free from unnecessary distractions, while balancing what is necessary to create beauty.

The simplicity and elegance of each of her ranges share the same underlying design and and quality,

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whether created in Sterling Silver or Gold, and each piece is handmade

by Sally to the highest standards before being stamped with her unique hallmark.

Jilly Dobson, Director of The Open Eye Gallery, one of Scotland’s leading contemporary private art galleries, said the Abercromby Place venue was delighted to hosted the launch exhibition of Littlehouse Jewellery’s new collection, Albert21.

“Sally Cuthbert’s previous collections have proved very popular with our clients. Her work is beautifully designed and made and this elegant new range of necklaces for women to wear in their work place environments will, I’m sure, prove just as successful,” said Jilly.

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Photos by National Library of Scotland The Fairlie Albumn

Rare glimpses of history A

n exceptional collection of historic photographs that captures a century of life in Scotland is to be shared with the public.

More than 14,000 images – dating from the earliest days of photography

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in the 1840s through to the 1940s – was put together by photography enthusiast Murray MacKinnon The collection covers an expansive range of subjects – including family portraits, working life, street scenes, sporting pursuits, shops,

trams, tenements, mountains and monuments. Until now, it was one of the last great collections of Scottish photography still in private hands.

Mr MacKinnon said he was delighted the images had been acquired for the nation following a special

collaboration between the National Library of Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland. with support from the Scottish Government, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Art Fund.

“The collection covers the day-today lives of Scottish people both rich and poor, the work they carried out including fishing and farming, in order to survive, and their social life including sport and leisure,” he said.

“These were turbulent times what with industrialisation, shipbuilding, new forms of transport, the social upheaval caused by the First World War in Europe and the Boer War in South Africa. The discovery of penicillin and radiography heralded the development of medicine and the pharmaceutical industry in Scotland.”

The photographs provide a visual record of how Scotland has changed physically, socially and economically

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since the 1840s.

Highlights include more than 600 original photographs from the pioneering days of photography featuring work from David Octavius Hill (1802-1870) and Robert Adamson (1821-1848), James Ross (d.1878) and John Thomson (d.1881), Cosmo Innes (1798-1874) and Horatio Ross (1801-1886).

It also features some of the finest work of Thomas Annan (1829-1887) and his son, James Craig Annan (1864-1946) including rare examples of their original albumen prints along with fine examples of the work of Scotland’s successful commercial photographers, including George Washington Wilson (1823-1893) and James Valentine (1815-1880).

There are also a selection of haunting portraits of Scottish regiments from the Crimean War by Roger Fenton (1819-1869) and a series of albums

and prints depicting life in the main towns and cities from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Along with studies of farming and fishing communities in remote villages and hamlets; scenes of shipbuilding, railways, herring fishing, weaving, whisky distilling, dockyards, slate quarries and other working environments the archive provides a unique window on the past.

“Taken in the pioneering days of photography in Scotland, these historical images allow us to glimpse our ancestors going about their daily lives. It’s a fascinating collection detailing what life was like and how that has shaped us as a nation,” said Lucy Casot Heritage Lottery Fund, Manager for Scotland which helped purchase the photographs for a total of £1million.

The collection also contains an exquisite view of Loch Katrine by

William Henry Fox Talbot, who travelled to Scotland in the autumn of 1844. Talbot was the inventor of the calotype, a negative-positive paper process that was patented around the world, but, importantly not in Scotland, allowing for free use and experimentation. As a result, early Scottish photographers, such as Hill and Adamson and Ross and Thomson, were encouraged to take up the new technology, becoming key figures in developing its potential as both document and art form within its first two decades.

Ships in Granton Harbour near Edinburgh

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As the photographic medium evolved, Scotland once again was at the forefront when, in 1883, Thomas Annan and his son James Craig Annan secured the British rights for the previously secret process of photogravure.

The photomechanical process created prints in large editions, revolutionising the publication and reach of photography.

While photography is known for its reproducibility, many of the artworks contained within the collection are unique, including daguerreotype

portraits and hand-made albums.

One such impressive example is the Fairlie album, consisting of family portraits and photographs by known makers including Julia Margaret Cameron. Using elements of collage, drawing and marginalia, the pages are a one-of-a-kind celebration of the Fairlie Family, from Fife. Reginald Fairlie was the architect of the National Library of Scotland building on George IV Bridge. “Scotland has a unique relationship with photography which dates back to the work of the early pioneers

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Hardship in the Camp

such as Hill and Adamson,” said Dr John Scally, National Librarian.

“This acquisition is akin to buying Scotland’s photographic album of 14,000 pictures and bringing it home, and together with the National

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Galleries of Scotland, we were determined to make that happen. I am confident that every Scot will feel a connection with these wonderful photographs.”

A major exhibition of the MacKinnon

collection will be held at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery next year, with touring exhibitions around the country to follow. The entire collection will also be digitised over the next three years and made available online.

The Misses Grierson

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Whipping up a funfilled weekend at Cream o’ the Croft

Photo by Ian Potter

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L

overs of the outdoors, both on and off the bike, are in for a treat this month as Cream o’ the Croft Mountain Bike Festival makes a much-anticipated return to Perthshire’s Comrie Croft.

Cream o’ the Croft is not only a festival of mountain bike racing for all ages, it is also a music festival with camping and fun activities and a gourmet food and drink festival, all crammed into one unbelievable family-friendly entertainment weekend rom Friday 15 to Sunday 17 June.

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Photo by Ian Potter

Photo by Peter Smith

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Young People 2018, Muckmedden Events have also scheduled a number of exciting opportunities to get local young people involved at both of their bike festivals this year.

From engaging budding DJ’s to engineers, none is more exciting than the inaugural Monster Balance Bike Challenge.

This competition, a collaboration between Muckmedden Events and several Scottish bike recycling centres, gives young members of community groups the chance to design and build a Monster Balance Situated within an hour’s drive of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling and Perth Comrie Croft is one of Scotland’s top award-winning green destinations and includes a farmstead hostel, group accommodation, camping, nordic kåtas, walking trails, wildlife viewing and some of the best compact mountain-biking in the country.

This year festival organisers, Muckmedden Events, are promising the best edition of the festival yet with new events, activities and entertainment for all the family, all shoehorned into the already funpacked line-up festival goers have enjoyed in previous years.

Additional highlights off the bike, all included in the festival pass at no extra cost, include yoga and wellbeing workshops and talks; more live bands; a giant water slide; steel band workshops; trail running coaching and guided runs; circus workshops; quad pods; Segway tours and even a rodeo bull!

Road cyclists can look forward to the new ‘Breadalbane 160’, a 160km (100 mile) Audax road ride (a non-competitive, time-limited long distance ride out). With an Audax UK AAA (Audax Altitude Awards) certification, this is sure to be a challenging but rewarding day on Highland Perthshire’s most iconic roads with some stunning views to cherish en route.

In celebration of Scotland’s Year of

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Photo by Ian Potter

Bike under the expert guidance of their local bike recycling centre.

They will then compete against other teams at Cream o’ the Croft

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and The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival, being staged in Fife later in the year. To level the playing field, the challenge is not just about getting a fast race time. Teams will

also be scored on their ingenuity and imagination before they’ve even turned a wheel. The crazier the design, the better!

For the mountain bikers the festival’s main event will be the Cream o’ the Croft Enduro on Saturday 15 June.

The multi-stage Enduro race will once again use every inch of Comrie

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Croft’s mountain bike trail network, with many new trail sections set to be unveiled, in a bid to find ‘The Cream o’ the Croft 2018’. In the festival’s signature event riders will

experience the very best of Scottish mountain biking at IBikeRide’s Scottish Trail Centre of the Year.

For female riders only there will be a

Photo by Ian Potter

Muckmaiden coaching session and and ride out that will include taking on some of the Enduro stages.

Young, budding world champions can also take to the trails in the Mini Enduro, which will take place on Sunday 16 June. Riders aged 6 to 13 will experience Enduro mountain bike racing on mellower (but no less fun!) trails. Parents can even chaperone their kids on the course if they want to give them moral support, or just want an excuse for another ride!

There are also opportunities for the very tiniest of riders to get their race faces on, with toddler bike racing and open track sessions across the weekend.

Aaron Gray of Muckmedden Events, organisers of Cream o’ the Croft, said: “I think we have done a great job in highlighting the best of Cream o’ the Croft, a weekend festival of fun and frolics for all the family both on and off the bike.

“It is based largely around the four

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Photo by Ian Potter

Photo by Ian Potter

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Photo by Ian Potter

Photo by Ian Potter

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Photo by Ian Potter

great tenets of mountain biking, the great outdoors, music and ‘consumption of deliciousness’.

Add in to the mix an award-winning campsite, hostel and mountain bike trail centre, beautiful surroundings, family friendliness and great activities for all ages, and you get the rough idea of what to expect.”

Photo by Peter Smith

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Photo by Ian Potter

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Restoration of Harry Lauder’s memorial to lost son T housands of pounds are to be spent renovating a memorial erected by legendary entertainer Sir Harry Lauder to remember his only son killed in the First World War.

Situated on a grassy knoll overlooking the 20,000 acres of the Glenbranter estate the stone at Invernoaden in the heart of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park is recognised as an important piece of memorial art.

Built from a block of red sandstone it depicts a low-relief bust of John Lauder in uniform with a short dedication to the entertainer’s only son who is buried, along with thousands of other First World War casualties, at Albert Road Cemetery at Orvilliers in France.

The monument also stands as testament to the grief and personal tragedy of a man who gave pleasure to millions and is perhaps the best known Scottish entertainer of the 20th century.

Born in the Edinburgh suburb of Portobello in 1870 he always had an ambition to entertain but despite an obvious talent he was just one of many young men touring the music halls of Britain until he decided to make the most of his Scottishness.

Dressed in a kilt, tam o’ shanter, trade-mark pipe and exaggerated crooked walking stick Harry Lauder

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created the archetypal cartoon figure of a Scotsman and it made him a very rich man.

Although sometimes derided at home by critics who cringed at his tartan kitsch portrayal of Scotland Lauder was a canny operator and entrepreneur who made the most of the emerging technologies of the times.

The advent of the gramophone made him one of the first entertainers to sell more than one million records.

His performances of ‘Loch Lomond’, ‘Roamin’ in the Gloamin’’, “I Love A Lassie’ and other classics made him an international star throughout the English-speaking world, especially in Australasia and North America which he toured at least 22 times.

had been touring Australia with his father and immediately returned to answer the call to arms. He quickly found himself commanding a contingent of Highlanders during some of the most bitter fighting of the war.

By 1916 John had been promoted to Captain and while on leave that summer became engaged to Mildred Thomson, a move which prompted Harry Lauder, with an eye to the future after the war, to buy the Glenbranter estate for his son and wife to be.

Unfortunately on 28 December 2016, while inspecting a German shell which failed to explode, Captain John Lauder was shot and killed by a sniper’s bullet. He was just 25.

In 1907 Lauder’s success allowed him to buy a large mansion in Dunoon, which was then a popular retreat on the Clyde coast, which he named ‘Laudervale’.

Four days later Harry Lauder was given the news shortly before performing at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London. He was devastated.

It was here that Harry lived with his wife Nance and their only son John. Although he attended boarding school in London and later Cambridge University the young Lauder regarded Dunoon and Argyllshire as home. Indeed, in 1912, he enlisted in the territorial army as a Second Lieutenant in the 8th Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

However within three days the veteran minstrel was back on stage and soon performing with a new song “The End of the Road”, written shortly after John’s death, which has become a world-wide favourite.

When war broke out in 1914 John

Almost as soon as his run of shows in London ended Harry left for France to entertain the troops on the frontline. He performed numerous concerts, sometimes under fire from enemy guns, and he set up the Harry

Photo: cc Library of Congress Sir Harry Lauder in trademark costume

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Harry Lauder and Charlie Chaplin in 1918

Lauder Million Pound Fund (equal to more than ÂŁ58 million today) to raise money for injured and maimed exservicemen.

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For his fund raising efforts he was knighted by George V in January 1919 but Sir Harry, who died in 1950 aged 79, never really got over the

loss of his son and had the memorial built overlooking Glenbranter.

Now, Friends of Loch Lomond and

Photo: cc Turn of the 20th century songbook of Lauder hits

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The Trossachs, an independent conservation and heritage charity for the National Park, plans to renovate the memorial.

is being run by the Friends with support from the Mountains and the People project run by the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland.

The campaign for a major facelift

Having just secured ÂŁ10,000 worth

The Lauder Memorial site at Glenbranter which is set for a facelift as part of a project by the Friends of Loch Lomond.

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of funding the aim is to create a new car park and path leading up to the site as well as restore the railings around the monument and installing interpretation and signage.

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“We firmly feel that the restoration of this monument is important in recognising an important figure of Scottish history,� said Jared Bowers, Project Officer for the Friends.

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Whale of an idea for marine conservation Photo by Marsupium Photography CC BY-SA 2.0 p94 Sperm whale in Oban Bay

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new marine life tourism trail throughout the west of Scotland is to be opened next year.

Conservation experts are calling on members of the public, communities and businesses to help create Scotland’s first Whale Trail.

A national campaign has been launched to find the best top spots where people can watch whales, dolphins and porpoises from landmark areas along the west coast from the Clyde to the Hebrides.

The new high-profile trail is being developed by the charity Hebridean

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Whale and Dolphin Trust and the aim is to include a network of around 25 world-class whale-watching and whale heritage sites.

The project will promote Scotland as one of Europe’s best destinations for spotting cetaceans and champion conservation of the Hebrides’ unique, globally important marine wildlife and environment.

Due for a summer 2019 launch, the ambitious initiative will connect and support existing wildlife tourism businesses and heritage sites of national cultural significance that showcase the history of people’s relationships with whales in the Hebrides. Many of these will be

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Photo by Peter Asprey CC Bottlenose dolphin with young

small, community-run visitor centres at spectacular sites.

“People currently visit Scotland for the landscapes, wildlife and culture – but not necessarily to see cetaceans.

With the Hebrides being one of the best places in Europe to see these spectacular animals, we want to add them to the mix – and our research shows that the potential is huge,” said Karl Stevens, Hebridean Whale Trail Manager.

“We’re keen to hear from local people, communities and businesses for their ideas and suggestions – to ensure the Hebridean Whale Trail embodies the spirit of the Hebrides, and places Scotland’s land-based

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Photo by: Nilfanion CC Dolphins in Cromarty Firth

whale watching opportunities on the international map.”

Scotland’s west coast offers excellent opportunities for accessible, land-based whale watching, with a remarkable range of species to be spotted.

The region’s seas are home to around a quarter of the world’s whale and dolphin species – including bottlenose, Risso’s and common dolphins, harbour porpoises, minke whales and Orca.

“Scotland is renowned for its outstanding beauty and our natural environment is one of the top reasons people choose to visit,” said David Adams McGilp, VisitScotland Regional Partnerships Director.

“This new Whale Trail will help cement Scotland’s reputation as one of the best places in the Europe to watch marine life, and provides a platform for local communities to come together and promote

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Photo by: Nilfanion CC Dolphins in Cromarty Firth

Photo by Vcarceler CC Chanonry Point Dolphin

everything that makes the Hebrides such a unique and special place. “With figures suggesting naturebased activities are worth nearly 40 per cent of all tourism spending in Scotland, our natural heritage is certainly an important asset when attracting visitors.�

Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust will be planning and developing the project over the next year, identifying potential sites for inclusion on the trail in close collaboration with individuals, communities, site owners, conservation organisations, schools, local businesses, visitor centres and tour operators.

Photo by Dg-505 CC Marine life in the Moray Firth

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The Trust hopes to identify sites from the Clyde in the south to Cape Wrath in the far north, and as far west as St Kilda. There will be a variety of locations from remote and dramatic headlands and sea lochs, white sandy beaches, and bustling harbours.

Photo by Neil Aitkenhead CC Pair of Bottlenose Dolphins

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The trail will have a dedicated website with suggested routes, transport options and site details, with visitors able to share experiences by uploading photos.

There will be on-site interpretation at suitable locations, explaining which species are likely to be seen and describing the heritage of particular sites.

Activities will support local economic growth and job creation, promoting land-based whale-watching as a sustainable and accessible activity.

The project aims to help communities – particularly in remote areas where visitor numbers or facilities can’t support boat-based whale-watching businesses – to generate an income from their local natural heritage.

Events, workshops and school field trips will raise awareness about cetaceans, while volunteers will be able to be trained how to responsibly watch, identify and record marine wildlife. Wildlife tour businesses and community groups setting up trips that incorporate nearby whale trail locations will be offered expert advice, training and information materials.

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Slow rise for Sundown Frazer Hines and Caitlin Blackwood in Sundown

Slow rise for

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ritically acclaimed short film Sundown, starring Doctor Who sidekicks Caitlin Blackwood and Frazer Hines, is to be unveiled in the Highland capital of Inverness.

Sundown tells the story of William, a man in his seventies, who is taken on a journey to a remote Scottish Island by the young Abi to come to terms with his own mortality.

Described by Warped Perspective as, “thought-provoking and picturesque� the 12 minute Scottish

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Indie short film has received multiple five star reviews.

Organisers of the two-day creative festival have selected Sundown along with around 50 other short movies, out of more than 2,000 submissions from as far afield as Beverley Hills and the Outer Hebrides.

Despite it’s critical success, the emotional drama has had a slow start on the festival circuit. Sundown struggled to reach its audience after being missed from inclusion in the programme of two out of three of the mainstream Scottish film festivals before landing a place at XpoNorth in Inverness.

BAFTA Nominated Director Ryan Hendrick said: “We are thrilled Sundown has found a home at XpoNorth. This truly vibrant and

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creative festival in the heart of the Highlands is the perfect setting for our film. We were getting nervous that Sundown wouldn’t find a place in it’s home country after being ignored by Glasgow and Edinburgh.”

XpoNorth, Scotland’s leading Creative Industries festival runs for two days, 27-28 June, around multiple venues in Inverness.

Inverness actress Caitlin Blackwood who stars in Sundown said, “I’m delighted our thoughtful and incisive film is premiering in my home town.

I hope those attending the festival enjoy it as much as we did making it.”

Blackwood rose to fame at the age of eight in BBC’s Doctor Who as Matt Smith’s new companion Amelia Pond before handing the role over to her real life cousin Karen Gillan.

Blackwood stars in Sundown alongside former Emmerdale and Doctor Who star Frazer Hines.

Hines, whose Highland character Jamie MacCrimmon in 1960’s Doctor Who was the original inspiration for the Starz series Outlander.

“Sundown is Scottish, set in Scotland, made by Scottish talent but tells a universal story that everyone can relate to. It’s fantastic it has found a home in Scotland with Xpo North,” said Frazer.

Sundown Producer, recent BAFTA Scotland & Celtic Media Festival Winning David Brown described the film as, “a great representation of the indie scene and of alternative voices highlighting the best Scotland has to offer through its landscapes, all showcased through a tight and compelling story.”

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Take time to travel to new Outlander locations

Photo by VisitScotland Outlander fans at the Signet Library, with Outlander Podcast hosts Ginger Wiseman (front, second from left) and Summer Reynolds (front, second from right).

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housands of international Outlander fans who visit Scotland every year to follow in the footsteps of their heroes now have even more places to see.

A specially created map detailing a number of locations used for filming in the highly popular television series has been updated with seven new destinations in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Ayrshire.

The new locations have been added to VisitScotland’s Outlander guide to celebrate the recent release of Outlander: Season Three on Bluray and DVD. The third series is set in Scotland, the USA and the West Indies.

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Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland University of Glasgow - TheCloisters

Season 4 of the internationally acclaimed time-travelling romantic adventure, starring Caitriona Balfe as ‘Claire Fraser’ and Sam Heughan as ‘Jamie Fraser’, is currently filming in Scotland, based out of Wardpark Studios.

Recently Starz and Sony Pictures Television who produce the show announced that two more seasons have been commissioned as interest in the series continues to grow.

The set-jetting map now features more than 36 Scottish locations used in the hit show. The map is free to download at www.visitscotland.com/ outlander and a printed version will be available in select VisitScotland iCentres and featured locations.

The new locations for Season Three are include the University of Glasgow which doubles for Harvard University; Craigmillar Castle in Edinburgh which plays the role of Ardsmuir Prison; Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow which fills in for a Boston park; the

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Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland The view from Craigmillar Castle

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Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Bell Tower at The University of Glasgow

Signet Library in Edinburgh which was transformed into the interior of the Governor’s Mansion in Jamaica; Bakehouse Close on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh which is the setting for Jamie’s print shop; Tweeddale Court on the Royal Mile, in Edinburgh which featured as the market place where Claire reunites with Fergus; and Dunure Harbour in Ayrshire which stands in for Ayr Harbour.

Photo by Paul Tomkins / VisitScotland The harbour at Dunure, South Ayrshire

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Locations already on the map that feature again in the third season are Gosford House and Hopetoun House.

“As well as being the land that inspired Outlander, Scotland remains an integral part of the series and we are delighted that so many new locations have been used in the third season,” Jenni Steele, Film and Creative Industries Manager at VisitScotland.

“With almost 40 locations now featuring in our popular Outlander map, there is so much of the country for set-jetting fans to explore and we hope even more will do so by following in the footsteps of Claire and Jamie.”

Among the fans celebrating the launch of the new detailed map was a large group of international Outlander fans on a 10-day tour of filming locations used in the hit TV show.

Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Craigmillar Castle

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Organised by travel agents Spirit Journeys in partnership with popular US-based fan podcast The Outlander Podcast (as featured in issue 7 of Scotland Correspondent magazine) a total of 28 fans toured locations across Scotland used in the show and sites linked to the real history of the Jacobites.

Ginger Wiseman, who co-hosts The Outlander Podcast with Summer Reynolds, said: “Since our show began in 2013, and with the success of Starz’ Outlander, people have asked when or if we’d be doing an Outlander-themed tour of Scotland.

After a couple of years, we started to take them seriously and now here we have our first PodAbroad tour.

“We’re so happy for other fans to experience the magic of Scotland, the physical and spiritual home of Outlander and to see some of the history for themselves.”

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Date 4 ur diary

Scotland

1-24 June West End Festival Glasgow The West End Festival is Glasgow’s largest cultural event and every June takes over this popular area of Glasgow with a wide variety of events and performances. Last year over 400 events took place in 80 venues. http://www.westendfestival.co.uk 1-3 June Gardening Scotland Royal Highland Centre Ingliston, Edinburgh A celebration of everything to do with the garden, from design ideas and inspiration to tools and accessories and of course wonderful plants. It’s where the UK’s top nurseries come every year, bringing with them an astonishing array of beautiful and unusual flowers and shrubs. http://www.gardeningscotland.com 1-3 June Fyne Fest Achadunan, Cairndow Argyll A three-day celebration of beer, food and music, taking place in Cairndow Argyll at the Fyne Ales brewery estate.

FyneFest is a weekend of escapism, accompanied by the best beer, food and music from Scotland and beyond – it’s all about good people enjoying good times with good beer, food and entertainment. The festival is proudly family-friendly, offering the full festival experience to anyone of any age (and dogs too). http://www.fynefest.com 1-2 June Enjoy Music Festival Hazlehead Park Aberdeen Enjoy Music Festival takes place across 2 days for the time this year on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd of June.

The festival is now open to all ages with special deals for Adult, Family and Children’s tickets. http://www.digitalloveaberdeen.co.uk/enjoymusic/ 2 June Gargunnock Show Gargunnock, Stirling Gargunnock Farmers’ Club is one of the oldest in Scotland. Founded in 1794 and organises the annual show on the first Saturday of June. A great day out for all the family. https://gargunnockshow.weebly.com

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If you have a future event you would like included in our diary please email details to news@scotlandcorrespondent.com 2 June TruckNess Bogbain Farm Inshes, Inverness Staged to celebrate the fantastic contribution made by the men and women working in the Haulage Industry in Inverness and the Scottish Highlands and Islands, and an opportunity to raise funds for MFR Cash for Kids. This year looks set to be the biggest event yet. https://www.facebook.com/truckness/ 2 June Shotts Highland Games Hannah Park Baton Road, Shotts Experience a great traditional Scottish event. http://www.shottshighlandgames.org.uk 2 June Taste of Grampian Thainstone Centre Inverurie Aberdeenshire Scotland’s biggest one-day food and drink festival.

Visitors can enjoy cookery demonstrations throughout the day, head-to-head school competitions, children’s entertainment, a Motor Show, Beer, Gin and Wine. https://www.tasteofgrampian.co.uk 2 June Helensburgh & Lomond Highland Games Helensburgh Rugby Club Rhu Road Higher Helensburgh A spectacular event of traditional sport and dance. Helensburgh Highland Games go back to the 1889, but the more modern version was started in 2008. Unique in being linked to two local Clans; the Colquhoun’s and MacAulay’s, who’s Clan Chiefs alternate the duties of Games Chieftain, it is a popular event for both local people and visitors to the area. https://www.helensburghandlomondgames.co.uk 2 June Cornhill Highland Games Cornhill Playing Field Cornhill Aberdeenshire Come and join us for the 21st year of the Cornhill Highland Games.

Part of the Scottish Highland Games Association and Grampian Games Association, Cornhill Highland Games is one of the highlights on the calendar for the local community, as well as the numerous visitors who attend from throughout north east Scotland and beyond. http://www.cornhillhighlandgames.org

2 June The Gin Fayre - Dumfries Easterbrook Hall The Crichton Dumfries The Gin Fayre brings a wide variety of gins from across Scotland, the rest of the UK and indeed, the rest of the world under one roof. Jam-packed with different distilleries with samples to enjoy, masterclasses, a cocktail bar and mouth-watering treats, this is the perfect gin inspired day out! https://www.ginfayre.co.uk/events/dumfries/ 3 June Ballater Duck Festival Church Square Ballater Started in 2016 to help Ballater reclaim the River Dee after the Flood. The Ballater Duck Festival aims to showcase all the fun you can have in the area. https://www.facebook.com/ballaterduckfestival/ 3 June Markinch Highland Games John Dixon Park Markinch Fife https://www.facebook.com/Markinch-HighlandGames-1259920400763589/ 3 June Carrick Lowland Gathering Victory Park Girvan South Ayrshire The Carrick Lowland Gathering was first set up in 1982 as a one off event but has now grown to be a large annual community occasion. The event incorporates the Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway Pipe Band Association Competition, The Highland Heavy Weight Games, The Aileen Robertson School of Highland Dance Competitions, plus Girvan Athletics Club annual Saughill Hill race and an open Athletics’ Competition. https://girvanattractions.co.uk 2-3 June Historic Motoring Extravaganza Thirlestane Castle Lauder Now in its 46th year and for the twelth year running this wonderful Festival of Motoring will be held in the grounds of the magnificent Thirlestane Castle. Over 600 cars, motorcycles, military, agricultural and commercial vehicles are expected in the “Open” concours classes together with some 500 vehicles gathered around fifty “Club” stands. Live music, good food, an opportunity to shop and a range of displays and family friendly activities will make it an unforgetable festival for all who attend. https://www.facebook.com/ BordersVintageAutomobileClub/

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2-3 June Mountain Bike World Cup Aonach Mor Fort William Regarded as must-see event for all the family the event brings elite riders, teams and spectators from all over the world to the Scottish Highlands, where they can enjoy a great experience and the legendary Fort William atmosphere. http://fortwilliamworldcup.co.uk 7-24 June Edinburgh Festival of Cycling Edinburgh Celebrate all aspects of cycling in and around the City of Edinburgh, including travel, leisure, adventure, transport, sport, personal development. https://edfoc.org.uk 7-10 June Eden Festival Raehills Meadows St Anns Moffat Scotland’s largest boutique festival with over 300 acts across 12 stages. http://www.edenfestival.co.uk 8-10 June Potfest International Ceramics Festival Scone Palace Perth Potfest ceramic shows - putting public and potters together. Meet the potters, talk pots, and buy direct from the maker. http://www.potfest.co.uk/potfest-scotland/ 8-10 June Tweedlove Bike Festival 12 Kingsmeadows Road Peebles Now the UK’s biggest bike festival, with visitors coming from all over the planet for a warm welcome in the Scottish Borders. http://tweedlove.com 8-9 June Oban Live Mossfield Stadium Oban The biggest live music event in the region of Argyll & Bute http://obanlive.com 8-10 June Arran Folk Festival Brodick Hall Brodick Isle of Arran http://www.arranevents.com/index.php

8-10 June TMSA Keith Festival Keith Festival of traditional music, song and dance. http://tmsakeithfestival.blogspot.co.uk 9-10 June The Cateran Yomp Blairgowrie The biggest, toughest event of its kind. Taking place in the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland, teams of 3-6 people battle through 54 miles (gold) in 24 hours across the rugged terrain of the Scottish wilderness. You can also sign up for the silver options (36 miles) or bronze (22 miles). https://www.soldierscharity.org/events/the-cateranyomp/ 9 June Angus Show Haughmuir Brechin Angus Cattle, sheep, goats, horses, vintage vehicles, truck show, dog show, highland dancing, ladies, gents and childrens classes all available. http://www.theangusshow.com 9-17 June Leith Festival Leith, Edinburgh A week long community event held in the historic port of Leith. http://www.leithfestival.com 9-10 June Crail Food Festival Marketgate Crail Taking place in the costal village of Crail, the Crail Food Festival is a highlight of the summer festival calendar with a variety of food and drink based events and opportunities for producers and public alike. http://www.crailfoodfest.co.uk 9 June Bearsden and Milngavie Highland Games West of Scotland Rugby Ground Burnbrae, Glasgow Road Milngavie Glasgow Lots of events and activities throughout the day for all the family. http://www.bearsdenmilngaviehighlandgames.com 10 June Ardrossan Highland Games Ardrossan Situated on the West Coast of Scotland, around 30 miles south west of Glasgow, Ardrossan has hosted a highland

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games since 1979. http://www.ardrossanhighlandgames.org.uk 10 June Strathmore Highland Games Glamis Castle Glamis Angus A truly Scottish event that takes place in the beautiful grounds of Glamis Castle. There’s lots going on like big strong men tossing cabers and throwing hammers, light footed highland dancer’s dancing, pipers piping, runners running and cyclist’s cycling. There’s also ice-cream and a bouncy castle, plus races to help keep the kids happy. https://www.strathmorehighlandgames.co.uk 13-14 June Skye Food & Drink Festival The Aros Centre Portree A celebration of food and drink from across Skye and the surrounding regions. From whisky, gin, wine and beer producers, meat, fish, chutneys and bread, to chocolate and cheese makers, the artisan producers market at the Skye Food and Drink festival is sure to delight the senses. http://skyefoodanddrinkfestival.com 14-17 June Borders Book Festival Harmony House Melrose Celebrate summer with a visit to one of Britain’s friendliest book festivals. Get set for a memorable weekend, with more than 100 events for all ages to choose from. http://www.bordersbookfestival.org 15-24 June Moray Walking Festival This summer come to the north of Scotland and explore the Moray Highlands. Whether it’s a big challenge or a gentle introduction to the outdoors, the Moray Walking & Outdoor Festival welcomes you. From humble beginnings, in 2011 the festival has grown to be one of the UK’s premier outdoor activity and walking festivals.

With 58 organised events to choose from our 2018 festival is the largest and most varied outdoor activity festival in Scotland. https://www.themorayway.org.uk/festival/ 15-24 June Cupar Arts Festival Cupar, Fife http://cupararts.org.uk 15-17 June Muckle-Toon Adventure Festival Langholm The Muckle Toon Adventure Festival is fast becoming the

flagship outdoor adventure event of southern Scotland.

Join the party for amazing outdoor activities, sporting events, unbeatable scenery and hospitality. https://www.muckletoonadventurefestival.co.uk 15-17 June Cream o’ the Croft Comrie Croft Comrie An unbelievably fun, family-friendly festival for anyone who loves camping, music, the great outdoors and mountain biking. Throw in an award-winning venue, a ton of live music, some street performers, gourmet food and drink providers and activities ranging from a pedalpowered cinema to a giant water slide and you can imagine just how good this weekend is. http://www.creamothecroft.co.uk 16-17 June Keith and Dufftown Railway 1940s Weekend Dufftown Railway Station Dufftown Moray The Keith and Dufftown Railway is an eleven mile line linking the World’s Malt Whisky Capital, Dufftown, to the market town of Keith. The 1940s weekend will see military re-enactors giving informative presentations, some superb military and home front displays. A great family fun day out. http://keith-dufftown-railway.co.uk/1940s-weekend/ 16 June Oldmeldrum Sports and Highland Games The Pleasure Park Oldmeldrum Aberdeenshire The Oldmeldrum Sports (or Sunshine Sports) was first held in 1930, an annual event for our local community and visitors who come from near and far to enjoy the Highland Games and Sport events. http://www.oldmeldrumsports.co.uk 16 June Gin, Rum & Cocktail Festival Tullibody Road, Alloa A new Gin, Rum and Cocktail Festival making its debut at historic Gean House, in Clackmannanshire. Gean is a breathtakingly romantic edifice that will provide a truly stunning backdrop for the festival.

Created by The Stirling Spirit Company, the people behind the record-breaking Stirling Gin and Stirling Whisky Festivals, this exciting addition to the summer scene is sure to prove a huge hit with aficionados of premium spirits. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gin-rum-and-cocktailfestival-tickets-41141069045?aff=es2 17 June Aberdeen Highland Games Hazlehead Park

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Aberdeen The Aberdeen Highland Games are an integral part of the Grampian Games circuit and are delivered under the auspices of the Scottish Highland Games Association.

The day-long event will include many tradition events including: track and field, heavy weights, solo piping and highland dancing. https://www.visitabdn.com/whats-on/aberdeen-highlandgames-2018/ 17 June Cupar Highland Games Duffus Park Cupar Fife http://www.cuparhighlandgames.org 17-24 June Peebles Beltane Festival Hay Lodge Park Peebles Scottish Borders Peebles Beltane Festival is a festival of local legend, history and tradition. Beltane is a festival that marks the return of summer with the lighting of fires; where people could burn their winter bedding and floor coverings, ready to be replaced afresh. Referred to as a Gaelic ceremony, this type of festival has been celebrated for thousands of years. http://www.peeblesbeltanefestival.co.uk 19 June Scottish Storytelling Centre Cafe Ceilidh Summer Stramash Scottish Storytelling Centre Storytelling Court Edinburgh An afternoon session of traditional songs, music, poems and stories held in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court. http://www.tracscotland.org/scottish-storytelling-centre/ centre-events/9104/café-ceilidh-summer-stramash 20 June - 1 July Edinburgh International Film Festival Edinburgh Inaugurated in 1947, EIFF is the world’s longest continually-running film festival. http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk 20-24 June Glasgow Jazz Festival 219 The Briggait 141 Bridgegate Glasgow The 32nd Glasgow Jazz Festival takes place citywide.

Five days of over 50 shows featuring more than 250 musicians. http://www.jazzfest.co.uk

21-24 June Royal Highland Show Royal Highland Centre Ingliston Edinburgh Celebrating its 178th year, The Royal Highland Show is one of Scotland’s most iconic events, showcasing the very best of farming food and rural life. A great day out for everyone of all ages, get up close to the country’s top quality livestock, taste exceptional food & drink and experience rural living at its most vibrant. http://www.royalhighlandshow.org

23 June Drumtochty Highland Games Drumtochty Castle Grounds Auchinblae Laurencekirk Known as the friendliest Highland Games in the area they are firmly established in the Scottish Highland Games calendar as one of the most outstanding events. This is not only because of the top competitors attending and records broken but also for the all-round entertainment offered and the sheer beauty of the venue. http://www.drumtochtyhighlandgames.com

21 June Midsummer Music at The Scottish Crannog Centre Kenmore Loch Tay

By Aberfeldy Perthshire The magical, atmospheric Crannog is the only place to be on Midsummer’s Night. Don’t miss this fabulous opportunity to listen to acoustic music around the log fire in the iconic roundhouse. http://www.crannog.co.uk/events/309-midsummermusic-in-the-crannog-the-only-place-to-spendmidsummer-s-eve

24 June Glasgow Mela Kelvingrove Park Glasgow Scotland’s biggest free multicultural festival bursts with live music, theatre performances, exotic and mouthwatering foods from around the globe and fun for all ages. https://www.glasgowmela.com/Pages/default.aspx

22-28 June St Magnus Festival Kirkwall Orkney One of the UK’s leading summer festivals filling the midsummer days and magical ancient landscape of the Orkney Islands with an exciting array of events.

International orchestras and soloists, chamber music and opera, theatre and dance, poets and authors, bands and visual artists, community participation and new work are all part of the diverse programme. http://www.stmagnusfestival.com 22-24 June Solas Festival The Bield Tibbermore Perth Solas brings performers and thinkers together to entertain, surprise and delight; a rich Midsummer celebration of art and ideas. http://www.solasfestival.co.uk 23 June The Perth Kilt Run The North Inch Perth The first Perth Kilt Run was organized in 2010 as a “one-time event”. That race broke the world record for a kilt run and to this day continues to break the Guinness record each year. Just like it sounds this event is an 8k run that participants complete in their finest kilt. http://www.runguides.com/ottawa/event/perth-kilt-run

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24 June Lorne Highland Games Mossfield Park Lorne Oban Staged in the town of Oban at Mossfield Park, the games are locally called The People’s Games. It has all the favourite elements of a good Scottish Highland Games including caber tossing, hammer throwing and tug o’war - action you’d expect from a top event. You can even take part in the track and field events or just relax and enjoy the Highland Dancing Competition or Pipe Band Display. http://lorne-highland-games.org.uk 27 June - 1 July East Neuk Festival Anstruther, Fife http://www.eastneukfestival.com 29 June - 1 July Scottish Game Fair Scone Palace Perth The 2018 Scottish Game Fair marks 30 years of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust celebrating conservation and the countryside. http://www.scottishfair.com 29 June - 2 July The Kelburn Garden Party Kelburn Castle Fairlie Discover a festival like no other… a feast of music, art and adventure in a fairytale setting only 50 minutes from Glasgow. https://www.kelburngardenparty.com

29 June - 1 July TRNSMT Glasgow Green Glasgow http://trnsmtfest.com/news 30 June Haddington Show East Fortune North Berwick East Lothian Haddington Show has been run annually in East Lothian, by the United East Lothian Agricultural Society, since 1804. https://www.haddingtonshow.co.uk 30 June - 1 July Scottish Traditional Boat Festival Portsoy Packed with brilliant moments, the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival engages the local region, bringing together boats, music, crafts, food and drink to celebrate the region’s rich cultural heritage. https://stbfportsoy.org 30 June Gairloch Highland Gathering Gairloch Ross-shire https://gairlochgathering.com 30 June European Pipe Band Championships Grant Park Forres Moray The European Pipe Band Championships 2018, involving thousands of pipers and drummers from far and wide, will be an stunning spectacle of colour as well as amazing playing! https://pipingatforres.com/main-event-piping-at-forres/ 30 June Glasgow Comic Festival Royal Concert Hall 2 Sauchiehall Street Glasgow Bringing some of the biggest and brightest names in comics to the heart of the city. http://www.glasgowcomiccon.com 30 June Ceres Highland Games The Bow Butts Ceres Fife Ceres Games are the oldest free games in Scotland since the charter to hold the Games was given to the people of the village by Robert Bruce in 1314 in recognition of their support at the battle of Bannockburn. http://www.ceresgames.co.uk

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Australia

8-11 June The National Celtic Festival Portarlington, Victoria, Australia Australia’s premier Celtic Festival attracting over 15,000 people to the region over the three day long weekend event each June. www.nationalcelticfestival.com

CANADA

9 June 43rd Annual Georgetown Highland Games Georgetown, Ontario, Canada A great day out for all the family. www.georgetownhighlandgames.com 10-16 June Moncton Highland Games Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada The festival takes place the week before the games with a church service, flag raisings and open-air concerts. The week culminates on Saturday, June 16 at the Hal Betts Sportsplex on the corner of Assumption Blvd and Vaughn Harvey Blvd with the Moncton Highland Games. www.monctonhighlandgames.com 15-16 June 55th Cobourg Scottish Festival & Highland Games Cobourg, Ontario, Canada Since the earliest days of its settlement, the lands within and around Cobourg, and indeed across the nation itself, have been home to courageous Scots Exiles seeking their fortunes in the New World. From early explorers, soldiers and settlers, to politicians, ministers and men of business, the steady hand of the Scots can more clearly be seen in Canada than in any other country on earth outside of Scotland itself.

Join us for the 55th Cobourg Scottish Festival and Highland Games with over 25 Pipe Bands, 200 Highland Dancers and Men’s & Women’s Heavy Events. www.cobourghighlandgames.ca 16 June BC Highland Games & Scottish Festival Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada Join us for everything from caber tossing, singing, dancing, bagpiping, and Scottish kilts, to Celtic and Bhangramusic, a great beer garden, kids activities and a new and revised “Cultural Corner” featuring mobile entertainers, demonstrations, hands-on activities and more. www.bchighlandgames.com 23 June The Water Valley Traditional Celtic/Folk Festival Water Valley, Alberta, Canada

A one day lively and totally unique experience that features talent of all levels involving music, dance and stories performed by individuals and groups, covering the range from amateur to professional level, to promote traditional Celtic material and local talent. www.watervalleycelticfestival.org 23-24 June Manitoba Highland Gathering Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada The members of the Manitoba Highland Gathering strive to preserve, promote, nurture, share and educate folk about our colourful Scottish Culture and Heritage, Arts and Sports and Agriculture. www.manitobahighlandgathering.org 23 June Perth Brewery World Record Kilt Run 2018 Perth, Ontario, Canada The idea to hold a kilt run in Perth, Ontario was conceived in October 2009 by Terry Stewart after the Mayor of Perth, Ontario challenged town residents to suggest a way to help Perth, Scotland celebrate its 800th Anniversary.

Now in its ninth year it continues to be a major attraction, drawing thousands of visitors to the town to race or cheer. www.perthkiltrun.ca 24 June Edmonton Scottish Society Highland Gathering Edmonton, Alberta, Canada A full day of Scottish culture from pipes and drums to dancing and heavy events. A fun experience for all the family. https://sites.google.com/view/edmontonscottishsociety/ highland-gathering 26 June - 2 July Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada A week-long event first held in 1979 to mark the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother to Nova Scotia for the International Gathering of the Clans. It has been held every year since and was granted Royal Status

by Her Majesty The Queen in 2006 on the occasion of her 80th birthday. www.nstattoo.ca

USA

1-3 June Glasgow Highland Games Glasgow, Kentucky, USA Annual festival celebrating heritage and traditions of all Celtic people. If the sound of bagpipes playing stirs your soul, you’re family. Whether you come alone or with family and friends, you’ll leave our Games knowing you’re a part of The Glasgow Highland Games!! www.glasgowhighlandgames.com

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2 June Garrett County Celtic Festival Friendsville Maryland, United States The Garrett County Celtic Festival celebrates the heritage, arts, and culture of the Appalachian immigrants from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Brittany. www.gccelticfestival.com 3 June Milwaukee Highland Games Hart Park, 7300 Chestnut St. Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, USA Celebrating Scottish traditions with bagpipe bands, tasty authentic food, dancing, sheepdogs, heavy events like the hammer throw and the caber toss plus much more. www.milwaukeescottishfest.com 8-10 June Utah Scottish Festival & Highland Games Utah State Fair Park 155 N 1000 W Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Join us for a weekend celebrating and promoting the customs, civilization, and achievement of Scottish heritage. www.utahscots.org 9-10 June Mother Lode Highland Games Amador County Fair, 18621 Sherwood St. Plymouth, California, USA Welcome to the 3rd Annual Mother Lode Highland Games & Celtic Gathering where you can experience Scotland without having to purchase a plane ticket. We have a great lineup of Celtic music entertrainers, 11 pipe bands, foods from Scotland, Celtic Marketplace living history, and never forget the Modern Clans, along the Royal Mile you will see their tartans proudly flying.

Visit the Clan Village where you can talk to the various clansmen, obtain genealogy information and maybe look up your own family history. www.themotherlodegames.com 9-10 June Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games Meeks Park Blairsville, Georgia, USA Two days of celebrations to promote the Scottish heritage of the area and tourism in Blairsville-Union County. www.blairsvillescottishfestival.com 14-17 June Taste of Scotland Festival Franklin, North Carolina, USA A day of Scottish Fun, Food, Fashion, Music, Highland Games, Clans, Border Collie Demonstrations, Crafters, Cherokee and Re-enactor Demonstrations, Seminars, and Culture for the whole family! www.tasteofscotlandfestival.org

15-16 June Chicago Scottish Festival & Highland Games Hamilton Lakes, 900 Thorndale Ave. Itasca, Illinois, USA An extravaganza of activities and attractions - from the Caber Toss to Highland Dancing to the Dogs of Scotland.

This family-friendly event is a chance to explore Scottish culture without buying a plane ticket. Plus, all proceeds benefit the Society, the oldest not-for-profit in Illinois. www.scottishfestivalchicago.org 16 June Mid-Maryland Celtic Festival Mt. Airy Fire Dept Fairgrounds, 1003 Twin Arch Rd. Mt. Airy, Maryland, USA A one-day festival celebrating all things Scottish. www.midmarylandcelticfestival.com 16 June Prosser Scottish Fest Prosser Wine and Food Park Prosser, Washington, United States Central Washington’s premier Scottish Fest and Highland Games. www.prosserscottishfest.org 22-23 June The Ohio Scottish Games Lorain County Fairgrounds Wellington, Ohio, USA Established in 1977, this long standing event is presented by members of The Ohio Scottish American

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Cultural Society of Ohio, an organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of their proud Scottish Heritage and ancestry.

Highlighting traditional dance, music and athletics of the ancient highland games this event is for the enjoyment of all Scots and friends. www.ohioscottishgames.com 23-24 June 45th San Diego Scottish Highland Games Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Dr Vista, California, USA www.sdhighlandgames.org 23 June 49th Annual Tacoma Highland Games Frontier Park, 21718 Meridian Ave E. Graham, Washington, United States Experience a fine day of Scottish & Celtic culture, with the Avenue of Clans, Scottish craft & food vendors, & Scottish music. www.tacomagames.org 30 June Alaska Scottish Highland Games Alaska State Fairgrounds Palmer, Alaska, USA Come and enjoy a great family day out and help us promote the Scottish culture, heritage and teachings to the people of Alaska. www.alaskascottish.org

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