BRITAIN – Homecoming Scotland 2014 Guide

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COTLAND CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF HOMECOMING 2014

A SUPPLEMENT TO BRITAIN – THE OFFICIAL M AGAZINE

FAMOUS STEAM TRAIN

FORT WILLIAM TO MALLAIG

“The World’s Greatest Railway Journey” Voted By Wanderlust Magazine

Morning Trip (Monday to Friday) - Monday 12th May to Friday 24th October Morning Trip (Saturday & Sunday) - Saturday 21st June to Sunday 21st September Afternoon Trip (Monday to Friday) - Monday 2nd June to Friday 29th August The line used in filming the Harry Potter movies.

THE JOURNEY

During the 42-mile journey to Mallaig you will first pass Ben Nevis and then climb into majestic mountains surrounding Glenfinnan, Finally, you will drop down to the sea’s edge and view the inner Hebridean islands, often shimmering like jewels on the horizon. From the comfort of your seat, witness the beauty of the semi-wilderness of Lochaber and beyond.There really is no better way to enjoy the beauty and history of the West Highlands.

The Jacobite has been voted Greatest Railway Journey in the world for the second year running. This is due mainly to the breathtaking scenery that is only enhanced by the majesty and nostalgia of steam travel. The 84 mile round trip will take you past Britain’s highest mountain, deepest loch, shortest river and most westerly station.

TIMETABLE & PRICES Morning Service Departs: 10:15, Returns: 16:00 Afternoon Service Departs: 14:30, Returns: 20:24

Adult Return: STD

1ST

£34 £58

Adult Single STD

1ST

£29 £53

Child Return

Child Single

STD

1ST

STD

1ST

£19

£31

£17

£26

Book Online: www.jacobitetrain.com or call Monday to Friday 0844 850 4686

Whilst every effort will be made to operate this service as advertised, West Coast Railways reserve the right to cancel or alter this service without notice in accordance with their terms and conditions. West Coast Railways also reserves the right to use diesel traction in the event of high fire risk or steam locomotive failure. Once a booking is made, no refund is normally given except where the service is cancelled by West Coast Railways. Only West Coast Railways’ tickets are valid on this service. Please note: The return ticket price assumes outward and return journeys will be made on the same day and on the same train. All bookings are subject to a minimum £3.25 booking fee.

SCOTLAND CONTENTS

Scotland. A land of hidden glens and majestic mountains, battling clans and ferocious warriors, and a mysterious, magical history. It’s a country that continues to fascinate and delight – this wondrous past permeating its landscape and traditions, as well as informing a unique and intriguing culture.

It’s said that around 50 million people all over the world can boast Scottish heritage and the strong identity of this romantic place enthrals many more.

Happily, those with Scottish ancestry and those, like me, who simply love the country, are in for a special treat in 2014.

The Year of Homecoming is a fabulous celebration of all that makes Scotland truly great. From castles to culture and food to festivals, hundreds of events throughout the year will bring people together to enjoy all things Scottish.

If you plan on visiting Scotland in 2014, this guide is packed full of Homecoming information, from signature events to the exciting blend of festivals, activities and performances that will showcase the very best that the country has to offer. And if you can’t join in yourself, we have plenty more to appeal to every Scotland fan.

INSIDE

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HOMECOMING 2014

PALACES & CASTLES

A year-long celebration of heritage, Homecoming 2014 will showcase Scotland's unique highlights and history.

Stately splendour or remote ruin, Scotland's magnificent castles and palaces hold extraordinary secrets of the past.

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COUNTRY OF CLANS

THE HOME OF GOLF

An integral part of Scottish identity, traditional tartan has a story dating back to clan warfare in the Highlands.

Modern golf was established in Scotland. We explore some of the country’s amazing historic courses.

Jessica Tooze, Editor

BRITAIN Cotswolds THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE

TRAVEL CULTURE HERITAGE STYLE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 £3.95 03 03

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CASTLES AROUND THE

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THE STORY OF WHISKY

HEROES & HEROINES

Known in Scotland as the ‘water of life', whisky is made across the country and wee drams are drunk with relish.

From brave soldiers and romantic royals to Hollywood stars, Scotland has produced a wealth of iconic figures.

BRITAIN is the official magazine of VisitBritain, the national tourism agency.

BRITAIN is published by The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TQ Tel: 020 7349 3700 Fax: 020 7901 3701 Email: info@britain-magazine.com

Editor Jessica Tooze Acting Deputy Editor Martha Alexander Art Editor Rhian Colley Writer Robin McKelvie Managing Director Paul Dobson Deputy Managing Director Steve Ross Printed in England by Wyndeham Heron, Maldon, Essex Production All Points Media

© The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 2014. All rights reserved.

Text and pictures are copyright restricted and must not be reproduced without permission of the publishers.

The information contained in this supplement has been published in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. However, where appropriate, you are strongly advised to check opening times, dates, etc, before making final arrangements.

All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or damage caused by reliance on the information contained within this publication is hereby excluded. The opinions expressed by contributors to BRITAIN are not necessarily those of the publisher, VisitBritain or VisitScotland.

Cover images, clockwise from top left: Eilean Donan Castle; a Scottish piper in Glen Coe; The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo; a wild red deer stag in the Scottish Highlands

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COVER PHOTOS: © STEPHEN EMERSON/JOHN MORGAN/NAGELESTOCK.COM/ALAMY/GRANVILLE HARRIS/LOOP IMAGES/CORBIS

EDITOR'S LETTER

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SCOTLAND Homecoming Homecoming 2014

Year of

Howie Nicholsby, a contemporary kilt designer from Edinburgh, is one of the ambassadors of Homecoming Scotland 2014 www.britain-magazine.com

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photo: Š visitscotland

in 2014 Scotland welcomes the world to join in the exciting Year of Homecoming, with a 12-month programme of events and activities designed to showcase the country's magnificent highlights

SCOTLAND Homecoming

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cotland has experienced many important years throughout its tumultuous history, and 2014 promises to be another. Homecoming Scotland is a year-long extravaganza that incorporates The Ryder Cup, Glasgow 2014 XX Commonwealth Games, the 700th anniversary of Scotland’s most famous battle at Bannockburn and a whole host of other events and festivities.

Scotland enjoyed a highly successful ‘Year of Homecoming’ back in 2009, but this time the sheer scale of the events is unprecedented. It aims to fire the imaginations of the estimated 50 million people around the globe who claim Scottish heritage and anyone else charmed by the romance of this fascinating country. The hope is to persuade people to visit, but the year can also be enjoyed whether you make it to Scotland or not, with plenty happening online and TV coverage of major events.

More than 250 events have been announced, with five main themes. ‘Active’ focuses on the plethora of adventure and outdoor activities available in Scotland; ‘Food and Drink’ on the country’s world class produce, such as beef, seafood and, of course, whisky; and ‘Creative’ delves into the artful side of this culturally vibrant nation. Then there is ‘Natural’, which opens up one of Europe’s most spectacular landscapes and, finally, a key theme given the massive diaspora out there, ‘Ancestry’, which allows people to engage with and celebrate their Scottish heritage.

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Homecoming begins, of course, with Hogmanay, that uniquely Scottish celebration of New Year. The focus of the festivities is on the capital, Edinburgh, where a massive fireworks display will illuminate the landmark castle at ‘The Bells’ (midnight).

Alongside Hogmanay, Burns Night is one of the biggest events on the Scottish calendar as the country’s national poet is joyously celebrated across the country. The Homecoming Burns Night Parade in Dumfries in southern Scotland on 25 January will feature a cast of over 2,000 performers who will bring the spirit of Robert Burns back to life in the ‘southern capital’ with a creative performance project that features an original soundtrack, giant puppets and a host of colourful characters.

Back in the capital between 29 April and 11 May TradFest Edinburgh takes place at various venues

ScottiSh rootS

With 50 million people worldwide claiming Scottish ancestry it is little surprise that heritage will play a key role in Homecoming Scotland 2014. There are several events in

Scotland's festive year that are particularly aimed at attracting the diaspora back to the country, including: J The Year of Ancient Ancestors Festival from 15 may to 25 october in caithness will shed light on northern Scotland’s links with both the Picts and the Vikings. The main events will be Pictish caithness (15-18 may), Viking caithness (5-13 July) and the Vetrarblot Festival (24-25 october).

J The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry exhibition and events Programme is a project that will see a huge embroidered panel tapestry depicting the story of Scottish migrants through the centuries come together in February. it will then tour the country until november.

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photoS: © RobeRt biRkby/Loop iMAGeS/CoRbiS/viSitSCotLAnd/douG houGhton/AndRew wiLSon/ALAMy

Above: Loch Tummel in autumn.

Left: Lonach Highlanders.

Below: Viking dress in Orkney

SCOTLAND Homecoming including the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Some of the country’s leading traditional artists will be on hand to help the public weave together both the wonderful ancient culture of the clan days and more modern aspects of Scottish culture. Storytelling will be paramount and not just for children. The seminal Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘precipitous city’ will be brought alive and the minds of all ages stimulated.

Whisky is as much part of Scottish culture as storytelling and it is given its due during Homecoming 2014 in a month-long celebration, also in May. Whisky Month begins with the world-famous Spirit of Speyside Festival right in Scotland’s single malt heartland. It then moves on to take in myriad events spread across the entire country with food brought into the mix alongside the ‘water of life’. There will be open days at distilleries that are normally closed to the public, special tastings and various festivities with, of course, lively ceilidhs (traditional Gaelic gatherings) on the agenda. The month ends with the Islay Festival of Music and Malt. Whisky devotees can head to this idyllic wee isle on Scotland’s wild west coast, which boasts no fewer than eight distilleries, all of which will be involved in the festival.

Scotland is an evocative land that swirls in myth and legend, a country awash with historic battlefields where the famous Highland clans once crossed swords with English intruders, Roman invaders and each other. One battle, though, stands out in the Scottish psyche, and that is the Battle of Bannockburn. In June 1314 the English forces of King Edward II were sent by Robert the Bruce’s heavily outnumbered Scots back south of the border ‘tae think again’, heralding in centuries of Scotland as an independent country.

As part of Homecoming 2014 from 28 to 30 June, 700 years on from that fateful day, the National Trust for Scotland will be staging the biggest ever re-enactment of the battle: Bannockburn Live. In addition the three-day festival will boast villages where visitors can sample Scottish food and drink as well as sports, crafts and literature, with plenty on hand for younger ones too.

above: The Firth of Forth Rail Bridge at North Queensferry.

Below: Robert Ballantyne, re-enactor and historian, at Stirling Castle

Tweedlove Bike FesTival 24 May - 8 June , Scottish Borders TweedLove is the UK’s fastest growing cycling festival, held every year in the beautiful Tweed Valley. With Scotland's best purpose-built mountain bike facilities and an amazing network of historic paths and quiet country roads, the area is the perfect stage for cycling. This year will also introduce a major new international mountain bike race.

The wickerman FesTival 25 - 26 July, Dumfries and Galloway celebrate Homecoming Scotland 2014 by attending Wickerman – one of Scotland’s best-loved independent music festivals. Featuring an eclectic mix of leading artists, alternative acts and up-and-coming talent, this two-day summer party is an unmissable event for music lovers.

world sheepdog Trials 3 - 6 September, Tain, Ross-shire The World Sheepdog Trials that will include 240 competitors from 24 nations worldwide is to be staged in Scotland for the very first time in 2014.

The trials will be about showing the care, skill and dedication of a man or woman working with their dog to control a flock of sheep, as has been done for hundreds of years.

highland homecoming 1 September onwards A two-month-long celebration of contemporary Highland culture, Highland Homecoming begins with the inverness Highland meeting and culminates with mòd nàiseanta Rìoghail – The Royal national mòd, Scotland's premier gaelic festival of language, arts and culture.

Findhorn Bay arTs FesTival 24 - 28 September, Moray Findhorn Bay Arts Festival will bring the magic and mayhem of Shakespeare's Scottish tragedy Macbeth to life within the grounds of moray's magnificent Brodie castle as part of Homecoming Scotland 2014. The festival programme will feature a world premiere of Macbeth: the Red King , a new promenade performance designed specifically for the site. Situated around one of the world’s most spectacular coastlines, the moray Firth, the festival will also present a dynamic programme of arts and cultural events taking place in the coastal villages of Findhorn and Kinloss and the historic market town of Forres. www.britain-magazine.com

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The biggest event of all during Homecoming 2014 is not, however, a battle re-enactment but a sporting fiesta. The XX Commonwealth Games, held in and around Glasgow between 23 July and 3 August, is the biggest multi-sports competition in the world after the Olympic Games. It features teams from around 70 countries, including all parts of the UK, British territories and other members of the Commonwealth. The 17 disciplines range from badminton and boxing through to shooting and triathlon.

Scotland will be competing in its own right and the partisan crowds will be right behind the Scots involved.

The Edinburgh Festivals in August already make up the largest arts extravaganza in the world. The Edinburgh International Festival, which dates back to the post-World War II days of austerity in 1947, when it was started as part of an attempt to lift the city’s morale, is the landmark event. It is accompanied by the likes of the massive Festival Fringe, the Mela and the International Book Festival and, of course, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which brings a sparkling array of military pomp and the skirl of bagpipes to Edinburgh’s dramatically

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Top: Massed pipes and drums on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle.

Above: Calanais Standing Stones, Isle of Lewis

floodlit castle. In 2014 all the Edinburgh festivals will be boosted with special Homecoming add-ons.

Moving much further north towards Scotland’s 800 islands, August also sees the Harris Tweed Hebrides Tattoo. Staged out in the dramatic Outer Hebrides in Stornoway, the tattoo will find Lews Castle rumbling to the sounds of performances from nine pipe bands, hailing from Canada, Scotland and beyond. Dancers from all over the Scottish Hebrides will converge, and the moving climax will see the massed Gaelic choirs, pipe bands and a spectacular fireworks display that will erupt over Stornoway. Saturday 9 August will be a carnival day with bands and floats parading through the town, before an evening concert in the new Lochside Arena. Highlights include the best bagpipers around, as well as Gaelic and contemporary music of the Hebrides.

Back in the Central Belt the Forth Bridges Festival, from 4 to13 September, marks the 50th birthday of the landmark Forth Road Bridge. When it was completed in 1964 it was the largest suspension bridge in the world outside of the United States and it is strongly reminiscent of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. The party will be focused on the settlements of North and South

BelTAne Fire FesTivAl This spectacular pageant in Edinburgh on 30 April honours Celtic heritage and marks the start of summer. The festival fuses together drums, fire, and revelry as Scots delight in the ancient joining of the May Queen with the reborn Green Man in an historic celebration of the seasons.

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SCOTLAND HOmecOming

photoS: © paul tomkinS/viSitScotland/ScottiSh viewpoint/ken Jack/demotix/corbiS/ken crocket/andy buchanan/alamy

Queensferry, which will see an attempt to stage the world’s largest ever sit-down lunch. The bridge will also close for a parade of vessels that will patrol the waters below, including tall ships and warships. The festival culminates with a massive pyrotechnics display, set to cost double the amount usually spent on fireworks at Edinburgh’s world-famous Hogmanay display in a normal year.

September also sees the biggest event in world golf, The Ryder Cup, fittingly return to Scotland – ‘The Home of Golf’ – for the 40th tournament. Gleneagles in Perthshire will be the deeply scenic setting for the showdown from 26 to 28 September between 24 of the best golfers in the world, half of them from the United States and the other half from Europe. The captains for this titanic tussle are legendary golfers Paul McGinley and Tom Watson. Tickets will be available for the big event and there will be a Ryder Cup Opening Concert on 24 September in Glasgow with Scottish music, film, fashion and culture providing a thrilling prelude to the main event.

For those not in the elite golfing community Homecoming 2014 has an alternative with a Scottish theme in the form of the Dean’s Scottish Clans Golf World Championships in the last week of June. The event is open to golfers from around the world who have ancestral links to Scotland. It is as simple as entering your clan name and joining the competition for the title of Dean’s Scottish Clans Golf World Champion, which is decided over four rounds of golf. The event also sees genealogy events and entertainment including pipe bands and ceilidhs.

Nothing is more quintessentially Scottish than the Highland Games or Highland Gathering. Two of the biggest, The Cowal Gathering in Dunoon (August) and The Braemar Gathering in Deeside (September), will take on a special Homecoming flavour in 2014, as will the

BannockBurn Live Bannockburn Live will represent the best that contemporary Scotland has to offer through an exploration of the past from a distinctively 21st-century perspective. Over three days, thousands of people will come to the site of the Battle of Bannockburn and experience an event like no other – a unique take on this turning point in Scotland’s history. From a battle re-enactment to some of the country’s best known artists exploring what it really meant and what it still means, through music, theatre, literature and performance – it will be a truly inclusive event.

Inverness Highland Meeting from 12 to 14 September.

By the banks of the River Ness you will enjoy an unforgettable Highland Games in the form of the Masters World Championships, which will see over 100 international heavyweights competing in traditional Highland sports such as the caber toss.

As Homecoming 2014 draws towards a close it is appropriate that a seminal Scottish talent known throughout the world should be celebrated. Glaswegian architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh is the star of Creative Mackintosh 2014 from 11 to 26 October.

His architecture, design, arts and crafts will all be flagged up in his home city, from the intricate furnishings that grace the city’s museums, through to the drama of his landmark House for An Art Lover. There will be a range of events with everything from exhibitions and talks, through to drama performances and children’s activities.

Whether or not you manage to visit Scotland yourself this year make sure you follow all that is happening, because 2014 is set to be a very special year indeed.

clockwise from top: Jacobite steam train passing over the Glenfinnan Viaduct ; statue of Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn; the clansmen's tug of war competition at the Lonach Highland Gathering and Games

For more information on Homecoming Scotland 2014, the BRITAIN website at www.britain-magazine.com will have regular updates and you can visit www.homecomingscotland.com for full details. www.britain-magazine.com

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SCOTLAND PaLaces & castLes

Legends

photo: Š Jim henderson/AlAmy

Land of

Set in stunning scenery, Scotland boasts some of the most beautiful castles in Britain, all with a romantic and rich history

Castle Fraser hosts Scotland's largest steam event as part of Homecoming www.britain-magazine.com Scotland 2014

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SCOTLAND

photoS: © national truSt for Scotland/viSit britain/britain on view

Palaces & castles

Traditional Scottish dress uniform at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Left: Culzean Castle

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cotland is synonymous with castles and palaces. The breathtaking natural drama of the countryside could not provide a better setting and the many wonderful historic edifices more than match that spectacle.

They come in all shapes and sizes, from grand fortresses that are still garrisoned by the military today, such as Edinburgh Castle, through to elegant former abbeys, such as Scone Palace, and on to romantic ruins including Dunnottar Castle. All come intriguingly wrapped in intoxicating legends, ancient myths and rich history that make visiting them an unforgettable experience.

Some of Scotland’s castles and palaces mark the tantalising last remnants of long-lost civilisations, such as the Picts. Viking marauders, who colonised the Scottish coastline and islands, built others. Then there are castles that were fashioned to stand against the ‘Auld Enemy’, England, and many others constructed as bulwarks against the English during the centuries when the two countries were locked in intense conflict.

Scotland is home to over 2,000 castles, which are scattered all over

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DiD you KNoW?

the word castle comes from the latin ‘castellum’ and is generally used to describe any type of significant fortified structure built by nobility during the Middle ages. the precursors of the scottish castle took the form of fairly rudimentary duns (hill forts) or brochs (a type of fortified tower unique to scotland). as these often occupied the best high ground, more extensive castles that started to appear in the 11th century were often built on the site of earlier incarnations.

By the 14th century the trend had moved from large, imposing castles to more practical towers. Many of the later castles built for show during the Victorian period ape this type of castle architecture in the ‘Baronial style’. www.visitscotland.com/castletrail

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PHOTOS: © ISTOCK/NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND/KEMNAY PHOTOGRAPHIC/ALLAN WRIGHT/ALAMY/VISIT SCOTLAND

Stirling Castle. Above: Eileen Donan Castle

the country, but two of the most impressively preserved actually lie in her major cities.

Edinburgh Castle sits atop a volcanic plug right in the capital’s centre. Still garrisoned by the British Army today, man is thought to have inhabited the site for almost 2,000 years and it has been a royal castle since the reign of King David I in the 12th century. You can take tours of its numerous buildings or just admire the epic views of the capital from its ramparts. Beware the one o’clock gun, a cannon that is fired at the same hour every day. It soon sorts out the locals from the tourists.

Many Scots actually prefer Stirling Castle, which is similarly situated on

an extinct volcano. It is at least as grand and also occupies a sacred place in the Scottish psyche as it swirls in stories of two of the nation’s great heroes – William Wallace and Robert the Bruce – who both enjoyed famous victories in battle over the English within sight of the castle ramparts. It was also the childhood home of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Moving outside the cities, Eilean Donan Castle is a contender for the most dreamily romantic of all Scottish castles. It lies just across a wee stone bridge in the salt waters of Loch Duich on the edge of the Atlantic and has appeared in countless movies from Highlander to the James Bond film The World is

GORDON CASTLE HIGHLAND GAMES AND COUNTRY FAIR Gordon Castle is hosting a day of traditional sporting events, country sports, children’s entertainment, music, dance and song on 18 May. The castle is the spiritual home of the house of Gordon and dates back to the 1470s. Gordons from all over the world can enjoy the event and at the same time see the historic grounds and exterior of the buildings. www.gordoncastle.co.uk

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SCOTLAND Palaces & castles

Bon Accord SteAm FAir At cAStle FrASer On 21 and 22 June scotland's largest steam event takes place at castle Fraser. there will be 40 steam-driven vehicles from 1898 to 1933, plus 120 classic and vintage cars and much more. Family entertainment will include puppet shows and even racing pigs, terriers and ferrets. www.bonaccordsteamclub.co.uk

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Above: Brodick Castle is a quintessentially Victorian Highland estate packed full of treasures

Not Enough. A bolthole of the Clan Mackenzie it was destroyed by British Navy ships in 1719, but has been impressively restored.

On the Isle of Arran Brodick Castle was one of the first castles captured

by Robert the Bruce in his campaign for an independent Scotland in 1307.

Today it is a lavish period piece offering a window into the lives of the Dukes of Hamilton. Intriguingly in britain

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2013 an Iron Age roundhouse was constructed in the grounds, allowing visitors to delve even further back.

Some Scottish castles seem cast away all on their own, while others are the very beating heart of massive country estates. Blair Castle in Blair Atholl in Perthshire and Culzean Castle in Ayrshire are two fine examples of the latter and both are superb to visit, with expansive grounds, walking trails, restaurants and various other visitor attractions on offer. Blair Castle is famous for being home to the last private army in the UK, while Churchill and Eisenhower famously met at Culzean at the end of World War II. Today’s visitors to Blair Castle can stay the night in one of the Atholl

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Estate’s historic lodges, with the likes of Kindrochet lodge sleeping up to 16 people deep within the wild bounds of the Highland estate.

Culzean may have political connections, but Balmoral Castle has royal links. Queen Victoria had her grand Highland home built in picturesque Deeside in 1856 and spent many a happy holiday here. The Royal Family has since enjoyed the splendour of the castle and the epic sweep of scenery all around. Prince Charles is said to be fond of hiking in the local mountains.

Scotland’s ruined castles can be every bit as spectacular. Two of the most striking are Dunnottar and Urquhart. Dunnottar was used in Mel Gibson’s Hamlet and no wonder www.britain-magazine.com

SCOTLAND

photoS: © blair caStle/Stephen farthing/anguS forbeS

Palaces & castles

Blair Castle is the ancestral home of the Clan Murray. right: Scone Palace. Left: The Dining Room at Blair Castle

as it boasts lashings of Shakespearian drama set on its own rocky outcrop, surrounded by vaulting cliffs and the raging North Sea surf. Dunnottar is also where the ‘Honours of Scotland’, the Scottish crown jewels, were hidden from Oliver Cromwell’s forces in the 17th century. Urquhart lies on the shores of Loch Ness, so visitors can split their time between rambling around its tantalising remnants and keeping an eye out for the eponymous monster.

Two of the most rewarding Scottish palaces to visit are Scone and Holyrood. Scone Palace was once where Scottish kings were crowned on the ‘Stone of Destiny’. It now stages many events throughout the year in its expansive grounds. www.britain-magazine.com

The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh meanwhile remains the seat of the British Royal Family in Edinburgh. It is awash with history, including the nefarious period when Mary, Queen of Scots’ husband is said to have murdered her lover in the palace in front of his pregnant wife.

Two of Scotland’s grandest palaces, Linlithgow and Falkland, today lie in ruin. Both are inexorably bound with the Stuart dynasty. Built in the 15th century, Linlithgow was home to most of the Stuart kings and was the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots, who spent many nights here as an adult too. While she was being born her father, King James V, lay on his deathbed just to the north at Falkland Palace.

Their unique stories and many others can be discovered in these rich historical treasure troves that are so romantically bound to this extraordinary country.

 For more information visit the BRITAIN website at www.britain-magazine.com and for Scotland's Castle Trail go to www.visitscotland.com/castletrail

Harris Tweed Hebrides TaTToo aT Lews casTLe a Hebridean extravaganza of world-class piping, dancing, singing and music will take place over two days on 8-9 august. Beneath the beautiful lews castle on the Isle of lewis, the tattoo begins with performances from nine pipe bands from canada, the Highlands, the Islands and beyond. www.stornowayamenitytrust.co.uk

modern macbeTH aT cawdor casTLe Discover this romantic Highland castle, the 14th-century home of the thanes of cawdor. linked with shakespeare’s Macbeth, the castle is owned by the campbell earls of cawdor whose maternal ancestors were the medieval thanes. Visitors can experience the castle’s sumptuous interior and see the impressive Drawing Room, the tapestry Bedroom with its precious wall hangings, the Dining Room with its magnificent stone fireplace and the Old Kitchen which retains its 19th-century range and an array of antique cooking implements. the castle is surrounded by three gardens, a golf course and wood, through which a path leads to the garden at the cawdor dower house, high up the gently tumbling waters of the cawdor burn. www.cawdorcastle.com

sTay THe nigHT in a casTLe scotland has a range of fantastic castle accommodation where guests can relive scottish history while enjoying the comforts of exquisite rooms and excellent service. Here there's something for everyone, with lodgings ranging from self-catering to fully modernised hotels and guest houses. a fine example is traquair House, scotland’s oldest inhabited house. traquair is furnished with antiques and Victorian half tester beds and has three beautiful rooms for visitors looking for the unique experience of staying in an authentic scottish castle. www.traquair.co.uk/www.visitscotland.com britain

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TAKE A REAL CELTIC JOURNEY Castles and Cottages

May 1-11 • 10 Nights • $4,395

Get a glimpse of Scotland “once upon a time” on this tour of the Highlands and islands. Elegant, romantic castles and peaceful, quaint villages combine to showcase the country in times reminiscent of the simple life.

————— Escorted

Tours 2014 —————

Ireland in the Mist

Viking Treasure

June 1-13 • 12 Nights • $4,895

August 15-25 • 10 Nights • $4,595

Explores the four corners of Ireland while meeting the people, learning the legendary history and heritage, and sharing in the culture. See the cities of Dublin and Belfast, the beautiful countryside and seascapes.

11th Annual Outlander Tour® June 29-July 6 – AND – September 21-28 7 Nights • $3,295

Based on the award-winning series by Diana Gabaldon.

See Craigh na Dun, Castle Leoch, Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness – Jamie and Claire’s 18th-century Highlands.

Rated the best by our clients!

Lords of the Isles July 21-August 2 • 12 Nights • $5,195

Western Scotland and the islands that were once ruled by the Lords of the Isles – mighty Clan Donald – until the 15th Century. Lewis, Harris, Skye, Mull, Iona.

Includes premium seats to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Orkney and Shetland, once ruled by Vikings! Scotland’s remote and mysterious islands, archaeological treasures, and the most well-preserved wonders of the past!

Includes premium seats to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

HOGMANAY 2014 Dec 29, 2014 - Jan 4, 2015 • 6 Nights • $2,895

Scottish tradition in the Highlands for New Year’s Eve! Four-star accommodations, gourmet dining, traditional music and dancing, all at Culloden House Hotel. Private lunch at Glamis Castle and three nights in Edinburgh.

Tours are limited to 16 passengers and are never cancelled.

Contact Judy at 703-941-6455 or at judy@celticjourneys.us to inquire or to reserve.

Scotsmaster / Member of the Better Business Bureau / Licensed and Insured / Tourist Board Certification

www.CelticJourneys.us • (703) 941-6455

SCOTLAND Clan Country

TarTan traditions From tartan and surnames to a real sense of community and belonging, the spirit of the clan lives on in Scotland and is part of the country's unique identity

photo: © andrew fox/alamy

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artan, the distinctive Scottish pattern, today adorns everything from shortbread tins and whisky bottles to scarves, kilts and the catwalks of Milan, Paris and London. Its story drifts back deep into Scotland’s clan history. Many tall tales surround tartan, though, so where exactly did it come from and how authentically Scottish is it?

To many Scots tartan is, of course, more than just a fashion or a fabric: it is a symbol that references their heritage. In North America tartan is sometimes known as ‘plaid’, which to Scots makes little sense as plaid was the traditional name for the large woven material that the clansmen used to wrap around their whole bodies to provide protection from the elements. Only much later did the shorter, cropped kilt emerge as clans moved from a semi-nomadic existence to more permanent dwellings, ending the need for the larger plaid. Today a more elaborate ceremonial version is still being worn. www.britain-magazine.com

above: Traditional Scottish dress

To understand tartan you need to delve deep into the clan history of the Highlands – the home of tartan.

Traditionally the colours and patterns correlated with the region; the hues determined by the natural dyes available to local weavers – a swathe of blues, greens and reds appeared. These organic fruit, vegetable and plant colours grew to differentiate clans and today’s ‘Old Tartan’ kilts hark back to these days with more muted colours.

TarTan Day americans formally began celebrating their Scottish roots in 1998 when the Senate passed a resolution to mark tartan Day on 6 april – the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of arbroath. But this year for the first time Scots will no longer have to travel to new york to celebrate but can take part in a week of activities in angus from 4 to 15 april, culminating in a re-enactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1320 at arbroath abbey. Considered the most famous document in Scottish history, the declaration is seen as the founding treatise of the Scottish nation. www.tartandayscotland.com

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SCOTLAND Clan Country

ScottiSh international Storytelling FeStival the ancient Scottish clan system has always encompassed a rich storytelling culture. In october 2014, Scotland welcomes the world to a feast of traditional and contemporary storytelling. Including some authentic Scottish song and music, this festival is for all storytelling lovers and everyone who wants to connect with Scotland. www.tracscotland.org

pattern used in everyday dress, but a way of displaying heritage, clan allegiance and ultimately national identity.

Tartan had become the much-romanticised symbol of Scotland that it is today.

In this new wave of tartan popularity natural dyes were eschewed in favour of brighter, bolder and more consistent artificial colours. The multiple patterns (or setts) were codified over the following 100 years.

who were your anceStorS?

Perhaps the most obvious use of these clan colours was so that the clansmen could tell each other apart in the heat of battle, though this system radically altered after the calamitous defeat at Culloden in 1746. The British government troops butchered the tartan army and strove to decimate the traditional Highland way of life so that the Highlanders could never pose a threat again. Tartan and Highland dress were banned by the Dress Act of 1746, as was the playing of the bagpipes.

It was not until 1782 that the tartan ban was lifted and during King George IV’s landmark visit to Edinburgh in 1822 the seminal Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott encouraged his countrymen to sport their tartan finery to impress the British king. By the Victorian era, when Queen Victoria was helping the Highlands’ image radically evolve from that of a dangerous wilderness to a tourist hot spot, tartan was popular again. This time it was not just a

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clockwise from left: A sporran acts as a pocket at the front of a kilt; the storytelling festival; the Clan Gunn Heritage Centre and Museum is set in the beautiful Highlands

Today tartan has moved well beyond the shores of Scotland. There are said to be over 7,000 tartans with more being created and registered every year. Most of these tartans are linked to various clans and, to some extent, regions. Other tartans are purely recent creations, such as the ‘Flower of Scotland’ that is named after the unofficial Scottish national anthem. Then there is the special ‘Tartan Army’ design created for the fans of Scotland’s football team, who troop to matches en masse as once their forefathers would have gone into battle. In some sense these bagpipe-led kilted sporting warriors are the direct descendants of their plaid-clad ancestors as they march on football stadiums around the world just as their predecessors once marched into battle.

Tartan these days has become nothing short of a global phenomenon. Its complex designs have been borrowed and invigorated by fashion creators and celebrities and are often favoured by Hollywood stars. Princess Diana is even commemorated with her own Princess of Wales Memorial Tartan, so established has this historic fabric become.

Discover clan itineraries and start planning your ancestral journey at www.visitscotland.com/ancestry. www.britain-magazine.com

photo: © visitbritain/ingrid rasmussen/paul tomkins/visitscotland/scottish viewpoint/solen collet

Millions of people around the world claim Scottish descent, but do you know which clan or family you belong to? a major event in the genealogy and family history calendar in Scotland, the Scottish association of Family History Societies' 25th annual Conference in Fife on 26-27 april includes over 70 stands, a series of unique lectures by leading genealogists and interesting workshops that give visitors the opportunity to delve deeper in to their clan roots. www.safhs.org.uk

THE STORY OF SCOTLAND’S NATIONAL SPORT

The Mound, Edinburgh 12 July to 26 October 2014

National Galleries of Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland (No.SC003728)

Sir John Lavery, Golfing at North Berwick c.1920 Courtesy Private Collection

Buy tickets at nationalgalleries.org

SCOTLAND THE HomE of Golf

The great game Scotland can claim to be the birthplace of golf, and here you will find some of the world's greatest courses and a fascinating sporting heritage

The Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club, Argyll. Below: Portrait of William St Clair, known as the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland

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The 2014 RydeR Cup

The oldest golf course in the world lies just outside Edinburgh in Musselburgh. Guinness World European and USA Records recognise that the game was teams of 12 players played at Musselburgh Links as early will contest this as 1672. There is even a tantalising exciting competition tale that Mary, Queen of Scots at Gleneagles Hotel, enjoyed a round at Musselburgh in significant for being where the tournament 1567 and that the game here goes has its roots. An back much further, perhaps as far as unofficial match the 14th century. between Great Britain Today the country’s position in the and the USA took place burgeoning global golfing fraternity here in 1921 before the is summed up by the Scottish former birth of The Ryder Cup Ryder Cup-winning captain Sam in 1927. www.rydercup Torrance: “No other country in the 2014.com world has so many golf courses of

images: © Bettmann/CORBis/Paul tOmkins/visitsCOtland/sCOttish viewPOint

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cotland is eulogised as The Home of Golf for good reason as it is the sport’s literal and spiritual heart, as well as its birthplace. And in 2014, for the first time since 1973, Scotland plays host to the biggest team golfing tournament in the world, The Ryder Cup. With over 500 courses set amid some of the most wildly dramatic scenery in Europe, and everything from the world famous links that host major championships through to hidden municipal gems that few people even in Scotland know about, the country has it all.

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SCOTLAND THE HomE oF GolF Where you play golf in Scotland is up to you. You could really push the boat out by arranging for one of the numerous golf tour operators to arrange rounds for you on the famous courses and fly between them by helicopter, or just take a couple of clubs out for an informal nine hole bash around a municipal course.

Wherever you choose to play, you will be surrounded by a swathe of epic, stunning scenery and the knowledge that you are enjoying a round in ‘The Home of Golf’.

 For more on golf in Scotland please go to www.visitscotland.com/golf, www.rydercup2014.com or the BRITAIN website at www.britain-magazine.com

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clockwise from top: Gleneagles is home to one of Scotland's most impressive golf resorts; Swilcan Bridge at St Andrews; The British Open Golf Championship at St Andrews in 1927

Dean’s scottish clans Golf WorlD championships As part of Homecoming 2014 players of Scottish ancestry can compete at Gleneagles. From 22 to 27 June the Dean's Scottish Clans Golf World Championships are open to golfers from around the world who have ancestral links to Scotland through their past. Enter under your clan name and compete for the title of Dean's Scottish Clans Golf World Champion over four rounds of golf. In addition, the event will provide expertise in genealogy and clans to allow you the opportunity to research your ancestry and learn more about Scottish clan culture.

This exciting event will also showcase Scotland's culture and heritage with entertainment including pipe bands, Scottish country dancing, ceilidhs, Scottish folk music, Highland games and trips to Scotland's best attractions. www.visitscotland.com/homecoming

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photos: © Bettmann/CoRBIs/paul tomkIns/VIsItsCotland/sCottIsh VIewpoInt/Ben welsh pRemIum/alamy

such quality, variety and accessibility, within such a comparatively small area.”

There are numerous plans afoot for new or revamped courses in Scotland, such as Donald Trump’s landmark development in the north east. The country is most famous though for its links courses, which are usually scenically set along the windy coastline, presenting a challenge for even the game’s best players.

The most illustrious links courses that have held the British Open Championship are where most golfers with a good handicap head for. These are Royal Troon and Turnberry in Ayrshire, Muirfield in East Lothian, St Andrews in Fife and Carnoustie in Angus.

One of the most impressive golf courses, however, does not even lie on the coast. Gleneagles spreads proudly for 850 acres across a stunning location in Perthshire, surrounded by

a spectacular swathe of woodland and hills. There are three main courses – the King’s Course, the Queen’s Course and the newer Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Centenary Course. The latter will be the venue for The Ryder Cup in September, when the great and the good of world golf will descend on Scotland for the biennial professional tournament where Europe plays the United States.

Far from just being a sport for a wealthy elite, golf in Scotland is very much the people’s game too and there are hundreds of courses that are open to the public, as well as private ones.

You can play many of these without even having a handicap. These range from world class links, right through to more modest courses within the boundaries of Scotland’s cities such as Bruntsfield Links in Edinburgh (it also claims to be the world’s oldest course) and simple nine-hole courses that are ideal for beginners.

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SCOTLAND THE STORY OF WHISKY

A wee drAm

photos: © david lyons/alamy/istock

Scots have gathered for centuries, across hill and glen, to partake in ‘uisge beatha’ — water of life — the beverage that Burns himself called that “auld Scotch drink”

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cottish whisky has never been more in demand. How many people enjoying a wee dram in London or New York, though, are aware of the intriguing story behind whisky’s early illicit days, that there are three different types of ‘Scotch’ and that you can enjoy a whole holiday visiting the whisky distilleries themselves?

The production of Scottish whisky (whose ingredients are malted barley, yeast and water) has been going on in Scotland for centuries. Uisge beatha – the Gaelic name for whisky – translates as the ‘water of life’.

Whisky (Scottish whisky is always spelt without an ‘e’) was the lifeblood of the Highland clans until the Act of Union in 1707, which brought

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Scotland into the United Kingdom.

The British exciseman soon turned on whisky and the small stills where it had been produced around the country. This drove production underground and soon many Scots were playing a dangerous whiskydrenched cat and mouse game with the customs men.

Contrary to what many people believe there is not one single type of whisky. There are actually three types – blended, single malt and grain.

Blended whiskies are the biggest sellers and use, as the name suggests, a blend of both single malt and grain whiskies, with the real skill in the hand of the master blender who chooses which whiskies should be used and in what ratios.

Above: Whisky barrels in Dufftown, Scotland's malt whisky capital. Below: The Famous Grouse, a brand of blended Scotch whisky

Single malts are the product of one distillery, usually offering a clean and refined flavour. The malts are normally more expensive than blends and are best not mixed with soft drinks or even with ice as this blocks flavour. A little water should normally be added to ‘release the serpent’.

Whisky month Across Scotland in May a month-long celebration of Scotland’s national drink is taking place, with whisky festivals and events from the Highlands to the Isles, the lowlands to Speyside, and a packed programme that will also showcase the very best of Scotland’s food and drink. www.visitscotland.com/homecoming

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SCOTLAND THE STORY OF WHISKY

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photos: © ocean/neil farrin/corbis/paul tomkins/Visitscotland/scottish Viewpoint

Grain whiskies are the least well known, though they make up a significant part of many blends.

Generally grain whiskies are cheaper to produce and of a lesser quality, seldom seen on sale outside Scotland.

Today whisky is big business. There are hundreds of distilleries dotted around Scotland with each region offering different flavours and ‘expressions’. As well as producing whisky many of the distilleries now also open their doors to the public offering tours with, of course, the chance to sample a dram or two and buy a bottle.

Scotland is split into five main whisky regions – Highland (including most of the islands), Lowland, Speyside, Islay and Campbeltown.

The highest concentration of whisky distilleries is in the Speyside region, where the waters of the River Spey help create some first rate whiskies.

You can sample and buy whisky here from world famous names like Aberlour, Balvenie and Glenfiddich.

You can also head out to somewhere as idyllic as the island of Islay, where whisky production survives on an island at the very edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Islay is home to no less than eight whisky distilleries – Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhainn, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin and Laphroaig – all of which tend to produce single malts with a distinct and pervasive aroma of smoky peat.

One of the best tours is at Ardbeg, an ambitious distillery that reopened in 1997 after being mothballed in 1981. Ardbeg shares Islay’s most spectacular stretch of rocky coastline with neighbours Lagavulin and Laphroaig. Also on site are a gift shop and a café that even draws in non-whisky drinking locals.

Spirit of SpeySide WhiSky feStival Discover the passion behind the world's finest whiskies at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival from 1-5 May. Speyside will be hosting over 300 events welcoming whisky lovers old and new from across the world who want to explore the traditions behind the unique Speyside Single Malt Whiskies. Learn about what makes them special, how small differences in location can make a huge difference in taste, what Master Distillers do to make their whiskies unique and much more. There is plenty on offer to suit a range of tastes – from sipping single malts and rambling from distillery to distillery to watching wildlife, savouring the flavour of local food, getting to grips with challenging golf courses or dancing the night away at a local ceilidh. www.spiritofspeyside.com

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SCOTLAND THE STORY OF WHISKY

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TRY A TRADITIONAL BURNS SUPPER

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TASTE ThE ThREE ChImNEYS

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EAT A SmOkIE IN ARBROATh

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DINE IN STYLE

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FOLLOw ThE SEAFOOD TRAIL

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COOk YOURSELF A TREAT

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PICk YOUR OwN

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NIBBLE YOUR wAY ThROUgh SCOTLAND’S FARmERS’ mARkETS

Haggis, neeps and tatties, Tipsy Laird (whisky trifle), cheese and lashings of whisky – it's the year's best celebration.

Included in the list of the top 10 restaurants in the world and serving the freshest local produce in a cosy lochside setting, the Three Chimneys restaurant in the north-west corner of Skye is one of the most scenic places in Scotland to dine. Stay in a bedroom suite here and you'll awake to a view stretching to the Outer Hebrides.

Watch your haddock being traditionally smoked over a barrel at a farmers' market then eat it warm from the newspaper on the beach in Arbroath. If the weather turns, the But ‘n’ Ben at Auchmithie (the real home of the smokie) always has some fresh ones on the menu.

Clockwise from this image: Combine a tour of the beautiful Scottish countryside with some whisky tasting; road sign welcoming visitors to the malt whisky Trail; kevin Reid from Strathisla Distillery; whisky shop sign, Edinburgh

Malt Whisky trail Discover the secrets behind the art of whisky creation by visiting some of Scotland’s renowned distilleries. Speyside is famous for its wonderful whisky and the area is often called ‘Malt Whisky Country’.

It is home to more than half of Scotland’s malt whisky distilleries and the world’s only Malt Whisky Trail, making it a whisky lover’s paradise. Visitors can discover seven working distilleries, one historic distillery and the Speyside Cooperage.

Here at the only working cooperage in the UK you can witness the ancient art of creating whisky barrels using traditional tools and methods and even have a go at making your own mini-cask. www.maltwhiskytrail.com

Kilchoman is the smallest and newest distillery on Islay. The first distillery to be built on the island in 124 years opened in 2005. In its opening year this small-scale farm distillery only yielded seven casks, though production is cranking up a gear and their café is worth visiting for the delicious food alone. It also features fascinating storyboards that evoke the days when the island was awash with small illicit whisky stills, which produced what is now a world-famous spirit drunk from Toronto to Tokyo.

 For more details please visit the BRITAIN website at www.britain-magazine.com

On board Scotland's luxury Orient Express train guests savour delicious seasonal food while wending their way through some of the country's most beautiful scenery.

The Loch Fyne Oyster Bar at Cairndow has been an established favourite for years. But it’s just one stop on the stunning Scottish Seafood Trail that winds its way through the west coast of the country, taking in fine dining restaurants and relaxed eateries all with one thing in common: the freshest Scottish seafood possible.

With the immense amount of great produce for sale in Scotland, you might be in need of some guidance when it comes to cooking it.

Award-winning chefs Nick Nairn, Tom Lewis and Martin Wishart run cookery schools in the Port of Menteith, Callander and Leith.

Scotland (especially Fife, Angus and Perthshire) is renowned for its berries; and the best way to experience the best of them is to go out and pick them yourself. Everyone munches as they pick, but there are often great strawberry teas for those with room left.

There are over 70 regular farmers’ markets across Scotland and they’re great places to find local specialities such as Arbroath Smokies, heather honey, porridge bars (try brown sugar, cream, whisky or honey), live shellfish and venison pies.

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gO TO ChEESE hEAvEN

Set in an 18th-century inn by the River Teviot, this Borders smokery produces smoked salmon, trout, duck, homemade smoked pâté and cheese. Just as impressive is its beautiful riverside garden where you can watch out for otters, who are also fans of the fish.

Visit Iain Mellis' emporiums for a mouth-watering selection of farmhouse cheeses. There are four shops in Edinburgh, one in Glasgow and one in St Andrews and you shouldn’t have any trouble finding them – you can smell them before you can see them. www.britain-magazine.com

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BOOKS FROM BIRLINN – SCOTLAND’S LEADING INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER Available in bookshops, online or order direct on 0845 370 0067 quoting BM2013

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SCOTLAND HEROES & HEROINES

GREAT

Scots From royalty to writers, film stars to fighters, Scotland has produced a rich bounty of heroes and heroines

The memorial to Sir Walter Scott in Edinburgh is the largest monument to a writer in the world.

Below: Illustration of William Wallace

PHOTO: © INGRID RASMUSSEN/VISITBRITAIN/WIKIPEDIA

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or a relatively small country Scotland has produced a disproportionate number of heroes and heroines. Some are revered mainly in Scotland, such as the king who liberated the country from England in the 14th century or the queen who won the nation’s hearts in the 16th century, while others are globally famous figures – whether Hollywood actors like Sean Connery, acclaimed novelists such as J K Rowling or epoch changing inventors such as John Logie Baird. Without Scotland the world might have no TV, telephone or penicillin, for example.

Delving deep into Scotland’s tumultuous history a number of giant figures emerge.

William Wallace (1272-1305) was a towering hero in all senses, said to have been almost two metres tall at a time when his countrymen would generally have been much shorter than today. He was immortalised by Mel Gibson in the rousing Hollywood blockbuster Braveheart.

Wallace came from a relatively modest background to lead the Scots to a dramatic victory over the English in 1297 at Stirling www.britain-magazine.com

Bridge. He died a tragic hero after being captured and taken to London, where he was brutally hung, drawn and quartered after being found guilty of treason.

King Robert the Bruce (1274-1329) followed in Wallace’s wake, taking up the mantle to continue the struggle during the Scottish Wars of Independence. He picked himself up from defeat to try and try again like the spider that supposedly inspired him in exile and eventually overcame a much larger English army at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, winning Scotland its independence. Today his image adorns everything from shortbread tins to banknotes.

Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587), meanwhile, is Scotland’s best-known female monarch, a key member of the Stuart dynasty who held power over the whole of Britain before the current monarchy, the Hanoverians. Mary ascended to the throne only six days into her life. After spending much of her childhood in France she returned to lead Scotland as a very popular ruler. Her life became shrouded in scandals involving a murdered husband and BRITAIN

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Heroes & Heroines

Clockwise from top left: Statue of King Robert the Bruce at the site of the Battle of Bannockburn, where he won Scotland's independence in 1314; Mel Gibson as William Wallace in the film Braveheart; author Sir Walter Scott; the burial place of outlaw and folk hero Rob Roy at Balquhidder Old Kirk, Stirling; Mary, Queen of Scots, who was only six days old when she acceded to the throne; painting of missionary and explorer David Livingstone by Frederick Havill

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SCOTLAND HEROES & HEROINES

PHOTOS: © JOE CORNISH/ROD EDWARDS/CHRIS COE/VISIT BRITAIN/BRITAIN ON VIEW/PAUL TOMKINS/VISITSCOTLAND/SCOTTISH VIEWPOINT/WIKIPEDIA/AF ARCHIVE/ALAMY

Loch Leven where Mary, Queen of Scots was exiled. Below: A portrait of a young Charles Edward Stuart, affectionately called Bonnie Prince Charlie by his Scottish supporters

lover and she was exiled to an island in the middle of Loch Leven. On her escape she fled to England to seek the help of her cousin Queen Elizabeth I, who imprisoned her for years before having her executed.

Perhaps the most renowned male Stuart was Bonnie Prince Charlie (1720-1788). Charles Edward Stuart was determined to succeed where his father had failed and return the Stuarts to what he saw as their rightful throne.

In 1745 he arrived from France to raise his standard with the massed Highland clans at Glenfinnan. They marched south on London, sweeping all that came before them en route as far as Derby.

But as London swirled in panic, his ‘Jacobites’ turned tail and retreated to Scotland, eventually succumbing to British government forces at Culloden in 1746. Bonnie Prince Charlie evaded capture and escaped Scotland from the Isle of Skye in a small boat, disguised as an Irish maid. www.britain-magazine.com

The late 18th century saw a flourishing in the Scottish arts with the country’s greatest ever poet at the vanguard. Robert Burns (1759-1796) is to Scotland what Shakespeare is to England, so much so that Burns Night is celebrated on 25 January every year and his birthplace at Alloway now functions as a museum and a memorial.

A romantic poet who usually wrote in his native Scots language, Burns penned a great deal of poetry in his short life. Almost everyone has heard at least one Burns work – he is the author of a contender for the world’s most famous song, Auld Lang Syne, which celebrates the coming of the New Year.

Two other great literary heroes emerged over the next century.

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) became both a doyen of the Union with England and a man intent on romanticising Scotland’s Highland culture. He penned a series of intricately researched historical novels that brought the Highlands and the clans to a whole new audience.

BURNS AN' A THAT! FESTIVAL The Burns an’ a’ that! Festival is an annual tribute to Scotland’s acclaimed poet Robert Burns, taking place from 23-25 May. In 2014 the festival will celebrate both its 13th anniversary and Homecoming year in the picturesque surroundings of Belleisle Park in Ayr. www.burnsfestival.com

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HEROES & HEROINES

Abbotsford was the home of Sir Walter Scott and is now open to the public.

Below: Author J K Rowling

JOHN MUIR FESTIVAL

PHOTOS: © ABBOTSFORD/WIKIPEDIA

This festival from 17-26 April will celebrate John Muir, a Scots-born naturalist and founder of America’s national parks. It will take place along the John Muir Way, a new pathway that stretches from Dunbar to Helensburgh. www.visitscotland.com/homecoming

He wove in real-life events with a liberal spice of imagination, telling tales of the likes of Rob Roy (1671-1734), an 18th-century folk hero, in effect Scotland’s Robin Hood.

The novels of Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), meanwhile, veer away from history and burrow more into the imagination.

Such renowned books as Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde have inspired various other authors as well as plays, TV series and fi lms. Stevenson’s deceptively straightforward style has been appreciated by generations of children, but there is no doubting his subtle, powerful novels are works of serious literature for grown-ups too.

It was not just the arts that Scotland was pioneering in the 19th century. David Livingstone (1813-1873) is the most renowned explorer of them all. The missionary was fascinated by the continent of Africa and is most revered for having been the first European ever to set eyes on the majesty of Victoria Falls, but he was also the first European to venture to lakes Ngami, Malawi, and Bangweulu.

Moving on to the field of invention, Scotland powered on into the Industrial Revolution through the 19th and 20th centuries at the forefront of discovery. James Watt (1736-1819) was the man behind the steam engine, which propelled the Industrial Revolution itself; Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) invented the telephone; and John Logie Baird (1888-1946) is the genius who brought the world

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the television. Scot Alexander Fleming (1881–1955), who pioneered penicillin, radically altered many areas of medicine, as well as dramatically increasing people’s life expectancy.

In the 20th and 21st centuries a number of actors and authors have become heroes and heroines. The most famous Scottish actor of all is surely smooth-talking Sean Connery (1930-), who for many people is the ultimate James Bond. More recently, relative youngsters Ewan McGregor (1971-) and James McAvoy (1979-) have caused quite a stir in Hollywood with a string of successful major roles.

Of the current crop of authors, three stand out. There is Irvine Welsh (1958-), whose gritty novels have brought both the lively vernacular and the lives of Edinburgh’s underclass to light. Ian Rankin (1960-) also introduced the darker side of the Scottish capital in his massively successful Inspector Rebus crime novels.

The most famous of all, though, has to be J K Rowling (1965-), who is said to have written her fi rst novel in the Elephant House Café in Edinburgh. She is now an inspiration to many, thanks to the print and celluloid success of her Harry Potter saga. Rowling is just the latest shining star in a long lineage of Scottish heroes and heroines.

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g n i r u d e m i t n i Travel back !

4 1 0 2 d n a l t o c Homecoming S

Battle re-enactor Robert Ballantyne on the battlements of Stirling Castle

Re-live Scotland’s dramatic past at Bannockburn Live The year of Homecoming Scotland is the perfect time to visit Scotland. We’ll be celebrating all that’s great about Scotland with hundreds of events throughout the year and across the whole country.

Experience a realistic re-enactment of one of the most dramatic events in Scotland’s history, the Battle of Bannockburn, from June 28 –30. Watch knights, warhorses and spearmen in action and experience medieval life in historical encampments, along with celebrations of Scottish food, drink and music.

Discover even more highlights waiting for you during Homecoming Scotland 2014, including itinerary suggestions and events listings, at visitscotland.com/homecoming

visitscotland.com/homecoming

JOHN MUIR FESTIVAL APRIL 17 – 26 Walk the new John Muir Way and explore the legacy of the Scottish-born founder of America’s national parks.

WHISKY MONTH MAY Our national drink deserves more than just one event – sample an entire month full of our water of life.

EDINBURGH FESTIVALS AUGUST 1 – 31 Join the world’s largest celebration of the arts as Edinburgh hosts thousands of performances throughout the city.

HIGHLAND HOMECOMING SEPTEMBER 1 – OCTOBER 31 From the traditional to the cutting edge: enjoy the two month long celebration of Highland culture.