Scotland Correspondent Issue 27

Mixing history and luxury at Meldrum

Driving women to Scotland

Reviving the heart of Knoydart

Ancient clan ready for new chief

Showcasing the Cairngorms

Top names to headline festival p1

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inside this issue 10 Meldrum

House

A unique mixture of luxury and history.

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26 Explore

the Cairngorms

International showcase for National Park.

38 Clan

News

Sir Billy Connolly to lead Tartan Day parade in New York, New Chief set for Clan McEwen and Remembering explorer John Rae.

42 Silent

auction

Fund raising challenge to help revive the heart of Knoydart.

52 Antique

hunting with Roo Irvine

62 #HerScotland women golfers to Drive to attract more

Scotland.

On the trail of the Grand Tour.

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72 Back

to Brigadoon

New look for traditional 88 Dramming Highland games in up interest Australia.

Distillery starts taking Christmas orders for long awaited whisky.

76 Open

prepared for visitor boom.

Skye

Armadale Castle

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98 Off

the shelf

News and reviews of what’s happening on the literary scene.

106 Outlander

132 Inspirational

Chance to chat with Diana Gabaldon and the Outland impact on Scotland’s heritage.

Courage of an injured veteran taking on the world.

bonanza

Scot

138 Date

with a dinosaur

Up close and personal with Trix the T.rex.

148 Anniversary

Cover Photo

122 Beating

a path to Galloway

Scotland’s longest vaults running camping music What’s worth festival reveals first line celebrating and up for 2019. commemorating this month.

Photo by Jakub Iwanicki / VisitScotland Cairngorms National Park.

Date 4 Your Diary 154

What’s on in Scotland and beyond this March.

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Magnificent Meldrum

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by Paul Watson

F

irst impressions count and Meldrum House, with its elaborate gates, long and winding driveway leading to a turreted baronial mansion complete with a grand external staircase, does not disappoint.

This former home of at least three of Scotland’s most powerful and notable families dates back to the early 13th century and oozes history from almost every crevice.

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There can be few historic houses in Scotland where both Bonnie Prince Charlie and his nemesis the Duke of Cumberland are believed to have stayed - although obviously not at the same time - during the Jacobite retreat to Culloden in 1746.

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Dating back almost 800 years the story of Meldrum House in Aberdeenshire began when the Barony of Meldrum was first granted by the Abbot of Arbroath to Philip de Phendarg in 1236. His family constructed a tower house which stood on a rocky outcrop on the

highest point of the land. Although extended and transformed several times throughout the 17th, 19th and 20th centuries the original castle remains at the core of the present day building.

For more than 200 years the house

remained in the Meldrum family as they grew to become one of the most powerful in the North-East of Scotland until it passed into the hands of the Setons, another influential family, through marriage.

They maintained the estate for seven generations until the Urquharts

inherited it.

Garden Alexander Duff of Hatton.

When the last Urquhart Laird, Major Beauchamp Colclough Urquhart, was killed at the Battle of Attbara in the Sudan in 1898 the estate then passed to his sister, Annie Isabella, who had married her first cousin

Eventually the estate was passed to former BBC war correspondent Sir Robin Duff, whose radio reports of the Battle of Britain and the D-Day invasion have became a valuable part of broadcast history. He was

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instrumental in turning the estate into an hotel to entertain many of his establishment and celebrity friends, including ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn who was a regular guest.

After Sir Robin died in the early 1990s the hotel was acquired by the current owners who have built on the heritage, history and reputation of Meldrum House to turn it into one of the best hotels in Scotland, on a par with the world renowned Gleneagles but more intimate.

“The historic nature of the building is a big draw for us. It’s quite unique to find a 50 bedroom hotel which combines all the benefits of visiting an historic Scottish mansion with all the comforts and attributes of a 4 star facility,” said Andy Burgess, CEO of Meldrum House.

Today, this multi-award winning hotel in rural Aberdeenshire, less than 25 minutes from Aberdeen International Airport, has become a popular destination for people travelling from

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across the UK, mainland Europe, Scandinavia and as far a field as the United States. Many are looking for a luxury base from which to explore some of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes packed full of castles, whisky distilleries and some of the oldest golf courses in the world.

“The golf attracts a lot of people of which about 75 per cent are domestic and 25 per cent from overseas with about 10 per cent of that being North American golfers,” said Mr Burgess.

“The attraction for the North American market is that we are perfectly placed for them to visit Aberdeenshire, and probably the primary reason they are coming is to play the championship links courses such as Royal Aberdeen, Trump International, Cruden Bay and such like.”

However, you don’t even have to venture out of the 240-acre Meldrum estate with its landscaped gardens, ornamental lake and private woodlands to enjoy any of aforementioned attractions.

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The estate has its own 18-hole golf course, believed to be among the top five parkland courses in Scotland, and the atmospheric Cave Bar. Cosseted in one of the oldest parts of the 800-year-old building it is filled with almost 200 whiskies, many of them very old and rare from distilleries that no longer exist.

The Cave Bar

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The Cave Bar recently won Hotel Bar of the Year, beating more than 10 of the country’s other top hotels shortlisted for the accolade.

The recognition was just the latest in a host of honours for the property which also recently won Most Hospitable Hotel for the sixth time at the Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards.

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Drawing room

Last year the hotel scooped the title of UK’s Best Boutique Hotel to add to its ever growing collection of awards which include ‘Best Small Hotel UK’, ‘Best International Golf Hotel’, ‘Best International Classic/ Heritage Hotel’, ‘Scotland’s Best Country House Hotel’ and many more.

Meldrum House has always been popular among corporate clients looking for first class conference facilities but its combination of luxurious history and contemporary elegance has meant it is also becoming hugely attractive as a wedding venue.

A lot of effort has gone into creating Meldrum House, which underwent an extensive £4.5million refurbishment in 2016, as a destination hotel.

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Conference meeting room

Old and rare whiskies cabinet

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Each bedroom is individually designed with stunning Scottish

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themed interiors and there is an extensive menu of top quality local

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Dining room

produce to be enjoyed in the more formal 2 Red Rosette Dining Room, or as a light bite in the Cave Bar or by an open fire in the Drawing Room.

“People are very keen to embrace the locality of food and we’ve really focussed on that, especially as we’re fortunate enough to have a pretty full larder on our doorstep,” said Mr Burgess.

“A lot of our ingredients and produce comes from less than 10 miles away and we even make some things ourselves. We have beehives on the estate and work with a local beekeeper to produce our own honey, “It’s absolutely the case that Aberdeenshire has gone from somewhere you might go on business, or to pass through on the way somewhere else, to being a visitor destination in its own right.

There is so much to see and enjoy in the area and we’re doing our best to shout about it.”

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Candlelit Dovecot

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A gem of a destination

Photo by VisitAberdeenshire Falls of Feugh

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by Helen Lloyd

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ndependent travellers are being encouraged to venture north of Scotland’s central belt and explore some of the country’s most special landscapes and unique communities.

Discover the Cairngorms is an international campaign to tempt the global travel trade to point visitors towards the UK’s largest national park as a ‘must see’ destination.

Situated in the heart of the Scottish Highlands the Cairngorms National Park has everything a visitor to Scotland dreams of.

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An abundance of spectacular mountains, stunning landscapes, fairytale castles and huge variety of activities and wildlife makes the 1,748 square miles park truly unique.

Whether a visitor wants to live-it up in a luxury boutique hotel or sleep under the stars there are plenty of options. Walkers, cyclists, water sports enthusiasts, history lovers and those who just appreciated a sip of whisky, excellent food and good craic are being urged to head north.

“From breathtaking scenery to fascinating heritage, beautiful wildlife to world-famous distilleries, the Cairngorms National Park has so much to offer visitors,” said Jo Robinson, VisitScotland Regional Director.

“This exciting new campaign will help position the Cairngorms as a top destination for visitors in a number of our core markets.”

The new campaign to showcase

Photo by VisitAberdeenshire Balmoral Castle

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Photo by Ross Johnston Angus McNicol, Elspeth Grant, VisitScotland Regional Director Jo Robinson, CEO of the Cairngorms Business Partnership Mark Tate, Heather Trench and Scott Ashforth, at Tomintoul.

Photo by VisitAberdeenshire Braemar Castle

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the Cairngorms National Park to the world has received the support of VisitScotland with a ÂŁ40,000 Growth Fund award to encourage marketing partnerships between local businesses and organisations.

Led by the Cairngorms Business Partnership the campaign will target international buyers in France, Germany, Scandinavia and North America for the first time, encouraging them to list the park within their product suite for travellers who design their own itineraries and arrange their own travel plans.

Photo by VisitAberdeenshire Glen Gairn

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The aim is raise the international profile of the National Park among the travel trade and increase visitor numbers and spend, especially from the key target international markets.

The SnowRoads, a fully immersive, digitally enhanced 90-mile route through the National Park, will be one of the campaign’s lead products.

Photo by VisitAberdeenshire Towards Loch Muick

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Offering scenery, wildlife, history, culture, whisky and adventure, it appeals to a wide visitor profile and many travel trade operators.

The trade-focused activity will be supplemented by consumer activity, including work with influencers, digitally-led marketing and new video content. Therefore, when potential

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visitors see the National Park listed with suppliers they will be able to access engaging content on their social media channels and through any independent web searching they do.

Planning is already underway for the Year of Coasts and Waters 2020, a year-long programme of events and activities which will shine a spotlight on the impact our waters have on our country. The National Park is the source of the River Spey, Dee and Don, and includes headwaters of five other important rivers, meaning the campaign will be in an excellent position to collaborate with activity around Scotland’s next themed year.

The Cairngorms Business Partnership has over 380 members and additional campaign partners include the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Perth and Kinross Council, Tomintoul and Glenlivet Holidays Homes, Rothiemurchus and the Fife Arms, making it an excellent example of partnership and collaboration in Scotland’s tourism industry.

Photo by VisitAberdeenshire Mar Lodge woodland

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Photo by VisitAberdeenshire Loch Callater

Photo by VisitAberdeenshire Corgarff Castle

Photo by VisitAberdeenshire …Burn o’ Vat

Photo by VisitAberdeenshire River Dee near Balmoral

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Photo by Guy Phillips

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Top job for Big Yin in the Big Apple

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egendary comedian, actor, musician, artist and globally renowned Glaswegian Sir Billy Connolly is to take on the role of Grand Marshal of the New York City Tartan Day Parade.

The annual celebration of Scottishness in America will mark its 21st anniversary this year with more than 1,500 participants parading along Manhattan’s Sixth Avenue.

The annual procession of pipe bands, solo pipers, drummers, highland dancers, and representatives from a variety of Scottish clans will take place on Saturday April 6th.

“I’m thrilled to be this year’s Grand Marshal of the New York City Tartan Day Parade,” said Sir Billy who takes the baton from last year’s Grand Marshal singer KT Tunstall, the first woman to fill the role.

“I can’t wait to hear all those bagpipes echoing off the skyscrapers and to see Sixth Avenue awash with thousands of swaying kilts. It’s going to be brilliant.”

Previous Top Scots who have lead the prestigious event include Sir Sean Connery and actors Brian Cox, Alan Cumming and Sam Heughan.

“We’re beyond delighted to announce that Billy Connolly will join us as Grand Marshal of this year’s New York City Tartan Day Parade this April,” said Kyle Dawson, President of the New York Tartan Day Committee.

“For over half a century, he has

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Photo by Eva Rinaldi CC BY-SA 2.0 Sir Billy Connolly

entertained us all through his work and, because of this, he is beloved on both sides of the pond. We look

forward to enjoying a big year with the Big Yin. See you all in April.”

New chief for Clan McEwen

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fter more than 500 years Clan McEwen looks set to recognise a new chief.

Actor and writer Sir John McEwen from Duns in the Scottish Borders is hoping to be officially recognised as the new chief following the death of the last one in 1492.

The matter is to be raised at a gathering of the Clan Ewen Society in June at Kilfinan, near Tighnabruaich at the heart of the clan’s ancestral

Photo by John Ferguson CC BY-SA 2.0 Clan Ewen memorial overlooking Loch Fyne

lands bordering Loch Fyne in Argyll.

The Society has represented the interests of all those with variants of the clan name, including MacEwan, MacEwen, McEwan, McEwen, McEwing, Ewan, Ewen and Ewing since 1977.

Sir John was initially appointed Clan Commander for five years at a previous gathering in 2014 as the first step in his being selected as Chief.

Once the Clan verifies support for Sir John a petition will be made to the Lyon Court to have him officially recognised a Chief and a coat of arms drawn up.

Appointing a new chief of the clan, the motto of which means ‘I grow strong again’, will allow the MacEwens to take their place as an independent clan and a seat on the council of Scottish Chiefs.

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In the footsteps of a hero

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his month a group of intrepid explorers will set out on a mission to retrace the steps of a largely forgotten Scottish

Orkney born Dr John Rae was the man who discovered the Northwest Passage but he failed to get the full credit due to him because of an establishment cover-up.

In 1854 Rae led the expedition that found an open channel to the east of King William Island in the high arctic, now known as Rae Strait. It was the missing link that allowed ships to safely navigate through the ice fields.

However, Rae also discovered the true fate of the tragic Franklin expedition which had disappeared on an arctic expedition after leaving England in 1848, and his account of what happened shocked Victorian Britain.

Rae found evidence that Franklin and his men had resorted to cannibalism before succumbing to the elements.

It was an unsavoury fact Franklin’s influential widow, Jane, Lady Franklin, and her friends refused to believe. As a result Rae was discredited and his achievements almost completely ignored.

Now, to mark the anniversary of Rae’s birth a four-man team aims to walk 400-miles across the Canadian Arctic along he same route taken by the surgeon explorer in 1854.

The team, led by Scottish-Canadian David Reid, will haul 90kg sledges up to nine hours a day for some 40

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Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Dr John Rae statue at the Stromness Harbour

consecutive days to Gjoa Haven on King William Island in an attempt to raise awareness of Rae ’s exploits.

It is hoped that restoring him to his rightful place as one of Scotland’s

greatest explorers will inspire public support for the John Rae Society to restore his birthplace at the Hall of Clestrain in Oprhir.

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Silent auction boost for historic community

Photo by Graham Lewis CC BY 2.0 Loch Hourn

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remote community whose forbears were forced from the land during the Highland Clearances has launched an ambitious campaign to restore a building at the very heart of their society.

Knoydart in Lochaber is mainland Britain’s last untouched wilderness and is accessible only by boat or an 18 mile hike over the hills.

Sandwiched between Lochs Nevis and Hourn, often translated as Heaven and Hell, it is home to an abundance of wildlife including red deer, golden eagles, pine martens, badgers, otters, sea eagles and even a few feral goats.

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It is an officially designated national scenic area and the waters around it are recognised as a Special Area of Conversation due to the abundance of marine life.

several smaller Corbetts making it a popular destination for hill walkers, mountaineers and wildlife enthusiasts, most of whom arrive on the regular ferry service from Mallaig.

pub in mainland Britain, along with a number of Bed & Breakfasts, bunkhouses and holiday homes to welcome visitors to this friendly and close-knit community.

The area boasts four Munros, mountains over 3,000ft, and

Within the main village of Inverie lies The Old Forge, the most remote

Once a stronghold of the Clan Donald between the 15th century and

Photo by Graham Lewis CC BY 2.0 Looking across Loch Hourn

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early 1700s before changing hands to become a domain of Macdonell of Glengarry it is today largely owned by the Knoydart Foundation, a registered charity, which took it over in a community buyout 20 years ago.

Back in the 18th and 19th centuries

more than 1,000 men, women and children lived, worked and looked after this land. However after the failed Jacobite rebellion of 1745 and the advent of the Highland Clearances many of the residents were forced to emigrate.

In one particular forced migration in 1853 some 400 of the local residents whose families had lived on the land for generations were evicted with an offer of a new life in Australia, although this was later changed to Canada where Knoydart, Nova Scotia is named after the community.

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Although their passage to Canada was paid for by the landowner only 332 residents of Knoydart set sail on board the Sillery on 9 August 1853.

They arrived on 7 September where they were given free passage as far as Montreal and 10lbs of oatmeal to start their new life.

Photo by TJ Denholm CC BY 4.0 Reflection off Loch an Dubh, Knoydart

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Those that refused to go were forcibly evicted. Their belongings were scattered in the open and their homes raised to the ground. Even then many of the families refused to move and they spent weeks exposed to the elements. Every time they tried to erect makeshift tents as winter approached they would be torn down by the men employed by the landowner to enforce the eviction.

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Members of the Knoydart community

The plight of the Knoydart people attracted widespread media attention at the time and became a notorious chapter of the Highland Clearances.

Today the area remains home to a dedicated group of around 120 permanent residents who protect its natural beauty, character, culture and rural heritage.

At the centre of the small but thriving community lies the Knoydart Community Hall. The whitewashed 1950’s post war building, which sits slap bang in the centre of the tiny village of Inverie, is about to be totally transformed, thanks to a herculean fundraising effort by the local community.

Having secured more than £30,000 with a crowdfunder last year and matched funding from Highland and Island Enterprise some 75 per cent of the money is secure and building work is due to start in May.

last of the cash the local residents have organised an online silent auction to meet the remaining build and refurbishment costs.

However, in a final push to raise the

Friends and supporters are

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Knoydart Hall

being asked to bid for more than 20 “amazing money can’t buy experiences”, including private wood-fired Pizza Party for between 15 and 25 people on Knoydart, a chance to go stargazing, a

Photo by TJ Denholm CC BY 4.0 Stags at Knoydart

personalised music composition, an opportunity to take part in deer stalking, a private Loch nevis boat tour, a stunning photographic print of sunset over the Cuillins on Skye and much more.

There are also a number of other exceptional experiences available, such as grandstand tickets for the Grand Prix at Silverstone with dinner and refreshments at the exclusive British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC) and an exclusive guided tour of the Tunnocks factory.

The hall is an important heart of the community, hosting over 100 community activities a year including meetings, social events and get togethers.

The ‘new’ hall will look very similar from the shore and will retain that ‘old-style’ feel but it will be a brand new space fit for purpose in the 21st century.

Once all the work has been

Photo by Graham Lewis CC BY 2.0 View from the head of Loch Nevis

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Photo by TJ Denholm CC BY 4.0 Footbridge at Knoydart

Photo by Paddy Patterson CC BY 2.0 Knoydart

completed the hall will have higher occupation levels, a larger stage, dedicated meeting rooms which will double as social areas and lots of storage.

“New amenities along with improved wheelchair access, outdoor spaces and a modern kitchen means the community will finally have the facilities it deserves,” said Jackie Robertson, a member of the committee organising the project.

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“With this new asset we can plan for the future. It will create opportunity and employment while ensuring the existing activities can continue and expand: events, celebrations, functions and workshops will all be bigger and better.”

Bidding for the silent auction begins on Friday 8th March at 7pm (GMT) and full details of all the lots on offer can be found on the website www. knoydarthall.com/auction.

To take part simply pick what you’d like to bid on, decide on the maximum amount you would like to pay and then submit it via the online form.

The auction will close at 7pm (GMT) on Friday 22nd March. The person who bids the most gets the prize. If more than one person pledges the same amount it will be the first bid in that wins.

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Antique hunting with Roo Irvine

Enduring legacy of The Grand Tour

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he Grand Tour today is usually more associated with three car-obsessed tv celebrities showing off an assortment of motor vehicles than it is to describe a unique moment in European history which exposed the wonders of the world to generations of inquisitive travellers.

For generations of mostly young well-to-do gentlemen, and occasionally ladies, of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries The Grand Tour was a customary ‘coming-of-age’ tradition.

From about 1660 until around the 1840’s a plethora of fine, upstanding upper-class genteel people embarked on a journey of cultural discovery and self-revelation. In an age where exotic civilisations were only read about in a book, or still had to be discovered, it was a way to explore works of art most people had never seen and listen to some of the finest music most had never heard.

The Grand Tour must have been an awakening of the senses on a level unimaginable to those of us

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Portrait of Douglas, 8th Duke of Hamilton, on his Grand Tour with his physician Dr John Moore and the latter’s son John. (PD-Art) NMS

Francis_Basset, 1st Baron de DunstanvillePhoto on theSimon GrandSpeed Tour, with CC0the 1.0 Castel Sant’Angelo and St. Peter’s Basilica in the A 300 year oldbackground.

Dressing-UpPD-Art mirror

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brought up in an internet connected world, surrounded by an overload of information, in which we can ‘travel’ to the other side of the planet and beyond without getting out of our armchairs.

The Tour allowed the wealthy to flex some serious cultural muscle.

Expansion of the mind was heavily sought after in those curious times and the knowledge gleaned was taken home and shared with the poor ‘unfortunates’ who were unable to travel themselves.

English Tourists in Campagna 1835 PD-Art

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Wandering through Europe, North Africa and the Holy Land could take the average traveller of the day up to four years to complete - no mean feat considering the perils of travel at the time.

However, the results were worth it and even today modern generations continue to benefit from an incredibly rich antique heritage left behind by those early voyagers.

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Photo by Kim Traynor CC BY-SA 3.0 Newhailes, near Musselburgh

Souvenirs really aren’t what they used to be. While we may come back with a hastily drawn comical caricature from a street artist the 18th century tourist would return with a Canaletto or two. While we take in the sights of the Eiffel Tower they sifted through the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Today we bring back fridge magnets and key-rings as mementoes

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from far-flung lands. Back then it was more likely to be specially commissioned works of art, sculpted bronzes, gargantuan marble statues, crates of exquisite books and even fountains. We’d be hard pressed to get any of those into an overhead locker on a budget flight these days!

Most of the time these artefacts would be given pride of place in an ancestral seat or country house but occasionally they would be put away

and forgotten only to raise questions and fuel mysteries further down the line.

A few years back an ancient Egyptian seal belonging to a pharaoh who died almost 4,000 years before was uncovered in the rubble of a Scottish stable block.

The delicately carved soft blue-grey stone measuring only 45mm (2in) in

height was found during excavations of Newhailes, a 17th-century country house in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh.

Highly polished and bearing a series of hieroglyphics inside a royal cartouche it was identified as an official seal of office issued to a member of the royal household for the funeral of Tuthmosis III, who reigned in 1500BC.

How it came to be buried beneath the courtyard of a stable was a mystery and fuelled all sorts of fanciful ideas. In reality, it was probably brought back to Scotland

by Sir John Dalrymple in the 1780s as a souvenir of the Grand Tour and used as the handle for a riding crop.

The Grand Tour had a major impact on ‘collecting’ as a whole. Were it not for The Tour many styles may never

have existed - Chippendale, Rococo, Renaissance revival and Adams, to name but a few.

Many pieces are safely housed in museums and vast private collections but occasionally items show up in salesrooms across the country. These range from bronze copies of classic marble sculptures or wonderful paintings valued in their tens of thousands of pounds to

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pieces of fine furniture and smaller items available for just a few hundred pounds.

Recently a 19th century bronze Grand Tour model of the Farnese Hercules, depicting, the weary, muscular, mythic hero leaning on his club after completing one of the last of his 12 labours, was sold by auctioneer Woolley and Wallis for £8,000, that was £3,000 more than the minimum estimated value.

A similar type of Grand Tour souvenir, this time a bronze of the Venus of Arles in the same pose as the statue in the Louvre, was sold by the auctioneers for £1,600 - twice it’s highest estimated vale.

There is no denying that Grand Tour items are still very much in demand by collectors. But whatever the price these artefacts are so much more than just old souvenirs of a holiday abroad. They represent an important moment in European educational evolution and as such their historic value far outstrips any monetary one.

Photo by Alain Darles CC BY-SA 3.0 Venus d’Arles which inspired many souvenirs collected on the Grand Tour

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Photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen PD Hercules Farnese in he Louvre

Photo by National Gallery of Art Washington [PD] Giovanni Paolo Panini - Interior of the Pantheon, Rome circa 1734

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Open for ladies

Photo by VisitAberdeenshire Royal Aberdeen Golf Course

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by Helen Lloyd

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new international campaign has been launched to encourage more women to come and play golf in Scotland.

In what is a world first by any national tourism organisation the campaign features four women friends filmed enjoying a golf break and engaging in other fun activities off the course.

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Photo by CutMedia/VisitScotland

VisitScotland hopes the fun, engaging and inspirational video will strike a chord with female players in Scotland’s key golf markets in the UK, Germany, North America, Scandinavia and the Netherlands.

The four female golfers featured in the video are Kelsey MacDonald, Susan Wood, Ellie Docherty and Kirstin Scott. All four women are enthusiastic ambassadors for the game having spent most of their adult lives playing the sport.

“Growing up in Nairn, I can open

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my front door and the 18th green at Nairn Dunbar golf club is across the road. I love golf because you get to meet so many different people,” said Kelsey MacDonald, a 28-year-old professional golfer from Nairn.

“My memories from playing golf are all from the incredible scenery and back drops. There are so many hidden spots in Scotland I would never have seen if it wasn’t for golf.

Everyone should experience the special feeling of playing golf in Scotland (the home of golf) there is so much pride and history!”

The campaign, which has adopted the #HerScotland hashtag, started playing to a world-wide audience in February and has received a lot of positive responses as viewers identified with the women in the video.

“I started golfing as a 7-year-old in St Andrews on the Balgove course with my parents and sisters. I remember hitting my first 7 iron in the air and from that minute I was hooked,” said Susan Wood, 40, an optometrist from Airdrie.

“Golf for me is all about the friends I’ve made along the way, the challenge of the fabulous courses Scotland has to offer and enjoying the fresh air, scenery and exercise.

Scotland has the best golf courses in the world, fabulous hospitality and scenery. It will not disappoint.”

Currently just 12 per cent of golf visitors to Scotland are female, which represents a huge potential for growth considering that female golf participation in some European countries in particular is in excess of 35 per cent.

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VisitScotland wants more women to come and experience golf on its many stunning, accessible and friendly courses as well as exploring the many other exciting activities on

Photo by VisitAberdeenshire Royal Tarlair, Macduff

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offer away from the golf course. “Scotland is a fantastic place for people to come and play golf because of the variety of amazing

courses with some of the most stunning scenery in the world,� said Ellie Docherty, 20, from Lossiemouth, a Golf Operations Assistant at Castle Stuart.

“I started playing golf at 14 after my Grandad introduced me to the game. Some of my favourite golfing memories are spending summer evenings playing with him and my

two younger brothers at our home course in Lossiemouth. It’s great to be outside getting a bit of fresh air and for me it’s a great stress reliever too!”

In addition to the video VisitScotland has planned a number of in-market campaigns coinciding with key events in the golfing calendar.

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Photo by VisitAberdeenshire Duff House Royal, Banff

Golf tourism is already a key part of Scotland’s visitor economy, worth more than £286 million on an annual basis with a target to grow that to £325 million by 2020.

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Research shows that golf tourists spend around 3.5 times that of a “regular” tourist and with half of all female golfers visitors to Scotland describing themselves as either “luxury” or “holiday” golfers, this

indicates a willingness for a highspend and to undertake a variety of other activities during a golf trip, visiting multiple regions.

It is hoped the campaign will support

this growth potential by dispelling myths that golf in Scotland is male dominated and only accessible to highly skilled and competent golfers.

Another of the video participants

is Kristin Scott, 26, Head PGA Golf Professional at Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort who admits to having had a great life as a result of her passion for golf.

She said: “I took up the game of golf because my dad was a relatively good golfer, he used to take me to the driving range and from there got me involved with the junior coaching every Saturday morning. When I was

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Photo by VisitScotland #HerScotland - Stars of the video taking time off from the golf course

12 years old I joined a golf club, was involved with the county ladies and played all over the UK in various competitions. I’m so lucky that my career is what I love the most…golf!”

The new campaign will also be used to help raise awareness of The 2019 Solheim Cup, the most prestigious event in women’s golf, which is being held from the 9th – 15th September over the PGA Centenary Course, Gleneagles.

The event aims to attract 100,000 attendees, providing an economic boost for Perthshire and Scotland as well as showcasing the country as an inspiring and welcoming golf tourism destination.

As well as boosting Scotland’s reputation as the Home of Golf on the global stage, the tournament aims to inspire a new generation of children and, in particular, girls to take up the game invented in their home country.

“We’re proud to be doing something that no other tourism body has done before by investing in a female focused golf destination marketing campaign. We pride ourselves on being a forward thinking and

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Photo by Paul Tomkins/VisitScotland Golfers by the Honesty Box at the Isle of Harris Golf Club

innovative organisation and I believe this campaign will help to put the focus on Scotland as a female friendly golf destination,” said Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland.

“Scotland’s commitment to women’s golf is unquestionable with an investment in excess of £23 million since 2007 through our staging of both the Women’s British Open and The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open cementing our

reputation as the Home of Golf.

“It is a huge year for women’s golf in Scotland as we are set to host The 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in September. The event offers us a significant opportunity to increase the number of female golfing visitors to Scotland. Add in a TV broadcast audience with the potential to reach more than 600 million households it means a lot of eyes will be firmly fixed on Scotland.”

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Return of Brigadoon Photo by BZFilms33 Massed bands at Brigadoon 2018

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rigadoon, that mystical magical part of Scotland that only appears for one day only ‌ every year in Australia‌ is coming back again this

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April bigger than ever.

For 42 years the town of Bundanoon in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales has changed its name

to Brigadoon for 24 hours to host a traditional Scottish Highland Games.

The annual event sees the town population of around 2,700 residents more than triple as Australians from

The Honourable David Hurley

as far as Canberra and Sydney celebrate a taste of Scottish history and culture mixed with a few new traditions of their own.

This year more than 500 performers from 25 pipe bands will take part in the 42nd Brigadoon gathering under the eye of the Chieftain for the Day, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), Governor of New South Wales, accompanied by his wife Mrs. Linda Hurley.

One of the new attractions this time around is the reintroduction of the Brigadoon Challenge which will encourage members of the public to

try their hand at Tossing the Caber and the Stone Put. There will also be plenty of serious competition as athletes from The Tartan Warriors will be lifting the Bundanoon Stones.

Modelled on the MacGlashen Stones from Scotland they consist of a set of five round stones ranging from 90 kg to 165 kg in weight. Only five of the stones are used at any one time with the current competition set comprising the 115kgs, 120kgs, 125kgs, 140kgs and 165kgs.

The history of the stones goes back over one thousand years to the

Mrs. Linda Hurley

highlands of Scotland when a boy was considered to have reached manhood when he could lift two stone in weight from the bare ground onto the top of a stone dyke or fence as we know it. Most villages took part in this exercise and the stones varied from village to village.

In the late 1970’s the lifting of the stones was brought back to life in Scotland with the introduction of the MacGlashsen Stones. The five round stones range in weight from 90 kg through to 165 kg.

The stones are laid out five metres apart lightest to heaviest with each competitor having to lift all five

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Photo by Jim Mutton Throwing the hammer at Brigadoon 2018

stones on top of a wooden barrel four feet in height.

16-18lb (7-8kg) stone picked from a local river.

The person who can lift all five stones on top of the barrels in the fastest time is declared the champion of the day.

Athletes will also take on the Weight for Height challenge. In this back breaking event, the athlete tosses a 56lb(25kg) weight over a cross bar.

The weight is tossed with one hand only from a standing position and the athlete is allowed three tries at each height. The bar is raised until only

There will also be competitions in the Stone Putt. This event resembles the modern day shot-put but with a

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one athlete remains. Top professional athletes can toss the 56lb (25kg) weight over a bar 18 feet (5 metres) off the ground!

There will also be the Caber Toss, considered to be the signature event of the Heavy Events. The Caber is generally log measuring about 20 feet (6 metres) long and weighing approximately 150lbs (68kg).

Photo by BZFilms33

The Hammer Throw involves a spherical, metal ball weighing 16 or 22lbs (7-10kg) fastened to the end of a wooden handle which is thrown for distance. Top professional athletes

can throw the 22lb (10kg) hammer over 115 feet (35 metres).

Finally there will be the 28-Pound (13kg) Weight Throw. This event

involves throwing a 28lb (13kg) metal block fixed to a chain and handle with one hand for distance. Serious athletes can throw the 28lb (13kg) weight over 82 feet (25 metres)

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Castle keeps up with increased visitor demand Photo by Simon Larson Armadale Castle

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enturies of history dominated by Clan Donald, one of the oldest and largest of all Scottish clans, will go on display to the public earlier than usual this year.

Armadale Castle, Gardens & Museum has extended its opening hours in response to the growing popularity of Skye as a visitor destination.

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Photo by Simon Larson Armadale from the front lawn

Although less than a mile from the port bringing in visitors by ferry from Mallaig this five star attraction has often been overlooked by those who sweep past in their hurry to head towards the north of the island - a grave mistake for anyone interested in Highland history.

For more than 400 years the MacDonalds wielded a powerful influence over the Highlands and islands of the west of Scotland. The descendants of Donald, grandson of the 12th-century Gaelic hero Somerled, were Lords of the Isles until the title was taken from them in 1493 by Royal proclamation.

The clan, which even today has more than 40 tartans associated with its name, once held sway over estates stretching from Ulster to Skye until, one by one, their lands were confiscated or sold.

Only Armadale Castle estate, which was bought in 1971 by the Clan Donald Lands Trust with the support

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Photo by Simon Larson Spring at Armadale

of clan members from a round the world, remains.

The romantic ruined castle overlooking the Sound of Sleat is

surrounded by up to 40 acres of spectacular woodland gardens, some of which date back more than 200 years.

Photo by Simon Larson Armadale Castle Jacobite Group

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It is also home to the magnificent Museum of the Isles which tells the story of more than 1,500 years of history and culture.

The museum’s six permanent galleries, filled with numerous antique artefacts, explores different aspect of the Highland story through the eyes of the MacDonalds. From clan warfare and the Jacobite rebellions to the Highland Clearances and forced emigration the museum is a valuable resource for visitors, especially those researching their own ancestry.

Now the castle gardens and museum will be open Monday-Friday during March and November, and daily from April to end October offering a variety of events and attractions for all ages.

Armadale Castle’s Museum of the Isles

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The south Skye attraction has announced a busy programme for all ages and interests, including family activities, music and garden events. It’s fast becoming a foodie destination too, with the new café-

Photo by Simon Larson Armadale Castle Stables building

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bar-restaurant, Gasta at Armadale Castle, winning plaudits from locals and visitors alike.

Families are a big focus for this year.

The Museum has launched a new

weekly play session for pre-school children, ‘Exhibition Explorers’, where babies and toddlers can enjoy games, stories and songs on Museum themes.

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Photo by Simon Larson Armadale Castle terrace view

Funding from Museums Galleries Scotland has also enabled the team to enhance the popular adventure playground in the gardens, with the addition of new play equipment for small children. Other family events include a hands-on traditional music day on 1 June, and a Jacobite Day with costumed re-enactors in July.

Weekly activity sessions for all the family will run throughout the school holidays.

There’s plenty for music fans and the musically curious, too. A new Gaelic Arts Week, supported by Event Scotland, will bring ‘pop up’ performers to the museum and gardens to entertain visitors. The week will culminate in two prestigious traditional music competitions, for clarsach and piping.

The castle grounds will also host a major new music festival, Beò, on 17-18 May, with headliners the Vatersay Boys. The popular cafébar-restaurant, Gasta at Armadale Castle, will continue to run regular music sessions where a lively

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Photo by Simon Larson Castle gardens

evening is guaranteed.

The magnificent gardens at Armadale Castle have always been a highlight for any visit. This year the team will be offering regular garden tours alongside the Discover Scottish Gardens Rhododendron Festival and Tree Festivals. Further enhancements to the gardens are planned, and garden consultant Andrew Peters, well known for his work across Skye, has been appointed to help develop and deliver the new vision.

“We had a great season last year with lots of positive feedback from both local residents and visitors.

The new café, family activities and musical events were particularly successful and we are building on those in our programme this year.

We’re greatly looking forward to opening on 4 March and welcoming both local friends and visitors from around the globe,” said Sue Geale, Museum Manager and member of the Management Committee.

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Time for first orders

Storing casks at Raasay

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fter months of anticipation whisky lovers can at long lost pre-order the first ever bottles of Isle of Raasay Single Malt to be be shipped and delivered in time for Christmas 2020.Â

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The view from Raasay

After a fantastic response from members of Raasay Distillery’s Slainte Club, the inaugural release is now publicly available to preorder for £99.

Produced and distilled on the Isle of Raasay using only Scottish barley, distillers’ yeast, and mineral-rich water sourced and filtered directly from the distillery’s own well – the well of the pale cow/Tobar na Ba Bàine - the producers promise this is a whisky with a truly Hebridean heart.

A long fermentation period of up to 115 hours brings a rich, characterful

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flavour to this island malt spirit before it even touches the oak of the cask.

This first release of Raasay spirit has matured in first fill bourbon barrels at the distillery warehouse since 2017 and in its final year, it will be finished in Bordeaux red wine casks before being bottled at 46 per cent ABV, non-chill filtered and naturally coloured.

Filling a cask

In addition to pre-orders of bottles the distillery has launched bespoke 30 litre casks of Raasay Single Malt.

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Raasay stills

The new 30 litre ex-Speyside Scotch whisky oak casks make the island’s first expression more accessible to whisky lovers and will sit proudly alongside the 190 litre first-fill exAmerican whiskey casks currently maturing in the island warehouse.

Wood from ex-Speyside casks has been carefully chosen for the smaller

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casks to ensure the flavours of the final whisky are finely balanced. “We wanted to make our first single malt more accessible in these new smaller casks. Depending on the angels’ share, after three years we expect to get around 40 bottles from the 30 litre casks, each offering

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Future Raasay whisky in the warehouse

a distinctly different character of Raasay whisky to our other bottlings,� said Alasdair Day, cofounder of the distillery.

The 30L casks are small enough to make a perfect present for a loved one or for a special event, while bars

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or hotels can opt to co-brand their cask and display it on the bar. While the whisky matures, cask owners can visit their cask, staying in Raasay Distillery’s four-star accommodation: Borodale House. After the whisky is bottled, owners can also keep their empty cask as a treasured memento.

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Young readers vote for top book

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he winner of the Scottish Teenage Book Prize 2019 is John Young, author of ‘Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist’.

Now in its third year, the award was set up to celebrate the most popular teen books by authors in Scotland.

‘Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist’, published by Kelpies Edge, tells the story of terminally ill Connor Lambert, who sets off on a crazy tour across Scotland dodging the police, joy riding and looking for answers.

The story beings in Stornoway, and the novel explores friendship, identity and morality, with a dose of good humour. ‘Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist’ combines the authenticity of John Green with the energy of Irvine Welsh.

John, originally from Belfast, began to write his debut novel when his daughter was receiving chemotherapy. Verity passed away in 2009, and since then John has found solace in his writing.

In 2013, he received a New Writers Award from Scottish Book Trust.

John also helped his wife establish a children’s charity called The Teapot Trust, based in Musselburgh, which provides art therapy to children in hospital who are suffering from Lupus and related conditions.

As part of his prize, John will receive £3,000 while the shortlisted authors, S.M Wilson for The Extinction Trials

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John Young

and Kerr Thomson for The Rise of Wolves, will receive £500 each.

“Every now and then something really special happens to us all and today it was my day,” said John.

“I am immensely grateful to readers around the country who took part in The Scottish Teenage Book Prize and voted for Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist. It is a story that says you are all important in this life and I feel honoured and privileged to have been part of this book prize, thank you to everyone involved.”

The Scottish Teenage Book Prize is run by Scottish Book Trust, a national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, and is supported

by Creative Scotland.

In addition to inspiring people to read and write for pleasure the Trust gifts books to every child in Scotland to ensure families of all backgrounds can share the joy of books at home.

It also works with teachers, funds a range of author events for the public and promotes Scottish writing to people worldwide.

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Book Marker

The Wind Whispers Her Name

by Mary Irvine Price: ÂŁ8.99 Publisher: Creativia

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et on the Greek island of Spetses this love story combines an air of mystery and sexual fantasy against a fascinating backdrop of authentic traditions, history and the culture of Greece.

The reader is transported to the sun-kissed Aegean and immersed in a wonderfully detailed description of life in this idyllic part of the world.

A strong cast of characters and hint of mystery will keep you enthralled from the first page to the last.

About the author: Born in Yorkshire, but now living in Scotland near the beautiful surroundings of Loch Lomond, Mary Irvine spent several years living in Greece, both on the mainland and on the stunning island of Spetses where her latest story is set.

A teacher by profession she worked as the Director of Studies of a Language School in Athens from where she was able to indulge her passion for travel around the Greek mainland and 15 different islands.

On her return to the UK she took up writing and has managed to weave her first-hand knowledge of the Greek lifestyle into her stories to give readers a wonderfully authentic experience.

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Book Marker Not The Life Imagined

by Anne Pettigrew Price: £9.99 Publisher: Ringwood

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et amid the scholarly cloisters of the University of Glasgow in1967 this is a well written and lively tale of a group of bright, ambitious teenagers embarking on their medical degrees amid the social and sexual revolutions of the 1960s.

It is a multi-layered dark comedy, exploring gender discrimination, sexuality and the power of friendship over two decades set against a backdrop of Free Love, the Ibrox Football Disaster, the emergence of HIV and DNA forensics.

About the author: Anne Pettigrew was born in Glasgow and is a retired GP and medical journalist. After graduating from both the Universities of Glasgow and Oxford she worked on the front line of medicine for 31 years as a GP in Greenock, with an interest in anthropology and complementary medicine.

Endlessly fascinated by women’s capacity to overcome adversity and finding no literature covering the experience of modern UK women doctors, she decided to write such a novel. The result was to see her first novel, ‘Not the Life Imagined’, named runner-up in the Scottish Association of Writers Constable Silver Stag Award 2018.

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Book Marker

The Private World of Cammo

by Simon Baillie Price: £13.45 Publisher: Clink Street

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cotland has an abundance of once great buildings that have been left to fall into decay or been destroyed altogether. Many of these historic properties slip away without much comment or any documentation of their demise.

Thanks to author Simon Baillie Cammo Estate has not gone quietly into the night.

Situated far away from the centre of Edinburgh, hidden among a 17th century landscape, lies Cammo with a history far stranger than fiction.

Once home to Maitland-Tennent family, torn apart by divorce, feuds and financial scandal, this ruined mansion filled with antiques was left to rot.

Through a series of often haunting photographs ‘The Private World of Cammo’ deals with the sad story and detailed demise of a once magnificent mansion. It is a great read for anyone interested in history and an eye opener for those who care for Scotland’s built heritage.

About the author: Simon Baillie was born in Edinburgh in 1972 and first became enchanted and intrigued by Cammo in 1989.

Over the years he has worked in the property industry as and an art dealer with a special interest in researching the provenance of antique paintings.

The skills acquired in both of these careers have been put to good use in uncovering the detailed story of the Cammo Estate.

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Book Marker Where The Bridge Lies

by Frank Woods Price: £9.99 Publisher: Ringwood

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s the 78th anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz approaches on the 13-14 March this new two-tier novel, with timelines changing between the1940s and 1980s, is a reminder as to how life-changing events of the past can shape the future. It is a tale of human emotions that explores Scottish history, psychology and identity as it takes readers on a ride of twists and turns.

The story tells how Nessa Glover is robbed of her husband and five children in the bombing. She then becomes a shipyard welder and one day visits Harmony, a commune built on notions of equality and unity.

However, not everything is quite as it seems. In 1980, Keir Connor’s father dies and he is left with a letter saying he wasn’t his biological dad.

Keir leaves his home in Australia and travels to Clydebank to try and sort out his family history. His journey leads him on to Harmony, now Laggandarroch, a residential school for disadvantaged children. One thing is sure: Harmony is the key.

About the author: Frank Woods lives and writes in North East Scotland. He grew up in a shipyard village and spent 25 years working as a psychologist specialising in disadvantaged children and their families following a series of jobs as an exploration geologist, journalist, and primary school teacher.

‘Where the Bridge Lies’ is his first novel.

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A conversation with Outlander author Diana Gabaldon

Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Craigmillar Castle

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F

ans of Outlander are to get a chance to quiz Diana Gabaldon, the author of the time-travelling adventure series, at an exclusive event held at one of the hit TV series’ iconic filming locations.

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Photo by George Gastin CC0 1.0 Hopetoun House

Organised by VisitScotland and book publishing industry body, Publishing Scotland, the American author will take part in an “in conversation� event at Hopetoun House on Friday, 15 March.

Photo by VisitScotland Diana Gabaldon

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The stately home near South Queensferry is a familiar sight for fans of Outlander, having featured on-screen in the popular TV series, including season four which concluded in January.

James Crawford, author and chair of Publishing Scotland – and presenter of the recent BBC TV series, Scotland From The Sky – will chair the evening in the elegant Red Drawing Room, which appeared as the home of the Duke of Sandringham in Outlander’s first season.

Guests will have the opportunity to hear from Diana about her novels and their transfer to screen, as well as take part in a Q&A session.

“The Outlander books and subsequent TV series have had a huge impact on tourism in Scotland, inspiring thousands of travellers to visit to our shores. It is only fitting that fans will get the chance to hear from the award-winning author in the sumptuous Hopetoun House, which will be familiar to viewers of the hit TV show,” said Jenni Steele, Film and Creative Industries Manager at VisitScotland.

Hopetoun House will be open

exclusively to ticket holders for selfguided tours, photo opportunities and light refreshments prior to the author’s appearance.

The romantic adventures of English nurse Claire Randall, who travels back in time from 1940s Scotland to the 18th century, where she meets and falls in love with Scottish Highlander Jamie Fraser, have enthralled readers since the first book in the Outlander series was published in 1991.

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In 2014, Outlander was adapted for television by Sony Pictures and film production continues to be based in Scotland – with fans flocking to filming locations across the country, particularly those from North America and Europe.

Photo by David Monniaux CC BY-SA 3.0 Edinburgh Castle

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The “in conversation� event, which was sold out within hours of being announced, is also supported by United Airlines, which operates direct flights from New York to Edinburgh and Glasgow, and Washington DC to Edinburgh.

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“Books and storytelling have long been the source of cinematic and TV adaptations and Outlander is one of the major page-to-screen stories of the past decade in Scotland. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to

Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Stirling Castle

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hear from Diana Gabaldon about how her writing served as the inspiration for the series,� said Marion Sinclair, Chief Executive of Publishing Scotland said:

The evening, which has attracted a huge amount of attention, comes in the wake of new figures revealed by Historic Environment Scotland (HES)

which reveal how the books and the TV show have helped fuel an increase in visitors to its properties.

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Last year Edinburgh Castle was the most visited with 2,111,578 passing through its gates. Stirling Castle was the second-top visited site with 605,241 visitors, followed by 518,195 visitors to Urquhart Castle. This was

Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Urquhart Castle

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the first time Urquhart Castle has welcomed over 500,000 visitors in a single year.

Sites featured in the TV show Outlander especially saw record-

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breaking numbers, with Blackness Castle reaching 50,000 visitors for the first time – an increase of 36 per cent from the previous year, while Doune Castle and Craigmillar Castle have also experienced an increase in footfall.

Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Blackness Castle

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“Last year was another fantastic year for Scotland’s heritage sites, with visitor numbers continuing to grow,” said Stephen Duncan, Director for Commercial and Tourism.

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“As well as the ‘Outlander effect’ bringing international visitors to Scotland to explore its rich history, we have also seen an increase in the number of Scots visiting heritage sites as evidenced in our highest ever membership figure.

Photo by VisitScotland Doune Castle

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“With Scotland being used as a filming location for productions such as Outlaw King and Mary Queen of Scots, we hope visitors will continue to be inspired to explore the history of the sites they see on the big screen.�

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Get it on in Galloway Photo by Recompose Knockengorroch 2018

by Scott Aitken

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cotland’s longest running camping music festival is back with some top homegrown talent and an eclectic mix of international performers.

The first acts to be announced for the Knockengorroch World Ceilidh Festival’s 2019 are guaranteed to create a melting pot of innovative traditional and electronic music.

Benjamin Zephaniah and the Revolutionary Minds will top the bill as part of a rare tour of the UK. Widely celebrated as one of the greatest poets of his generation

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Zephaniah will bring his unique sound, inspired by the music and poetry of Jamaica, to the festival

which takes place in the beautiful setting of the Galloway hills from 2326 May.

Photo by Recompose Knockengorroch 2018

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Photo by Elaine Livingstone Moonlight Benjamin and Talisk

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Other line-up highlights include the multi award-winning Highland band Elephant Sessions. Combining the very best of trad, funk and electronica this quartet’s live set has sent audiences into euphoria throughout Europe, Australia and beyond.

The 2019’s Belhaven Bursary for Innovation winners,Talisk, will also take to the Knockengorroch stage.

Led by the concertina virtuoso, Mohsen Amini, this band are currently taking the Scottish folk world by storm.

First timers at the festival this year will be the inimitable Moonlight

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Benjamin. With her amazingly powerful and original fusion between Caribbean voodoo melodies and rhythms – alongside 70’s US blues rock – Moonlight’s voodoo trance is sure to have have Knock’s audiences transfixed.

Griogair Labruidh, collaborator with Afro Celt Sound System, will be there to draw on the Gaelic tradition of spoken word and rhythm. He’ll be performing his new album, featuring Gaelic rap, African percussion, MC

Photo by Elaine Livingstone Moonlight Benjamin and Talisk

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and DJs. Also premiering his brand new album live will be rapper, multiinstrumentalist and singer, Dizraeli.

This knock performance will mark a much-anticipated comeback onto the music scene after a period of self-reflection and development. “We’re overjoyed to be hosting some of the most incredible music from across the globe, side by side with tradition and talent from

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Photo by Douglas Robertson Knockengorroch 2018

Scotland. Everyone is invited to celebrate differences and shared commonalities in our very own world ceilidh in the hills,” said Liz Holmes, Knockengorroch festival organiser.

Other artists confirmed for this year include Knockengorroch’s own new music commission, Oran Bagraidh, featuring a heady blend of Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scots and English from Gwyneth Glyn, Josie Duncan, Lorcán Mac Mathúna, Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde, Barnaby Brown, Bragod, Conor Caldwell and MacGillivray.

The Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers, Scotland’s own authentic taiko drumming outfit complete with after

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dark UV show, will be there alongside Glasgow’s own dub heavyweights and Knockengorroch regulars, Mungos Hi Fi Sound System and featuring MC Kenny Knots.

Solareye aka Dave Hook of Stanley Odd, winner of the Scottish Alternative Hip Hop Awards will be on stage as will British Drum and Bass pioneers Ed Rush and Optical; the all female, Scottish rap group The Honey Farm, Techno legend, DJ Jerome Hill plus Korrontzi, bringing top sounds and dance workshop from the Basque country.

There will also be performances from Delightful Squalor, Omar Afif and

Gnawa Trance Fusion, Gypsy Roots, Bristol Branch, The Matatunes, Awry, and the Dalmellington Silver Band.

This year’s festival will also feature plenty of comedy and theatre shows, arts, crafts, nature and heritage workshops and activities.

Knockengorroch is open to all ages with a dedicated family camping area, children’s tent and procession plus real ales, good food and a healing area. Over the years it has become a firm favourite for the hundreds of revellers who return year-on-year, alongside an increasing number of new festival audiences.

Photo by Douglas Robertson Family friendly Knockengorroch 2018

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Inspirational Scot to take on the world

Gary Cowan training for the European and World Championships in Paraclimbing

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by Helen Lloyd

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blind veteran, who overcame a snapped spine and sudden sight loss, has just been ranked second in the UK in his paraclimbing category – and is training hard to compete at international level.

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Former RAF Leuchars Avionics Engineer, Garry Cowan, from St Andrews, had to learn to walk again after he broke his back in a parachute jump in 2003 and lost his sight in 2015 after contracting chicken pox.

After taking up climbing just two years ago, the 37-year-old has excelled in the sport, and is now travelling from St Andrews to The University of Edinburgh’s Fitness Assessment and Sports Injuries Centre (FASIC) Sport & Exercise Medicine Clinic at the Pleasance Sports Complex & Gym in Edinburgh twice weekly for elite training with their AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill.

The treadmill, which is used by elite athletes, utilises NASA Differential Air Pressure technology to enhance physical performance. The revolutionary approach defies gravity and can reduce the weight load on joints to as low as 20 per cent, potentially aiding with areas such as rehabilitation and allowing quicker

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return to running programmes.

And with the national, European and World Championships in Paraclimbing approaching this year, Garry, who is being supported by Charity Scottish War Blinded, can’t believe he’s achieving such a feat.

“If someone had told me I’d be competing at this level two years ago, I would have laughed at them,” said Garry.

“It’s just unbelievable – from even thinking about trying climbing out for fun to then climbing at world class level, it’s scary.

“The time at Pleasance Sports Complex & Gym is going to be the biggest part of my training. The AlterG is my cardio training to get my breathing in check, my lungs in check, my blood flowing properly. My fitness levels are going to rise and rise and rise. I started to train here just before Christmas and I’ve lost four and a half kilograms in a month.

“I’ve been searching for this antigravity treadmill in Scotland for almost a year. My Scottish War Blinded Outreach Worker, Carole Martin, helped me to seek one out.

This is the closest one for me.”

The anti-gravity treadmill is a key element to Garry’s training which he could have missed out on if it were not for the transport funding he receives from Scottish War Blinded – a charity supporting blind veterans and veterans with sight loss – of which he’s been a member since 2016.

Scottish War Blinded also pays for his weekly transport to the EICA with the Scottish Paraclimbing Club.

In December last year, Garry was ranked second in the country for the B1 category, which includes competitors with blindness and most severe vision loss, in the GB Paraclimbing Series – even while suffering a shoulder injury.

“Being number two just doesn’t feel real. Even when I’m standing there on podiums, getting all the medals and handshakes – even just speaking about it – it still hasn’t sunk in,” said Garry.

“It’s a real sense of community and supporting each other among paraclimbers, that’s what I like so much about the sport.

“And when I’m climbing, it’s the boost and the thrill of just getting to the top and knowing I’ve done it.”

As someone who coached others in the forces, Garry is a natural

teacher, and says he’s delighted he’s been able to pass on his climbing knowledge and tips to others.

enough trying to walk again after snapping my spine, and that was a mental nightmare.

The RAF veteran is beginning to work with other Scottish War Blinded veterans to introduce them to the sport, and gave an inspirational speech to fellow Scottish War Blinded members at The Gathering in October 2018 – the charity’s annual members’ conference.

“I still find what I’m doing really overwhelming. I feel really humbled to be doing it. I want to pass anything I can on to veterans, friends – even sighted climbers as well.”

“I just want people to know that nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it,” said Garry.

Rebecca Barr, Director of Scottish War Blinded, said: “Garry’s talent, determination and enthusiasm has already inspired many of our veterans with sight conditions to do things they never thought possible.”

“It’s all in the head. I spent long

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Monster show for dinosaur lovers

T. rex Trix, the Tyrannosaurus rex of Naturalis Biodiversity Centre in the Netherlands, is one of three most complete skeletons ever found

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by Scott Aitken

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isitors to Glasgow have an amazing opportunity to see one of the world’s best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons during a visit to Scotland next month.

The only real T.rex skeleton in the world will greet visitors to Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall in attack mode, with her ferocious teeth and enormous head mounted at eye level, when it goes on display this Easter.

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The 67-million-year-old T.rex female is 39-foot long, around 13 feet high, weighs five tonnes and is nicknamed Trix.

Glasgow is the final stop for Trix’s tour of Europe and the Scottish visit is the first and only stop outside mainland Europe.

The ’T.rex in Town’ exhibition is touring European cities while she waits for a new museum building to be completed at Naturalis Biodiversity Centre in her home city of Leiden, in the Netherlands.

Trix will travel from her home in the Netherlands to Glasgow to go on display in the city from 18 April to 31 July 2019.

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This is another major dinosaur coup

for Glasgow. Trix’s visit comes just weeks after Dippy the Diplodocus skeleton cast went on display at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum just a stone’s throw from Kelvin Hall.

And for a few short weeks, both Dippy and Trix will be in Glasgow at the same time as Dino-fever turns the west end of the city into Scotland’s Dino-quarter.

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The exhibition has been organised

by The Hungarian at the University of Glasgow and Glasgow Museums and has been supplied by Naturalis Biodiversity Centre.

“Trix is a superb example of one of the world’s best preserved T.rex skeletons. Her arrival in Scotland will be a unique opportunity to see up close a real T.rex which is one of the fiercest predators to have ever lived,” said Steph Scholten, Director of The Hunterian.

“I am so looking forward to welcoming visitors to Kelvin Hall and see their reaction to the sheer size and scale of Trix. I can tell you, having gone nose to nose with this 67- million-year-old fossil myself, that this is an experience not to be missed.

“Through our strong partnerships both with Glasgow Museums and with European institutions we have been able to ensure that Trix was able to visit Scotland on her first and only British tour date.

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“This is a major coup for Glasgow – with two dinosaurs, Trix and Dippy, visiting our city at the same time for a short while. Dino-fever will take over the west end of Glasgow as the city becomes the dinosaur capital of Scotland.”

Trix lived 66 to 67 million years ago in what is now western North America,

on what was then an island continent known as Laramidia.

Her fossilised skeleton was excavated in 2013 in the US state of Montana by a team from the Naturalis Biodiversity Centre in the Dutch city of Leiden.

Visitors to Kelvin Hall will be able

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to find out more about Trix’s turbulent life from the information revealed by her bones in findings by an international research team of palaeontologists and geologists.

The Hunterian’s Curator of Palaeontology, Dr Neil Clark, said:

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“Trix was around 30 when she died – making her the oldest T.rex found to date. She is also one of the most complete T. rex fossil’s known and Trix may in fact be able to trace her ancestry back to the Middle Jurassic of Scotland.

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“Scotland is one of very few places worldwide where Middle Jurassic bones can be found. The Hunterian collected the first dinosaur footprints on the Isle of Skye in 1982 and has been at the forefront of dinosaur research in Scotland since then. And along with Trix, we will have some of the Scottish dinosaur footprints on display during her visit to Kelvin Hall.

“It is very exciting to be able to get close to such an amazing T.rex specimen. It seems very fitting to welcome our dinosaur cousin to Scotland.”

After her three months in Scotland’s largest city, Trix will return to her home at the Naturalis Biodiversity Centre in Leiden when its new museum building opens in August 2019 to visitors. But until then she will be a welcome honorary Glaswegian.

“Trix is the only original T. rex skeleton on tour anywhere in the world. It’s only when you see her up close that you begin to appreciate her actual size - she’s enormous.

Glaswegians and visitors to the city will relish this unique opportunity to come face-to-face with one of the most terrifying predators ever to have stalked the earth,” said Councillor David McDonald, Chair of Glasgow Life.

“Our enduring fascination with dinosaurs is down to the way they spark our imagination. They come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes and we find it amazing to think they really existed.

“Dippy, the Natural History Museum’s famous Diplodocus, opened to rapturous applause at Kelvingrove Museum and soon people will be able to marvel at not one, but two, incredible creatures – a mere dinosaur jump apart.

“We look forward to welcoming thousands of dinosaur fans to Glasgow over the coming months and trust these spectacular exhibitions will inspire curiosity about the natural world around us.”

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This month in history

S

cotland has much to celebrate and commemorate from the births and deaths of worthy persons to notable events in history. Here’s a brief guide to some of the events and dates worth remembering this March.

Considered the father of the modern novel without whom there would have been no Charles Dickens Books included “The Adventures of Roderick Random” and “The Expedition of Humphrey Clinker”. https://bit.ly/2HXw3Qx

Births 1316 March 2 - King Robert II, the first of the Stewart monarchs, was born in Paisley to Walter Stewart and Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert The Bruce.

1323 March 5 - King David II born at Dunfermline Abbey, Fife.

1473 March 17 - King James IV born at Stirling Castle. Possibly the most successful of the Stewart Monarchs he is also famous for being the last King of Scotland (or the whole of Britain) to be killed in battle after he died at Flodden aged 40 in 1513.

1727 March 22 - Niel Gow, first of a famous family of Fiddle players and composers, born at Inver, near Dunkeld, Perthshire. He is credited with composing more than 80 tunes, many of which are still enjoyed by Scottish country dance fans today.

1721 March 19 - Novelist Tobias Smollett was baptised at Cardross.

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1748 March 10 - John Playfair, clergyman, geologist, mathematician, born in Edinburgh.

1756 March 4 - Sir Henry Raeburn, one of Scotland’s most important portrait painters who captured the images of the rich, famous and important people of his day, was born in Stockbridge, Edinburgh.

1813 March 19 - David Livingstone, missionary, explorer and hero of the Victorian Britain was born in Blantyre on the banks of the River Clyde. https://bit.ly/2TBi3gz

1899 March 8 - Novelist Eric Linklater, the son of a master mariner from Dounby, Orkney was born in South Wales but educated in Aberdeen. he’s famous for a number of novels such as ‘White-Maa’s Saga’ (1929); ‘The Men of Ness’ (1932); and ‘The Ultimate Viking’ (1955).

1814 March 20 - Birth of Dr John Goodsir in Anstruther, Fife. Although renowned as an early pioneer of cell theory he was also instrumental in the fight against bacterial infections.

In 1842 he proved bacteria caused disease and could be treated with selective poisons. This was 18 years before Frenchman Louis Pasteur who usually gets the credit.

1915 March 29 - Jazz trombonist George Chisholm was born in Glasgow. Regarded as the best jazz trombonist in Europe he was the first British jazz musician to rank alongside the American giants in a career that spanned more than 40 years.

1924 March 7 - Sculptor and artist Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, considered by many to be one of the leading pioneers of Pop Art, was born in Leith, Edinburgh.

Deaths

1395 March 13 - Is the day credited as the date poet and historian John Barbour died. Often regarded as the father of Scottish vernacular poetry he’s most famous for writing the lengthy ‘The Brus’ around 1375 which tells the story of Robert The Bruce.

Photo RT Sanderson CC BY-SA 3.0

1936 March 4 - World motor racing champion Jim Clark, regarded as one of the greatest-ever Formula One drivers, was born Fife.

1566 March 9 - Musician and Courtier to Mary, Queen of Scots David Rizzio was murdered by Patrick Lord Ruthven and others in the Palace of Holyrood, Edinburgh jealous of his influence over the young queen.

1847 March 3 - Alexander Graham Bell, pioneer of the telephone, was born in Edinburgh.

1859 March 8 - Kenneth Grahame, author of the classic children’s book “The Wind in the Willows”, which he originally wrote for his so Alisdair, was born in Castle Street, Edinburgh.

1895 March 9 - Opera star and renowned soprano Dame Isobel Baillie, was born in Hawick, Roxburghshire. She was the first British artist to sing at the Hollywood Bowel when she appeared in 1933.

1546 March 1 - Reformer and Martyr George Wishart was burned at the stake in St Andrews for heresy

clogdancer CC BY-SA 2.0

1950 March 31 - The actor Robbie Coltrane was born Anthony Robert McMillan in Rutherglen, Glasgow.

1615 March 10 - St John Ogilvie, Scotland’s only post-Reformation saint who was born near Keith, Banffshire. A Jesuit priest educated in Germany and ordained in Paris he was part of the counter reformation.

He returned to Scotland in 1614 but was arrested and hanged for refusing to renounce the Pope. He was beatified in 1929 and canonised in 1976.

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1729 March 21 - Gambler, convicted murderer, financier, entrepreneur and founder of New Orleans John Law from Lauriston, Edinburgh, died aged 57 1787 March 5 - William Brodie, Edinburgh town councillor and Deacon of the Incorporation of Wrights and Masons, was executed for robbery after his secret double life as a master criminal was exposed. Brodie is said to have been the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’.

1820 March 11 - Explorer Sir Alexander Mackenzie, the first white person north of Mexico to reach the Pacific by crossing overland, died at his home near Dunkeld. The Mackenzie River, the longest river system in Canada and the second longest in North America, is named after him.

1914 March 16 - Scots-Canadian Sir John Murray, the father of modern oceanography who devised a way of recording the temperature of the ocean at great depths was killed in a car crash near his home at Kirkliston, Edinburgh.

1857 March 18 - One of the greatest architects of the 19th century, William Henry Playfair, who built the National Gallery Scotland died aged 66 at his home in Edinburgh.

1929 March 5 - Arbroath-born businessman David Dunbar Buick, founder of the Buick Manufacturing Company which later became General Motors, died in Detroit.

1790 March 5 - Flora Macdonald who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape from Scotland after the tragedy of Culloden died at her home in Kingsburgh, Skye.

1792 March 3 - One of Scotland’s most famous and influential architects Robert Adam died.

Among many of his most celebrated works are parts of Edinburgh New Town and Culzean Castle in Ayrshire.

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1744 March 7 - The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers founded. The oldest golf club in the world at Leith Links and played in accordance with the 13 “Rules of Golf”.

1770 March 9 - Haggis was served for the first time in New Zealand when it was dished up on Captain James Cook’s ship “Endeavour” to celebrate the birthday of a Scottish crew member.

1935 March 16 - John James Rickard MacLeod noted for the discovery and isolation of insulin for which he received the 1923 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine died aged 58 in Aberdeen.

1936 March 20 - Robert Cunninghame-Graham, first President of the National Party of Scotland and first Chairman of the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Party, died.

1940 March 16 - The first civilian victim of the Second World war to be killed in the UK died when a stray bomb from a Luftwaffe attack on a naval air station struck the village of Bridge of Waithe in Orkney 1955 March 11 - Darvel- born Sir Alexander Fleming, whose discovery of penicillin changed medicine and has saved millions of lives world-wide, died in London.

Notable events 520 March 10 - Death of St Kessog.

St Kessog was the patron saint of Scotland before St Andrew and the one who Robert The Bruce and his men prayed to before the Battle of Bannockburn https://bit.ly/2SnbPEk 1296 March 30 - King Edward I of England captured and destroyed the Scottish border town of Berwick deign which he slaughtered most of the 15,000 population in revenge for the Scots signing a treaty with the French.

1306 March 25 - Robert The Bruce was crowned at Scone and became King Robert I https://bit.ly/2rN9jGg 1328 March 17 - Signing of the Treaty of Edinburgh between King Robert I and Edward III which recognised Scotland’s independence and drew to an end 30 years of warfare. The treaty lasted just 5 years until England’s King Edward III decided to break it in 1333.

1776 March 9 - Scottish economist and philosopher Adam Smith published the first edition of his magnum opus “Wealth of Nations”, one of the most influential books on economics.

1848 March 23 - Arrival of the first Scottish settlers to set foot in Dunedin, New Zealand.

1859 March 24 - The National Gallery of Scotland first opened in Edinburgh.

1421 March 22 - A joint army of Scots and French troops defeated English forces at Baug in Anjou, France in the 100 Years War.

Andrew Shiva CC BY-SA 4.0

1457 March 6 - King James II banned football and golf because too many young men were playing games rather than practising their archery and other military skills.

1890 March 4 - The iconic Forth Rail Bridge was officially opened by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII who drove home a specially inscribed gold plated rivet.

1603 March 24 1603 - King James VI succeeded to the English throne on the death of Queen Elizabeth I in what became known as the Union of the Crowns.

1941 March 13-15 More than 1,200 people were and thousands more injured or left homeless by a Luftwaffe raid on Clydebank, Glasgow. It was the worst loss of civilian life in Scotland during the Second World War.

1642 March 28 - The Marquess of Argyll, Chief of Clan Campbell was given a Royal Commission by King Charles I to raise a regiment of 1,500 men which came to be known as The Scots Guards 1689 March 18 - Earl of Leven forms a regiment to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobites which later became the King’s Own Scottish Borderers.

IWM

1943 March 27 - A mystery explosion ripped through the aircraft carrier HMS Dasher off the island of Arran in the Firth of Clyde killing some 350 of the crew.

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1947 March 13 - Brigadoon, the award winning Lerner and Loewe musical, opened on Broadway at the Ziegfeld in New York. It was turned into a Gene Kelly movie in 1954 and created a fantasy image of Scotland still loved by many overseas visitors today.

Stephen C Dickson CC BY-SA 4.0

1960 March 28 - On the evening of 28 March a fire broke out at a whisky warehouse at Cheapside in Glasgow. It took seven days to put out the blaze during which time 19 fire service personnel were killed. Britain’s worst peacetime fire services disaster.

1993 March 20 - Pope John Paul sanctified John Duns Scotus, considered to be one of the three most important philosophertheologians of Western Europe during the Middle Ages.

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Date 4 ur diary

Scotland

Ongoing Red Arrows Hawk T.1A National Museum of Flight East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF National Museums Scotland has acquired a British Aerospace Hawk T1A which was flown by the Royal Air Force (RAF) Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows. The iconic aircraft has been donated by the Ministry of Defence through RAF Heritage and is now on permanent display at the National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield.

It is the only Red Arrows Hawk on display in any UK museum and now sits alongside Concorde G-BOAA, an aircraft with which the Red Arrows flew in formation on many occasions. www.nms.ac.uk/flight Until 2 March FebruaryFest The Clachaig Inn, Glencoe, PH49 4HX Good beer, hearty food, great craic, live music and even whisky tasting. Clachaig’s FebruaryFest has grown over the last two decades from humble beginnings to being as much a part of Glencoe in winter as is the sight of the Buachaille covered in a snowy crown as you emerge from the wilderness of Rannoch Moor on the A82. https://www.glencoescotland.com/whatson/ februaryfest-2019/ Until 3 March Glasgow Film Festival Glasgow Glasgow Film Festival is one of the leading UK film festivals regularly featuring new local and international film from all genres; mainstream crowd-pleasers to groundbreaking art-house experimentation; the return of well-loved classics alongside rare cult gems; with filmmaker guest appearances, interactive workshops and discussion panels to complete the mix! https://glasgowfilm.org/glasgow-film-festival Until 3 March Braemar Mountain Festival Braemar The Festival is a celebration of the mountains in winter and includes workshops on ski touring and telemarking, winter skills and avalanche awareness, low level walking, navigation and fell running. New for 2019 are snow shoeing and guided mountain walks. www.braemarmountainfestival.com Until 6 March Inverness Music Festival

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If you have a future event you would like included in our diary please email details to news@scotlandcorrespondent.com Eden Court Theatre, Inverness A competitive music festival open to all ages and abilities. http://www.invernessmusicfestival.org Until 28 April In the Footsteps of John Muir Stirling Castle Exploring the landscape that inspired John Muir, a leading Scottish American environmental conservationist and known in America as the “Father of the National Parks”, this photography exhibition traces Muir’s travels from his childhood in Dunbar to the American National Parks he helped to establish. Presented by the American Scottish Foundation, the works of Scottish photographer Ken Paterson shares the beauty of both Scottish and American wilderness that John Muir was so passionate about. https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/ whats-on/event/?eventId=af0f5103-f83f-44f0-822aa99700f5fbb5 Until 21 April Embroidered Stories: Scottish Samplers National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Embroidered Stories: Scottish Samplers showcases an extraordinary collection of Scottish needlework from the 18th and 19th centuries. The 70 samplers in the exhibition are on loan from American collector Leslie B Durst. Made by girls and occasionally boys as part of their education, samplers are small pieces of needlework containing a wealth of information about education, family, religion and contemporary events. www.nms.ac.uk/samplers

Until 5 May Robots National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF From early mechanised human forms to today’s cuttingedge technology, this major exhibition reveals our 500year quest to make machines human. Featuring more than 100 objects – from automatons to science fiction film stars and the creations of modern research labs – this is your chance to see the most significant collection of humanoid robots ever assembled. www.nms.ac.uk/robots Until 25 August The Art of African Metalwork National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Discover how brass and copper once featured as mediums of exchange, status and power in Africa through highlights of the museum’s 19th and early 20th century collections from west and central Africa. www.nms.ac.uk/africanmetalwork

1 March Ancient Egypt Rediscovered, Exploring East Asia and The Art of Ceramics National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF The National Museum of Scotland has opened three new permanent galleries dedicated to Ancient Egypt, East Asia and the Art of Ceramics in the final part of a 15-year journey, restoring one of the UK’s finest Victorian buildings revealing remarkable treasures and creating inspiring learning experiences. www.nms.ac.uk/seethewholestory 2 March Iranian Textiles and Jewellery National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Join curator Friederike Voigt to view our collections of Baluch embroideries and Turkmen jewellery, and see designs inspired by the collections created by textile and jewellery students from Edinburgh College of Art. Part of Edinburgh Iranian Festival www. nms.ac.uk/iranianfestival

2 March Global Bagpipes National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF The bagpipes are a key instrument for both Scotland and Iran. Enjoy musical performances which show the different styles and surprising similarities in both countries, accompanied by Iranian and Scottish dancers.

Part of Edinburgh Iranian Festival www.nms.ac.uk/iranianfestival 6-10 March StAnza, Scotland’s International Poetry Festival St Andrews KY16 9LA StAnza’s mission is to celebrate poetry, to bring poetry to audiences and to enable encounters with poetry. This year’s festival brings a range of writers, from slammers to concrete poets, to St Andrews, and with poets coming from Canada, Hungary, Germany and many more countries, it’s looking set to be a celebration of international poetry. http://www.stanzapoetry.org 9 March Pioneers: Women in Egyptology National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF To mark International Women’s Day, celebrate the achievements of women in Egyptology past and present.

Join TV presenter Margaret Mountford, researcher Lee Young and academic Heba Abd el Gawad as they tell the stories of the talented and tenacious women whose work has left a lasting legacy in this field. Part of International Women’s Day 2019 www.nms.ac.uk/womeninegyptology

9-10 March The Scottish Fly Fair University of Stirling, Stirling The number one social gathering for fly fishing & fly tying enthusiasts in Scotland! Full to the brim with some of the best fly fishing tackle producers, fly tying brands, fishing outfitters, professional casting demonstrations and expert fly fishing tuition. http://scottishflyfair.org/index.html 9-10 March Fibre Fest Dornoch Social Club and West Church Hall Sutherland Road, Dornoch This is our 10th anniversary and it is bigger and better than ever! We offer classes in knitting, crochet, needlefelting and wet felting, patchwork and Dorset Buttons. Classes are available for beginners and those with a little more experience. http://www.fibrefest.org.uk 14-31 March Glasgow International Comedy Festival Various venues, Glasgow Now in its 17th year the line-up for this increasingly popular event includes Limmy, Julian Clary, Reg D Hunter, Larry Dean, Jerry Sadowitz, Al Murray, Jasper Carrott, Elaine C Smith, Foil, Arms & Hog, Russell Kane, Des Clarke, Rich Hall and Scot Squad star Cameron Miekelson. http://www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com 14-31 March Aye Write! Glasgow’s Book Festival Mitchell Library, Glasgow Celebrating the best in national, international and local writing, Aye Write! annually brings national and local speakers to Glasgow’s iconic Mitchell Library, allowing audiences to enjoy appearances from big name writers and emerging talent alike. https://www.ayewrite.com/Pages/default.aspx 15-17 March Niel Gow Festival Dunkeld & Birnam, Perthshire The Annual Niel Gow Scottish Fiddle Festival was established in 2004 to celebrate the life and music of Perthshire’s fiddle legend. https://www.niel-gow.co.uk 15-24 March Edinburgh’s Festival of Ireland Various venues, Edinburgh A celebration of the city’s Irish community with great music and craic all held on and around St Patrick’s Day. http://www.edinburghsfestivalofireland.org/home.html 16 March Inverness Fiddlers’ Rally Empire Theatre, Eden Court, Inverness.

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As always, the Inverness Fiddlers will be joined by special guests for the event. Our guests for 2019 will be local Traditional Highland Music Youth Group Astar, and renowned Uist Gaelic singer Kathleen MacInnes http://www.invernessfiddlers.org/index. asp?pageid=294186

The 2019 event will be the 3rd Annual Military Tattoo to held in Quirindi. The event aims to showcase military bands in both a competition and exhibition format, and pays homage to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Entry is free and open to patrons of all ages. www.liverpoolplainsmilitarytattoo.com.au

20-24 March Hippodrome Festival of Silent Cinema 10 Hope Street, Bo’Ness EH51 0AA The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival or HippFest, is Scotland’s first and only Festival celebrating silent film and live music. http://www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org/venues/ hippodrome/silent-cinema/

2 March Scots Day Out Rosalind Park, Bendigo, VIC Celtic and Scottish music, dancing and singing, piping and drumming, Scottish stalls, Clan tents, Scottish food and drink, spectacular parade, lots of family activities and sword battles. A great day out! https://www.scotsdayout.com

22-23 March March Into Pitlochry Music Festival Pitlochry, Perthshire.

Highland Perthshire’s newest music festival featuring more than 20 bands representing a mixture of genres. https://www.marchintopitlochry.co.uk/#home

4 - 9 March Danny Bhoy - Age of Fools Astor Theatre, 659 Beaufort St, Mount Lawley WA 6050, Scottish comedian Danny Bhoy returns to Australia with a brand new show in 2019! Considered one of the biggest selling comedians in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as his home country of Scotland, he has recently taken the US by storm and is on his way back to Australia with a collection of new hilarious stories and observations. http://www.abpresents.com.au/current-events/show/ danny-bhoy-4

22-24 March The Scottish Golf Show SECC, Exhibition Way, Glasgow Come and join more than 200 exhibitors, including big brands such as TaylorMade and Cobra, at this year’s spectacular show where and guests will be able to book golfing holidays, look at tour trucks and have gear custom made for them. https://www.thescottishgolfshow.co.uk 30 March - 20 April Puppet Animation Festival Edinburgh The UK’s largest performing arts event for children, with a diverse programme of events for children between the ages of 0-12. This programme includes puppet-making and stop-motion animation workshops, puppet theatre and animated films. http://puppetanimationfestival.org

Australia

1-3 March Skerryvore@Cobargo Folk Cobargo Folk Festival, Cobargo NSW 2550 Twice winners of Scotland’s Traditional Music ‘Live Act of the Year’ Award (2016 & 2011), Skerryvore have been on a meteoric journey that has taken them from the remote Isle of Tiree on to International tours that have included performances in Central Park NYC, The Ryder Cup Louisville and the Shanghai Expo, China. https://skerryvore.com/tour/ 2 March Liverpool Plains Military Tattoo Quirindi, NSW

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7 March Skerryvore@The Spotted Mallard Spotted Mallard, 314 Sydney Rd, Brunswick Twice winners of Scotland’s Traditional Music ‘Live Act of the Year’ Award (2016 & 2011), Skerryvore have been on a meteoric journey that has taken them from the remote Isle of Tiree on to International tours that have included performances in Central Park NYC, The Ryder Cup Louisville and the Shanghai Expo, China. https://skerryvore.com/tour/ 8-10 March Skerryvore@Port Fairy Folk Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy https://skerryvore.com/tour/ 12-17 March Danny Bhoy - Age of Fools Royalty Theatre, 65 Angas St, Adelaide, SA, 5000 http://www.abpresents.com.au/current-events/show/ danny-bhoy-4 19-24 March Danny Bhoy - Age of Fools Brisbane Powerhouse, 119 Lamington Street New Farm, Queensland, Australia 4005 http://www.abpresents.com.au/current-events/show/ danny-bhoy-4 26 March - 25 April Danny Bhoy - Age of Fools

Athenaeum Theatre,188 Collins Street Melbourne, Victoria 3000 http://www.abpresents.com.au/current-events/show/ danny-bhoy-4 16-17 Cairns Celtic Craic Pullman Reef Hotel Casino 35-41 Wharf Street Cairns, Queensland, Australia 4870 The Craic will be mighty this St.Patrick’s Day Weekend International Celtic Rock sensation - Claymore. plus Irish Australian Superstar Aria award winning - Damien Leith. https://www.facebook.com/events/298609830791512/ 17 March Geelong Highland Gathering Osborne Park, Swinburne Street, North Geelong Vic The 2019 Gathering will mark 162 years since the first Geelong Highland Gathering was held on New Years day 1858 and will be the 60th anniversary of the modern era, which began in 1958. http://www.geelonghighlandgathering.org.au 31 March Ringwood Highland Games & Celtic Festival J.W.Manson Reserve, Selkirk Avenue, Wantirna 3152 Victoria Ringwood Highland Games is a Traditional Highland Games, with Pipe bands highland dancers Heavy Games now combined with interesting alternative Celtic activities, such as Folk Singers, Sound Healing, Story Telling, Clan History Talks and representation of people and groups from the wider Celtic world. http://ringwoodhighlandgames.org.au

Canada

23 March Winnipeg Scottish Festival University of Winnipeg Campus, Winnipeg, MB 2019 marks a new chapter for WSF, as we’re pleased to announce we’re moving the festival to the downtown campus at the University of Winnipeg! Band events will take place in the beautiful and acoustically friendly Eckhardt Gramatte Hall (see below), with solo events taking place in adjacent classrooms and lecture halls. www.winnipegscottishfestival.com

New Zealand

3 March Shetland Society of Wellington Picnic Wellington The Shetland Society of Wellington is a group of people with a connection to, or interest in, the Shetland Islands. www.shetlandwellington.org.nz

29-30 March New Zealand Pipe Band Championships Otago University Oval, Logan Park Dr. Dunedin https://www.nzpipebands.org.nz

USA

2-3 March 55th Anniversay Phoenix Scottish Games Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix, AZ Every year this event attracts tens of thousands of visitors, some of Scottish descent and others curious to watch the pipers, dancers, heavy athletes, and everything else that goes into making the Games a huge success. Highlights for 2019 include music to suit all tastes, historical re-enactments, a clan section featuring more than 50 different Scottish clans, a genealogy tent to help you trace your Scottish ancestry, a vintage British car exhibition, and much more. www.arizonascots.com 2 March Southeast Florida Scottish Festival & Highland Games Plantation Heritage Park, 1100 S. Fig Tree Lane (W 63rd Ave), Plantation, FL 33317 The Scottish American Society of South Florida began in 1983 when a group of Scots and Scottish Americans got together to put on a festival in Key Biscayne to introduce South Florida to the rich culture of Scotland. Since 1984 the annual Games has gone from strength to strength bringing “a little bit of Scotland” to Florida every year. www.sassf.org 8-10 March St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival Francis Field, 29 W Castillo Dr. St. Augustine, FL Come and celebrate Celtic culture in America’s oldest Celtic city. www.celticstaugustine.com 8-10 March Sonora Celtic Faire Mother Lode Fairgrounds, Sonora, CA Three days of Celtic fun for all the family www.sonoracelticfaire.com 15-16 March Skerryvore@Tulsa Irish Fest Tulsa, OK Twice winners of Scotland’s Traditional Music ‘Live Act of the Year’ Award (2016 & 2011), Skerryvore have been on a meteoric journey that has taken them from the remote Isle of Tiree on to International tours that have included performances in Central Park NYC, The Ryder Cup Louisville and the Shanghai Expo, China. https://skerryvore.com/tour/ 16 March Southeast Alabama Highland Games

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Houston County Farm Center 1701 E Cottonwood Rd, Dothan, AL The Twisted Kilt Society wants to offer Dothan and the surrounding areas another way to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day! A United Kingdom celebration, joining Scottish, Irish, and English heritage and bringing them together to share in a family friendly environment. www.wiregrasshighlandgames.com 17 March Skerryvore@Chandler Center Chandler Center for the Arts 250 N Arizona Ave, Chandler, AZ 85225 https://skerryvore.com/tour/ 21 March Skerryvore@@ The Kent Stage The Kent Stage 175 E Main St, Kent, OH 44240 https://skerryvore.com/tour/ 22 March Skerryvore@Metropolis Metropolis Performing Arts Centre 111 W Campbell St, Arlington Heights, IL 60005 https://skerryvore.com/tour/ 23 March Skerryvore@Thrasher Opera Thrasher Opera House 506 Mill St, Green Lake, WI 54941 https://skerryvore.com/tour/ 23-24 March 38th Annual Highland Ball Elks Lodge, Washington, PA The 38th Pittsburgh Highland Ball and Workshop www.pscds.org 23-24 March Sherman Celtic Festival & HighlandGames 2190 Fallon Drive, Sherman, TX 75090 This year the Sherman Celtic Festival will be exploring and celebrating various cultural and historical connections which link the United States to the Celtic peoples. We have many interesting and exciting things in store for our attendees. You won’t want to miss out! www.shermancelticfest.com 25 March Skerryvore@The Ark The Ark, 316 S Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 https://skerryvore.com/tour/ 28 March Skerryvore@Blue Lion at UAFS Blue Lion at UAFS Downtown, Fort Smith, AR https://skerryvore.com/tour/

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29 March Skerryvore@Polsky Theatre in the Carlsen Center Polsky Theatre in the Carlsen Center, 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66210 https://skerryvore.com/tour/ 29-31 March Madison Scottish Country Dancers Ball Weekend Great Hall, Memorial Union, UW-Madison Campus, Madison WI 42nd Annual Ball Weekend. Elke Baker and Liz Donaldson with Dave Mullen. Festivities include a Friday night concert, Saturday morning dance workshop with Lara Friedman-Shedlov, grand ball with sit-down dinner, after-ball party, and Sunday brunch www.madisonscottishcountrydancers.org 29-30 March CelticFest Mississippi Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum in Jackson, MS CelticFest Mississippi is the main outgrowth of the Celtic Heritage Society’s mission to promote awareness and appreciation of the Celtic nations music, dance, and culture in Mississippi and the region. www.celticfestms.org/wp 30-31 March The Louisiana Highland Games & Celtic Festival Lamar Dixon Expo Center, 9039 S St Landry Ave, Gonzales, LA 70737 A fun filled event for all the family celebrating the best of Scottish heritage and culture. www.lahgcf.com

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