Taste of Grampian Food Festival: 6 June

Taste of Grampian at the Thainstone Centre in Inveruie is a one-day food and drink festival - a great day out for all the family. This popular annual event allows visitors to discover and sample the wide range of high quality food and drink products from Grampian in the north east of Scotland.

Local producers invite you to taste and buy the finest smoked salmon, mouth-watering shortbread, delicious ice-cream, sumptuous prime roast beef, creamy fudge and maybe a dram or two of the best Scottish whiskies from local distilleries and much more.

The festival programme also includes music, children's entertainment, arts & crafts, cookery competitions and demonstrations.......and our celebrity chefs and guests will ensure a fun packed day for all.

Join us again on Saturday 6th June 2009 at the Thainstone Centre, close to Aberdeen and celebrate the richness and diversity of Grampian's larder.

Scotland’s Castle Trail

Are you a romantic at heart? Are you drawn to dramatic ruins and fascinating tower houses? Then the Northeast corner of Scotland is the place to come explore.

The Aberdeen & Grampian Highlands are called ‘Castle Country’, and with over 70 castles in various states of repair (or disrepair), you can see why.

Grampian is matchless in the richness of its castle tradition, and Scotland's Castle Trail brings together some of the most splendid examples of castellated architecture together on a clearly sign-posted tourist trail.

The Castle Trail is centred around 13 beautiful castles. From the baronial towers of Craigievar, 17th-century yew hedges and gardens at Crathes and the impressive ruins of Huntly Castle. Head to the foot of the Cairngorm Mountains to spy out the Queen's holiday home at Balmoral. See the prize Aberdeen Angus herd and wander the pristine gardens and elegant rooms of Speyside's Ballindalloch Castle, owned by the same family since 1546.

The Regional pages along with the Aberdeen, Grampian, & Moray property pages on the EmbraceScotland website can help you find that perfect self-catering home away from castle.
Come explore Scotland’s heritage, and instead of taking a holiday, have an adventure!

Scotland in Movies

Are you a movie buff? Would you love to take a pilgrimage to the location of where your favourite cult classic was filmed?

Part of the appeal of movies filmed in Scotland is the spectacular scenery of misty mountains, stunning highland glens, imposing castles, and breathtaking lochs seen in the background, and in some cases centre stage of many movies some better known than others. Which leads us to the perennial question: "Where was that scene filmed?"

Scotland the Movie Location Guide seeks to answer that question. It is the most complete and detailed guide to Scottish filming locations available on the web.

The EmbraceScotland website can help you find the perfect self catering property to stay while you explore the live sets of movies past.

Party at the Palace 1503: 23 May to 24 May

Come experience courtly life!

Party at the Palace 1503 celebrates the rich and vibrant history of the Stewart Royal Court at Linlithgow Palace.

Become guests of King James IV and his new bride, Queen Margaret. Interact with costumed characters depicting 16th century life including jousting knights, falconry, jesters, feasting and courtly games.

Perth Festival: 21 May to 31 May

Perth Festival of the Arts is an annual 11 day May Festival, founded in 1972, and taking place in the City of Perth in Scotland.

38th Perth Festival and will take place in Perth Concert Hall, Perth Theatre and St John's Kirk. The Festival offers a wide range of art forms from classical music to rock music and drama, dance, comedy and the visual arts.

COAST Festival of Visual Arts: 22 May to 25 May

COAST aims to become a festival of both National and International prominence, to promote the visual arts in its many forms, develop the arts community in the area and attract visitors from far and wide to enjoy everything this stretch of the rugged Scottish coastline can offer.

The launch of the second annual COAST Festival will take place once again in the beautiful grounds of Banff Castle, with its fantastic vantage point overlooking the sea and the bay between Banff & Macduff, and against the backdrop of a group of sculptures produced for this years’ Festival by Rob Mulholland.

Munroe Bagging in Scotland

Are you inspired to head for the hills this summer? Whether you are looking to bag your first munro, or you are a veteran of the hills, Scotland has plenty mountains for you to conquer – all 284 of them!

For people who really enjoy walking and hiking, Munro Bagging is about finding and experiencing new hills and mountains you might not otherwise have thought of walking on - often in glorious solitude well away from the crowded tourist spots. It can be a lot of fun and immensely satisfying too!

The following three websites will help you find the perfect route to help you accomplish in bagging that perfect munro: Munro Magic, Go4aWalk, and Scotland's Munros with VisitScotland.

And for after the day's walk, or any walker's less active companions, why not admire the beauty of the mountains from the comfort of a cosy self-catering cottage? Have a look at the Regional pages on the EmbraceScotland website, and you will see how easy it is to find a self-catering property within your budget.

Burns an' a' that Festival: 16 May to 24 May

The 8th Burns an' a' That! Festival will be the biggest ever as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of Rabbie Burns in style. With the biggest names in Scottish talent from the world of music, comedy and the arts across 100 events there is something for everyone.

Come and help us wish Happy Birthday to Scotland's national bard, in the places where he lived and wrote, with the biggest party Ayrshire has ever seen!

Home Page Highlights in May: Featured properties to match your needs

May will be the second month of EmbraceScotland's exciting new special feature called "Home Page Highlights". Two themes are presented each month for self catering properties that relate directly to the special feature.

In April, we began with Summer Festivals (properties which are close to festivals throughout all of Scotland) and Family First ! (properties with family friendly features, such as play areas, games, local children's attraction, etc).

In May, we will have Highland Games (properties suitable to stay in to visit a local Highland Games ) and Sensational Cycling ( places to stay that welcome cyclists and mountain-bikers, with good local bicycle routes).

A self catering holiday really is the perfect way to experience the freedom of the real Scotland, and with EmbraceScotland, we're sure you'll find that perfect self catering property for your next holiday.

Word 09 - University of Aberdeen Writers Festival: 13 May to 17 May

Showcasing how the Scottish word had changed the world!

As Scotland's second largest annual literary festival, Word is an inspirational celebration of the written word.

With a Homecoming theme for 2009, the event will boast a packed programme of readings, lectures and debates as well as musical events, art exhibitions and film screenings

From the finest fiction to the darkest crime writing together with our special events to mark Homecoming Scotland 2009, the Word weekend has something for everyone.