sound - North East Scotland's Festival of New Music: 30 October - 20 November, 2009

sound festival is one of the Northeast of Scotland's true hidden gems… sound is all about making contemporary music more accessible to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Sound will be an eclectic range of new music presented innovatively through a wide range of events including concerts, talks, electroacoustic installations, and workshops at varied venues across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

sound is a festival for everyone! Be sure to check out the programme of events here.

Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running: 4 October, 2009

One of the UK's leading marathons, the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running (featuring the River Ness 10K and 5K Fun Run) follows a spectacular route through stunning Highland scenery, between Fort Augustus and Foyers on the south side of Loch Ness, and will finish at the Queen’s Park Athletics Stadium in Inverness.

Highlights include a pre-race Pasta Party and festival on race day with pipes and drums, live ceilidh music, kids activities and renowned Scottish Highland hospitality.

Special events have been added to this year’s Festival to encourage people to ‘Run Home to Scotland’ in this unique Homecoming year. The Run Home Clan Challenge is open to anyone with a claim to a Scottish clan. Represent your Clan (and wear some tartan) in the most fun a Battle of the Clans has been in centuries!

MyCottageHoliday: Unbiased Holiday Cottage Reviews

Have you noticed that TripAdvisor so far has very few holiday cottages on it?

If you are into reading or writing reviews of your holiday experiences, you may have found this frustrating. A fairly new website aims to make your life better - http://www.mycottageholiday.co.uk/

MyCottageHoliday claims to be the first independent site solely dedicated to UK self-catering and holiday cottage reviews. And to be the only website where users can find impartial UK cottage reviews.

If you have stayed at a lovely self-catering cottage, house or apartment which you found through EmbraceScotland, why not go to MyCottageHoliday and give it a review now?

Is Your Holiday Accommodation Quality-Assured?

Did you know that Scotland's Tourist Board, VisitScotland, has made a business decision to start including properties that have not been graded and not assessed a Quality-Assurance rating ?

VisitScotland feels their new model has been designed to be more inclusive of properties around Scotland than ever before.

Are you willing to take that chance with you or your family's holiday? Would you take a chance and stay at a property that you have no idea of what you will find upon arrival? Why would anyone choose a property that is not Quality-Assured?

All of EmbraceScotland's properties have been Quality Assured. The website allows you to search for a self catering property by the Star Rating that you require.

Don't be caught with a holiday home from ....
Choose Quality-Assured!

Doric Festival: 25 September - 11 October, 2009

A twa wikk lang splore o the tung, sangs, music and traditions o oor byous Doric culture.

Doric is the dialect spoken in the North East of Scotland, especially around Aberdeenshire. Go to The Broch, the Fraserburgh area, to hear a broad accent of the Doric. You may wish to take an interpreter!

Now in its fifteenth year, The Doric Festival is unique in its involvement of local communities across the North-east in celebrating our language, music and traditions. Throughout Aberdeenshire there are events, exhibitions, performances, drama and workshops. Events include comedy sketches, traditional singing, fiddling, art exhibitions, historic displays, Doric storytelling, ceilidh dancing, concerts, folk singing, Doric call my bluff games, a plooin match and more.

The Festival provides an opportunity for all, especially youngsters, to witness the vibrancy of the tongue, music and stories of this hidden corner of Scotland, and for performers to participate in the preservation of this heritage.

Clan Scott Society Gathering 2009: 24 - 27 September

The first ever international gathering of Clan Scott at its ancestral home, Bowhill, in the Scottish Borders. Join us for a historical re-enactment of the Carterhaugh Ba' Game, displays of archery and horsemanship and a performance of 'The Minstrel and the Shirra', a play about Sir Walter Scott.

A day full of colour, spectacle and fun! There will be clan parades, archery exhibitions, Scottish dancing, constumed performers, a re-enactment of the Carterhaugh Ba' Game and much more. Experts will be on hand to help you trace your family tree. Browse stalls and enjoy the chance to take back some unusual Scottish gifts. Enjoy a delicious hog roast or a dram or two from our catering tent.

Everyone is welcome at this event so some along and enjoy the atmosphere.

Scotland’s self-catering visitors rise in first half

At the start of this year there was optimism in Scotland’s self-catering tourist industry that more people would holiday at home this year as a result of the credit crunch.

The plummeting pound sterling would result in holidays abroad being more expensive and it was predicted that tourism would benefit as more people took this less expensive option.

In the first half of this year these predictions have come true for members of The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers. They have reported a rise of 30 per cent in UK bookings with those from the EC up 20 per cent on last year.

Bookings from further afield, especially those from countries with closer connections to Scotland – the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – were however down 20 per cent on the first half of last year.

David Smythe, chairman of the ASSC, stated that The Homecoming has saved a further drop in visitors from these countries staying at members’ properties.

QUOTE:

“In an economically tricky year, we are very fortunate to have Homecoming already in place creating new events and providing welcome additional marketing for both these and the existing events branded within this project. While local events boost general visitor numbers, international events like The Gathering attract overseas visitors.”

UK families with mortgages lowered as a result of the crunch have contributed towards the overall rise in bookings from within the UK. But self-catering bookings from pensioners who rely on market-based income are down due to a relative fall in cash presently available to them.

There is optimism in the ASSC that the recent upturn in the markets may lead to a rise in bookings for autumn breaks.

Check out the ASSC web site http://www.embracescotland.co.uk/

Loopallu: 18 - 19 September, 2009

Loopallu takes place on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th September in Ullapool, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland.

This small intimate festival is situated in the pretty little fishing village of Ullapool on the shores Loch Broom, Loopallu has activities for all ages in addition to the music. The festival also offers local food and drink along with fringe events throughout the village.

The musical line-up includes the recently reformed Lightning Seeds, Mumford & Sons, The Dykeenies, Kid British, as well as the return of firm festival favourite and BBC Radio 2 presenter Mark Radcliffe and his band The Family Mahone.

Be quick and get your tickets now, this festival always seems to sell out!

September Homepage Highlights: Hillwalking Hideaways

EmbraceScotland's September Homepage Highlights: Hillwalking Hideaways

Walk down from the hills to a warm and cosy home.

Thousands of people come to Scotland every year to walk in its spectacular hills. Whether you want the challenge of a Munro, or to stroll a lowland slope, it’s a great place to walk this Autumn. And your own holiday cottage can be an ideal base for a wide range of day-long walks, promising you a warm and comfortable place to rest your feet, whatever time you make it back!

With EmbraceScotland you book direct with the owner, giving you access not only to the best prices, but also a wealth of knowledge and advice about the pleasures and pitfalls of the local hills and glens.

September Homepage Highlights: Something Different

EmbraceScotland's September Homepage Highlights: Something Different

Make your stay in Scotland a truly unique experience!

Sometimes you just need to know that your holiday will be special. It may be an anniversary or other special occasion, or maybe you just need to reward yourself or your family. Whatever the reason, staying in accommodation that is that little bit different will means you will have a holiday you will remember fondly for years. And staying self-catering means you will have complete freedom to make it your own for the length of your stay, with no interruptions and no one else’s timetable!

With EmbraceScotland you book direct with the owner, giving you access not only to the best prices, but also a wealth of knowledge and advice about how to make the most of the area, and how to make your stay really special.