In the Dog-House – But Loving It!

We all know that Britain is a nation of dog lovers and, with over 5 million households in the UK owning a dog, organising holidays for the whole family is not always easy.

The EmbraceScotland recognises the fact that more and more people want quality, want freedom, and want to take their dog on holiday with them. EmbraceScotland’s website enables you to search through thousands of self-catering holiday homes (all of which have a tourist board quality assurance ‘star’ grading) that have a huge range of dog friendly properties across the length and breadth of Scotland which can be found with one click.

No more kennels, or leaving the four-legged member of the family with friends or relatives this year, he can enjoy the freedom of the real Scotland with you!

If you don’t own a dog – don’t worry! There’s something for everyone on EmbraceScotland, from country cottages, grand houses and coastal retreats to castles and elegant city apartments. The website puts you in touch directly with the owners if you want to find out more and book, so no agency fees or vague reassurances by call-centre staff. Just log on to the website to see them all.

Edinburgh's Ceilidh Culture 2010: 26 March - 18 April 2009

Ceilidh Culture is Edinburgh's annual showcase of traditional arts, featuring the best of home-grown talent alongside acts from across the world, with local performers as well as international stars from song, music, dance, storytelling and more.

Now in its seventh year, Ceilidh Culture is a great opportunity to get involved with the traditional arts, whether it be music, song, dance or storytelling – right here in the heart of Scotland’s capital city.

Ceilidh Culture brings together contributors from all over Edinburgh and beyond, for three fantastic weeks showcasing local talent alongside international acts.Whether you’re familiar with the traditional arts or not, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Why not try a music workshop and learn about a new instrument, or listen to a story by one of our master storytellers and let your imagination run free.

Inverness Music Festival: 6 March to 17 March, 2010

Inverness Festival Association runs the Inverness Music Festival, a competitive festival, which provides opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to develop their potential in a wide range of musical events.

The Festival runs each year for 10 days in March. There are competitive classes throughout the Festival, which cover a large number of disciplines. These include: instrumental, vocal, gaelic, speech and scottish. All the classes throughout the Festival are open to the public and are staged in a variety of venues in Eden Court.

New Territories 2010 – Scotland’s International Festival of Live Arts: 1 to 21 March, 2010

A must for anyone with a desire to discover one of the most outstanding displays of contemporary live art in the world, New Territories 2010 - Scotland's international festival of live arts - showcases fresh, experimental performance, video, art installation and music by over 100 invited artists from Scotland, the UK, Europe and across the world.

The festival offers the dedicated art practitioner and occasional audience member alike extraordinary experiences and opportunities to discover and participate in performances, discussions, screenings, talks and workshops.

The Glencoe Massacre

Well if you do, then the history of Scotland and its heritage has some of the most amazing stories to entertain you.

One such story tells us about a grisly moment in Scotland’s history - The Massacre of Glencoe. On the night of 12 February,1692, Campbell received orders to kill all MacDonalds under seventy years of age at 5 am the next morning. The massacre began simultaneously in three settlements along the glen, Invercoe, Inverrigan, and Achacon. In the early hours of a cold winter's morning the soldiers rose from their beds and set about the massacre of their hosts, with whom they had been living on friendly terms. It was this act of treachery in response to hospitality that makes this massacre such a heinous crime. Although only forty were killed, many more escaped to the hills only to die of hunger and exposure.

The monument to the fallen MacDonalds is situated in the Glencoe village, and MacIain was buried on the island of Eilean Munde, in Loch Leven. Signal Rock, where the order was given to begin the massace stands just a few hundred yards west of the Clachaig Inn on the north bank of the River Coe.

To learn more about this historic event in Scotland’s history, go to Electric Scotland’s website where they have an interesting & very detailed account of the massacre.

And as you prepare your Glencoe expedition, be sure to research the Glencoe property listings on the EmbraceScotland website. Make sure your holiday is a memorable in your own history books!

EmbraceScotland's February Homepage Highlight: Do Something New!

EmbraceScotland's Homepage Highlight: Do Something New!

Courses, workshops, fun!

Learn to paint, fish, cook, or sing! Find out about archaeology, history or the Scottish clans. It’s all here, you can find it all in Scotland. Staying in a holiday home gives you the freedom to organise your day around your course, eating and relaxing as you decide. By choosing self-catering you can experience the real Scotland as you join your workshop or get stuck into your day’s activities.

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 of the area, and give you full details of the new and exciting courses and activities on offer.

EmbraceScotland's February Homepage Highlight: Brilliant Boating

Brilliant Boating

Sailing, fishing, enjoying!

If boats are your thing – sailing, fishing, rowing, canoeing, cruising - Scotland is the place to do it. But unless you’re actually living aboard, make sure you stay close to the real Scotland, where your gear won’t annoy the staff and meals can coincide with your schedules, not the accommodation’s.

Whether you choose to stay in a luxury modern apartment, or an ancient stone-built cottage, only a self-catering ‘home-from-home’ can give you real freedom and independence.

With EmbraceScotland you book direct with the owner, giving you access not only to the best prices, but also a wealth of local knowledge and advice about how to make the most of the area, where to launch and where to go.

Fife Jazz Festival: 5 - 7 February, 2010

The Fife Jazz Festival is an enhanced Jazz Festival that will bring national and international stars to Fife in the first weekend of February. Both the connoisseurs and casual listeners will enjoy a range of exciting, high quality concerts taking place in towns and villages across the Kingdom of Fife.

The programme will feature over 20 different events in concert halls, theatres, village halls and many unusual locations from St Andrews to Culross. A host of jazz styles are covered across 3 packed days from Dixieland to electric blues; jump jive to cutting edge.

This is the Festival that gets Fife swinging!