Banffshire History Festival: 31st July and 1st August 2010

A NEW HISTORY festival aims to take advantage of a unique medieval site on the Moray Firth this summer.

Banffshire History Festival is a celebration of all things historical: the Northeast’s colourful past, music, merriment and a medieval castle site provide the backdrop for films, demonstrations, exhibitions and presentations.

The North East of Scotland is steeped in history, and Banff, being the county seat of Banffshire, is the perfect location for this festival.

Situated in the centre of Banff the medieval site of Banff Castle, the Banffshire History Festival will offer exciting venue in a spectacular setting.

Inverness Tattoo 2010: 26 July to 31 July

The Inverness Tattoo may not be as big as the world-famous Edinburgh Tattoo, but the annual Inverness Military Tattoo is the Highlands' only tattoo and has been running for just as long: both were first held in 1950.

The event is held on the Northern Meeting Park with performers marching nightly to the park from Inverness Castle over the River Ness. Joining the Sea Cadet Corps, the Army Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps, will be a host of visiting bands and display teams, the Golden Lions Parachute Display Team (weather permitting), the Imps Youth Motorcycle Display Team, the Highland Tattoo Dancers and Military Bands.

Not only is this event exciting and breathtaking, but also colourful, spectacular, noisy and, most importantly, unmissable.

Aberdeen International Youth Festival: 28 July to 7 August 2010

Aberdeen International Youth Festival (AIYF) is one of the world’s largest celebrations of youth arts, attracting an astonishing array of talent from across the world to thrill audiences in the North east of Scotland and beyond.

2010 will showcase the talents of over 1000 young performers in 70 groups from 23 countries across the globe in 100 performances across the ten day Festival period. Our participants come from a broad spectrum of cultures and walks of life to bring you the very best in youth music, theatre and dance.

This year will see the development of, among others: our intimate music programme in the brand new ‘ Up Close and Musical’ series of chamber, jazz and contemporary events; our family engagement programme courtesy of the Family Series at the Beach Ballroom; and our presence outwith Aberdeen city in our Extended Festival of 40 performances in locations as far and wide as Alford, Perth, Inverurie, Dunfermline, Peterhead and Inverness.

Access, excitement and fun are the buzzwords for AIYF 2010, and the AIYF promises to be one of the major cultural events in Scotland’s cultural calendar.

What to see and do in Scotland

After an active day, relaxing is easy in a self-catering holiday cottage!

A holiday in self-catering accommodation is all about flexibilty. You can pursue the day's activity when and where you wish to. If all you want to do is light a log fire, read a book, and stare at the scenery, you’re in for a treat. But if you enjoy the outdoor life, your senses are in for a true awakening.

The Embrace Scotland Activities page is full of suggestions for pursuits to enjoy while on holiday, or Browse the Events listing to see what's on in a particular region.

Scottish Food & Drink: Come experience Scotland’s local flavours

Are you a Foodie? When on holiday, do you love to go to the local farmer’s market ?

Whether you eat out in a restaurant or prepare a gourmet meal in the fully equipped kitchen of your self-catering cottage, high-quality food is the key ingredient of any trip, and can make the difference between a good holiday and a great one.

Scotland ’s mountains and lochs provide an extraordinary spectrum of produce and its temperate climate is responsible for its wealth of indigenous fruit and vegetables, making Scotland’s larder one of the biggest and best in the world. The exquisite range and distinctive flavour of Scotland’s home-produced food guarantees unbeatable tasting experiences, whether it’s succulent salmon from the crystal clear rivers, gamey grouse or venison from the wild moors or a hot toddy of warming whisky to chase away the winter chills.

EatScotland is a quality assurance “where to eat” scheme from VisitScotland and a website promoting all positive aspects of food and drink in Scotland. EatScotland helps the residents and visitors to Scotland find great places to eat, not just the well-established places but also the many unsung and sometimes relatively undiscovered places within Scotland that are providing good food, but who may not have managed to get into the glossy printed guides.

Another good resource in the quest for quality food is Taste-of-Scotland.com. Their team has assembled a selection of Scottish Food Products and Food Producers which they believe reflect some of the uniqueness and range of flavours to be found in Scottish Food and Drink.

So after a long day of tantalizing your taste buds, make sure you stay in a quality-assured self-catering cottage with the help of the EmbraceScotland website.

Hebridean Celtic Festival: 14th to 17th July 2010

The Hebridean Celtic Festival is in its 15th year and this year’s event promises to be the best one yet!

The Hebridean Celtic Festival was voted Event of the Year 2009 by pubic vote, as part of the prestigious MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards. The festival has hosted performers like Van Morrison, The Waterboys and The Proclaimers who have all graced the main stage at this four day event based in the unique island setting of the Outer Hebrides, off the coast of Scotland.

This year’s programme is just as exciting with Runrig, Afro Celt Sound System, Imelda May, Adrian Edmondson and the Bad Shepherds, Julie Fowlis, Treacherous Orchestra, and Blazin’ Fiddles just some of the acts that will be appearing from July 14th-17th.

During the day there are a range of complementary events and free family entertainment to take in. The late night Festival Club is also a hot ticket favourite for festival-goers offering live music, often with guest surprise spots by many of the headliners, plenty of drink and hot food, as well as ample opportunity for dancing.

Apart from all of the music and pub sessions on offer, there are also many great attractions to visit, with beautiful beaches, historical sites and fabulous coastal and mountain trekking.


There are many reasons why so many people arrive from places like the USA, Canada and Australia for the festival, and this year they can expect a big 15th anniversary welcome!

Pittenweem Arts Festival: 7 August to 15 August 2010

Pittenweem Arts Festival will be formally opened on the Sat 7th August at 6pm with a live performance of the Clanadonia drummers pageant through the village and harbour. The traditional torchlight Procession lead by Piper Kerr Cowan will wind through the village at 9.15 culminating in a spectacular fireworks display on the shore.

Throughout the week there are open art &painting competitions, talks, theater, comedy, music, workshops and over a 100 exhibitions.

The GWCT Scottish Game Fair: 2 July to 4 July 2010

The GWCT Scottish Game Fair is one of Scotland’s premier rural events and, last year, attracted over 36,000 people to enjoy the lively and friendly atmosphere.

Come hunt for bargains in over 300 trade stands, learn more about the countryside, see a huge variety of displays & demonstrations, and test your skills in a wide range of competitions.

The GWCT Scottish Game Fair is held on 2, 3 and 4 July 2010 in the grounds of Scone Palace, Perth, the Fair is a fantastic day out for all the family and is open from 9.30a.m. to 6p.m. on all three days.

Their website http://www.scottishgamefair.com/ has a huge amount of information and tickets can now be purchased in advance via the site.