Beltane Fire Festival: 30 April 2011

Come celebrate the start of the summer at The Beltane Fire Festival which is a unique and wild procession of fire, drumming and celebrating on Calton Hill.

The Beltane Fire Festival is held every year during the night of 30th April on Calton Hill in Edinburgh. An audience of around 12 thousand people come to share the spectacular procession.

Witness this spectacular revival of the ancient Celtic fertility festival in the heart of the Scottish capital.Justifiably famous for its intensity and colour, the event has become a much-loved feature of the Edinburgh calendar since it was first organised in the mid-1980’s.

Highlands and Islands, Music and Dance Festival: 28 April to 1 May 2011

Come enjoy traditional dancing and music plus a real highland fling!

Based in Oban, the Highlands & Islands Music and Dance Festival is a celebration of traditional Scottish culture. Combining both invitational and open events, its infectious mix of traditional dance and music.

Since then the event has developed to include new special events and competitions, and the festival now offers over 1100 participants 125 competition classes in twelve disciplines including piping, accordion, fiddle, clarsach, piano, recorder, woodwind & brass, singing, Scottish country dancing, Highland dancing and choreography

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival: 28 April to 2 May 2011

Held each year during the first long weekend in May, the Spirit of Speyside, creates an opportunity for visitors to enjoy the best that Speyside has to offer along with visits to distilleries not usually open to the public.

The Festival invites visitors to celebrate Scotland’s national drink through an inventive and wide ranging programme of whisky-inspired events. There willl even be a Whisky School!

Themed on Whisky, Food and the Heritage and Culture of Speyside, the Festival will aim to deliver the full range of quality events.

Come and enjoy five days of fun in the heart of Speyside!

Scotland’s Victorian Heritage Trail

Scotland’s Victorian Heritage Trail

Step back in time and explore the area that Queen Victoria loved so much.

In the heart of Scotland is the magnificent valley of the River Dee. Rising high in the Cairngorm Mountains and running east to its mouth at Aberdeeen, the river is surrounded by some of Scotland’s finest scenery. Midway, in the shadow of Lochnagar, lies royal Balmoral Castle, summer home of the Royal Family. For 150 years, beginning with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the connection with the valley and the family has been continuous.

Queen Victoria’s distinctive profile on brown-coloured tourist signs points you along the Victorian Heritage Trail, leading you to some of the spots she herself enjoyed during visits to the area.

The trail also takes in two distilleries, one at Fettercairn in the Mearns, and the other below Lochnagar among the Deeside hills

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Edinburgh International Harp Festival 2011: 8 – 13 April 2011

SPRINGTIME IS STRING TIME!

The 30th annual Edinburgh International Harp Festival features a dynamic programme with some of the finest performers in the world. for Homecoming year.

Specially commissioned work features alongside more familiar favourites in a series of concerts, courses, workshops and an exhibition, all celebrating this oldest of Scottish instruments.

Come along and take part in the fun.

Great music to learn with an atmosphere of friendship and fun!

Duff House: One of Scotland's finest Architectural Masterpieces

Duff House is one of Scotland's finest architectural masterpieces located on the beautiful Banffshire coast.

Over the centuries, Duff House has seen a variety of occupants fromprisoners to royalty. The house was designed by William Adam and builtbetween 1735 -1740 for William Duff, 1st Earl Fife.

The Duffs were wealthy and would have employed an army of servants to keep the house and policies running smoothly. When the family left in 1906 the House became a hotel, a sanitarium and during the Second World War, a prisoner of war camp and billet for Polish and Norwegian soldiers.

After extensive restoration, Duff House opened its doors to the general public as a historic house in1995 and with a permanent collection of paintings and furniture on loan from the National Galleries of Scotland. The collection includes masterpieces by El Greco, and 18th c portraits by Raeburn, David Allan, Reynolds and Gainsborough and furniture by Chippendale.

On the Duff House grounds there are woodland walks by the river Deveron. At this time of year, beautiful Snow drops carpet the landscape which makes the walks that much more enjoyable.

Come visit Duff House and experience the perfect setting for a day out with a difference.

Edinburgh International Science Festival: 9 April to 22 April 2011

Edinburgh's annual Science Festival is the world’s first celebration of science and technology, and still one of Europe's largest. Europe's largest public celebration of science and technology knows no boundaries, in venues and outdoor locations all over the city.

Discover seven floors jam-packed with explosive experiments, super cool science, spectacular shows and heaps of things to invent and create for all ages. Or join international guests, world thinkers and award-winning writers in our extensive programme of debate and discussion with topics ranging from the hot issues of today to predictions for tomorrow.

Celebrating 23 years of show-stopping, jaw-dropping, eye-popping science - there truly is something for everyone.

So, why not get out there, have some fun, and unleash the scientist within.

Edinburgh's Ceilidh Culture 2010: 25 March - 16 April 2011

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 ninth 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.

EmbraceScotland Competition: Win a Scottish Self-Catering Holiday

A self-catering holiday really is the perfect way to experience the freedom of the real Scotland.

This is your chance to win £250 towards a holiday in any of the properties on EmbraceScotland by simply becoming and staying a subscriber to the EmbraceScotland E-Newsletter.

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And £250 off!!

Click here to win £250 in our the competiton