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What to See and Do
In the year of Homecoming there is loads going on in Scotland, find the best places to see and the most exciting things to do!
RAF Leuchars Airshow
For one Saturday each September, St Andrews briefly loses its home of golf moniker as fighter jets, luxury Learjets and vintage flying machines all swoop and soar to this small corner of Fife to land at RAF Leuchars Airfield for one of the UK's finest and most established air shows. View full details
Perfect Day - Festivals in Edinburgh
With summer here and the weather hotting up, it's that time of year again when Edinburgh's many summer festivals release their full programme of events; so now's the time to start booking your Perfect Day in Scotland. View full details
Shetland Accordion & Fiddle Festival, & Shetland Food Festival
Visiting Shetland is unlike visiting any other part of Scotland. An island or chain of islands actually, that is home to a strong and deeply ingrained sense of culture, history and community. Steeped in thousands of years of history, the beautiful and often dramatic landscapes of Shetland have inspired and nurtured the islands' rich musical heritage and created the right environment to produce exceptional natural ingredients. View full details
Discover Ayrshire & Arran
Stretching up about 80 miles of Scotland's jagged and unspoiled west coast, the historic and naturally stunning Ayrshire, and its island neighbour of Arran, offer some of Scotland's finest experiences; from golden beaches and extreme sports to native culinary delights, centuries of rich history and some of Scotland’s most rewarding hill walking. View full details
Doors Open Day
Have you ever walked past a building and been curious as to what was inside? In the year of Homecoming, what better way to explore your 'hidden heritage' than to be given free roam of some of Scotland's most important and beautiful buildings? View full details
Blas & Gael Force
Discover a wealth of traditional music and art events taking place this summer and autumn, from the Highlands all the way to Dumfries & Galloway. View full details
Spotlight on Bute
Take a trip to the Isle of Bute this summer - enjoy 'the Isle of Bute's Food Festival "eatBute" as well as visiting the fantastic Mount Stuart and Isle of Bute Discovery Centre. View full details
Scottish Food And Drink Fortnight
From the shellfish in Orkney to Edinburgh's award-winning Farmers' Market and the fresh fruit found in the Scottish Borders, foodies are spoilt for choice come September as Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight gets into full swing. View full details
Johnnie Walker Championship @ Gleneagles
August sees perhaps the most prestigious event in Scotland’s golfing calendar returning once more, to decide who will come out on top as the historic Gleneagles welcomes back the Johnnie Walker Championship. View full details
Traditional Music Festivals Throughout Scotland This Summer
With a culture strong in creativity, community and celebration, Scotland’s summer is rife with traditional music festivals. From the jagged west coast to the green fields of the Borders, this summer Scotland is coming alive with the sound of Celtic, jazz, folk and contemporary music as festival season gets into full swing. Book your tickets now to experience this famously welcoming country at its most celebratory. View full details
Discover Highland Games
Held throughout Scotland and perhaps the most visual way to celebrate Scottish and Celtic culture and history, you haven't experienced the real Scotland until you've been to a Highland Games. Originating in the Scottish Highlands (hence the name!), these events, which attract locals, visitors and Games competitiors alike, now take place across the country. summer is generally the season to catch one of these iconic events for yourself. View full details
Speyside Autumn Whisky Festival
The word whisky comes from the Gaelic 'uisge beatha' meaning 'water of life', with the art and practice of distilling in Scotland dating back to the Ancient Celts. Though originally believed to have been brought to Scotland by Irish missionaries hundreds of years ago, Scotch whisky was first mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1495 and today there is very little more synonymous with Scotland, than whisky. View full details
The Discovery of Spain: Goya to Picasso
This autumn, make sure you take a break from the buzz and business of the festival to pop into the National Gallery Complex on the Mound, just off Princes Street. A spectacular celebration of Spanish culture, as seen through the eyes of British artists and art collectors, will be the highlight of the National Galleries of Scotland exhibition programme during the 2009 Edinburgh Festival. View full details
Scottish Ballet Autumn Season
Putting a spring into autumn, Scottish Ballet is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with a triple bill of work like none other. The dazzling Autumn Season will see the company tour through Scotland, starting in Glasgow’s Theatre Royal and concluding the tour at Eden Court in Inverness. View full details
Merchant City Festival
With Glasgow holding a deserved reputation as the country's 'City of Culture', Scotland has never been short of creative talent and opportunities to showcase the arts. This autumn, prepare to take part in what promises to be the city's most interactive and visual creative arts festival ever as the Merchant City Festival comes to life in September. View full details
Perfect Experiences - Get Active
From the southern Borders right up to the islands of Orkney and Shetland, there's hardly a region in Scotland that isn't home to simply stunning wilds; from crystal clear sea waters and long sandy beaches to heather clad glens, long green fairways and thick, ancient forests. Where better to find a Perfect Outdoor Experience than in Scotland? View full details
Walking festivals in the South of Scotland
A good day's walking is about way more than getting out into the countryside for some exercise; it's about discovering what a landscape has to offer, finding somewhere new, sharing the clean air and epic views with friends and setting yourself a challenge. Surely there can be no better place than Scotland to enjoy walking at its best? View full details
A Perfect Setting
Think of naturally fresh ingredients, local produce, crystal clear water and perfect views; think of Scotland. Second to none, Scotland can claim to be home to perhaps the absolute best natural larder in the world; with seascapes and landscapes that have created ideal local environments to produce world-class food. View full details
Piping Live & World Pipe Band Championships
This August, the very best of national and international bagpipe players are set to converge on Glasgow for a week-long Homecoming event like no other. View full details
Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Join this year's Edinburgh Military Tattoo, as the spectacular show celebrates its 60th season, while paying tribute to the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns for Homecoming Scotland 2009. View full details
Arran Outdoor & Walking Festival
A good day's walking is not just about getting out into the countryside for some exercise; it's about discovering landscape, history and culture, sharing the clean air and epic views with friends and setting yourself a challenge. Surely there can be no better place than Scotland to enjoy walking at its best? Known as "Scotland in Miniature", this summer visit the Isle of Arran for some of the best walking routes with experienced guides. View full details
Classical Music Festivals
Classical music and Scotland go together beautifully; the epic landscapes and breathtaking scenery offer a perfectly natural backdrop to classical music. View full details
Edinburgh Cultural Events
Edinburgh is a hub of creativity during the summer months, when you can discover a host of exciting events just waiting to inspire and amaze you. View full details
Explore Scotland and discover your Perfect Experience
Turn your next break in Scotland into something really special and find your Perfect Experience: From exploring one of Scotland's grandest estates on a nature trail to touring the Highlands in a classic car, there's a perfect experience for everyone in Scotland, just waiting to be discovered. View full details
Spotlight on Mull
Though just a short ferry ride from Oban on the mainland, the Isle of Mull is one of Scotland's "must visit" destinations, awash with enough history, attractions, wildlife and local haunts to keep you coming back again and again. View full details
Edinburgh International Book Festival & Wigtown Book Festival
Lovers of literature should be sure to join these fantastic literary festivals, which both have a special programme to mark Homecoming Scotland 2009. View full details
Largs Viking Festival
The Viking Festival celebrates the town's historical heritage with an 8-day programme of special events View full details
Glasgow River Festival
Even today, the term Clydebuilt is a sure sign of quality and endurance throughout the world's shipping industry. All along Glasgow's historic River Clyde are attractions that delve into the famous thouroughfare's successful and eventful shipbuilding past. View full details
The Gathering
Whether you're a Scot abroad coming back to your homeland, or indeed a 'local', put the weekend of 25 - 26 July in your calendar and prepare to be part of history. View full details
Height of the Hebridean Summer
With deserted beaches, tranquil waters, an abundance of wildlife and a thriving community focus on local culture and the arts, there are endless reasons to visit the Outer Hebrides. This summer however, the chain of islands, on the very north-west edge of Europe will be hosting what is perhaps the most diverse and unique array of festivals anywhere outside of Edinburgh's August festivals! View full details
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