Thursday, 26 March 2009

MOSSGIEL FARM MAUCHLINE PLOUGHING MATCH.

MOSSGIEL FARM MAUCHLINE PLOUGHING MATCH.

Celebrations of times gone by Homecoming Scotland Blog highlights the date of March 29th 2009 at Mossgiel Farm Mauchline for the event to take place.
Robert Burns lived at Mossgiel for four years and while living there wrote some of his finest work.
The ploughing Match which is organised by Mauchline Burns Club and celebrates the Scottish countryside and hard farm life.
While visiting Mauchline consider also visiting the Burns Monument which sits about 1/2 mile from Mossgiel Farm gateway, and if you go to Mossgiel Farm via Mauchline town centre you will pass the unmissable Monument on your journey.
To remember your visit to Burns Country keep the memory fresh as many have sampled before you, visit the World famous "Poosie Nancies inn" and enjoy a similar refreshment that Robert Burns himself tasted on many occasions. You will find "Poosie Nancies" in Mauchline town centre, and as alive today as it has ever been.

Wednesday, 25 March 2009

The Royal Highland Show, Edinburgh 25th – 28th June 2009 WIN VIP TICKETS.

Win a VIP Trip to the Greatest Show on Earth!

The Royal Highland Show is the greatest gathering of all that is good

about Scotland. It’s one of the featured events during Homecoming

Scotland and is expected to attract 160,000 people over four days.

Hundreds of exhibitors of food, drink, farmyard animals, show jumping, crafts and education will converge on the 100 acre site near Edinburgh Airport.

The Royal Highland Show, Edinburgh, June 2009 - part of the Homecoming Scotland events programme

With a packed entertainment programme including some of Scotland’s finest musicians, dancers and singers, plus the highly popular Children’s Discovery Centre, this event allows you to celebrate Scottish life like no other.

It’s an experience not to be missed and the show organizers are offering a ‘Red Rosette’ VIP package to include: -

Two tickets to the show for 25th and 26th June
2 Nights luxury overnight accommodation at 94DR, Edinburgh’s coolest new Guest House (24 & 25th June)
Free access to the exclusive Members Area at the Show where lunch and high tea will be provided on both days
AND you will get the opportunity to present the prize to one of the winning animals!

Competition Entry Form

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Win A Weekend Break to Spirit of the West.

This fantastic prize includes a pair of tickets to the spectacular Spirit of the West event, 2 tickets to the Black Tie Burns Supper Ceilidh, 2 Master Class tickets, Bed and Breakfast at the Loch Fyne Hotel + return travel within the UK.

To enter this great competition, answer the question below and fill in your details. Good luck!
* All fields marked with an asterisk (*) must be filled in.

Competition Entry Form

In the grounds of which castle will Spirit of the West take place? *	required

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Monday, 16 March 2009

HOMECOMING SCOTLAND - MURDER IN THE HIGHLANDS - I SPY STYLE.

HOMECOMING SCOTLAND - MURDER IN THE HIGHLANDS - I SPY STYLE. Visitors to Scotland during the Homecoming Scotland 2009 year must pencil in a weekend "Murder Mystery". Having just come back from the beautiful and wild hamlet of Kinloch Rannoch. The road to Kinloch Rannoch is untouched and you immediately take a step back in time, the road to Knloch Rannoch is a photographers paradise, especially if like us you travel via the A93 route. The A93 takes in some of the most breathtaking and beautiful views in the whole of Scotland as the road travels up and over the Cairngorm Mountains. Kinloch Rannoch is a gem tucked away on the B8109 which is North West of Pilochry. We were fortunate enough to stay for two nights in the Dunalastair Hotel where you will find the staff friendly and helpful, our stay was made even better by the excellent chef Dunalastair Hotel have, the presentation and food was cooked to perfection. The joy of the "Murder Mystery Weekend", had an excellent presentation and kept everybody guessing right to the end - the acting was brilliantly portrayed by professional actors who do this at venues all over the U.K. You can read all about the acting team and see where they are booked next at; www.eyespy.org.uk if you have that special occasion you wish to see a success then consider this acting team at the top of your list for booking - they were excellent! The benefit of the "Murder Mystery Weekend", became obvious as we found over the weekend everybody staying at the Hotel had become good friends sharing the hospitality of the Dunalastair and the intrigue of the murder plot from the Eye Spy Team. Oh! so often we have stayed in Hotels Worldwide and found that other guests spoke occassionally, on the "Murder Mystery Weekend" at the Kinloch Rannoch Dunalastair Hotel, the atmosphere was of fun and friendship with everybody. An outstanding weekend which we hope the Dunalastair Hotel will keep alive and kicking as it reflects the image of the friendly and hospitable Scots in the year of Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Monday, 9 March 2009

HOMECOMING SCOTLAND "WORLDWIDE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP INVITES", FROM SCOTTISH SNP MSP'S.

HOMECOMING SCOTLAND "WORLDWIDE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP INVITES", FROM SCOTTISH SNP MSP'S.

THEY'LL BE BACK FOR HOMECOMING.

SCOTLAND WINS HOMECOMING FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD

SNP MSPs have been winning friends for Scotland as part of Homecoming 2009.

MSPs have written to their counterparts in towns and cities across the world that have Scottish namesakes or connections to build links between the towns.

As a result towns and cities in Scotland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and America are now building new connections with possible visits and exchanges in the future.

This has included

· Jamie Hepburn made contact not only with Croy in Switzerland and Kilsyth in Australia but also received a response from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as he connected California in Falkirk to the US State.

· Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) contacted the Mayor in Ayr, Australia and a delegation will be visiting Ayr, Scotland later on in the year

· After contact from Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) the Mayor of Greenock Australia has asked for information about Greenock Scotland to include in the town newsletter. Mr McMillan has also had a response from Greenock, Ontario

· Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) has established a link with the Mayor of Armadale, West Australia, host of W.A’s largest Highland gathering – who sent back examples of their Armadale tartan and will promote homecoming at the event

· Responses from New Edinburgh in Canada to Shirley Anne Somerville, East Dundee in Illinois to Joe FitzPatrick and Roseanna Cunningham will be welcoming visitors from Perth in Tasmania

Central Scotland MSP Jamie Hepburn said;

"I was delighted to receive the letter from Arnold Schwarzenegger, in which he set out his support for Scotland's year of Homecoming. As the Governor of California there is an obvious link with our very own California here in Scotland, not far from Falkirk.

“With Homecoming gearing up to be a real success I know when our visitors from sister cities leave Scotland they’ll be copying the Terminator and saying “I’ll be back.”

Adam Ingram MSP for South of Scotland is looking forward to a delegation from Ayr Australia heading to Ayr Scotland

“This is a great way to build links around the world and I am confident that these international relationships, built up during Homecoming, will have lasting benefit for Scotland.

Stuart McMillan MSP who made contact with Greenock South Australia as well as Greenock Ontario commented;

“I wrote to Greenock Australia after discovering the Australian town was named after Greenock Scotland by a European explorer in 1839.

“There are towns across Inverclyde with namesakes all over the world and I look forward to welcoming any visitors from our sister towns and cities to Scotland during this year of Homecoming and beyond.”

THE GATHERING OF THE CLANS 2009. (Officially called "THE GATHERING").

THE GATHERING OF THE CLANS 2009.

THE GATHERING OF THE CLANS 2009 in the year of Homecoming Scotland is one very special occasion. (officially called: THE GATHERING 2009)
The last such gathering was reminiscent of some earlier pageants in the years 1822, 1977 and 1989 which brought many Clans together.
Clans of many famous names have already booked their Clan Tent. This event will be the greatest international gathering, with around 140 different clans in the parade, and 120 clans represented in the tented village at the Highland Games.The massive parade which will march with pride along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh will be viewed by the World's media.
There will be Clan members and their families from all over the world and our feedback is more than positive from all over the World.
HRH The Prince Charles is also titled the Duke of Rothesay, which is the official title to the heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of Scotland. A separate Scottish throne has not existed since the Treaty of Union in 1707, which saw the joining of the Kingdom of Scotland with the Kingdom of England to form the Kingdom of Great Britain under Queen Anne.
HRH Prince Charles is the Royal Patron for the Clan Gathering in the year of Homecoming Scotland 2009.
detailed information; http://www.thegathering2009.com
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Graphic donated by kind permission of Buckingham Palace to;
http://homecomingscotlandblog.blogspot.com/ 11thNov.2008.
Please note;
The graphic is copyright of Clarence House and must not be
copied without permission from Buckingham Palace.

Homecoming Scotland 2014 - ALL ROADS LEAD TO HOME

ALL ROADS LEAD TO HOME First Minister, Alex Salmond celebrates Scotland at launch of ‘exceptional’ Homecoming 2014 programme An all-star concert to herald the opening of the Ryder Cup, a huge flotilla to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Forth Road Bridge, Europe’s biggest brass band festival and a thrilling re-enactment of the Battle of Bannockburn are just some of the spectacular events that will form Scotland’s 2014 Year of Homecoming, it was announced today. Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond officially unveiled the first phase of the year-long programme of events at Hopetoun House, near South Queensferry, alongside Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland. VisitScotland and EventScotland are working in partnership with the Scottish Government to deliver Homecoming 2014 - an opportunity for communities nationally and internationally to explore Scotland and celebrate the very best of Scottish culture. Around 100 events were unveiled at the launch, with hundreds more expected to be unveiled over the next few months. This includes many new events, established events which will have a new homecoming element for 2014 and those that have joined through the partner programme to benefit from in-kind marketing. The five themes for Homecoming 2014 - active, food and drink, creative, natural and ancestry are all represented. Brand new events include the John Muir Festival in East Lothian to herald the opening of the John Muir coast to coast route, the Forth Bridges Festival to mark its 50th anniversary, a spectacular Ryder Cup Opening Concert, the Findhorn Bay Arts Festival in Moray, the World Sheepdog Trials in Tain and the European Festival of Brass based in Perthshire. Many existing events, including Hogmanay, Edinburgh Festivals, the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, the Edinburgh Mela Festival, the Royal National MOD, the Turriff Show, the East Neuk Festival, the Outdoor Orkney Festival and Tweedlove Bike Festival will receive funding for new and exciting Homecoming additions to their planned programmes for 2014. With around 50 million people around the world claiming Scottish heritage, diaspora and clan-related events form a key part of Homecoming. These include around 30 events, including the celebrations to mark the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, the Aboyne Highland Games, the Inverness Highland Meeting 2014, the 10th Clan Munro International Gathering, the Dunfermline Bruce Festival and Piping Live!. An events fund of £3m will provide a stunning all-year-round programme of activity to complement the Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games and it will be backed by a £1.75m marketing campaign by VisitScotland which will promote Homecoming 2014 at home and abroad.

HOMECOMING SCOTLAND - VISIT SCOTLAND OFFICIAL ACCOMODATION TELEPHONE BOOKING NUMBERS.

Visit Scotland Contact Centre have set up two "Hotline", telephone numbers for booking accommodation for overseas visitors and U.K. based residents.
The Visit Scotland Contact Centre telephone numbers have been set-up especially for Homecoming Scotland 2009 overseas visitors and U.K. residents. These numbers are also for every day tourists to our beautiful Scotland wishing to find the best holiday accommodation guided by the Visit Scotland reputation.
The telephone numbers will inform the enquirer about all types of accommodation including costs, and can give general information on all aspects of anything Scottish.
Overseas visitors please telephone;
0044 1506 832121 which is a direct line.
U.K. residents please telephone local rate;
0845 2255121
http://www.visitscotland.com
For more general information to Homecoming Scotland events;
http://www.homecomingscotland2009blog.com/HOMECOMING_SCOTLAND_2009_EVENTS_PROGRAMME.htm
PLEASE NOTE THERE IS A TRAVEL PLANNER FOR LOCAL SCOTTISH TRANSPORT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.