DOCSLIB.ORG

ASVA Visitor Trend Report, October 2015 Dashboard Summary, October 2015

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

ASVA Visitor Trend Report, October 2015 Dashboard Summary, October 2015 Usable data was received from 223 sites. The total number of visits recorded in October 2015 Scotland Total Visitor Numbers was 2,155,066; this compares to 2,035,082 in 2014 and indicates an increase of 5.9%. Excluding Country Parks Month of October 2,155,066 5.9% p ASVA's Commentary and Observations for October 2015 Year-to-Date 23,015,318 3.8% p Please note that figures can only be used when there is comparable data for both years, so if you submitted figures for 2015 and do not see these in the listing, this is the reason. Including Country Parks The increase of 5.9% shown (excluding Country Parks) is encouraging with 69% of respondents noting an increase (thus Month of October 2,803,238 6.0% p 31% noted a decrease!). Per Region ‘The Outlander’ effect appears to be diminishing although some sites are still enjoying increased visitor numbers This report was including: Culloden Battlefield, Falkland Palace and Doune Castle. Looking at the dashboard summary, all regions show Northern Scotland 183,637 16.9% p increased visitor numbers. Northern Scotland continues to show above average increases and most sites there taking produced for ASVA by Eastern Scotland 1,174,321 4.2% p part in this survey note increased visitor numbers including: Highland Folk Museum, Highland Wildlife Park, Talisker Southern Scotland 75,193 17.1% p Distillery, Nevis Range, Urquhart Castle and two others who requested confidentiality. Western Scotland 1,370,087 5.6% p Across the rest of the country a number of larger sites show meaningful increases which in turn will have had a positive influence on the overall figure: Edinburgh Bus Tours, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh Zoo, Galley of Modern Art, Kelvingrove, Per Attraction Category Riverside Museum, Scottish National Gallery and St Giles Cathedral. The weather (see following paragraph) appears to have helped encourage more visits to Country and Forest Parks where an increase of 5.9% on the previous year can be Heritage/historic seen. property/stately 495,657 9.3% p house Weatherwise, October was fairly settled with high pressure in control for most of the month. Temperatures were near Museums & Galleries 948,137 4.9% p average with few extremes – but on October 1st, Braemar recorded the highest temperature of the month in the UK 22.7C Zoo/wildlife/safari after an overnight low of -1.8C! Most places had a dry October with few seeing over 100ml of rainfall. The Edinburgh 114,739 9.3% p park/aquarium area was driest with just 21mm. After the dull summer, Scotland enjoyed 115% of average sunshine with the sunniest Sports & activities 13,785 35.9% p place in the UK being Kinloss with 129 hours. Forest park/regional 648,172 6.2% p park/country park Gardens 78,227 9.3% p Science Centre 82,826 1.1% p Distillery/whisky 84,417 12.2% p related Visitor Centre 110,544 -6.1% q Boat Trip/Marine 106,587 3.1% p Other 120,147 6.1% p Spend per Ticket SPV1 Retail SPV Catering SPV ticket sold2 4.87 (107) 8.47 (64) 1.59 (65) 1.84 (8) 32.2% p 12.6% p 3.8% p -22.9% q For further information, contact ASVA at: Confidential information for ASVA members only e-mail: [email protected] Please do not further distribute this report without permission from ASVA Tel: 0141 229 0923 Any commentary to press will be managed by ASVA 2 Year-on-Year Visitor Numbers Visitor Numbers Month Latest 5.9% p 2,155,066 2,035,082 3,827,114 3,489,432 2,558,823 2,552,800 2,256,235 2,387,225 2,155,066 1,511,228 1,304,108 1,363,347 1,131,847 973,287 Nov 14 Dec 14 Jan 15 Feb 15 Mar 15 Apr 15 May 15 Jun 15 Jul 15 Aug 15 Sep 15 Oct 15 Oct 15 Oct 14 Additional Comments Ticket SPV Retail SPV Catering SPV Ticket Spend Auchindrain A tolerable end to a generally dismal year. 32.2% p Chatelherault Country Park Warmer weather with successful Halloween events may have contributed to increased visitor numbers. Retail Spend £4.87 3.8% p Floors Castle Last month before closing for season, weather too always plays its part. £3.68 Catering Spend Mclean Museum & Art Gallery Low numbers of people visited during the October school holiday week. -22.9% q £2.38 £1.84 £1.59 National Museum of Rural Life The total visitor numbers noted here takes into account National Trust visitors and those who only visit the museum café. £1.53 New Lanark Visitor Centre At the beginning of October we hosted the inaugural New Lanark Book Festival. We also ran Daily Tours and Autumn Craft Workshops during the October week which were both well attended. At the end of the month we hosted our day of Spook-tacular Halloween events including activities for children during the day, and sell-out ‘Spooky Tours’ Oct 15 Oct 14 of the village in the evening. The significant drop in our Visitor Figures from October 2014 to October 2015 can be attributed to the fact that in 2014 we displayed the Great Tapestry of Scotland from 20 October – 21 November. This free exhibition drew in a substantial number of visitors, circa 13 thousand within the 5 week period. £8.47 Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Had to close to the public for one day to accomodate BBC4 filming. Spend per Museum ticket sold £7.52 12.6% p _________________ 1 Ticket spend per visitor (Ticket SPV) divides the total ticket revenue by the number of visitors from ticket-revenue submitting sites. Oct 15 Oct 14 2 Spend per ticket sold divides the total ticket revenue by the number of tickets sold. 3 Site-specific report October 2015 u Responses for October 2015 were received from 223 sites. u 7 sites requested confidentiality, and although their numbers have been included in the calculations, they do not appear in the tables below. u 10 sites have not submitted results this month last year and thus do not appear in the tables below. October October 2015 2014 Y-o-Y 2015 2014 Y-o-Y Aberdour Castle 792 688 15% Dallas Dhu Distillery 259 293 -12% Aberlour Distillery 1090 1117 -2% Dalwhinnie Distillery Visitor Centre 4828 3972 22% Alloa Tower 675 473 43% David Livingstone Centre 286 721 -60% Almond Valley Heritage Trust 11414 8092 41% Dawyck Botanic Garden 4434 3286 35% Arbroath Abbey 708 922 -23% Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery 3430 3217 7% Arduaine Garden 708 436 62% Dirleton Castle 1798 1556 16% Argyll's Lodgings 2410 2847 -15% Discovery Point 5309 5891 -10% Auchindrain 313 335 -7% Doune Castle 5341 3709 44% Bannockburn 4813 5298 -9% Drum Castle, Garden & Estate 1730 23 7422% Barry Mill 216 111 95% Drumpellier Country Park 66589 64350 3% Benmore Botanic Garden 5205 4453 17% Dryburgh Abbey 1089 1093 0% Black House 531 401 32% Dumbarton Castle 1045 744 40% Blackness Castle 1377 959 44% Dumfries Museum & Camera Obscura 1343 981 37% Blair Athol Distillery Visitor Centre 7119 6410 11% Dunblane Cathedral 1278 2119 -40% Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway 5902 4369 35% Dundee Science Centre 7205 6936 4% Bothwell Castle 574 361 59% Dundonald Castle 2002 807 148% Branklyn Garden 34 52 -35% Dunfermline Palace 699 601 16% Brodick Castle 2154 1767 22% Dunstaffnage Castle 737 813 -9% Brodick Garden & Country Park 3937 2608 51% Edinburgh Bus Tours 56300 49377 14% Brodie Castle 1627 1316 24% Edinburgh Butterfly & Insect World 6737 7099 -5% Broughton House & Garden 868 928 -6% Edinburgh Castle 129296 116559 11% Broughty Castle Museum 2960 2628 13% Edinburgh Zoo 58946 55299 7% Caerlaverock Castle 2744 2531 8% Elgin Cathedral 606 577 5% Callendar House 2457 2012 22% Falkland Palace & Garden 3126 2915 7% Caol Ila Distillery Visitor Centre 1158 1137 2% Floors Castle 1654 1630 1% Cardhu Distillery Visitor Centre 727 501 45% FC Scotland - Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre 4945 3850 28% Castle Campbell 736 457 61% FC Scotland - Glenmore Visitor Centre 9018 9336 -3% Castle Fraser, Garden & Estate 1133 969 17% FC Scotland - Glentress 27069 21687 25% Chatelherault Country Park 51385 42004 22% FC Scotland - Kirroughtree Visitor Centre 6524 5654 15% Centre for Contemporary Arts 33341 31126 7% FC Scotland - Glentrool Visitor Centre 4024 3285 22% City Art Centre 6000 4642 29% FC Scotland - The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre 14094 11382 24% Clydebank Museum and Art Gallery 3343 2844 18% Fort George 3435 3384 2% Clynelish Distillery Visitor Centre 401 417 -4% Fyvie Castle 996 1278 -22% Cragganmore Distillery Visitor Centre 756 593 27% Gallery of Modern Art 56664 49689 14% Craigmillar Castle 1492 1190 25% Geilston Garden 764 661 16% Crarae Garden 614 389 58% Georgian House 3133 3587 -13% Crathes Castle, Garden & Estate 3060 2661 15% Gladstone's Land 2872 2620 10% Culloden Battlefield visitor centre 8553 7316 17% Glasgow Cathedral 23231 20900 11% Culzean Castle 6378 4872 31% Glasgow Museums Resource Centre 1112 1564 -29% Culzean Country Park 14064 9722 45% Glasgow Science Centre 39616 39165 1% 4 October October 2015 2014 Y-o-Y 2015 2014 Y-o-Y Glen Ord Distillery Visitor Centre 1940 1728 12% Melrose Abbey 3331 2694 24% Glencoe 2129 2218 -4% Mills Observatory 1377 997 38% Glenfinnan Monument 1396 1360 3% Mugdock Country Park 48741 48687 0% Glenkinchie Distillery Visitor Centre 4087 3207 27% Museum of Childhood 20141 21904 -8% Glenlivet Distillery 3901 3844 1% Museum of Edinburgh 7137 7535 -5% Grampian Transport Museum 2919 2547 15% National Mining Museum Scotland 5254 6796 -23% Greenbank Garden 2306 1055 119% National Museum of Flight 6584 6427 2% Haddo House 27 375 -93% National Museum of Rural Life 7722 6587 17% Highland Folk Museum - Newtonmore 7278 5341 36% National Museum of Scotland 136703 140668 -3% Highland Wildlife Park 13984 11255 24% National War Museum 51936 49694 5% Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse & Garden 632 624 1% The Nelson
Recommended publications
  • • Average Cafe Spend Per Visitor £2.33

    • Average Cafe Spend Per Visitor £2.33

    DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL REPORT TO: Leisure, Arts and Communities Committee - 25 April 2011 REPORT ON: Dundee Industrial Heritage Ltd - Revenue Support 2011-2012 REPORT BY: Director of Leisure and Communities REPORT NO: 98-2011 1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT 1.1 To submit to the Committee a request for renewal of Revenue Grant funding to Dundee Industrial Heritage Ltd for the year 2011-2012. 2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the Committee: 2.1 remits the Director of Leisure & Communities, on behalf of Dundee City Council, to enter into a one year Service Level Agreement with Dundee Industrial Heritage Ltd, subject to on-going monitoring and evaluation as to its efficiency, economy and effectiveness. 2.2 remits the Director of Leisure and Communities to keep these arrangements under review and amend as appropriate. 2.3 approves the Revenue Grant Funding amounting to £63,000 per the period 1 April 2011 - 31 March 2012. 3.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 3.1 The funding recommended is £63,000 from the Leisure and Communities Department 2011-2012 Revenue Budget as shown in the budget at Appendix 1. 3.2 The terms and conditions of Revenue Grant funding will be contained within a Service Level Agreement for 2011-2012 between Dundee City Council and Dundee Industrial Heritage Ltd. 4.0 MAIN TEXT 4.1 Dundee Industrial Heritage Limited (DIH) operates two of Dundee’s premier tourist attractions – Discovery Point and Verdant Works. It is a charitable company, the trading body of Dundee Heritage Trust. The Trust is the only independent charity in Scotland operating two five star rated museums 4.2 Review of the year 2010-2011 • Over 190,000 visits to the Trust’s venues.
  • List of Scottish Museums and Libraries with Strong Victorian Collections

    List of Scottish Museums and Libraries with Strong Victorian Collections

    Scottish museums and libraries with strong Victorian collections National Institutions National Library of Scotland National Gallery of Scotland National Museums Scotland National War Museum of Scotland National Museum of Costume Scottish Poetry Library Central Libraries The Mitchell Library, Glasgow Edinburgh Central Library Aberdeen Central Library Carnegie Library, Ayr Dick Institute, Kilmarnock Central Library, Dundee Paisley Central Library Ewart Library, Dumfries Inverness Library University Libraries Glasgow University Library University of Strathclyde Library Edinburgh University Library Sir Duncan Rice Library, Aberdeen University of Dundee Library University of St Andrews Library Municipal Art Galleries and Museums Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow Burrell Collection, Glasgow Aberdeen Art Gallery McManus Galleries, Dundee Perth Museum and Art Gallery Paisley Museum & Art Galleries Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum Stewartry Museum, Kirkcudbright V & A Dundee Shetland Museum Clydebank Museum Mclean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock Hunterian Art Gallery & Museum Piers Art Centre, Orkney City Art Centre, Edinburgh Campbeltown Heritage Centre Montrose Museum Inverness Museum and Art Gallery Kirkcaldy Galleries Literary Institutions Moat Brae: National Centre for Children’s Literature Writers’ Museum, Edinburgh J. M. Barrie Birthplace Museum Industrial Heritage Summerlee: Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, North Lanarkshire Riverside Museum, Glasgow Scottish Maritime Museum Prestongrange Industrial Heritage Museum, Prestonpans Scottish
  • Free Entry Passes for Visiting Scotland

    Free Entry Passes for Visiting Scotland

    Free Entry Passes for Visiting Scotland An Outlandish Extra PDF OutlandishScotland.com A Novel Holiday Travel Guidebook Outlandish Scotland Journey Free Entry Passes for Visiting Scotland [Updated in June, 2019] Purchasing a special pass for visiting places in Scotland has the potential of saving you a lot of money in individual entrance fees. If you’ll not be visiting enough of the properties included in the pass, however, it could end up costing you more than it’s worth. As with any aspect of planning the best possible Outlandish Scotland Journey, deciding whether or not to buy one of these passes requires a good deal of investigation. This PDF contains tips and directions designed to minimize the amount of time you’ll have to spend investigating the passes available. Plan Parts of Your Holiday Before Deciding Whether to Buy a Free Entry Pass 1 If you’ll be booking a guided Outlander tour, do that FIRST. [See our Outlander Tours PDF: http://www.outlandishscotland.com/OutlanderTours.pdf ] Admission fees for the Outlandish places you’ll be taken to are sometimes included in the guided tour fee, so you may not need a Free Entry Pass to visit them. 2 After successfully booking a guided tour—or, if you’ll not be booking one—make a list of the places you plan to visit during your self‐guided touring days. 3 Compare your self‐guided Outlandish site list to the properties included in the Free Entry Passes available. [On the last page of this PDF is a table that lists all of the Outlander‐related properties associated with each of the Scottish Free Entry Passes, with individual entry and pass fees.] 4 After performing a comparison, you should be able to determine which pass will save you enough money to be worthwhile.
  • Report to Leisure, Arts and Communities Committee

    Report to Leisure, Arts and Communities Committee

    DUNDEE HERITAGE TRUST Annual Report 2011 Dundee Heritage Trust Registered Charity No. SC 011328 Dundee Heritage Trust Annual Report 2011 Dundee Heritage Trust - Review of the Year 2011 Summary of achievements Museums 1. Two Recognised Collections of National Significance 2. Over 173,000 visits to the Trust’s venues 3. Five Temporary Exhibitions 4. Free Annual Pass offered to all visitors 5. Over 40 active volunteer positions Awards 6. Five Star Visit Scotland accredited quality assurance maintained 7. Gained Bronze Award in the Green Tourism Business Scheme 8. Sandford Award for Heritage Education 9. RRS Discovery is part of the UK’s National Historic Fleet, Core Collection 10. Verdant Works is an Anchor Point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage Partnerships 11. Collaborative work with over 50 museums or related tourism/cultural organisations Economic benefits 12. Total employment valued at 43 direct and indirect jobs 13. Estimated £1.9 million of economic benefit generated 14. Over 500,000 leaflets printed and distributed 15. Estimated city PR value of over £300,000 Dundee Heritage Trust Registered Charity No. SC 011328 Page 2 Dundee Heritage Trust Annual Report 2011 Overview Dundee Industrial Heritage Limited (DIH Ltd) operates two of Dundee’s premier tourist attractions – Discovery Point and Verdant Works. It is a charitable company and the trading arm of Dundee Heritage Trust. The Trust is the only independent charity in Scotland operating two five star rated museums. Andy Lothian Jnr of Insights, Dundee, is Chairman of the Trust and both the Trustees and the Non- Executive Directors of DIH Ltd are drawn from a broad range of community and business interests.
  • Exhibitions & Art Fairs Exhibiting

    Exhibitions & Art Fairs Exhibiting

    Dan Klein Associates Promoters Of Contemporary Glass. (Alan J. Poole) 43 Hugh Street, Pimlico, London SW1V 1QJ. ENGLAND. Tel: (00 44) Ø20 7821 6040. Email: [email protected] Website: www.dankleinglass.com Alan J. Poole’s Contemporary Glass News Letter. A monthly, group email listing information relating to British & Irish Contemporary Glass Artist’s events and activities. Featuring Artists based at home or abroad and also foreign nationals that have ever resided or studied for any period of time in the UK or Ireland. April Edition. * - indicates new or amended entries since the last edition. 01/10/1104/04/12. “Contemporary Glass In Foreign Countries”. inc: Jiří Harcuba, Gillian Mannings Cox, Zora Palová, Ronald Pennell, Stephen Procter, Colin Reid & Mare Saare. Koganezaki Glass Musem. Koganezaki Crystal Park Co. Ltd. Shizuoka-ken. J. Tel: 00 81 558 551 515. Fax. 00 81 558 551 522. Email: [email protected] Website: www.kuripa.co.jp 20/11/1115/04/12. “21st. Century Icons”. Mixed Media Touring Exhibition. inc: Emma Bourke & Róisín De Buitléar. Ccol National Craft Gallery. Kilkenny./Rathfarnham Castle. Dublin. IRL. Tel: 00 353 1 493 9462. Email: [email protected] Website: www.heritageireland.ie/en/Dublin/RathfarnhamCastle 08/12/1101/04/12. “The Tool At Hand”. Mixed Media Exhibition. inc: Tavs Jørgensen. Milwaukee Art Museum. Milwaukee (WI). US. Tel: 00 1 414 224 3200. Fax. 00 1 414 271 7588. Email: [email protected] Website: www.mam.org 2012. 17/03/1214/04/12. “The Force & Form Of Memory”. Mixed Media Touring Exhibition. inc: Angela Steel. The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum.
  • Noteworthy Descendants of the Clan Grant

    Noteworthy Descendants of the Clan Grant

    Noteworthy Descendants of the Clan Grant Academia Isabel Frances Grant, MBE, LLD, was an author, historian, antiquarian, and founder of the Highland Folk Museum. Born in Edinburgh and educated in London, Dr. Grant was a descendant of the ancient family of Tullochgorm and the granddaughter of Field Marshal Sir Patrick Grant, GCB, GCMG. Dr. Grant wrote her first book, Everyday Life of an Old Highland Farm, in 1924. While traveling in Europe, she was influenced by the open air museum movement of the early 20th century. She started collecting items of Highland material culture and founded the Highland Folk Museum, called Am Fasgadh (The Shelter), firstly on the island of Iona, and later at Kingussie in Badenoch in 1944. Today, the museum is situated in Newtonmore. In recognition for her pioneering efforts, Miss Grant was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Edinburgh in 1948 and elevated to the rank of MBE in 1959. Dr. Grant wrote a number of books during her long life, including The Lordship of the Isles (1935), Highland Folk Ways (1961), and Periods in Highland History (1987, published posthumously with Hugh Cheape, PhD). Dr. I.F. Grant died in 1983 at the age of 96. Robert Edmond Grant, MD, FRCPE, FRS (1793-1874) established the Grant Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy at University College, London, in 1828. He was born in Edinburgh and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Dr. Grant was the first professor of zoology and comparative anatomy in England and personally donated many of the specimens, dissection materials, diagrams and lecture notes that comprise the collections of the museum today.
  • 4 Day Itinerary — Scotland’S Year of Stories 2022

    4 Day Itinerary — Scotland’S Year of Stories 2022

    Scotland’s Tay Country - 4 day itinerary — Scotland’s year of stories 2022 01. Fife Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries Lindores Abbey Distillery At Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries, your clients Lindores Abbey is the spiritual home of Scotch whisky, can explore the remarkable royal history and industrial where records indicate that the first whisky was produced by heritage of Dunfermline, one of Scotland’s ancient Tironensian Monks in 1494. After over 500 years, your clients capitals, as it is brought to life in this spectacular museum will be able to see single malt distillation once again flowing and gallery. The museum showcases the rich past of the from the copper stills. Private group tours can be arranged locality through six themes: Industry, Leisure & Recreation, and can be tailored to the group’s specific interests. The Transport, Conflict, Homes and Royal Dunfermline. The Apothecary experiences offer your clients a fantastic chance galleries include three impressive exhibition spaces to get ‘hands on’ in making their own delicious version of providing an opportunity for Dunfermline to display some Aqua Vitae. of Fife Council’s impressive art and museum collections. Abbey Road 1-7 Abbot Street Newburgh, KY14 6HH Dunfermline, KY12 7NL www.lindoresabbeydistillery.com www.onfife.com/dclg Link to Trade Site Link to Trade Site Distance between Lindores Abbey Distillery and British Golf Distance between Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Museum is 19.9 miles /32km. Galleries and Falkland Palace is 23.2 miles /37.3km. British Golf Museum Falkland Palace The British Golf Museum is a 5-star museum and contains the Falkland Palace was the largest collection of golf memorabilia in Europe.
  • ASVA Visitor Trend Report, December 2015 Dashboard Summary, December 2015

    ASVA Visitor Trend Report, December 2015 Dashboard Summary, December 2015

    ASVA Visitor Trend Report, December 2015 Dashboard Summary, December 2015 Scotland Total Visitor Numbers Usable data was received from 179 sites. The total number of visits recorded in December 2015 was 1,157,383; this compares to 1,154,657 in 2014 and indicates an increase of 0.2%. Excluding Country Parks Month of December 1,157,383 0.2% p ASVA's Commentary and Observations for December 2015 Year-to-Date 25,430,260 3.1% p Please note that figures can only be used when there is comparable data for both years, so if you submitted figures for Including Country Parks 2015 and do not see these in the listing, this is the reason. Month of December 1,586,034 2.1% p The marginal increase of 0.2% shown (excluding Country Parks) brings the year to an end and sees 45% of respondents Per Region noting an increase. Northern Scotland 48,350 -7.2% q December is typically one of the quietest months of the year although in some sites Christmas related activities do boost *Northern Scotland † 47,300 -9.2% q This report was numbers (see New Lanark Visitor Centre). Looking at the dashboard summary, two of the regions show increased visitor Eastern Scotland 702,346 2.3% p produced for ASVA by numbers and two show a decrease. Despite the extremely wet weather (see next paragraph), and for some against the Southern Scotland 30,179 0.7% p odds, several sites did show healthy increases including: Dundee Science Centre (140%), FC Scotland The Lodge Visitor Western Scotland 805,159 2.5% p Centre (36%), Gallery of Modern Art (16%), Highland Wildlife Park (49%), Kelvingrove (11%), Riverside Museum (7%), *Western Scotland † 377,558 -51.9% q Scottish Fisheries Museum (2209%), Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (67%) and The Real Mary King’s Close (37%) Weather-wise, December was mild with mean temperatures 3⁰C above average.
  • Bewitched by the Cult TV Costume Drama

    Bewitched by the Cult TV Costume Drama

    ROMANCING Bewitched by the cult TV costume drama Outlander, PATRICIA MORRISROE spends nine days driving through Scotland, in search of the breathtaking castles, mystical THE stones, and folklore that has made the show a smash. Photographs by MARTIN SCOTT POWELL HIGHLANDSMidhope Castle, Edinburgh. Opposite, Caitriona Balfe, in Oscar de la Renta, and Sam Heughan, in Paul Smith, photographed at Pollok House, the National Trust for Scotland, Glasgow DEPARTURES.COM 2 CULLODEN HOUSE CLAVA CAIRNS Inverness The town square of Falkland in Fife, which substitutes for EILEAN DONAN CASTLE 1940s Inverness in Outlander SCOTLAND FORT WILLIAM KINLOCH RANNOCH THE GLENEAGLES HOTEL DOUNE CASTLE ABERDOUR CASTLE BLACKNESS CASTLE Edinburgh Glasgow MIDHOPE CASTLE It all HOPETOUN HOUSE started a year agowhen a Facebook friend posted that she’d best time for a bonny Sassenach—Gaelic for binge-watched Outlander, a Starz original series English person—to be stumbling through the based on Diana Gabaldon’s hugely successful woods in a skimpy white dress. After nearly novels. I’d never heard of the show nor did I being raped by her husband’s Redcoat ances- know that Gabaldon was the high priestess of tor, she meets and marries Jamie Fraser, a Highland romance. I’d never even been to Scot- Highland warrior, who vows to protect her land, but with an opening in my TV schedule, with his body. Since he’s built like a Greek god, I decided to give it a try. From the moment I set it’s no idle pledge. eyes on the brooding landscape and heard the Outlander could easily have turned into a female voice-over—“People disappear all the cheesy bodice ripper, but with its lush cinema- time”—I disappeared into Outlander.
  • George Washington Wilson (1823-1893)

    George Washington Wilson (1823-1893)

    George Washington Wilson (1823-1893) Photographically innovative and entrepreneurial in business, Wilson was the most notable, successful and prolific stereo-photographer in Scotland and perhaps the entire UK. Having trained in Edinburgh as an artist, he worked as a miniature portrait painter and art teacher in Aberdeen from 1848. He started experimenting with photography in 1852, probably realising that it could potentially supplant his previous profession. In a short-lived partnership with Hay, he first exhibited stereoviews in 1853 at the Aberdeen Mechanics' Institution. A commission to photograph the construction of Balmoral Castle in 1854-55 led to a long royal association. His photos were used in the form of engravings for Queen Victoria's popular book “My Highland Journal”. His best-selling carte-de-visite of her on a pony held by Brown (judiciously cropped to remove other superfluous retainers) fuelled the gossip surrounding this relationship. His portrait studio in Aberdeen provided steady cashflow and in 1857, to promote his studio, he produced a print grouping together famous Aberdonians, one of the earliest ever examples of a photo-collage. He soon recognised that stereoviews were the key to prosperity and by 1863 had a catalogue of over 400 views from all across the UK, selling them in a wide variety of outlets including railway kiosks and inside cathedrals. His artistic training helped him compose picturesque and beautiful images, but he was also an innovative technician, experimenting on improving photographic techniques, chemistry and apparatus, working closely with camera and lens manufacturers. He was among the very first to publish “instantaneous” views, ranging from a bustling Princes Street, Edinburgh to a charming view of children paddling in the sea, both dating from 1859.
  • ASVA Visitor Trend Report, September 2019 Dashboard Summary Usable Data Was Received from 212 Sites

    ASVA Visitor Trend Report, September 2019 Dashboard Summary Usable Data Was Received from 212 Sites

    ASVA Visitor Trend Report, September 2019 Dashboard Summary Usable data was received from 212 sites. The total number of visits recorded in September 2019 September 2019 was 2,588,740; this compares to 2,681,936 in 2018 and indicates a decrease of -3.5%. Excluding Country Parks ASVA's Commentary and Observations for September 2019 September 19 2,588,740 -3.5% q Year-to-Date 21,572,737 -3.2% q It is disappointing to report a fall in visitor numbers to ASVA member sites in September, with an overall decrease in visitor numbers of 3.5% (excluding country parks), when compared with figures from the same Including Country Parks month in 2018. This decrease has a knock on effect on the year to date figures, with the overall year to September 19 2,829,895 -3.2% q date numbers down 3.2% on 2018 levels. As with last month, it would appear that Brexit uncertainty is Year-to-Date 25,764,483 -4.5% q having an impact on those travelling from Europe, with trips from major EU countries such as Germany and France considerably down, and some Scottish attractions, particularly those with high numbers of international visitors, are certainly feeling this impact. Per Region The overall picture is quite mixed when it comes to attraction type, with gardens, zoos & wildlife Northern Scotland 356,980 4.0% p attractions and historic properties and heritage sites showing overall increases, while museums & galleries, *Northern Scotland † 306,750 5.5% p This report was distilleries and visitor centres are all reporting decreases.
  • Glasgow Museums (£52,145), City of Edinburgh Museums and Galleries (£24,250), the Hunterian (£18,329) and Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums (£17,027)

    Glasgow Museums (£52,145), City of Edinburgh Museums and Galleries (£24,250), the Hunterian (£18,329) and Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums (£17,027)

    National Fund for Acquisitions Grants Paid 2010–2011 National Fund for Acquisitions Grants Paid 2010–2011 Hazel Williamson National Fund for Acquisitions Manager National Museums Scotland Chambers Street Edinburgh EH1 1JF Tel 0131 247 4106 email [email protected] Cover: Colour woodblock print, Kyōbashi Takegashi from Meisho Edo Hyakkei, 1857, by Utagawa Hiroshige. Acquired by The Hunterian with a grant from the National Fund for Acquisitions. National Fund for Acquisitions The National Fund for Acquisitions (NFA), provided by Scottish Government to the Trustees of National Museums Scotland, contributes towards the acquisition of objects for the collections of Scottish museums, galleries, libraries, archives and other similar institutions open to the public. The Fund can help with acquisitions in most collecting areas including objects relating to the arts, literature, history, natural sciences, technology, industry and medicine. Decisions on grant applications are made in consultation with curatorial staff at National Museums Scotland and the Directors and staff of the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Library of Scotland who provide expert advice to the Fund. While recognising that the financial climate is extremely difficult, National Museums Scotland was particularly dismayed to learn of a 25% cut to the NFA’s already limited funding, reducing the grant to only £150,000 in financial year 2011/12. NFA funding had remained at £200,000 per annum since 1996, a figure which in real terms has declined very considerably in value during the subsequent fifteen years. Clearly the extent of the cut means that the NFA cannot support collecting in Scotland as effectively as we would wish.