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2016 - Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design

Speyside Whisky Festival

Dunrobin Castle

Dunvegan Castle interior Harris Tweed Bag Ideas to inspire

Aberdeenshire, , Speyside, the Highlands and the In 2016 will celebrate and showcase its historic and contemporary contributions to Innovation, Architecture and Events: Design. We’ll be celebrating the beauty and importance of our Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival - Early May – Speyside whiskies are built heritage, modern landmarks and innovative design, as well famous throughout the world. Historic malt whisky distilleries are found all as the people behind some of Scotland’s greatest creations. along the length of the River Spey using the clear water to produce some of our best loved malts. Uncover the development of whisky making over the is a place on contrasts. In the city of , years in this stunning setting. www.spiritofspeyside.com ancient fishing traditions and more recent links with the North Festival of Architecture - throughout the year – Since 2016 is our Year of Sea oil and gas industries means that it has always been at the Innovation, Architecture and Design, we’ll celebrate our rich architectural past and present with a Festival of Architecture taking place across the vanguard of developments in both industries. Aberdeenshire, nation. Morayshire and Strathspey and where you can also find the Doors Open Days - September – Every weekend throughout September, greatest density of castles in Scotland. buildings not normally open to the public throw open their doors to allow visitors and exclusive peak behind the scenes at museums, offices, factories, The rugged and unspoiled landscapes of the Highlands of and many more surprising places, all free of charge. Scotland have resulted in some of the nation’s most major www.doorsopendays.org.uk/opendays engineering achievements in the field of transport as well as Braemar Creative Arts Festival - October – A celebration of arts and some of the most splendid castles amid magnificent surroundings. crafts against the backdrop of the National Park where you can On a visit to this area, you’ll soon see that artists and craft makers explore the work of artists, crafts people and musicians and even have a go at creating something yourself! have long since taken inspiration for the remarkable land and www.braemarcreativearts.co.uk seascapes to be found in this year. Torridon Mountain and Sea Festival - October – Discover how the A trip to the Outer Hebrides reveals the unique nature and landscape of this unforgettable place has inspired the area’s photographers and artisans plus local produce, real ales, music and a range of activity character of these magical islands. From ancient standing stones opportunities. www.mountainandseafestival.co.uk to the modern renaissance of Harris Tweed in today’s fashion you’ll find much to discover and explore.

For more ideas, contacts and suggested itineraries visitscotlandtraveltrade.com or email us at [email protected] Aberdeenshire, Moray, Speyside, the Highlands and the Outer Hebrides

Day 1 - Aberdeenshire, Moray and Speyside 1 2 3 4 5

ABERDEEN MARITIME MUSEUM – This CASTLE TRAIL – Aberdeenshire is home MUSEUM OF SCOTTISH LIGHTHOUSES, DUFF HOUSE, BANFF – Duff House was SPEYSIDE COOPERAGE, fascinating, award-winning museum tells the to Scotland’s only dedicated Castle Trail. – Author Robert Louis designed by Scottish architect William Adam CRAIGELLACHIE – Set amid rolling hills story of the city’s relationship with the sea Discover the dramatic stories of 17 of Stevenson may have been the most famous and is considered to be an Adam near the Banffshire town of Craigellachie, from its historic fishing and shipbuilding Scotland’s most famous castles and stately family member, but the Stevenson family masterpiece. Used first as a family home and Speyside Cooperage is the only working traditions to innovations in the North Sea oil homes including the atmospheric coastal were lighthouse engineers to the world. then as a private Sanatorium from 1913 to cooperage in the UK where you can ruin of Dunnotter Castle, the fairytale and gas industry. Compare the antique diving Discover their story along with the social 1923, the house now houses a collection of experience the ancient art of coopering. with Cairngorms National suit with the modern ‘newt suit’ – straight Park and royal residence in history and technological advances behind fine furniture and a wide range of paintings Although shipped across the world, many of out of a Bond film! Royal . The collection of Aberdeen the lighthouses which have guarded on loan from the National Galleries of the casks made here remain in Scotland, Art Gallery will be on display in newly Scotland’s coastline and the men who were Scotland. providing a vital ingredient in Scotland’s created galleries in Drum Castle until 2017. responsible for them. whisky making process.

Day 2 - North Highlands & 1 2 3 4 5

EILEAN DONAN CASTLE & VISITOR INVEREWE GARDEN AND ESTATE, ACHILTIBUIE GARDEN AND SKYE & ARTS AND CRAFTS DUNVEGAN CASTLE & GARDENS, ISLE CENTRE, – With its POOLEWE – A lush, sub-tropical-style, HYDROPONICUM – At the Achiltibuie ASSOCIATION – The land and seascapes of OF SKYE – A wealth of history and clan location on an island at the point where oasis perched on a peninsula at the edge of Garden you’ll discover how fruit and Skye & Lochalsh have inspired artists for legends await visitors to Dunvegan Castle & three great sea lochs meet, surrounded by Loch Ewe amid the rugged landscape of vegetables are grown soil-free by employing generations. Whether you enjoy painting Gardens on the Isle of Skye. It’s been the some majestic scenery, One of Scotland’s Wester Ross, Inverewe was created out of the science of hydroponics using water to and printmaking or ceramics and sculpture, ancestral home of Clan MacLeod for over most iconic and identifiable landmarks, bare rock and a few scrub willows in 1862 nourish the plants. Enjoy a coffee surrounded you can visit the studios or over 60 800 years and as well as the many fine oil Eilean Donan Castle lies just south of the by Osgood Mackenzie. It’s full of colourful, by flowers as well as spectacular views to the Association members whose work has been paintings and clan treasures on display, some exotic plants from around the world and is main route to Skye. Explore its fascinating beautifully named Summer Isles. shaped by their stunning surroundings. A dating back to the middle ages, there are five widely regarded as one of the most rooms where the guides have plenty of beautiful gardens in Scotland - a must for craft trail guide can be downloaded online. acres of formal 18th Century gardens to intriguing stories to tell. anyone who loves nature. explore.

Day 3 - Fort William and , Inverness, Loch Ness and Cairngorms 1 2 3 4 5

GLENFINNAN VIADUCT, LOCHABER – CALEDONIAN CANAL – Constructed in CAIRNGORM MOUNTAIN – CairnGorm DUNROBIN CASTLE, – CAWDOR CASTLE – Cawdor Castle dates Made famous as part of the route to Hogwarts the early 19th Century by famous engineer Mountain is home to the UK's highest With its French chateâu-inspired design, from the late 14th century, having been built in the Harry Potter movies, the 21-arch viaduct Thomas Telford, the Caledonian Canal runs Funicular Railway. Relax and savour the easy conical spires, and enchanting gardens, as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor, is an acclaimed feat of engineering. It’s part of for over 60 miles, only one third of which is route to the viewing station where you can Dunrobin can truly be described as a castle made famous by William Shakespeare’s play the West Highland Railway which runs from man-made. The rest of this distance is formed enjoy a coffee or snack in the Ptarmigan straight out of a fairy tale. It was a naval Macbeth and it is still home to the Cawdor Fort William to Mallaig and is also recognised by four lochs along the length of the Great Restaurant while enjoying panoramic views hospital during WW1 and a boys’ boarding family today. Visitors can explore what life as one of Scotland’s great travel experiences, Glen Fault, including Loch Ness. Don’t miss over the spectacular Cairngorm Mountains school in the 1960s, but nowadays visitors was like above and below stairs and there especially in summer when a vintage steam the change to sail on this most mysterious from a height of over 3,500ft. can enjoy many of the sumptuous rooms. are stunning gardens including a holly maze locomotive named ‘The Jacobite’ hauls some of and atmospheric of waterways. There are falconry displays in the spring/ to explore. the trains. summer months.

Day 4 - Outer Hebrides 1 2 3 4 5

AN LANNTAIR, STORNOWAY – An GEARRANNAN BLACKHOUSE VILLAGE, DUN CARLOWAY BROCH – Dun HARRIS TWEED, ISLE OF HARRIS – CALANAIS STONES AND VISITOR Lanntair is Gaelic for Lantern – an apt name CARLOWAY– Gearrannan is unlike any Carloway Broch is one of the best preserved Harris Tweed is synonymous with the Outer CENTRE – The Outer Hebrides’ most for this contemporary modern arts space in other village you’re likely to visit. Step back in Iron Age brochs in Scotland and is situated Hebrides and is produced by weavers intriguing structures, the Calanais stone circle, Stornoway which shines a light on the arts time to experience the way of life in a typical close to a large sea loch on the Isle of throughout the islands. At Harris Tweed Isle was erected around 5,000 years ago, with the and culture of the magical islands of the crofting township of the last century. The Lewis. Though the origin and precise use of of Harris in Tarbert, you’ll find a colourful nearby chambered tomb created a few Aladdin's cave of Harris Tweed with beautiful Outer Hebrides. There are up to six local and traditional Hebridean Blackhouse was the the broch is unclear, the quaint visitor generations later. Experts believe that stone designs from floor to ceiling. The company international exhibitions annually as well as abode for nearly everybody on the Outer centre, built into a neighbouring hillside, also owns the Harris Tweed Exhibition in circle served as a kind of ancient astronomical events, live performances and a popular café. Hebrides until well into the 20th Century. contains a fascinating exhibition about the nearby Drinshader where you can explore observatory. Soak up the atmosphere of this You can see traditional activities, including known history of the structure and its place the history of Harris Tweed and watch a magical place and explore their story in the the weaving of the famous Harris Tweed. in local life. weaving demonstration by appointment. adjacent visitor centre.

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