Galashiels 2008
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14th Scottish Borders Galashiels 2008 30th August - 6th September With all the talk of ‘food miles’, why not enjoy ingredients that have more effect on your taste buds than they do on the environment? Borders Banquet is a 10-day celebration of the best restaurants, the best chefs and the best locally produced ingredients available in the Scottish Borders. You might have to travel an hour or so to get here, but you will be tasting some of the finest, freshest food that hasn’t travelled anywhere at all. Make the most of your trip with a night or two in one of the many welcoming hotels and guesthouses and a day or two exploring the stunning scenery. The first place to visit is www.bordersbanquet.co.uk ‘Fisherman’ image courtesy of VisitScotland Know the Code before you go... Enjoy Scotland’s outdoors - responsibly! SNH Enjoy Scotland’s outdoors! Everyone has the right to be on most land and inland water for recreation, education and for going from place to place providing they act responsibly. These access rights and responsibilities are explained in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. The key things are: When you’re in the outdoors: take personal responsibility for your own actions and act safely respect people’s privacy and peace of mind help land managers and others to work safely and effectively care for your environment and take your litter home keep your dog under proper control take extra care if you’re organising an event or running a business. SW When you’re managing the outdoors: respect access rights act reasonably when asking people to avoid land management operations work with your local authority and other bodies to help integrate access and land management respect rights of way and customary access. Find out more by visiting www.outdooraccess-scotland.com or by telephoning your local Scottish Natural Heritage office. SK 14th Scottish Borders Galashiels is proud to welcome you to the 14th Scottish Borders Festival of GR Walking, a superb week long celebration of walking and the countryside for all Braw Lads O Galla Water ages and abilities. Braw, braw lads on Yarrow braes, They rove amang the blooming heather, Galashiels, which lies at the base of the But Yarrow braes nor Ettrick shaws steep sided valley of the Gala Water, Can match the lads o’ Galla Water. close to its meeting with the majestic River Tweed, lies at the heart of Borders But there is ane, a secret ane, country. The town is within easy reach of Aboon them a’ I loe him better, the Moorfoot, Lammermuir and Cheviot And I’ll be his, and he’ll be mine, hill ranges, the Yarrow, Ettrick and Tweed The bonie lad o’ Galla Water. Valleys and surrounded by rich farmland and lush countryside, making Galashiels Altho’ his daddie was nae laird, the ideal base for walking in the area. And tho’ I had nae meikle tocher, Yet, rich in kindest, truest love, GALASHIELS We’ll tent our flocks by Galla Water. The town’s name, first recorded in 1124, is partly derived from the adjacent river, It ne’er was wealth, it ne’er was wealth, Gala Water, and from ‘shiels’ meaning That coft contentment, peace, dwellings. Known to locals as ‘Gala’, the and pleasure, town has a marvellous history with links The bands and bliss o’ mutual love, to William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, O, that’s the chiefest warld’s treasure. and ‘Black Douglas’. Amongst others are Robert Burns, who re-wrote the song Today Gala has successfully diversified ‘Braw Lads o’ Galla Water’ during the from a reliance on textiles into a poet’s ‘pilgrimage’ across the Borders. bustling rural town offering the visitor The town is also renowned for its part an abundance of interesting places to in the once booming ‘tweed’ industry explore, a wide variety of shops, bars, helped by Sir Walter Scott’s canny hotels to visit and the surrounding marketing technique during his visits to countryside to enjoy. London. THE FESTIVAL WALK GRADES The Scottish Borders Festival of Walking Festival walks have been graded as: 2008 offers you a great range of activities Very Easy, Easy, Moderate, Moderate/ for all ages and abilities than ever before. Strenuous and Strenuous. During this week long event you can Symbols , and appear which choose from a diverse range of 50 walks mean: for your daytime activities, complimented by an exciting array of entertainment to keep you busy in the evening. Be it your Full Hill Walking Gear first walking festival or an experienced Where this symbol is shown, the returning hill walker, the Scottish Borders participant is expected to be adequately Festival of Walking is fun, friendly and equipped with warm clothes, waterproofs and hill walking boots. certainly where you want to be! ABOUT THE WALKS Coach Service – outward and/or return Choose from 50 walks ranging from Transport from/to the Registration centre is very easy strolls, low level valley walks to included where this symbol appears. strenuous hill climbs. Whatever walks you choose, experienced guides will lead and back mark each walk as you explore the Packed Lunch rich wildlife, fascinating geology, intriguing Should be taken where this symbol appears. history and remarkable archaeology associated with Scottish Borders. These walk grades together with the walk length, ascent (where this is significant) and description enables you to select a suitable walk for your capability and interest. SK Walk Numbers booking acknowledgement with you. For safety and logistical reasons, most If you do not register prior to your walk walks are limited to 25 to 30 people departure, your name will not be on the depending on the type of walk. Booking leader’s list and you may not be allowed is therefore essential for you to get a to join the walk. place on the walks of your choice. If your selected walk is full, we will aim to offer After your daily walk you can enjoy you an alternative walk on the same day. refreshments in the Walker’s Cafe between 3pm and 6pm. Refreshments Focus Centre website www.focus-centre. demon.co.uk Where required a packed lunch or snack has been indicated on walks which run over lunchtime. Walkers may also wish Parking to purchase food at the various tearooms There is on street parking close-by the and cafes at walk destinations. Walkers Registration Centre, however, as there should also carry adequate water on all is limited car parking available at the walks. Registration Centre you are advised to use one of the many car parks available Dogs/Smoking throughout Galashiels, the main one is off the High Street (Pay and Display). Dogs are not allowed on the Festival walks, many which go through livestock areas. This rule is strictly applied. It does not apply to guide dogs accompanying registered blind walkers. We also ask all walkers whilst on any walk not to smoke, in order to avoid risk of fire and out of consideration to others. Walk Registration Centre The Registration Centre is open from 8am to 6pm where all types of local and Festival walking information will be available. The Registration Centre is based at The Focus Centre, Livingston Place, Galashiels. All walks depart from here. You must arrive 30 minutes prior to your walk departing in order to register your attendance. Remember to bring your Visit Scotland booking SK SK Evening Entertainment Booking Walks and Entertainment The week starts with a walker’s reception Unless otherwise stated, you can check where wine, cheese and a warm welcome availability and book all walks and evening awaits you. Throughout the week there entertainment by phoning 0870 608 are lots of opportunities to socialise with 0404 (option 1) or emailing: bordersinfo@ fellow festival goers. Be it tapping your visitscotland.com foot at the traditional song and story Once booked, walks are not transferable. night, learning about ‘Gala’ through an It might be possible to change your walk, interesting history presentation, watching subject to capacity, but an additional walk the festival film at the local cinema, charge must be paid. getting spooked on the eerie ghost evening, testing yourself at the quiz night and jigging the night away at the grand Accommodation Bookings ceilidh, we have an excellent selection of The Galashiels area offers a wide range of activities for you to enjoy. graded accommodation including hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfast places, caravan and camping sites and self- Festival Charges catering units. Accommodation enquiries Walk charges range from £1.00 to £7.50, should be directed to: depending whether coach travel is www.visitscottishborders.com required or not. Some are entirely free of T: 0845 2255 121 charge. E: [email protected] Where coaches are required, walkers will be transported via coach to the start of a walk, Travel and Transport and/or uplifted at the end of a walk. Galashiels is situated on the A7 about 33 miles south of Edinburgh and 39 miles Evening entertainment charges range from northwest of Berwick-Upon-Tweed. £1.50 to £8.00. Newcastle (69 m) and Edinburgh (39 m) airports have low cost flights and car hire. The two most convenient rail stations Liability are Edinburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed, Participants in the Scottish Borders Festival where regular buses provide links to of Walking take part at their own risk, and Galashiels Town Centre. the organisers and sponsor bodies shall not be liable for any accident or injury, however During the Festival you may wish to use caused. You are advised to check your own the local bus service if travelling from personal accident insurance cover.