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15 Jan 11 - 07:21 AM (#3075038) Subject: Where will I go From: GUEST,Chord strangler sans cookie I have decided that I'm long overdue a trip to Scotland. In truth, the thought of taking a few weeks off from summer gigging is the only thing that is keeping me going during these long miserable days at the fag end of winter. So I'm enlisting the advice of fellow mudcatters who might advise me of the best time to go so that I might be able to take in a festival or two on my ramblings. I have absolutely no restrictions on when or where the trip might happen. I will hire a car and follow wherever good advice might suggest. All suggestions very welcome and thanks in advance.......M |
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15 Jan 11 - 05:24 PM (#3075339) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: GUEST,johnmc I am not being facetious when I say beware of the West Coast as far as midges are concerned if camping etc. The biggest folk festival is on at the moment: Celtic Connections. Perthshire Amber is autumn maybe. There are smaller ones. Try http://www.tmsa.org.uk/music-events-scotland.asp |
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15 Jan 11 - 06:38 PM (#3075371) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: Anne Neilson It might help to know what sort of music you would like to hear -- some festivals are very traditional and others are less so (singer-songwriters, cross-over bands showing influences from other traditions etc.). |
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15 Jan 11 - 08:00 PM (#3075408) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: GUEST,Jane Ann Liston Midges are not a problem until late April at the very earliest (and Avon Skin-So-Soft Original Body Oil keeps them away!). The West Coast and the Islands are beautiful. I would recommend the Isle of Arran, known as 'Scotland in Miniature', in the Firth of Clyde, easy to reach from Glasgow via Ardrossan, and I believe there are folk music gigs in various establishments on the island. |
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15 Jan 11 - 09:50 PM (#3075452) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: Sandy Mc Lean Have a good trip Mick! I'd like to get there someday myself. My ancestors left the Inner Hebrides nearly 200 years ago. If you take a boat make sure it's an "old wooden one." Slainte, Sandy |
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16 Jan 11 - 06:00 AM (#3075551) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: GUEST,Ray We generally head for the North/North West coast at the end of May and the beginning of September and haven't had that much problem with the "wee beasties". June, July and August are definitely the months to avoid. I'd second the Avon recommendation. Don't worry if you think its a bit girlie - a camp site warden told us that she sells the stuff to the military a dozen bottles at a time. You can also buy it on line. If you're touring you could pretty much drive down every road north of Inverness in a couple of weeks so I'd recommend anywhere north of a line between Inverness and Ullapool and the coastal area South of Ullapool down as far as Plockton. If you like quiet, laid back and ancient remains, I'd try to take a trip over to Orkney, as we did last May, although the weather can be iffy any time of year. There are enough boats so you don't need to book. I could go on for ages but I'll leave that to others! |
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16 Jan 11 - 06:06 AM (#3075552) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: GUEST,Jim Martin I'd go along with Ray's suggestion, Orkney Folk Fest is on the last weekend in May (Thurs - Sun) and I would thoroughly recommend it. |
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16 Jan 11 - 06:33 AM (#3075562) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: skarpi where will I go in Scotland ?? hmmm maybe you should ask where would I not go in Scotland ....go all around and in the middle there are so many things to look at .....I have not started yet but I will come again ...up to the Highlands...and to the west kv Skarpi |
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16 Jan 11 - 07:09 AM (#3075581) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: ScottishVoice The North East without a doubt! We have an amazing wealth of material (relating to song, fiddle, pipes etc) and some great going sessions and festivals. I live in a wee village called Tarland (about 30 miles west of Aberdeen - not too far from Balmoral) and we have sessions every Tues in the local pub with local musicians and a folk club the last friday of the month. Aberdeen also has lots going on and then theres the festivals out in the shire as well. I recommened having a look at the TMSA website too. And then theres the scenery... |
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16 Jan 11 - 08:48 AM (#3075627) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: Maryrrf Skarpi has it right - where would you NOT go? I will put in a plug for the Girvan Festival which is held at the beginning of May - actually this year it's the Weekend of April 29-May 1 - here's a link: http://www.girvanfolkfestival.co.uk/ It's the perfect size, small but not too small and there's a great fringe at the local pubs. Also the concerts are always outstanding. |
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16 Jan 11 - 10:54 AM (#3075681) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: GUEST,Chordstrangler Thanks for the heads up. It's beginning to look like May is the best option...M |
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16 Jan 11 - 11:46 AM (#3075713) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: Seayaker After 20 years of visiting the West Coast and Highlands (at least twice a year most years) I can confirm that the only thing that works against midges and is user friendly is the Avon Skin So Soft but make sure you get the correct type. Avon sell a wide range of products under the "Skin So Soft" label but the one that contains the citronella that deals with the midges is Avon SSS Replenishing Dry Oil Body Spray. It's very easy to get hold of in Scotland in outdoor shops or newsagents/grocers or on campsites. Avon don't give any information on this because if they sold it as an insect repellent it would have to be licensed as a pharmaceutical. |
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17 Jan 11 - 02:36 AM (#3076174) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: VirginiaTam As far as I am concerned you can't go much wrong visiting any part of Scotland at any time of year. I should have been born there. This place (Minch View) is lovely and makes nice access to loads of places in middle and west, north west. http://www.gairlochholidays.com/ Best holiday I ever had for seeing the scenery and having a lovely relaxing place to retire to at the end of the day. The Restaurant in Melbeg, is near and has great food an reportedly live music. Gairloch is near with shopping, dining and live music too. No sessions that I know of, but goo stiuff. |
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17 Jan 11 - 02:55 AM (#3076179) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: Van For midges take Piriton pills. For scenery anywhere north of Perth, the Borders, anywhere you throw a dart. |
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17 Jan 11 - 05:03 AM (#3076210) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: Zen Many sessions around too. Please feel free to PM nearer the time once you know your schedule. |
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17 Jan 11 - 06:09 PM (#3076710) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: Gallus Moll If you like Orienteering as well as music, the Scottish Six Days event is based near Oban this year, 31st July for a week - check the link from Scottish Orienteering website, For sunsets and scenery, the West Coast wins hands down. Argyll and the Argyll Islands are fabulous and not to difficult to reach; scenery dramatic - mountains, glens, forests, lochs, reflections - - - the farther out Hebridean Islands take a little more planning but have amazing beaches and turquoise water. (I am biased 'cos of where I live, also in an island bagging group!) Everywhere has history and archaology - and the best thing about most of Scotland is the swathes of empty space between communities. I have to say that the North, North West, North east, Borders are all great too - and I love the Central Belt, our towns and cities have a buzz about them - you need more than a lifetime to experience all this amazing wee country has to offer! |
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18 Jan 11 - 02:35 PM (#3077330) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: GUEST,Chordstrangler Thanks for all the suggestions. It would appear that I would need to take a month off to sample all on offer..... M |
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19 Jan 11 - 02:26 PM (#3078049) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: GUEST,Ray You'll not manage it all in a month! |
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19 Jan 11 - 07:39 PM (#3078292) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: Gallus Moll Ray's correct - our island bagging lot has so far found that we will require to return to every one we have visited 'cos we never have time to do any of them justice in our usual week - not even the smallest ones! I have lived in Argyll for 40 years and not managed to see it all yet-----! |
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19 Jan 11 - 08:57 PM (#3078335) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: Leadfingers Arran is NEARLY possible in a month - and some good places to Session in Season - The people who get a few bob to run a session LOVE it when Visitors come to sing or play - Means they dont HAVE to do the Scottish Stuff all night again |
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20 Jan 11 - 08:18 PM (#3079051) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: Tattie Bogle There are a host of festivals on from March onwards (as well as Celtic Connections on now) and loads of folk events during the Edinburgh Festival fringe in August-early Sept). The TMSA (Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland) calendar includes a lot of these dates, but is not quite yet available - check back soon to www,tmsa.org.uk Those I would recommend include Northern Steams (Edinburgh - st weekend in April), Girvan (last weekend of April/beg of May) - same weekend as Shetland if you want to go up there, Moniaive (next weekend after Girvan) Orkney (last weekend in May) Keith (mid-June), Stonehaven (2nd weekend in July but often same weekend as Heb-Celt in Stornoway), Innerleithen (2nd or 3rd weekend in August), Auchtermuchty (around same time), Kirriemuir (1st weekend in September), Linlithgow (2nd w/e in September), Douglasdale (3rd w.e. in September). They all have websites so Google them to find out more |
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20 Jan 11 - 11:20 PM (#3079135) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: maeve I'll mark this thread in hopes we can join in some of the festivals someday. Here are some of the festivals mentioned in Tattie Bogle's list. http://www.celticconnections.com/ http://www.tmsa.org.uk/ Northern Streams http://www.girvanfolkfestival.co.uk/ Cut and paste links are here: http://www.shetlandfolkfestival.com/ http://www.moniaivefolkfestival.co.uk/ http://www.orkneyfolkfestival.com/ http://tmsakeithfestival.blogspot.com/ http://www.stonehavenfolkfestival.co.uk/ http://www.hebceltfest.com/ http://www.innerleithenmusicfestival.org/ |
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21 Jan 11 - 08:21 AM (#3079314) Subject: RE: Where will I go [in Scotland] From: GUEST,KP Lots of sessions in Edinburgh - search previous threads on Mudcat. Places to go for great scenery: Stirling Castle, Glen Coe, Glen Affric, Torridon, Trotternish on Skye, Loch Ness (esp Urquhart Castle), St Mary's Loch in the Borders, The West HIghland railway line, the A68 road at Carter Bar. Have fun! KP |