New in Scotland for autumn

Work is to start on creating a £16 million visitor centre at Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden after the Scottish government promised an extra £1 million for the project. The building will include a massive glass wall to give visitors the impression of being outside in the garden.

It is designed to be as sustainable as possible, with wind turbines, a biomass boiler and rainwater collection.

The 2,746sq m building will be almost double the size of existing buildings at the West Gate. There will be live video links with scientists working on conservation projects in 40 countries, as well as displays of rare and endangered plants.
Rbge.org.uk

More news …

5 Stars in the Outer Hebrides
Broad Bay House has just been awarded 5 star grading by Visit Scotland, making it the first and only 5 star serviced accommodation anywhere in the Outer Hebrides.

Broad Bay House was opened in 2007 and has an outstanding coastal location just 15 minutes drive from Stornoway. The house overlooks a fantastic beach, and there is direct access to the shore.
Broadbayhouse.co.uk

Make Juice from a bicycle?
Wigtown is a historic market town on the Galloway coast that is home to 900 people, a malt whisky distillery and over a quarter of a million books. Each year the autumn book festival (28 Sep – 7 Oct) provides ten days of readings, performances, exhibitions and debates, prompting a mass migration of bibliophiles to this pastoral corner of Scotland.

One of the on site extras this year is the bicycle powered juicer. No fossil fuels or National Grid – just a few minutes in the saddle and hey presto! Come and enjoy a deliciously refreshing drink, specially prepared by pedal power.
Wigtownbookfestival.com

Refurbishment of the Queensferry Hotel
The completion of a major £1.8m refurbishment programme at the Queensferry Hotel near Edinburgh looks set to provide a major boost for the Fife economy by attracting more business and leisure visitors to the region.

The refurbishment at the hotel in North Queensferry is part of a major investment programme by parent group Folio Hotels to upgrade its portfolio of four-star hotels throughout the UK.
Foliohotels.com/queensferry

Scotland’s Most Unusual Visitor Attraction?
The “A” listed giant cantilever Titan Crane – the oldest of the five Titans on the Clyde and the oldest of its kind in the world – has been completely refurbished and restored at a cost of £3 million, with a new lift to take visitors up the Crane to the jib platform 150 feet (46 metres) off the ground.

At the top, visitors will be able to look at first hand at the workings of the Titan wheelhouse and from the jib platform see the stunning views along the River Clyde and the surrounding countryside, as well Clydebank, Renfrew and Glasgow.
Titanclydebank.com

Gael Force 2007
Think of GaelForce as a storm of vibrant arts and entertainment that sweeps across Dumfries & Galloway from late summer into autumn. You can dance the night away at the World Ceilidh in the hills above Carsphairn, or explore the homes of those who have lived and worked in this region throughout the centuries with Doors Open Days. Join in on the Ceilidh Circuit, see drama from the National Theatre of Scotland and a new Film Festival with a green theme in Dumfries.

Literature and books are celebrated at the Wigtown Booktown Festival and there are wonderful pairings of poets from within and outside the region in Poetry Doubles.
Visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk/autumn

East Lothian Food and Drink Festival
28 – 30 September 2007
The successful East Lothian Food & Drink Festival once again brings you a varied programme of events held in stunning venues. Since starting in 2001, the Food & Drink Festival has grown in stature each year with both participants and visitors.

The Festival continues to be an important occasion to showcase East Lothian’s quality food and drink and highlight the diversity of local produce to festival goers. North Berwick Slow Food Fair, a family Food & Fun day at Dirleton Castle, an evening with local author Peter Kerr and one of Glenkinchie Distillery’s infamous ceilidhs will all feature in the 3 day Festival.
Foodanddrinkeastlothian.com

Shopping Heaven in Glasgow
Glasgow is the shopping capital of Scotland and has recently seen the following shops open: Mulberry, Agent Provacateur and an Apple Store.
Visitscotland.com/citybreaks

Mushrooms at the Cross
5 & 6 October 2007
A weekend of foraging for local edible fungi among the foothills of the Monadhliath mountains. Responsible guidance from trained microbiologist Andy Fraser whose company, Caledonian Wildfoods, supplies most of Scotland's top restaurants. The weekend package includes: 2 nights' AA 3 rosette dinner*, accommodation and breakfast, wine with dinner on Saturday, packed lunch on Saturday, mushroom collecting accessories, complimentary guidebook and expert guidance throughout

The inclusive weekend rate per person is £300 (woodland queen double en-suite) or £325 (riverside king double en-suite).
Thecross.co.uk

Fired with Passion in Edinburgh
In this new exhibition, see over 100 objects from world class collections by Picasso. Through an array of ceramics, paintings, lithography and metalwork, explore the period between 1947 and 1961 when Picasso lived and worked in Vallauris and Cannes in the south of France.

Don’t miss this one-off opportunity to go beyond the canvas and explore the art, loves and life of one of the 20th century’s most renowned artists.
Runs until 28th October.
Nms.ac.uk/picasso

Dogged Determination
Man and dog have a long-standing relationship, both domestically and professionally. There is a long tradition of dogs in Scottish country sports and you can now learn how to handle trained gundogs with The Gundog School at Gleneagles.

The school is the first of its kind anywhere in the world and so offers an exceptional opportunity for groups to discover how to control a gundog in the field. A lively and informative demonstration using popular gundog breeds like Labradors and spaniels is followed by each member of the group developing ‘hands-on’ dog-handling skills, from basic obedience to actual retrieves.
Gleneagles.com

Thumbs up for Connect 2008
The success of new festival Connect, which has thrilled fans this year with its stunning lineup set against the magical backdrop of Inveraray Castle in Argyll, has led organisers to already release tickets for the 2nd Connect in 2008. Tickets for next year's festival, set to be held on 29th-31st August 2008, went on sale on Tuesday.

True music lovers are urged to get their tickets early for Connect's 2nd year as the lineup next year is bound to impress in much the same way as the festival's first ever bill, which was deemed by both musicians and fans to be a fantasy lineup.
Connectmusicfestival.com