A message from VisitScotland

www.burnsfestival.com / www.spring-fling.co.uk / www.visitscotland.com / www.scotsinlondon.com

Dear Scots in London (SIL) (3,000+ dynamic, passionate Scots and growing fast),

Are you looking for something different for the Bank Holiday Weekend? Take a trip to Scotland for two Scottish Festivals and encourage friends and colleagues to visit Scotland...

1) The Burns An' A' That! Festival (20th-29th May) is a celebration of contemporary Scottish culture held every May in Ayrshire, birthplace of Robert Burns. From the radical to the romantic, the festival aims to capture all that makes Robert Burns the nation's most celebrated literary icon. The Festival includes the Turnberry Centenary Concerts (Katherine Jenkins, Jools Holland and Nicky Spence) during the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, the Festival Club (including appearances from Julian Cope and Sam Brown) and Fresh Ayr (two nights of FREE concerts featuring The Proclaimers and Scotland's best new bands).

There are numerous other events taking place during the Burns Festival including an 18th Century Street Festival for families in the picturesque village of Mauchline, re-enacting the sights, sounds and smells of a historic Holy Fair as Burns would have experienced over 250 years ago. This is a traditional Holy Fair with a modern day twist featuring Scottish traditional folk music, authentic craft and local produce stalls, falconry, fire eaters, strong men and a host of special events. Plus a charity Ceilidh in Ayr featuring Coila, one of Scotland's top ceilidh bands, whisky tastings, and the Highland Mary Walk (a guided family walk with storyteller Robbie Mappleback exploring the love affair between Robert Burns and Highland Mary).

Prestwick International Airport is situated in the heart of Ayrshire and Glasgow International Airport is only a 1 hour drive. Ryanair is the main airline flying into Prestwick with a number of direct flights from London, other airlines also use this route. There are main train stations at Ayr, Prestwick, Prestwick Airport and Kilmarnock. Main line trains leave from Glasgow Central Station and this is where the London Sleeper service connects.

To plan your trip to Ayrshire, make sure you visit www.visitscotland.com for the best information and deals.

2) Spring Fling (27th-29th May) - Spend a long weekend in Dumfries & Galloway and meet 93 artists and craftmakers who will be throwing open the doors of 64 workshops and studios across south west Scotland. Over the weekend of 27th-29th May visitors will receive a warm welcome in all the studios taking part, where they can watch artists and craftmakers at work, buy a special piece of work directly from the studio (prices start at £5) or simply browse. A FREE full colour brochure packed with great tips to help visitors make the most of their weekend, including handy maps, colour-coded studio touring trails and, most importantly, where to stop off for a cup of tea, or some lunch, is available to order online at www.spring-fling.co.uk or call 01387 262084.

Glasgow, Glasgow Prestwick and Edinburgh are all within an approximate 90 minute drive of Dumfries. There is a main train station at Dumfries. Main line trains leave from Glasgow Central Station (where the Caledonian Sleeper service from London Euston connects). For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com. For help and advice on planning your break, call the National Booking and Information Service on 0845 22 55 121. Enjoy Scotland...

Please continue to spread the word about Scots In London - be dynamic and passionate - subscribe to SIL network, PR and events information.

Yours aye, Eddie Tait

Founder & Promoter, SIL

About Scots In London SCOTSINLONDON.COM - the Scots hub. SIL - dynamic, passionate Scots. SIL is proud to Back Scotland's Bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Please back the bid via www.glasgow2014.com.

SIL - from a handful of Scots in 2001 to a fast-growing, solid, diverse, dynamic, independent, apolitical, informal, passionate and enthusiastic network and marketplace of over 3,000+ Scots (at Feb 2006 up from 400 SIL in December 2004) and over 100+ Scots Clubs, Societies, Charities, Organisations, Businesses and Individuals in London today. Watch this space for exciting the new SIL monthly newsletters (listening to your feedback!), website, discounts, networking info, SIL's quest to build a Scottish Cultural Centre in London and much more!

To subscribe/unsubscribe to/from the SIL mailing or make enquiries or suggestions or offer assistance/publicise your Scottish event(s)/ club/ business/ achievements in the new SIL monthly newsletter/website (to be relaunched in Q3 2006), please go to www.scotsinlondon.com/contac t.htm or contact Eddie Tait eddietait@scotsinlondon.com / 07748 148080. View SIL Photo Gallery via Click to view photos.

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