Castles, Queens and Cracking Concerts…

Scotland is the place to be.

Hit The Right Note This Summer…

Why not kick up your heels with a dream trip to scenic Scotland and take in some great music events. Scotland has a fantastic line up of outdoor music festivals in 2016 and you could be partying under the stars in some beautiful locations. What better way to see this picture postcard country than by combining some sight seeing with a live concert?

Glamis Prom at Glamis Castle in Scotland

Scotland may surprise you as a festival hot spot and believe me, there’s more to Scottish festivals than bagpiping contests and caber tossing in a field! The music scene in Scotland has grown beyond recognition over the years and is now rightfully taking its place on the world stage as one of the most exciting destinations for music lovers and concert go-ers. Recent trends have shows that more and more overseas visitors to bonnie Scotland are planning their holidays around the festival season, and with good reason!

It doesn’t seem so long ago that concerts were something you had to save up for and they were generally held indoors, in cramped sweaty conditions and if you were lucky there was a support band on before the headliners came on; idols that you’d waited a lifetime to see playing live. Nowadays we are spoilt for choice when it comes to live gigs but the summer months seems to be packed with outstanding music festivals on a very grand scale. In some cases you can see up to a dozen bands in one day.  I say summer months because these festivals are all open-air events and here in Scotland, the weather can be unpredictable but we have our greatest shot at sunshine in July, August and sometimes into September.

Arguably, what makes a festival in Scotland so special is the surroundings. Castles, palaces, lochs, mountains and glens, it’s just all so dreamy and picturesque and on a balmy summer’s evening, the atmosphere at a live concert can be pretty magical. Unforgettable in fact.

There’s some fabulous acts playing at historic venues and location this summer and if you’re planning on a holiday to these shores, you should definitely add these to your itinerary.

Crowd at the Glamis Prom in Scotland

Glamis Prom is a pop/classical concert performing at the stunning Glamis Castle in July.  Glamis Castle was the childhood home of the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her daughter, Princess Margaret was born there!

Glamis Prom Stage

The line up includes Mica Paris and Richard & Adam who have spent weeks at the top of the classical album charts.

Crowd at Party At The Palace

Party At The Palace Line Up 2016

Another great line up is scheduled for this year’s McEwen’s Party At The Palace which takes place in the shadow of the magnificent Linlithgow Palace – birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots.

This two-day spectacular will see great acts such as The Proclaimers and Billy Ocean top the bill.

Street Performer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

A must for any holidaymaker to Scotland this summer is of course the Edinburgh International Festival. Regardless of whether you have a love of the performing arts, the atmosphere in the Scottish capital in the month of August is pretty special.

Scotland’s Capital really comes to life in the summer months as the world descends upon its historic streets and parks. From late June to early September, Edinburgh’s Festivals turn the city into a vibrant stage. From the opening notes of the Jazz and Blues Festival to the crescendo of the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert to end the Edinburgh International Festival, each summer is one to remember.

Midstock Festival, Dalkeith, Scotland

If you’re staying on in the Lothians into the end of the summer, don’t miss Midstock Festival at the beautiful Dalkeith Country Park, Midlothian.

Midstock Festival Stage

There’s also some great tourist attractions within easy reach of this year’s Scottish festivals and you can tag on a few days exploring the nearby cities or countryside. You won’t be disappointed. To make it even more tempting, we’ve got some great travel deals on flights and hotels to make your money go a little bit further.

• Take a tour of Edinburgh Castle where you will learn all there is to know about one of Scotland’s most visited attractions.
• Embark on a quest of discovery with a tour of the Castles in Scotland. Prepare to witness the fate of King Duncan at the hands of Macbeth at Glamis Castle and even unearth the dark years of independence in the fourteenth century at the Dunnottar Castle.
• Tour the Royal Yacht Britannia Edinburgh and discover what life was like on board this floating royal residence.

There are lots of reasons to visit Scotland this year, but for festival lovers, here are ten of them: