The biggest family history show is coming to Scotland to the Scottish Exhibition Conference Centre in Glasgow on the 29th – 31st August 2014. The “who do you think you are” live show will include workshops from the Society of Genealogists and will offer a chance to discuss and chat to experts about tracing your family history. If you wish to attend, then it is recommended that you bring the following: any relevant old photographs; small family heirlooms; any family tree you may have; any additional relevant document, which may be military or work related.

The BBC programme, which started 10 years ago in 2004, will reach its 100th edition during the next series, which starts on 26th July 2014. Included within the latest line-up is the Scottish comedian and actor, Billy Connolly. The genealogy market has always been strong with the US market, especially those researching their ancestral roots in Scotland, but now it has become much more mainstream. So take your chance to go to this show and find out more about your ancestral past.

Alternatively, you could wait until later in the year and go to a Billy Connolly show instead. He starts his “High Horse” tour within Scotland in September and October 2014 which includes Aberdeen, Perth, Edinburgh and the SECC in Glasgow. If you have never seen Billy Connolly live – where better to see him but in Glasgow. If you require accommodation in Scotland during these times – then why not stay at the “Castle with History” near Kilmarnock, which sleeps 12 people on a self-catering basis. For more information contact Scotts Castle Holidays today.

Continuing the theme of promoting some of the lesser known festivals that take place in Scotland, then one of the more jolly events is the Borders Book Festival. It will be held in Harmony Garden in Melrose from the 12th – 15th June 2014 and will feature a mixed array of adult and children authors. Comedian Jennifer Saunders, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and journalist Kate Adie are among the headline speakers. Crime writer Lynda La Plante, former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown and wildlife presenter Steve Backshall are among those speaking on the opening day of the festival. Others appearing include Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, broadcaster Kirsty Wark, satirist Rory Bremner and wildlife cameraman Doug Allan, who has worked on David Attenborough BBC series such as Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Frozen Planet.

So here is a chance to wander the sleepy market town of Melrose and have the chance to bump into Jennifer Saunders. How incredible is that. The festival is very small in festival terms with a couple of marquees in the garden of a national trust building, with the backdrop of Melrose Abbey. If you are looking for a chance to see various authors in the flesh and not be stuck in crowds, this is definitely for you.

So start planning your break in Scotland today. Self-catering options at Scotts Castle Holidays comes in all shapes and sizes, but when it comes to the large holiday house selection, there is a good choice to choose from. For example, the Large Georgian Mansion, is only a few miles from Melrose, and sleeps up to 28 people, making this is an ideal self-catering holiday venue for all the family. To find out more, check with the office at Scotts Castle Holidays.

Everyone has their own reasons, but in the process of re-inspecting the Holiday Lodge with Pool in Argyll, I got the chance to speak to a South African tourist who was staying here. Whilst we discussed the Scottish holiday house he had chosen, which exceeded his and my expectation, we discussed the reason why he chose Scotland in the first place. It was simple, he said – it was because of the natural beauty that Scotland has to offer. The magnificence of all the hills, glens and lochs that we sometime take for granted, regardless of the weather, was the main draw. In fact the cold and wet weather was being treated as a novelty, compared to the relentless sunshine that he was used to. As far as he was concerned, travelling to see Scotland in the spring, meant that the holiday was less expensive and there were less tourists. This South African group were very happy with their lot.

Admittedly, on the way back from the inspection, I stopped and took some photos of the Glencoe area, including the obligatory “selfie”. It is a ruggedly beautiful area and at this time of year – there were scores of red deer to see as well. It is on the “Lochs and Glens” coach tour route and the A82 is a wonderfully scenic road. For hill-walkers, it is particularly popular area of Scotland and this Lochaber area is known as the “outdoor capital of Scotland”. So anyone booking a holiday house in this area, will have plenty of activities to keep them occupied. The South Africans certainly enjoyed swimming in the pool and using the spa at the end of each day’s touring and found their holiday house perfect for their requirements. For those looking for their ideal holiday, then book with Scotts Castle Holidays and come to Argyll and enjoy the natural beauty that Scotland has in abundance.

Whilst 25th January is known in Scotland and around the world as “Burn’s Night”, in celebration of the national bard, Robbie Burns, where haggis is eaten, whisky is drunk and poetry is recited. For the celebrated Canadian actor, Donald Sutherland, his early memory of Scotland is of a different type of supper – a fish supper! “The best fish and chips come from Arbroath,” he said. “The best fish and chips I’ve ever tasted.” With his first acting job being at Perth Repertory, he got to know Scotland before he became famous.

As the grandson of a Scots church minister, his arrival in Scotland was a sort of homecoming. He stayed in Perth for nine months and touring took him to places like Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy and Arbroath. After leaving the Perth Theatre, he moved to London and worked in Hammer Horror films, before hitting the big time with films like “Kelly’s Heroes” and “The Dirty Dozen”. His career has now spanned over 40 years and he has starred in more than 150 film and television roles. The film “Eye of the needle” took him back to Scotland, where the remote island scenes were shot over eight weeks on the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. He is now being seen as President Snow in “Hunger Games” which has brought Donald Sutherland to the attention of a new generation of fans, to add to his fans in Arbroath.

Arbroath is traditionally known for its “Arborath Smokies”, rather than fish suppers, but being on the coast, fishing is in the blood. The haddock are prepared using traditional methods dating back to the late 1800s. The fish are first salted overnight, then left to dry and then smoked. When the fish are hung over the fire, the top of the barrel is covered with a lid and sealed around the edges with wet jute sacks. All of this serves to create a very hot, humid and smoky fire, which is essential if the fish are to be cooked, and to have the strong smoky taste and smell people expect from Arbroath smokies. Typically in less than an hour of smoking, the fish are ready to eat. Once eaten, never forgotten.

For self-catering holidays in large houses and castles in Scotland, contact Scotts Castle Holidays.

Sam Heughan, the 33 year old Scottish actor, who is cast as Jamie Fraser in the forthcoming TV series of Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” has said he has been amazed at how good Scotland looks from the footage produced from the filming on the show, which is being made for the Starz cable network in the US. “We’ve already been all over Scotland doing location work, including at Doune Castle. Honestly, I think people will think we have used CGI it looks so incredible, especially with the landscape”.

The commissioning of the 16-part series is expected to generate at least £20 million for the Scottish economy, with the show already billed as Scotland’s answer to “Game of Thrones”. More than 25 million of Diana Gabaldon’s books have been sold around the world so far and the TV series is expected to be a major success when it comes out later in 2014.

The film production has been based in Cumbernauld with locations including Doune Castle, near Stirling, which was closed for a month to accommodate filming. The show follows the adventures of married nurse Claire and her entanglements with Jamie after she is mysteriously propelled through time from the Second World War to the time of the Jacobite rebellion.

Whilst fans of “Outlander” will hopefully enjoy the TV series as much as the book, it will also showcase Scotland and its castles and scenery. For those wishing to visit Doune Castle where some of the filming has taken place, then why not check out the selection of large holiday houses and castles in Scotland today at Scotts Castle Holidays. This Holiday House with a View, (see right)looks out across to Doune Castle and its splendid scenery, and is the perfect holiday house for your vacation in Scotland. Where else can you get this scenery, history and romanticism but Scotland.

It is going to be an exciting year as Scotland plays host to the world in 2014, not just The Ryder Cup but to many other world-class events, including the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Under the banner of “Homecoming Scotland” there is a year-long programme of events and festivals, celebrating the Scottish culture and ancestral heritage. So for everyone who loves Scotland and all things Scottish, then 2014 is the ideal time to take a leap of faith and visit Scotland.

The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, which takes place from 23rd July to 3rd August, will see over 6,500 athletes compete in 17 different sports, over 11 days of competition.  This event will be watched by over one billion people around the world.

The 2014 Ryder Cup at The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire will take place from Friday to Sunday, 26th – 28th September. For this first time since 1973, and for only the second in the history of The Ryder Cup, Scotland plays host to the greatest tournament in match play golf, with a potential daily TV audience of 500 million people across 183 countries.

It is the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn and there is going to be a three day spectacular, which takes place on the Saturday to Monday, 28th – 30th June. In fact wherever you are in Scotland, there will be an event of some sort taking place in 2014. Including an exciting blend of festivals, activities, performances and celebrations that will showcase the very best that Scotland has to offer to locals and visitors from around the globe.  Plan your stay now with Scotts Castle Holidays and be part of Homecoming Scotland 2014!

On ITV on Monday nights, there is a series presented by Robson Green, the well known actor and fisherman from the North East, who presents a show all about Northumberland. The show is called “Tales from Northumberland” and is another generic TV show with a well known presenter explaining an area they know, like Ade Edmondson, James Nesbitt and Caroline Quentin, with Yorkshire, Ireland and Cornwall.

Over eight half-hour episodes, Robson Green is your guide to enlighten those who do not know about this less well known area of the UK. Last week, he discovered more on the bloody battles between the English and the Scots, which meant for example that the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, changed allegiance thirteen times. Even today, many locals will say that Berwick is more Scottish than English. In fact, in places the river Tweed becomes the boundary between Scotland and England, and you can be fishing in Scotland or England depending on your footing in the water.

All across the border there are pockets of land that could be Scottish or English and in the past these were called the “debatable lands”. Created by family feuds and cross border allegiances, these were lawless areas beyond the control of either country. This Unique Historic Castle, is a fine example of a Scottish vernacular style tower house, but it is now located in Cumbria across the border in England.  When it was built back in 1584, the area was Scottish but part of the “debatable lands”. All other tower houses of this style ended up being officially Scottish once the border was drawn up leaving this as a unique example of a Scottish clan tower house built in the Scottish style but on English soil.

Today it is available for self-catering holidays and is a popular destination for those involved with weddings at Gretna, which is known the world over as a marriage venue. The reason is the difference in marriage laws in England and Scotland. Back in 1753, England’s Marriage Act sought to prevent couples under the age of 21 marrying without their parents’ consent. And it was this that prompted a rush to Scotland, where the law was less prohibitive. On the main route from London to Scotland, the first stop over the border was Gretna Green in Dumfries and Galloway. The village’s blacksmith shop presented the first opportunity for a wedding. It is still popular today – but back then it was about the difference at the border between Scotland and England. Why not cross the border today and check out the selection of large holiday houses and castles in Scotland at Scotts Castle Holidays.

What does British football’s most successful manager do after blowing the final whistle on his career? Sir Alex Ferguson, having been the most successful manager in the modern era of Manchester United for 27 years, it was time to take a break. So once the final whilst blew on the last game of the season last year and he officially retired as manager, he fulfilled a lifetime’s ambition and made his booking for the Scottish holiday he had always wanted and hired a boat to tour the Hebrides with friends and family.

Halloween is always a great occasion for families across the land. Where the children (and adults) enter in the spirit by dressing up, get their pumpkins carved out, enjoy sparklers and either have a party or go out guising. Trick or Treat – may be the phrase, but the origins of this are becoming lost in the mist of time. Whilst this tradition has pagan origins, which has been developed into a Christian tradition, it is a festival for remembering your dead. Nowadays it is more about dressing up and looking scary.

If you want to be scared – what about scary ghosts and haunted castles. A few years back a major multinational drinks company offered as a prize, a chance to spend the night in a haunted house in Scotland. Scotts Castle Holidays provided the venue to the lucky prize-winners and promptly scared them witless. So much so that one of them refused to spend the night in the haunted bedroom as they were terrified, stayed up all night in the sitting room, and got the first available taxi in the morning!

There are many haunted houses and castles in Scotland and the tales are legendary. Glamis Castle has many, including a servant girl with no tongue who haunts the grounds and Earl Beardie who still plays dice with the devil – with the rattle of dice and raised voices still heard today. Fyvie Castle has the green lady who has appeared throughout the castle over the last 250 years. By staying at the Castle Tower Apartment, it may be possible to experience this for yourself or at the very least be explained it on a private guided tour of the rest of the castle. Scotts Castle Holidays offers a great selection of large houses and castles in Scotland to choose from for self-catering holidays – which may or may not be haunted. Why not check out the selection of large holiday houses and castles in Scotland today at Scotts Castle Holidays.

According to the recent survey by “You and Your Wedding”, the costs for a wedding held in the UK in 2012 have risen 14% since 2009. The average total wedding bill now comes to a sum between £17,000 and £22,000. With figures like these it is no surprise that there has been a significant rise in choosing self-catering venues for so called “DIY Weddings”. Whilst hotels and exclusive use wedding venues offer attractive packages – it seems brides are looking for something different as well as looking at the cost saving aspect.

The “DIY Wedding”, where a self-catering castle or large house is booked and then the bride organises the wedding themselves continues to rise in popularity. However, not all self-catering venues will allow this and it is advised that you consult on venue selection beforehand. One such property that is ideal for weddings is this Baronial Castle (see image above) in Argyllshire. This self-catering castle sleeps up to 13 people, with a further holiday house, which sleeps 8 people, only two miles away. It can host religious or civil ceremonies within the castle for up to 40 people, with the dining capacity within the castle being able to cater for 13 people, with the maximum numbers for a reception being 40 people and for a buffet. For numbers above this size, then a marquee can be arranged, and can cater for numbers up to 150 people. The Scottish actress Kelly MacDonald and the bass player for Travis, Dougie Payne, are among previous happy couples that have chosen this option with Scotts Castle Holidays and we were happy to help with their castle selection and booking.

Scotts Castle Holidays offers a great selection of large houses and castles in Scotland to choose from for self-catering holidays. All potential wedding booking enquiries should be discussed in advance as some are more suitable than others. Most are ideal for the smaller more intimate wedding compared to the larger wedding. For the specifics on how to get married in Scotland, please check with the General Register Office for Scotland. Why not check out the selection of large holiday houses and castles in Scotland today at Scotts Castle Holidays.