Borders Book Festival

Hilary Mantel headlines Borders Book Festival at Abbotsford

Literary giants Hilary Mantel and Alexander McCall Smith, crime-writing royalty Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Christopher Brookmyre and Denise Mina and political leaders Ed Balls, Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband are just a few of the highlights of the 2021 Baillie Gifford Borders Book Festival, this year being held in November at Abbotsford, home of Sir…
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Wigtown Book Festival appeal

Authors support £25K appeal for Wigtown Book Festival future

As Wigtown Book Festival gets underway authors have spoken about the urgent need to support and value Scotland’s cultural events. The festival is running a £25,000 Book it and Spread the Word fundraising appeal to help secure its future and ensure it thrives. Let’s hope a massive success this year will secure its future – Val McDermid After…
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Wigtown Book Festival First Weekend Success

Wigtown Book Festival celebrates successful first weekend

Wigtown Book Festival enjoyed a successful first weekend – welcoming visitors back to Scotland’s National Book Town for a wide variety of events. These ranged from talks by household names like Alexander McCall Smith and locally-based writers such as Patrick Laurie, through to pop-up opera from Scottish Opera, to theatre performances and nature walks. At…
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galloway hoard cross excavation

Discovery of the Galloway Hoard

Pop-up talks With excitement building before the return of the Galloway Hoard to the region in October, a series of mini pop-up events focussing on the story of its discovery will travel to sites around Galloway.  The Galloway Hoard is the richest collection of rare and unique Viking-age objects ever found in Britain or Ireland.…
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Tour of Britain Stage 7 winner

YVES LAMPAERT TAKES EDINBURGH STAGE WIN IN AJ BELL TOUR OF BRITAIN

Belgian rider Yves Lampaert took Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s first victory of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain in Edinburgh on Saturday at the end of a stage dominated by a six-man breakaway group. Lampaert outsprinted Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar Team) and Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling’s Matt Gibson in the world-famous Holyrood Park after the trio broke…
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AJ Bell Announced as Title Partner

AJ Bell Announced as Title Partner of Cycling Tour

AJ Bell has been confirmed as the new title partner of the 2021 AJ Bell Tour of Britain and AJ Bell Women’s Tour, Britain’s biggest and most prestigious cycle races. AJ Bell is one of the UK’s leading online investment platforms, helping people invest for the long term via ISAs, pensions and general investment accounts. …
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South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project

South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project

As part of a series of groundbreaking translocations addressing low numbers of golden eagles in the south of Scotland, the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project has recently successfully transported eight golden eagle chicks from the Scottish Highlands to a secret location in the southern uplands of Scotland. This brings the total number of golden…
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SSDA Newsletter – August 2021

A new survey has revealed that Dumfries and Galloway is Scotland’s second most popular staycation destination this year.  It says tourism bookings in Dumfries and Galloway are up 35% since 2019. The Scottish Borders had also been found to be the third most popular holiday spot in 2021.  That means that the South of Scotland,…
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Iconic Scotland exhibition

Stars tell Scotland’s stories in new Iconic Scotland exhibition

Iconic Scotland Exhibition. Ahead of its public opening on 26 August, the latest addition to Scotland’s cultural and heritage scene – The Great Tapestry of Scotland – has today revealed a new exhibit telling the people’s story of Scotland through the reflections and photographs of over 40 national icons, pioneers and inspiring individuals. Iconic Scotland…
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Great Tapestry of Scotland

World-Class Attraction Revealed

The new purpose-built Great Tapestry of Scotland gallery, visitor centre, cafe and workshop space has been revealed in its permanent home in Galashiels, the heartland of the Scottish Borders, ahead of its public opening on Thursday 26 August. The latest addition to Scotland’s national cultural scene was unveiled as world-renowned author Alexander McCall Smith, whose…
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