Horses, knights and lances are at the ready as Spectacular Jousting returns to Caerlaverock for the first time in ten years as the medieval stronghold plays host to noble knights on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th July.
To help celebrate the year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, visitors can take part in a thrilling festival of horsemanship and pageantry as a horde of colourful, historic characters battle it out to be crowned the King’s Champion.
The jousting gives spectators the chance to see an impressive display of arms and armour at close range as knights take to their steeds for shield-splintering exhibitions of strength and horsemanship.
Visitors can meet the gallant knights and admire their loyal horses in their stables, try their hand at hobby horse jousting and wander through medieval camps to learn about life from the knights and their aides. There will also be opportunities to hear about medieval hunting, observe the court falconer and take part in archery.
Gillian Urquhart, Events Manager for Historic Environment Scotland, said,
“Spectacular Jousting is one of our most popular events, so it’s great to see its return to Caerlaverock Castle after a decade. With its moat, twin towered gatehouse and imposing battlements, Caerlaverock Castle provides a great medieval setting for a day of jousting and family fun. Visitors can cheer on their champion and get lost in a full medieval experience for a day!”
The HES Collections team will also be on site with objects spanning over 500 years of Scotland’s history. Visitors will have the opportunity to put on a pair of white gloves and handle real artefacts.
Spectacular Jousting at will take place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th July from 12.30-4.30pm. Tickets can be bought on the day as well as in advance and are priced at £13.00 for adults, £11 for concessions, £8.00 for children (aged 5-15 years old) with under-fives going free. Family tickets are also available. A 10% discount is available when tickets are purchased online in advance.
Parking is available in the field at the right of the castle and will be signposted on the day. For more information and to purchase tickets for Spectacular Jousting 2017, please visit: www.historicenvironment.scot/jousting
This popular event is free for Historic Scotland Members.
Stirling Castle is to provide the atmospheric backdrop for a dramatic adaptation of one of the most famous gothic romances of the 19th century.
Chapterhouse Theatre Company is bringing an open-air production of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre to the castle this weekend (Saturday 17 June).
A bold and dynamic production of one of the classics of English literature, Jane Eyre uncovers the story of a woman whose independence and bravery shaped her life.
Audiences can lose themselves in this haunting and unconventional love story in the shadow of Stirling Castle as they follow the journey of the spirited heroine, watching as she faces life’s obstacles head-on, surviving poverty, injustice and the discovery of bitter betrayal before taking the ultimate decision to follow her heart.
Lorna Ewan, Head of Visitor Experience, Content and Learning at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), who manage Stirling Castle, said: “Drama and story-telling are at the heart of Stirling Castle’s history. Its Queen Anne Garden, overlooked by the royal palace, provides a magical venue for outdoor theatre productions.
“Jane Eyre is a fresh and inventive production which captures the spirit of the novel – it’s a must-see at the castle this summer.”
Jane Eyre takes place from 7.30pm – 9.45pm on Saturday 17th of June. Doors open at 6.45pm for 7.30pm start. Tickets are available online and on the door.
Historic Scotland Members will receive a 10% discount when they login to the membership website to buy tickets.
A colourful cast of costumed performers will descend on Dumbarton Castle this weekend (Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 June) for The Rock of Ages event as part of Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.
Celebrating 2,000 years of history, the castle will play host to a fun-filled family day out, offering visitors the chance to watch in awe as a cast of more than 100 characters bring history to life.
The History Bug will be in full effect as visitors head to the living history camps to step back into Scotland’s past and come face to face with Vikings, Romans and Covenanters. Watch in excitement as fearless warriors go-head-to-head in thrilling battles and learn about the tumultuous sieges that took place at the castle.
Run by Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the event will give visitors the chance to delve into the secrets of the castle as they learn more about cooking, traditions, armour and weaponry through the ages, with the opportunity to take part in a range of hands-on activities including medieval calligraphy, soap carving, stonemasonry and even crafting their very own mini-mangonels and Roman pottery to take home.
Fran Caine, Assistant Events Manager at HES (which run Historic Scotland sites), said: “We’re very pleased to bring back The Rock of Ages event for another exciting year – the only one of its kind on the west coast of Scotland.
“2017 is Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, and this year’s event is set to be more vibrant, exciting and colourful than ever before.
“Locals and visitors of all ages are welcome to come along and witness Dumbarton Castle’s colourful past and explore its captivating history. With so much to see and do, it’s set to be a thrilling and unmissable two-day event!”
HES, Scotland’s lead body for the historic environment, are encouraging families to ‘catch the history bug’ in the themed year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017.
The Rock of Ages takes place from 12pm-5pm on Saturday 10th – Sunday 11th June. Book online in advance to receive a 10% discount. Family tickets are available. Historic Scotland Members go free, just show your membership card on arrival.
Pictured above; John Richardson as Gaius Iulius Raetucus, a Tribune of the Antonine period, AD120, leads pupils from Dumbarton’s Knoxhill Primary School and two soldiers of his Legion, picture by Donald MacLeod
Winton Castle, the business events and wedding venue in East Lothian, has just celebrated more than 500 years of history and changing back to being called Winton Castle. It only adopted the more modest name of Winton House in the 1960s, and ‘once a castle, always a castle’.
Winton Castle was a stronghold of the powerful Seton family in the 16th century but was burnt down by Henry VIII during the ‘rough wooing’ of the young Mary Queen of Scots’. The castle was restored by the Earl of Winton in the fashion of the Scottish Renaissance to entertain the royal court, including a visit by King Charles I.
The intricate plaster ceilings and carved twisted chimneys now shine out to welcome visitors to exclusive business events, private parties and weddings.
Around 100 visitors from the hospitality industry and business world attended the celebration and were entertained sixteenth century style by fire-jugglers, axe throwers, medieval musicians, men-at-arms and clan drummers.
Guests were welcomed by Sir Francis Ogilvy, owner of Winton Castle, as they sipped castle cocktails and enjoyed canapés concocted from venison, scallops, quail, beetroot and asparagus from award-winning caterers, Appetite Direct. A sumptuous modern day feast followed.
“As far as our food is concerned, Winton is a ‘modern castle’ where we like to serve contemporary, top class dishes from local, seasonal ingredients. Our food also draws on Winton Castle and the Estate’s rich heritage,” says James Maynard, Winton’s General Manager.
“Gareth Harrison, our head chef, and his team designed a feast fit for a castle for the Winton party,” adds Nigel Kennedy, MD at Appetite Direct. “We were inspired by the traditional castle kitchen and garden as our theme for the menus. These featured local, seasonal produce and game, echoing the diet of Winton inhabitants over the centuries.
“Our dishes used organic foods from around Scotland: Scallops from Shetland, Scottish pork, local venison and organic vegetables from East Lothian. The desserts were classic flavours from the Victorian era with modern twists.
“The menus reflected the modern Castle that Winton has become, using up to date cooking techniques and presentation.”
In the dining room there was a gastronomic display which included two whole roast suckling pigs with modern garnish, smoked ham hough and parsley croquettes with crispy pigs ears, and puffed pork skin. Guests were also entertained with an interactive canapé demonstration in the Cabinet Room.
Appetite Direct from Edinburgh have catered for more than 100 events at Winton Castle over the last 10 years: many weddings, as well as birthdays, anniversaries and corporate events. Winton is one of their original clients and a long-standing partner.
More information on Winton Castle can be found at www.wintoncastle.co.uk
Pictured: The launch to celebrate the relaunch of the Winton Castle name at the stately castle in East Lothian, May 23rd 2017. © Helen Pugh Photography.
After the huge success of last year’s event, the Foxlake Outdoor Festival, Dunbar, returns bigger and better this year not only with an exciting lineup of music and comedy performances for all the family, but with the completely new WINTON CASTLE HIGHLAND GAMES & ADRENALINE ARENA.
Organisers look forward to welcoming a selection of Highland Games from Winton Castle. As part of the Foxlake Outdoor Festival Winton Castle are bringing some of their traditional outdoor games with an East Lothian twist!
Forget welly boot throwing, a Winton Games includes, Tossing the Caber, Wheat Sheaf Pitching (still strong in East Lothian agricultural shows, the Wheat Sheaf must be thrown over the bar which increases in height), The Winton Ski (Strap your team onto a set of ski’s and start the stopwatch), Hay Bale Rolling Relay and just for fun The Winton Dash (an old school obstacle course, against the clock!). There will also be Archery & Falconry Displays.
Winton Castle is an exclusive use events venue near Pencaitland in East Lothian, just half an hour from Edinburgh. Winton is a popular venue for weddings, business events and adrenaline-rush activities.
The Foxlake Festival looks forward to welcoming an array of other adrenaline activities including a huge Free Fall Stunt Bag with a total drop height 8m, a 7m high climbing wall, amazing displays of free running with Access Parkour and The Clan Scotland Cycle Stunt Team performing stunt shows throughout the weekend.
If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to jump out of a plane or fall from a building, the Free Fall Stunt Bag is the activity for you. Thrill-seekers can climb the tower and jump from an 8m height to the adrenaline rush of free-falling through the air. The Free Fall Stunt Bag is super safe experience and is suitable for everyone!
On both days of the Festival the Adrenalin Arena welcomes you to join them at 12.00, 2pm and 4pm where there will be 15 minute Parkour displays followed by a 30 minute workshop with crowd participation. Whilst at 1.00pm, 3pm & 5pm there will be a 45 minute BMX Stunt show with amazing tricks and stunts which will have you on the edge of your seat.
There will also be a selection of Britain’s finest comedians for guaranteed laughs throughout the weekend. Foxlake are delighted to announce the following headliners onto the Comedy Stage: Des Clarke, Tom Stade & Darren Connell. Additional acts include Charlie McIntosh from Scotsquad, Janey Godley, Gary Little, Joe Heenan, Jamie Dalgleish – former Scottish comedian of the year, Rossco Mclelland – current Scottish comedian of the year, Jojo Sutherland – Award winning Scottish stand-up, Carina MacLeod – Stand-Up Comic and Gaelic TV presenter / actress, David Kay and Zara Janjua, an experienced broadcast reporter presenter.
Returning again this year, with something for everyone, is the Decades Music Stage, featuring everyone’s favourite tribute bands and celebrating the last 60 years of music. There will be a talented line-up of East Lothian’s finest local musicians including Tribute acts by Abba A Rival, Take This, Durananduran, Jersey Notes (4 Seasons), Little Fix, Status No, Eltan John, George Michaels, Glasgow Blues Brothers, Simply Rod (Stewart) and Beatles Revisited. All supported by local talent through ELJam (East Lothian Youth Music Forum).
Following the massive success of this event in 2016, when the first ever Foxlake Outdoor Festival sold out weeks in advance, Foxlake Adventures in partnership with East Lothian Council, decided to extend the festival to a full weekend across the 20 and 21 May 2017, offering families and individuals the opportunity to get outdoors and begin their own adventure in East Lothian.
There will be tickets available for each day, weekend tickets and once again children’s tickets will be absolutely free. Tickets start at £17 for an adult day entry and £30 for a weekend ticket. NB. TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED PRIOR TO THE EVENT AND WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ON THE GATE.
These hugely popular elements of last year’s event will return alongside the Industry Wake Parks who will once again run an Industry Pro Wakeboard Tour Event. Bringing some of the most talented wake boarders from around the world to compete, this is a further growth of Scotland’s biggest wakeboard event. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy and watch the thrills of professional wakeboarding.
Alongside the wakeboarding, music, comedy and Adrenalin & Country pursuits arena, organisers are bringing back the popular Kids’ Zone with the inflatable village filled with every bouncy castle imaginable to keep the children entertained, they can also take on the challenge of the climbing wall and even get their faces painted.
James Barbour, Managing Director of Foxlake Adventures commented: “We are mega excited to be hosting the Foxlake Outdoor Festival for a second year running. Our aim is to work with East Lothian Council to ensure the event is even bigger and better this year after the success of the inaugural Festival in 2016.
“On the day we will be welcoming some of the UK’s top professional wakeboarders which include National and World Champions and of course our Foxlake ‘Come and Try’ sessions ranging from wakeboarding, FoxFall ropes course to Segway taster sessions. The atmosphere on site last year was tremendous and we will be doing our very best to replicate that success this year”.
We look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful surroundings of Foxlake Adventures on the 20 and 21 May 2017 for an exhilarating weekend offering a world of adventures for all the family.
Foxlake Outdoor Festival 2017
20 – 21 May 2017
Location – Foxlake Adventures, Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland
Times – 10.00 – 18.00
Further details and a list of all the events, ticket prices and booking details are available at www.foxlakefestival.co.uk and on the Winton Castle website.
NB. TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED PRIOR TO THE EVENT AND WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ON THE GATE
Pictured above; Jacob Walker, who works for Winton Castle and Foxlake, wake boarding in a kilt at Foxlake Adventures.
Kelburn Castle and Estate, one of the oldest family owned estates in Scotland, has secured £1m of funding from Barclays to support the expansion of its luxury camping site.
The 13th century castle and 3,500 acre estate near Fairlie in North Ayrshire has been owned by the Boyle family since 1140. The present owner, Patrick Boyle, the 10th Earl of Glasgow, opened up the castle along with its grounds and gardens to the public in 1977.
A number of new attractions were introduced over the years and, following a 400% uptake in the estate’s glamping experience, the Boyle family approached Barclays for support in restructuring borrowings and secure investment capital.
David Boyle, son of the 10th Earl of Glasgow and Commercial Manager of Kelburn Castle and Estate, commented: “This deal marks the first time our family has banked with Barclays, and I have to say that the experience and service has been unrivalled. We needed a banking partner that would take the time to understand the heritage of our business but also recognise our ambition for growth. The Barclays team showed a willingness to help from the outset and their industry knowledge made them a perfect fit for us.
“This funding will allow us to reinvest in the estate to increase visitor numbers. We plan to install an additional nine yurts in direct response to the growing demand for glamping, and we are considering adding a communal building for campers to further drive growth and transform the site into a hospitality and music festival venue.”
Kelburn Castle and Estate is one of a number of businesses to benefit from Barclay’s £500m SME loan fund, launched in 2016 to provide access to funding for businesses across all sectors with turnover up to £25m. It forms part of the bank’s commitment to create a supportive environment for business growth in Scotland.
The deal was led by Barclays Agriculture Relationship Director Scot Howie, he added: “The importance of estates diversifying their offering and developing new income streams is vital for creating long-term sustainability, whether it’s introducing renewables or opening their doors to the public to enjoy their heritage. Our experienced agriculture team has helped many landowners implement initiatives to improve business resilience and increase profitability.
“Kelburn Castle and Estate has successfully accomplished this by continually evolving its offering as a popular visitor attraction and tourist destination in line with changing consumer demands. The estate now has a strong market position in Ayrshire, and we’re proud to support the family and help them make the most of opportunities for long-term growth.”
We cordially invite you along to meet the Team for an informal chat and private tour of the Castle before enjoying a delicious Afternoon Tea (for two) with our compliments!
