Celebrate the New Year with a tribute to Robert Burns

Wishing all our readers and guests a very HAPPY NEW YEAR for 2013.

The time has come again to celebrate our favourite national bard, Robert Burns so we are all looking forward to the BIG BURNS SUPPER held this year in Dumfries 25 - 27th January. Dumfries is only a 20 minuite drive making Rockcliffe and Kippford an ideal base.

 Big Burns Supper 2013 is jam packed full of events for everyone - from the young, to the 
old, and the in between - we guarantee there is something you’ll enjoy.

Image from http://www.bigburnssupper.com/

Fresh for 2013 is the brand new Festival Village down at the old market on the Whitesands, including an original 1920’s style Spiegeltent which will seduce you from morning until night, with shows suitable for all the family, and a children’s tent which has non-stop free stuff to keep the little ones happy, as well as two fully licensed outdoor bars supplied by The Globe.

Music fans will love the free music stage at The Midsteeple which has been curated by 
Tenement TV - and the whole festival kicks off with the opening show - featuring a community cast of over 700 - which will bedazzle your senses in one of the biggest outdoor 
productions ever staged in Scotland.

It’s not for the faint hearted -  embrace the spirit of the festival by making sure you last the pace by dipping in and out of shows and events throughout the whole weekend. Whichever shows or events you take part in - rest assured - you will be taking part in the World’s Biggest Burns Night Celebration right here in Dumfries and Galloway!


You can download the brochure here: Big Burns Supper brochure pdf

Image from http://www.bigburnssupper.com/

This year's headline band is Deacon Blue but we will be heading for Zoe's Ukelele Celidh an informal gathering of players old and young, experienced and beginners, all playing and jamming together hosted by Dumfries and Galloways own Ukelele songstress Zoë Bestel. 

Saturday 30 June: British Pipe Band Championships 2012

We are pretty excited, as this  Saturday 30 June 2012, Annan is hosting the British Pipe Band Championships for the third year running. Dad, a big fan of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, is going along with some of the young musicians in the family as it promises to be a great day out.

This colourful event is one of the world's most spectacular gatherings of highland music and culture. With around 130 pipe bands will competing to be British Champions at their grade in front of a crowd of 6,000 spectators.

Photo courtesy of the 

British Pipe Band Championships

 website: http://www.annanchampionships.co.uk

This year there will be lots of tasty Dumfries and Galloway food and produce on offer and more than fifty trade stands including a craft fair, showcasing the creativity and talents of many of Dumfries and Galloway's top artists and craftmakers. There will also be amusement stalls for all the family.



For lovers of pipe bands it's a lot closer than the Edinburgh Tattoo as Annan is just along the Solway Coast to the East past Dumfries and an easy drive along the A75.



Tickets purchased in advance are priced:

• Adult  £6
• Concessions  £4 (retired, full-time student, unemployed, under 16)
• Family  £15 (2 adults + 2 concessions or 1 adult + 3 concessions)

For advance ticket sales click here: Tickets

Tickets will also be available on the day at the gate priced:

• Adult £9 
• Concessions £6 (retired, full-time student, unemployed, under 16) 
• Under 5 Free 
• Family £22 (2 adults + 2 concessions or 1 adult + 3 concessions)

See you there!

The Cape to Cape Rally passes Dumfries and Galloway

The Cape to Cape Rally, which helps to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care, takes place between 21-28 April will feature over 40 vintage and classic cars

This seven day classic car tour over a challenging 1,700 mile route will see participants setting off from Cape Wrath and finishing at Great Britain's only other cape, Cape Cornwall on the south west coast of the county.  


The "Grand Tour - Cape to Cape" is the brainchild of experienced historic rally and classic trials exponent, Cornishman Dennis Greenslade who is a previous winner of the international Historic Rally of Great Britain - the Rally of the Tests and former four times national classic trials champion.  All entrants to the tour are committed to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Relief mainly through asking friends, family and business colleagues for sponsorship.


Drivers come from all over continental Europe to participate in the Cape to Cape Tour and when they arrive in Truro, they will have completed 1500 miles over 7 days. The Truro Classic is the final test in this endurance event which tests driving skill, physical stamina, navigation and vehicle engineering.

A 1953, 1250cc MG Td of the type participating in the Rally
Courtesy of: Kenneth Allen [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The cars:

• • 5 Porsches various 356, 911 and 912
  • 8 MGs various TD, BGT
  • 2 Morgans
  • 2 Jaguar E-type Roadsters
  • 3 Austins
  • 3 Triumphs
  • 2 Mercedes Benz
  • 3 Mazda
  • Single: Morris, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Ogle, Lotus, Jensen-Healey, Mercedes-Benz, AC, Allard, Volvo, Singer, BMW, Daimler, Ford

On day three of the event:  24 APRIL (the INVERARAY TO LANCASTER leg of the route) they will be passing through the Eastern end of Dumfries & Galloway so watch out for them!

These are a few of our favourite things.........

As it's the Easter Holidays I thought it would be a lovely idea to hand over our seasonal blog post to a post done by children. So, for all  families and those young at heart visiting the area here is Dumfries & Galloway through younger eyes. Enjoy!