Press release -
What's in season in the Outer Hebrides?
A celebration of Harris Tweed, a mountain festival, Highland games and a charity garden opening are among events hoping to attract visitors to the Outer Hebrides - as well as locals - over the summer months.
Tourism businesses are gearing up for a busy season ahead with a number of things to see, do and experience in the Outer Hebrides during the forthcoming months.
VisitScotland’s Islands Manager, Alan Mackenzie, said:
“There are many different and varied events that visitors of all ages can enjoy when visiting the Outer Hebrides through the summer months, be it a musical or sporting event, country fair or festival.
“It is always encouraging to hear of new events launching in the Outer Hebrides such as ‘The Heb – Race to the Edge’, as well as seeing the continuation of successful existing events, such as ‘Hebridean Celtic Festival’.”
Among the events taking place in the Outer Hebrides this year are the Charity Garden Opening - Leathad Ard on various dates from May to September and South Uist & Piping Society Highland Games and Berneray Week, both in July.
The award-winning Heb Celt Festival takes place on Lewis in July, featuring music from the Red Hot Chili Pipers, Runrig and Julie Fowlis; and during July and August, the Harris Tweed Exhibition: Ian Lawson takes place. This is a photographic project about Harris Tweed and the people who make it.
Harris Mountain Festival in September is a showcase of Harris's unique landscape, with a programme of speakers and outdoor activities; and the Royal National Mod, Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival, provides opportunities for people of all ages to perform across a range of competitive disciplines including Gaelic music and song, highland dancing, instrumental, drama, sport and literature. It takes place in October.
Alan added:
“The Outer Hebrides are bursting with things to see and do and places to stay. The islands boast excellent wildlife-watching opportunities, popular outdoor pursuits, fantastic walking choices, beautiful beaches and great visitor attractions.”
Earlier this year, VisitScotland launched its biggest ever global campaign and social movement – Spirit of Scotland. The campaign is built on extensive research that shows the people think Scotland has a unique spirit – whether it’s the magic of the landscapes or the warmth of the people.
Alan said:
“The Outer Hebrides has its own ScotSpirit, with breathtaking scenery, friendly locals and fun experiences up for grabs at every turn. I would encourage anyone visiting the Outer Hebrides this summer to share their experience of the Spirit of Scotland through #ScotSpirit and in doing so, become part of a special movement with social, economic and charitable aims.
This year is Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture, and Design and the Outer Hebrides has very much embraced this. The pioneering Clo Mor Festival of Harris Tweed takes place from July onwards and aims to celebrate and promote innovation in Harris Tweed on a national and international scale.
The event will shine a spotlight on the world-class designers working with Harris Tweed, whilst at the same time connecting local people and visitors to the achievements of the industry.
Another exhibition, Jim Pattison: Tartan Setts and Patterns Sticks takes place at the An Lanntair Arts Centre in Stornoway, in August and September. His journey of exploration into tartan began with that of his own family. After which he researched, cross-referenced and spliced its symbolic, historic and cultural associations, the myth and the reality, to create this exhibition.
He resurrected the idea of maide dealbh, or pattern sticks, thought to be an ancient method of recording traditional designs with exact thread and colour numbers, and extended the project into tartan designs using genetic information including the DNA make-up of, among others, Neanderthal, northern European etc.
Alan said:
“This year is all about innovation, architecture and design and we are delighted that the ‘Clo Mor Festival’ will be showcasing the innovation in Harris Tweed on both a national and international stage.
“We are also very much looking forward to welcoming the opening of Lews Castle Museum. The refurbishment and restoration of the castle, alongside the development and construction of a new museum and archive, are amongst the most exciting and innovative projects completed in the Outer Hebrides in recent years.”
The Outer Hebrides are also popular with ‘set-jetters’ – people inspired to visit a location after seeing it on film or television. Most recently, the Shiant Isles, off Lewis, feature in ‘The BFG’ (Big Friendly Giant), which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month.
Alan explained:
“The Outer Hebrides provided the perfect location for the 2013 BBC television documentary series ‘Hebrides: Islands on the Edge’, narrated by Scottish Hollywood star, Ewan McGregor, and the Callanish Stones on Lewis were the inspiration for scenes in Disney-Pixar’s ‘Brave’.
“Hopefully the stunning Scottish landscapes seen in the BFG by audiences around the world will inspire even more people to discover – or rediscover – these magical places for themselves.
“We hope this interest, along with our fabulous events and festivals, will bring visitors from across the world to enjoy the Outer Hebrides and in turn, help boost our local visitor economy.
“Tourism is more than a holiday experience – it creates jobs, sustains communities and provides a shop window for business activity. The visitor economy causes a ripple effect that touches every industry, business and community in the region.
“Without tourism, many remote communities would not be sustainable and business sectors like drink, retail or construction would be severely impacted. A strong visitor economy helps to position us on the world stage, with every tourism experience having the potential to become a business transaction.
“Tourism is incredibly important to the Outer Hebrides and ongoing refurbishments, redevelopments and inward investment to the industry are welcomed and are critical for tourism, with the important knock-on effect it has onto all other industries.
“We all need to be strong ambassadors for our islands and regions and to get behind these exciting events and the opportunities they can bring to the region. I wish everyone an excellent and prosperous season!”
ENDS
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- corporate communications
- gaelic
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
- This will be supported by seven overarching strategies:
- Marketing: we will market Scotland and its outstanding assets to visitors from all parts of the world, including the promotion of Scotland to people living in Scotland to visit different parts of the country
- Events: we will support the national events strategy and its delivery, and sustain, develop and promote Scotland’s international profile as one of the world’s foremost events destinations
- Internationalisation and International Engagement: we will utilise all our platforms to enable Scottish-based tourism businesses to better understand international opportunities and market to a global audience and we will work within One Scotland Partnerships to optimise the potential of Scotland’s Diaspora and our strategic partners at regional, European and global levels
- Customer Experience: we will provide information and inspiration to visitors both locally and globally via their preferred medium of choice
- Quality and Sustainability: we will provide support and advice to businesses, with the goal of improving the quality and sustainability of the tourism sector in Scotland. We will provide quality assurance to visitors through our Quality Schemes
- Inclusive Tourism: we will strive to make tourism in Scotland inclusive and available to all
- Working in Partnership: we will listen to and work with the industry, partners and communities to shape our offering and support
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- Spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion of economic activity in the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes around £6 billion to Scottish GDP (in basic prices). This represents about 5% of total Scottish GDP.
- The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority for the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme. For further information visit www.gov.scot or follow @scotgovESIF
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business events in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016 - 2016 will shine a spotlight on Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design through a wide-ranging, variety of new and existing activity.
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design begins on 1 January 2016 and ends on 31 December 2016 and will build on the momentum generated by the 2015 Year of Food and Drink as well as previous years including Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.
- Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland’s position as an “innovation nation”, its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed creative industries sector.
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, and supported by a variety of partners including Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Architecture + Design Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.
- Join the conversation at #IAD2016
- Events can join the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design Partner Programme throughout the year by visiting http://www.eventscotland.org/YIAD_partner_programme
