The two-day Glamis Gathering is shaping up to repeat its success as a major draw on Scotland’s summer season calendar.
On May 18/19, Glamis Castle will host a follow-up to an event which was last year’s biggest Scottish celebration of the Queen’s diamond jubilee.
Angus burghs contributed to a spectacle enjoyed by some 25,000 visitors, and organisers of next month’s event say they have been delighted by the area’s enthusiasm to the venture.
Robina Addison from Montrose and north-east colleague Norman Fiddes have again taken the organising reins and told The Courier the response from Angus and beyond has been extremely positive.
“It’s drawing closer and we have a lot to do, but things are really coming together,” said Mr Fiddes.
“The support from the Angus Farmers Market and the Angus Craft Association has been excellent, and four of the Angus burghs are going to be in their own marquees to showcase their area.”
Ninewells Cancer Campaign is to be the charity beneficiary from the weekend, leading off with Saturday’s busy Live on the Lawn music programme, to which the popular Tayside Police choir has now been added.
Scots entertainers The Singing Kettle will be a star Sunday attraction, along with TV-inspired competition Glammerjack, cookery demonstration, the farmers’ market and craft contributions and burgh participation.
Full details of the programme and ticket sales are available on the glamisgathering2013.co.uk website and Mr Fiddes said there are several surprises on the programme still to be revealed as the event draws closer.
“There is also a teddy bears’ picnic on the Sunday which is creating a lot of interest but there has been so much support that there really is a huge amount now going on,” he added.
The Gathering response comes as Glamis Castle picked up a prestigious accolade after being rated by its guests as one of the UK’s best visitor attractions.
Irish bus tour operator CIE Tours International recognised the quality of Scotland’s hotels and visitor attractions by awarding the Angus attraction, and 16 other Scottish tourism providers, a merit award in its UK Awards of Excellence.
Merit awards are made to suppliers achieving an overall customer satisfaction of 90% or over, based on customer feedback.
CIE Tours International managing director Brian Stack said: “Since 1932, CIE Tours has brought in excess of three million visitors to Ireland.
“Over the last few years we have been extending our offer throughout the UK and we believe that Scotland in particular is an attractive destination for our customers, many of whom are from North America.
“Our customers, quite rightly, have very high standards and high expectations for their visit to Scotland and these awards recognise those suppliers who deliver on and in many cases, exceed, those expectations.”
Glamis Castle director David Broadfoot said: “We are again delighted to be recipients of this prestigious award and I would like to thank CIE on behalf of all my staff here at Glamis.
“Appropriately, the award was collected by Doreen Stout, my business sales manager, who has contributed so much towards this wonderful recognition of where Glamis is now positioning itself.”