A delegation from the Australian district of Bland has visited Dull, a tiny Perthshire village already twinned with the US town Boring.
Dot McCaskie and Gail Platz travelled to Scotland from New South Wales after hearing about the Dull and Boring partnership. Highland Safaris in Dull, near Aberfeldy, welcomed the two women to Perthshire last week.
Julie Riddell, who runs the Land Rover Safari company with her husband, Donald, said: “Their slogan goes ‘Bland by name, but not by nature’, and if their friendly personalities are a taste of how things are back in their home town, then I would say they are totally right.
“Dot said Bland was just a bit tired of being made fun of and when someone spotted the Dull and Boring twinning they thought they’d make it a threesome.”
The Australian region is named after William Bland, who was transported as a convict after killing a sailor in a duel in Bombay. He was later pardoned and became a pillar of colonial life, going on to found the Australian Medical Association.
Dot McCaskie, who works for the local council, said: “We’re hoping it will basically make people aware of Blandshire, and also make people aware that there are unusual names around the world.”
Her travelling companion, Gail Platz, who is a community ambassador for Blandshire, said: “We’ve loved our visit to Dull.
“There is beautiful scenery and friendly people at Highland Safaris. We are very excited about teaming up with Dull and Boring.”
Dull made world headlines when, in a move to attract visitors, Perth and Kinross Council agreed to a sign declaring Dull’s relationship with the northwest American logging town of Boring.
The idea was suggested by Elizabeth Leighton, from Grandtully in Perthshire, who came across Boring while on holiday. Boring in Oregon has now designated August 9 as Boring and Dull Day to commemorate the day the places were twinned.
Julie Riddell said: “We very much enjoyed our visitors from Bland. The sun was shining and the whole valley was looking as beautiful as ever and their day here was just not long enough.
“We hope that their visit marks the beginning of a long and happy association.”