Scottish Borders celebrates Homecoming Scotland 2009
Wednesday, June 18 2008
The Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme, a major national and international tourism initiative run by the Scottish Government, will include three Scottish Borders events.
Return to the Ridings, In the Footsteps of the Reivers, and the Clan Scott Gathering are among a host of events that will take place across the country to celebrate Homecoming Scotland.
The local events celebrate the culture, tradition and history of the region and will promote the area as a tourist destination.
Homecoming Scotland 2009, which marks the 250th anniversary of Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns, is a major tourism initiative developed by the Scottish Government to encourage the international Scottish diaspora to visit the land of their heritage. Events that were successful in their bids for inclusion in the Homecoming programme will be promoted to national and international visitors.
The Return to the Ridings is a celebration of the riding of the boundaries that has taken place for centuries. Eleven towns in the Scottish Borders use horses for the traditional ride out and the festivals that surround these ride outs are also steeped in tradition and a celebration of border history. During Homecoming year, these common ridings and their activities will be promoted to an international audience. Other Borders towns’ festivals will be promoted through Homecoming Scotland 2009.
The Footsteps of the Reivers (September 2009) will combine the Scottish Borders Festival of Walking with the colourful history of the Border Reivers. A special programme of themed walks, story-telling, music and feasting will appeal to those fascinated by the colourful history of the Reivers and the ancestral history of the Scottish Borders. This event will be of particular interest to all those with Borders reiving names, including Armstrong, Bateson, Bell, Crosier, Elliot, Glendinning, Graham, Henderson, Hume, Irvine, Johnstone, Ker, Maxwell, Nixon, Pringle, Routledge, Scott or Thomson.
The Clan Scott Gathering (25-28 September 2009) is the first gathering of the Clan Scott at its ancestral home, Bowhill. The Duke of Buccleuch will be in attendance as the Clan Chief for a four-day programme of events and activities. There will be a historical re-enactment of the Carterhaugh Ba’ Game, displays of archery and horsemanship and ceremonial parades.
Councillor Vicky Davidson, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Economic Development, said: “Homecoming Scotland 2009 is the ideal time for everyone of Scottish descent to reconnect with their roots and join in the celebration of Scotland’s unique landscape and heritage.”
Paul Bush, Chief Operating Officer with EventScotland, said: “We have worked with our public sector and event industry partners, including a wide range of organisations throughout Scotland to create a tailored programme of events and festivals to inspire Scots worldwide to come home in 2009.”
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