- Martin Wishart, Foodies at the Festival, Edinburgh - Foodies at the Festival
The name of Scotland now goes hand in hand with good food and drink, and the link is being celebrated throughout the country in spring and summer 2010. From a Taste of Edinburgh and Foodies at the Festival (which is now an established part of the Edinburgh Festival), to the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, seafood festivals, malt and music festivals, a festival to celebrate the humble nettle, and even a wine festival on Orkney (Scotland's only wine festival), there is something to suit all tastes, and taste-buds.
Here are some of the spring and summer highlights for 2010: the best of Scotland's food and drink festivals and events:
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The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
April 29 - May 3
Speyside is the home of Scottish whisky, and visiting the distilleries on the whisky trail is popular all year round. This festival gives a special reason to visit in April/May, as some distilleries not normally open to visitors invite people in, and there are also guided country walks in the footsteps of whisky smugglers.
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The Loch Fyne Food Fair
15 - 16 May
Next to Inveraray Castle, Inveraray
This food fair celebrates not only the world-famous Loch Fyne Oysters, but other food and drink producers from all over the region. These include Fyne Ales, the Inverloch Cheese Company, Orkney Herrings, and Winston Churchill Venison. There will also be plenty of live music both days.
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Festival of Nettles
16 May,11am-4pm
At the fascinating Scottish Crannog Centre on the banks of Loch Tay in Perthshire are cooking and crafts to celebrate the food, drink and fabrics produced from the humble nettle.
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The Islay Festival of Malt and Music
23-30 May
Feis Ile, the Islay Festival of Malt and Music, was begun in 1986 by local people to celebrate the island's music and, of course, its best-known product: Islay whisky. Each of the island's famous distilleries (Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain and Caol Ila) has its own open day, with special events and music, and there are ceilidhs across the whole of the island, including guest artists brought from the Scottish mainland.
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Taste of Edinburgh
28 – 30 May
In Inverleith Park, Edinburgh
Taste of Edinburgh brings together the best of Scottish food and drink, including the chance to sample dishes from some of Edinburgh's top restaurants, from rising new culinary stars to the several established Michelin-star chefs that the city now boasts.
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3 Harbours Seafood Festival
28 - 30 May
At Port Seaton, Preston Pans, and Cockenzie in East Lothian
The fishing traditions and fine local fish dishes are part of the fun here, in this seafood festival that runs alongside the 3 Harbours Arts Festival.
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The Orkney Wine Festival
5 - 13 June
Orkney might seem an unlikely setting for a wine festival, but it's now in its fourth year with tastings, wine and food pairings, and visits from international winemakers in what is Scotland's only wine festival.
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Taste of Grampian
5 June
At the Thainstone Centre, Inverurie
This one-day food and drink event brings together the best local producers with the chance to taste and to buy the best Scottish smoked salmon, shortbread, ice-cream, beef, and of course samplings of whiskies from local distilleries.
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Flavour of Shetland
17-20 June
At the Victoria Pier, Lerwick
Shetland's finest food and drink meets its best musicians along with traditional craft and culture events too.
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Midsummer Music and Celtic Feast
21 June, 8-11pm
At the Scottish Crannog Centre, Loch Tay, Perthshire
A traditional Celtic feast of food and music to celebrate the midsummer.
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The Royal Highland Show
24 - 27 June
At the Highland Showgrounds, Ingliston, Edinburgh
Food and drink are a big part of this great celebration of Scottish farming, food, and rural life. Over 100 Scottish food and drink producers set up stall at the Royal Highland Show, with over 1,000 exhibitors in all.
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Foodies at the Festival
13-15 August
Edinburgh
Now an established part of the Edinburgh Festival, this long weekend has cookery demonstrations from some of the country's top chefs, chocolate- and cheese-making classes, and many more events to showcase the best Scottish food and drink before the international Festival audience.
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The Arbroath Sea Fest
21 - 22 August
Arbroath
This annual festival of all things to do with the sea naturally includes cookery demonstrations. The Arbroath Smokie (haddock smoked over hardwood) features prominently, of course, but there's a chance to sample all kinds of local fish and seafood dishes.
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More Information on Scotland's Food and Drink Events and Festivals
For more details on these and other of Scotland's many food and drink festivals and events, go to the Visit Scotland website.
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Mike Gerrard - Mike is an award-winning travel writer who has worked for National Geographic, the London Times, and many other clients. ...
