Celebrating the best youth talent from all over the world, the festival brings Aberdeen to life with 10 days of dazzling entertainment, music, theatre and dance, all kicking off with a colourful grand parade through the city centre. Events take place throughout the northeast with something for everyone, from orchestral concerts to steel drums, song recitals and massed choirs to traditional music, ballet to African dance and drumming, opera and special events for children.

Scotland's premier Gaelic festival celebrates the Gaelic language and culture through music, dance, drama, arts and literature in this competition-based festival.

A lively celebration of our national drink in one of the most beautiful producing areas - almost fifty world-famous distilleries are located on Speyside. You can visit and tour most during the festival which also features tasting sessions, talks, exhibitions and get-togethers. Heaven for whisky lovers.

A major event on the European PGA golf tour, the Barclays Scottish open attracts an outstanding field of players from around the world. The competition is staged on the stunning and exclusive Loch Lomond course that was recently ranked 21 in the world's top 100 courses and has become an instant favourite of players and visitors alike.

Scotland's only annual outdoor festival shakespeare returns for an encore of this popular event that promises something for everyone. Since the first phenomenally successful 'Bard in the Botanics' festival, thousands of visitors have come each year to see shakespears performed in the beautiful and historic surroundings of Glasgow's Botanic Gardens.

Harry Benson is responsible for some of the most iconic photographs of modern times. Being There is an extraordinary, behind-the-scenes view from Benson's camera. He covered major news stories and in the right place at the right time to take award-winning photographs of screen legends, presidents and supermodels.

Glasgow's two-week festival is a vibrant showcase of world music and features some of the biggest names on the international scene.

Big Tent will combine raising awareness with entertainment, and aims to inspire people to be good stewards of the world's resources. Live music, theatre, and fire-breathing will join debates, demonstrations and craft stalls in a tended village within the Palace Grounds.

An extraordinary and unique festival presenting the best jazz in the most unusual, atmospheric and inspirational venues. World-class musicians play in island venues that include distilleries, bird sanctuaries, stately homes, village halls, a gaelic college, and even the internet cafe in Port Ellen.

Scotland's largest equestrian event is now a showcase for the best of Scottish equestrianism, attracting some of the top riders from around the world. The event isn't just about horses - there's also a country fair, arena attractions, a tented village with shops galore, a craft marquee and a food festival.

BLOCK is a week-long architectural festival organised by The Lighthouse, Scotland's Centre for Architecture, Design and the City. Glasgow's heritage and regeneration will be highlighted through a programme of exhibitions, events, walks, talks and tours across the city.

Borders Banquet offers fine Food, warm welcomes and a taste of Borders culture with this unique celebration of the Scottish Borders' rich and varied culinary heritage.

A weekend of top-class, good-time jazz and blues bringing together artistes and fans from all over Britain and beyond. The musical menu ranges from New Orleans to New Wave, and is performed in hotels, pubs, ballrooms, churches and the open air.

The biggest biking event of the season. Watch the world's best riders battle for glory in the British Superbike Championship. Other competitions include Virgin Mobile Cup, GP125, Supersport and Superstocks. The atmosphere, speed and buzz is simply electric and a must for all bike racing followers.

Exciting gigs and live performances from cutting-edge and influential musicians on the Scottish music scene. Jazz, rock, pop, classical or traditional - there's something for everybody. Workshops, masterclasses and talks explore how songs are created and music is made - listen or join in, the choice is yours. With films about music and songwriting, and late-night Burnsong clubs, hosted by a different performer each night. The work of Robert Burns provided the initial inspiration for this imaginative programme of music and songwriting.

ButeLive is geared to suit all ages and tastes and truly has something for all the family, from concerts and theatre to magic and free pub gigs, all aimed at encouraging live music and arts performance on the island.

Come dressed in costume and celebrate this ancient Celtic Halloween festival. Bring a lantern to keep evil at bay and join the torchlit procession through lochside woods. Watch a wicker ram burn in ceremonial sacrifice, and enjoy the carved-lantern competition, storytelling and music, apple-ducking, hot soup, and fire shows.

Take the family to see one of Scotland's spectacular Christmas lights displays, varying in size from spectacular and glittering illuminations in the big cities to more local, community-based shows.

Take the family to see one of Scotland's spectacular Christmas lights switch-ons, varying in size from major celebrity events in the big cities to more local, community-based affairs.

The Colin McRae Forest Stages GHI Rally, part of the County SAAB Scottish Rally Championship returns to Perthshire this year with the very best in motorsport action. Competitors again have a chance of tackling some of British rallying's most famous forests such as Craigvinean, Funab, Errochty and Drummond Hill.

Cowalfest, Scotland's largest walking festival, is now also a major arts festival with a 10-day programme of walks, arts, cultural and social events that celebrate landscape and the natural world's influence on creativity. This is a unique and vibrant festival that's redolent of place and imbued with local character and charm. Its mountains and lochs, formed by fire and ice, are graced by forest and ancient woodland, and never far away are those stunning west coast sea lochs.

Scotland's No. 1 Country Music Festival, now in its tenth year, with something for all music lovers music. Take your partners for the opening street fair on Saturday!

From climbing the local Munros, abseiling and mountain biking to treasure hunting or joining in a children's Creepy Crawly walk, the Drover's Tryst Walking Festival has something for everyone, offering outdoor enthusiasts of all ages a week of Perthshire's autumnal beauty. The festival's social side also includes street theatre, live music, ceilidh and pipe bands and hands-on craft demonstrations.

The Darvel Music Festival is one of cultural highlights of the south west, with more than thirty acts offering a truly eclectic mix of styles. This year's headline acts include Capercaillie, the Bluetones, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain, Hazey Janes, Session A9, Voces del Sur, the Endrick Brothers and the Hamish Stuart Band.

Scotland's newest and most exciting film festival featuring films from Scotland and around the world. The Deep Fried Film Festival is an egalatarion festival, open to all and aimed at creating better communication in the media world. In addition to screenings, the festival also plays host to several meet-and-greet sessions for film makers from around the globe.

A summer treat for all the family featuring international acts from the world famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo alongside displays and attractions, all providing a great family day out.

Every weekend in September you can take advantage of a wonderful opportunity to discover Scotland's hidden heritage. Doors Open Days offer the chance to explore some of Scotland's most interesting buildings of every kind and age, all free of charge! At some you can enjoy a tour, live music or exhibition - or just look around at your own pace. Other sites offer special activities for children and young people. Each year the event grows, with thousands more people taking part. Doors Open Days form Scotland's contribution to European Heritage Days.

The Hunterian Art Gallery has the first-ever exhibition devoted to Frances Macdonald and J. Herbert McNair, who alongside Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald, made up the Glasgow Four.

A festival exploring the many different facets of historical and traditional music in Scotland.

Dundee Flower and Food Festival is a three-day extravaganza of superb entertainment for all the family. Set in marquees in the magnificent Camperdown Country Park, the event showcases fabulous floral and garden displays and competitions and cookery demonstrations by famous-name chefs. There are also competitions, craft stalls, fashion shows and children's activities.

Scotland's premier annual guitar event celebrates guitar music in its many forms and attracts top artists from home and abroad. Featuring concerts, courses, guest artists and master classes, a contemporary styles long weekend and Scotland's first international guitar competition for young performers.

A 72-hole stroke play pro-am tournament played over three of the world's most spectacular links courses and featuring some of the best golfers in the world, together with A-list names from the fields of sport and entertainment.

A two-day music festival which has grown out of an informal party at Achnacloich near Oban. Set to become an annual event, the festival will feature performances from 16 bands per day over two stages from 12 noon to midnight each day.

The world's biggest celebration of the arts takes over Edinburgh for three weeks in August in a massive explosion of cultural and artistic expression. The programme is a vibrant mix of art forms - theatre, comedy, music and musicals, dance, events and exhibitions and children's shows, all attracting up-and-coming talent and established names from around the world to take part in this most famous of festivals.

The world's biggest book festival features a varied and exciting programme for adults and children. Come along and meet your favourite authors from around the world, join in discussions, hear readings and lectures, and take part in debates and workshops, all in one of Edinburgh's most beautiful spaces, Charlotte Square Gardens.

One of the greatest celebrations of the arts, the Edinburgh International Festival offers a unique opportunity to experience the excitement of live performance by internationally renowned artists as well as the joy of discovering new and unfamiliar works. A rich programme of classical music, theatre, opera and dance is staged in major theatres and concert halls and smaller venues around the city over a three-week period in late summer.

The Edinburgh International Film Festival celebrates its 60th birthday in 2006 with a specially extended programme offering two weeks of the best in British and World cinema. Come and see some of the most entertaining, challenging and inspirational new movies around and meet the artists involved in movie-making.

The longest-running jazz festival in the UK features all styles of jazz from international artistes in all sorts of venues large and small across the capital. Outdoor concerts also take the music out into the streets of the city. Supplemented by vocal workshops and a summer school for aspiring jazz musicians.

Melas first came to Britain from the Indian sub-continent in the late eighties, and since 1995 the Edinburgh Mela has brought together many aspects of south Asian traditions and those of other cultures into a modern Scottish environment. Asian music, performance and dance feature alongside traditional artforms, crafts for sale and a chance to mingle with people from Scotland and abroad.

Scotland's stunning annual outdoor military spectacular set against the magnificent backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. The Tattoo has been called the most spectacular show in the world and is seen by an international TV audience of 100 million every year. But there's no substitute for being there, as part of the 217,000-strong audience over its three-week season on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle.

A must for all fans of the outdoors, this vibrant festival features lectures by the most famous names in mountaineering and short adventure films about climbing, skiing, kayaking, mountain biking and BASE jumping, with much of the action filmed in Scotland.

One of Europe's finest Christmas festivals returns with a month-long programme bringing warmth and festive cheer to Edinburgh as the city transforms itself into a magical winter wonderland. Activity is centred around the world-renowned Princes Street Gardens. With a glittering choice of festive celebrations, chic shopping and fine dining set against the shimmering backdrop of this historic city - at Christmas, Edinburgh sparkles. Plans for this year's festivities are well underway. Expect the return of Edinburgh's Christmas favourites such as The Light Night, the Traditional German Christmas Market, Santa's Reindeer Garden, The Edinburgh Wheel, The Great Scottish Santa Run and Winter Wonderland, plus lots of surprises that make Edinburgh's Christmas the ultimate festive experience.

Edinburgh Castle in the heart of the capital provides a magnificent and awe-inspiring backdrop for this new festival celebrating the works of the Bard. The British Shakespeare Company present two of Shakespeare's most popular plays at The Ross Open Air Theatre in Princes Street Gardens - A Midsummer Night's Dream, his best loved romantic comedy and Romeo and Juliet, the greatest love story ever told. A magical open-air festival of love, laughter and amorous adventure.

Four fabulous days and nights of amazing events kick off the world's greatest New Year party. With the traditional torchlit procession, street performers, fireworks, concerts, ceilidh, the big Hogmanay party itself and a New Year's Day run to blow the cobwebs away - Edinburgh's buzzing. Come along and experience the magic for yourself.

The festival is rooted in Gaelic/Celtic music and culture, combined with an eclectic mix of other styles to create a varied concert programme. Highlights include evening concerts, theatre, film, dances, walks, workshops, children's events, and the Aos Dana Book Festival with lectures, readings, and writers' surgeries.

This successful new festival allows people to come face to face with well-known names from the worlds of politics, media and the arts in a range of stimulating events that explore how politics touches all our lives.

Traditional music festival featuring the best of Scotland's musical talent. The festival offers a range of performances from both traditional and modern instrumentalists, master classes, 'Come and Try' sessions, ceilidhs and concerts.

Scotland's premier fiddlefest is back and Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms will be jumping to the foot-tapping rhythms of some of the finest players around. With lively recitals, talks, workshops, sessions and ceilidhs.

A multi-arts extravaganza offering something for everyone and extending throughout the autumn and across the southwest. With country, Celtic, traditional and world-music events; book festivals, poetry and theatre performances; and exhibitions and street processions.

With an extensive range of competitions, displays and demonstrations, the fair is one of the main countryside events of the year in Scotland. Traditional country contests of shooting, fishing and gundogs feature on a varied programme alongside quad biking, military re-enhancement displays, food and drink fair, shopping and children's activities. The ever-popular Red arrows are a highlight of this year's fair.

Scotland's annual celebration of queer culture and the UK's largest multi-arts gay festival is back to celebrate its 12th year with events spanning comedy, music, film, theatre, visual art, performance art, literature, club nights, education events and community arts projects.

The Glasgow Mackintosh Festival celebrates Charles Rennie Mackintosh throughout 2006, with a focus of programme highlights in September. There is an ambitious and wide-ranging series of events including exhibitions at Mackintosh venues across Glasgow, educational workshops, on-line resources, publications and a programme of activities celebrating Mackintosh and his contemporaries, all designed to showcase the unique riches of Glasgow's extrordinary Mackintosh heritage.

With George Square's famous Christmas illuminations as a sparkling backdrop, you'll be able to show off your ice-dancing moves on one of the largest outdoor ice rinks in Europe, all set to non-stop music.

Join Glasgow's biggest party of the year with 25,000 other revellers to see in the New Year with a range of concerts and ceilidhs on several stages around the city centre. George Square is party central - come along and enjoy the fun.

The River Festival celebrates the Clyde, one of the world's most famous rivers, in a series of events on water and on the riverbanks and land around. With exhibitions, displays, performances, sailings and open days on all kinds of craft, as well as special activities for children, the festival offers plenty of fun and excitement for all.

The annual showcase of the very best solo pipers and fiddlers, this weekend event in the grand setting of the Blair Castle ballroom, is a major date on Scotland's traditional music calendar.

The history of Traquair really will come to life with these spectacular historical ghost tours. No gimmicks here but an authentic retelling of the past! Sunday 29th October is a day of family Halloween fun, with spooky passage experience, ghostly treasure hunts and other activities.

The Hebridean Celtic Festival has a well-earned reputation as one of the best festivals of its kind in the world combining top traditional and contemporary music, stunning scenery, the good craic, ceilidhs, kids' activities and workshops, and friendliest of welcomes for all.

Highland Archaelology Fortnight is back for its 13th year with a programme that runs for two weeks and includes the usual diverse range of events celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Highlands, from Caithness to Argyll.

The Highlands' Food and Drink Festival gets bigger and better every year, this year extending over a magnificent 17 days. Events are staged across the Highlands from Aviemore to Inverness and Nairn to Sutherland. Food and drink are celebrated in ways both usual and unusual, and there's a range of celebrity chefs and masterclasses, all enlivened by inimitable Highland hospitality, welcome and warmth.

The Hogmanay bonfire in the Borders town of Biggar dates back to pagan times when fire was worshipped and believed to ward of evil spirits for the New Year. The tradition has been kept alive for hundreds of years and no other town in the world celebrates the arrival of the New Year like Biggar.

This festival is geared to suit all ages and tastes and truly has something for all the family. Concerts and music workshops are at the heart of this festival in picturesque Innerleithen.

An extravaganza of traditional performances and energetic entertainment! Enjoy many events including Scottish nights in the Harbour Square on Thursdays, Children's Festival, Medieval Fayre, parade day, vintage car rally, culminating in the tattoo in the shadow of the castle on the final day.

Specialist traders coming from all over the UK will be selling a range of unusual gifts, and specialist crafts, food and drink on both sides of the town's wide High Street. Santa will also be arriving in a reindeer- pulled sleigh to help switch on the town's Christmas lights. A heritage fairground and all-day live entertainment, from choirs and bands to panto will get everyone into the Christmas spirit.

Scotland's largest authentic living history medieval festival, attended by hundreds of re-enactors and medieval traders from the north of Scotland to Cornwall and from Ireland. Over two days, the town turns back the clock to the days of William Wallace with a tented army where soldiers and camp followers explain and demonstrate how they lived in the 13th century, with archery competitions, falconry displays, jesters and jugglers, and medieval musicians and storytellers.

A week-long celebration of the ancient Viking heritage of Scotland and in particular of Largs, where the Vikings were finally defeated and driven out in 1263.

Scotland's biggest pop party returns to Hampden Park with some of the hottest chart acts.

The Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival gives visitors the chance to discover the range of fine food and drink that is available all over the local region and to introduce them to the beauty of the National Park. With farmers' markets, whisky, vodka, beer and wine tastings, chef demonstrations and events featuring individual products from pies to oysters and chocolate to fruit juice, the festival has something to offer everyone.

This traditional and folk-music festival is held annually at Balloch on the shores of beautiful Loch Lomond. Featuring sessions, singing, instrument workshops, craft fairs, street entertainment and children's show.

A traditional Highland Games featuring the full range of heavy events, made all the more memorable by the unique March of the Lonach Highlanders.

One of the largest community events of its kind in Scotland, providing provides a wealth of special events and activities, especially the pageantry of the Marymass Parade with its origins in medieval times. Horses from the local carters pull the parade floats. Also not to be missed are the torchlit procession, the folk festival, sports events, music festival and horse racing.

A series of open rehearsals, recitals and concerts given by a group of young musicians on the brink of starting their professional careers, mentored by a dedicated group their seniors. The week-long festival plays to packed houses on the island Mendelssohn himself admired so much.

Glasgow's multi-arts festival brings to the Merchant City over 300 events that make for five days packed with music, theatre, comedy, film, food and exhibitions, all celebrating the cultural richness of Glasgow's old commercial quarter.

Enjoy an autumnal break in the stunning Moffat Hills with a warm welcome from locals and fellow walkers. Now in its fifth year, the walking festival team knows how to help you make the most of your weekend.

Motorvation! is a dynamic vintage/classic car show, staged annually at the Grampian Transport Museum. Featured cars range from steamcars to supercars. The day's programme features trials and competitions for the historic vehicles on the museum's purpose-built road circuit.

Campbeltown in beautiful Kintyre is the setting for this weekend-long display of new, emerging and established musical talent. Indoor and outdoor venues host a range of concerts, sessions, ceilidhs, choirs, pipe and brass bands and modern & Highland dancing. With open-air and children's events.

A fabulous day out at the Museum of Flight includes spectacular aerial displays, a fantastic programme of ground entertainment and activities and a chance to catch a glimpse of the Museum of Flight's latest acquisition - Concorde.

From Sunday to Saturday, Nairn will have the highest concentration of top-class swinging jazz musicians anywhere, including the incredible Count Basie Orchestra.

Strathclyde Park hosts the National Rowing Championships of Great Britain, the leading regatta in the British Rowing Calendar.

When its competitions, ceilidhs, sessions and concerts, the Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival is probably Scotland's longest continuously running traditional music festival. Competitions for bands and individuals feature traditional Scottish music, instruments, song and poetry, and include a seperate children's competition.

NAFCO 2006 will consist of over 100 events including workshops, concerts, sessions, busking trails, ceilidhs, and a conference showcasing some of the world's leading performers of fiddle and dance traditions from around the North Atlantic. Connect with traditions from Scotland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, England, Canada, USA, and more!

A kaleidoscopic mix of fresh insights, challenging ideas and lively activities that build links between science and all the other aspects of human affairs, from art and music, to history and philosophy.

There are lots of pantos staged in towns and cities across Scotland so whether you're eight or eighty, go along to cheer the goodies, boo the baddies and groan at the bad jokes.

This annual two-day agricultural show has something for all the family, including trade stands, a craft and food fair, competitions, exhibitions and a rare breeds tent.

Glasgow's festival of piping returns with the best in Scottish and International piping talent to celebrate the finest current and emerging piping music. Some of the biggest names in piping will be performing in outdoor spaces and venues throughout Glasgow City Centre for this uniquely Scottish event.

The festival was founded in 1982 and since then has grown into one of Scotland's most popular and unique arts events. Each year, 80 or so exhibitions are housed in ingenious exhibition spaces created from artists' studios, garages, courtyards and gardens. Come along, stroll around the village, see the artworks for sale and meet the artists.

Not just for the avid aircraft enthusiast, the Leuchars Airshow offers an action-packed day out the whole family will enjoy, with a unique combination of flying displays, static aircraft, simulators, exhibitions and other entertainments.

Some of Mapplethorpe's works became more infamous than others, although each explored beauty and form in a classical, traditional way - from statuesque nudes to formal portraits of artists and celebrities. Don't miss this first ever Mapplethorpe retrospective in Scotland, and the first in Britain for a decade.

Ron Mueck's world became world-famous when a poignant sculpture of his dead father's small, naked body caused shockwaves in the Royal Academy's Sensation, exhibition in 1997. The attention to detail and sheer technical brilliance of his figures are incredible, but it is Mueck's use of scale that takes your breath away.

The Royal Bank Glasgow Jazz Festival has established itself as a premier event on Europe's music calendar, featuring artists from across the whole jazz spectrum - traditional, mainstream, blues, world, contemporary and free improvisation.

Scotland's Countryside Festival is held in the spectacular grounds of Glamis Castle, childhood home of the Queen Mother. Traditional country-fair attractions such as fishing, shooting and dog competitions, feature alongside a more unusual range of offerings. The jousting troupe The Devil's Horsemen stage their spectacular jousting and chariot show; children can have fun catching fish, trying out archery, or exploring our Children's Corner; and for shoppers, there's a food hall and an extensive and exclusive crafts tent.

A celebration of live oral storytelling, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival sees Scottish and international storytellers share an exciting array of folk and fairy tales from around the world. For all ages.

As part of the 2006 Carrbridge Gathering, the Scottish Open Chainsaw Carving Competition, or Carve Carrbridge as it is known, sees competitors from across the UK carve incredibly detailed sculptures from logs using only chainsaws. There will be a grand auction of finished works. Stalls, sideshows and a host of entertainment for all the family starts at 10.30 am with the Strathspey Pipe Band and local bands playing all day.

One of the biggest gathering of traditional boats in Scotland, where visitors can discover, enjoy and join in maritime activities, craft demonstrations and a programme of music, dance, drama, food fair and other on-shore family activities.

Scotland's premier vintage motoring event features hundreds of vintage cars of every description. In addition there will be 200 stands comprising autojumble, motor trade, antiques and a craft tent in the grounds of Glamis Castle, ensuring a great day out for all.

Celebrating the days when the writer and Scotsman Sir Walter Scott was Sheriff of Selkirkshire, join Selkirk as the whole town takes on a 19th century atmosphere, and provides a wealth of entertainment and activity.

One of the north's foremost Celtic festivals, Speyfest offers a wonderful weekend of high-quality traditional and modern music, concerts, late-night ceilidhs and Celtic rock. Musicans from around the world will be performing as usual, and there's a special programme for children and young people.

The festival presents a full programme of themed walks for young and old, from the complete beginner to the experienced walker. Walks take in varied scenery around beautiful coasts, woodlands, hills and moors; or you can pick a themed walk taking in special interests from rare wildlife such as otters and red squirrels, to ghosts and fabulous scenery. All offer a unique opportunity to discover this most beautiful part of Scotland.

An eclectic and colourful programme of festivities celebrating the feast day of Scotland's patron saint with the very best of our rich national culture and cuisine. Highlights include traditional and classical music concerts, dance and drama, arts and crafts exhibitions, the Scott's Porage Oats Food & Drink Fair (with the famous Golden Spurtle Award), and a kite festival on the West Sands.

Stonehaven's Fireball Festival is a spectacular sight as local people process along the old town High Street swinging fireballs to ward off the darkness of winter and welcome in the new year in what is one of the few remaining traditional mid-winter fire festivals on the east coast.

This annual festival is set around the beautiful natural harbour at Tarbert on LochFyne and showcases some of the finest and tastiest seafood in Scotland. Cookery demonstrations, street entertainment, exhibitions, seafood, craft stalls, live music and a carnival parade are just some of the great events on offer.

This event gives local citizens and visitors to the city an opportunity to participate in a wide range of free activities including walking tours, music events and art exhibitions focussing on traditional local and Scottish culture and heritage.

A mellow festival of rock, Celtic, country, blues and world music in the newly restored 19th-century Italian Gardens at Belladrum Estate. Two days, three stages and 45 acts feature in this spectacular Highland setting. With fringe attractions and kids' programme.

An annual festival of science, technology, engineering and mathematics that aims to engage children and adults of all ages in all spheres of science with a series of schools programmes and workshops, public lectures and a family activities weekend.

Perhaps the most celebrated of all the Highland Games in the world, and the only one which guarantees the presence of a member of the royal family, the Braemar Gathering prides itself on its reputation for friendship and hospitality. International athletes will compete in heavy and track events, and there will be displays and competitions featuring pipers and dancers.

This is Scotland's premier Clydesdale horse event and a great family day out. The free show, held again at the city's Duthie Park, offers a chance to see many different classes of these magnificent horses with one of the main highlights being the ridden class. The ultimate showcase is the Grand Parade held at approximately 4 pm where all the horses enter the ring.

The biggest and most spectacular Highland Games staged in the Scottish Highlands plays host to the World Championship for Heavies aged 40 years and over - Scotland has never seen so many heavies gathered in one place at one time. Add a full programme of pipe band competitions, solo piping, Highland dancing and traditional music, together with the Scotland's biggest inter-clan gathering and you will discover why Inverness is the must-see games of the year!

The world's largest and most spectacular Highland Games annually attracts more than 3,500 competitors - many from Scottish diaspora, from as far afield as British Columbia and New Zealand to compete in dancing, piping, heavy events, athletics and shinty.

A long weekend of readings and concerts by world-class musicians set in the atmospheric setting of the East Neuk of Fife, one of Scotland's most beautiful areas.

A spectacular night-time journey in Perthshire's Big Tree Country featuring a bold choreographic creation of dramatic light and sound performances inspired by the natural world.

The Hebridean Challenge is one of the toughest and most demanding adventure races in the world and takes place in the Outer Hebrides. Over 5 days competing teams travel the length of the islands from Vatersay in the south to Lewis in the north with sections of hill running, road running, road and mountain biking, sea swimming and sea kayaking.

Inspirational ideas for stylish interiors and exteriors, celebrity advice, some 200 exhibitors, great new products, thousands of special offers and bags of shopping.

The International Sheep Dog Society was formed in Haddington in 1906 and returns to its roots for the 2006 Centenary International Trials. These will be held on the Charterhall Estates, near Kelso. The local committee is already planning something special and it proimises to be an event to remember.

The Keith Country Show is one of the North East's premier agricultural events. With main ring entertainment, acres of trade stands, livestock judging, show jumping, tractor pulling, live music plus a dance stage, there's something for everyone, whatever your age or interests. A perfect day out for all the family is guaranteed!

The Scottish Borders' New Year festival features over 100 musicians and performers from across the region in sessions, concerts and ceilidhs, as well as the numerous informal afternoon music sessions and other daytime events.

Elsheimer is one of the unsung heroes in the history of European art. British audiences now have a chance to discover this forgotten master in the first exhibition of Elsheimer's work since 1966, featuring almost all of the 35 surviving paintings he produced before his premature death, aged just 32.

Hundreds of competitors from across the UK and abroad will take to the streets, waterways and hills in and around Edinburgh for this year's Rat Race. The two-day adventure race will challenge the athleticism, teamwork and endurance of all participants across a varied course.

The Senior British Open Championship boasts the biggest overall prize fund in European Seniors Tour golf of £1 million, a winner's cheque of £157,800, and a 144-strong field featuring the cream of Seniors Tour talent from across the world. The tournament takes place over four days at the magnificent Ailsa Course at Turnberry.

A week-long celebration of the islands' diverse local produce, promoting the quality of food and drink that Mull and Iona have to offer.

The largest two-day agricultural show in Scotland and a venue not to be missed for top livestock producers and horse and pony exhibitors. Over 250 trade stands, including a renowned food fayre and an excellent craft fair make for a great day out.

Strange happenings, scary stories and creepy Celts all day until the Wickerman is burnt to herald the beginning of winter.

Scotland's alternative music festival offers a unique and eclectic celebration of cult musical genres and cult cinema with a relaxed, laidback family-friendly atmosphere, aimed at the more discerning contemporary music fan. All the action climaxes with the burning of a giant traditional willow and straw effigy.

Perth's annual literary festival is a week-long celebration of the written and spoken word, with music, singing and a whole lot more.

Scotland's premier equestrian event features dressage, show jumping and cross country over the three days. The programme features horse trials, carriage driving, dog contests, children's entertainment and a shopping village.

Now in its second decade, T in the Park has become one of the most important and critically acclaimed music events on the UK and European festival circuit. Tickets for this year's event sold out inside a record-breaking one hour for a hotly anticipated bill featuring a staggering number of top names, including Franz Ferdinand, the Strokes, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Who, Arctic Monkeys and the Kaiser Chiefs.

The Tour of Britain is a blue riband cycling event that takes place on a world stage, attracting regional, national and international interest. Sixteen teams will battle it out over six days of intense competition to achieve overall pole position on the podium in London on Sunday 4th September. The first stage of the race on 30th August is from Glasgow to Castle Douglas (185km) and involves two climbs and three sprint sections.

Unique event for all the family with outdoor theatre spectacles, world & celtic music, dance, storytelling and a superb programme of childrens theatre, activities and workshops. This year promises to be more colourful than ever before when Traquair Fair goes African!

Claimed to be 'the best rally in the world', the thrilling Tunnock's Tour of Mull sees cars compete against the clock over the island's often single-track public roads, with lots of hairpins, steep hills and big drops! Come and compete or spectate and party in one of Mull's biggest events of the year.

Arguably the most popular artist of all time, this first ever exhibition on collectors of Van Gogh - and indeed the first solo Van Gogh show in Scotland for over fifty years - explores the market for the artist in Britain. Not to be missed.

One of the leading international yachting events, the West Highland Yachting Week is one of those rare regattas that moves from centre to centre during the event, offering competitors an ever-changing scene on 80 miles of coastline along Scotland's beautiful west coast. An attractive combination of round-the-buoys and passage racing is supported by the regatta's excellent social programme.

Whisky Live brings all the very best Scotch whisky to one event for the enthusiast and the novice alike. With expert advice on hand and the chance to learn about whisky basics, Whisky Live Glasgow offers the ultimate whisky experience with varied tastings, masterclasses, live music and regular nose-off competitions.

Wigtown plays host to what is billed as the nation's most intimate book festival, offering a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with a selection of the UK's best-loved writers and performers. With over a quarter of a million books to choose from Wigtown's many booksellers, publishers, book dealers and arts and crafts shops, it's easy to see why this is Scotland's national book town.

Keen competition from over two hundred pipe bands competing in the premier pipe-band event of the season.

The tiny Hebridean island of Easdale gears up to welcome almost 200 competitors battling to win the coveted World Stone Skimming Cup at the 2006 championships. With party, barbeque, bands and children's entertainment, the championships promise a fun day out for everyone.