Program 363: Scottish Homecoming; A Troubadour's Scotland

Join us for a generous dose of convivial banter about Scotland: We'll hear all about this year's Scottish "Homecoming," then get insider tips for enjoying Edinburgh and Glasgow, and exploring the Scotland's borderlands, Highlands, and islands. Plus, folk singer Jim Malcolm shares some of the poetry embedded in the traditional music that so evocatively reflects the history and character of his fellow Scots.

• Anne Doig, Scottish tour guide based in Edinburgh
• Colin Mairs, Scottish tour guide based in Glasgow
• Liz Lister, Scottish tour guide based in Fife
• Scottish singer Jim Malcolm

• 2014 is a "Homecoming" year for tourism to Scotland, which means lots of extra festivals and events will be held this year.
• Major sites in Edinburgh that Rick considers "must sees" are the National Museum, the National Galleries art museum, the HMY Brittania royal yacht, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, and the Scottish National War Memorial military museum at Edinburgh Castle.
• Wikipedia has information and links to major highland games festivals and clan gatherings in Scotland and around the world.   
• Information for planning a hike on Ben Lomond.     
• The website for Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish highlands near Aviemore.  In the summer they hold ceili dances at the Ptarmigan Restaurant where tourists can learn the steps.  In the winter it's a major ski resort.
• The Leault Farm near Aviemore offers working sheepdog demonstrations at the designated times on its website. 
• Wikitravel has detailed listings and photos for visiting Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands, and the island of Iona.
• Jim Malcolm's website includes occasional blog entries, samples from his CDs, photos of Scotland, and information on his concert schedule for dates in Scotland and the USA. 
• Jim will be playing a number of concert venues in the northeastern US in September 2014.  
• The Visit Scotland website has listings of natural settings on rivers and in marshlands that you can visit in the Perthshire district where Jim Malcolm lives and where he enjoys fly fishing on the River Tay.