HAWICK
Hawick, the celebrated home of knitwear, is where a new and stylish cashmere collection is to be launched for the autumn/winter season. Clan Douglas Cashmere Studio, a division of Hawick Knitwear Ltd, combines nearly 140 years of tradition with modern textures and fashionable designs, allowing the brand to boast style as well as deluxe comfort. Clan Douglas Cashmere Studio is owned by established manufacturer Hawick Knitwear.
Scottish cashmere is renowned for its high quality, and Clan Douglas Cashmere Studio is proud to claim its heritage, design and production as exclusively Scottish. The first collection includes intricately designed cardigans, knitted dresses and exquisite twin sets with a modern twist. The Studio is extremely proud of its Scottish roots. The collection’s designer is Alex Feechan from Glasgow and she has used the beautiful landscape surrounding her Peeblesshire home as her muse. Clan Douglas Cashmere Studio has named every piece after Scottish poems.
The garments are sold at various retailers across the UK and will be available online.
www.cashmerestudio.com
 
CROMARTY
The Courthouse Museum has an exhibition to celebrate the life and work of Black Isle author Jane Duncan in the centenary of her birth. It is probably her novels set on the Black Isle and featuring her beloved Uncle George that have retained the strongest following, and they have inspired this exhibition. The evocative descriptions focus on rural life at the Colony, just above Jemimaville, and Ardcraggan, an imaginary village with elements of Jemimaville and Cromarty.
Jane Duncan’s writing has been blended with historic fact to provide insights into rural life at that time, including harvest celebrations. The trustees have worked closely with Jane Duncan’s niece and nephews who all featured in the “Cameron” children’s stories. The exhibition runs until September 30. Opening hours are 11am – 4 pm, Sunday – Thursday.
Phone 01381 600418.
GAELIC
The Blas Festival – September 3-12 — is a unique cultural celebration of the Gaelic language and music of the Highlands. Blas (which means taste in English) offers people of all ages from around the world a superb opportunity to experience great music in a wide range of settings, amidst beautiful scenery. This year Blas will be staging over 80 events, not forgetting school and community programming. Artists include Anna Massie, The Inverness Fiddlers, Breabach, Duncan Chisholm and Deoch an Doras.
www.blas-festival.com
 
SCONE
Scone Palace is the scene of the Scottish Vintage Tractor and Engine Club Extravaganza on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September. Vintage tractors, stationary engines, steam engines and agricultural machinery will be on display, together with vintage cars, lorries, motor bikes and military vehicles. Working demonstrations of vintage agricultural machinery will include ploughing, combining and threshing, plus trade stands and auto jumble. In honour of the club’s 25th anniversary at this venue, special “attendance” awards will be presented and a solid silver salver, donated by the Earl of Mansfield, will be awarded to the Best in Show. The Rally will also include a FBHVC (Federation of British Historic Vehicles Clubs) Champion of Champions' event. Open from 9am to 5pm, adults £8, children/concessions £5, under 5s free.
www.svtec.org
EAST FORTUNE
The Museum of Flight offers free access on Sunday 12 September for Doors Open Day. Scotland’s national museum of aviation includes two new exhibitions, the Jet Age and the Parachute Store and also access to the famous Concorde supersonic airliner.
The museum is based at the former airfield of East Fortune that played a key role in the two World Wars. Opening hours on Doors Open Day are 10am-5pm.
www.nms.ac.uk
 
DUMFRIES
Dumfries Museum’s exhibition Health, Wealth & Hatpins! showcases three interesting recent acquisitions – Dr William Fraser’s apothecary scales, used to measure medicines and other compounds. Also on display is a hoard of 13th and 14th century silver coins found during 2007 and 2008 on the outskirts of Dumfries. It contains coins minted during the reigns of Scottish monarchs Alexander III and Robert II, and the English kings Edward I, II and III.
Finally, visitors can see hat pins and cow feet stands used by a farming family at Riddingwood Farm, Kirkmahoe. These stands are made from cow hooves. Often the hooves and part of the legs of deer, cows and horses were made into paperweights, ink wells, snuff mulls – and hat pin stands. Open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 2pm-5pm.
Telephone 01387 253374.
DUNDEE
The renowned Dundee Contemporary Arts is where the Discovery Film Festival,
Scotland’s International Film Festival for Young Audiences, will take place from October 16-31. An exciting programme of films, activities and events for 3-21 year olds are on offer.
Enjoy two weeks of the best films for young people from around the world.
Highlights this year include animated feature film "Mia and the Migoo", plus
exciting adaptions of popular books "The Gruffalo" and "Varmints". There will also be plenty of opportunities to get involved in creative workshops and to hear from special guests.
The festival opens on Saturday, October 16. Teen Screen Weekend will run from October 23-24 and will be aimed at 15-21 year olds with an interest in working in the film industry.
www.dca.org.uk
 
RURAL LIFE
Wester Kittochside, East Kilbride is where the National Museum of Rural Life is holding Autumn Stargazing on October 13 between 7pm and 9pm. Meet members of the Clydesdale Astronomical Society and find out about all that the heavens have to offer.
The organisers hope that Jupiter, the largest planet and its four Gallilean moons will be visible that evening.
Attendance must be pre-booked by phoning 0131 247 4369. The cost is included in the museum admission prices, adults £6, concessions £5.
SCONE
Scone Palace’s Hallowe’en Puppet Show takes place on October 31. Come along and join Janette the Witch, Kevin the Friendly Vampire (and his pet rat) and other characters telling spooky tales. Performances will take place at 11am, 12 noon, 2pm and 3pm. £5.10 adults, £3.50 children.
www.scone-palace.co.uk
 
PERTHSHIRE
The Big Tree Country event, the Enchanted Forest, hopes to attract over 20,000 visitors. The Enchanted Forest, now in its ninth successful year, has recently been taken over by the Highland Perthshire Community Interest Company. The 2010 theme, Force of Nature, has been created by Scottish designers Simon Wilkinson (lighting) and Ronnie McConnell (sound) whose vision is to use forest as a creative backdrop to depict some of nature’s most elemental forces – earth, wind, fire and water. This event will take place at Forestry Commission Scotland’s Faskally Wood, near Pitlochry, from Friday, October 22 – Sunday, November 7.
During the event, visitors have an opportunity to explore the forest, making their way around a fully accessible paved walk.
www.enchantedforest.org.uk
EDINBURGH
The College of Art will host the final celebration of the 400th anniversary of glass making in Scotland. From October 1-4 the largest conference of its kind ever to be organised in the UK will run.
From stained glass to paperweights, from the past to the present day, it’s all to be showcased at more than 30 different presentations.
www.scotlandsglass.co.uk
 
MOFFAT
The 10th Anniversary Walking Festival (October 1-3) offers a wide variety of walks for various abilities in and around the town. On Friday there is an introductory walk around the town beginning at 2pm from the Moffat Initiative Office at 1 Ladyknowe (£3). The Saturday Walk Schedule includes a Mystery Hill Walk (£9, 9 miles).
Sunday’s walks include Annan Water Hall – Hartfell Spa returning via Newton Caves (£7, 6 miles). Tea in the Town Hall is also available on Saturday and Sunday, 2pm-5pm.
Email: WalkingFestival@visitmoffat.co.uk
FALKIRK
Callendar House hosts an exhibition in the Park Gallery, Alan Davie at 90, which runs until October 16. In honour of the artist’s 90th birthday, this collection of his art focuses on recent paintings. Alan Davie is considered to be one of Scotland’s greatest artists – his career has spanned over 60 years. Admission is free and opening hours are Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 2pm - 5pm.
Tel: 01324 503770.
 
PHOTOGRAPHY
Derek Braid has been producing beautiful panoramic pictures of Scotland for many years. He lives in East Lothian and loves travelling the country. Recently, Derek has produced his on canvas, mounted on stretcher bars, and ready to hang. These are available for sale at a number of galleries and gift shops, and are also available to order online via his gallery website.
There are over 700 photographs of Scotland to choose from, with prices ranging from £18 to £88, depending on size. The sizes start at 21cm x 7cm and extend to 100cm x 25cm, and every photograph comes securely packed in a strong box, ideal as a gift.
www.allpanoramic.com