EDINBURGH, Scotland , December 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ –

Scotland has positive imagination, motivated invention and inspired creation for generations.  In 2012, Scotland will celebrate its cultural and creative vibrancy with the Year of Creative Scotland.

     (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20111219/501180 )

A celebration of Scotland’s creative assets and role to the world will be held throughout the year, making 2012 the ideal time to experience fantastic actions and festivals, learn Scotland’s inspirational natural and built landscapes, world renowned art, architecture and design, distinguished literature, contemporary music and unique arts and crafts.  

Reinforcing the year of cultural celebrations, Scotland’s cities offer vibrant, festival experiences against gorgeous, UNESCO World Heritage backdrops; Edinburgh for literature and Glasgow for music. Add to that a rich variety of museums, galleries, artisan shopping experiences and a thriving culinary scene and any visitor seeking the buzz of a city vacation will be spoilt for choice.

In 2011, alone, Scotland has opened the doors to five spectacular cultural attractions – the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway, The Royal Palace at Stirling Castle, the Riverside Museum in Glasgow and Edinburgh’s newly transformed National Museum of Scotland and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

For those looking to explore further afield, Scotland offers creative activities and actions all nearly the country. The gorgeous Isle of Harris, where the local textile, Harris Tweed has been natural fiber for centuries, has even captured the imagination of fashion giants Vivienne Westwood and Nike.

Launching the Year of Creative Scotland 2012, Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond , said,

” Scotland is a dynamic and creative nation, rich in heritage with a wealth of world-class cultural actions that draw visitors from across the globe, year round.  The Year of Creative Scotland is a chance to spotlight and celebrate Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths on the world stage.    

“There will be an exciting and imaginative programme of special actions taking place throughout 2012, casing everything from music, drama and dance, to art, textiles and literature, all calculated to appeal to childish and ancient alike.  This, coupled with our already vibrant cultural calendar filled with world renowned festivals and top visitor attractions – like Edinburgh Castle or the newly transformed Royal Palace at Stirling Palace and the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh – will offer something for all visitors to delight in, year round.”

Start plotting your Scotland vacation as Scotland celebrates the Year of Creative Scotland : http://www.visitscotland.com/creative

Notes to Editors

• Starting on the 1^st January 2012 , the Year of Creative Scotland is a Scottish Government imitative led in partnership by EventScotland, VisitScotland, Creative Scotland and VOCAL. The  year will spotlight and celebrate Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths on a world stage.

  HIGHLIGHT EVENTS

• Celtic Connections
  January 19th – February 5th
  Celtic Connections is Europe’s largest winter festival taking place in Glasgow , and attracting thousands of musicians from across the world for 18 days of concerts, ceilidhs, talks, art exhibitions, workshops, and free actions.
  http://www.celticconnections.com

• Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art
  April 20 ^th – May 7th
  World-renowned contemporary art is showed in artists’ studios, major museums and across the city at the acclaimed Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art.
  http://www.glasgowinternational.org

• The Huge Noise
  July 29th
  Join internationally acclaimed conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the highly renowned Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela for a Midsummer’s Night performance against the backdrop of Stirling Castle.
  http://www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk/bignoise

• Speed of Light
  August 9 ^th – September 1st
  In 2012 the iconic signpost of Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh will be transformed through an innovative combination of generous try and visual art as part of the Speed of Light project. Taking place during the Edinburgh International Festival, walkers and runners will animate the hillside with trails of patterned light. Get involved and experience for yourself the excitement, testing your physical endurance at the same time.  
  http://speedoflight2012.org.uk

15 December 2011
Last updated at 07:18 ET

The wall was on a steep bank above Butt Well

A section of wall below Stirling Castle that collapsed last week is now the subject of an archaeological investigation.

The wall was on a steep bank above the Butt Well and had been built to retain garden terraces made in the 1490s.

Archaeologists are using the collapse as an opportunity to investigate fragments of one of Scotland’s oldest gardens, made for James IV.

Members of Stirling Local History Society (SLHS) are chief the work.

The society had organised a survey of the adjacent King’s Knot last summer – and said it was already plotting studies of the wider landscape nearly the castle.

Archaeologist Stephen Digney, who co-ordinated the work at the Knot, said: “The terraces link the castle to the Knot garden below.

“This fortuitous landslip presents a further step towards wider studies of the castle landscapes, which are of European importance.”

‘Fascinating site’

An initial survey of the collapsed wall using GPS has been carried out by AOC Archaeology, and SLHS hope a more detailed survey and a full dig could take place in the future.

The society’s chairman, John Harrison, said: “This collapse could so easily have been all loss. But soon we should know more in this area this vital and fascinating site and be in a position to take the studies forward.

“It is very heartening that AOC and the council departments have listened and worked together.

“Preserving our heritage is not just in this area the past but an investment in the future of Stirling and of Scotland.”

Stirling Council archaeologist Murray Cook said the walls represented an “incredible survival” when Stirling was at the heart of renaissance design.

By Joyce Lamb, USA TODAY

On Monday, we hung out with Scottish historical romance best-seller Amanda Scott. Today, we get to meet fellow Scottish historical romance author Margaret Mallory, who has quickly developed quite a following with the seven romances she’s had published. The first in her Return of the Highlanders series, The Custodian, was released in spring, followed by The Sinner in November. Publishers Weekly called The Sinner “sizzling and attractive.” HEA got to talk with Margaret in this area her like of both Scotland and men in kilts swinging swords. (And, really, who doesn’t like a kilt-wearing, sword-swinging man?)

Joyce: Welcome, Margaret! What is it in this area Scotland that speaks to you?

Margaret: I like the castles, the misty isles, the legends, and the history. I have a lot of Celtic blood in me, both Scottish and Irish, so that may be part of the reason I felt I found my voice as an author when I started writing novels set in Scotland.

Because I like my heroes swinging swords and my romances full of drama and adventure, historicals set in the Highlands suit my tales perfectly. I’ve also found more humor coming out when I write dialogue for Scottish characters, which has been fun.

Joyce: Have you spent time in Scotland doing research?

Margaret: I was lucky to be able to take a trip to Scotland with my daughter to research my current series, The Return of the Highlanders. The most incredible day of the trip was when we found the ruins of two castles that are vital in my books. We drove from one castle to the other across the width of the Sleat Peninsula of the Isle of Skye on a winding, one-lane road that had more sheep than cars. Seeing the ruins of “my” castles was incredible! Both are in breathtaking settings with the sea and mountains behind them.

We also visited Stirling Castle, where I have the hero and heroine of The Custodian (Book 1) encounter the newly widowed queen, Margaret Tudor, and her lover. The meeting does not go well …

With exploring Edinburgh Castle and going on an underground tour of medieval Edinburgh, I chose to send the hero and heroine of The Sinner (Book 2) on a journey to the city. Thanks to my trip, my hero gets tossed into a cell in the bowels of Edinburgh Castle.

For each book, I’m putting together a slide show of photos from my trip that relate to that fastidious report. The slide shows for the first two books, The Custodian and The Sinner, are on my website.

Joyce: Why do you write historical romance rather than contemporary? Are there certain time periods that you prefer?

Margaret: I’ve always loved history, and I find that historical romance is the perfect vehicle for the kind of dramatic, adventurous tales I like to write. I delight in getting lost in another time — and if the men wear kilts and swing swords, all the better!

I look for a cycle with a lot of conflict. For this series, I found exactly what I wanted in the year 1513, in the wake of the Scots’ disastrous loss to Henry VIII’s forces at the movement of Flodden. I have my four Highland heroes return from France to find their king and chieftain dead, a rebellion brewing, factions fighting for control of the crown, and their clan in grave danger. Such fun!

Next, I researched clan histories to find the right clan for my fictional heroes. When I learned that the first chieftain of the MacDonalds of Sleat had six sons by six different women and that the animosity among the sons led to two generations of murder, I knew I had found my clan.

Joyce: Do you ever contain real-life historical figures in your tales?

Margaret: All the time! It’s one of my favorite things to do.

In my latest release, The Sinner, my hero and heroine get trapped in the conflict between the colorful chieftain, Lachlan Cattanach “Shaggy” Maclean, and his wife, Catherine Campbell. I won’t say what happens here, but when Shaggy was found murdered in bed in Edinburgh some years later, everyone assumed the dirk belonged to a Campbell.

Another real-life character in The Sinner is Antoine D’Arcy, nicknamed The White Knight. He was a French nobleman and warrior with a bright reputation who came to Scotland with the new Regent. Naturally, The White Knight is the man I chose to vie with my sinner-hero for the heroine’s affections.

Joyce: Do you have favorite Scottish romances by other authors?

Margaret: In addendum to Amanda’s, I absolutely like Paula Quinn’s and Monica McCarty’s books. I recently read my first Maya Banks’ Scottish historical and loved that as well. I suspect that Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander will always be my favorite.

Joyce: Please tell us in this area your most recent release and what’s coming next for you.

Margaret: Alex MacDonald, the hero of my latest release, The Sinner, is the terrible boy of this series. To torture this charming rogue, I paired him up with a lass who is as opposed to marriage as he is. Glynis’ experience with one handsome, philandering Highland warrior was enough to last her a lifetime, and she’s prepared to go to any lengths to thwart her chieftain father’s attempts to wed her to another.

Alex likes women, but none has intrigued him like Glynis MacNeil, a serious-minded lass who sees through his charm and expects more of him. When Alex has a sudden and wholly unexpected need for a wife, he finds that Glynis is the only one he wants. Persuading her will be another matter altogether.

Each book in The Return of the Highlanders stands alone, but all four heroes are in each others’ books, and their hard work to secure their clan progress through the series. The Custodian and The Sinner are available now, and The Warrior and The Chieftain are up next.

Joyce: Thanks, Margaret! Readers can find out more in this area Margaret and her books at her website, MargaretMallory.com. You can also join her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

You might also be attracted in read  HEA’s interview with Amanda Scott.

London, Dec 12: Scotland has been left disappointed with producers of the new James Bond film revealed that it will not be shot in the country as had been widely expected.

When Scotland appeared to have landed a starring role in ‘Skyfall’, the 23rd Bond movie, businesses and tourism leaders predicted a much-needed boost for the nation.

But their marvel scattered in a sudden plot twist with the movie producers announced it will not be filmed at Duntrune Castle, in Kilmartin, Argyll and Bute, as plotting.

Instead a yet-to-be-named Welsh castle looks set to play host to the star-studded cast, including Daniel Craig, Dame Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes and Albert Finney

The filmmakers consider dozens of castle in Scotland and elsewhere in an exhaustive search lasting months, before appearing to descend on Duntrune as a location.

But within days of the press conference, director Sam Mendes had a sudden change of heart, and Duntrune’s owner was told they were no longer coming and hotel bookings for cast and crew were all cancelled.

Though sources within the film company could not confirm for sure, it appears that the production will be shifting southwards.

Robin Malcolm, owner of Duntrune Castle, said that local businesses had been looking forward to a prosperous New Year.

“I reckon it’s Scotland’s loss. I knew they were looking at other venues, and I reckon they’re going to fake it that the Welsh castle is going to be in Scotland,” the Scotsman quoted him as saying.

A spokeswoman for Eon Productions, the James Bond film company, said. “I reckon maybe he [Mendes] was thinking at that time in this area Duntrune.”

But, she added that film producers changed their minds in this area locations all the time. (ANI)

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Titusville resident Leslie Talley and her husband Frank traveled to Scotland in recently for a trip filled with castles fit for royalty. Leslie shares some of the highlights:

My husband Frank and I traveled to Scotland in May with the stated aim of visiting inhabited castles. We toured 14 — 12 lived in, one ruin and one museum castle. All were significant, but some stood out from the rest.

Traquair House, a former hunting lodge of Scottish kings, has Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie associations and a priest’s escape stairs. On the Isle of Skye, Dunvegan Castle, the oldest castle still inhabited by the same family, features a dungeon and the oldest stone stairs in Scotland.

Glamis Castle, our favorite, the childhood home of the Queen Mother (mother of the current Queen Elizabeth II), showcases her confidential royal apartments. Scone Palace (pronounced skoon), the greatest place of Scottish kings, boasts a replica of the Stone of Scone. And, for the small Harry Potters, northeast England is home to Alnwick Castle where much of Harry Potter was filmed. They offer broomstick-flying lessons!

We learned commonalities of all castles. You’re nobody unless you have a ghost (White Lady, Green Lady, drummer, harpist, piper); an armory showing your weapons; a china room; a plaid carpet on your staircase; and a dungeon. We dined on haggis, black pudding, the Sunday carvery, venison casserole, and curried banana soup.

We stayed mainly in tiny hotels or guest houses, but our favorite places were Dunborrodale BB overlooking Portree Bay and Castle Levan in Gourock along the River Clyde. This double-towered castle retains its parapets, winding circular staircase, and arrow slit windows. All in all, a trip to remember for the history, architecture, scenery, food and people. It’s Ireland with trees!

— Michelle Spitzer

More than 60,000 homes were left without power with winds reaching 160mph struck Scotland.

With sweeping across the Central Belt, the severe winds were expected to travel north and east, with blizzard conditions overnight.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Scottish Government’s “resilience committee” would meet over again on Friday.

She said: “While the worst of the weather has subsided across the central belt, other areas of the country are still experiencing severe conditions.

“Contractors are working hard to resolve remaining issues on our roads and with power supplies. I would urge all members of the public to continue to take care and heed advice from police and travel authorities.”

In whole there were 95 incidents on the roads on Thursday, mostly caused by fallen trees. Officers in Strathclyde said they dealt with over 500 weather-related incidents.

As gusts Gusts reached 165mph at Cairn Gorm, the Met Personnel warned of severe weather and gale-force winds and councils chose to close hundreds of schools.

Red warnings – the higest level of Met Personnel alerts – were issued for wind in the Strathclyde, central belt, Tayside, Lothians and Borders areas.

In North Ayrshire, a school bus was blown over on the A737 near Dalry at nearly 10am. There were no passengers on enter at the time, while the driver was uninjured. Strathclyde Police closed the road in both directions as they tried to go the vehicles.

The Scottish Environmental Safeguard Agency issued eight flood warnings and 16 flood alerts for locations across Scotland. The areas affected are: Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire and Arran, Caithness and Sutherland, Central, Dumfries and Galloway, Easter Ross and Fantastic Glen, Findhorn Nairn Moray and Speyside, Skye and Lochaber, Tayside, and West Central Scotland.

The Forth Road Bridge closed for four hours between 3pm and 7pm on Thursday because of the stormy weather.

Glasgow and Edinburgh airports each cancelled 17 flights and a further four planes had to be diverted from Edinburgh. Passengers were advised to check the status of their running away before going to either airport.

Caledonian MacBrayne ferries to the western islands of North Uist, Harris, Mull, Islay, Gigha, Coll, Tiree and Arran were all cancelled, while other ferry timetables have been severely disrupted.

ScotRail said a train travelling from Edinburgh to Aberdeen had struck a metal shed which was blown on to the track.

Trains between Aberdeen and Inverurie, Glasgow and Dunblane, and Edinburgh and Glenrothes were cancelled, while other services ran less frequently.

The Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh line was closed with a rock fall at Stromeferry, while landslides closed the A82 Corran Ferry, south of Fort William, and the A87 at Sheilbridge.

The Forth Road Bridge was reopened to traffic at nearly 6.30pm, very nearly eight hours with it closed.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Scottish Government’s response to the weather had been appropriate, with the right action full.

She said: “There has been no over-reaction. When you have the Met Personnel telling you that they have got the highest warning casing the central belt of the country, and the police telling you there is a probability – which turned out to be the reality – of a no-travel warning, then I reckon it is incumbent on Government to react appropriately to that.

“That’s what we did. The decisions that have been full have been right and appropriate.”

For more information on being ready for winter, stay the STV Health Centre, brought to you by NHS inform.

IN DETAIL

• Live coverage: Storm strikes Scotland
• Sean’s Winter Weather Watch
• Stormcam: Live video of the situation in Glasgow
• Image gallery: Storm winds lash Scotland
• OMG Trampoline! Storm video becomes internet hit
• Thousands of homes hit by power cuts across Scotland
• All the latest updates on school closures and the weather from Glasgow and the west
• How Scotland started trending worldwide on Twitter
• Universities and colleges mandatory to close by stormy weather
• Power supplies hit by severe weather
• Glasgow festive event mandatory to close by 90mph storm winds warning
• Roads closed as snow hits Aberdeenshire
• Stay safe: how to drive in ice and snow
• Ready Scotland winter travel advice
• In pictures: Scotland in the snow
• Aberdeenshire Council: School closures
• All the latest updates on the weather from Edinburgh
• North Lanarkshire – Updates on schools and the weather
• Forth Road Bridge liable to shut
• Edinburgh Airport delays

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Each bride looks forward to the day that her marvel becomes a reality. There is one bridal designer that is like a star in the night sky sparkling brighter than the rest.

Rania Hatoum is a childish and culturally diverse designer with roots in Egypt and China. She is vivacious and extremely creative and knows exactly what her clients are envisioning in their marvel dress. She was introduced to fashion at a very childish age. Her parents have been apparel manufacturers for over 30 years. As a girl, this intrigued her and she was keen to follow in their footsteps. She came to the United States to attend the International Academy of Design and Technology and obtained a bachelor’s degree in fashion design and merchandising. With graduating, Rania worked in New York City under a designer giving her experience with evening wear. But, Rania wanted to differentiate herself. She wanted to introduce elegance while reflecting her vision of style by crafty her own lines. If she had to pick one designer who influenced her the most, it would have to be Elie Saab with his attention to detail and design, complicated beadwork and combination of colors.

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One of Hatoum’s favorite cities is Hong Kong. Even if the city is bustling with activity in a modern and fun way and one of the most exciting cities to stay, it holds on to its habitual culture giving it that ancient world fascinating appeal.

Recently, Rania Hatoum was one of the designers featured at Miami Beach International Bridal Week. With having a successful showing at New York International Bridal Week and a confidential showing at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, Florida, this latest preview was bound to be just as successful. Her fashions target the modern and sophisticated bride with lightly beaded dresses that are simple yet aristocratic.

Each collection requires a minimum of six months of plotting and preparation. The Spring 2012 Collection is appropriately labeled, ‘Once Upon a Time’. The collection was inspired by some of the most elegant castles nearly the world. Some of the fairytale castles are Jehay Castle, Belgium, Trakoscan Castle, Croatia, Blair Castle, Scotland, Chambord Castle, France, Kilkenny Castle, Ireland, Peles Castle, Romania, Bastonia Castle, Hungary, Guatia Castle, San Marino, Heimeji Castle, Japan, De Haar Castle, Netherlands, Dunrobin Castle, Scotland, Boldt Castle, New York, Herstmouceux Castle, England, Matsumoto Castle, Japan, Vianden Castle, Luxembourg. The architecture shapes and details of each castle are used to distinguish each gown by its silhouette, affect and detail. Expression of beauty is so evident in each unique design. Each bride has a grace and a sense of individuality in the gown that she selects.

The Trakoscan gown is a white silk taffeta A-line blown up gown with an organza train. The Kilkenny is a strapless silk organza blossom trumpet gown in light ivory. The Bastonia is an blown up sweetheart mermaid gown in ivory with an asymmetrical tulle overlay. The DeHaar is a duchess silk satin asymmetrical dress with Swarovski crystal blown up shoulder bow.  The Vianden is an origami strapless silk satin face organza full A-line gown in ivory, blush and dark blush. The DunRobin is a silk duchess tinge sweetheart neckline with organza ball gown with blown up shoulder and waist detail in ivory. To view more of the collection, go to http://www.RaniaHatoum.com.

Rania’s advice for anyone desiring to get into the design field is to explore and learn yourself, know your style, find your inspiration and target your audience and get to know what they are looking for.

As we step out of 2011 and into 2012, Hatoum is seeking to get into the Asian and Middle-Eastern market and introduce her collections worldwide to brides across the globe.

We look forward to following this brilliant fashion-forward designer in her future endeavors.