DAYS UT
Pony.
I SYMPHONY IN WHITE Sat Hon 8, 2pm. 7.30pm (Sat/Sun only). Royal Highland Showground, Ingliston, Edinburgh. Tickets from 0131 555 3773 priced £12.50, £17.50, £19.50. Dressage, four-footed ballet and other spectacular equine cavortlons from the world famous Lippizaner stallions in this family show. Eat your heart out My Little
2 It.
This section gives details of selected events taking place In and around the central belt of Scotland this fortnight. Events are listed by area and then alphabetically. All submissions should be accompanied by a contact phone number for our lnforrnatlon. Days Out compiled by Thom Dibdln.
BORDERS
I BORDERS BIKE RIDE Sun 14. lpm. Meet at Bowhill Estate. by Selkirk. Sponsor forms and further details from Betty Brown on 0131 225 6963. £3. A 23-mile sponsored bike ride through the more scenic parts of the Borders to benefit Chest. Heart and Stroke Scotland. Although the roads are ‘not flat' there is a four-mile circuit for the kids.
I CHARTERHALL HORSE TRIAL Sat 13. 9.30am-5pm. Charterhall. Duns. £5 per car. Over 200 competitors from all over Britain are expected for this one-day horse trial. held under British Horse Society rules. Competitions include dressage. show jumping and cross country.
1 I LIVING CRAFTS WEEKEND Sat 6—Mon 8. ‘ noon—5pm. Hirsel Crafts Centre. Hirsel House. one mile west of Coldstream. 01890 882834. £1 (kids free). Thirty craftspeople join the five residents at Hirsel. selling their wares and demonstrating such wonders as stick dressing. tapestry and hand painted c10thes. The centre is open daily (weekdays lOam—Spm. weekends noon—5pm) with silver and gemstone jewellery. pottery. weaving. leather working and glass engraving. Also tea room and walks through the 500 acre grounds of Hirsel House.
I SEABIRD CITY ORGANISED WALK Tue 9 and every Tuesday in May and June. 2—5pm. Nature Reserve Centre. Northfield Farm car park. St Abbs. £2. 01890 771443. The cliffs around St Abbs Head .offer a spectacular view of the nests in one the largest seabird colonies on mainland Britain. The reserve is open daily. but these organised walks add immensely to the enjoyment for those who can't tell their shag from their cormorant. Take stout walking boots and binoculars if you have them. No dogs.
CENTRAL & TAYSIDE
I MULTI-ACTIVITY TASTER DAY Sat 13. loam—4.30pm. Croft na Caber activity centre. Kenmore. Loch Tay. 01887 830236. £44. A one-off package offering you outdoor types the opportunity to taste the many activities on offer at Croft na Caber. Included in the day are a range of water sports. from canoing to power boating and white water rafting. as well as quad bikes. target archery and clay pigeon shooting. A smaller activity taster package is also offered outside the taster day.
' LOTHIANS & FIFE
I BIRD HIDE OPEN DAY Sun 14. 10am- 3pm. Meet Threipmuir carpark. Threipmuir reservoir. near Balerno. Book now on 0131 445 3383. Learn about the bird life at Bavelaw Marsh with the Pentlands Ranger Service. The hour-long visits leave the car park on the hour. every hour. 10am—2pm. Binoculars provided. but take your own if you have them.
I OPTICAL OPEN DAY Sun 7. 11am-5pm. Vane Farm RSPB Nature Reserve. on the south bank of Loch Leven on the B9097. 01577 862355. £2 (50p). A chance to try a wide range of binoculars. telescopes and tripods in the observation room of the reserve (but not the hide).
I SEALED KNOT AT TANTALLON Sat 6. llam—4pm/Sun 7. noon-4pm. Tantallon Castle (three miles east of North Berwick on the A198). £3 (£2/£l). A contingent from the Sealed Knot society commemorate the 1650 siege when Cromwell’s New Model Army thought they could starve out the Scots Royalists of Charles 11 in Tantallon. Although there will be some fighting displays. this is more of a living history display than re- enactment and the two days give a glimpse of a Scots soldier's life at the time. Perched on the edge of the cliff. Tantallon has spectacular day out appeal as part of a trip into East Lothian.
I SUPER TRUCK SCOTLAND ’95 Sun 7. noon—5pm and 4 x 4 OFF-ROAD FAIR Sat 6/Sun 7. noon-5pm. Knockhill Racing Circuit. By Dunfermline (off the A823). Fife. 01383 723337. £5 (£2). Sunday is the family-orientated day at these amalgamated events. The 4 x 4 Fair has exhibitors representing all the major manufacturers and gives you a chance to put the off-road vehicles through their paces over a gruelling course which
' includes water splashes and ravines. Super
Truck Scotland is your opportunity to see those juggernauts up close without having them loom through the mist in your rear view mirror. Free fun fair for the kids with Panther of Gladiators fame signing autographs.
I VINTAGE VEHICLE RALLY Sun 14.
'10am—5pm. Almond Valley Heritage
Centre. Milfield. Kirkton North. Livingston. 01506 414957. £2.20 (£1.10). Family fun with the vintage farm machinery at the Heritage Centre.
I SYMPHONY IN WHITE Sat 6-Mon 8. 2pm. 7.30pm (Sat/Sun only). Royal Highland Showground. lngliston. Edinburgh. Tickets from 0131 555 3773 priced £12.50. £17.50. £19.50. See photo capfion.
THE NORTH
I CHILDREN’S MEGGA DAY Sun 7. l—Spm. Grampian Transport Museum. Alford. Aberdeenshire. 019755 62292. £2.50 (accompanied children free). Games. competitions. vintage vehicle rides. magicians and entertainers enhance the on-road delights of the museum.
I TALACREST ECURIE ECOSSE TOUR Tue 9—Thurs 11. Various roads between Dunkeld. Granton on Spey. Naim and Glencoe. If you’re off round the Highlands. prepare to be swept off the road by some of the world’s greatest
sports cars on their annual tour. Classic racing Aston Martins. Ferran's. Jaguars and Alfa Romeos should provide something of a spectacle as they power round the glens.
STRATHCLYDE
I BIRDS BEFORE BREAKFAST Sun 7. 4.30—7am. Craigend Visitors Centre. Mugdock Country Park. Craigallian Road. Nr. Mingavie. Glasgow. £2. but phone first to book on 0141 956 6100. No dogs. The ultimate post-club chill-out: A walk through the park to listen to the dawn chorus. followed by a cooked breakfast. I CRAFT FESTIVAL Sun 7. Discover Carmichael Visitor Centre. Carmichael. Near Biggar. 01899 308169.
I DAWN CHORUS Sun 7. Sam. Chateiherault Country Park. Femiegair. Hamilton. Free. but book in advance on 01698 426213.
I GARDEN GOSSIP 1 Wed 17. 9.30pm. Calderglen Country Park. Strathaven Road. East Kilbride. Free. 01355 236644. Calderglen's head gardener. Matt Smith. leads a walk round the formal gardens before giving an advice and question and answer session. Tonight's theme is ‘Bulbs and Other Spring Deiights‘.
I ORIENTEERING Sun 7. 2pm. Strathclyde Park Watersports Centre. Hamilton Road. Motherwell. Free. 01698 266155. An introduction to the basics of orienteering with the Park Ranger Service. The afternoon will be geared to the abilities of the participants with an overview of the sport and a short taster. Maps supplied.
I POND DIPPING Sun 14. 10am. Strathclyde Country Park Golf Driving Range. Mote Hill. Hamilton. Free. 01698 266155. Take your wellies off to the park for a search beneath the surface of the ponds to discover the intricate relationships between bugs and weeds.
I NATURE’S LARDER Sun 7. 2.30—4.30pm. Drumpellier Country Park. Townhead Road. Coatbridge. Free. 01236 4222257. Taste some of the food you can find for free in the countryside. Dandelion tea. nettle soup and pignut sandwiches anyone?
I NATURE TREK Sun 7. 2pm. Calderglen Country Park. Strathaven Road. East Kilbride. Free. 01355 236644. Join the Country Ranger on patrol round the glen. I WALK TO THE FALLS OF CLYDE Sun 14. l—5pm. Main Entrance. Castlebank Park. Lanark. Free. 01555 665244. A guided walk to the Falls of Clyde and back via the less explored Corehouse side of the river. Take stout footwear. waterproofs and a bite to eat.
I WILDLIFE GARDENING Sun 14. 2pm. Calderglen Country Park. Strathaven Road. East Kilbride. Free 01355 236644. A hands-on session in the Wildlife Garden with hints. tips and advice on gardening with wildlife in mind. Insecticides will not be available.
I WILDLIFE MATTERS TO ME Sun 14. 1—5pm. Drumpellier Country Park. Townhead Road. Coatbridge. Free. 01236 422257. An opportunity to learn about the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in a day of activites and events with diplays and talks.
BOOK NOW
I COPPICE CRAFT WEEKEND WORKSHOPS Sat 20/Sun 21 May. Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre. near Ancrum Jedburgh. £10 per person per day. Book now on 01835 830306. A chance to learn all about the art of coppicing and associated crafts.
I FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF SPIRIT Sat 24/Sun 25 June. SECC. Finniestoun Quay. Glasgow. A conference for followers of the Spiritualist school which believes in life after death. Deadline (sic) for registration is 31 May. Further details from Fiona Ferguson- Smith. ICS. 40 Ardgowan Drive. Uddingston. Glasgow.
I iBBThe l.ist 5-18 May 1995