We’ve had fool’s spring, we’ve had false spring, we’ve had blossoms, we’ve had April showers. Yes, welcome to April in Bonnie Scotland. Taps aff or oan at any moment. Here’s what I’ve got for you this week on the carousel…
Jupiter Artland
from 11th April
Edinburgh’s contemporary sculpture park and art gallery opens to the public for another summer of art treasures in a landscape of wonder. The new exhibition features exclusive works from Ian Hamilton Finlay and Andy Goldsworthy.
Wild Swimming Wednesday returns from 16th April, a chance to swim in the waterscape of Charles Jencks’ mounds. Or you might prefer to hire some time in Joana Vasconcelos’ Gateway outdoor swimming pool.
Plus, pre-sale tickets are now available for its popular event Jupiter Rising, part of Edinburgh Art Festival in August.
Eriskay FC football pitch
Eriskay, the most southerly of six isles in Uist, south of Lewis/Harris in the Outer Hebrides. Chosen by FIFA as one of the most unique places in the world to play football. Watch the short film, made for BBC Scotland. You can even reach the pitch by public transport.
Traditional Dance Festival, Edinburgh
25-30 April
Every year the Pomegranates Festival explores the connection of traditional dance to live music, film, fashion, poetry, art and heritage craft. This year’s festival theme is masks - includes exhibitions, ceilidhs, workshops, walking tours and talks.
Check out the new exhibition of masks from Edinburgh-based creative mask maker Lorraine Pritchard 3 Apr - 12 May, especially curated for the festival. It explores the relationship between the heritage craft of mask-making and traditional dance.
Alloway Railway Tunnel project
Mural artist Chris Rutterford led the Colinton Tunnel mural community project and is leading the ongoing mural project to transform Alloway Railway Tunnel. See the latest video at his Instagram below:
Beltane Fire Festival 2025
30 April
Edinburgh’s Beltane Festival has been going strong for decades. This popular reinterpretation of an ancient Celtic ritual celebrates the first signs of summer and the seeing-in of the 1st of May. Expect acrobatics, drumming, dancing, clowning, musicing, acting and puppeting all upon Calton Hill. You can buy tickets now at Citizen Ticket
Here’s a video snippet I took at last year’s…
Isle of Arran joins UNESCO global geopark list
Arran’s inclusion in the geopark list is just another reminder of why the ‘Scotland in Miniature’ isle is worth a trip. As well as a long history of being a creative haven for artists, Arran has its own arts trail, standing stones and arts festivals. It’s so easy to get to Arran by public transport too. Find out more about planning a trip to this beautiful island here.
Highfield Green Bridge, Perth
Perth’s new Destiny Bridge project to ease traffic congestion around the River Tay includes a green bridge. The Highfield Green Bridge (close to Scone Palace) gives access to the nearby woods for pedestrians and animals. Have a look at the mesmerising video below from the architects behind the project:
Dream job corner
If you fancy spending all of August in Edinburgh, working at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, they’re recruiting right now
If not that, then this? Could you see yourself driving a mobile cinema around the Highlands - fantasy job?
Re-opening soon after a long campaign, is Edinburgh’s Filmhouse Cinema. Here’s the latest round of jobs for those looking to relocate and find their forever home in the city.
Dream hoose corner
Live off-grid in Knoydart peninsula as two neighbouring properties go up for sale. Dun Ban is a 4 bedroom home. Doune Bay Lodge is a current holiday let (5 ensuite bedrooms) and somewhere I’ve long dreamt of going for a holiday. You can only access this site either by boat or a 20 minute walk from the nearest road. All this after taking a ferry from Mallaig on the west coast. Both are under £400,000 each.
See you next week for another carousel newsletter,
from Scotland, with love.