As Scotland celebrates The Year of Food and Drink, families are being encouraged to experience the wonderful flavours on offer, whether it be at the world-renowned Edinburgh International Science Festival, one of Cadbury’s Easter Egg Trails or the Wild Spring Festival.
There are events suitable for families, couples and groups. Here’s a selection of what’s on offer:
CADBURY’S EASTER EGG TRAIL, THROUGHOUT SCOTLAND, APRIL 2-6
One of the main attractions in Scotland over Easter weekend is the Cadbury’s Easter Egg Trail which can be found at more than 50 National Trust for Scotland properties. On each trail, families will have the chance to collect clues, solve puzzles and even win a very special Cadbury Egghead. Best of all, each trail is unique – a great reason to try more than one.
It’s an ideal way to explore the charity’s properties while spring is in full bloom. Highlights include the stunning formal gardens at Pollok House in Glasgow, and the rugged coastline and woodland at Culzean Castle and Country Park in Ayrshire. Then there’s Crathes Castle in Aberdeenshire, where among the woods and gardens you might find red squirrels, woodpeckers and herons. At Newhailes, in Musselburgh, there is lots to explore and even the remains of an 18th-century tea house to discover.
Marketing manager Carly Lamberty says the properties are looking forward to these fantastic family events: “For the eighth year running, we’ve been working with Cadbury to make Easter an adventure for all the family. From gardens and countryside to castles, palaces and country parks, we have something for everyone. All in all it’s guaranteed to be eggstremely good fun.”
Highlights include the Crathes Castle Cadbury Easter Egg Trail, April 4-6, 10.30am-4pm. Cost: £3 per child.
For the full programme, visit www.nts.org.uk
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FESTIVAL, APRIL 4-19
The Edinburgh International Science Festival has taken its own twist on The Year of Food and Drink by organising a mini-festival celebrating the science. A series of innovative events explore the important role science plays in the culinary experience. Live experiments will include exploding Easter eggs, chocolate flame throwers and stunt bunnies fired into space. Scottish producers, suppliers, artisans, mixologists, scientists and chefs will be on hand to talk about everything from the neuroscience and psychology of taste perception, to slow food and cutting-edge molecular gastronomy.
Visit: www.sciencefestival.co.uk
A MAGICAL EASTER, EDINBURGH CASTLE, APRIL 19-21
Magic and merriment await the whole family at this jam-packed weekend at Edinburgh Castle. Peter the Stonemason will pay a visit from the 14th century to show how mediaeval builders constructed magnificent castles and abbeys, Kramus the Magical Wizard will be there to cast his wondrous spells, an Easter quiz will test the kids on how well they know the castle and they will also get to explore and discover myths surrounding the wonderful birds of prey.
Visit: www.edinburgh
castle.gov.uk/events/a-magical-easter.aspx
WILD SPRING FESTIVAL, DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY, APRIL 4-MAY 4
Visitors can experience the great outdoors in Dumfries and Galloway and discover one of the most surprising and naturally inspiring regions of Scotland during the Wild Spring Festival. From frogs and fishtails to badgers and buzzards, and from red deer and reptiles to otters, ospreys, bats, moths and the charismatic red squirrel, Dumfries and Galloway is teeming with wildlife in spring. This month-long festival is a celebration of spring, featuring almost 100 wildlife events.
Visit: www.visitsouthwest
scotland.com/attractions/wild-seasons/
PROFESSOR EGGHEAD AND THE ALIEN INVASION AT THE SCOTTISH SEABIRD CENTRE, EAST LOTHIAN, APRIL 3-20
This Easter, Professor Egghead is calling on visitors to help identify and manage “alien species” at Professor Egghead and the Alien Invasion. The Wildlife Theatre will give visitors the chance to become part of the “Biosecurity Agency” helping to track down “alien invaders”.
The inspiration for this year’s show comes from the island of Craigleith and an invasive, alien plant called tree mallow. In previous years, this plant has clogged puffin burrows preventing the puffins from breeding, but thanks to an amazing volunteer project, which has been supported by over 1,000 people, the puffin population on this island is now increasing as the tree mallow has been cut down.
Visit: www.seabird.org/what’s-on/special-events/15/48
EASTER EGG BONANZA, STRANRAER, APRIL 2-19
Explore the gardens at Castle Kennedy, unravelling clues along the way on an Easter egg trail. Each child who completes the trail will be entered into a draw to win a family ticket (two adults two children) to see The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, an open-air theatre performance at the Garden on Tuesday, July 21.
Visit: www.dgwgo.com/event/easter-egg-bonanza-at-castle-kennedy-gardens/
LARBERT REAL ALE FESTIVAL, LARBERT, FALKIRK, APRIL 3-4
The Larbert Real Ale Festival enters its seventh year in 2015. There are samples of different real ales and anyone interested in beer festivals will not be let down by the selection. The cost to visitors is just £5 and includes a festival glass to take away.
Visit: beerciderwinefestival.com
For further information on
Scotland’s Brilliant Moments visit www.visitscotland.com