Every event likes to bill itself as having something for everyone, but few have quite such genuine appeal across the board as the Royal Highland Show. Never mind the cliché about attracting all ages – although it does – where the Royal Highland Show wins out is that it is surely the only event that can cater for people who are interested in biofuel farming, bagpipe making and the gentle art of axe throwing.
Keen on genealogy, whisky heritage or the clans? Then hit the Homecoming Scotland marquee. Like massed pipe bands, ceilidhs and jazz? It's all there. Or perhaps you just can't decide whether you prefer drystane dyking, taxidermy or machinery relating
to grain farming. Whatever, head to Ingliston this weekend and your desires for stuffed squirrels and combine harvesters will all be realised.
Naturally, the livestock shows are responsible for a huge part of the event's popularity and there will be more cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry than you can shake a subsidy application form at. As ever, the food hall, the metaphorical final resting place of all the farmers' efforts, will be buzzing with stalls, producers and cooking demos. Accompanied children under 16 go free, should you need a clincher.
Further up the coast and probably featuring fewer cows, although it wouldn't be surprising if cow pies got a mention, Dundee is hosting its annual literary festival. Today's line-up runs from the comedic writing of Pauline McLynn, aka the tea-obsessed Mrs Doyle of Father Ted fame, via poetry and creative writing classes to nothing less than a new theory of evolution. Sunday is given over to the subject of comics or graphic novels, an artform that runs through the veins of the city like mischief ran through the mind of Minnie the Minx.
Perth's tattoo artists, dive bars and cardigan vendors are bracing themselves as the annual Celebration of Model Railways rolls into the Dewars Ice Rink. Last year, the centre of Perth was brought to a standstill after a rumble broke out between the Glenrothes Model Railway Club and their arch rivals, the East Neuk MRC, over the correct colour to paint a 1920s Kent Railways signal box. Or maybe not. Back in the real world, the Perth exhibition is thought of as the biggest and best in Scotland with some 22 layouts scheduled for display as well as a wide selection of trade stands should you wish to splash out on some nifty OO gauge.
The 12th Moffat Car Rally gets rolling today with some 300 classic cars expected to take part in the traditional drive through the Moffat hills to St Mary's Loch. All makes of classic cars, motorcycles and vehicles manufactured under the Rootes brand are welcome, with around 800 sets of wheels making the journey from as far afield as France, Germany and Shetland. As well as a ceilidh and pipe band, there are children's entertainers on hand to keep the kids happy while Ma and Pa rootle through the auto jumble stalls.
For more information visit www.royalhighlandshow.org;
www.literarydundee.co.uk;
www.perthmrc.com;
www.sre-scot.co.uk