Welcome to Scotland Launches Europe's Most Advanced Tourism App

Tourism Minister, Fergus Ewing was on hand  today as the Scottish tourism website, Welcome to Scotland launched Europe’s most technologically advanced tourism app. The app is the  most comprehensive and in-depth Scottish travel guide available, the Welcome to Scotland app is packed with quality information on accommodation, things to do, restaurants and events, with many exclusive discounts and offers.

From taking in the bright lights of Edinburgh and Glasgow to witnessing the majestic splendour of the Scottish Highlands, Welcome to Scotland will open doors and make your budget go further – all for less than the price of a glass of wine.

One of it best features is the Augmented Reality function transforms your phone into a virtual tour guide. Just turn the phone to landscpep and the camera kicks-in, pointing the phone at a landscape or land mark and it will give you all the information on what you are looking at plus turn the phone  upright and get a list of " What's Near" useful addresses and destinations from 100mts to 30km depending on long you let it think about it. The info includes anything from restaurants and golf clubs to swimming pools and riding stables.

You don't even need a network link as the app is preloaded with maps and information on more than 16,000 points of interest. It's great for our foreign visitors as you do not have to have data roaming enabled.

Just visit the Welcome to Scotland download site http://www.welcometoscotland.com/mobile-download

St Andrews Day celebrations

As part of the Scotland's Winter Festivals last night saw Edinburgh's Castle Esplanade burst into life.
For once the weather was just right, freezing cold and a clear sky which was good for the Ice Sculptures that sat glistening lit only with an erie glow on the Esplanade. Then it was the turn of kids from the local primary schools to show off their lanterns that they had made for the evening. With a dramatic Castle back drop and a pipe band in full voice this was a great photo opportunity for the proud mums and dads to get some great shots of their wee ones.  We where then treated to a fine film projection on the Castle walls of the many Scottish heroes and their achievements and with a giant fluttering Saltire projected across the ramparts the event certainly had the X factor.
The finale of the evening was an explosive firework display. Having been cheated out of one earlier in the week due to the high winds at the Light Night event this one certainly made up for it. Its is such a great sight with the dramatic castle lighting and the colourful fire works exploding overhead its easy to see why Edinburgh is such a great place for these events.

Snow Queen lights up Edinburgh

Edinburgh's Christmas celebrations kicked off on Thursday night however with the wind gusting gale force some the proposed events where curtailed to some degree. In the spirit of "the show must go on" the Snow Queen put on a magical performance even though her original 14-metre height was reduced to a more wind friendly altitude. As ever the lord provost did his stuff and hit the big red button and with wave of the Snow Queen's wand the thousands of lights that adorn the trees in princess street gardens burst into life. 
Sadly the extensive firework display was scuppered buy the high winds. However the crowds attention soon turned to the other christmas faves such the German Christmas market with its warming gluhwein and traditional food stalls and the fairground rides soon got into full swing including the giant wheel taking folks to dizzy hights and amazing views. 
On Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th we also have the St Andrews day celebrations to look forward to taking place on the Edinburgh castle esplanade. Events include ice sculptors working their magic on blocks of ice "can you tell what it is yet? " then on Sunday we have fire animation and the glow of many fire lanterns created by local school children the evening is then rounded off with an amazing film projection and fireworks display.


More information can be found at www.edinburghschristmas.com 

Edinburgh's Christmas 2011 press launch

It's official Santa is on his way with the Press launch of Edinburgh's Christmas today 8 November. 

With doom and gloom at every turn these days its good to see Edinburgh City council bringing some extra  festive cheer to our streets for this Christmas season. The City Council have planned some spectacular events to make this season extra memorable. Edinburgh's Christmas 2011 sees  the return of many of the traditional favourites as well as some special goodies on offer making the most of Princes St which will be turned into a pedestrian way free from tramwokings (fingers crossed on that one).

Special events taking place will include a fourteen meter Ice queen featuring spectacular pyro effects at Light Night, live reindeer visits, the popular Santa Express running along Princess St, performance space for buskers and choirs, a Santa Zumbathon flash mob, live Ice sculpting plus other events to be announced. St Andrew's day includes some free events with Ice Sculptures and stunning fire themed finale on Edinburgh Castle's Esplanade.

More info at: http://www.edinburghschristmas.com/

Cllr George Grubb, City of Edinburgh Council’s Lord Provost

Nickie Gott, managing director of event organiser

Santa!

The Snow Queen