Discovering Scottish roots in Tayside

May 14, 2008 on 10:04 am | In Festivals, London, Scotland, United Kingdom, Wales |

Dales Holiday CottagesThe first Angus and Dundee Roots Festival will take place in Scotland this September. The aim is to provide a focus for people whose ancestors came from the area, and ‘homecomers’ from across the world are expected to travel over for the week-long celebration.

The program of events from September 6 to 13, 2008 will include a trip on the Caledonian Steam Railway, workshops on tracing ancestors, tours of Verdant Works to see how Dundee’s jute workers lived and worked, graveyard tours, ‘Gathering Stories’ oral history sessions, a traditional music workshop, a whisky tasting, a golf heritage session and a visit to Arbroath Abbey - the site of the Declaration of Arbroath and birthplace of the modern concept of democracy.

The festival will be launched at a gala dinner at Guthrie Castle near Forfar and the week ends with a farewell ceilidh on board HM Frigate Unicorn, the world’s oldest wooden warship.

J M Barrie, the playwrite and author of Peter Pan, was born in a weaver’s cottage in Kirriemuir. James Chalmers, the man who invented the adhesive postage stamp, was born in Arbroath. Brothers Arthur and Walter Davidson were born at Netherton Cottage at Aberlemno. They emigrated with their parents to Milwaukee where, in the early 1900s, with their friend William S Harley they founded the Harley-Davidson motorcycle company.

Details of a land-only vacation package for attending the festival are available at www.scotiatravel.com

Website: www.tayroots.com


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