Ex-Pats invited to Return to the Ridings in the Scottish Borders

0 - 0 • Last updated 24 Feb 2009 13:42 1 Comment

EX-PAT Borderers are invited Back to the Borders to visit the ancient and awe-inspiring Scottish Borders Common Ridings & Festivals as part of Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Return to the Ridings is one of the highlights of the Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme and celebrates the centuries-old Scottish Borders Common Ridings & Festivals with events from June to August 2009.

During the Homecoming year 2009, the towns of Hawick, West Linton, Selkirk, Peebles, Melrose, Galashiels, Jedburgh, Duns, Kelso, Lauder and Coldstream join together to celebrate their historic Common Ridings and Festivals. These 11 towns in the Scottish Borders focus their ride-outs around the use of the horses.

Since the beginning of the 16th Century, Common Ridings & Festivals have formed an integral part of Scottish Borders tradition. Common Riding is an annual celebration that involves townsfolk in a grand "ride-out" on horse-back around the town.

The events are friendly, heart-stirring and steeped in local history, including rousing music and song specific to each town. Visitors are always made welcome and will soon find themselves joining in - whether it"s linking arms as the procession moves through the town or cheering the stunning displays of horsemanship as the riders gallop back into the town.

Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebrates the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns" birth and the Scottish Borders Homecoming Scotland Programme includes three major events. The three major events all encourage visitors Back to the Borders, a new Ancestral Tourism initiative by the same name was recently launched encouraging those with Borders heritage from across the world to rediscover their roots and return to the Scottish Borders.

Homecoming Scotland 2009 - Major Events in the Scottish Borders:

Return to the Ridings, a celebration of the centuries old tradition and stunning spectacle of the Border Common Ridings & Festivals; In the Footsteps of the Reivers - the Scottish Borders Walking Festival, a fascinating look at the rich and bloody history of the Border Reivers across the distinctive landscape that was their home; the Clan Scott Gathering an exciting four day programme full of history, music, colour, drama - and fun whether you're a Scott or not.

The full list of events is as follows:

* 1-6 June: Hawick Common Riding

* 5-13 June: West Linton Whipman

* 8-13 June: Selkirk Common Riding

* 14-20 June: Peebles Beltane

* 14-20 June: Melrose Festival

* 19-28 June: Galashiels Braw Lads Gathering

* 27 June-10 July: Jed Callants Festival

* 5-11 July: Duns Summer Festival

* 13-18 July: Kelso Civic Week

* 26 July - 1 August: Lauder Common Riding

* 2-8 August: Coldstream Civic Week

Further details can be found at www.returntotheridings.co.uk.

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This article appeared in Border Telegraph 24 Feb 09

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  Eco
  1 post
  Mar 5, 10:19
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  For more information about the homecoming also see [a href="http://www.scottish-borders.info/pages/news/homecoming_scotland_2009_scottish_borders.html"];Homecoming Scotland Scottish Borders[/a];
  
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