You don’t take too long to realise that I am, er, fairly passionate about my native country of Scotland. I’ve been to over 100 countries as a travel writer and genuinely rate it my favourite for the epic diversity it packs into such a small area.
I say small, but we are talking 11% of Europe’s coastline, over 800 islands and countless hills and mountains. And whisky. And ace seafood and so much, much more. We are also talking about that certain something I struggle to put a name to. The French call it joie de vivre. The Italians la dolce vita. Our national tourist body’s new campaign has just decided to call it #ScotSpirit. The hashtag is the shortened version of the ‘Scotland. A Spirit of its Own’ campaign.
I love the campaign and the hashtag. I went to the ace media launch at a ‘secret’ venue down in the Galloway Forest Park. It was certainly #scotspirit. Turbo charged!
We savoured an epic sunset and the sublime culinary creations of those local produce pioneers Monachyle Mhor, who brought along their own mobile restaurant! We feasted on local venison and lamb, oysters laden with Glengoyne whisky and even Scotch broth spiced with a wee dram. We were cosy inside and outside the mobile restaurant too as we had all been furnished with an ace pair of designer Wellington Boots, courtesy of Scotland’s very own Hunter.
We gazed at the stars through telescopes, searched for wildlife in the dark and generally celebrated all that is remarkable about Scotland. Our overnight was remarkable too in the plush lodge at one of Scotland’s grandest country houses, Dumfries House.
If this launch is anything to go by #scotspirit is going to be brilliant. Here is a wee video to seriously whet your appetite. I recommend enjoying it with a wee Scotch. Then I recommend getting on the new website and planning your trip. Slainte!
