Edinburgh: Clan Gathering and more

The final weekend of July will witness the biggest gathering of clans in the world. The director of the Gathering, Lord Sempill, told stv that: "Much to our surprise we have over 32 different countries engaging. That has meant a lot more people coming in, staying here for a lot longer and in turn that looks like £8million contributed to the economy." The Gathering of the Clans will take place in Edinburgh on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26. Advanced hotel bookings for the weekend have soared with more than 150 clans set to attend the event.

The Gathering forms part of the Homecoming - a year long programme of activities in the year of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national bard, Robert Burns. Golf, the sport most readily associated with Scotland, whisky, ancestry and great minds and innovations join Burns on the list of central themes that the nation's tourism board, Visit Scotland, has been promoting under the banner of Homecoming Scotland 2009.

An estimated 40,000 people will attend the Gathering. The Scottish capital is well worth a visit at any time of year whether you are interest in enjoying a wee dram, playing a round of golf or just want to soak up the rich offering and contrast between Edinburgh's Old and New Towns. As Paul Kelbie writing in The Observer newspaper in November, 2008 put it: "Edinburgh was awarded World Heritage Site status in 1995 because of the unique contrast and quality of architecture between the medieval Old Town and the Georgian New Town."

Independent travellers can enjoy a walk from Edinburgh Castle to Charlotte Square with the Walk Talk Tour Old & New Towns, Edinburgh audio tour. Unlike a conventional walking or bus tour, there is no timetable to adhere to. Simply purchase the tour from walktalktour.com save it to your Desktop or similar file where you can easily locate it and then transfer it to your iPod, MP3 player or MP3 playing device.

Hear about Edinburgh Castle's rich history and the origins of the city's name. Learn about a woman who survived the hangman's noose and notorious murderers in the Grassmarket. Hear about James Craig's blueprint for the New Town. Then enjoy a walk along George Street past the Assembly Rooms to Charlotte Square, home to the Georgian House, a National Trust for Scotland property which you can look around, and Bute House (pictured left), the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland. To hear an audio sample from the Old & New Towns tour please click here.

Both the Old & New Towns audio guide and the Royal Mile & more Edinburgh iPod travel guide cost just £5.95 each. Customers who purchase both Edinburgh city walking tours simultaneously will get twenty per cent off, meaning that you pay just £9.52.

For more information about the Gathering of the Clans take a look at the official site.