1st to 5th October 2008, Wigtown Book Festival, Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway. The Scottish Book Town Festival is a celebration of the written word in Wigtown, our National Book Town, and spans over ten days. The town has a population of only 900 people, a malt whisky distillery and a quarter of a million books. The Wigtown Festival prompts a mass migration of bibliophiles to this green, pastoral corner of Scotland. And rest assured that, between events, there will be plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere in Scotland’s widest street or browse around our cavernous bookshops. Full details are at www.wigtownbookfestival.com .

Throughout the year Lauriston Castle in Edinburgh, provides an abundance of interesting events to suit the whole family from experiencing what it was like to be a servant in the castle in days gone by to art classes and discovering the exotic blooms which can be found in the gardens there is something for everyone. Full details can be found on their website www.cac.org.uk

1st and 2nd January 2009, Loch Ness Hogmanay Festival, Drumnadrochit. Thousands of people enjoy a fun-packed festival which includes daily guided walks, shinty and football matches, tea dances, a duck race and cookery demonstrations to name but a few. The highlight of the festival is the open-air ceilidh on Hogmanay, starting with a torchlight procession behind massed pipe bands. Full details can be found at www.lochnesshogmanay.co.uk

1st January 2008 The Loony Dook, South Queensferry, nr Edinburgh. To celebrate the first day of every new year, a growing number of hardy souls leap into the freezing waters of the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry - fancy dress welcome, wetsuits not allowed and all monies collected go to local charities. You don't have to be loony to join in but it helps... To find out more about this fun event please visit www.theloonydook.co.uk

22nd January 2009, Younger Hall, Saint Andrews. 2009 is Mendelssohn Year, the bicentenary of his birth. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra celebrates throughout January and February with symphonic, oratorio, theatre and chamber music. It is a veritable parade of masterworks made all the more remarkable considering his tragically short life. Please visit www.sco.org.uk

23rd January 2009, Celtic Connections, The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow. The biggest winter music festival in the world, Celtic Connections features artists from around the globe alongside the very best Scottish talent at venues across the city. From concerts, ceilidhs and club-nights to drums, drams and dancing, January evenings will never be dull again! www.celticconnections.com

24th January 2009, Aviemore Sled Dog Rally, Aviemore. The UK's premier sled dog rally takes place on trails around Loch Morlich in the shadow of the Cairngorms. 2 day rally, plus trek. Hopefully the weather will provide plenty of snow to make it a real arctic experience. If there is no snow at ground level for the event, the races will still go on with mushers using a three-wheeled rig that looks like a bike without a seat. The program of events can be found at www.siberianhuskyclub.com

24th January 2009, BURNS ALIVE! Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline. As part of Scotland's celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, Dunfermline Heritage Trust presents a multi-media production featuring David Purdie and Sheena Wellington. Classics such as 'Ae Fond Kiss' and 'Red Red Rose' will be featured. David Purdie, well known to Burns lovers world-wide, will narrate the life and times of the poet accompanied by spectacular images, drawings and engravings taken from the Scottish National Archive Collection. Full detailsl can be found at www.carnegiehall.co.uk.

(date to be confirmed) 2009 Up-Helly-Aa, Lerwick, Shetland. Britain's biggest and most spectacular fire festival features a torch-lit parade of almost 1000 people, dressed either as Vikings or in all manner of crazy fancy-dress costumes, the spectacular features the burning of a Viking galley, ceilidhs and all-night partying. Contact www.up-helly-aa.org.uk  to find out more.

31st January 2009, Master Class Directing with John Durnin, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry. A chance to learn a range of essential directorial skills and techniques from Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s own Artistic Director, including production conception, text analysis, actor communications and technical delivery. Ideally, participants should have some experience or understanding of theatre production, but it’s not essential! www.pitlochry.org.uk lists full details.