cottages4you blog: inspiration for your cottage or villa holiday in UK, Ireland and Europe

People staying in holiday cottages in Scotland who want a blast from the past might want to check out the Edinburgh Festival.

The Sun has been campaigning to get Bullseye back on our TVs, complete with former host Jim Bowen.

And now the newspaper reveals individuals in Scotland holiday cottages booked for the event could get to see the host on stage.

"I have been given permission to do Bullseye live on stage – and I’ll be doing the original show at Edinburgh," Bowen explains.

Here at cottages4you we love the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and it looks like 2010 is going to be a great line-up.

Those who are a little bit too young to remember Bowen might like to watch Dizzee Rascal at the Corn Exchange, while Britain’s Got Talent’s Flawless are set to perform at Underbelly.

The award-winning Made in Scotland programme is also back and will showcase theatre and dance from the country.

Holiday cottages in Scotland should be booked well before the August 6th start date of the festival, which runs until August 30th.

Posted by Toby Lawrence, cottages4you

The whole cottages4you team are real champions of holidays in the UK, with plenty of stunning places to visit during a break here.

And it seems others agree, according to the results of the latest Travel Trends report from the Office for National Statistics.

Figures from last year show holidays to the UK from overseas went up by 0.5 million in 2009, compared with figures from the previous 12 months.

And holidays in Scotland may be one of the most popular options, with Edinburgh the most visited city in the UK, after London.

Some 1.3 million overnight visits were made to the vibrant capital north of the border, the statistics found.

But we still love our holidays in France and Spain, with the two countries combined accounting for 21.3 million trips abroad in 2009 – out of a total of 58.6 million visits.

If you fancy a so-called staycation in Britain this summer, you could check out our magical literary tours, offering a unique insight into some of the country’s most interesting destinations.

Posted by Matt Smith, cottages4you

Families planning a Scotland holiday during August and September should make sure they include a visit to the Edinburgh International Festival.

The cottages4you team all love this spectacular event, when the city truly comes alive between August 14th and September 5th.

Sinead Feltoe, regional director for Edinburgh and Lothians for VisitScotland, says there’s nothing like it.

"The combination of performers and visitors doubles the local population during the festival period, providing a rich cultural atmosphere that is genuinely unique to this festival city," she states.

So, what can you expect at this fantastic festival?

In its 63rd year, the event will offer performances from the worlds of classical music, dance, opera, theatre and visual art.

Architecture enthusiasts will enjoy the array of locations used through the three-week period.

Concert halls, major theatres and a range of "unconventional" buildings will play host to the performers, organisers reveal.

Make sure you don’t miss out by booking your stay in a Scotland holiday cottage soon.

Posted by Matt Smith, cottages4you

Music lovers heading on holiday to Scotland this summer should make sure they don’t miss the Wickerman Festival, which promises to please visitors old and young.

If your family are planning a trip north of the border on July 23rd and 24th, a day out in Galloway could be just the ticket.

Bands such as Ocean Colour Scene, the Charlatans, Buzzcocks and the Undertones could please the more mature members of your clan.

Youngsters are sure to enjoy performances from the likes of Goldie Lookin’ Chain and the Futureheads – famed for hits including Skip to the End and Meantime.

There also a children’s area with entertainment for the little ones, as well as the famous torching of a giant Wickerman to mark the musical event.

Visit Scotland sums it up nicely: "The fact that it’s a psychedelic concoction of cult music, film, arts and crafts, all wrapped up in a family-sympathetic blanket, makes this little festival one of the best you could ever grace."

Posted by Toby Lawrence, cottages4you