FESTIVAL season brings with it thoughts of damp tents, muddy shoes and endless queues for the portaloos - but it also brings the opportunity to sample some of Scotland's less well-known sights, and some real hidden gems.
Take the Tarbert Seafood Festival, for instance. Not only is it one of the only festivals of its kind in the country, it's also located in one of Scotland's prettiest little fishing villages - Tarbert, on the west coast.

Taking place over the weekend of 7 and 8 July, the festival begins with the arrival of the Seafood Queen and includes a boat rally and quayside cooking demonstrations from chefs including Nick Nairn. Shop windows in the village are decorated for the occasion, and there are various stalls and exhibitions to browse. Visit for a full programme of events.

If it's music you're looking for, take heart. Scotland's biggest music festival, T in the Park, may have long since sold out, but there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy some good tunes in an outdoor setting - whatever type of music you're interested in. The Proclaimers have just been confirmed for the Wickerman Festival, which takes place from 20 to 21 July at East Kircarswell in south-west Scotland, joining other main-stage acts like The Fun Lovin' Criminals, The Yardbirds and The Orb at an event offering the full summer festival experience, complete with tipi area.

Tickets are £65 and can be booked online at
No matter what kind of music you are into, you'll find something to suit your taste this summer
Classical fans, meanwhile, can enjoy the slightly more peaceful atmosphere of the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival, which runs from 1 to 7 July at venues throughout the Isle of Mull, including atmospheric Iona Abbey and the beautiful Torosay Castle. This year's programme includes quartets by Haydn and Mendelssohn himself, plus rare performances of Brahms and Bruckner quintets, Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence and the Shostakovich octet, and you'll find more information at
For those who prefer folk, the Stonehaven Folk Festival ( ) runs from 5 to 8 July and features names like Kate Rusby and Kristina Olsen. Guitar fans may already know about Dundee's International Guitar Festival ( ) which is now in its 16th year and runs from 6 to 8 July, offering a range of guitar courses as well as performances from international guitarists.

In fact, no matter what kind of music you want to listen to, you're bound to find something to suit your taste this summer in Scotland, from the Inverness City Jam ( ) on 14 July to the Hebridean Celtic Festival, held at venues across Stornoway from 11 to 14 July ( ).
August brings the Edinburgh International Festival in all its many guises. It's the Scottish festival, and needs no introduction, with the Fringe, film and book festivals attracting visitors from across the world.

Slightly less well-known is the four-day Festival of Politics, held in the Scottish Parliament from 23 to 26 August. Speakers have yet to be confirmed, but with last year's programme including appearances by Sir Menzies Campbell, Tam Dalyell and Dragon's Den's Rachel Elnaugh - not to mention a cancellation from Sean Connery - it makes a lively and unusual festival experience. For updates, visit
In Glasgow, finally, the River Festival celebrates the city's oldest attraction - the Clyde - which plays host to a range of events, including lightweight catamaran racing as part of the Zapcat National Championships.

The culmination of the two-day festival, which takes place from 14 to 15 July, will see thousands of bright yellow plastic ducks sail up the Clyde in aid of Kids Charities UK. The ducks cost £5 each to sponsor, and the winner earns its backer a new car.