Tag: camping

Pitch Perfect Pairing: Six by Nico makes it’s festival debut with Otherlands this summer

  • Scotland’s newest camping festival, Otherlands, adds Six by Nico to its line-up for 2023
  • Partnership marks new direction for Six by Nico with first-ever ‘al-fresco’ experience

Otherlands Music & Arts Festival has announced that it’s adding flavour to its line-up this summer by teaming up with leading restaurant brand Six by Nico. Festival goers can look forward to a one-of-a-kind woodland sensory dining experience, bringing a bespoke gastronomic story to life.

The festival lands at Scone Palace in Perth, Scotland, this summer (11th-13th August 2023) for its second edition, bringing some of the most influential global and home-grown musical talent to its stages.

With 11 locations across the UK, including Edinburgh – the restaurant – will be dishing up its classic six-course menu across August 12th and 13th. Six by Nico will reveal the brand-new menu, exclusive to Otherlands in coming months. It will also be the group’s first-ever al-fresco dining experience.

Otherlands Arts and Music Festival was founded by Tom Ketley, owner of FLY – an event promotion company which has been hosting music events across Scotland now for over a decade. The festival boasts everything from live and electronic music, to punk, rock and rap.

Acts already announced for 2023 include the likes of Hudson Mohawke, Skin On Skin, Nia Archives & Overmono. Headline acts in 2022 included DJs BICEP, Jamie XX and Honey Dijon, while there were daytime live performances from singers Joesef, Maverick Sabre and Biig Piig.

As well as a carefully curated line-up of forward-thinking artists spanning multiple stages, the festival will also boast immersive art installations from leading Scottish artists, and will even host comedy direct from Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival, DJ Workshops, and inspiring industry talks and panel discussions with industry leaders.

Sam Joss, Otherlands Festival Director said: “We’re so excited about this partnership! 

“With food at festivals being more important than ever,  this collaboration really aligns with our ethos and pairs well with boutique camping, a stunning location and of course, a globally recognised musical line-up.

“We can’t wait to see how our guests react to the creativity of the Six by Nico menu and enjoy this multi-sensory dining experience in the unbeatable setting that is Scone Palace”.

Andy Temple, Chef and Chief Creative Officer at Six by Nico, said: “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Otherlands on this unique event.

“It’s something completely new for us, and I believe it represents a new creative turning point for our company. A multi-sensory dining idea pushes us outside of our comfort zone and is an exciting move in a new direction for Six by Nico, as part of our mission to innovate and challenge ourselves in designing a new menu every six weeks.

“Otherlands takes a multifaceted approach to their festival, celebrating music, wellness, and arts, and Six by Nico is excited to add to that with our new on-site dining experience. The festival itself brings people together to celebrate, and our team is delighted to be a part of it”.

Early-bird Festival tickets are now sold out, but limited first release tickets are still available – ranging from £180-£189 for camping and non-camping options with Day Tickets becoming available at the end of March. Six by Nico ticket add-ons will go on sale following the launch of the menu in May.

As part of the collaboration, a competition will also be launching soon, where three lucky winners will bag two weekend camping tickets, a pair of tickets to the multi-sensory dining experience and a table for two people at Six by Nico. Another six runners-up prizes of £20 Six by Nico vouchers will be up for grabs.

For more information visit otherlandsfestival.com or sixbynico.co.uk

Carry On Camping: Scotland leads the way with tourism support

Pitchup.com, the UK’s leading outdoor accommodation booking platform, is pleased to see the Scottish Government is continuing to encourage relaxed planning control until September 2022. 

Besides opening up outdoor travel to a completely new segment of campers, the news will be a tremendous boost to support the local rural economy which has faced significant challenges during the pandemic.

The news makes it easier for holiday parks to stay open beyond their usual season to accommodate increasing numbers of holidaymakers looking to travel in shoulder season.

It’s also great news for temporary ‘pop-up’ campsites, most of which only opened in the past two years, as they can now open for longer than the 28 days stipulated under the usual rules. Many such sites have sprung up on working farms helping to supplement incomes, and the halo effect of the additional footfall has been welcomed by rural communities.

In normal times, temporary campsites can open for no more than 28 days. However, a much-needed lifeline was thrown to small campsites and farms during the pandemic when planning authorities were directed to allow reasonable temporary breaches and, for the time-being, this will continue to be the case in Scotland.

In contrast, permitted development rights in England reverted to 28 days (from 56 days) on 31st December 2021, while Wales is currently consulting on a permanent extension to 56 days. 

Importantly for Scotland, which proved to be extremely popular for motorhome and campervan trips in both 2021 and 2020, local authorities such as The Highland Council and South Ayrshire Council can also now continue to offer car parks or other appropriate locations for overnight stops.

The creation of these ‘aires’, as they are known in Europe, helps to mitigate the impact of increased holiday traffic in areas that have become increasingly popular without the need for permanent infrastructure, and France already has over 6,000.

Last year, campsites popped up at various locations across the country ranging from livery yards and orchards to country parks and estates.

The welcome announcement from the Scottish Government offers the prospect of another successful season in 2022, and plenty of scope for holidaymakers to explore a new part of the country.

It also provides opportunity for farmers and landowners yet to take the plunge with a temporary campsite to consider their options for 2022. 

Pitchup.com has created an online tool using data from over 2 million bookings to help those considering their options to work out just how much they could expect to make. 

Fire and Rescue Service: Safer Summer 2020

Staycation advice for campers

Here in Scotland, we boast some of the most stunning scenery in the UK – we’d really appreciate your help to keep it that way.

Warmer weather and the increased numbers of people visiting the countryside creates a greater risk of fire.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Alasdair Perry said: “Camping is something that lots of people enjoy each summer in Scotland and as lockdown restrictions ease many will be eager to get outdoors and rightly enjoy the stunning countryside in which we live once again.

“We always want people to stay safe and have a good experience.

“Tents are susceptible to fire which can take hold very quickly. Using stoves or other cooking and heating equipment in tents could endanger lives not only from fire but also as a result of a build-up of Carbon Monoxide so we’d remind campers not to smoke or cook within tents and use torches instead of candles.

“If barbecuing or considering a camp fire, where these are allowed, never leave it unattended, ensure it is well away from anything to which it could spread and keep children and pets away from the cooking area. Avoid alcohol if you are in charge of preparing the food.

“Do not dispose of ashes until they are cold to the touch as hot ashes can melt a plastic bin causing fire. Wherever possible, they should always be doused with water prior to leaving them unattended. The danger of wildfire is very real in Scotland.

“An important point to remember is that even cold barbecues or fuelled appliances can still give off Carbon Monoxide for some time after use therefore they should always be kept outside.

“Gas barbecues should be used in a well ventilated area.

“Remember to keep your area tidy and always clear up litter when done. Whist we all wish to keep our country beautiful, litter can seriously injure wildlife and items such as glass bottles in strong sunlight have the potential to start a fire.

“In addition to all this, if people are spending more time outdoors near waterways please be aware of the risks around cold water shock to prevent avoidable tragedies.”

Please visit the ‘Your Safety’ section of our website for more information or visit https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/

Red Sky offers luxury camping at Edinburgh Festivals

Red Sky Tent Company Limited (“Red Sky”), one of the UK’s most comfortable luxury camping experts, will be offering a great night’s sleep without breaking the bank at this year’s Edinburgh Festivals, with the launch of Red Sky’s Fringe Pop-Up Hotel. Continue reading Red Sky offers luxury camping at Edinburgh Festivals