Aaaah, I sigh with a breath of pleasure as I wait in wonder for the true splendour of Autumn to transcend itself like a glorious carpet over the Highlands and Islands. With rich hues in abundance, it's at this time of the year that I feel most at home. As a red head it has to be my favourite season.

A PEEK AT NEXT SUMMER
We've been busy this Summer with many tours full up, and for those of you eager to join us on a trip this Autumn, advance booking is recommended. For those of you planning holidays next year, we are happy to announce that we will be increasing our departures of multi-day tours to the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, Islay whisky experience, the Lake District and a new North Britain tour taking in the Lake District, York, the Yorkshire moors and the Borders. Look out too, for an increase in day tours and multi-day tours from Glasgow. More details of these will be available on our website shortly at www.rabbies.com

SCOTTISH STORYTELLING FESTIVAL - 23 - 30 October 2009
In October we have partnered with the Scottish Storytelling Festival in Edinburgh and have a Storytelling festival package available. We are delighted to be working with the festival, as storytelling forms an integral part of what we do at Rabbie's, and an enriched way to get to know the real Scotland. With 3 nights accomodation included in Edinburgh in a 3* city hotel, a day trip to Loch Lomond with us to enjoy one of our own lads and lassies extolling our vocal heritage, and an exclusive storytelling festival ticket package. We will also be able to offer Rabbie's customers half price tickets to any of the Storytelling centre events during the festival. For more details please visit our website.

And there's more..... MAR LODGE EXPERIENCE

Ever wondered what it would be like to live like a laird for a few days? Well now is your chance. During October and November Rabbies are offering an exclusive 5 day experience in cooperation with the National Trust For Scotland and the Mar Lodge Estate.

With a unique opportunity to bask in some of the country's most beautiful scenery, whilst learning more about how this Highland estate evolved, and how it is managed today, this is your very own chance to feel like your own monarch of the glen. For more info click here

Great news - AWARD FINALISTS AGAIN

As nominations for this year's Thistle awards (the Scottish Tourism Oscars) have been announced Rabbie's are delighted to let you know that we have once more been shortlisted for two awards this year.

The categories are 'The extra mile' award for customer care and 'Tour operator programme of the year'

Winners will be announced in October, so look out for news of that on our website and our next newsletter.

Building on our Special judges award for "Inspiration" this year we have entered the Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards 2009 and have been selected as Finalists, with the results being announced towards the end of the year. This award is held to recognise businesses who are taking significant steps to improve or reduce their impact on the enviroment, saving money in the process. Vibes showcases the best of the best. Results will be posted on our website.

And as we celebrate everything autumnal - about Redheads!

Did you know that less than 4% of the entire world population are natural redheads, and that approximately 13% of people in Scotland have red hair. This is the biggest percentage of redheads in the world. As early as Roman times, Tacitus mentioned the red haired, large limbs of the inhabitants of Caledonia (Scotland). We were making an impact even then! But as a redhead we have also been feared (perhaps that's the real reason the Romans fled from Scotland and hid behind their wall), ridiculed and occasionally prized. Now I like that.

Red hair is the rarest natural colour, varying in shade from auburn to orange making us redheads somewhat unique. But there is a price - we tend to have freckles and our skin really just won't tan. We are grateful indeed for false tanning products to take the glare away from our peely wally white flesh. Or, in my case, the glare from my legs when I wear my kilt. Myths also abound that we are fiery tempered...I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S ABOUT. In a rather more poetic way some people refer to us as Titians, after the painter who had a fascination for redheads and painted women who were crowned with flaming locks.

In ancient times, the Egyptians regarded redheads as unlucky, so in order to cleanse themselves of the colour they rather unceremoniously burned young lassies thus afflicted to try and stamp it out. Other beliefs are that we are witches. Well really, what nonsense, but I must get that cauldron of mine on e-bay. Suspected witches were stripped and examined for the 'de'ils marks' - the devils marks. This was nothing more than a birthmark, a mole or a freckle. Yep, okay I lose on all counts. I AM A WITCH! Thankfully I live in a time when I am reasonably accepted, and not seen as a threat to society. The alternative back then was to be burned alive at the stake or drowned. If you're in Edinburgh check out the 'witches well' on Edinburgh Castle esplanade. More than 300 witches were burned alive there. Ooh that makes my knees go weak. Where's that hair dye?

Finally, as Lucille Ball, a famous redhead once said: 'once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead'

So come on lads...I'm waiting.

Beaudicea, Celtic warrior queen - another redhead	Redheads be proud. Very proud	Perhaps the world's most photographed redheads
Scots proverb. An awkward colt often becomes a beautiful horse.

The Sconestone
	The Sconestone is a small stone of kindness inspired by Scottish carvings from the late neolithic and bronze age period. Conceived by Nova Scotia based artist Warren MacLeod, whose parents were originally from Scotland, the stone is a non-profit making global iniative created to help promote good deeds and charitable work throughout the world. The first keeper of the stone, launched at Runrig's Homecoming concert in the grounds of Scone palace in late August, is Rev Neil Galbraith, who set up the Glasgow 'Caring City' humanitarian charity in 2001. Alex Salmond, Scotland's first minister, was present at the concert, along with 15,000 party revellers, to present the stone to Rev Galbraith. In his speech, the first minister said '“Rev Galbraith’s humanitarian record makes him the ideal choice to be the first ‘keeper’ – his example can encourage others who subsequently take up the stone to do good deeds that benefit fellow citizens and communities around the world.” To find out more click here
As Ghandi so succinctly said, " you can't shake hands with a clenched fist."

Runrig at Scone Palace

St Kilda. Gaelic (Hiort)

An isolated archipelago lying about 41 miles north west of the Outer Hebridean island of Uist in the Atlantic. The largest isle is Hirta, where the seacliffs are the highest in the UK. The seacliffs are home, and breeding ground to numerous seabirds like the fulmar, gannet and puffin. The seabirds became the staple diet of the islanders. The population maximum reached 180 people, but on 29th August 1930 the last remaining 36 were evacuated from the island at their own request to the mainland of Morvern. The loss of young men from the island after the first world war, a succession of bad harvests leading to food shortages, and a general feeling of increased isolation after supplies to the island became more limited and infrequent led to the unanimous decision to leave. The only residents today are military personnel, or parties of volunteers who work on the island in the summer restoring the ruined buidlings. St Kilda is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is part of the western Isles authority - Comhairle nan Eiland Siar. It is also one of Scotland's five World Heritage sites.

The people of St. Kilda