WE live in turbulent times, but it certainly helps to feel organised by ensuring our diaries are in order for the year ahead. Making plans, resolutions, trying a new hobby or organising a trip can all elevate our mood significantly. And despite the pandemic, 2022 certainly promises an abundance of entertainment to look forward to. Here, we list a variety of reasons to remain excited about in the year ahead …
Celtic Connections, Glasgow
20 January – 6 February
January isn’t everyone’s favourite month, but in Glasgow the mood is always lifted by Celtic Connections – the annual festival celebrating the best in traditional folk, roots, Americana, jazz and soul music. Every year showcases fresh creative talent from Scotland and abroad.
Scottish Ski Resorts reopen
Open until April 2022
Many skiers and snowboarders have already been taking advantage of the flurries of snow covering Scotland’s peaks. And with January typically being forecast as the best for snow, many of us will be heading to one of Scotland’s main ski resorts – Cairngorm Mountain, Glenshee, Glencoe, Nevis Range and The Lecht.
After enduring a difficult season last year, Scotland’s facilities will be thrilled to see Scots return to the slopes. Winter can feel gloomy for us all, but getting out with friends or family, and spending a day in the mountains with fresh air (and hopefully fresh powder snow) and some fantastic scenery is a day well-spent.
www.visitscotland.com/see-do/active/skiing-snowsports
The Burrell Collection, Glasgow
Reopening March
Following an extensive multi-million pound refurbishment, The Burrell Collection will be reopening to the public in March 2022.
Located in Glasgow’s Pollok Country Park, the building will host new gallery spaces, displays and facilities, and has been redesigned to embrace a more efficient and sustainable low carbon model. Collections include objects from across the world including Asia and Europe representing five millennia of art and history – from the late medieval and early Renaissance, Chinese art, Islamic art and more.
A collection of Chinese pottery and porcelain produced over a five-thousand-year period (making it one of the most significant collections of Chinese Art in Europe), and paintings by renowned French artists including Manet, Cézanne and Degas are among highlights to be found at The Burrell Collection. You can view more collection highlights online.
www.burrellcollection.com/collection-highlights
Gleneagles Townhouse, Edinburgh
Opening Spring
Gleneagles is expanding operations and bringing its countryside opulence to Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square. Set to open next spring, this luxury hotel will offer visitors a choice of 33 rooms and suites each uniquely designed.
It will also feature all-day dining and drinking, a rooftop bar serving a seasonally rotating cocktail menu with expansive views and private entertainment options.
A former bank building has been utilised to great effect and adds to the style and charm of the surroundings.
The Gleneagles Townhouse is a new addition to Scotland’s impressive portfolio of luxury accommodation and is sure to be popular for celebrating special occasions or milestones.
UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, Fort William
21 – 22 May
Taking place at the scenic Nevis Range is one of the most iconic downhill mountain bike tracks on the world circuit. It easily takes the number one spot for its atmosphere with a huge local crowd turning up to support the riders through snow, sun, rain ... and midge.
Expect world-class action as the riders negotiate the rugged upper slopes of the track which then culminates in a series of jumps taking the riders across the finish line. In between events you can enjoy the World Cup village filled with the latest bike gear, team pits and tasty snacks. You might even bump into your favourite rider and grab a selfie.
The 150th Open, St Andrews
10 - 17 July
Summer 2022 will offer Scottish golf fans a treat with The 150th Open being held at the home of golf in St Andrews. The historic championship is sure to attract record crowds as the world’s greatest players come to Fife and fight for the Claret Jug.
The event marks the 30th time The Open has been played on the legendary Old Course in St Andrews. The atmosphere is sure to be electric as cheering crowds will watch the pros in action.
The town is also a great spot for a staycation with family and friends, and many will be extending the trip to book in a round of golf on some of Scotland’s most iconic courses.
Sustainable travel, Edinburgh
There’s plenty to be cheerful about when it comes to low-carbon, affordable travel. Lumo is a brand-new train service connecting Edinburgh and London, initially offering fares for as little as £14.90 in efforts to encourage more uptake in train travel between the two capitals.
Lumo boast that 60% of all single fares will cost £30 or less for transport down the east coast of the UK. While many of us would prefer to travel to London by train, prices can be high. Which is reason enough to be excited by this new alternative service. Lumo refers to itself as a “modern lifestyle travel brand” aiming to “shake up the industry and revolutionise travel”. The route will also stop at Stevenage, Newcastle and Morpeth.
World’s first UNESCO trail
Scotland is now the first country in the world to bring together 13 UNESCO sites into one trail. Last year, many Scots decided to stay local on their travels and boosted the country’s tourism figures, with this iconic trail attracting thousands by bringing the country’s most iconic, geologically diverse and culturally significant sites together.
Celebrating Scottish cities as well as the best in nature, the trail stretches from the lowlands to the islands of St Kilda in the west, The North West Highlands Geopark, and the cities in the east with so much more in between.
The aim of the trail is for Scots and tourists to appreciate and explore the richness and scope of Scotland’s versatile landscapes, its ancient history, and the vibrant unique culture.
The trail encourages visitors to slow down, stay longer, visit all year round and to make sustainable travel
choices.
www.visitscotland.com/see-do/unesco-trail
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article