Why one swallow can make your summer

Food and drink events offer the perfect taste of Scotland, writes

The long sunny days of summer are ideal for evening barbecues and al fresco dining so, to make the most of them, a number of outdoor food and drink events are held across Scotland.

The Merchant City Festival takes place in this trendy part of Glasgow from 2 to 12 August.

While it celebrates street art, music and theatre, food and drink are very much key features, with food stalls on the streets and in venues offering produce from across Scotland and the world.

The festival surrounds Merchant Square, which is part of the Old Fruitmarket, dating back to the 1700s, when the city’s wealthy merchants stored tobacco, sugar and tea there.

As a hub of restaurants and bars as well as craft stalls, the cosmopolitan Merchant City is well worth exploring.

Shieldaig Lodge offers creel fishing on Loch Gairloch

Picture: Paul Tomkins/ Visitscotland