Scottish Nordic Conference - Organisation Arrangements

Venue

The Conference will take place at Skibo Castle, Caithness. The Skibo Castle estate, which comprises more than seven thousand acres, is enchantingly beautiful, very private and yet close to Inverness which enjoys excellent air, rail and road links. Accommodation and full board will be provided for all delegates at Skibo Castle or its lodges from the evening of 28 February until breakfast on Saturday 3 March.

For the conference we have exclusive use until the afternoon of Friday 2 March.  After the final session, on the evening of Friday 2 March, those staying in the Castle and one or two lodges will then be transferred to hotel accommodation in Tain, prior to the final dinner back at Skibo.  Rooms have been reserved at Morangie House and the Mansefield House Hotel for the Friday night, this covers bed and breakfast only.  Detailed allocation of rooms will take place at a later stage, but Nordic participants should generally not be required to move out of the Estate facilities on Friday.

Further information on the conference venue may be viewed at www.carnegieclub.co.uk.

Primarily as a service for the Nordic participants, 25 rooms have been reserved at the Glen Mhor Hotel (www.glen-mhor.com ) in Inverness for those staying on until Sunday 4 March.  The cost of this will be borne by delegates and at £35 Bed and Breakfast is very competitive.  Transportation to the airport on Sunday morning will be provided by HIE.

Registration

Skibo Castle requires a registration form to have been completed and returned to them prior to arrival. To ensure a smooth check-in on arrival we will complete these forms and forward them on your behalf. If you have any special requirements, dietary or otherwise, then, please let us know at the earliest opportunity. This will allow Skibo Castle to take account of any special requirements you may have.

If you would like to take advantage of the wide variety of activities offered by the Castle, please complete the form under ‘Saturday programme’ below and return it to the organisers by 22 February.

Transport arrangements

A detailed administrative instruction outlining all transport arrangements, details of available activities and assistance will follow separately.   However, please note the following:

Skibo Castle is located approximately 1 hour’s journey north of Inverness (map is included in the enclosed brochure).   In view of recent events it is not exactly an unknown location (and, no, you cannot have that room).   Highlands & Islands Enterprise will arrange transport from Inverness airport/railway station to Skibo as required.

Costs

The Scottish Executive and Highlands & Islands Enterprsise are covering the costs of local transportation to and from airports/stations as well as accommodation, breakfast, lunch, pre-dinner drinks, dinner, and house wines during dinner.  The cost of any additional items, however, will be borne by participants.

Dress code

The dress code should be kept smart but casual (definitely not black tie). It would be highly appropriate for the Scottish participants to wear Highland Dress for dinner.

Saturday/Sunday Programme

For Saturday, 3 March, a programme is available for those staying on for a further night in Inverness.  Following breakfast on Saturday morning a coach will pick up the remaining Skibo Castle residents to reunite them with fellow participants staying at either Morangie House Hotel or the Mansefield House Hotel in Tain.  At 10.00 we arrive at the Glenmorangie Distillery for a tour and tasting. (Further details about the whisky may be found at www.glenmorangie.com ).

For lunch we will visit Made in Scotland, Beauly which also offers the very best Scottish designer and hand crafted products for sale. 

Following this we have arranged for tickets for those interested to attend a local football match between Ross County and Morton – this should prove to be a exciting encounter between these two clubs battling to avoid relegation from the Bell’s Scottish League First Division.

Non-football fans will be taken on to Inverness for check in at the Glen Mhor hotel and an opportunity to sight see in Inverness.  After the match a coach will transport the remaining guests to the hotel. 

09.15	Depart Skibo Castle
	Pick up from other hotels
10.00	Glenmorangie – tour and tasting
11.30	Depart Glenmorangie
12.00	Made in Scotland, Beauly for lunch and retail opportunities;  time to look around Beauly
14.00	Depart Beauly for Dingwall
	Drop off football fans at Ross County Ground
15.15	Arrive Glen Mhor Hotel – those not watching football have time to sight see around Inverness
16.30	Coach picks up football fans in Dingwall
17.00	Football fans arrive at Glen Mhor Hotel
	Free evening in Inverness

            Sunday March 4^th

09.30	Depart Glen Mhor Hotel
09.55	Arrive Inverness Airport, Dalcross
10.55	Flight to Gatwick

The Castle has a wide variety of activities, which will be available to delegates during their stay.  A tariff for these is attached, and it would be helpful if you could notify us by Thursday 22 February by e-mail or fax if wish to try any, although you should bear in mind the conference timetable.

If you would like to take advantage of the Saturday programme or other activities available at Skibo please download a form by clicking here and returning the form to:

Ms Fiona J Reid
European Affairs Officer
Highland & Island Enterprise

Tel: +44 (0) 1463 244 252
e-mail:  f.reid@hient.co.uk