We are all pretty excited, preparing to go on our vaca to Scotland – with a great group and our harps!

In Harpa tradition, we’re going to be playing concerts along the way. Each one will be somewhere interesting AND all the money will go to a charity of choice of each venue.

Our first concert will be at Dumfries House – one of Britain’s most beautiful stately homes. It has an interesting history, not least because of its recent restoration. There is also a collection of Chippendale pieces that is notably large. We are scheduled to play 16th May.

The property is incredible – 2000 acres and an immense house as well as an arboretum, gardens and walks, all in Ayrshire – a beautiful place.

We know you can’t all be with us, but check out the Dumfries House website and facebook page – maybe you’ll see us there!

We are excited to be doing a Harpa trip in 2017!  (If you want to go on the Harp the Highlands and Islands Tour, start planning – we’ll be going in 2018!). We are scheduling the trip for 11 – 25 May 2017.

Join Sue Richards (Concert Mistress), Beth Kolle (Harpa Founder), and me as we travel to the Isle of Skye, the Borders and more.  We will meet old friends and new. And we’ll be playing lots of music. We will also perform and give back through concerts for good causes.  Bring your harp and have a good time – we will have some ensemble parts to share.

You don’t have to be a harp player – we welcome other (small) traditional instruments and appreciators.  We are delighted to be going back to Scotland and the opportunity to see some new places.

While the schedule is still taking shape, but we are looking a trip along the lines of the following:

Day 1 – Collect everyone in Edinburgh and head to St Andrews

Day 2 – Head to Ft William via Aberfeldy, Falls of Dochart, and Glencoe

Day 3 – Go on to three days on the Isle of Skye

Day 4 – See Scenic Skye including Dunvegan Castle

Day 5 – Visit the Talisker distillery, the Fairy Falls and Eilen Donan Castle

Day 6 – Travel to Loch Lomond, and the Trossochs and Glasgow highlights

Day 7 – Spend the day in Glasgow

Day 8 thru 13. While we’re finalizing the specific days, we will visit Ayrshire and Dumfries (Burns country) and will have five concerts including performances at:

• Culzean Castle (for National Trust for Scotland)
• Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
• Dumfries House (for the Prince’s Trust)
• Others are still in work

Day 14. Return to Edinburgh

Remember that we will have only 14 seats on this trip. You will (as before) need to bring your lever harp (we learned last time that hiring a harp there was in the “just too darn hard” category).

As we have updates they will be posted on the website. I’m already taking places so let me know if you are interested soon.

As always, questions welcomed and encouraged.

I’m so looking forward this trip – I know we’ll have a great time! Hope you join me –

Contact me for more information and to reserve your place.  And watch this space for updates.