0:00:09 > 0:00:122014 is an extraordinary year for Scotland.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16So much is happening across the length and breadth of the country.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18And it's not all about politics and sport.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20We're here with a brand-new series,
0:00:20 > 0:00:23a journey to discover the events worth celebrating.
0:00:23 > 0:00:24And the stories behind them.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28Everything from theatre to comedy...
0:00:28 > 0:00:31Great music and festivals!
0:00:33 > 0:00:35..activities we can all get involved in.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Birdie.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44Exploring what's happening inside our buildings...
0:00:44 > 0:00:46and what's going on on your street.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50We'll tell you about the quirky...
0:00:50 > 0:00:52and the exciting.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58We'll delve into Scotland's tastiest food and drink...
0:01:00 > 0:01:04..and meet the people creating these incredible experiences for all of us.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08So plan your summer with us. Join us as we head On The Road 2014.
0:01:08 > 0:01:09BEEP-BEEP
0:01:15 > 0:01:19Our route tonight - I'm in Inverness proving dying is easy.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Phew... Tough crowd.
0:01:21 > 0:01:22Comedy is hard.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24What do you do for a living?
0:01:24 > 0:01:25Nothing.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27LAUGHTER
0:01:27 > 0:01:29We're joined by weatherwoman Carol Kirkwood...
0:01:29 > 0:01:31They are enormous!
0:01:31 > 0:01:34..who's exploring the £22 million extension
0:01:34 > 0:01:36of the Forth and Clyde Canal.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39Some fine sailing ahead.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43And Martel reveals how one Glasgow company is leading the world
0:01:43 > 0:01:44in a Commonwealth sport.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47This is a family business - father, then passed to son -
0:01:47 > 0:01:49- is it a marriage made in heaven?- No.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51But first, this...
0:01:53 > 0:01:57I'm heading to Kirkwall in Orkney, where islanders are preparing
0:01:57 > 0:02:00for the magnificent St Magnus International Festival.
0:02:05 > 0:02:10This group of 70 islands - yes, 70! - has stunning scenery,
0:02:10 > 0:02:15incredible wildlife and is infused with 10,000 years of history.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18But today, I'm in search of some culture.
0:02:18 > 0:02:23For 30 years, the stunning scenery of Orkney has formed the backdrop
0:02:23 > 0:02:25to one of Britain's most highly regarded
0:02:25 > 0:02:27art and music festivals,
0:02:27 > 0:02:32with world-class musicians performing alongside home-grown talent.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35And as it's the 80th birthday of festival founder
0:02:35 > 0:02:40Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, it's going to be a bumper year.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42The week-long musical celebration will attract
0:02:42 > 0:02:46thousands of visitors to 42 events across Orkney.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53And the St Magnus Cathedral, which is almost nine centuries old,
0:02:53 > 0:02:55is its epicentre.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Here, eight events will take place.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02It just takes your breath away, it's incredible.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05And it's no wonder this is the focus of the festival.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08But none of it would happen year after year
0:03:08 > 0:03:11without the dedication of local people.
0:03:11 > 0:03:12BELL RINGS
0:03:16 > 0:03:18One of whom is festival chairman
0:03:18 > 0:03:23and expert bell-ringer here at the cathedral, Leslie Burgher.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25That's amazing!
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Totally not what I expected at all!
0:03:29 > 0:03:31BELL RINGS
0:03:31 > 0:03:36Leslie's job is to make sure this year's festival is a belter,
0:03:36 > 0:03:40and to help him do that are a ream of volunteers.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44We've got people doing things like being behind the stage,
0:03:44 > 0:03:46we've got front of house,
0:03:46 > 0:03:49and on top of that we've got over 400 local people
0:03:49 > 0:03:51taking part in the performances as well.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55So, it gives people here the chance to see these top-class performers
0:03:55 > 0:03:59in action, and it gets them the chance to be alongside them.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01And this year, what are you looking forward to most?
0:04:01 > 0:04:06I will always have to say that I look forward to the Festival Chorus.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10It brings well over 100 of our local singers,
0:04:10 > 0:04:12and I think that's going to be something really special this year.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14And here they are.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17# ..Shall be found... #
0:04:17 > 0:04:19They've been rehearsing since February
0:04:19 > 0:04:23for a performance of William Walton's contemporary Belshazzar's Feast,
0:04:23 > 0:04:27which they'll be singing alongside the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
0:04:27 > 0:04:29and the BBC Singers.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33The St Magnus Chorus is a choir of architects, policemen,
0:04:33 > 0:04:37farmers, shop assistants, who come from all over Orkney to rehearse -
0:04:37 > 0:04:40a feat of organisation in itself.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44# ..Shall be found... #
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Well, I live and work on one of the outlying islands,
0:04:46 > 0:04:50so it involves an hour-and-a-half commute into the rehearsal,
0:04:50 > 0:04:53and an early start in the morning to get back out to the island
0:04:53 > 0:04:54in time for work.
0:04:56 > 0:04:57Being involved in this choir
0:04:57 > 0:04:59means that I am taking part in something
0:04:59 > 0:05:01that's bigger than just myself.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05I'm an architect working from home, so when I come to the choir
0:05:05 > 0:05:10I meet with a whole team of people and work together with them.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12# ..Sing us one of the songs of Zion... #
0:05:12 > 0:05:14The main thing about singing in the choir,
0:05:14 > 0:05:16it's completely different from my day job.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19It makes a change from milking cows 24/7.
0:05:19 > 0:05:20'I'll say!'
0:05:20 > 0:05:27# ..Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! #
0:05:29 > 0:05:33The choir sound fantastic - full of passion, energy and talent.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36You can tell they're almost ready for the big day.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39And what's so great is to see a community come together
0:05:39 > 0:05:40and make this happen.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45The festival runs until 26th June,
0:05:45 > 0:05:47but if you can't make it up here,
0:05:47 > 0:05:49you can catch highlights on Radio 3,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52such as the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra's live performance
0:05:52 > 0:05:57at the St Magnus Cathedral on Wednesday 25th June.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07Last year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe was a record-breaker,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10though for budding comedians attempting to break through,
0:06:10 > 0:06:14there's another festival they consider to be even more important,
0:06:14 > 0:06:17as it's here they test their routines for the first time
0:06:17 > 0:06:20on what's probably their toughest audience.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22A Scottish one.
0:06:22 > 0:06:23This is like a secret gig,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26and we all have to know a password to get in here.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28So, shhh.
0:06:29 > 0:06:30It's called Happyness,
0:06:30 > 0:06:34and it takes place every May in the city of Inverness.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38So, we called a seasoned entertainer to investigate
0:06:38 > 0:06:42this dog-eat-cat world of stand-up comedy...
0:06:42 > 0:06:45and when he wasn't available, we decided to send Fred.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Ha-ha(!)
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Now in its third year,
0:06:49 > 0:06:52the Happyness Comedy Festival pulls in many big names -
0:06:52 > 0:06:55every one of them looking for laughs, free drinks
0:06:55 > 0:06:59and, more importantly, to make their routine the best it can be.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01It's not the easiest of career paths.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04I'll be honest with you, I've died on my ar...tistry a few times.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06More than I care to remember.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09I mean, asking yourself to stand in front of a room full of people
0:07:09 > 0:07:11and making them laugh. For goodness' sake.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Any Highlanders in?
0:07:13 > 0:07:15WIND WHISTLES
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Phew... Tough crowd.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19DRUM STING
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Getting here requires not only an audience
0:07:21 > 0:07:25but also practice, practice, practice.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29Which is just one of the reasons comedian Stuart Mitchell is in town.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31Formerly part of a troupe,
0:07:31 > 0:07:33this year he's going solo at the Edinburgh Fringe.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36But first he wants to conquer Inverness.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40I'm trying to make it more personal to me. When I first started out,
0:07:40 > 0:07:42- it was all about telling jokes on stage.- Aye.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44Whereas I'm now trying to tell more stories.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47And I'm a lot more confident with silence -
0:07:47 > 0:07:50- I was a bit scared of silence in the past.- I think we all are!- We are!
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Even the audience. Watch this.
0:07:54 > 0:07:55Scared them. Will you try some stuff
0:07:55 > 0:07:57that you think you might throw in for Edinburgh?
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Yeah. You know yourself, you've got to take risks.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02You've got to learn to test new material,
0:08:02 > 0:08:05and don't rely on the stuff that you know works.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Currently, Stuart works for a charity organisation,
0:08:08 > 0:08:10but is hoping this will be the first step
0:08:10 > 0:08:14to a career that might pay even less - comedy.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16I'm sure you'll agree, when you're doing new material
0:08:16 > 0:08:19and you hear that laughter, it's the best feeling in the world.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21'But as well as polishing his act,
0:08:21 > 0:08:25'Stuart will also have to learn the art of grassroots advertising -
0:08:25 > 0:08:27'AKA handing out flyers...'
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Come to the Inverness Happyness festival tonight.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32..something comedians Patrick Monahan
0:08:32 > 0:08:34and Bec Hill are old hands at.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37In terms of the number of people that you get through the door,
0:08:37 > 0:08:41I mean, is that dependent on how much flyering you do?
0:08:41 > 0:08:43In Edinburgh, absolutely.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Here I find that we're getting more and more audiences every year.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50Learning to be your own PR machine is essential -
0:08:50 > 0:08:53though, of course, the other essential ingredient is being funny,
0:08:53 > 0:08:57something Jason Byrne says he's more than happy to help me with. Cheeky.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59What do you do for a living?
0:08:59 > 0:09:01Nothing.
0:09:01 > 0:09:02LAUGHTER
0:09:02 > 0:09:04You do nothing?!
0:09:04 > 0:09:06I caught up with Jason pre-gig,
0:09:06 > 0:09:09and already he's been inspired by the locals.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12- I got the train up here, and I did a lot of listening on the train.- Right.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15Oh, my God, I hope to have at least half an hour...
0:09:15 > 0:09:17- Right!- ..of new Scottish material. - OK.- Oh, it was great craic.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22Are you his wife or partner, or...? Who are you? A friend?
0:09:22 > 0:09:24No. Nobody. LAUGHTER
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Is it easier for you, because you've been going that length of time,
0:09:27 > 0:09:29to make a new hour, or is it just as difficult now?
0:09:29 > 0:09:32When I was younger I would go, "Is that funny? Oh, I'll try it."
0:09:32 > 0:09:34And it wouldn't be, and I'd go, "Oh, my God."
0:09:34 > 0:09:36So I tend to die less now on stage.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39But that means that the quality is higher,
0:09:39 > 0:09:40but that means that it's harder.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44Speaking of which, time for Stuart to road test his one-man show.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46At least there's a good crowd.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50Please welcome to the stage, the fantastic Stuart Mitchell!
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Wahey!
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Hello, hello!
0:09:58 > 0:10:00How you doing, Inverness, are you well?
0:10:00 > 0:10:01Yeah!
0:10:01 > 0:10:03Can I just start by saying,
0:10:03 > 0:10:05I'm very conscious there's doctors in the audience.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07Cos I don't like waving at audiences,
0:10:07 > 0:10:09cos I'm missing the tips of my fingers.
0:10:09 > 0:10:10- Do you see that? AUDIENCE:- Ooohh...
0:10:10 > 0:10:12It's not a magic trick.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14LAUGHTER
0:10:14 > 0:10:16Actually, I went to a rough school in Glasgow,
0:10:16 > 0:10:19where I lost that in a game of rock, paper and scissors.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21LAUGHTER
0:10:23 > 0:10:27After 20 minutes on stage which, believe me, CAN seem a lifetime,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30I think Stuart's solo career is off to a pretty good start.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33- Anyway, you've been a lovely audience.- Woo!
0:10:33 > 0:10:34But what do the punters think?
0:10:34 > 0:10:36Stuart was fantastic.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38It was brilliant. I had a really good time.
0:10:38 > 0:10:39Definitely see Stuart Mitchell again.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41It was the best night you could imagine.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43Stuart did a really, really good job,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46so I think that augurs well for Edinburgh Fringe.
0:10:46 > 0:10:47Well done to Stu! Nice one!
0:10:48 > 0:10:50You can see Stuart at the Edinburgh Fringe,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53which runs August 1st to 25th.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Meanwhile, the Happyness festival will return next May.
0:10:58 > 0:10:59And for more info,
0:10:59 > 0:11:00go to our website...
0:11:05 > 0:11:08Stay with us as Fred dips his toes...
0:11:09 > 0:11:11..and a few other things
0:11:11 > 0:11:14in one of Scotland's historic outdoor swimming pools.
0:11:15 > 0:11:20And journalist Cat Cubie explores our newfound love of gin.
0:11:20 > 0:11:21- Mm. - HE LAUGHS
0:11:21 > 0:11:22No, that is really nice!
0:11:24 > 0:11:25But first...
0:11:30 > 0:11:33The Kelpies are not only Scotland's newest icon,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35they're also the centrepiece
0:11:35 > 0:11:37of a soon-to-be-opened £22 million extension
0:11:37 > 0:11:40to our much-loved lowland canals.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45And weather favourite Carol Kirkwood is taking an exclusive journey
0:11:45 > 0:11:46along this new waterway.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50Right underneath me is the brand-new half-mile stretch
0:11:50 > 0:11:52of the Forth and Clyde Canal.
0:11:52 > 0:11:57It is just lovely and tranquil today, so some fine sailing ahead.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02Opening in two months' time, this stretch of water makes it possible
0:12:02 > 0:12:06to leisurely sail all the way from the North Sea to the Irish Sea,
0:12:06 > 0:12:09enjoying some spectacular sights en route.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14The new extension has its beginnings in Grangemouth...
0:12:14 > 0:12:18and it bypasses the narrow tidal parts of the River Carron,
0:12:18 > 0:12:23so that now boats of up to 20m will be able to join the canal.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26Richard Miller from Scottish Canals thinks this will attract
0:12:26 > 0:12:29pleasure boaters from around the world.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32This new extension of the canal makes it a lot easier
0:12:32 > 0:12:36for boats coming in from Holland, from Germany and from Scandinavia,
0:12:36 > 0:12:38doing what it was always meant to do,
0:12:38 > 0:12:40which was a sea-to-sea navigation.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44Year on year out, it will deliver £1.5 million into the local economy.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46A fantastic result,
0:12:46 > 0:12:50and one that comes from a 16-year investment project,
0:12:50 > 0:12:54which allows boating enthusiasts to enjoy, at a pace of 4mph,
0:12:54 > 0:12:58everything form the Falkirk Wheel to the revamped Speirs Wharf in Glasgow.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02A far cry from the canal's beginnings,
0:13:02 > 0:13:06which are rooted in the industrial heyday of the late 1700s.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10The idea was really to develop freight,
0:13:10 > 0:13:11but also to develop passenger transport,
0:13:11 > 0:13:13and it was transformational,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16because the canal actually developed the first sleeper service.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19So you could travel from Glasgow to Edinburgh overnight,
0:13:19 > 0:13:24and it was very, very popular - over 200,000 passengers a year.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27The arrival of the railway signalled the end of the canals,
0:13:27 > 0:13:30and eventually they were left to rot.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33Thankfully campaign groups rallied to their cause
0:13:33 > 0:13:37almost as soon as they'd closed - and just look at the result.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41Oh, my goodness, they are enormous!
0:13:43 > 0:13:44They're fabulous!
0:13:46 > 0:13:48They were created by artist Andy Scott
0:13:48 > 0:13:51and called Kelpies after the mythical water spirits
0:13:51 > 0:13:55that haunted the ancient lochs and rivers of Celtic folklore.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58Inspiration also came from the heavy horses
0:13:58 > 0:14:01that once pulled the barges along the towpath.
0:14:02 > 0:14:07They are celebrating the industrial past, but also the future.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09I mean, just look at them!
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Named Head Up and Head Down,
0:14:12 > 0:14:15300 tonnes of steel were used in their construction,
0:14:15 > 0:14:19as well as 990 unique stainless-steel skin plates,
0:14:19 > 0:14:23and it was all assembled on-site in just 90 days.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Well, apparently the thing to do when you come here is a Kelpie selfie.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30Everyone's doing it, so here goes.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38The new public park also offers visitors a concert space...
0:14:38 > 0:14:39a lagoon for watersports...
0:14:39 > 0:14:43and, for the very brave, an open-air swimming pool.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45But if you don't fancy getting your feet wet,
0:14:45 > 0:14:47this is the starting point
0:14:47 > 0:14:52of an additional 16 miles of brand-new cycle networks,
0:14:52 > 0:14:54all waiting to be explored.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57Meanwhile, there are five companies offering boating holidays
0:14:57 > 0:15:00and barges for hire along this stretch of water.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Or you could explore Scotland's other famous canals,
0:15:03 > 0:15:07such as the Crinan and the Caledonian.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09Let's just hope the summer weather is good.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17MUSIC: "A Fistful of Dollars (Theme)" by Ennio Morricone
0:15:17 > 0:15:19Lawn bowls.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23A game that requires power...
0:15:23 > 0:15:26precision...
0:15:26 > 0:15:28and steely determination.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Yes!
0:15:31 > 0:15:34And right here in Glasgow is the oldest
0:15:34 > 0:15:37and biggest manufacturer of bowls in the world,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40supplying many of the ones being played
0:15:40 > 0:15:43at next month's Commonwealth Games.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48But before I discover what goes into making a world-class bowl,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51I've come to the beautiful Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre,
0:15:51 > 0:15:53where the Commonwealth bowls will be held.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56In fact, that's the Scottish team practising right now,
0:15:56 > 0:16:00and I'm going to find out how a good bowl can help my game.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04'Mind you, as I am a complete and utter novice...'
0:16:04 > 0:16:06Am I holding it correctly?
0:16:06 > 0:16:08'I'm relying on the skills of para-athlete
0:16:08 > 0:16:13'and world champ Robert Conway, along with his coach Ron McArthur.'
0:16:13 > 0:16:16- Oh, excellent!- Oh, beautiful!
0:16:16 > 0:16:17- You've done this before.- Yes.- No!
0:16:17 > 0:16:20- She's probably a champion. - You're being kind.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23'Even more surprising than my natural ability
0:16:23 > 0:16:25'is the fact that bowls aren't actually round -
0:16:25 > 0:16:28'they're weighted so they run in a curved line.'
0:16:28 > 0:16:31It's a real family sport - it's one of the best sports in the world.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Doesn't matter what disability you've got -
0:16:33 > 0:16:35physically impaired, physically disabled...
0:16:35 > 0:16:39But it does have a wee bit of a reputation as an old man's sport.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42I'm here quite a lot, and I see young kids, teenagers,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45who you would never expect to play bowls, come to try bowls.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49World indoor champion is an 18-year-old girl, Katherine Rednall,
0:16:49 > 0:16:52and she beat a 24-year-old to win that.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54And just a few minutes into my training,
0:16:54 > 0:16:57I can definitely see the game's appeal.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59Oh, great, again!
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Now I know how a good bowl can help my game,
0:17:02 > 0:17:05I want to find the perfect size and weight for me,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08so my next stop is Taylor Bowls in Bridgeton,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11a local company that's the world leader.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14In fact, it's been going for almost 220 years,
0:17:14 > 0:17:18and in all that time has only been owned by two families -
0:17:18 > 0:17:21the Taylors and, more recently, the Herons,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24father and son duo, Alex and Grant.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27This is a family business - father, then passed to son -
0:17:27 > 0:17:29- is it a marriage made in heaven?- No.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Might as well be truthful about it!
0:17:32 > 0:17:35- We've had a few issues over the years.- Well, I'm officially retired!
0:17:35 > 0:17:37He's officially retired, yeah.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Well, they must be doing something right...
0:17:41 > 0:17:46as they're now producing roughly a quarter of a million bowls a year.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Wow! It's massive!
0:17:49 > 0:17:52And just in case you were wondering...
0:17:53 > 0:17:55..this is how it's done.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59First, take a few scoops of powdered melamine...
0:17:59 > 0:18:02It then goes into these little machines at the side here,
0:18:02 > 0:18:06which are radio wave preheaters, very similar to a microwave.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11..heat to 130 degrees Celsius, until it forms a dough,
0:18:11 > 0:18:16then place into a cast and apply 150 tonnes of pressure.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20And it'll turn that dough into something like a treacle.
0:18:20 > 0:18:26Next, cool for 12 hours, then remove all the rough edges...
0:18:26 > 0:18:27and add the detailing.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30OK, Martel. So, that's the process finished.
0:18:30 > 0:18:31Happy bowling.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33Wow! Our very...
0:18:33 > 0:18:36On The Road ball, how cool is that?
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Right, don't tell the rest of the crew, I want to keep this one myself.
0:18:39 > 0:18:40You're welcome!
0:18:40 > 0:18:42Because now I have the training and the equipment,
0:18:42 > 0:18:44it's time to get competitive!
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Judging my efforts, the entire ladies team of the Blantyre Bowling Club.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52- ALL:- Yes!
0:18:52 > 0:18:53No pressure, then(!)
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Well, Ella, I've got a lot of ladies to impress here.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58I hope I do an OK job.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00And thanks for holding my umbrella, Ella.
0:19:00 > 0:19:01- Ahh!- Ella.
0:19:01 > 0:19:02# Eh, eh, eh
0:19:02 > 0:19:05# Under my umbrella
0:19:05 > 0:19:09# Ella, ella, eh, eh, eh... #
0:19:11 > 0:19:14- Woo!- Well done.
0:19:14 > 0:19:159!
0:19:16 > 0:19:18If my attempts have inspired you,
0:19:18 > 0:19:22there are hundreds of bowling clubs across Scotland you can join,
0:19:22 > 0:19:24and you can see Commonwealth Games athletes
0:19:24 > 0:19:28compete at Kelvingrove Green from July 24th.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31And whether you decide to pick up a ball or just watch the games
0:19:31 > 0:19:34from the comfort of your own sofa, remember,
0:19:34 > 0:19:37the bowl you see in play was probably made in Glasgow.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42# Un-reroute the rivers
0:19:42 > 0:19:44# Let the dammed water be... #
0:19:44 > 0:19:48Think home-grown booze and, of course, you think whisky.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Though maybe not for much longer, as, surprisingly,
0:19:51 > 0:19:55Scotland's becoming increasingly well-known for its gin.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59We're even celebrating World Gin Day on June 14th.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02So, to find out more about its spike in popularity,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06we've sent journalist Cat Cubie to Edinburgh.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09Go into almost any pub or club or restaurant these days,
0:20:09 > 0:20:12and you're likely to find a whole array of different gins.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16It's seriously trendy, and increasingly popular -
0:20:16 > 0:20:20and what's more, a lot of those bottles are likely to be Scottish.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26Because around 70% of gin made in the UK comes from Scotland -
0:20:26 > 0:20:29like whisky, gin starts out as ethanol,
0:20:29 > 0:20:31a pure spirit made from grain,
0:20:31 > 0:20:35meaning whisky distilleries can easily switch to gin production.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38But unlike whisky, gin doesn't take ages maturing.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42In fact, it can be produced and sold almost immediately.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45It's one of the main reasons we've seen so many new bottles
0:20:45 > 0:20:47appearing on the shelves in the last few years.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50So, what prompted the gin revolution?
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Food and drink editor of the List Magazine Donald Reid
0:20:52 > 0:20:54is going to tell me.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56We're becoming more expressive,
0:20:56 > 0:20:58and I think gin's a great example of that.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01People are more interested in ingredients
0:21:01 > 0:21:04and the distinctiveness of ingredients
0:21:04 > 0:21:06going into different products.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09This explosion in flavour has seen seven new Scottish gins
0:21:09 > 0:21:12hit the market over the last decade.
0:21:12 > 0:21:13But it's not just the big distilleries
0:21:13 > 0:21:16who are getting in on the act.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18This is Pickering's,
0:21:18 > 0:21:23the first artisan gin distillery to open in Edinburgh in 150 years.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27Run by Marcus Pickering and Matthew Gammell.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30- Are you guys going to show me what you would do to make some gin?- Yeah.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32- Yeah.- Absolutely. - We can show you the process.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35Their unique mix contains nine botanicals -
0:21:35 > 0:21:37that's flavourings, to you and me -
0:21:37 > 0:21:40including the likes of angelica, lime and fennel.
0:21:40 > 0:21:46Mind you, some gins have as many as 31! Others as little as four.
0:21:46 > 0:21:51But I digress. The botanicals are added to 96% proof alcohol.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54And this is heated by a bain-marie.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56Now, a bain-marie, that's what I usually use
0:21:56 > 0:21:58when I'm cooking chocolate - is it the same thing?
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Very similar principle.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Heat is applied to the outer tank, which contains water.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07This gently heats the inner tank, which has the gin,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09turning it into gas.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13Next it's condensed back into a liquid, water's added,
0:22:13 > 0:22:17and the alcohol content becomes a much more drinkable 42%.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20In the distillery we only have it neat.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Mm. HE LAUGHS
0:22:26 > 0:22:27No, that is really nice!
0:22:27 > 0:22:29- It's actually quite palatable.- Yeah.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34But it's not just the gin that's undergoing a transformation.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38According Paul Reynolds, owner of this specialist gin bar in Glasgow,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41the humble slice of lemon has had its day.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Gins are all about tasting the botanicals.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47- So you want to complement the flavours.- Correct, yes.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49Paul has three garnishes for me to try.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Cucumber with some Hendrick's...
0:22:52 > 0:22:56Yeah, it's really refreshing, and I-I love cucumber anyway,
0:22:56 > 0:22:58but you get that mix.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01..apple with this Speyside Caorunn...
0:23:02 > 0:23:05- Oh, that is so much sweeter!- Yep.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07..and lemongrass with The Botanist from Islay.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11It is very smooth. In the other two,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14you're getting more of the flavours coming through from the garnish...
0:23:14 > 0:23:17- Sure.- ..where that's kind of a little bit more subtle.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20To learn more about gin and other spirits produced here
0:23:20 > 0:23:24in Scotland, there are distilleries you can visit across the country.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27And for more info on any of the items
0:23:27 > 0:23:29on tonight's programme,
0:23:29 > 0:23:30go to our website, at...
0:23:44 > 0:23:47With summer here and the swimming season finally upon us,
0:23:47 > 0:23:50I want to pay tribute to a special part of our history -
0:23:50 > 0:23:52or, to put it another way...
0:23:52 > 0:23:54time for me to take a dip
0:23:54 > 0:23:57in one of Scotland's last remaining open-air public pools.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01At one stage, we had around 25 of these little beauties
0:24:01 > 0:24:03up and down the country.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07# We should be swimming... #
0:24:07 > 0:24:11It was here we socialised, entered knobbly knee contests
0:24:11 > 0:24:13and even fell in love.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17But these days, only three remain,
0:24:17 > 0:24:20something that makes Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire
0:24:20 > 0:24:22a very special place indeed,
0:24:22 > 0:24:26as, here, this Art Deco gem has not only survived against the odds,
0:24:26 > 0:24:28it's actually thriving.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31And this month it celebrates a very important anniversary -
0:24:31 > 0:24:32its 80th birthday.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34That's right, twice as old as me(!)
0:24:38 > 0:24:40This impressive Olympic-sized pool
0:24:40 > 0:24:45filled with 250,000 gallons of seawater first opened in 1934,
0:24:45 > 0:24:47though, by the '90s,
0:24:47 > 0:24:51cheap holidays abroad meant it was facing the wrecker's ball.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55Fortunately, the locals swung onto action,
0:24:55 > 0:24:59forming the Friends of Stonehaven Pool.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04We started in the mid-'90s, when the pool was threatened with closure.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06And there it was, "Backs to the wall,
0:25:06 > 0:25:09"we must keep this open at all costs."
0:25:09 > 0:25:12Eventually, the locals succeeded in lobbying the council,
0:25:12 > 0:25:17and 20 years on, they still play a role in keeping the place tiptop.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21There's a lot of work gone into this, from lots of volunteers.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24- We've over 4,000 volunteer hours. - Is that a fact?
0:25:24 > 0:25:26Yes. Yes.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28But we can't sit on our laurels -
0:25:28 > 0:25:30we've got to keep the place looking good.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35'Thanks to the dedicated volunteers lending a hand...'
0:25:35 > 0:25:36Hey, Bruce.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38'..that doesn't seem to be a problem.'
0:25:38 > 0:25:42It nearly looks better than it did when it opened in 1934.
0:25:42 > 0:25:43Is that right?
0:25:43 > 0:25:46'And Bruce Whitelaw should know. He was actually there.'
0:25:46 > 0:25:49I learned to swim in the pool in 1934.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52- So you could work my age out. - I'm going to guess 84, then.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54That is dead on. 84.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58And this year - what, will you do a few lengths a day?
0:25:58 > 0:26:00No, I can't do a length any more.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02- Across the way, a breadth? - Oh, yes, I can do a breadth.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05- Never miss one year...- Uh-huh? - ..in the pool.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07Here we go!
0:26:09 > 0:26:13Not only is the pool an important part of this community,
0:26:13 > 0:26:16it also represented a shift in our values.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19That is, according to historian Alastair Durie.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21This is the era when the body
0:26:21 > 0:26:25- was starting to be...wanted to be seen as beautiful.- Uh-huh, yeah!
0:26:25 > 0:26:30- The Victorians had covered up. This generation is stripping off.- Right.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32And from what I can tell,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35swimming wasn't the main reason people used to flock here.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37In addition to what's going on in the pool,
0:26:37 > 0:26:40you've got beauty parades, you've got amusement competitions -
0:26:40 > 0:26:43- best-dressed and all that sort of thing.- Right.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46They even, in some places, staged naval battles!
0:26:46 > 0:26:47- Did they?- Yeah!
0:26:47 > 0:26:52It's the centre of everything that goes on by way of popular amusement.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57As for the future, I'd say this venue is definitely back in vogue.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59One, two, three, up.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03Over a good summer, it's attracting more than 30,000 people,
0:27:03 > 0:27:05and it's also the perfect place
0:27:05 > 0:27:08for local lifeguards to hone their skills...
0:27:08 > 0:27:12You're going to get into teams of three instead of your teams of two.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14..just one of the reason trainer Gillian Wood is grateful
0:27:14 > 0:27:17to the Friends of Stonehaven Pool.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19Do you think that the dedication that they've shown
0:27:19 > 0:27:21will be echoed with the young ones?
0:27:21 > 0:27:23I think it will, yeah.
0:27:23 > 0:27:24Everybody's proud of the pool,
0:27:24 > 0:27:28so I think you will see younger ones stepping up to the game.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31They'll all do above and beyond what they need to do.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Stonehaven's Olympic-sized outdoor pool is open now
0:27:34 > 0:27:36through till September.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38And you'll also find similar pools dating back to last
0:27:38 > 0:27:41century in both Gourock and New Cumnock.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Well, I've had an absolutely brilliant day
0:27:45 > 0:27:47here at Stonehaven Open Air Pool.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50I enjoyed being in the water - it's Baltic when you get out,
0:27:50 > 0:27:51I'm away for a fish supper.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55While we won't be here next week,
0:27:55 > 0:27:58join us on Monday 23rd June at 7.30pm,
0:27:58 > 0:28:00when I'll be showcasing
0:28:00 > 0:28:04one of Scotland's multicultural festivals, the Mela.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09Martel's back in Orkney celebrating the 70th anniversary
0:28:09 > 0:28:13of the island's stunning chapel built by Italian prisoners of war...
0:28:13 > 0:28:15Oh, wow!
0:28:15 > 0:28:18..and DJ Ally McCrae will be swapping his headphones
0:28:18 > 0:28:23for full battle gear as preparations get going for Bannockburn Live.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26ALL ROAR