SCOTLAND

In Scotland we will be holding our conference at Blairquhan Castle. This mansion is considered to be one of the finest estates in Scotland. This magnificent castle is situated on 2000 acres of gardens and woodlands.

The Saloon is 60 feet high, and has 22 doors. The brass ventilator in the centre of the room was originally for heating - much appreciated by Victorian ladies in long skirts emerging from a cold session in the dining room. In Edwardian times there was a pianola in this room for dancing. Portraits are of family.

Four families have lived at Blairquhan. The McWhirters built the first tower-house in about 1346. Through marriage they were succeeded by the Kennedys, who built a large regular front south west of the Tower in 1573. In the early 17th Century the Whitefoords took over, but in 1798, suffering from the effects of the Ayr Bank crash, they sold Blairquhan to the Trustees of Sir David Hunter Blair, 3rd Baronet. He was a member of a cadet branch of the Hunters of Hunterston; related, through his mother, to the Kennedys of Blairquhan. The old castle having become ruinous, he commissioned the Scottish architect William Burn to design a new house, slightly north of the old one, and, between 1821 and 1824, it was built.

The gardens were laid out by John Tweedie (1775-1862), a native of Lanarkshire who worked at Castlehill in Ayr and in 1816 came to work at Blairquhan. Afterwards he laid out the gardens at Eglinton Castle and, in 1825, he emigrated to Argentina where he became a leading agriculturist and plant-hunter.

There are no rules about where you can go on the estate. You can walk and picnic where you wish. There is a fascinating tree trail to follow, a sheltered walled garden with glass house to stroll round, ducks on the garden pond to admire, fishing by arrangement on the River Girvan and estate lochs and tours of the Castle.

AUTHORS: Pultizer Prize winner, EDWARD HUMES; NEA finalist, DAN CHAON; NEA finalist and PEN/HEMINGWAY award winner, JOAN SILBER; BOOKER judge and London Times Book reviewer, RUSSELL CELYN; The highly acclamed playwright, CONSTANCE CONGDON; PEN Syndicated Fiction Project Award winner, NAHID RACHLIN; Award winning Poet, KAZIM ALI; and others to be announced.

Price depend upon accommodations: includes: (7) accommodations for seven nights with five dinners;(2) workshops of your choice; (3) personal consultations, one with an agent; daily readings, lectures, group panel discussions and filming's. Attendance without workshops, $750.00 reduction from our standard price.

Participants will be housed in one of eight independent castle cottages. Cottages have living rooms, kitchens and two to four bedrooms. Kennedy Cottage, is one side of a courtyard forming part of Blairquhan castle, it was built in 1575. McIntyre and Farrer cottages are converted Coach houses. Wauchope Cottage is a convered stable, it was modernized in 2004. McDowall and Cuninghame Cottage are converted Garden houses, it was built in 1800 and it's situated on the garden wall. O'Neil and Joiner Cottages are charming stone cottages that are situated in the courtyard of the estate.

Kennedy Cottage : Kennedy Cottage is one side of a courtyard forming part of Blairquhan Castle. The stone carvings on the cottage date back to 1575.

McDowall Cottage: McDowall Cottage was converted from a former Garden Bothy. built about 1800. It is romantically situated on the garden wall of Blairquhan Gardens.

Mclntyre Cottage: Mclntyre Cottage is one of the conversions from the former Coachman’s House, Harness rooms and Stables of Blairquhan Castle.