Festival first in venison campaign

SCOTLAND's first "venison festival" is to be staged this year as part of a major tourism drive to highlight the quality of the food and drink available on Royal Deeside.

The six-day celebration is being staged as part of the Royal Deeside Larder initiative, organised by the Royal Deeside and Cairngorms Destination Management Organisation (DMO).

The festival, which will be held from 26 to 31 October, will feature a range of gastronomic events where everything from venison haggis to venison vindaloo will be on offer.

DMO chairman Garry Marsden said: "We know that visitors to Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms enjoy authentic, local food - and there can be no finer example of this than the game that roams our estates.

"This unique event will offer first-timers and venison connoisseurs alike the opportunity to taste some of the very finest Scottish venison in some unusual settings.

"They'll also get a fascinating insight into the important role that venison plays in Royal Deeside's Larder."

He added: "Venison has been seen as a meat only for the elite, but we want to show that it can be enjoyed by everyone."