Nocturnal tours to draw flower fanatics to Fife

SCOTLAND'S first snowdrop festival by starlight is to be held next month as part of a year-long programme of events promoting culture and tourism in Fife.

"Snowdrops by Starlight" walks at the Cambo estate near St Andrews, the first outdoor event of Celebrating Fife 2010, will feature woodland evening walks.

Fay Smith, spokeswoman for the 70-acre estate, said: "We were already running daytime snowdrop tours and saw starlight walks as a way of adding a totally new dimension for visitors."

The snowdrop festival also features an environmental theatre adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland at Valleyfield Park near Dunfermline and audio walks at Falkland Palace.

Linda Temple, events strategy co-ordinator of Celebrating Fife 2010, said: "People generally have a perception of Fife which is not reflected in the 21st century.

"Fife is already going to be on the world stage in July hosting the Open golf championships at St Andrews, so this is an opportunity to raise the profile of what's happening in Fife."