The Scottish Congress 2019: a few Presidential words
The 114th Scottish Congress 2019 will be held in the Robertson Arms, Carnwath, on Friday 17th, Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th May 2019.
The hotel is a comfortable and very well run former coaching inn with excellent food and good collections of malt whisky, Scottish gin and craft beers; and several nooks and crannies ideal for creating a relaxed congress atmosphere. Carnwath is a lang toun situated in a picturesque part of South Lanarkshire approximately 30 minutes brisk walk from Carstairs Junction Station, but taxis may be booked! There are trains from Glasgow, Edinburgh and even London, by sleeper. Carnwath is easily reached by car or bicycle. Rooms must be directly booked with the hotel, mentioning the Esperanto congress. There is other hotel accommodation fairly near, but a car or taxi would be required. The village also possesses a small self-catering establishment.
There will be talks about the district and its history, science, geography and Scots; and entertainment too! The first excursion will be on Saturday afternoon to Little Sparta, an extraordinary garden designed by Iain Hamilton Findlay with sculptures, classical allusions and intriguing spaces with views of the Pentlands. The second congress excursion on Sunday afternoon will be to the cottage where Hugh MacDiarmid, the eminent Scottish poet, essayist and political radical, lived and worked.
Participants who wish to extend their stay could go to Biggar, Lanark and Peebles or even go by train to Glasgow or Edinburgh. Jean J Bisset
