VisitScotland is giving media representatives the opportunity to experience the groundbreaking new music and adventure sports festival, The Outsider (www.outsiderfestival.com) from 22 to 24 June 2007.

Those selected to attend will spend their midsummer weekend surrounded by the mountainous scenery of the stunning Scottish Highlands, as they take part in some exhilarating activities and enjoy entertainment from the likes of KT Tunstall, Crowded House, Willy Mason, Idlewild, Guillemots and Roddy Hart.

Set in the beautiful Rothiemurchus Estate in the heart of the Cairngorms, the Outsider Festival combines all the best things about a music festival with a huge range of other activities, both in the festival arena and for the first time, outside it too. This is the first time the Estate has opened up for an event of this scale. Events include the Merida Mountain Bike Marathon, Britain�s Most Beautiful Run, climbing, quad biking, gorge walking, archery and clay pigeon shooting.

The Outsider Festival is part funded by VisitScotland (Scotland�s national tourist board - www.visitscotland.com), EventScotland (www.eventscotland.org) and the Scottish Executive.

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If you would like to attend please contact Kirsty Innes, Events and Festivals PR Executive at VisitScotland, tel 0131 472 2227, email kirsty.innes@visitscotland.com

Priority will be given to those commissioned to review the festival for publications, radio or TV. Transport and accommodation will be included. This press trip can be tailored to suit individual publications and broadcasters.

NOTES TO EDITORS � VisitScotland is Scotland�s National Tourist Board. � EventScotland is Scotland's dedicated national events organisation responsible for attracting, creating and developing sporting and cultural events throughout the country. � For holiday information or to book accommodation in Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com or call 0845 225 5121.

The Outsider � More Information The programme reveals an impressive range of events for festival-goers highlighting the ambition of the organisers to ensure that The Outsider is a festival like no other. Every minute from 6pm start on Friday 22 June is packed with entertainment and activities to stimulate both the mind and body.

Music: Within the festival arena, set in the glorious Cairngorms National Park, there will be stages and tents with an eclectic mix of cool new sounds and established rock names, including KT Tunstall, Crowded House, Idlewild, Guillemots, Willy Mason, The Complete Stone Roses and Roddy Hart.

Merida Mountain Bike Event: The Merida Outsider, part of the Merida MTB Marathon series of mountain bike events, will feature three different course lengths. There will be courses of approximately 65km, 45km and a 20km Mini Marathon to choose from, perfect for both hardcore and beginner. Guided rides and Skills courses will also be available on Friday with top outdoor adventure coach Jules Fincham of CycleWild Scotland.

Britain�s Most Beautiful 10K: Going the distance of 12K, the Most Beautiful Run will appeal to runners of all abilities. The route follows world-class trails through stunning scenery along the shores of Loch an Eilean. Details of the exact course will be revealed nearer to the event.

Comedy: The best in UK comedy every night as compere Karen Dunbar presents top mirth masters, Stephen K Amos, Michael McIntyre, Craig Hill, Tony Law, Kevin Bridges, Greg McHugh and Steven Davidson�s Happy Hour. And the laughs aren�t just for grown-ups as James Campbell performs his award winning �Comedy 4 Kids� show.

Activities: This area of the country has the highest concentration of outdoor activity providers in the UK, with 75 of them within a few square miles. With so much unspoilt natural landscape, it also has some of the best opportunities for seeing some of the UK�s rarest and most beautiful creatures.

Most activities on offer during the festival are included in the price of the festival ticket, though a few activities may have an additional cost. Providers include Glenmore Lodge and the Rothiemurchus Estate.

Event Arena: In the Event Arena enjoy browsing, buying and discovering great products from specially selected local businesses and producers of quality crafts, outdoor accessories and lots of other interesting stuff.

The Tipi Village: Family fun with free daytime workshops including all day story telling, making musical instruments from recycled household waste and North Indian crafts. In addition there will be film, Yoga Bugs (for children from 2.5 years old) and a climbing wall.

Environment: The Outsider Festival will have strong environmental agenda, including two days of discussion and debate on the issues affecting people and the environment. The hosts of the forum will be Kirsty Wark and Lord David Steel. Panellists at the event include Will Whitehorn (Director of Virgin Galactic, space tourism expert and spokesman for the UK�s best-known entrepreneur), Jeremy Leggett (described by Time Magazine as 'one of the key players in putting the climate issue on the world agenda�) and Mark Edwards (Director of United Nations Global 500 Forum).

Fans of the BBC�s Dragon�s Den, will enjoy the event�s Green Dragon�s Glen - Two opportunities for entrepreneurs to pitch their original ideas about New Energy Solutions or Adventure Sports to a panel of highly experienced experts. Panellists include Will Whitehorn, Jeremy Leggett and Maeve Gillies (Multi-award winning entrepreneur, designer, professional musician, avid mountain climber and motorcyclist).

Food: There will be a delicious choice of organic, fair trade, fresh and local food, allowing you to enjoy the best produce that Scotland has to offer. There will be exclusively fair trade coffee and tea and food village stalls will use environmentally friendly containers and cutlery so you can fill up without feeling bad. Food will also be available in the camping areas.

Outsider is a festival for people who care about the world and want to participate rather than just consume. Just goes to show that wanting to save the planet doesn't mean you can't have a good time!

Accomodation: For more about camping at the festival see www.outsiderfestival.com

If camping isn�t your thing, visit www.visitscotland.com or call 0845 225 5121 for other accommodation suggestions.

Media Enquiries: Kirsty Innes Email: Kirsty.Innes@visitscotland.com