Historically, The Royal Highland Show travelled around eight regions in Scotland. Since finding its permanent home at Ingliston in 1960, the show

continues to celebrate this tradition with a focus on one of these eight regions. This year, it’s the turn of Aberdeenshire.

This year's President’s Initiative started as soon as Lord Aberdeen was appointed president, along with his vice presidents: Jim Brown, Neil Godsman, Sir Moir Lockhead and Alastair Macphie.

Knowing that the Aberdeenshire’s farming element would be well represented throughout the show already, they quickly identified ‘food and tourism’ as their theme.

The 2017 President’s Initiative is bringing a flavour of Aberdeenshire to Ingliston to help visitors appreciate all that the region has to offer and showcase businesses involved in food and tourism.

The numbers are impressive: 300 castles, 55 golf courses, 13 distilleries, 165 miles of coast. Add to this fishing ports, mountains and beaches, as well as farming which contributes to the many food and drink businesses in the area. The President’s Initiative will capture much of this through the Aberdeenshire Village on Avenue J behind Ingliston House.

More than 30 Aberdeenshire food and drink businesses will create a pop-up farm shop for the first time ever at the show. Look out for local specialities like Cullen Skink, butteries and skirlie, as well as new product launches.

The Entier Cookery Demonstration Theatre will be host to chefs from the region’s hotels and restaurants serving up local dishes.

You’ll find well-known and less familiar names in the Distillery Tent, while the National Trust for Scotland features properties in their care in the area, such as Fyvie and Crathes Castles and Pitmedden with its farming life museum. Golf is also important to the area and is home to Royal Aberdeen and Fraserburgh, two of the world’s 10 oldest courses. Enter the putting competition on the stand for the chance to win a golfing prize in Aberdeenshire.

Antiques, arts and craft exhibitors will feature the very best of the north east. There’s the opportunity to see artists at work, as well as buy direct from them. Photographer Andy Hall launches his new book, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City – a New Perspective, with its combination of images and

insight from famous locals.

The instant support for the Aberdeenshire Village vision impressed Lord Aberdeen: “What has struck me and the vice presidents is the enthusiasm that everyone has generated to be part of this initiative.”