Checklist: 10 things to do across Scotland this weekend

Scotland’s forgotten racetrack marks its 50th anniversary by reopening this weekend for a new motoring festival. The 1.03 mile track hosted racing legends such as Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark and Stirling Moss, but closed in 1994. More than 300 classic and modern prestige sports cars will feature, along with a range of additional attractions spanning super car test drives, racing simulators, stunt displays and a food village. Guests will include Ben Collins - formerly Top Gear’s The Stig - and BBC Formula One reporter Lee McKenzie. Tickets are £20, with children under 16 free. www.ingliston.co.uk

2 FEI European Eventing Championships

Blair Castle, Perthshire, Thu-Sun

Four days of world-class international dressage, cross country eventing and show jumping as one of Europe’s top equestrian contests comes to Scotland for the first time. Essentially a super-charged, stardust-sprinkled version of Blair Estate’s traditional September Horse Trials - itself one of the biggest in the UK - all of the usual accompanying attractions are present and correct, including the Bruadar Country Fair, a huge outdoors lifestyle event featuring loads of family entertainment, an enormous shopping village and stands from hundreds of exhibitors. Tickets on the gate are £15-£25. www.blair2015.com

3 Dinosaur Zoo

Touring until Sep 20

An action-packed stage show for families, resurrecting a scarily life-like collection of prehistoric specimens through a mix of stunning puppetry and audience interaction. Now featuring a fearsome T-Rex for the first time, each performance also includes a ‘meat and greet’ session with some of the stars of the show. After roaring into Glasgow’s Theatre Royal on Saturday and Sunday, the production stops off at Perth Concert Hall from Monday, before hitting Edinburgh Festival Theatre next weekend. Suitable for ages three and up, tickets are £13.50 to £15.40. dinosaurzoolive.com

4 Bloody Scotland

Various venues in Stirling, Fri-Sun

Scotland’s crime writing festival returns with another packed weekend of talks, author panels and workshops celebrating blood, bodies and books. Along with a series of events marking the 125th anniversary of Agatha Christie’s birth, there are appearances from some of the biggest names in crime fiction such as Linwood Barclay, Ian Rankin, Arne Dahl, and Val McDermid - plus multi-million selling Martina Cole, previewing latest novel Get Even. The fourth annual Bloody Scotland Crime Book of the Year Award is also announced at a gala dinner on Saturday night. www.bloodyscotland.com

5 Proms in the Park

Glasgow Green, Sat

Part of the Beeb’s UK-wide flag-waggling Last Night of the Proms celebrations, the summer open-air music season winds down in rousing fashion in the company X-Factor winner turned musical theatre star Alexandra Burke, conductor Steven Bell and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Also confirmed to appear alongside host Jamie MacDougall are acclaimed saxophonist Amy Dickson, BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Claire Hastings, and Glasgow’s Big Big Sing choir. Assuming you’ve looked out the woolies and waterproofs, tickets are £7.50-£13.50. bbc.co.uk/promsinthepark

6 Best of The West Festival

Inveraray Castle, Sat-Sun

Welcome the autumn in style at this family-focused festival of music, food and drink celebrating Argyll and the west coast. Along with a chance to taste specialties from regional producers, there are a huge range of whiskies and gins to try, plus cookery classes from local chefs. The weekend also has performances from 120 traditional folk and Gaelic language music acts, mixing emerging local talent with established headliners such as Skerryvore, Skipinnish, and Peatbog Faeries. Free family activities include climbing walls, bungee trampolining, and archery. Day tickets are £14.50-£19.50. www.bowfest.co.uk

7 Farming Yesteryear Vintage Rally

Scone Palace, Perth, Sun

Organised by the Scottish Vintage Tractor and Engine Club, this long running showcase of old tractors, restored agricultural machinery and lovingly preserved engines comes guaranteed to fire the imagination of gadget freaks, steam fanatics and history buffs alike. Along with displays of heritage farming equipment, the show will include vintage cars, lorries and bikes, demonstrations of ploughing, threshing and combining, and a wealth of trade stands and auto jumble stalls to browse. Running from 9.30am to 5pm, entry is £10 (£5 children). www.scone-palace.co.uk

8 Elephant for Glasgow

Bellahouston Park, Glasgow

Richly redolent of the city’s industrial heritage and links to the Commonwealth, this striking new public artwork has just been unveiled near the House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park, site of 1938's Empire Exhibition. Part of the Legacy 2014 project, award-winning Scottish artist Kenny Hunter’s weathered, life-sized 11 tonne sculpture of an Asian Elephant is cast partly from scrap iron reclaimed from Glasgow-built locomotives, shipped home after a lifetime of service in India and South Africa. houseforanartlover.co.uk

9 Tantallon Uncovered

Tantallon Castle, near North Berwick, Sat-Sun

Built on a dramatic clifftop within sight of the Bass Rock and witness to a series of murderous historical sieges, the remains of Tantallon Castle’s medieval structure have more recently become the site of serious archaeological study. This weekend, members of a Historic Scotland excavation project will be offering guided tours of their latest dig - with some of their findings brought to life by a Covenanter soldier encampment featuring re-enactment and weaponry demonstrations from the 17th century. On from noon to 4pm on both days, entry is £3.30-£5.50. www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

10 Mary Queen of Scots Festival

Market Park, Kinross, Sat-Sun

A final option for fans of Scottish history is this weekend celebrating Mary Stuart’s links with Kinross-shire and Loch Leven Castle, where she was imprisoned in 1567-68. Along with costumed characters recreating bustling scenes from the day-to-day life of court, visitors to the free event can enjoy horsemanship and falconry displays with the Clanranald Trust heritage group. Elsewhere are traditional storytelling sessions, pony rides, children’s entertainment, and a programme of fringe events. maryqueenofscotsfestival.co.uk

Don’t Miss

The Wee Jaunt Aberdeen

Duthie Park, Aberdeen, Sun

Pedal for Scotland 2015 concludes with this traffic free six mile ride out along the banks of the Dee to Walker Park and back. It's a far more laid back challenge than last weekend’s Glasgow to Edinburgh 50-miler, making it perfect for less road hardened cyclists and families. Register for £5-£8. pedalforscotland.org