Posted on August 13, 2008 by Fiona Hilliard

August in Scotland means The Edinburgh Festival, crowds of festival-goers and more crowds of festival-goers. 

This year’s events are already in full swing, with perfomances focussing on crossing cultural borders. 

Artists from Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bosnia and Georgia are scheduled to perform with acts from Lebanon, Turkey, the Palestinian Territories, Israel and Iran.  Meanwhile, the Edinburgh Festival’s cheeky little sidekick, The Edinburgh Fringe is keeping festival-goers rolling in the isles with off-beat stand ups and quirky comedy shows.

When you’ve had your fill of drama queens and comedy kings, it’s worth checking out some day-trip options.  The city of Edinburgh has a beautiful location that is a joy to explore with Edinburgh car hire.  The Guardian’s travel section has been doing some detective work and they’ve found some fantastic destinations where you can escape the madding crowds.  Their Top Ten features a range of scenic drives, from the small but perfectly formed charms of Gullane to the bright lights of Glasgow.