by ssc | Nov 27, 2014 | Blog
Deck the halls! Planning the countdown is as fun as the day itself.
Often the exhilarating run up to Christmas is as fun as the day itself – and is sometimes even better. To help you plan the countdown to Christmas and keep everyone occupied over the holidays and into the New Year, we’ve rounded up some of Stirling and Perthshire’s best events for the next month or two.
Perth’s Christmas Market is open! The fair city’s High Street is hosting its traditional Christmas market this year from 27 November until 22 December, from 9am-6pm daily. There are Alpine chalet-style stalls, a heated marquee, freshly-cooked artisan street foods, mulled wine, continental beers and free entertainment. There’s a new attraction every day, including carol singers, street acrobats, celebrity lookalikes and live animal appearances. And it’s free! If one Christmas market is just not enough, then hop on the train to Glasgow’s George Square or Edinburgh’s Princes Street for their internationally acclaimed Christmas Markets too.
Santa is in residence throughout Christmas at Dobbies Stirling
Dobbies in Stirling is busy this year with festive treats for everyone. It’s Ladies’ shopping night tonight with fizz, canapés and exclusive discounts for the girls. Children will love breakfast with Santa on 29 November, the Winter Wonderland Christmas Party on 7 December, or Supper with Santa on 13 December. Santa’s Grotto is open until Christmas Eve, and for adults, there’s Christmas afternoon tea on offer too. Most events should be pre-booked. See the Dobbies website for prices and booking.
If you’re looking for some Christmassy shows (a warm option!) then there are plenty out there. Pitlochry Festival Theatre are staging a musical of the classic story of ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ – the perfect show for kids whose belief in Mr Claus is wavering. In Stirling, panto gets a disco twist with the Macrobert’s sparkling new take on Aladdin. If you prefer to kick up your heels, then the Tolbooth Stirling has the choice of two Christmas ceilidhs this year on Saturday 13 December. Families can go along from 3-5 in the afternoon, and the grown-ups can follow from 8-10pm. These ceilidhs invariably sell out, so book quickly!
The Kelpies are celebrating their first Christmas this year
For a very different day out close to Stirling, Scotland’s newest National Treasures, the Kelpies, are celebrating their first Christmas this year. There will be hot drinks, warm mince pies and free entertainment on Sunday 14 December at the Kelpie Plaza, the Helix Falkirk. You’ll find Santa is in residence at the Falkirk Wheel (how does he do it?), with a grotto and regular Santa boat trips from 13 December until Christmas Eve. If you miss him there, you may find the man in red enjoying the log fire, warm punch and mince pies on offer at Linlithgow Canal Centre on 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st December, where he will also be handing out gifts to children. You can also enjoy a leisurely boat cruise with full Christmas lunch on Sundays 14 and 21st December.
Round off Christmas with Stirling’s spectacular Hogmanay Celebrations
Turning your thoughts to 2015? Why not head to Boness and Kinneil Steam Railway where you can see out the old year on a steam Train with their ‘Black Bun Specials’ on 30 and 31 December – enjoy a hot drink and Black Bun (juice and shortbread for the kids) from the comfort of your warm carriage. And New Year would simply not be complete without tickets for Stirling’s award-winning Hogmanay celebrations. The Waterboys and Skerryvore are just two big names in this year’s line-up, with music and fireworks lighting up the night against the spectacular backdrop of Stirling Castle. Tickets are selling fast, so don’t delay. If you prefer to bring in the bells indoors, book now for Stirling’s Hogmanay Ceilidh in the Albert Halls with dinner, dancing, entertainment and a full bar in sumptuous surroundings. Does it get any better? Happy New Year!
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by ssc | Nov 19, 2014 | Blog
The Stirling Fringe’s Street Food Festival, with Hervé, the Loving Food Truck, another of our Local Heroes!
This year, the City of Stirling hosted its second ten-day arts festival, the Stirling Fringe. Smaller, younger, and more community-focused than its Edinburgh counterpart, the Stirling Fringe is already attracting its fair share of attention in the press and beyond. We spoke to Barry McDonald, the man behind the Festival’s creation.
Where did the Stirling Fringe idea come from? ‘There wasn’t a eureka moment, as such, but I’d been visiting the Edinburgh Fringe for a couple of years as a PR consultant for some productions and noticed how many people were travelling from the Stirling area to see shows. I wondered why, if there was an appetite for the arts in Stirling, no arts festival existed. I mentioned the idea of a Stirling Fringe to a few people involved in the Stirling creative arts and they all said it was a fantastic idea. The name Stirling Fringe was never intended to be the name of the festival, just a working title. But it kind of stuck.’
Barry with Provost Mike Robbins, supporter of the Stirling Fringe
How does the Stirling Fringe differ from its Edinburgh counterpart? ‘We’re only a fraction of the size of Edinburgh – and we intend to keep it that way. Despite growing in size, we’ll always remain a manageable festival with the community at the heart of our activities.’ But Barry is clear that ‘manageable’ doesn’t mean unambitious – there are big plans for the future: ‘I’d like to see the festival grow an international reputation with more acts coming from overseas. This year we had acts from South Africa, Sweden and Canada. It would be great to attract more overseas acts as the festival grows. We also want to develop our reputation as a festival where artists can come and try something new. Over the next few years I’d also like more community engagement and have every community group staging their own shows.’
Barry is keen for the Fringe to make a difference for Stirling. ‘Apart from being very centrally located, Stirling has a rich historical culture. If we can add – in some small way – to the artistic culture, we can make Stirling the perfect destination.’ And it’s this vision that drives him: ‘One of the main motivating factors is genuinely to make a positive impact on Stirling. This isn’t my home town – I only moved here nine years ago – but it is my home now, it’s where my daughter was born and if I can help in some small way to improve the arts scene in Stirling, then it will all have been worthwhile.’
One of 2014’s highlights: acoustic nights at Cowane’s Hospital
We’re interested to know if there is any such thing as a normal working day for Barry, and his response is no surprise: ‘The great thing about this job is there is no typical day. It can involve everything from setting up a music concert (carrying heavy speakers is a prerequisite for the job!), stocking the bar, looking after the social media channels, and handing out brochures. You need to be able to turn your hand to anything.’
Highlights this year? ‘The music events we staged at Cowane’s Hospital. It’s an amazing venue for live acoustic music. We loved it so much we’re launching a new monthly music event – The GuildHall Music Club – which starts on Dec 6.’ And what’s in mind for the Fringe next year? ‘We’re just about to sit down and plan next year’s festival. Who knows what it will look like? We always welcome new suggestions – email info@stirlingfringe.com!
Photo credits: All photos courtesy of the Stirling Fringe.
by ssc | Nov 5, 2014 | Blog
There are prime dark sky spots to be found in Stirlingshire and Perthshire
The clocks have gone back one hour, and suddenly we seem plunged into longer, darker nights. While some of us may be contemplating carbs and hibernation during the winter months, there’s a whole new breed of tourist who loves this time of year more than any other, and they are in search of darkness.
Dark sky tourism is, as yet, not a huge industry but it’s on the up. It owes its growth to a number of factors – the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, the success of the BBC’s real-time astronomy programme BBC Stargazing Live (whose first screening left Amazon sold out of telescopes), and some unforgettable moments in the skies in recent years, not least the sightings of the aurora borealis across Britain in January 2014. The best thing about becoming a Dark Sky tourist? Well, as long as you have a warm coat and a bed for the night, the rest is free, and Scotland is the best place to get away from light pollution.
Scotland is largely free of the light pollution found in major cities like London
Galloway Forest Park became the UK’s first Dark Sky Park in 2009, but you needn’t travel there to see the stars in their full glory. Any open ground away from city lights and tall buildings will afford a great view of the heavens, and that’s just the kind of landscape you can easily find within minutes of Stirling and Perthshire. Don’t have a telescope? That’s no problem either; in fact, astronomers recommend a ‘whole sky’ view for beginners until they find their way around the stars. Just pick your spot, look up, and let your eyes adjust for 15 minutes. You’ll be amazed at just how many stars there are above, and if you can make out that distinctive blur of the Milky Way, you’ve got yourself a prime Dark Sky spot.
The northern lights, or aurora borealis
So if you are planning a late autumn or winter break in Stirling or Perth, how about planning on some stargazing too? You can pick up a star map for next to nothing, you can check for any forecast aurora sightings, or download a stargazing calendar to bring with you from the BBC Stargazing web page. There are some exciting things to watch out for in November too: The last quarter moon is particularly close to Jupiter, and will be easy to spot rising from the east just after midnight on the 13th November. Also the Leonid Meteor shower will peak on 17th and 18th of November. You can also check Stirling Astronomical Society for events over the winter, and make a date for the Edinburgh Royal Observatory’s ‘A Comet’s Tale’ on 16 November. There’s lots happening in the heavens as the nights lengthen. So, instead of hibernating this winter, why not get outside, and look up?
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by ssc | Oct 30, 2014 | Blog
Stirling has a darker side to explore this Halloween
If you like to be spooked when Halloween comes around, then you’ll love Stirling. With its turbulent history and dark cobbled streets, the City has more than its share of macabre tales, ghost stories and unexplained events. For those who enjoy the thrill of the shadows, then Stirling is the place to be this Halloween.
The Scottish Paranormal Festival runs from 30 October to 2 November in possibly the most haunting venue in Scotland – the City of Stirling. The festival promises to deliver everything you want to know about the unexplained and other-worldly with experts speaking on everything from ghostly photographs to poltergheists, from UFOs to ‘Things that go bump in the mind’. There’s a film festival for both adults and children, showing movies that range from the terrifying ‘The Shining’ to gentler, kids’ choices like ‘Paranorman’ and ‘Frankenweenie’. Children can also take part in Halloween storytelling, dress up and drama, with Tapsalteerie Theatre Scotland, who promise to ‘tip-toe safely with you through some some spoofily spooky moments and confidently out the other side’. More robust Halloween fans will enjoy the interactive events for adults. The popular night vigils are already sold out, but tickets still remain for the Ghost Hunters Round Table and Workshop, as well as the Bonnybridge Skywatch. When you’ve had your fill of terror, then it’s time to dig out your Halloweem costume and head to the Caledonian Vampyre Ball on Friday 31st, for supernatural rock music, ceilidh dancing, and a demonic DJ! For information on all events, venues and ticket prices, see http://www.paranormalscotland.com/
Stirling Ghost Walks have tales to tell about Stirling Castle and the Old Town
Stirling Ghost Walks promise ‘fear, fun and frights for all the family’ for those who want to explore the haunted nooks and crannies of Stirling itself. Costumed actors bring comedy, drama and storytelling together to breathe life into Stirling’s ancient Old Town and its grisly past. Meet the City’s many ghosts, from Blind Alick Lyon to the Black Lady, spirits in what was once described as ‘the most densely populated supernatural square mile in all of Scotland’. The ghost walks will appeal to all ages, and take in many of Stirling’s most historic sites, from John Cowane’s Hospital (home to Sprinkle Happiness by daylight) to the Beheading Stone, Argyll’s Lodging and Stirling Castle. For details and tickets, see: http://www.stirlingghostwalk.com/
Nicky-Tam’s Bar and Bothy Stirling, possibly the most haunted pub in Stirling
Nicky-Tam’s Bar and Bothy is not only the second-oldest pub in Stirling, it claims to be the most haunted. Renovations in 1999 were fraught with reports of apparitions and unsettling events after a photograph of what looked like a clergyman was discovered, walled into the fabric of the building. Clairvoyants visited the site three times over 1999 and 2000, and claimed that there were a number of spirits present in the building; some benign, and one more aggressive presence, perhaps the clergyman in the photo. While the events have not been fully explained, Nicky-Tams still attracts both ghost-hunters and those simply looking for home-cooked food, good beer, and great live events. If you’re thirsty on your way up to Stirling Castle – stop by for a drink – you might just spot a ghost too. For more information, see: http://www.nickytams.com/
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by ssc | Oct 8, 2014 | Blog
Road trips are not just for Route 66
If you are planning a holiday to Scotland, are short on time, but still want to see as much as you can, the answer might just be a road trip. Road trips aren’t just about long, straight, American highways, or car journeys from hell to cries of ‘are we there yet?’ Scotland is the perfect place to drive, because, quite simply, it isn’t huge, so you can see quite a lot of this beautiful country in a short time. And because you don’t need to cover huge expanses point to point, and the passing landscape is stunning, you and your fellow travellers are likely to have a better time. Here are our suggestions for a successful road trip, and one route for you too.
Start and finish rested: It’s good to plan a road trip from a comfortable base, like one of our properties, for example! Rather than pick up your hire car from the airport and hit the road, it’s worth your while starting rested, after a night or two in a good bed. It helps also to plan the same for the end of your holiday too. Hand back the hire car and give yourself at least a day to wind down from driving and get your cases back in order before the flight or journey home.
Applecross Peninsula, Wester Ross. Single track roads and obstacles like cattle grids can slow journey times
Plan your route: Start from somewhere central if you can (we’d suggest Stirling, of course) so that you have a number of options, and can change plans if you need to. To make an educated guess about journey times, note the class of roads you plan to drive on. In Scotland, ‘A-roads’ provide efficient two-way driving, where you can get up to speeds of 60 miles/96 km per hour. ‘B-roads’, on the other hand, may offer no more than a single track with passing places at points, you may encounter livestock on the road, and winding roads can double or triple expected journey times.
Break up your journey: Build in time to pull off the road for something to eat, loo breaks, viewpoints and spontaneity. Planning your journey around good places to stop for lunch, and allowing time for an unplanned ‘let’s stop here a minute’ will be far more rewarding than pushing on to a must-see tourist spot – and you are more likely to get a better feel for Scotland too.
Pitlochry aerial view
Pitlochry to Aberfeldy (Perthshire, B8019/B846/A827): Here’s one suggestion for a manageable and rewarding road trip, as described by matadornetwork.com.Drive west from Pitlochry to Loch Tummel. Stop at Queens View to take in the view favoured by Queen Victoria. At Tummel Bridge, continue west to Loch Rannoch and on to Rannoch Station, the most remote railway station in the UK. Return along the unmarked road on the south side of the loch, then turn right over the hill. Take a detour right to Fortingall and down to Fearnan on the banks of Loch Tay. Turn left along the loch to Kenmore at its head, then on to Aberfeldy following the banks of the River Tay, Scotland’s most famous salmon river.
For more information on road trips in Scotland, see:
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