August Bank Holiday – your late summer bonus

by | Jul 20, 2016 | Blog

Show me someone who doesn’t like a Bank Holiday and it’s likely his name is Mr Ebenezer Scrooge. Bank Holidays are brilliant: they’re the perfect excuse for a Sunday night bottle of wine, a day in your jammies, or, even better, a week or more away in the UK that eats up only four days of your precious annual leave. What’s not to like? And the next one is just around the corner, on Monday 28 August!

Just one of our luxury apartments and cottages in historic Stirling
Just one of our luxury apartments and cottages in historic Stirling
Craigvinean pine cone shelter Ronald Weir

Craigvinean Pine Cone Shelter, Perthshire. Around an hour’s drive from Stirling.

Chase away the post-holiday blues

For those of us who’ve already had our main summer getaway, The August Bank Holiday provides the perfect opportunity to chase away the post-holiday blues with a late summer break. Breaks like this remind us that we needn’t go far, or spend a fortune, to have a great time. Have a look at our budget accommodation if you fancy a great value city stay, or browse our luxury properties in the heart of Stirling for late summer availability too. Make Stirling your base for your August/September escape, and you have the whole of central Scotland, and a good chunk of the Highlands, within day trip distance too. Check out Destination Stirling’s guide to getting here and travel: http://www.destinationstirling.com/plan-your-visit/getting-here/

Events ideas for your late summer stay

Need some ideas for days out during your stay? There’s lots going on in Stirling:

  • Experience History at the Wallace Monument: One of Stirling’s most iconic tourist attractions, the Wallace Monument is running a whole host of captivating events this August, with costumed actors bringing Scotland’s turbulent history to life for visitors. Details of all their August events here: http://www.nationalwallacemonument.com/
  • Stirling’s Secret Gardens: a selection of private gardens throughout Stirlingshire are open until the end of September. Your small entrance fee is donated to charity and allows you to explore some of the region’s most beautiful, secluded and award-winning gardens. For more information, enter your desired postcode into the ‘search’ area of this website: http://www.scotlandsgardens.org/
  • Events at the Castle: Make the most of your visit to Stirling Castle by taking in its special events, all included in your ticket price. August brings ‘Flights into Scotland’s Past’ a beautiful exhibition of aerial photography. If you are here in September, enjoy ‘Renaissance Revelry’ at the Castle, with music, dance and drama bringing the Castle to life. Visit the kitchen and see the food they would have prepared and hear more about the past times of the nobility and Mary, Queen of Scots. For more information, visit: http://www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk/whatson
  • Scotfairs Antiques Fair: Just before you head home, make some time for this Antiques Fair at Stirling’s beautiful Albert Halls on the first Saturday of each month. This fair is for everyone, from those who have an eye for antiques, to those who love a rummage for affordable collectibles and vintage nick-nacks. For more information, visit: http://culturestirling.org/albert-halls/
  • Theatre and music: If you fancy some theatre, music, or cinema during your stay, keep an eye on these listings at http://culturestirling.org/ and http://macrobertartscentre.org/
Gargunnock House Gardens, one of Stirlingshire's secret gardens open until late September
Gargunnock House Gardens, one of Stirlingshire’s secret gardens open until late September
Bringing history to life at the Wallace Monument this Bank Holiday
Bringing history to life at the Wallace Monument this Bank Holiday

Photo credits:

  • Craigvinean Pine Cone Shelter, Perthshire, Photo copyright Ronald Weir
  • Wallace Monument: Photo kindly supplied by Ken Thomson at the National Wallace Monument
  • Gargunnock House Gardens: Photo kindly supplied by Scotland’s Gardens

 

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Messing about on the water – in and around Stirling

by | Jul 6, 2016 | Blog

There’s nothing that says summertime quite like messing about on the water. We’ve handpicked some brilliant ways for you to do just that, with the absolute minimum of travel from your Stirling base.

Paddling the waters of the Forth with Unicorn Paddle

Paddling beneath Stirling’s city centre bridges with Unicorn Paddle

A novel way to see Scotland's most beautiful waterways

A novel way to see Scotland’s most beautiful waterways

Fishing: If your idea of being on the water is sitting in a boat watching for a bite, then Swanswater Fishery may just be for you. It’s just 15 minutes from the centre of Stirling. This fishery boasts three ponds, of which the biggest is a full ten-acre expanse. You can fly fish from one of the three well-maintained fishing platforms, or hire one of the fishery’s three boats. Rainbow, Brown, Blue, Tiger and Golden trout are all stocked daily, to supplement the natural population of brown trout. For more information, see: http://www.swanswater-fishery.co.uk/

Stand Up Paddling: It seems that one of the best ways to see Scotland’s waters is by ‘stand up paddling’. And you don’t even know how to do it to have a crack. Unicorn Paddling offer lessons and nature expeditions throughout Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, the Fife Coast and many more locations throughout Scotland. And what makes their offer even more attractive is that they will pick you up free of charge from several locations throughout Stirling and the Stirling area, in order to get to your location of choice. Unicorn Paddling provide wetsuits, gloves, and literally everything you will need to keep cosy as you explore Scotland’s waters in this brilliant new way. Trips depend on wind speeds of less than 8 miles per hour. Check out their website here to create your own SUP adventure! www.unicornpaddle.co.uk

The Helix watersports: Home to the now world-famous Kelpies, The Helix in Falkirk offers water sports for all the family. It’s just 17 minutes’ drive from Stirling too. You will find everything from pedalos to canoeing and kayaking on the Helix plaza’s man-made ‘lagoon’. It’s a very safe environment for those less experienced on the water, with life guards on the shore at all times. During school holidays, explore the instructor-led water-sports events. For younger family members, there’s also the splash zone, with random water jets and waterfalls to play in on warmer summer days. For full information on these and more activities at the Helix, see: http://www.thehelix.co.uk/

Linlithgow Canal Centre: If you like spending time on the water purely for its own sake, then Linlithgow Canal Centre is for you. The Canal Centre (just 22 miles or 29 mins from Stirling) is operated entirely by volunteers and their love of the boats and the water brings a little magic to your trip. The Centre runs three core trips – a half-hour town cruise, a three-hour Avon Aqueduct Cruise, and a Falkirk Wheel Cruise. The Aqueduct cruises take place at weekends, The Falkirk Wheel cruises on the last Sunday of June, July and August, while the town cruises run daily from 4 July to 12 August. Tickets are very good value, staff have a wealth of local knowledge, and you can enjoy some gorgeous home baking before or after in the Canal Centre Tearoom (with a wood fire in winter). The Canal centre is a hidden gem in the heart of Linlithgow, and worthwhile supporting too. Don’t miss their Canal Fun Day on 14 August and bring a picnic. For detail on ticket prices, cruises, special events and facilities, see: http://www.lucs.org.uk/

Plenty of water fun at the Helix

Plenty of water fun at the Helix

Messing about on the water at Linlithgow Canal Basin

Messing about on the water at Linlithgow Canal Basin

Photo credits: 

  • Linlithgow Canal Centre: Thomas Nugent [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • Stand up Paddling Photos: Images kindly supplied by Unicorn Paddling, http://unicornpaddle.co.uk/, Copyright Unicorn Paddling.
  • Kelpies Photo: Kindly supplied by the Kelpies Team, Copyright the Helix 2016.

 

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Local Heroes: The Couthy Corner

by | Jun 22, 2016 | Blog

In the historic surroundings of John Cowane’s Hospital, in the heart of Stirling’s Old Town, Marion Gaughan and her nephew Francis McKeown run the Couthy Corner, a coffee shop with a heart-warming tale all its own…

The Couthy Corner, John Cowane's Hospital
John Cowane’s Hospital in Stirling’s Old Town – historic setting of The Couthy Corner
The Couthy Corner, John Cowane's Hospital
The Couthy Corner have enjoyed brilliant weather for their launch this year

Marion and Francis have come together from very different backgrounds to open their ‘warm, welcoming and atmospheric’ coffee shop in June 2016. Marion was an educational support worker with Stirling Council. Francis was a busy sound engineer. But in January 2016, Francis’s beloved wife Shona died of a brain tumour. A musician with the Royal Marines Band, Shona had been due to retire in February of this year. But she never saw that date. Unable to realise her dream of running a little coffee shop of her own, Francis and Marion decided to make that dream a reality in Shona’s memory. And so the Couthy Corner came into being.

John Cowane’s Hospital has provided the business partnership with the perfect venue for their inspiring venture. Located in the City’s historic ‘Top o’ the Town’, Cowane’s Hospital (or Guild Hall) sits opposite the ancient Church of the Holy Rude and adjacent to the Old Town Cemetery. It’s a beautiful part of the City. It’s a favoured spot for tourists and well-trodden by the costumed guides of Stirling Walking Tours too.

We asked Marion where the inspiration for the coffee shop’s Scots name came from. ‘The Couthy Corner name came about from one of the rooms that customers can sit in to have coffee. It’s quite small, but has a lovely old fire place in it, and, when lit, the room is very cosy – or ‘couthy’ – in Scots. That’s why we decided on that name. Customers can also sit in the main Guild Hall which is very grand, and also there is seating outside.’

It’s a remarkable building to work in, and its lovely outdoor space has come into its own in the recent good weather. However, Marion explains there are exciting plans for the future. ‘The building is very beautiful, though, perhaps, a little tired looking at the moment. But it’s been awarded £2 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It’s due to be fully restored to its former glory very soon. Work starts October 2017.’

Marion is delighted that, by opening the coffee shop, she and Francis have essentially opened the door for tourists from all over the world to explore this historic building freely – and enjoy some great Scottish baking into the bargain. And, though their official launch wasn’t until June this year, it’s clear that the Couthy Corner has already become popular with locals and visitors alike. Judging by the wide smiles on their busy Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Thecouthiecorner/), they’ve many satisfied customers.  ‘Our regulars love our home baking made for us by the lovely Jenny Dickinson,’ explains Marion. ‘Scones with clotted cream and jam are a favourite.’ Yum.

If ever you need proof that it’s never too late to make a dream come true, just head to the Couthy Corner. Order yourself a scone, sit back, and soak up the love.

Cakes by the fireside in the cosy room that gave the coffee shop its name
Cakes by the fireside in the cosy room that gave the coffee shop its name
A fabulous setting for afternoon tea outside

A fabulous setting for afternoon tea outside

Photo credits: All photos courtesy and copyright of the Couthy Corner, https://www.facebook.com/Thecouthiecorner/

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Midsummer Stirling: fun outdoors

by | Jun 8, 2016 | Blog

We’re approaching midsummer, and it’s the perfect time of year to enjoy Scotland’s great outdoors at its warmest. For the very best in summer outdoor activities around Stirling, read on …

Exploring the ancient and atmospheric streets of Stirling’s Old Town

Exploring the ancient and atmospheric streets of Stirling’s Old Town

Trout fishing with Scotia Fishing

Trout fishing with Scotia fishing in stunning surroundings

Stirling Walking tours: Discover the City of Stirling on foot with this acclaimed guided sightseeing tour. Experienced guides (in full period costume) will reveal Stirling’s Old Town to you with comedy, drama and unforgettable storytelling. Exploring Stirling’s most fascinating nooks and crannies, Stirling Walking Tours have become a Stirling ‘must-do’ for visitors, invariably gaining brilliant reviews on Trip Advisor and getting to the finals of the VisitScotland Thistle Awards. Read more about them in our blog here https://www.stirlingselfcatering.co.uk/blog/stirling-walking-tours/ and book on their website here: http://www.stirlingwalkingtours.com/

Scotia Fishing: This innovative company promises to deliver ‘Scottish fishing at its best’ by creating bespoke fishing trips and events throughout Scotland. Offering fishing in Stirling, Perthshire, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Skye and the Borders, Scotia Fishing can take you to your location, will provide premium equipment, professional guides, photography, and even bring along your lunch too. Fish for salmon, pike, trout and grayling, or go saltwater for sea-trout, pollock and bass. Tempted? For more information, visit: http://scotiafishing.com/

Stirling Golf Club and Brucefields Family Golf Centre: With inspiring backdrops of Stirling Old Town and Castle, Stirling Golf Club deservedly claims its course to be one of the most picturesque in Scotland. Centrally located in the City’s prestigious King’s Park, the Golf Club welcomes visitors to its quality 18-hole course, with stunning views all round. They’ve a handy tee-time booking system for visitors on their website too. See: http://www.stirlinggolfclub.com/. If you hope to introduce your children to golf in friendly surroundings, then Brucefields Family Golf Centre is for you. This 9-hole golf course just outside Bannockburn offers a comprehensive range of facilities and support services for all members of the family, whether they’re learners or experienced players. And there are some pretty good views to be enjoyed on the way round. There’s golf tuition, a driving range and a bistro bar too. More details here, and be sure to drop in to their Family Fun Day this weekend, Saturday 11 June: http://www.brucefields.co.uk/

Biking and Segway: For visitors who want to up the adrenaline, Wild Biking Scotland operate from Aberfoyle, just a 30-minute drive from Stirling city centre. This ‘bring your own bike’ outfit can cater for pretty much anyone who wants to explore the region on two wheels, and can tailor routes to any level. While they don’t normally provide bikes or helmets, both can be arranged with some advance warning. For more information, see their website: http://www.wildbikingscotland.com/ Or, if you fancy eating up the miles in Perthshire, have a look at Segway Ecosse, http://www.segway-ecosse.com/ based in Blair Atholl. You’ll get a full tutorial on segway riding, followed by an exciting, safe and professionally guided tour of some of the area’s most stunning scenery, all aboard a rugged Segway X2.

Wellsfield Equestrian Centre: Every family has a pony-mad member, and perhaps one of the best places to ride around Stirling is at Wellsfield Farm, just 6 miles from the City centre, where you’ll find around 25 very happy riding school horses and ponies. As well as lessons, the centre provides pony rides, ‘loan a pony’ schemes, and hacking, all delivered by BHS certified instructors. There’s a coffee shop too, with some pretty tempting cakes. For more information on the centre, see: http://www.wellsfield.co.uk/equestriancentre.aspx

Horse grazing

See Stirlingshire from horseback

Expansive views from Brucefields Family Golf Centre

Tee off with inspiring views at Brucefields Family Golf Centre

Photo credits:

 

 

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Stirling: your gateway to the Festivals

by | May 25, 2016 | Blog

We all love a festival – whether it be the world-famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe, or some of the intriguing new festivals to be found within a stone’s throw of Stirling. So if you want to immerse yourself in the Edinburgh mayhem, or find something closer to home, here’s our guide!

Henderson's Bistro at The Albert Halls, Stirling

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe – the International Arts Festival’s cheeky little brother

Edinburgh Festivals

Edinburgh’s streets are alive with impromptu performances during the Festival period

Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe run from 5-29 August and draw performers and audiences from across the globe. This international arts festival and its cheeky comedy sidekick are the largest arts festivals in the world – staging way more than 50,000 acts over a three-week period. The Edinburgh Festivals are where many of our best-loved actors and comedians earned their spurs, and if you want to ‘celebrity spot’, you should definitely spend some time in Edinburgh over the Festival period with a selfie stick at the ready. Bear in mind, though, that accommodation in Edinburgh is both extortionately expensive and booked out months in advance, so consider Stirling as your alternative base. A one-hour train ride will take you from central Stirling into the heart of Edinburgh, and it’s an attractive journey too. To find out more about the Edinburgh Festivals, see their websites: http://www.eif.co.uk/ and https://www.edfringe.com/

The Shindig is the name of the re-branded Stirling Fringe Festival. This three-day arts extravaganza runs 9-11 September in the grounds of Stirling Old Town Jail. The festival aims to celebrate Scottish culture of the past, present and future, and features everything from traditional storytelling and ceilidhs to cutting edge DJs, hip hop and contemporary art. The jail’s three stages will host live music, street performances, comedy, cinema, cabaret and much more, with a beer garden and food zone on hand too. Look out for impromptu street performances in central Stirling over the Festival. For more information, see http://stirlingfringe.com/

The Solas Festival takes place 17-19 June at Blackruthven, Perth, just 45 minutes from Stirling. The line-up spans everything from literature, music, and performing arts, to events aimed specifically at families like puppet theatre, adventure circus and outdoor ‘instinctively wild’ workshops. There will be lots of local food on offer, craft-brewed beer, and a bustling marketplace to enjoy too. For more information, see: http://www.solasfestival.co.uk/

Strathyre Music Festival, 27-29 May, is the largest small community-based festival in Scotland. It takes place in Callander, Perthshire, just 25 minutes from Stirling. Its wide music offering includes everything from traditional & folk to blues. Set in the beautiful natural amphitheatre of Strathyre, the Festival is inclusive, family friendly, and includes a Festival Market place for food and drink and local crafts. For more information, visit: http://www.balvaig.co.uk/

Mhor Festival, Lochearnhead, Perthshire, is definitely one for the foodies among us on 28-29 May. Bringing together some of Scotland’s top chefs alongside bread-making workshops, a raft race, a Bugsy Malone Bar (with splurge guns), a hog roast, afternoon teas, a Mhor Bake Off, omelette challenge and much more, this event claims to be one of the most unique in Scotland (and we’re inclined to agree). There’s a market, theatre, music and pop-ups. And for the kids there’s a mini Commonwealth Games, fairground stalls, entertainment with Magwitch Monsters and pot planting in the gardens too. That’s everyone sorted then! For more information, visit: http://www.mhorfestival.net/

Edinburgh Festivals

Comedy, dance and theatre at the Festival Fringe

Edinburgh Festivals

Audiences come from across the globe to Scotland’s festivals

Photocredits: © Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society

 

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Local Heroes: Green Aspirations

by | May 12, 2016 | Blog

Green Aspirations is a woodlands social enterprise whose mission is to inspire outdoor learning. They’re driven by a desire to see everyone re-connect with nature, not only to benefit the environment, but to improve health and wellbeing too. They’re a small, dynamic team, big on fun, and are this month’s Local Heroes.

Having fun outdoors at a Green Aspirations birthday party

Having fun outdoors at a Green Aspirations birthday party 

Bug hunting with Lorna at Green Aspirations

Bug hunting in the woods with Lorna

Just a 28-minute drive from Stirling city centre will take you to Balfron Station – at the edge of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park – and the woodland home of Green Aspirations. There, alongside volunteers, you will likely be welcomed by Louise, an award-winning community consultant and founding director of Green Aspirations; Paul, her partner and woodworker extraordinaire; or Lorna, bug expert and mastermind of the Green Aspirations holiday club, Wee Skelfs. Together, they deliver workshops, parties and volunteering projects that teach skills as varied as woodland management, whittling, axecraft, bushcraft, and green woodworking. All profits are ploughed back into sustaining the enterprise and widening its reach.

Green Aspirations is for everyone – from companies who commission team-building days and offer corporate volunteering, to kids having den-building birthday parties, to tourists who want to reconnect with nature. ‘Our holiday clubs give children a chance to get outdoors and learn more about their environment in a fun, hands-on way they might not otherwise be allowed to do. Then there are our family bushcraft days, which teach firelighting, bow and arrow-making, den building, campfire cooking and lots more, and encourage people to really think about nature for the first time. We can create days round a theme of their choice, from hunter-gathering, to bridge-building and more. But we’re not extreme – you won’t find us eating bugs or creating survival challenges – we share insights in a soft way for people who’re new to nature or who want to engage more with it at their own pace.’

So what keeps such a busy team motivated when money isn’t a factor? Louise answers without hesitation: ‘It’s being involved with nature – there’s a mindfulness about it. It’s good for the soul – and there’s scientific evidence to prove that being closer to nature is good for everyone. Also, it’s great seeing people change. One family come to us for a family bushcraft day, and the mum in particular was marked by it – gaining enough confidence to take her family hillwalking, make campfires and use her new skills.’

Between running their workshops, education projects, holiday clubs and kids’ birthday parties, the team are pretty busy, but that hasn’t stopped them taking on a challenging project of their own. Over the past year, they’ve built their own greenwood shelter from scratch, to provide cover when the weather isn’t great. ‘Previously we used tarps hung between trees but on wet days things could get muddy and we might be forced to cancel activities,’ Louise explains. ‘But we’re proud to be finishing off our new shelter which we’ve built entirely by hand, without electricity, and using only wind-felled trees found on site.’ Not only is their new greenwood shelter a handsome asset, it’s something of an emblem for what Green Aspirations are all about – working with nature, not against it, to improve your environment and have a whole heap of fun at the same time.

Getting muddy is never a problem at Green Aspirations

Getting muddy is never a problem at Green Aspirations

The team have worked hard on building ther own greenwood shelter over the past year

The Green Aspirations Team have worked hard to build their own greenwood shelter this year

 

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