by ssc | Feb 27, 2014 | Blog
Spring, we love it. It’s a beautiful, optimistic season full of promise and fresh starts. Here are five great reasons to spend it in Stirling.
The Scottish Snowdrop festival holds events around Scotland in February and March
Re-connect with nature: For spring flowers, emerging bulbs and early blossom, take a leisurely stroll through Bridge of Allan’s beautiful Memorial Park, near the entrance to the University of Stirling. From there, circle the University of Stirling’s Airthrey loch to spot snowdrops, daffodils, and nesting wildfowl – those who love to dote on a fluffy chick or three won’t be disappointed. Entrance to the University is free, and parking starts at £1. Enjoy lunch at Clive Ramsay’s in the Uni Sports Centre, or in the Macrobert Arts Centre, where it’s well worth picking up an events brochure too. For those who just can’t get enough of a hopeful little snowdrop peeking through the soil, head to Kilbryde Castle in Dunblane for huge drifts of these early flowers in March. For directions and entry prices check this website. Don’t forget the Scottish Snowdrop festival, which holds open events in West Plean House, Stirling, Gargunnock House Gardens, Stirling, and at Braco Castle, Dunblane. The festival runs until 16 March, and details are here.
View from the foot of the Wallace Monument to Stirling Castle
The re-opening of two of Stirling’s historic icons: March 1st sees the opening of the new Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre just outside Stirling, on the site of the previous Heritage Centre, closed in 2013. Commemorating the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, this hi-tech new centre couples immersive 3D technology with character actors to bring the historic conflict to life for visitors. April then brings the re-opening of Stirling’s National Wallace Monument after a major refurbishment to transform its three galleries and visitor centre. The Wallace Sword takes new pride of place in the heart of the Monument, mounted on a plinth created from rock hewn from the Abbey Craig 150 years ago. Even if you don’t go inside, park your car at the visitor centre and climb the spiralling path up Abbey Craig to the Monument’s foot, for one of the best spring views in Scotland.
Spring produce: Everyone is telling us to eat local, and in season, and it’s true; eating what is naturally available locally is best both for us and for the planet. March and April will bring asparagus, cauliflower, purple sprouting broccoli, spring greens and a whole lot more besides. To buy straight from the grower, have a browse round Stirling Farmers’ Market, held on the first Saturday of every month in Port Street, Stirling. What’s more, they even post a list of stallholders in the days preceding on this Facebook page, so you can plan both your shop and your menu. You will find not only fresh veg produce but preserves, meats, fish, breads, cheeses and traditional crafts too. There are plenty other markets nearby if you’re out and about: Falkirk holds its Farmers Market on the first Friday of each month in the High Street, while Linlithgow sets up its stalls on the fourth Saturday of every month, in the Vennel. For more details on all these visit scottishfarmersmarkets.co.uk.
Andy Scott's stunning 'Kelpies' which will be officially opened to launch the John Muir Festival
The John Muir Festival: Better known in the States than he is even here, Dunbar-born John Muir is rightfully known as the ‘Father of the National Parks’. The Scottish-American naturalist, writer, and pioneering conservationist was pivotal in establishing many of the most iconic national parks we know today, such as the Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks in the US. April 2014 brings the John Muir Festival, (17 to 26 April) which will officially open the John Muir Way, a national pathway named in his honour. There are some brilliant events throughout the festival, not least the finale on the shores of Loch Lomond, but not to be missed is the spectacular opening, which will also mark the official unveiling of a new cultural landmark just outside Stirling – the Kelpies and Helix. An unmissable pyrotechnics and music display on the theme of ‘Home’ will bring Artist Andy Scott’s 30-metre-high horses to life for this very special night – an unforgettable way to spend a spring evening in honour of John Muir. For tickets, see here: http://falkirkcommunitytrust.ticketsource.co.uk/
A Stirling Easter: Nothing says springtime quite like the Easter weekend, and this year, you can spend it at Stirling Castle. On 20 and 21 April, from 12 noon to 4pm, Stirling Castle will play host to a series of family shows and activities, including Pickles the Bear, Hamish the Highlander, and storytelling events uncovering Scotland’s past. Take part in a medieval sports day, learn what it’s like to be court jester, and explore one of the most significant castle in Scottish history. Adults £14.50 and children £7.50, and ticket prices include full entry to the Castle. For details and bookings go to www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk.
Photo: Stirling from the Wallace Monument. Author: Mike Pennington [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Andy Scott’s Kelpies. Author: Ben Williams, kindly provided by the Kelpies team.
by ssc | Feb 20, 2014 | Blog
Robert the Bruce and Edward II battled in Bannockburn, 1314
It is 700 years since Bannockburn, a brutal battle between the armies of the Scottish King Robert the Bruce and King Edward II of England. Bruce’s forces were vastly outnumbered – some historians claim he fielded only 6,000 to Edward’s 19,000-strong horse and footmen. Yet the Scottish king was victorious, securing not only a period of Scottish independence, but capturing the imaginations of thousands worldwide.
The first Bannockburn Heritage Centre
In 1932, the Bannockburn Preservation Committee, under Edward Bruce, the tenth Earl of Elgin, presented land to the national Trust for Scotland. This, with further purchases of land in the 60s, facilitated the creation of a visitor centre to mark the battle site. A popular Stirlingshire tourist attraction for decades, this original Bannockburn Heritage Centre was closed in October 2012, in order to begin work on a new, state-of-the-art Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre, due to open on 1 March 2014.
A new centre for 2014
Visitors will be able to see the battle laid out in a detailed battle map
The new centre will harness 3D technology to enable visitors to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with medieval warriors, witness all the sights and sounds of battle, and learn the tactics of the two opposing Kings in an immersive ‘hands-on’ experience. ‘Battlemasters’ will take visitors through the centre and ultimately to the Battle Room, where visitors can lead their own armies or observe the events of Bannockburn unfold in a Battle Show.
Hi-tech meets history
Combat sequences are created by motion-capture technology with the input of historians
The 3D visitor experience uses the very same motion capture technology that transformed, for example, Andy Serkis into Gollum for Lord of the Rings, and created the Na’vi in James Cameron’s Avatar. But this is just part of the process – the technology is only one part of a complex jigsaw ensuring authenticity throughout. Fight choreographers work with replica weapons in genuine one-to-one combat to create the motion capture, while an academic panel of historians and archaeologists develop scripts, story boards and character profiles for the many constituent ‘fights’ that go to make a whole battle. Complex battle sequences comprising greater numbers combine motion capture with post-production effects to create the expansive vista of a raging battlefield. Technology and academic expertise are working hand-in-hand to create a visitor experience like no other.
Bannockburn Live
Marking the 700th anniversary of the battle, the new Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre will be a cornerstone in the City of Stirling’s Homecoming weekend, which culminates with Bannockburn Live on 28 and 29 June. During Bannockburn Live, around 300 re-enactors will recreate the atmosphere of battle at 12 noon, 2pm and 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Replica encampments will demonstrate how battle preparations were made, with working blacksmiths, kitchens, armouries and living quarters. Visitors will be able to trace their ancestry in the Clan and Family Village, as well as listen to the stories of around 40 Clans from Scotland, the UK and overseas. A food and drink village will not only provide visitors with the local flavours of Scotland, but offer insights into food and drink through the ages. ‘Storyville’ will tell Scotland’s story through music, song and story, while the Main Stage will provide a musical backdrop to the two-day festival, providing both folk and contemporary music throughout.
Through the re-opening of the Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre and the large-scale re-enactment on 28 and 29 June, it seems sure that this historic battle – won by few against so many – will resonate with people worldwide for generations to come.
For tickets to the Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre (open from 1 March): http://battleofbannockburn.com/
For tickets to Bannockburn Live, on 28 and 29 June 2014: http://www.bannockburnlive.com/
by ssc | Feb 13, 2014 | Blog
The approach to the Wallace Monument, Abbey Craig, Stirling
The National Wallace Monument is a striking tower breaking the skyline at the summit of Abbey Craig, a volcanic crag just outside the city of Stirling. Visible for miles around, the tower marks the spot where Sir William Wallace, the 13th century Scottish patriot, is said to have taken cover the night before he faced King Edward 1 at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
The construction: Perhaps one of the best early examples of ‘crowd-funding’, the monument was financed by both public subscription and foreign donations, at a moment when Scottish patriotism was particularly fervent. The foundation stone was laid in 1861, drawing crowds of around 100,000 people and an artillery salute from Stirling Castle. Eight years later, an unmarried Stirling blacksmith named James Bean volunteered to lay the capstone in place atop the 220-feet tall Gothic tower – sparing the wife of foreman mason Duncan McInnes from watching her husband carry out the perilous task. The project was over time and over budget, so it was not without controversy that the Monument opened its doors to the public in 1869. Despite contentious beginnings, the Monument has, over the past 145 years, become both a national landmark, and a visual focus for the Stirling community.
Artist's impression: the refurbished Hall of Arms, inside the Monument
The tourist attraction: The Monument not only tells the Story of Wallace (and houses his remarkable broadsword), but celebrates the lives of several of Scotland’s most pivotal historic figures. Robert the Bruce, Robert Burns, Adam Smith and Sir Walter Scott are among those featured in the aptly named ‘Hall of Heroes’. Above the galleries the climb of 246 steps to the crown of the Wallace monument offers one of the most breath-taking views to be had in Scotland without climbing gear. Visitors can see as far as Ben Lomond and the Trossachs to the west, enjoy birds’-eye views of the city of Stirling and the Ochil Hills, and see right across to the Pentland Hills in the East. It’s no surprise that the Wallace Monument attracts around 110,000 visitors from across the globe every year, but even historical landmarks must move with the times, and 2014 is a big year for both Stirling and the Monument.
A new vision for the Hall of Heroes, with the Wallace Sword at its heart
2014 improvements: In readiness for Stirling’s central place in Scotland’s Year of Homecoming 2014, the Monument is to undergo several major renovations before re-opening in April. The Visitor reception at the foot of Abbey Craig will be significantly upgraded. On completion, the next focus will be the three galleries housed within the monument itself. Ken Thomson, Marketing Manager for Stirling District Tourism, says that the refurbishment ‘is a vitally important project – and it has been carefully planned to ensure that the new features will make the experience of visiting the Monument even more meaningful.’ Perhaps the most emotive refurbishment will be to the display of the monument’s most precious artifact – Sir William Wallace’s broadsword. Stone blocks, originally quarried from the Abbey Craig 150 years ago for the Monument itself, will be used to create a unique plinth for the Wallace Sword, to be housed as a centrepiece in the Hall of Heroes. It’s a fitting focus to the renovations, which uses the very best materials from the past to take the Monument into the future. Ken explains: ‘We know that for the visitors who come to the Monument the story of William Wallace is incredibly significant, and we want to tell that story in a new and captivating way, showing how the leader of the Scottish forces came to be recognised as a National Hero during the Victorian era, some 500 years later.’
For information on the refurbishment, re-opening dates and news updates, visit: www.nationalwallacemonument.com/
All photos supplied by The National Wallace Monument. Artist’s impressions by Campbell & Co, also supplied by the National Wallace Monument.
by ssc | Jan 30, 2014 | Blog
A Stirling Whisky Club member samples one of the 200 whiskies at the Spirit of Stirling Whisky Festival
Whisky: you cannot think of it without thinking of Scotland. Whisky is part of our culture, part of our national identity, and emblematic of many of the things we hold dear – tradition, simplicity, and quality. The tasting notes of connoisseurs even seem to echo the nature of Scotland’s rugged countryside. Malts are often described in terms of ‘heather’, ‘woodsmoke’, ‘peat’, ‘sea-salt’ and ‘oak’. It’s no coincidence that whiskies are often described in this vocabulary of our landscape, because whisky – perhaps Scotland’s best-loved export – is inextricably connected to our country’s terrain and crystal-clear waters. Closely linked to tourism and the romantic attraction of Scotland at large, the whisky industry continues to gather momentum, with single malts becoming ever more popular worldwide. And the future never looked brighter – with Scotland’s Year of Homecoming celebrating all things Scottish and attracting tourists from around the globe, 2014 brings fresh new focus to this most historic of industries.
MSP Bruce Crawford, a great supporter of the festival, with Stirling Whisky Shop Manager Fiona Sinclair
The Spirit of Stirling Whisky Festival
It’s a passion for Scotland, for whisky, and for Stirling that has motivated Stirling-based partnership Cameron McCann and Iain McMenemy to establish the Spirit of Stirling Whisky Festival. This annual event is fast becoming one of the most important dates in the whisky calendar, and takes place in the same month as World Whisky Day, which organises events worldwide. The Spirit of Stirling Festival brings together 32 distilleries and bottlers, offers around 200 different whiskies for sampling, and gives visitors a unique opportunity to ‘talk whisky’ with the very people who create their favourite dram. Cameron, who owns the Stirling Whisky shop, loves every minute: ‘It all started as a bit of a dream. Now we’re watching the event grow year on year, helping promote whisky and numerous Scottish businesses. We’re putting Stirling on the whisky and event map.’ And what is the special attraction of whisky that has made it such a global drink? ‘When you have a whisky in your hand you have a story in a glass that brings people and conversation together.’ It’s a view that’s echoed throughout the festival, by visitors and exhibitors alike.
Over thirty distilleries get the chance to talk directly with consumers
Talking whisky
Glenfarclas distributor Peter Donnelly has been involved with the Festival from its beginnings three years ago: ‘Events like this allows distilleries to find out first-hand what consumers are looking for and what the trends are; say, for example, whether they’re favouring an Islay or Speyside flavour, or choosing older over younger whiskies. All this feeds back into long-term brand development. But perhaps most importantly, we have the time to talk to people and educate them about the brand. They remember us long after the event – that’s a key way to do business in the UK.’
Giving something back
And this year, the festival is extra special. To mark the 700th anniversary of the battle of Bannockburn as part of Stirling 2014, Stirling Whisky Shop has joined up with Glenfarclas Distillery from Speyside to create a commemorative bottle to celebrate the event. The significant cask numbers of 13 and 14, distilled in 2007, have been married to produce 700 bottles and 700 miniatures of unique whisky, with the first and last numbered bottles presented in crystal decanters. One will be auctioned at the Spirit of Stirling Festival dinner on the 9th of May, with proceeds going to Scribblers Picnic – a local Stirling Cancer charity, while the remaining bottle will be presented to Scribblers for them to use as they see fit. It’s a heart-warming finish to the festival, in the spirit of whisky itself.
Tickets for the Spirit of Stirling Whisky festival are almost sold out already. Check here for next year’s dates and book early! www.spiritofstirlingwhiskyfestival.co.uk/
Tickets and information for the Scribblers Picnic can be found on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/scribblerspicnic
by ssc | Jan 23, 2014 | Blog
The most famous portrait of Burns, painted by Alexander Nasmyth
Robert Burns was born on 25 January 1759, in Alloway, South Ayrshire, the eldest of the seven children of William and Agnes Burnes [as originally spelled], who were poor tenant farmers. Taught mainly by his father, Burns received formal education in Latin, French, grammar and mathematics only when the tough manual labour of harvests would allow. Yet, despite this inauspicious upbringing, Burns was to become Scotland’s most celebrated poet, lyricist and writer in the Scots dialect. So what is it about him that so captured our imagination?
Precocious talent and an eye for the girls
By the age of 15, Burns was already revealing some of his most famous character traits: his talent for poetry and song, and his fondness for ‘the ladies’. While trying to eke out a living in farming alongside a little study, Burns would write about any girl that captivated him, whether fellow farm labourer or student. By the age of 24, he had written several poems and songs, and had begun creating a Commonplace Book. Throughout his life, Burns’s writing was unfailingly driven by his passions: for Scotland, story, politics, and not least by his many love affairs.
Linguistic ability
Tam O' Shanter, one of Burns's most famous epic poems
Burns’s writing career took off with a bang on publication of his Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (or the Kilmarnock Volume) in 1786. It attracted immediate critical acclaim and marked the beginning of his success in publication. In the years to follow Burns distinguished himself not only as an able writer in Scots, but in Standard English, and in an accessible, lighter Scots dialect. His writing was attractive worldwide, not only for this broad linguistic ability, but the diversity of his subject matter too. Burns was as at home with the romance of ‘A Red, Red Rose’ to the fantasy of ‘Tam O’Shanter’ to the outspoken politics of his ‘Election Ballads’. Further, Burns was not only the creator of many melodies that we now think of as traditional songs such as ‘Auld Lang Syne’, but worked hard to collect, preserve, and sometimes adapt many of the older folk songs of Scotland. Without his work, it’s likely that many of these would have been lost.
A tragic, early death
Burns was an outspoken poet, especially when writing in Standard English. His open support of the French Revolution and reform for the working classes alienated his friends, the Crown and his literary critics. Despite his fame and improved prospects, this alienation took its toll on Burns: both his health and morale faltered early in life. Critics blamed ‘intemperance’ for his worsening heart condition and others spread rumours that the poet’s failing constitution was caused by venereal disease. On the morning of 21 July 1796 Burns died in Dumfries, at the age of just 37, after a simple dental extraction.
Celebrating his life – the Burns Supper
To honour the life and work of our flawed, talented, and fascinating poet, Scotland celebrates Burns Night on 25th January every year. This traditional meal begins with the reading of Burns’s ‘Selkirk Grace’, after which the haggis is carried ceremoniously into the room, usually preceded by a lone piper. Burns’s ‘Address to a Haggis’ is then read and the haggis cut open. After the meal, a Burns poem may be performed, followed by an account of Burns’s life and a toast to his ‘Immortal Memory’. A male speaker will then make the ‘Toast to the Lassies’, a light-hearted observation on the attractions and foibles of women. A female speaker will then respond in kind with a ‘Reply to the Toast’, poking mild fun at men, at Burns, and ending on a positive note. The Burns Supper ends with everyone joining hands to sing Burns’s ‘Auld Lang Syne’ before parting – perhaps his best-known work that is known and sung the world over.
Why not hold your own Burns Supper in honour of the Bard? For more information, see: www.bbc.co.uk/arts/robertburns/burns_night_running_order.shtml
by ssc | Jan 9, 2014 | Blog
The Hermitage Falls, River Braan, Perthshire, less than 90 minutes from Stirling. Photo copyright: Visit Scotland/Scottish Viewpoint
January: it’s the month of clean slates and fresh starts. It’s the month that most of make at least a few over-ambitious New Year’s resolutions, and the very same month that 92 percent* of us abandon them. So, what are we doing wrong every year? Seems to me that instead of promising ourselves good things that could have a positive impact on our lives, we seem determined to deny ourselves those (usually little) things that make us happy day to day, like new tastes, new experiences, and leisure. How about, for one year, we ditch all other New Year’s resolutions, and resolve instead to travel, making life a little bigger and brighter for a while?
Make it Scotland and make it 2014
Scotland has been voted the third best country in the UK to visit in 2014. Not only because it has a magnificent and historic landscape, but because there are just so many brilliant things going on in this year. The Commonwealth Games take place in Glasgow in July and August with some tickets still available. Whether you get tickets or not, simply being in Glasgow throughout that time will be unforgettable, just as London seemed alight with excitement throughout the 2012 Olympic Games, and even months later. The Ryder Cup follows swiftly after, bringing golfers and visitors from around the globe to the stunning Gleneagles estate in Perthshire. Alongside these, Scotland will be celebrating its ‘Year of Homecoming’, a packed, 12-month calendar of events with Stirling at its heart. More than 160 events will take place in Stirling alone, including the 700th anniversary re-enactment of the Battle of Bannockburn, the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival and the Spirit of Stirling Whisky Festival – to name just a few.
Make Stirling your base
The Firth of Forth from Inchcolm Island, 90 minutes from Stirling. Photo: Erica Linder
If you were to pick one place from which to explore the very best of Scotland throughout 2014, you’d be hard-pressed to better Stirling. Because of its central location, Stirling is less than one hour’s drive time from more than half of the population of Scotland**, and only 45 minutes’ drive from either Glasgow or Edinburgh airports. You can head north to Inverness in just 2 hours and 45 minutes, east to Aberdeen in 2 hours and five minutes, or west to Oban – gateway to the Western Isles – in 2 hours and 10. Five minutes’ walk from Stirling city centre, Stirling rail station offers direct routes to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Inverness too, not to mention the coach services. Suddenly, most of Scotland is accessible, and you can still be home for dinner.
The Courtyard, a Stirling Self Catering property with enclosed garden
Go self-catering
So where would home be? Hotels can be an expensive choice, especially if you want to get up early and hit the road sightseeing, possibly missing fixed breakfast and dinner times. For the freedom you need to explore Scotland at your own pace, then self-catering could be your best option. Families can spread out, eat when (and what) they want, pack picnics, and, if you’re staying with Stirling Self Catering, make use of cots, high chairs, and toys – for free. A safe, enclosed garden is a welcome space after a day’s sightseeing, and preferable to towering hotel balconies that leave you terrified for toddlers. With room to unpack instead of living out of a suitcase, self-catering gives you the chance to feel, and live, like a local: the very best way to immerse yourself in a new place. So what’s your New Year resolution for 2014 now? Eat more fruit? Or plan the holiday of a lifetime? Why not come to Stirling for an unforgettable self-catering break, and while you’re at it, try the Farmers Market for fresh, local fruit too. Who says you can’t have everything?
*Source: www.statisticbrain.com
**Source: www.visitstirling.org
