by ssc | Dec 23, 2013 | Blog
We love Christmas in Scotland, and it’s a brilliant and beautiful time of year. But why should you spend it with us? Here’s just a few good reasons why.
Forecasters predict a white Christmas in parts of Scotland
Snow: If Christmas just isn’t Christmas for you without snow, then head to Scotland for better odds of a white Christmas. Compared to London’s six percent chance of snow on December 25th, Scotland offers much better odds, with Glasgow at 35 percent, Aberdeen at 53 percent, and Lerwick boasting a festive 75 percent chance of snowfall!* You can’t deny that a white landscape on Christmas morning does lend an air of magic, and it also makes the prospect of a day indoors, a wood fire and some good food even more appealing. Breaking weather reports as we post say that we are going to get just that – a white Christmas 2013!
Dark nights: Christmas falls just after the shortest day, which means fewer daylight hours and long dark nights over the festive period in Scotland. Christmas lights are sparkling by 4pm in Scotland’s streets, the lamps of Christmas market stalls seem to shine a little brighter, and warm firesides are yet more beguiling. Somehow, the darker nights give us permission to relax a bit more too; it’s okay to be in jammies by 6pm if you want to, and who really minds if you gain a little festive weight – unlike our friends down under, you won’t be barbecuing in beach gear.
Markets: Scotland is gaining deserved recognition for its thriving markets, just like regular local Farmers’ Markets found in towns and cities like Linlithgow and Stirling. In recent years, we’ve become sensitive to where our produce comes from, is reared or prepared. Because of this, more and more consumers are choosing to shop locally, buying direct from trusted local farmers and producers – and when better to do so than Christmas, when we want the very best and tastiest fare for our tables?
At the other end of the spectrum are the large-scale European markets hosted in Edinburgh and Glasgow around Christmas time. These festive markets attract both locals and tourists alike, who also come for the seasonal attractions like skating, big wheels, beer halls and stunning Christmas lights. US broadcasting giant CNN has even named Edinburgh as one of the best cities worldwide to visit over winter. (And to avoid capital city accommodation prices, stay in Stirling; it’s only 50 minutes on the train from Edinburgh).
Stirling's Hogmanay takes place against a historic backdrop
Hogmanay: Say ‘Hogmanay’ and you’ll think Scotland, even though the jury is out on the word’s roots (which could be Norse, French or Goidelic [Manx]). But, regardless of etymology, one thing is true – no one does Hogmanay like the Scots. New Year’s Eve is as big a celebration as Christmas itself in many households, and every Scottish city is alight with fireworks at the toll of 12 to welcome in the New Year. Stirling’s award-winning Hogmanay celebrations will headline with Deacon Blue this year, set against the backdrop of one of the most pivotal castles in Scottish history. It’s the perfect start to 2014, in which Scotland will not only host the Commonwealth Games, but the Ryder Cup, and Homecoming Scotland too.
Traditions: Christmas and New Year in Scotland still have persistent traditional elements. Though the Yule log is now more familiar to us as a cake, the Yule log does have a place in Scottish history. While other countries chose other woods, birch or rowan was traditionally burnt in Scotland’s hearths until the early 20th century, a little at a time for the 12 days of Christmas. Come Hogmanay, the first person across your door after ‘the bells’ at midnight is a ‘first-footer’. Even now, a first-footer will still make an effort to bring a small gift or ‘handsel’. Traditionally an appropriate handsel would be coal, shortbread, whisky, or black bun, but any small gift is now acceptable!
Food: What’s Christmas without good food and drink? And Scotland has plenty of it. At Christmas we choose our best – and often most traditional – food and drink to celebrate the season. Scottish salmon, especially when smoked, is fast becoming a mainstay starter for Christmas dinner (and not just in Scotland), with Scottish venison giving turkey a run for its money for main course. And the Scots like nothing better than carbs, which we do so well. You’ll find many a household serve up a traditional Clootie Dumpling made from scratch on Christmas day as an alternative to Christmas Pudding, while Hogmanay just wouldn’t be the same without Black Bun either. To bring in the bells at Hogmanay, many Scots now serve a portion of haggis with a dram of whisky on the side or poured over. For those with a sweet tooth, you’re in good company; few Scottish houses will see out the festive period without a bite of shortbread or two. This simple, delicious biscuit so strongly associated with Scotland has been with us since the 12th century, with some sources saying Mary Queen of Scots had a hand in tweaking the recipe to that we know today. And last, but not least, you can’t leave Scotland without sampling a single malt (whisky), of which we have many. All have subtle differences in flavour, aroma, and colour. Scotland has been producing single malt for centuries, always using just two ingredients: our clear Scottish water and malted barley. Only whisky that is distilled in Scotland, in oak casks, and matured for at least three years, can make a claim to the name of ‘single malt’. The best, simplest, and most natural ingredients. And time.
So if you really want to get a true feel for, and flavour of, Christmas – come spend Christmas and Hogmanay with us. But mind: wrap up, and come hungry.
*Statistics provided by the National Meteorological Library.
by ssc | Dec 12, 2013 | Blog
The golden eagle came first in the Big Five polls
Say the phrase ‘Big Five’ and you may picture African savannah, khaki, and big-game hunters. That’s the ‘Big Five’ of the past, when hunting was still socially acceptable, Ron Ely was sporting a loincloth, and the term described the five toughest animals to hunt on foot. Happily, the phrase has been adopted by safari tour operators with gentler pursuits in mind. These days, if you’re off in search of the Big Five, you’ll be packing binoculars, not guns. And you don’t even need to fly to Africa, because Scotland has its very own Big Five right here. They are the red deer, golden eagle, harbour seal, otter and red squirrel.
In 2013, and celebrating the Year of Natural Scotland, VisitScotland and Scottish Natural Heritage asked people to vote for the animals which they considered the most iconic, the most representative of Scottish wildlife. The votes closed in November, and the results are here:
1. The Golden Eagle: With almost 40 percent of votes, the golden eagle was a clear favourite. It’s a fitting choice too: almost all of the breeding pairs left in Britain are in Scotland. With a wing span of over two metres, this bird can fly at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour. Head to the Highlands and Islands for a chance to see them soar. Emblematic of the importance of protecting rare species, the golden eagle is likely to become Scotland’s national bird. You can sign the petition here.
The smallest, and perhaps the most endearing of Scotland's Big Five
2. The Red Squirrel: The endearing and acrobatic red squirrel is the only UK native squirrel – the grey was introduced to Britain in the late 19th century. Scotland boasts around 120,000 reds: 80 percent of the UK entire population. Southern Scotland, the central Lowlands and the Highlands are great places to see these brilliant little flashes of rust-red life. Walk quietly and you will be rewarded.
3. The Red Deer: This is the UK’s largest mammal, and one of the biggest deer in the world. The stag’s antlers cut a striking silhouette and have become deeply associated with all things Scottish – from paintings to shortbread to whisky. Winter is a good time to see red deer as they come down off the hills in search of food. Your best bet for sightings are Perthshire, the west Highlands, Rum, Jura, or Dumfries & Galloway.
Otters are doing well throughout Scotland
4. The Otter: Though secretive, the otter is doing well, and can be found across Scotland in both coastal and inland areas; even thriving in towns and cities. However, the coastal otters around the West coast, the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland, are a little less jumpy than their inland counterparts, making them easier to spot. Dawn and dusk are the best times.
5. The Harbour Seal: These seals can be spotted easily in estuarine waters around the Scottish coast. There are colonies in the Firth of Forth, the Firth of Tay, and the Moray Firth, as well as Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides. Awkward on land, these animals are incredibly graceful – and curious – when in the water.
These are just a few of Scotland favourite and most iconic animals. Close runners-up to the ‘Big 5’ classification are species such as the pine marten, Scottish wildcat and puffin. To find out more about all these species, find out where you can see them, and even to watch live webcams, see: www.visitscotland.com/about/wildlife/
by ssc | Dec 5, 2013 | Blog
The Kelpies under construction near the M9
Towering above the M9 just ten minutes’ drive from the centre of Stirling, two new and breath-taking sculptures break the skyline. These are the Kelpies, two 30-metre high silver horse heads that rear over the Forth & Clyde canal, overseeing its east coast entrance. These 300 tonne sculptures are amongst the tallest in the UK – topping Anthony Gormley’s Angel of the North by ten full metres. They have been created by artist Andy Scott, perhaps best known for his heavy horse sculpture that overlooks the M8, and beloved of many a daily commuter. The Kelpies take their name from the supernatural water-horses of Celtic myth that were believed to haunt the rivers and lochs of Scotland and Ireland, but in reality, the structures themselves represent so much more: an expression not only of our national folklore but of the role that horses have played in the life of Central Scotland.
The Kelpies form a new gateway to Scotland's canal network
Andy Scott took inspiration from his own roots: his father’s home town was Falkirk and the artist cites ‘old family connections anchoring me to the project’. During the creative process, Scott found he was blending the vision of mythological Kelpies with the muscular reality of the working horse in Scotland to create his final work. Inspired by the working, heavy horse breeds, he used two Clydesdales horses provided by Glasgow City Council as models for his sculptures. The result is testimony both to the romantic notion of the horse in Celtic folklore and to the horses that literally powered central Scotland – in its fields, canals, and heavy industry. It is no coincidence that the Kelpies are forged in steel: a material that embodies Scotland’s industrial heritage, and which now also creates its beautiful public art.
Unveiled at the end of November ahead of their official opening in 2014, the Kelpies were under development long before that date, with the project already in its infancy in 2006. On-site construction began in June 2013, much to the curiosity of passing M9 drivers as the equine profiles took shape. And the Kelpies have not only caused a stir in the UK – having been on tour throughout Scotland, Andy Scott’s original 1:10 ‘maquettes’ are now making their way across the USA. Shipped to Chicago in 2012, these 3-metre Kelpies were installed at the Field Museum, Grant Park, Chicago, as part of the Chicago Sculpture International Exhibition. After wintering at the sculpture park of Purdue University in Indiana, plans are also under way to ship them to New York City and onward.
The Kelpies nearing completion - evening.
Back in Scotland, the near completion of the full-size Kelpies is an important milestone in the development of the Helix – a 350-hectare park built on land between Falkirk and Grangemouth. Now in the latter stages of completion, this park will connect 16 communities in the area, while creating a haven for wildlife, recreation, enterprise, learning, and public art. The Kelpies will also reflect and complement the canal-based fusion of art and engineering already exemplified by the area’s Falkirk Wheel, with a new canal link and boating facilities improving access to and from the Forth estuary and Scotland’s canal network. The Helix, the Kelpies, and the Falkirk Wheel are undoubtedly bringing new prominence to a landscape formerly overlooked by tourism, and re-interpreting an industrial area’s past for the future in the most sustainable – and beautiful – way.
More info on the Kelpies and Helix: http://www.thehelix.co.uk/discover-helix/the-kelpies
To follow the Kelpies on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheKelpiesatTheHelix
All photos were kindly supplied by, and copyright of, the Kelpies team.
by ssc | Nov 28, 2013 | Blog
Craigvinean pine cone shelter overlooking Dunkeld (Copyright: Ronald Weir)
Every year, thousands of tourists make their way to New England, in the northeast corner of the United States of America, to witness one of nature’s most beautiful spectacles: New England in the fall. This part of the US is famed for its breath-taking autumn scenery, with the season’s turning leaves providing a vivid display that’s admired the world over. Often described in terms of ‘pyrotechnics’ and ‘fireworks’, this annual phenomenon is striking enough, and reliable enough, to draw tourists from all over the globe – often repeatedly. Visitor numbers peak from mid-September to early November, with tourists even planning their holiday around real-time foliage maps, or following the ‘turn’ as it spreads from the northern regions of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire down into Massachusetts, Rhode Island and along the coast. New England in the fall is definitely on most travellers’ to-do lists, and rightly so, but what if you’re looking for something comparable closer to home?
Kinnoull Hill, Perthshire (Copyright: Mike Bell)
In recent years, we’ve seen the rise of the word ‘staycation’, coined to describe the decision to stay on your own patch for a holiday, whether because you’re trying to save a bit of cash, have a young family who can’t yet endure long-haul without meltdown, or because you simply feel you don’t know your own country. For those looking for an autumn foliage staycation, there are few better places to make your temporary home than Scotland. Surprised? Take another look at these photos – they’re not taken in New England, but in some of Scotland’s most ancient and striking woodlands.
Admittedly, you won’t find the sheer acreage of deciduous woodland that you may witness in the US, but what you may lose in size, you gain in accessibility, beauty, biological diversity, and perhaps most importantly, ecological importance. For ancient oakwoods, incorporating oak, birch, holly, rowan and hazel, head to Taynish, to Loch Lomond, and to the woods of Glen Nant and Glasdrum, all within driving distance of Stirling. For birchwoods, explore Craigellachie – minutes from Aviemore – as well as Muir of Dinnet in Grampian. Our rarer, ancient ashwoods can be found in Glasdrum, the Clyde Valley Woods, and in Argyll’s Ballachuan Hazel Wood, which also offers the (often misunderstood) Atlantic Hazel. And you won’t just see trees either – ornithologists will be rewarded with rare bird sightings, while lepidopterists (moth and butterfly fans to the layman) have the chance to see some interesting species too – and that’s not even mentioning the rare and ancient ferns, lichens, mosses and liverworts for those with eyes downward. If you want to find out more about these locations and a little bit of habitat science too, Scottish Natural Heritage can tell you everything you need right here: www.snh.gov.uk/about-scotlands-nature/habitats-and-ecosystems/woodland/
Loch Faskally, Pitlochry (Copyright: Perthshire Picture Agency)
For those who are just plain giddy about the sheer spectacle of ‘leaf peeping’, there is enough going on in Scotland to make your foliage staycation an annual event. And if Stirlingshire is your base, you needn’t stray far. Perthshire has even earned itself the title ‘Big Tree Country’, where you can find Europe’s oldest tree, the world’s highest hedge, and Shakespeare’s Birnam Wood in present day. You may even want to take part in the Tree Hugging World Record attempt on 1 December this year. Whatever your focus, if you’re planning the ultimate autumn holiday for next year, you probably want to prioritise the stunning and easily accessible sites recommended for leaf peeping by www.perthshirebigtreecountry.co.uk, as well as the new and interesting ways they suggest to view them too. Hot air balloon, anyone? Genius.
So, isn’t it time we saw our own country’s autumn in a new light? Instead of boarding a cramped and expensive flight to add some much-needed colour to the shortening days, why not plan the holiday of a lifetime right here in Scotland, and pay attention, for once, to the burnished tapestry of our very own beautiful, wild and ancient landscape.
Thanks to www.perthshirebigtreecountry.co.uk for permission to use images from their library.
by ssc | Nov 15, 2013 | Blog
Stirling's award-winning Hogmanay celebrations with Stirling Castle as backdrop
Lonely Planet is an internationally renowned publishing brand associated with reliable, insightful travel guides. All the best globetrotters carry one or more battered copies in their backpack, and gaining the approval of their writers is something of a badge of honour for any travel destination. It’s no wonder, then, that Scotland is pretty excited about being ranked by Lonely Planet as the ‘third best country to visit in 2014’. Scotland was pipped at the post only by Brazil, World Cup hosts in 2014, and Antarctica, described as a place to ‘take life on and follow in the path of other intrepid explorers’.
So, what is it that is so special about Scotland just at this moment, just as we look forward to 2014? First up, Lonely Planet cite ‘Scotland’s jam-packed schedule of world-class events’ as being a big draw to the discerning traveller in 2014. For starters, Scotland will be hosting the Commonwealth Games for eleven days of top competition in July and August, and turning the eyes of the world to Glasgow, its spectacular and welcoming host city. Then, just days after the last athletes pack up their kit at the end of the Games, the world’s media will lift their cameras and head to the magnificent Gleneagles estate in Perthshire, less than 40 miles from the heart of Stirling. Here, the Ryder Cup, the world’s greatest tournament in match play golf, will be teeing off in September 2014, drawing visitors and big-name golfers from across the globe for five days of intense, if scenic, competition.
As a year-long backdrop to these two major dates, the nation will also be celebrating ‘Scotland’s Year of Homecoming’, a 12-month calendar of events that kicks off at the toll of midnight on Hogmanay. Stirling plays a central role in the Year of Homecoming, from its award-winning Hogmanay celebrations – this year headed up by Deacon Blue – to the 700th anniversary re-enactment of the Battle of Bannockburn, the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival and the Spirit of Stirling Whisky Festival, amongst more than 160 other Stirling-based events. Lay that packed diary against Edinburgh’s annual festivals, add Scotland’s celebrated Highland Games fixtures, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a ‘slow news day’ in Scotland throughout 2014. If ever you thought about taking a year out to get to know a country, it’s 2014. And it’s Scotland.
Edinburgh's festivals attract performers and audiences from across the globe
But it’s not just Scotland’s events calendar that has distinguished the country in the eyes of the Lonely Planet panel. The guide cites the nation’s cities as beautiful and unique, describing Edinburgh for example as ‘the most gothic city outside Transylvania’. As an enduring and unblemished canvas that contrasts with Scotland’s cities, Lonely Planet also invites travellers to ‘take the high road north to Loch Lomond, Loch Ness and Cairngorms National Park and fall in love with the landscape’. Isn’t it this balance which Scotland does best? Within an hour’s drive from Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Stirling, any festival-jaded traveller can lose themselves in unrivalled scenery for breathing space, nature, and solitude. It’s perhaps that freedom – to immerse yourself in the hustle and yet so easily get away from it – that makes Scotland really quite a magical place.
Photo of Stirling Hogmanay courtesy of Stirling 2014. Festival performers photo courtesy of Edinburgh Festivals Media Centre.
by ssc | Nov 7, 2013 | Blog
Waitrose has recently opened stores in Helensburgh and Stirling
The Waitrose – or ‘posh’ – effect has attracted more than a few column inches in the press in recent weeks, as new Waitrose stores have opened in Helensburgh, and in Stirling city centre. What is the ‘Waitrose effect’? Well, estate agents UK-wide have observed that house prices in the vicinity of Waitrose stores can rise by around 25 percent, with some claiming that house values in certain areas are boosted by as much as twice that. It seems that local business reaps benefits too, with evidence to suggest that small businesses like delis, restaurants and cafes are more likely to invest in an area when they discover that a Waitrose is planned for the neighbourhood. With frequent sightings of Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, skipping happily across Anglesey’s Waitrose car park, scooting her trolley between admiring onlookers, it’s pretty clear that Waitrose meets with royal approval too.
So, specifically, what does the Waitrose opening in January mean for Stirling? We’ve yet to see what effect the presence of the new Waitrose store in the Burghmuir area of Stirling will do to house prices, but what is clear is that the arrival of Waitrose proves that yet another trusted brand classes Stirling as a great place to put down some roots. While some commentators view this Waitrose ‘seal of approval’ as snobbery, you have to admit that having big, trusted names nearby can give a city and its inhabitants confidence: confidence to stay, confidence to raise their children there, and confidence to invest in a city they’re proud of.
Whatever the prevailing views are on the Waitrose effect, there’s no denying that the store’s arrival has brought welcome focus to a previously under-utilised area of the city of Stirling, heading up the main route out to Bannockburn. And on that count, the timing couldn’t be better. With high-profile preparations under way for the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn in 2014, this part of Stirling will be increasingly under the tourism spotlight. A re-enactment of the famous battle of Bannockburn, so integral to the Scottish psyche, will be central in Scotland’s ‘Year of Homecoming’ events calendar in 2014, itself expected to attract thousands of visitors from across the world.
So, while no sane person would choose to holiday in a city just because it boasts a Waitrose, it’s probable that the store’s presence will have positive and long-lasting effects on tourism. The Waitrose name joins an already impressive list of vendors in the city centre that offer shopping choices that range from big brands in the city’s pedestrian precinct and Thistles Arcade to locally grown produce in Port Street farmers’ markets. The city is increasingly becoming not only a destination for history, culture and the arts, but an ever more desirable place to spend an afternoon shopping, whether that be behind a trolley in the sparkly new Waitrose, or wending cobbled streets to buy straight from the farmer across a gingham-covered market stall.
Photograph courtesy of Waitrose Media Centre.
