 |
| What on earth is Fraser Proven up to now? |
 |
Any ideas?  Check the close up below |
Anyone else would call this a garden bench but Frasers says its a "couch". Four people can sit here. Of course it's not a real red squirrel. We don't have to glue resin animals to our garden as there really are red squirrels in the area. Be careful if you spot them on the road though as they are slow to cross.
Our friend Tony runs the local wildlife watch centre in Strathyre. If you don't want to leave wildlife spotting to chance, book a session with him for around £15 and he will take you to camera hides focused on red squirrels, pine martins and badgers. He knows where the otters are too! You can also book a "birding weekend" to get familiar with the sight and sound of seasonal birds. Natural Trossachs is an eco friendly wildlife watch business where they run special activity weekends like, birding and bushcraft skills (handy outdoor survival skills). See more here http://www.naturaltrossachs.co.uk
If you prefer to go off road in a Land Rover, then check out Hidden Glen Safaris. Owner Alan will pick you up from Briar Cottages and take you to well known parts of Balquhidder Glen to look for eagles, deer, foxes and more. The picturesque terrain was the final stomping grounds of Rob Roy McGregor http://www.hiddenglensafaris.co.uk from £28 per person.
The deer have been spotted around Lochearnhead all winter and they leave evidence every night in our gardens. Normally they go back up the hills however this lot are enjoying local pickings. Briar Cottages offers a lovely grassy paddock to the rear. The deer and stags love our flowers and laurel bushes appeal to their taste too. They are in our garden most nights and sometimes during the day much to the delight of guests that report sightings.
 |
| Deer visit Lochearnhead regularly
We are extremely lucky to have ospreys fishing all summer. They come back from Africa at the beginning of May and will be here throughout the summer. Briar Cottages offers a 250 foot loch garden and both cottages face south over Loch Earn so our guests have front row seats. Watch ospreys fishing all summer. It is useful to have a camera around here at all times. The swallows are back too and the mallards have had their first ducklings. One mother has been feeding here all winter. She only has 2 ducklings left however she brings them to the garden every day several times so that we can help to feed them. We can't look out for them all the time. They are under threat from other creatures and the trunk roads if drivers don't see them. Our mother duck has an extra challenge. She only has one foot. We call her "hoppy". I hope that is not duckist or mallardist as she is named with affection.
|
 |
| Fraser celebrating the 1st day of the fishing season |
The fishing season is well under way however we could do with temperatures rising a bit for more trout to surface. This picture was taken on 15th March when Fraser decided to celebrate the start of the fishing season. He celebrates most days to be fair!
In a week or two the sea plane will be a familiar sight on Loch Earn, based at The Lochearnhead Water Sports Centre. Guests can enjoy the regular take off and landings by qualified pilots who are learning or improving sea plane and mountain flying skills.
 |
| Photo by Lochearnhead photographer Alistair Barclay of Alba virtual tours
Power Skiing Event: On the 24th May we see the return of the formula one power boat ski race. Witness all ages of people skiing at up to 110 miles per hour. No mistake, they really go that fast.See www.skirace.net and http://www.lochearnhead-watersports-centre.com/activities-to-make-you-feel-alive/C
Food and Drink? Great news. MHOR84 has opened up 3 miles down the A84 from Lochearnhead. Chef Tom Lewis has woven his magic once again along with his wife Lisa and siblings Dick and Melanie. They have taken over the old Kingshouse Hotel, whitewashed it and created a Motel with fresh, very tasty and great value food. You can eat most of the day. Drop in for breakfast, snacks, soups, Illy coffee and home made cakes and main meals too. A great place for ramblers and walkers to gather for tea and well behaved dogs can sit on the wooden floors under your table. The Golden Larches restaurant on the A84 has been taken over by husband and wife team Alistair and Alida. In addition to all day food, snacks and beverages in the restaurant or conservatory, you can now order takeaway fish or scampi and chips.
Next years events: Briar Steading has already been booked for The Ryder Cup 2014 and The Highland Games 2014 however Little Briar is still available. We are hoping that some Commonwealth Games enthusiasts will take a short break up this way while they are in Scotland. After all, we are only an hour and 15 minutes from Glasgow. Give us a call if your need luxury and pet friendly accommodation for a week or short break 01567 830 443 throughout the year in any season.
Catch up with more of my news on Twitter @Briarcottages
For other Whats On events in the area:
May
16th
Event: Golf
Senior Men's Open. Venue: St Fillans Golf
Club St Fillans
Time :
All Day
To enter please
send your details along with a cheque to the club: St Fillans Golf Club, South
Loch, Earn Road, St Fillans, Perthshire, PH6 2NJ. Visitors are welcome at St
Fillans Golf Club which is situated in one of the most beautiful parts of
Scotland surrounded by magnificent lochs and towering mountains. The terrain is
quite level in spite of the imposing hills that surround the course. It is
popular with beginners yet proves to be a difficult course to score well on for
the more experienced player.
May 24th-26th
Event: Birding Weekend
Venue: Strathyre Outdoor Centre
Event: Learn about the call of birds. Watchbirds from a distance in the various habitats; woodland, marshes & moorland, Identify birds by sight with visual ID, bat detection, Pre breakfast bird walks
Price £205 with food and accommodation £150 without.
Contact: http://www.naturaltrossachs.
May
25th
and 26th
Event: British Power
Boat Water Skiing, Loch Earn
Venue: The
Lochearnhead Water Sports Centre, Lochearnhead.
Price:
Free to
spectate
Contact
Laura and
Martin http://www.lochearnhead-
Witness up to
30 power boats pulling brave water skiers at speeds of 70 to 110 miles per hour.
JUNE
June
1st/2nd
Event: Strathyre
Music Festival
Venue: Various
including The Inn at Strathyre, Creagan House, Strathyre Village
Hall
Price
(TBA)
Time: All Day
Strathyre's 1st
Music Festival,
hosted by local
group Balvaig who have invited another 100 entertainers to join them in creating
a memorable music festival. Showcasing an eclectic mix of local and
international musicians to suit a variety of musical tastes.
June
8th
Even
Venue:
St Fillans Golf
Club
Price:
See
website
Time: All Day from
8.00
please send
your details along with a cheque to the club: St Fillans Golf Club, South Loch,
Earn Road, St Fillans, Perthshire, PH6 2NJ Visitors are
welcome at St Fillans Golf Club which is situated in one of the most beautiful
parts of Scotland surrounded by magnificent lochs and towering mountains. The
terrain is quite level in spite of the imposing hills that surround the course.
It is popular with beginners yet proves to be a difficult course to score well
on for the more experienced player.
June
12th
Event: Ben
Sheann Hill Race
Venue: Strathyre
register at The Inn
Time
7.30 -9.30pm
The 4km course
climbs steeply through forest looping around the summit of An Sidhean before
descending back through the forest. The climb is
426m.
June
22nd
Event The
Martin Currie Rob Roy Challenge (All Day)
Venue: Starts at
Drymen
Price: Charity
Event
Contact: WildFox Events
on 01567 820409
The Rob Roy
Challenge is one of the most successful fundraising events in Scotland. 55 miles
of the Rob Roy Way are covered by teams and individuals. A 16 mile walk from
Drymen through the Trossachs to Callander is follwoed by a 39 mile cycle to
Kenmore via Strathyre, Balquhidder, Lochearnhead.
June
29th
and 30th
Event:
Lochearnhead
Shears, Scotlands Premier Sheep Shearing
Competition
Venue: Lochearnhead
Games Field, Lochearnhead
Price:
£6
Time: Saturday
4pm, Sunday- Heats
9am, hand shears 12 noon, Finals 5.00pm + Crook makingCeilidh Dance
30th June 9.00pm -1.00am
Contact: Colin
McGregor Tel:01567 830236 Email :carstraancroft@btinternet.com Url: http://www.lochearnheadshears
This annual
event is one of the larger sheep shearing competitions in the UK. Now in its
20th year. International sheep shearers will arrive in Lochearnhead with the
aim of taking the revered "Scottish Blackface Shearing Champion" title.
Blackface sheep are predominant in this region. The flighty
nature and coarse wool of this mountain breed can be very challenging requiring
extra skills. Expect a strong representation from Europe this year for a
preliminary European Championship . A lively dance ends the weekend. Licensed
Bar and Food all Day
JULY
July
3rd
Event: Golf,
Ladies Open, St Fillans
Venue: St Fillans
Golf Club, St Fillans
Contact: Managing
Secretary: 01764 685312 email :Stfillansgolf@aol.com Url: http://www.st-fillans-golf.com
Time 8.30am (All
Day)
To enter please
send your details along with a cheque to the club: St Fillans Golf Club, South
Loch, Earn Road, St Fillans, Perthshire, PH6 2NJ. Visitors are welcome at
St Fillans Golf
Club which is situated in one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland surrounded
by magnificent lochs and towering mountains. The terrain is quite level in spite
of the imposing hills that surround the course. It is popular with beginners yet
proves to be a difficult course to score well on for the more experienced
player.
July
14th
-18th August (Sundays weekly )
Event:
Balquhidder
Summer Classical Music Programme, Balquhidder
Venue: Balquhidder
Parish Church, Balquhidder.
Event: Summer Music
concerts throughout the summer celebrating classical music through the talents
of a number of young, up and coming musicians. Parking
available around the church.
Time:
7pm
July
20th
Event: BLS
Highland Games Lochearnhead ( Balquhidder,
Lochearnhead, & Strathyre Highland Games)
Venue: Lochearnhead
Games Field, Lochearnhead
Price: £5 entrance
ticket on the day
Time:
12.30
Contact Alex
Gargolinski. Tel: 01567 830 231 Email :gus.dundhu@btinternet.com
http://www.
A thrilling and
traditional Highland Games in the magnificent setting of Lochearnhead beside
Loch Earn in the lands of MacGregor, McLaren, MacNab, Stewart and
Campbell. The traditional
events often attract world champions though visitors and locals can take part in
the open events. This is a
terrific day out for all the family whether you want to watch the caber being
tossed, listen to the
bagpipes, enjoy the highland dancers or take part in the married ladies
sprint!
AUGUST
August
31st
Event: BLS
Horticultural Society Annual Show - Lochearnhead
Venue: The Village
Hall, Lochearnhead
Price:
Adults £1
(includes tea and cake/biscuits), children go FREE
Time:
2-4pm
Contact: Pauline
Perkins 01877 384228 email:pollyp1@btinternet.com
Come along and
experience the (BLS) Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathyre annual
Horticultural Show where locals showcase their growing and craft skills.
A number of
classes are judged by an external panel including pot plants,
flowers, fruit
and veg, floral art,
kindred
activities (also know locally as "industrial engineering" but good old fashioned
baking to most of us!), handy craft and an art
section. The
presentation of trophies will be at 3.30.
SEPTEMBER
September
14th
Event: Gents
Open St Fillans Golf Club, St Fillans
Venue: St Fillans
Golf Club
Time: All
Day
Contact Managing
Secretary, Tel:01764 685312 Email :Stfillansgolf@aol.com Url: http://www.st-fillans-golf.com
To enter please
send your details along with a cheque to the club: St Fillans Golf Club, South
Loch, Earn Road, St Fillans, Perthshire, PH6 2NJ Visitors are welcome at
St Fillans Golf
Club which is situated in one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland surrounded
by magnificent lochs and towering mountains. The terrain is quite level in spite
of the imposing hills that surround the course. It is popular with beginners yet
proves to be a difficult course to score well on for the more experienced
player.
OCTOBER
October
12th/13th
Event: Scottish
Aeromodellers "Splash In" (Radio Controlled Water Planes) - Lochearnhead
Venue: Loch Earn -
(Lochearnhead Watersports and
Activities Centre)
Price:
Free to
spectate
Time:
10.00-16.00
Contact: Colin McLean,
Tel:01592 569981 Email :cmacvulcan@blueyonder.co.uk Url: http://www.saaweb.org.uk
Free to
spectate. This is a very
impressive event that is suitable for all ages. The setting is
the shores of Loch Earn in Lochearnhead against a backdrop of Glenample,
Edinample castle and an island that was once a Crannog (dwelling house in the
water at the time of the Picts).Come along and be amazed
by the enthusiastic flying skills of Aeromodellers Association members.
This event is
run under the auspices of the Scottish Aeromodellers Association as a "Fly
in". SAA members
attend and fly a wide variety of radio controlled model water planes, large and
small, over two days. This is not
just boys and there toys. It takes a great deal of skill and training to do what
this team does. You will love
the variety of planes. In the
interests of safety, the public is asked to remain in the "roped off" viewing
area.
October
19th/20th
Event: Tracking
and Wildlife Weekend
Venue: Strathyre
Outdoor Centre, Strathyre
Price:
£150 per
weekend or £75 per day (£10 discount if full weekend booked for)
Time: 2 full days:
starts 19.00 on Friday night and ends 16:00 Sunday afternoon.
Main lessons will be from 09:00 - 17:00 on Saturday and 09:00-16:00 on Sunday
Instructor Leon
is a qualified and experienced wildlife biologist with a BSc (hons) in Ecology
and a PhD based on otter research in Scotland. He has over 13 years field
experience, studying badgers, foxes, grouse & otters. In 2004, Leon
formalised his bushcraft interests and achieved a nationally accredited
qualification (with distinction)to teach the subject. This year long NCFE course
covered all aspects of leading groups, including bushcraft
skills, understanding of the natural environment, teaching ability, knowledge of
legislation, health and safety.
|
