Lochearnhead Luxury Cottages News Update 2013

www.stayatbriar.co.uk

Briar Cottages, Luxury and Pet Friendly

Self Catering Holiday Cottages Lochearnhead

News Update: Hello from Kim and Fraser

 

Sunset at Briar Cottages garden on Loch Earn 1st January 2013

 

How is your New Year so far? Our Merry Christmas flag came down weeks ago however we are still talking about the Lochearnhead Hogmanay dance and 1st of January BBQ at the garage. This year we had mulled wine, sausages, and curry. Our guests met neighbours around "Fraser's Bar". It was such a lovely clear night on the 1st Jan. The photo above was taken at sunset, then we lit fireworks from the loch garden. It is never too early to book for Christmas or New Year 2013. 

 

Short breaks and holiday weeks, 2013: Are there special birthday or anniversary dates that you would like to book at Briar Cottages? Easter, School holidays or Valentines? Book a holiday around a birthday and Fraser will raise the birthday flag! There is a Valentine's Party at The Lochearnhead Water Sports Centre on Friday, 15 February. Entry is £10 for a 2 course buffet and all drinks £2 or £10 for a bottle of wine. Tickets from yours truly. The following day, The Lochearnhead Hotel re-opens for the season with Dominoes Night Feb 16. All welcome. The Clachan Cottage Hotel's pub and restaurant are being refurbished and will open soon. You might consider booking around other key events like The Highland Games 20 July 2013.

 

Events: Look out for other great events around Loch Earn. This year sees the return of The formula 1 power boat skiing race weekend of 25/26 May, Strathyre's 1st Music Festival with 70 performers June 1 and 2, The World Black Face Sheep shearing Championships June 29/30, The BLS Highland Games Lochearnhead July 20, plus model aeroplane flying, The Great Boat Race Lochearnhead to St Fillans, Open Water Swimming, wake boarding contests, horticultural shows, summer music concerts, village Fete and more.

 

Wildlife Watching: This is "Year of Natural Scotland 2013" when we celebrate nature, landscapes, wildlife and the arts. In addition to driving, walking or cycling around beautiful lochs, forests and Munro's to spot wildlife, you can book with Tony from Natural Trossachs. He is based at the outdoor centre in Strathyre 4 miles away and can take you to squirrel, pine marten and badger hides to see and film creatures around their habitats. Excellent value including coffee and biscuits at the centre, www.naturaltrossachs.co.uk. If you prefer to be in a Landrover check Hidden Glen Safaris who will take you off the beaten track into Balquhidder Braes to look for pheasant, deer and eagles while you hear stories of Rob Roy MacGregor. If there are 4 of you owner Alan will pick you up first www.hiddenglensafaris.co.uk

 

 

Twitter: Do you tweet? My account name is @Briarcottages where you can follow whats going on at Briar Cottages and in the area.

Flickr: More snow pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/33989514@N02

 

 

YouTube: If you have not viewed our YouTube videos please look here: http://www.youtube.com/user/stayatbriar1.  The latest images show Fraser sledging down our garden slopes in deep snow. This is the sort of activity that 70 year olds get up to in Lochearnhead.   NB: We are only 40 minutes from winter skiing at Glencoe from here too. Did you see Glencoe on the latest Bond Movie? A majestic place!

TripAdvisor We were awarded a 5 out of 5 certificate of excellence in 2012. Thanks to our lovely guests for sharing experiences and photos. It is never too late to comment. If you have experienced Briar Cottages and would like to share what you saw and where you ate, please leave any feedback or add photos and videos here: http://tinyurl.com/briarcottages .

Do get in touch if you would like us to quote a price for you and your family or friends or ask us any questions about Briar Cottages and the surrounding area.  We look forward to welcoming many of you back and to meeting new people. 

 

Kindest regards

 

 

 

Kim and Fraser Proven

Briar Cottages

Lochearnhead

FK19 8PU

http://www.stayatbriar.co.uk

http://stayatbriar.blogspot.com

 

Briar Cottages are open all year round.

#Brave doll meets Kelly James (Olympic torch bearer) at her fund raising stall, Highland Games, Lochearnhead 2012.

Merida Dolly holds the Olympic Torch that young fundraiser Kelly James Held

#Brave doll meets Kelly James (Olympic torch bearer) at her fund raising stall, Highland Games, Lochearnhead 2012.: My #Brave doll met "fellow" red head Kelly James (Olympic torch bearer) at her fund raising stall, during the Highland Games, Lochearnhead 2012.

Looking forward to the launch of the Disney Pixar cartoon #Brave this August? I suspect that  more adults will watch it than children all over the world. Well, so many generations were brought up with the fantasy world of Disney and it never leaves you. We love the Brave trailer as the fantasy setting reminds us of Loch Earn and the surrounding area full of lochs, mountains, ancient forests and castles and many folklore and fairy stories, like the ones that I tell to our holiday cottage guests.  Anyone who is into Natural Scotland; the imagery, wildlife, peace and outdoor activities will be in seventh heaven at Briar Cottages in Lochearnhead, bang in the centre of Scotland.

Merida, Brave doll at Lochearnhead Highland Games

Merida with a McLaren, Lochearnhead



Merida with local character Maggi



Merida doll copies the Highland dancers Lochearnhead



Merida Dolly at Briar Cottages Loch Earn



Merida doll points to Briar Cottage thatched roof

Merida does highland dance to piper music Lochearnhead

Video of Gordon McLaren at the McLaren marquee, Highland Games Lochearnhead 2012. Gordon's  ancesters lived in Briar Cottage Lochearnhead over a 200 year period.

New Lochearnhead Circular Bus Journey linking Breadalbane and Strathearn Country



Loch Earn, Lochearnhead on The Ring of Breadalbane Explorer route

A new summer tourist bus "The Ring of Breadalbane Explorer" will offer holiday cottage guests of  Briar Cottages self catering in Lochearnhead and holidaymakers in the surrounding regions a fantastic opportunity to be driven around some of the most scenic routes,  popular attractions and mountains in this naturally beautiful area. The bus service started by The Breadalbane Co-operative will be operated by Kingshouse Travel of Balquhidder.  The hop on and off service links Lochearnhead, Killin, Kenmore, Weem, Aberfeldy, Crieff, Comrie and St Fillans together for the very first time,  in one continuous loop.   The area will have tremendous appeal to visitors who can leave the car behind and explore, eat and do outdoor sports at their leisure covering a large territory of Perthshire and Stirlingshire for just £9 a day or £15 for a 2 day ticket.  Its great news for locals too!  Whether you are into sight seeing and exploring, photography, eating,  walking,  cycling, wildlife watching,  munro bagging or fishing, each of the points along the route offers plenty to see and do including; the Rob Roy Way, The Lochearnhead Water Sports centre, fishing points, hotels, Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin,  Cycle Route 7, The falls of Dochart, village walks, Killin Golf Club, Ben Lawers and its Hotel, The Crannog centre and oldest Inn in Scotland at Kenmore,  Highland Safaris, gold panning and a deer centre near Weem, The Birks of Aberfeldy, A stunning drive through the Small Glen past Amulree,  The Glenturrett Whisky Distillery and visitor centre at Crieff,  Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre and coffee shop at Comrie, Boat Hire, hotels and a Golf Club at St Fillans - then back to Lochearnhead.   These are just a few of the attractions that each area has to offer.  I cant wait to try it myself.  Launching on 17th July 2012 there will be six circular journeys per day offered 4 days per week and the full circle is estimated to take 3 hours.   There will be leaflets in Briar Steading and Little Briar Cottages here for our guests however more details of the timetable can be accessed by facebook users at  http://www.facebook.com/breadalbaneexplorer now. 

The service will run throughout the summer  on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays until 16th September for this year.  Dont forget your cameras folks!

April Boat race and "Splash In" on Loch Earn, Perthshire

Briar Cottage is having part of its roof re-thatched in April which will be a novelty for guests at Little Briar holiday cottage as well as the locals and visitors to the area. April guests will also be able to witness 2 spectacular events on Loch Earn in Lochearnhead. On the 18th and 19th of April the Scottish Aeromodellers Association are having a "Splash In". Members will be showing off their radio controlled aeroplane flying skills with float planes of all sizes being flown above Loch Earn. Visitors are welcome. Just turn up at the Lochearnhead watersports and activities centre. I wonder how many will "splash in" as per the event title! Then on the 26th April the Loch Earn Boat Race takes place. This also starts at the waterpsorts centre. The charity row is organised by the Crieff round table. Anyone can take part at £80 per boat(supplied by Drummond Boats) and funds are awarded to Round Table nominated charities. The event starts off at the Watersports and Activities centre in Lochearnhead and Ends 7 miles down Loch Earn at St Fillans where the Achray Hotel supplies stovies to the rowers. These are both magnificent days out with Food and Drink available in the Watersports centre Cafe, two nearby hotels and the local village grocer.

A Host of Spring Daffodils at Briar Cottages, Lochearnhead, Perthshire

"Spring is here at last, dreary winter's past..." That old child hood song is going on in my head. Must be something to do with the daffodils in full bloom down the side of Briar Cottages slipway into Loch Earn. And there are more ready to burst out around Little Briar Holiday Cottage. The birds have started to sing in full voice and I don't know whats up with the mallards. They have changed from their usual feeding spot on the Loch Garden and now follow me around the two acre grounds. They have even been known to knock on the back door with their beaks. The clocks will change at the end of the month and then around the first of April we are having the "byre room" (now our lounge) re-thatched. That will be a spectacle for our April guests.

Scotlands descendants, come home to stunning panoramic views in Lochearnhead, Perthshire

Come home to Little Briar cottage in response to the governments "HOMECOMING SCOTLAND 2009" initiative. This charming holiday cottage is elevated on the 2 acre grounds of Briar Cottage, a 17th century thatched cottage with stunning views on the banks of Loch Earn facing south towards Glen Ample and Edinample Castle(once a Campbell stronghold).

This is an exceptionally beautiful part of west Perthshire and the Trossachs in the heart of Scotland. Famous for family names and septs of MacGregor, Ferguson, Stewart, McLaren, Neish, Campbell, McNab and MacIntyre amongst others. These lands have centuries of stories and folklore to boast.

Briar Cottage was first owned by a MacGregor, followed by the Duke of Breadalbane (descended from Campbells) and latterly McLarens. Clan chiefs of local families e.g. the Stewarts of Ardvorlich and the McLarens of Balquhidder still reside locally. They make an annual appearance at the Lochearnhead Highland games where families still do battle - albeit a well fought but innocent tug-of-war.

Little Briar holiday cottage is so central, that you can easily reach any of the homecoming party's and major attractions. Briar cottage comes with riparian rights which means that guests can fish for rainbow and brown trout from the loch garden with its jetty, slipway and garden furniture. There are 2 hotels within a 200 metre stroll, a watersports centre and cafe at 500 metres and a local shop and post office less than 1 mile from the garden gates. The area is ideal for walking, cycling, golf, water sports, history, folklore, wildlife, birds, flora, fauna, forest trails and relaxation.

Today the grounds are proudly owned by Fraser and Kim(nee Donald) Proven who will welcome you, invite you for a drink in the cruck room, show you around the 250ft loch garden and introduce you to their hot tub which you can arrange to use.

See www.stayatbriar.co.uk for tariff and availability, www.tripadvisor.com for guest comments, www.homecomingscotland.com for information on home coming events, www.incallander.co.uk for more detailed information on local history and folklore and www.robroycountry.com for alternative accommodation in Balquhidder, Strathyre, St Fillans and Lochearnhead.

NB Little Briar has a 4 star classification with Scottish-Country Cottages.