Golf crazy or Crazy Golf? There is something for everyone around Loch Earn

Do you play golf on holiday or are you a fun putter? Self catering at Briar Cottages may be just the ticket. There is something for everyone here whether you are in training for the Ryder Cup 2014 or looking for ways to entertain family and friends on holiday.  If you are easily pleased then putting on our loch side lawn might satisfy your needs.  We put 4 flags into the grass and supply putters and balls. You will see them on our new 360 degree virtual tour of Briar Steading our luxury Perthshire cottage.  Hit the ball nearest to the flag. What could be easier. Of course the lie of the land depends on the angle that Fraser has cut and rolled the grass. A lot depends on  visiting ducks too as they tend to nod off on the green once fed.  I make it sound more like an obstacle course or worse an assault course..."look out daffy!"  Oh and watch out for that other course hazard...its called Loch Earn. 

 There is a set of boule and  toy croquet  in the summer house if you fancy a change.  If you are rained off, shelter in the summer house and have a game of Jenga or extra large connect 4.  If that is not mad enough for you then try the crazy golf course at Achingarrich wildlife park near Comrie, 14 miles East on the A85.  Not only an innovative park full of interesting animals and birds but a childrens playground and picnic spot too with a restaurant on site.  Neighbouring village Killin has a fun putting green near the bowling green in the main park in the centre.  For the discerning golfer, Killin Golf club is a beautiful 9 hole golf course at the other end of the village. The clubhouse is run by a charming couple that will pander to your every needs with a smile.   St Fillans golf club is at the east end of Loch Earn. A very pretty course and said to be local Masters champion  Sandy Lyle's favourite inland course...according to a quote that he gave to Golf World magazine recently.  According to the St Fillans GC website it is also said to be popular with Sir Ian Botham.  Like Killin, St Fillans is a very welcoming course thanks to those that run it and the regulars who welcome visitors and holiday makers with open arms. The clubhouse food is excellent value too.   If you are keen to play a few courses in this area look up the Perthshire Green Card offering discounts  for 5 rounds and 3 rounds at selected 18 hole courses in the area.  The Perthshire Highland Ticket is great value too and can be used at 12 of the 9 hole courses in the area, including  St Fillans, Comrie, Crieff, Killin and Kenmore.   Play 5 days of golf at £65 or 3 days at £40! Check individual club terms as some may not agree to the ticket being used at weekends.  Well if thats not enough then Gleneagles is only 29 miles away,  Loch Lomond 45 minutes and only 60 miles to the Old Course at St Andrews or courses in Edinburgh and Glasgow.  Merely a day trip away in any direction.  Loch Earn is so central that it makes an excellent base for touring places and attractions in Scotland in an easy day trip. If you are on holiday with a golfer but its not your thing you might consider water sports, quad biking, zorbing, horse riding, forest walks, cycling or Munro climbing.  You night prefer to hire a Ferarri or Aston Martin locally or a jeep safari in the hidden glen at Balquhidder.  It is also perfectly okay just to relax and read or take in the stunning views around our 3 acre grounds. Ask for a shot of our hot tub if you want the ultimate in relaxation...zzzzzzzzzzzz! 

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Virtual Tour of Briar Steading Luxury Self Catering Scotland

Loch Earn, Lochearnhead, Scotland from luxury cottage Briar Steading's open plan lounge

We have added a 360 degree virtual tour of our luxury holiday cottage Briar Steading (http://www.stayatbriar.co.uk/).  Have a peak inside.  "Walk" around and get a feel for the cottage and grounds.  Start in the garden on Loch Earn. Look through the open plan living area, both bedrooms and en-suites, then end up looking down from  the top of the garden behind the cottage.  The 8 panoramic photographs were taken by Lochearnhead photographer Alistair Barclay from Alba Virtual Tours using a special 360 degree camera.  Let me know what you think!  Please contact Kim or Fraser with any queries or to book a luxury break in Lochearnhead. Tel: 01567 830443 or 07876 122505.

Click here to see the tour http://www.stayatbriar.co.uk/vtour.htm

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Luxury Self Catering Experience - 3 nights at Briar Steading for just £25 per head!



Stunning views south over Loch Earn from Briar Steading open lounge  



Late availability.  Briar Steading is available this Saturday 21st May for 3 nights only.  This is the perfect opportunity to try the new build luxury cottage for just £300 instead of the list price of £560.  That's only £25 per person per night if 2 couples or a family of 4 share. Both  bedrooms offer en suite bathrooms separated by a 26ft open living area.  Check in 4pm on the 21st May and check out 11am on the 24th. Sorry no pets.    Only 60 miles from Edinburgh and Glasgow.   30 miles on M9 to Junction 10 and then the A84 All the way to Lochearnhead. 

Integrated kitchen and dining area

Wall for sitting aound the fire pit looking to patio furniture

Self catering cottage guests can  fish from the garden, launch a small  boat and pick up a mooring.  There are  2 hotels and 2 water sports centres within 200m.  See Briar Cottages on Trip Advisor for latest reveiws. Phone Kim: 01567 830 443 now to book or with any other queries.

Royal Wedding Breakfast for Earl and Countess of Strathearn, hosted in Lochearnhead



Playing proud parents of the Earl and Countess of Strathearn

 Did you hear about the Royal Wedding Breakfast at Briar Cottages Self Catering in Lochearnhead? 

Well it seemed only fitting to celebrate the wedding on the banks of Loch Earn given that William and Kate are the Earl of Strathearn and the Countess of Strathearn.  Guests mingled  in the garden on Loch Earn and everyone stood to attention when The Queen and Prince arrived.  No...not the real ones it was local handy man Andy dressed in Balmoral hunting fishing shooting gear as "Her Madge" and my other half Fraser as Prince Fillup Your Champagne Glass.  Have a look at the video by clicking here.  

http://youtu.be/JBgkKT8lPDM



Baby mallards feed at http://www.stayatbriar.co.uk/



Springwatch has been more like summer watch here with the highest temperatures on record for April. The ospreys are fishing daily; the daffodils are almost gone except for the double headed ones that look like roses. A pair of swallows is flying in and out of our garage to feed young ones and one of the regular mallards has had ducklings. The ducks often bring their babies to us to feed and they grab at any little insects in the grass.

 

Self catering Scotland - Free fishing season begins in Lochearnhead March 15th, Briar Cottages

Fishing is inclusive when you book a holiday cottage at Briar Cottages in Lochearnhead. You don't need a permit to fish from our loch garden when you  stay here.  The season for trout fishing in Scotland starts again on March 15th 2011.  The loch will come alive with people, vehicles, wild life, birds and sea planes. First the keen fishing folk will wild camp or stay in a caravan on the south side or book up cottages, lodges and B&B's on the North side.  Some will bring their own gear and others will hire tackle from the Lochearnhead Post Office, the Store in St Fillans or from Drummond Estates boat hire and fishery a couple of miles along the road.  You can hire gear and a fishing boat there. 

Guests can fish from our jetty, slipway and along the 250ft length of our loch garden without a permit.  The local shops keep maggots and floats.  If you want to fish out on the loch in a boat you will need to buy a permit from the village shop or post office.  Guests can bring their own small boat, launch it and use the moorings whether staying in Little Briar Cottage or our new luxury cottage Briar Steading. There is plenty of room here for a small boat trailer and a couple of cars to be parked.  Gradually the loch will have a variety of would-be fish catchers including men, women and children as well as otters,  herons and returning pairs of Osprey. 

According to Drummond Estates you don't need fancy flies to catch trout around here. 

Maggots and a float with a rod positioned around the edge of the loch seems to work well.  Fishermen are often accused of exaggerating but it is well documented that 5-20lb trout have been caught in Loch Earn and I have seen  brown and rainbow trout, salmon, arctic char and an eel being hooked and landed in my garden.   

       

If you are keen on fishing get booked up now and look out for accommodation with fishing facilities.  If you have never tried fishing and would like to have  a go just ask to borrow Fraser's rod and try it. The season ends October 6th 2011 so there is plenty of time to book up.  Happy fishing.    

Last minute luxury self catering

Late Availability offer in Briar Steading, Lochearnhead for a 7 night  or short break holiday.  Exceptional space in the open plan lounge. Book this  luxury 2 bedroom cottage with 2 ensuite bathrooms a woodbunring stove and views to die for. Available this weekend.  Ideal for a family of 4 or 2 couples sharing. Relax, read, watch Sky Tv,  play board games, go for a walk, use the hot tub in the gardens, sit in the summer house in the loch garden and read a book or the newspapers. Sound like your idea of a getaway break?  Available this weekend from Friday 4th February.  Book 7 nights at £400 Friday to Friday or Saturday to Saturday,  or pick any consecutive 3-4 nights at £280 or 2 nights at £180.   This special last minute offer is for dates between 4th February and 12th February 2011.  

Use the fully fitted kitchen to dine at your leisure or visit the hotels and restaurants in the area. The Clachan Cottage Hotel is 150m from the garden gates.

Tel: 01567 830 443 OR mob 07876 122 505 and speak to Kim or Fraser, http://www.stayatbriar.co.uk/

Self catering Scotland: Introductory £100 off a week in a new build luxury holiday cottage

Looking out to Loch Earn from the lounge 

 £100  off our stunning  new build luxury cottage overlooking Loch Earn when you book holiday week 29th-5th January 2011 or 5th-12th February 2011.   See our cottage prices 2011.  Briar Steading is in the village of Lochearnhead in central Scotland where Perthshire and Stirlingshire meet at the foot of the Highlands.   This late availability offer can not be taken in conjunction with any other offers advertised on the website.

Briar Steading is very spacious with 110sq.m of floor space and an open plan lounge measuring 26ft from the patio windows to the kitchen.  The cottage offers 2 bedrooms both with en suite bathrooms/showers,  a wood burning stove, Ipod docking station, Sky TV in the lounge and  TV's in both bedrooms.  The bedrooms are separated  by the lounge for evening privacy which is ideal for a family of 4 or for 2 couples sharing.  Each bedroom has a door  on to the patio facing south over Loch Earn.  The fully fitted kitchen includes a dishwasher, washer dryer and 70/30 fridge freezer. The cottage is in three acre private grounds including a garden on Loch Earn with a jetty, slipway, summerhouse and picnic tables.  Guests may request to use the indoor hot tub on the grounds. We ( Kim and Fraser Proven) live in a b listed thatched cottage in the gardens and  will be here to welcome you in person and show you around.   Call us now to book 01567 830 443 or 07876 122 505 or email briarinfo@btinternet.com with any other queries.  Briar Steading is a pet free cottage however our website also leads to pet friendly cottage Little Briar.

NB: See our Valentines Day special offer on the website.  

Sledge run and deer hooves in the snow from the rear garden