A Stirling Gardens Trail: Spring 2017

A Stirling Gardens Trail: Spring 2017

by | Mar 8, 2017 | Blog

Spring is upon us, and Easter approaches. It’s time for the garden: if not your own – then somebody else’s will do! Fancy a spring garden break in Stirling, anyone?

Gargunnock House Gardens
Gargunnock House Gardens
Kilbryde Castle Folly and House
Kilbryde Castle Folly and House

Choose from Stirling Self Catering’s Garden properties

From Stronend Cottage’s panoramic views to the tranquil seclusion of Gladstone’s enclosed garden in the heart of Stirling’s King’s Park, most of our properties offer you private green space to relax, barbecue, or just let the kids explore. Our gardens are well-tended, furnished, and beautiful. And you don’t even have to weed. Find your perfect holiday garden amongst our properties here: https://www.stirlingselfcatering.co.uk/properties/

Got your base? Then create your own Stirlingshire garden trail

Many of Stirlingshire’s most beautiful gardens are open by appointment from 1 April (some are earlier). This is facilitated by the 86-year-old charitable foundation Scotland’s Gardens. They raise funds for deserving causes nationwide by asking a small entry fee to a wealth of private gardens. Why not create your own trail, visiting these secluded, hidden gems? Here’s just a handful closest to us…

Gargunnock House (open 13 March-September) lies just five miles from Stirling. Its mature walled garden boasts more than 40 varieties of daffodil blooming from April. In addition, there’s a house garden, woodland walks and arboretum. Take a picnic and enjoy it on the benches provided within its three-acre walled area. £4.00 entry. Children free. Details.

Kilbryde Castle covers an impressive 12 acres, just three miles from Dunblane and Doune. The gardens are divided into formal, woodland and wild. They come into their own in spring with a display of bulbs. In autumn you’ll find clematis and acer bursting into colour. Entry £4 by arrangement from 1 April, children free. For details.

Milseybank, just a quarter of a mile from Bridge of Allan, offers outstanding views from a beautifully tended terraced ascent. The adjoining woodland is a colourful canvas of bluebells, rhododendrons, magnolias, camellias, as well as meconopsis. Entry £4 by arrangement from 1 April to 31 May. Children free. For details.

Thorntree, on a smaller scale, is a jewel-like country garden bedded to encircle its central courtyard. The short paths to the Apple Walk, Saltire Garden and Meconopsis bed also offer bonus views from Ben Lomond to Ben Ledi.  Plants are for sale throughout the year. Entry £4 by arrangement from 1 April to October. Children free. For details.

Milseybank Gardens
Milseybank Gardens
Thorntree Gardens
Thorntree Gardens

For more information on gardens open throughout the year or by arrangement:

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The Snowdrop Festival 2017: It’s spring!

The Snowdrop Festival 2017: It’s spring!

by | Feb 22, 2017 | Blog

Our first sure sign of spring, snowdrops can make even the hardest of hearts swell for a moment. In celebration, the Scottish Snowdrop Festival presents some of the very best displays for the public to enjoy from January to March. So why not make it an annual pilgrimage?

scottish snowdrop festival 2017

The Snowdrop Festival is now in its eleventh year

scottish snowdrop festival 2017

Enjoy the Festival’s displays until 12 March

Here are five fabulous displays to visit from your Stirling base until 12 March:

Gargunnock House

Enjoy five acres of mature gardens with woodland walks, a walled garden and 18th century doocot. Entry is £4 per adult (honesty box) and children go free. More information and directions here.

Kilbryde Castle

This Sunday, Kilbryde Castle in Dunblane opens for its one-day celebration of the Snowdrop Festival. Enjoy a lovely display of snowdrops set within the 12-acre castle grounds including formal, woodland and wild areas. There will be cream teas available on Sunday too! Entry is £4 per adult and children go free. More information and directions.

Scone Palace

Entry is free at Scone Palace in Perthshire, where you can take a leisurely stroll through the snowdrop lined paths within 100 acres of grounds and gardens. At the end of your walk, get yourself a hot chocolate and one of the Castle’s ‘Scones @ Scone’ in the Old Servants’ Hall Coffee Shop. Open each Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 12 March from 10.00 am – 4.00 pm. More information and directions.

Braco Castle, Perth and Kinross

Here, you will find a beautiful display of snowdrops set amidst a 19th century landscaped garden with spectacular views to the Ochils. Entry is £4 per adult and children go free. More information and directions here.

Duntreath Castle, Stirlingshire

Visit Duntreath Castle in Strathblane for a stunning display of snowdrops along the side of the former drive. There is also a woodland walk and a 15th century keep and chapel. Visits are by arrangement. For more information and directions.

But you don’t need an organised event to find some stunning spring displays. 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. You’ll spot snowdrops, crocuses, 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. Have a coffee and pick up an events guide at the Macrobert while you’re at it too!

For information on the Snowdrop festival and to find an event near you, see:

 

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Our top five family days out from Stirling

Our top five family days out from Stirling

by | Feb 9, 2017 | Blog

The days are long, and the landscape is beautiful. Round up the kids, and head outside with our top five family days out near Stirling.

Family fun at Briarlands Farm - one of our top five days out
Family fun at Briarlands Farm
Boarding at Boness and Kinneil Railway - top five
A brilliant family day out amongst dedicated volunteers at Boness and Kinneil Railway

Briarlands Farm

This popular farm park lies just 8 miles or a scenic 15 minutes’ drive from Stirling, tucked into a tree-lined farm road near the village of Doune. You’ll find endless outdoors play here, with jumping pillows, go-Karts, toddler trikes, zip wire, sand pits, tractor rides and more. Feed the farm animals, and join one of the regular handling sessions to meet smaller furries. There’s a craft zone and a toddler play area when you need cover from showers, as well as a family-friendly tearoom with tonnes of home baking. Pick your own strawberries too, when the season comes around. For more information, see: http://briarlandsfarm.co.uk/

Blair Drummond Safari Park

This well-known safari park just outside Doune needs little introduction. Just a few minutes from Briarlands Farm, it’s around a 15-minute drive from Stirling City Centre. You’ll find everything from elephants, zebras and lions to penguins and sea-lions in this conservation-focused park. And there’s plenty thrown in to your ticket price too, including a range of demonstrations, boat safaris, pedal boats, Astroglide and ‘Meet the keepers’ sessions. Then there is a raft of paid attractions to consider too. The footprint is large, so it’s an idea to plan your visit in advance. For information, see: https://www.blairdrummond.com/

Boness and Kinneil Railway

This family-friendly heritage railway and museum is run by tireless volunteers who smile whatever the weather. They run steam trains throughout the year, with a host of special events ranging from Afternoon Teas on the Train, to Days out with Thomas, to Easter Egg Specials, and much more. Located in Boness, just 19 miles or a 29-minute drive from Stirling, Boness and Kinneil Railway is a brilliant day out for the family, even when the weather’s inclement. There’s a tearoom too, with a nostalgic atmosphere and proper gingham tablecloths. For more information, see: http://www.bkrailway.co.uk/

The Kelpies

To see them is to love them. These captivating sculptures tower some 30 metres above the M9, just 14 miles or 27 minutes’ drive from Stirling. And they are the stunning centrepiece of the Helix Park, a local greenspace for all that lies on the banks of the Forth Clyde Canal. Comprising 27 km of pathways, a lagoon, a splash zone, an unrivalled play area, bike hire, boat hire, cafes, visitor centre and public art spaces, the Helix has become one of Scotland’s most acclaimed visitor attractions. And yet it’s still free. There are regular events too. For more information, see: http://www.thehelix.co.uk/

Brucefields Family Golf Centre

If you fancy a family game of golf in inclusive, friendly surroundings, then Brucefields Family Golf Centre is for you. This 9-hole golf course lies just outside Bannockburn, only 3 miles outside Stirling. It offers a huge range of facilities and support services for all members of the family, whether they’re learners, experienced players or just there for the day out. There are some pretty good views to be enjoyed on the way round, too. There’s golf tuition, a driving range and a bistro bar too. Pay, play, have fun. More details here: http://www.brucefields.co.uk/

The Kelpies - figureheads for the fabulous Helix Park
The Kelpies – figureheads for the fabulous Helix Park
Brucefields Family Golf Centre - golf, fun, and great views
Brucefields Family Golf Centre – golf, fun, and great views

Photo credits:

  • Briarlands Farm: Photos taken by Blue Stag Media, and reproduced with kind permission of Briarlands Farm
  • The Kelpies: Photo taken by, and reproduced with kind permission of, The Kelpies Team
  • Brucefields Family Golf Centre: Photo kindly supplied by Brucefields Family Golf Centre
  • Boness and Kinneil Railway: By Elliott Simpson, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8322907
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Spring and Easter escapes to beautiful Stirling

Spring and Easter escapes to beautiful Stirling

by | Jan 26, 2017 | Blog

The Christmas credit card bill is paid, the mornings are getting lighter, and the dawn chorus is back. That can only mean one thing – spring is coming! And here’s why to spend it in Stirling.

Relax this spring in Gladstone's beautiful gardens

Relax this spring in Gladstone’s beautiful gardens

Celebrate spring with champagne in the hot tub at Oakside cottage

Celebrate spring with champagne in the hot tub at Oakside cottage

A city break in Stirling

A spring break is all about taking a moment out of life to make some fresh memories and get outside a bit more. Fancy a city break? Stay at one of our properties in the heart of the city. Take a peek at Gladstone, Pear Tree House, and the Courtyard, to enjoy a luxurious break that puts you right at the heart of things. Just minutes from King’s Park and a short stroll from the Castle, you’ll witness Stirling burst into bloom again after the colder months. We have properties in beautiful Bridge of Allan too, like Haverstock, Springwood and Allanwater. They are the perfect base to explore Bridge of Allan’s gardens and the University grounds set on the historic Airthrey Estate. There are many unique little shops and great dining tucked away in this former spa town, too.

A secluded break to enjoy nature

Perhaps you’d prefer to immerse yourself in a more rural setting away from the City. Our properties like LallyBroch, Oakside Cottage, Stronend Cottage or Balfron Hayloft will give you the seclusion and landscape you crave. Whether you want to escape as a couple, a family, or group, these properties offer stunning views, easy access to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, wood burning stoves, hot tubs and idyllic settings. Outlander fans may even want to use Lallybroch as their base for an film locations tour, too. Or, for young families, these properties are ideal for visits to the Balfron Woodland Experience, Blair Drummond Safari Park, which reopens on 18 March, and Briarlands Farm, which re-opens in mid-February.

Wherever you choose to stay, make sure you don’t miss out on these fabulous Spring and Easter events in Stirlingshire:

The Snowdrop Festival

Nothing promises that spring is coming quite like snowdrops. And every year, Scotland opens up many of its most beautiful gardens, so that the everyone can enjoy the season’s snowdrop displays. The Festival runs from 18 February to 12 March. You can find participating gardens here: http://www.scotlandsgardens.org/news/snowdrops-2017

Easter Egg hunts at historic buildings

Thinking of booking your spring break at Easter time? Cadbury have teamed up with the National Trust for Scotland again this year to create Easter Egg Hunts in some of Scotland’s most historic settings. Chocolate and culture, combined! Find an Easter Egg Hunt near you: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/whats-on/event/?eventId=297608b0-3502-4fde-9195-a6cc00fa3d0c

Easter Egg Steam Trains

Boness and Kinneil’s annual Easter trains run on 14 and 15 April and are becoming ever more popular. Climb aboard, enjoy the short trip, and the conductor will arrive with a chocolate egg for every child. Children wearing Easter bonnets also have the chance to win a prize. And there are Easter egg hunts in the museum too. Book soon! For tickets and schedule, see: http://www.bkrailway.co.uk/your-visit/events/

Crannog Centre Easter Extravaganza

Help the Crannog Centre kick-start their 20th anniversary year by celebrating Easter Iron Age style on beautiful Loch Tay, Perthshire. Join their Pancake Eggstravaganza on Easter Sunday, 16 April from 10.30am to 4.30pm. You will cook pancakes over an open fire, bake bread in clay ovens, and churn your own butter to spread on them. Gather round the fire to learn about ancient crafts and ways of life from skilled Iron Age guides. Or just gaze into the flames. For more information, see: http://www.crannog.co.uk/

Nothing says spring like the Snowdrop Festival

Nothing says spring like the Snowdrop Festival

The Crannog Centre, on stunning Loch Tay

The Crannog Centre, on stunning Loch Tay

Photo credits:

Crannog Centre on Loch Tay: By Dave Morris from Edinburgh, UK (Flickr.com – image description page) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Thank heaven for Robert Burns

Thank heaven for Robert Burns

by | Jan 10, 2017 | Blog

Whatever you think of his poetry, there’s no denying that all Scots have one thing to thank Rabbie for. Quite simply, the bard brings a welcome and guilt-free knees-up to an otherwise dreich January. Respite from the post-Christmas dark days and all that self-denial. So, get together with some pals, buy yourselves a haggis, and raise a glass to the farmer poet on 25 January. Or, if you want to mark the event with a day or a night out, here are our top picks!

 

You'll spot Robert the Bruce on your Bannockburn drive thru
You’ll spot Robert the Bruce on your Bannockburn drive thru
Celebrate with a traditional Burns Supper at Stirling's stunning University campus
Celebrate with a traditional Burns Supper at Stirling’s stunning University campus

Burns Supper Drive Thru at the Battle of Bannockburn Centre

No need to book – just ‘drive thru’ at a time that suits! Enjoy a Burns Supper with a twist at the first-ever Bannockburn Burns Supper Drive Thru. Drive into Bannockburn, order and then enjoy in the comfort of your own car or take away. You may even happen across a bit of poetry or a song on the way. The Burns Haggis Supper features haggis, champit neeps and mashed tatties with a whisky sauce, followed by a Tunnock’s Teacake, all washed down with a can of Irn Bru for £6.50. There are veggie options too, and the kids might prefer the haggis bon bons or chicken goujons with skinny fries. From 3.30 on Saturday 25. For directions and more info: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/bannockburn

Burns Night at the Kilted Kangaroo

For an informal and fun Burns Night in genial company, head to the Kilted Kangaroo Bar in Stirling City Centre to celebrate Scotland’s fondest son. Tickets are £21.50 include a three course menu, piper and dram. For info: https://www.facebook.com/events/the-kilted-kangaroo/burns-night-kilted-kangaroo/463948674267173/

Burns Supper and Ceilidh at the University of Stirling

Head to the stunning University Campus on 24 January for a more formal celebration of Scottish culture to commemorate the life and work of Robert Burns. An evening of traditional food and drink, poetry and Scottish dancing. Book now – this event has sold out for the last 7 years! For tickets: https://www.stir.ac.uk/events/calendar-of-events/2020/january/burns-supper-and-ceilidh/

Burns events at The Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh                       

The Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh loves celebrating Burns in real depth, and is well worth the one-hour train hop from Stirling. Check out these inspiring events.

Telling the Big Tale: On 18 January, head to the City for ‘Tam O’Shanter – Telling the Big Tale’. Donald Smith shares his lifelong quest to understand the poem and do it justice in that ever-elusive perfect telling. Suitable for those wishing to understand Burns’ defining work, as well as those focussed on performing or interpreting his work artistically. A mighty challenge packed with fun, and do hurry for tickets.

Café Ceilidh: Contrastingly, on 21 January, join friends from the Scots Music Group for an afternoon session of traditional songs, music, poems and stories celebrating Scotland’s national poet. It’s held in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court, and is free, non-ticketed and all are welcome to listen or bring a tune for a turn!

Supper with Burns: Enjoy an alternative Burns Supper in the beautiful setting of the Storytelling Court, serving up a delicious 3-course Scottish dinner – with the centre piece haggis – and a generous helping of Burns’s stories, song and lore. Hosted by storytellers David Campbell and Ruth Kirkpatrick, with clarsach player Katie Harrigan. Hurry to book: only two dates, 23 or 24 January.

Burns for Brunch: On 25 January, the Netherbow Theatre welcomes Robert Burns as he awakes in Auld Reekie 2020 sharing his thoughts, poems and songs, casting a satiric eye around his Scotland and ours. For 14+ and hurry for tickets!

The Ceilidh House Tam O’Shanter: You’ll receive a warm welcome on 25 January to the Burns Night Ceilidh House, where people meet to dance, sing, play music and share stories. Enjoy a special improvised ceilidh telling of Tam O’ Shanter in a friendly, lively, and enjoyable setting, with the chance to participate or just to sit back and enjoy the fun!

For all events above held at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, see: https://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.com/

A wee dram, the traditional tipple for Burns Night
A wee dram: a traditional tipple for Burns Night
Choose from a number of events to celebrate Burns Night at the Scottish Storytelling Centre
Choose from a number of events to celebrate Burns Night at the Scottish Storytelling Centre
Photo credits:

  • Scottish Storytelling Centre: Image supplied by their media centre
  • Nicky Tams Bar & Bothy: Photo reproduced with permission of Nicky Tams

 

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