nature Archives - Stirling Self Catering

Get ready for spring – it’s coming!

by ssc | Jan 28, 2020 | Blog

With January almost over, we’re turning our minds to spring. Make the most of these events around Stirling to get outdoors and welcome the new season with open arms!

Help out wildlife at Blackness Castle this February

Blackness Castle also appears in Outlander

Help out wildlife

On 8 February, drop into Blackness Castle near Linlithgow. This 15th-century fortress looks out over the Firth of Forth and appeared as Fort William in series one of TV show Outlander. During your visit you’ll be able to give wildlife a vital helping hand by making a bird feeder, bird box, or minibeast home to take away. The workshop is perfect for families and is included in your admission price, so is free to Historic Environment Scotland members. For more information: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/blackness-castle/

Reconnect with nature

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 to spot snowdrops, daffodils, and nesting wildfowl – those who love to dote on a fluffy chick or three won’t be disappointed, even this early in the year. Entrance to the University is free, and parking starts at £1. Enjoy lunch in the Macrobert Arts Centre, where it’s well worth picking up an events brochure too. For more information, see: https://macrobertartscentre.org/whatson/

Eat local spring flavours

Everyone is telling us to eat local, eat plant-based, and eat in season, and it’s true; eating what grows locally is best both for us and for the planet. February, March and April will bring asparagus, beetroot, cauliflower, purple sprouting broccoli, spring greens, swede and a whole lot more besides. To buy straight from the grower, have a browse round Stirling Farmers’ Market, held on the first Saturday of every month in Port Street, Stirling. What’s more, they even post a list of stallholders in the days preceding on this Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stirling-Farmers-Market/142864599058772, so you can plan both your shop and your menu. You will find not only fresh veg produce but preserves, meats, fish, breads, cheeses and traditional crafts too. There are plenty other markets nearby if you’re out and about: Falkirk holds its Farmers Market on the first Friday of each month in the High Street, while Linlithgow sets up its stalls on the fourth Saturday of every month, in the Vennel. For more details on all these: http://www.scottishfarmersmarkets.co.uk/

Surround yourself in snowdrops

Snowdrops sum up everything that’s good about spring – they are delicate but bold and lift our hearts after the long dark winter. To celebrate their arrival, many of Scotland’s best gardens and woodlands come together to offer visitors and locals a range of fabulous events that collectively make up the Scottish Snowdrop Festival. The festival this year runs from 25 January to 11 March, and includes over 70 events, so you have no excuse to miss it! For more information, visit: http://discoverscottishgardens.org/

Eat local, and in season, at a farmers market near you

Eat plant-based, local, seasonal

Celebrate spring with the snpowdrop festival

Celebrate snowdrops from January to March

Photo credits: Blackness Castle pic source: Wikimedia commons

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Easter family fun in Stirling

by ssc | Mar 27, 2019 | Blog

Easter. Scotland is bursting into bloom and the days are noticeably longer. It’s time for getting outdoors, and catching up with the kids now the school term has finished. To help you plan an Easter to remember, we’ve rounded up some of the best family events throughout Stirlingshire for you!

Steam trains and Easter treats at Boness & Kinneil

Enjoy an Easter egg hunt at historic Blackness Castle

Easter Egg Special Trains at Boness and Kinneil Railway

The railway’s hugely popular Easter Egg special trains run on Friday 19, Saturday 20, Sunday 21 April and Monday 22 April. There’s a prize for the best Easter bonnet, an Easter egg hunt in the Museum, and every child will get a free Easter treat during their train journey. Stay all day and explore the Museum, Model Railway and the railway site via the Visitor Trail at Bo’ness and the stations along the line. Bring a picnic and enjoy it in the comfort of the picnic railway carriages alongside the platform. For more information, see: https://www.bkrailway.co.uk/your-visit/events/

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts with National Trust

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! The nearest hunts to Stirling take place from Good Friday to Easter Monday at The Battle of Bannockburn Centre, Alloa Tower in Clackmannanshure, Culross Palace, Fife. Events are included in the normal admission price. Check your chosen venue’s Egg Hunt dates and other postcodes on the Cadbury website, where you’ll also find lots of free downloads for fun Easter activities at home: https://easter.cadbury.co.uk/

Easter Eggsplorer Trails with Historic Scotland

Not to be outdone, Historic Scotland’s Easter Eggsplorer Trails take place at a number of iconic castles, abbeys, forts and palaces throughout Scotland. All you need to do is find the clues and complete the challenge to be a winner. Drop-in throughout the day, and the events are included in normal admission. Free to members. The nearest participating venues to Stirling are Linlithgow Palace and Blackness Castle, from Good Friday to Easter Monday, but you can search for other venues here.

Holiday Clubs with Historic Environment Scotland

With events at both Holyrood Park and Linlithgow Palace Peel, the Ranger team are offering a number of Easter holiday ‘walks on the wild side’ to help kids discover the birdlife, minibeasts and burrowing animals of these historic natural venues. Lasting from two to three hours, these events are aimed at children of 8 upwards, accompanied by an adult. The sessions are free, but booking is essential. More information here.

Kids can learn about birdlife with the rangers at Holyrood and Linlithgow Palace

Outlander fans will enjoy the egg hunt at Culross Palace

Photo credits:

Culross Palace: By Palickap (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Boness and Kinneil: Thomas Nugent [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Blackness Castle: Dr John Wells [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)]

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Five great reasons to spend autumn in Stirling

by ssc | Sep 24, 2018 | Blog

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. Autumn in Scotland can be one of the most rewarding times to visit. Burnished leaf displays, quieter streets, temperate weather, and good value accommodation too. Here’s where to stay, and what to do, as we leave summer behind in Stirling.

Explore Edinburgh’s Old Town this autumn, a short trip from your Stirling base

Find out where to spot red squirrels this autumn

Great value accommodation

If you’re considering a city break in Stirling, why not choose from our budget accommodation portfolio at budgetacommodationstirling.co.uk? Each one of our properties is perfectly equipped for your stay, with crisp, modern interiors and ideal central locations in both Stirling and in Bridge of Allan. Offering exceptional value for money, these apartments will provide you with the ideal base to explore Stirling and its beautiful surrounds without hammering your budget in the run up to Christmas!

Gateway to Glasgow to Edinburgh

Slap bang in the heart of Scotland, Stirling is the perfect place for a city break. Not only is it the gateway to the Highlands (heck, you can be in the wilds of Glencoe in under two hours!), but its central location opens up both Glasgow and Edinburgh as easy day-trip destinations too. Direct trains run frequently from Stirling City centre to both cities, and you could be in the heart of Glasgow or Edinburgh in around 50 minutes. Plan your Edinburgh day trip here: http://edinburgh.org/ or your Glasgow adventure here: https://peoplemakeglasgow.com/

Experience Scotland ‘in the fall’

For those who love autumn colour, there’s no need to fly long-haul to New England. Stirling can provide the perfect base for ‘leaf peeping’. Take a stroll round the campus of Stirling University for some stunning autumn displays, right on your doorstep. Further afield, but just an hour from Stirling by car, or even less by train, Perthshire has earned itself the title of ‘Big Tree Country’. Here, you can find Europe’s oldest tree, the world’s highest hedge, Shakespeare’s Birnam Wood in present day, and lots more. Visit some of the stunning sites recommended for leaf peeping by Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust at https://www.pkct.org/News/top-10-autumn-walks-in-perthshire. Wow.

Scottish autumn wildlife

From spotting red squirrels to leaping salmon and the bellow of red deer stags, autumn is an exciting time in the Scottish landscape, and it’s probably the best time to see our more elusive animals as they prepare for winter. For general information on what to look for and where, see VisitScotland’s autumn wildlife e-book here: http://ebooks.visitscotland.com/scottish-wildlife-series/. For specific spots to see deer rut, salmon leap, and red squirrels, check out this link: https://www.pkct.org/News/best-autumn-walks-for. And if you want the help of an expert guide, there are many companies who can help you get the sighting you want. Check out this website for full information: http://www.wild-scotland.org.uk/

Seasonal produce

One of the best things about the autumn is the bounty it brings, and Stirling is a brilliant place to get your hands on it. Visit Stirling Farmers’ Market on the second Saturday of every month, from 10-4pm in Port Street Stirling. There, more than 25 stallholders will brave all elements to bring you the very best seasonal fare from their farms, orchards and kitchens. For more information, see: http://www.stirlingfarmersmarket.co.uk/. And if seasonal, foodie events are your thing, take a look at http://foodfestivalfinder.co.uk/scotland to ensure you don’t miss any during your Stirling city break!

Enjoy autumn colour in Perthshire: Photo by Ronald Weir

Enjoy autumn colour at Craigvinean Pine Cone Shelter: Photo by Ronald Weir

Buy seasonal produce in the heart of Stirling

Photo credits: Craigvinean Pine Cone Shelter: Photo by Ronald Weir and originally supplied by Perthshire Big Tree Country, now http://www.pkct.org/

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School’s out for summer! (Nearly!)

by ssc | Jun 25, 2018 | Blog

In the school holidays, it’s all too easy for the kids to park themselves in front of the tv and slouch their way through summer. But with just a little prep (and a thrown-together picnic), the school holidays can be a brilliant time for learning, exploring and making memories. Here are just a few suggestions to get you thinking!

Explore some of Scotland secret gardens

Take life more slowly at Linlithgow Canal Basin

Charity Garden Openings

The Scotland’s Gardens scheme raises money for charity through encouraging, promoting and supporting garden openings all over the country. For just a small donation, you can gain access to some of Scotland’s most beautiful secret gardens, and you may find a cream tea there, too. There are dates throughout July and August. To find a garden open near you, type in your postcode on their website: https://scotlandsgardens.org/

Summer Programme at the Engine Shed

Head to the Engine Shed throughout the summer holidays for fun, free workshops that will introduce you and your family to traditional building skills and materials. Choose from Brilliant Buildings, to Inventor’s Workshops, to a James Watt Engineering Challenge, 3D printing, to creating your own powered machines. Even if you don’t book onto one of the Summer Programme events, this is a fabulous place, and well worth the visit. You’ll be able to find out lots about the important work of Historic Environment Scotland, too. For more information, visit: https://www.engineshed.scot/whats-on/event/

Linlithgow Canal Basin

If you like spending time on the water, then Linlithgow Canal Centre is for you. The Canal Centre (just 22 miles or 29 mins from Stirling) is operated entirely by volunteers and their love of the boats and the water brings a little magic to your trip. The Centre runs three core trips – a half-hour town cruise, a three-hour Avon Aqueduct Cruise, and a Falkirk Wheel Cruise. The Aqueduct cruises take place at weekends, The Falkirk Wheel cruises on specified dates, while the town cruises run daily throughout the summer from 1 July. Tickets are very good value, staff have a wealth of local knowledge, and you can enjoy some gorgeous home baking before or after in the Canal Centre Tearoom (with a wood fire in winter). The Canal centre is a hidden gem in the heart of Linlithgow, and worthwhile supporting too. Don’t miss their Canal Fun Day on 18 August and bring a picnic. For detail on ticket prices, cruises, special events and facilities, see: http://www.lucs.org.uk/boat-trips

Stirling Highland Games

On Saturday 17 August, Stirling Sports Village will host one of the region’s signature annual events. Stirling’s Highland Games welcomes visitors from around the world to witness traditional Highland games competitions in the heart of the City. The games field offers brilliant views over to the Wallace Monument, Cambuskenneth Abbey and Stirling Castle. A full programme of traditional events includes running, cycling, Highland dancing, heavyweights, long jump and triple jump. In addition, there will be an Arts & Crafts Market, an Activities Challenge area, Heritage Tours, and a Food & Drink Festival with street food vendors, producers and craft beer, gin and whisky bars, as well as entertainment from the Creative Arts Festival with live performances from 12:30 until 17:00. Buy your tickets online: http://www.stirlinghighlandgames.com/

Anniversary Events at the Wallace Monument

The National Wallace Monument opened its doors to visitors on Saturday 11th September 1869, and 2019 marks the building’s 150th anniversary. The anniversary year will be commemorated with an expanded programme of events, including free activities every day in July and August such as Warrior Training on Thursdays, Family Fridays, and actor performances on Saturdays and Sundays. And remember to ask staff abut converting your admission ticket into an annual pass, which means you can come back to enjoy each of the Monument’s Anniversary events! For more information, visit: https://www.nationalwallacemonument.com/ht_event/

Stirling Highland Games is a perfect day out for everyone

The Wallace Monument has a packed Summer Programme this year

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Easter Family Events 2017

by ssc | Apr 5, 2017 | Blog

Easter. Scotland has burst into bloom and the days are noticeably longer. It’s time for getting outdoors, and catching up with the kids now the school term has finished. To help you plan an Easter to remember, we’ve rounded up some of the best family events on offer within easy reach of Stirling.

Take an Easter Egg Special at Boness and Kinneil Railway

Hunt for Easter eggs at Culross Palace

Easter Egg Special Trains at Boness and Kinneil Railway

The railway’s popular Easter Egg special trains run on Friday 14, Saturday 15, Sunday 16 and Monday 17 April 2017. There’s a prize for the best Easter bonnet and an Easter egg hunt in the Museum. Enjoy the free colouring, crayons and tasty Easter treats that the Easter Bunny has left for all boys and girls over the weekend. The journey from Bo’ness to Manuel takes around 70 minutes, but all tickets are Day Rovers, so you can hop on and hop off as you like. Stay all day and explore the Museum, Model Railway and the railway site via the Visitor Trail at Bo’ness and the stations along the line. More information.

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts with National Trust

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! The nearest hunts to Stirling take place from Good Friday to Easter Monday at Alloa Tower in Clackmannanshure, Culross Palace, Fife, and House of the Binns in Linlithgow. Events are included in the normal admission price. Check your chosen venue’s Egg Hunt dates and other postcodes on the Cadbury website first.

Easter Eggsplorer Trails with Historic Scotland

Not to be outdone, Historic Scotland’s Easter Eggsplorer Trails take place at a number of iconic castles, abbeys, forts and palaces throughout Scotland. All you need to do is find the clues and complete the challenge to be a winner. Drop-in throughout the day, and the events are included in normal admission. The nearest participating venue to Stirling is Linlithgow Palace, from Good Friday to Easter Monday. You can search for other venues and more information here.

Easter weekend at Stirling Castle

Join the Easter family fun at Stirling Castle on Easter Saturday and Sunday. There are lots of heritage, history and archaeology themed activities for children. These are included in the normal admission price. More information.

RSPB Nature Scavenger Hunt at the Helix

On Easter Monday, work off all that chocolate with a scavenger hunt at the Helix. Meet near the adventure playground to set off on an adventure. What natural treasures can you find in the Park this spring? Check the weather and dress accordingly. And wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty! Suitable for families with children aged 4-10. Free, and no need to register. More information.

Feed the Lambs at Briarlands Farm

Easter just isn’t Easter without seeing an adorable lamb or three in the fields. Even better, you can feed them yourself at Briarlands Farm, just outside Stirling. Until 30 April you can hand-feed the farm’s newest arrivals at 12 noon and 4pm daily. Sessions are included in the normal admission price. Remember, there’s lots of outdoor fun to be had at Briarlands, so pack a picnic and make a day of it. More information.

Easter in the kitchen at Callander House

At 11am each day (Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday), join the cook at Callander House to sample Easter treats from the Georgian Kitchen. The cook will be roasting a leg of lamb on the roaring fire on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, with samples offered throughout the weekend. Find out how the Georgians celebrated Easter by using traditional methods to colour their eggs, and get the chance to taste delicious Easter simnel cake and hot cross buns. More information.

Feed the lambs at Briarlands Farm

Whatever you choose to do – Happy Easter!

Photo credits:

Culross Palace: By Palickap (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Boness and Kinneil Railway: Thomas Nugent [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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