Let the Games Begin!

by | May 9, 2018 | Blog

Are you a visitor to Scotland? Want to liberally dowse yourself in our country’s culture, food, and attitude? There’s no better way to do it than to attend one of our many Highland Games. These fun family events are nothing short of Scotland being distilled into one playing field. Scotland squared. Scotland with its kilt on, and tongue firmly in its cheek. Come one, come all, to the fabled Scottish Highland Games.

Heavy athletes take part in traditional events

Heavy athletes take part in traditional events

Competing in a kilt is part of the challenge

Competing in a kilt is part of the challenge

Here’s just a few, in and around Stirling, or a comfortable jaunt in the car.

Airth Highland Games, 28 July, 2018

Claiming to be Scotland’s oldest, Airth Games in their current guise were founded in 1871, though their origins stretch back centuries before that. Thousands of visitors come each year for the unique and friendly atmosphere of these Games, surrounded by the picturesque setting of the River Forth and Ochil Hills. The usual recipe is here: highland dancers, solo pipers, heavy athletes and track competitors. But bystanders can get hands-on in the Smiddy Stane Challenge and the famed Tug-O-War. Keeping everyone smiling are the local pipe band, children’s entertainment, craft stalls, local foods, refreshment tents, a fairground and much more. For information and tickets: http://www.airthgames.co.uk/

Bridge of Allan Highland Games, 5 August 2018

Less than two miles from Stirling’s City Centre, Bridge of Allan hosts one of Scotland’s premier Highland Games. The annual event attracts crowds of between 8,000 and 10,000 people. The games field nestles between Stirling Castle, the Ochil Hills and the National Wallace Monument. This year, there will be Highland dancing, pipe bands, and a full programme of traditional Highland Games competitions covering athletics, cycling, heavyweights, tossing the caber, and wrestling. There will be plenty of interesting stalls to browse, as well as food stands and an adjoining fairground for the kids. Bus and car parking is free. For info and tickets, see: http://bofagames.com/

Perth Highland Games, 12 August 2018

Situated at Perth Racecourse, you’ll find all the ingredients of a great Highland games. Watch athletes compete in traditional heavyweight competitions from the sidelines and put yourself to the test by participating in one of the running events. There will be Highland dancing, solo piping competitions, and the massively popular pipe band contest, showcasing many international bands. Browse the stalls for some delicious local produce and crafts. For more information and tickets: perthhighlandgames.co.uk

Stirling Highland Games, 18 August 2018

One of the City of Stirling’s signature annual events, Stirling’s Highland Games welcomes visitors from around the world to witness traditional Highland games competitions. The games field behind Stirling Sports Village offers brilliant views over to the Wallace Monument, Cambuskenneth Abbey and Stirling Castle. There’s a full programme of traditional events that include running, cycling, Highland dancing, heavyweights, long jump and triple jump. Enjoy piping performances throughout the day, too. In addition, the Traders Village will present some fabulous Scottish fare. Wander through a delicious range of food and coffee servers, craft and whisky stalls, as well as an onsite bar. For details and tickets (discounted online) see: http://www.stirlinghighlandgames.com/

 

Solo and band piping contests are a regular feature

Solo and band piping contests are a regular feature

Highland Games are big on audience participation

Highland Games are big on audience participation

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New Year: New Horizons

by | Jan 10, 2018 | Blog

January: the month of clean slates and fresh starts. The month that most of make over-ambitious New Year’s resolutions, and the very same month that 90 percent* of us abandon them. This year, how about we ditch all other New Year’s resolutions, and resolve instead to travel, making life a little bigger and brighter for a while?

Forget chia seeds and detox. Broaden your horizons this January.

Forget chia seeds and detox. Broaden your horizons this January.

Glasgow co-hosts the European Championships. Take time to explore it.

Glasgow co-hosts the European Championships. Take time to explore it.

Plan your break in Scotland this January

Scotland is consistently popular amongst tourists. Not just because of its warm welcome, stunning landscapes, and historical narrative, but because there’s just so much to see and do here, especially in 2018. A new era in world sport gets underway this summer as Glasgow and Berlin host the inaugural European Championships. Glasgow and Scotland will host Aquatics, Cycling, Golf, Gymnastics, Rowing and Triathlon while Berlin hosts Athletics. You can buy Glasgow tickets here: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/glasgow2018. Whether you get tickets or not, simply being in Glasgow throughout that time will be unforgettable, just as London was illuminated throughout the 2012 Olympic Games, and even months later. In addition, Scotland will be celebrating its ‘Year of Young People’ (http://yoyp2018.scot/), a packed, 12-month calendar of events including comedy festivals, film festivals, TED talks, design festivals, a comic con, poetry slam and much more, with events being added all the time.

Make Stirling your base

If you were to pick one place from which to explore the very best of Scotland throughout 2018, you’d be hard-pressed to better Stirling. Because of its central location, Stirling is less than one hour’s drive time from more than half of the population of Scotland**, and only 45 minutes’ drive from either Glasgow or Edinburgh airports. You can head north to Inverness in just 2 hours and 45 minutes, east to Aberdeen in 2 hours and five minutes, or west to Oban – gateway to the Western Isles – in 2 hours and 10. Five minutes’ walk from the Stirling city centre, Stirling rail station offers direct routes to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Inverness too, not to mention the coach services. Suddenly, most of Scotland is accessible, and you can still be home for dinner.

Go self-catering

So where would home be? Hotels can be an expensive choice, especially if you want to get up early and hit the road sightseeing, possibly missing fixed breakfast and dinner times. For the freedom you need to explore Scotland at your own pace, then self-catering could be the best option for you. Families can spread out, eat when (and what) they want, pack picnics, and, if you’re staying with Stirling Self Catering, make use of cots, high chairs, and toys – for free. A safe, enclosed garden is a welcome space after a day’s sightseeing, and preferable to hotel balconies that leave you terrified for your toddler. Because you’ll have room to unpack belongings instead of living out of a suitcase, self-catering gives you the chance to feel, and live, like a local, the very best way to immerse yourself in a new place. View our luxury properties here: https://www.stirlingselfcatering.co.uk/properties/ If you are on a budget, we have some stylish and affordable apartments that offer value and comfort: http://budgetaccommodationstirling.co.uk/

So, what’s your New Year resolution for 2018 now? Still eat more veg? Or plan the holiday of a lifetime? Why not come to Stirling for an unforgettable self-catering break, and while you’re at it, try the Farmers Market (http://www.stirlingfarmersmarket.co.uk/) for fresh, local fruit and veg too. Who says you can’t have everything?

Our properties are your perfect base

Our properties are your perfect base

Huddle up to the wood-burning stove at Oakside Cottage

Huddle up to the wood-burning stove at Oakside Cottage

  • To help plan your perfect break: https://www.visitscotland.com/about/themed-years/young-people/
  • *https://www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/
  • **Source: Visitstirling.com
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Local Hero: Elin Isaksson Glass

by | Dec 14, 2017 | Blog

On the outskirts of Stirling, near Cambusbarron, there’s a busy artist’s studio preparing for Christmas. It is here that Elin Isaksson creates unique, hand-blown glass pieces for lighting, and sculptures for commission. Hailing from Sweden, and a big part of Stirling’s small biz community, Elin is this month’s Local Hero.

Elin at work on glass in her studio: © copyright photo by Tina Norris

Elin at work in her studio: © copyright photo by Tina Norris

Oval Rock Pool glass

Oval Rock Pool. Photo Shannon Tofts

Training

Elin trained at the famous Orrefors Glass School in Sweden, learning her country’s traditional techniques of glassmaking. Thereafter, she refined her expertise with apprenticeships in Sweden, France and Italy, before settling on Scotland as her creative home: ‘I applied for schools in Britain and Denmark, and got into Edinburgh College of Art and a school in Brinholm, Denmark. I chose Edinburgh in the end. Which is lucky, since I met my husband there on my second day!’

Inspiration from nature

Elin’s inspiration comes from the interaction of light, texture and movement in nature. She explains that she looks to the landscapes of both Scotland and Sweden for her artistic ideas, taking endless photographs along the coast of Scotland and in the north of Sweden. ‘Scotland reminds me a lot of Sweden,’ explains Elin, ‘but it’s so much greener, and with colder summers! I do miss my warm summer, but not the cold dark winters in the North of Sweden…’ Elin’s glass pieces seem to interpret the landscape as through their own lens, and are aimed to ‘capture a sense of place, a small detail or an atmosphere, rather than reproduce a direct likeness of an object or form.’ Because of this, Elin’s works speak as much to the heart as to the eye.

Techniques

Glass-blowing techniques allow Elin to create elegant and simple forms with subtle, subdued colour blends. Often, she will stretch or bend the molten glass at the last moment, infusing the piece with a sense of movement – using what Elin describes as the ‘intense energy of molten glass’. In her cast pieces, Elin is intrigued by the contrast of rough texture within smooth surfaces – an effect made possible by pouring hot glass into one-off sand moulds. Depth, structure, and detail come from the hand-blown shards and strings of glass that Elin traps inside her pieces.

National and local clients

It’s little wonder that such creative talent has caught the eye of companies as big as Oil & Gas UK, Glenfiddich, and the National Museum of Scotland. But Elin is also a champion of her small business peers, providing cast pieces for local businesswoman Suzie Moore at Made in the Shed, among others.

The challenge

And what does she love most about her job? ‘I love creating with my hands. Glass is so beautiful, but very tricky to tame. Every day is a challenge; something always goes wrong, but at the end of the day you usually manage to create some fabulous pieces. It is a job for people who love a fresh challenge every day. The process of glass blowing is very rewarding when you finally succeed!’

Whisky glass. Photo: Shannon Tofts

Hand-made whisky glasses. Photo Shannon Tofts

Liquid Ice Bowl. Photo Shannon Tofts

Liquid Ice Bowl. Photo Shannon Tofts

Elin is taking Christmas orders up until 19th of December! Use Discount code ‘XMAs17’ to receive 15% discount off her glass at: www.scotlandglassblowing.co.uk

Photo credits: 

  • Glass images by Shannon Tofts
  • Photo of Elin at work by Tina Norris
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Light up November

by | Nov 8, 2017 | Blog

The clocks have changed and the mercury’s falling – November is always the month when we realise we’re on the road to winter. But there’s plenty to celebrate in November, so throw another log on that fire and huddle up with your diary!

Join the Supernova 5K to light up the Kelpies at dusk
Join the Supernova 5K to light up the Kelpies at dusk
Join in the fun of Stirling's Christmas lights switch-on
Join in the fun of Stirling’s Christmas lights switch-on

Supernova 5K

What better way to light up the darker evenings than with a run, jog or walk round the Helix Park? There are still slots left in the Supernova 5K for this Sunday, 10 November. Round up everyone – grandparents, uncles, aunties, parents, kids, friends and dig out anything that glows or flashes. Get yourselves suitably sparkly and set off at your own pace – there are no time limits at all. And by the way, fancy dress is strongly encouraged. This event is for everyone – from runners striving for a personal best, to the toddler taking their first steps. Enjoy. For more information, and booking (hurry!), visit: https://www.supernovarun.com/kelpies/

Christmas Lights Switch On

Come and see Santa and his reindeer start the festive celebrations in Stirling City Centre on Sunday 17 November. Santa’s reindeer will be outside the Albert Halls from 1.00pm. They will then join Santa and some special friends and set off through the city centre at 2.00pm, winding their way through Corn Exchange and down King Street, Murray Place, Friars Street, Baker Street, Corn Exchange then returning to the Albert Halls for a well-earned rest until 3.15pm. Host Jennie Cook will keep everyone entertained with festive fun at the foot of King Street from 3pm. The entertainment will include performances from Stirling High School, the Tolbooth Young Performers, Funbox and local singer Alix Muir, who will keep the crowd dancing with her pop covers until the big switch on at 5.00pm. And it’s all free! For more information, visit: www.stirlingwinterfestival.com

Rapunzel: A Hair-braiding Adventure

November 22 opens the annual Macrobert Panto Extravaganza, whose tickets sell like hot-cakes, so it’s wise to choose your dates now. This year’s panto is written by, directed by and starring the fabulous Johnny McKnight in ‘Rapunzel: A Hair-braiding Adventure’. Poor Rapunzel’s been locked up in a tower her entire life with no telly, no Wi-Fi and no dry shampoo! But she has dreams – of walking barefoot around the mythical land they call Tullibody, of meeting her one true love and singing a duet, and of getting her hair cut. But one day the lonely Rapunzel has a surprising visit in her tower – Prince Rocco is armed and dangerous with a pair of scissors and a plan. The show runs 22 Nov to 31 Dec. For more information, visit: https://macrobertartscentre.org/event/rapunzel-a-hair-braiding-adventure/

St Andrew’s Day

Scotland’s patron saint was known for his thoughtfulness and concern for others – so this St. Andrew’s Day the National Wallace Monument will follow his ethos to share with others by providing all visitors FREE ADMISSION. You’ll want to be at the Monument bright and early on Saturday 30th November to celebrate St. Andrew’s Day 2019 with free admission (Saturday only), face painting and performances of ‘Scotland’s National Hero‘. The Monument and Legends Coffee House will be open from 10:00am until 4:00pm, and there are lots of great ideas for some early Christmas shopping in the Souvenir & Gift Shop. Wrap up warm and celebrate the country’s patron saint while learning more about another national treasure – Sir William Wallace. For more information, visit: https://www.nationalwallacemonument.com/ht_event/st-andrews-day/

Panto fun at the Macrobert
Panto fun at the Macrobert
Free entry to many Scottish landmarks for St Andrew's Day
Free entry to many Scottish landmarks for St Andrew’s Day
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Local Hero: Made in the Shed

by | Oct 26, 2017 | Blog

Suzie Moore runs her home décor business, Made in the Shed, from her home in beautiful Stirling. Her range of boards are designed with love to help organise busy lives, as well as bring pleasure to the eye. A former team member here at Stirling Self Catering, we caught up with Suzie to learn more about her thriving business.

Organising life just a little more beautifully

Organising life just a little more beautifully

Suzie's boards reflect the palette and textures of the Scottish landscape

Suzie’s boards reflect the palette and textures of the Scottish landscape

Seizing the day

Suzie launched Made in the Shed after redundancy from her public-sector job presented her with an unexpected opportunity: “I have a young family and being able to work locally, with flexible hours, meant I could have the best of both worlds! I graduated from Grays School of Art in Aberdeen way back in 1994, and I’ve found it really energising to rediscover the creative me!”

Inspiration from Scotland’s landscape

Where did she get the inspiration to create her range? “I love the colours and textures abundant in Scotland. As a dog owner I am out in all weathers, and never tire of the beauty around us – even in the rain. I have family in the Outer Hebrides, where I can soak up the colours of the ever-changing landscape. I’m also a list fanatic. I have an eternal quest for bringing some semblance of organisation to our busy family life. This is where my chalkboards were born.”

Utility and beauty

Suzie’s boards bring together utility and beauty, but what do her customers love most? “I get great feedback about the boards having a magnetic section, for organising all the important pieces of paper that follow us through our busy lives, and a section for writing up messages and notes to jog our memory. This practicality, combined with stunning Harris Tweed fabrics, and hand-formed glass magnets, provides a welcome addition to any home. I make all boards by hand and pride myself on a high-quality finish.”

Hebridean tradition

Why Harris Tweed? “This fabric is steeped in history and renowned world-wide. All of it is dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides, and hand-woven in the home of the Harris Tweed weaver. It’s an ecologically sound textile, and the island communities are proud to pass their techniques down through the generations.”

Perfect partners

To complement the Harris Tweed, Suzie searched for the perfect magnet for her boards. “I’m so lucky to work with Elin Isaksson who has a studio locally in Cambusbarron. Elin is an incredibly talented glass artist who creates the glass for my magnets.  I love getting a delivery and seeing the individual characteristics in every piece of glass.”

Sharing the fun

It’s clear that there’s a part of Suzie that feels honoured to create something that families can use and enjoy. “It’s heart-warming to make boards as wedding gifts. My customers put in so much thought and consideration, deciding on which fabric suits the newly-weds’ taste, and the wording they choose to commemorate the big day. Sharing in the excitement is a privilege and my customers always give feedback when the Bride and Groom receive their gift. I had a ‘goose bump moment’ recently, when a customer wanted her family name on her board. She intended to pass it on to her children for when they grow up, have their own families, and begin to appreciate how hectic life can be. It was lovely to know the customer considered her board something that should stand the test of time!”

Hand-formed glass by Elin Isaksson make Suzie's magnets something special

Hand-formed glass by Elin Isaksson make Suzie’s magnets something special

Made in the Shed choose fabrics to suit both you and your home

Suzie loves choosing fabrics that suit both you and your home

More information:

Photo credits: All photos kindly supplied by Suzie Moore. All photos reamin copyright of Suzie Moore.

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