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Spring and summer breaks in Stirling!

by ssc | Apr 13, 2016 | Blog

Life: it’s all about breaking it up into little enjoyable chunks, isn’t it? So, now that the Easter chocfest is over, and most of us have seen off our kids back to the school gates, we’re thinking about the next holiday!

Grade C Listed Victorian villa - Gladstone, perfect for a summer break

Relax by the log burning stove in Gladstone, in the heart of Stirling’s King’s Park

Grade C Listed Victorian villa - Gladstone's master bedroom

Master bedroom luxury, Gladstone

Short and sweet Bank Holidays

The English and Scottish May bank holidays coincide on 2 and 30 May – giving us two great opportunities for a week or more away for the price of a mere 4 days’ annual leave. The key thing about bank holidays is location – you don’t want to waste too much time travelling to your base. And once there, you want to squeeze in as many experiences as humanly possible in a short space of time. Slap bang in the heart of Scotland, Stirling is the perfect place for just such a 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. From Stirling, you can even experience both Scotland’s east and west coastlines – either can be reached in around an hour by car. If you’re planning on using your holiday home as a day-trip base (and have an eye on your whole-year holiday budget), have a peek at our bright, beautiful and affordable apartments at www.budgetaccommodationstirling.co.uk. They might be just what you’re after. To find out more about why Stirling could be just right for your short spring or Bank Holiday break, give us a call on +44 (0) 7730 145 965.

Lazy luxury summer holidays

Summer holidays are all about feeling relaxed – kicking back, forgetting work and responsibilities. With longer breaks, it’s essential too that you feel at home and cared for in your holiday accommodation. That’s why our portfolio of luxury cottages and apartments have every comfort you could possibly wish. Unwind in front of Gladstone’s log-burning stoves with a glass of wine, or enjoy a secluded barbecue in its enclosed gardens – all in the heart of Stirling’s prestigious King’s Park. If you’ve a family or group celebration in mind, Park Terrace is the perfect property – comprising extensive gardens, a hot tub, sauna and even a bar area. Luxury comes in all sizes too – couples and small families will love the cosy cottage feel of Pear Tree House and Redcarr Lodge, for example, all with our warm and attentive customer service. Browse all of our fabulous properties at www.stirlingselfcatering.co.uk/properties

Our people

But why, when you’ve the whole word to choose from, should you choose Scotland for a holiday? After all, you can find nice views and a luxury apartment anywhere in the world. Well, we think that Scotland’s people are something special, and it seems that 2015’s visitors wholeheartedly agree. Nearly 6,000 tourists were surveyed by Visit Scotland* last summer, and their top three descriptions of Scots were ‘friendly’, ‘helpful’, and ‘welcoming’. More than 80 percent of visitors said that Scotland’s people actually added to their holiday experience. If you want to find out more about what makes us tick, look out for the hashtag #ScotSpirit on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see just what we mean about our brilliant, warm and helpful people. By the way, we’ve a few of them working right here in the office, ready to help plan your unforgettable holiday

Park Terrace has extensive gardens and facilities - perfect for a summer break

Park Terrace has extensive gardens and facilities perfect for a special gathering

Cosy cottage charm at Redcarr Lodge

*Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-35774291

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A springtime garden trail

by ssc | Mar 23, 2016 | Blog

Easter is upon us, and so is spring. 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, near Stirling

Kilbryde Castle gardens and Folly

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 gardens are open by appointment from 1 April, facilitated by the 85-year-old charitable foundation Scotland’s Gardens. They raise funds for deserving causes nationwide by asking a small entry fee to some of our most beautiful private gardens. Why not create your own tourist trail, visiting these secluded, hidden gems? Here’s just a handful closest to us…

Gargunnock House (open 16 April-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 the three-acre walled garden. £4.00 entry. Children free. Details are here.

Kilbryde Castle covers an impressive 12 acres, just three miles from Dunblane and Doune. The gardens are divided into formal, woodland and wild, and come into their own in spring with a display of bulbs, and in autumn when clematis and acer burst into colour. Entry £4 by arrangement, children free. Details are here.

Milseybank, just a quarter of a mile from Bridge of Allan, offers outstanding views from a beautifully tended terraced garden. The adjoining woodland is a colourful canvas of bluebells, rhododendrons, magnolias, camellias, as well as meconopsis. Entry £4 by arrangement, children free. Details are here.

The Linns in Dunblane covers 3.5 acres of mature woodland west of the Ochils, lovingly planted since 1984 to create a ‘sense of exploration and surprise’. With spring come carpets of corydalis, trilliums and erythroniums, nurtured within a varied landscape of specimen trees, rhododendrons, walling and hedging. Entry £4 by arrangement, children free. Details are here.

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, children free. Details are here.

The terraced gardens of Milseybank, Bridge of Allan

Colour, paths and views at Thorntree garden

For more information on gardens open throughout the year or by arrangement, explore http://www.scotlandsgardens.org/
Their 2016 guide is out now: http://www.scotlandsgardens.org/buy-the-book
All photos supplied by kind permission of, and courtesy of, Scotland’s Gardens

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Easter is coming – get ready!

by ssc | Mar 9, 2016 | Blog

No matter how early it comes around (and it’s early this year!), Easter seems to be the moment when Scotland bursts beautifully into spring. Round up the kids, and get ready for some brilliant family-friendly events to celebrate the season!

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Guess who is coming to Callender House?

ZooLab will be bringing some animal magic to the Helix

Celebrate Easter at Callender House: The Easter Bunny is coming to Callender House this year, bringing eggs for children to decorate. There will be special prizes for the best creations, before egg and spoon races, egg rolling, and an egg hunt in the walled garden too. Tickets cost £5 and there are full details here: http://www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org/whats-on/events/

ZooLab at the Kelpies: Adding a little animal magic to the holidays, The Helix has invited ZooLab to join them on 25 and 26 March. This is a free event, and visitors will get the chance to see, meet and handle a variety of animals such as a giant African land snail, corn snake, tree frog, tarantula, scorpion and much more. For more details, see: http://www.thehelix.co.uk/

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts: It’s that time of year again when the National Trust for Scotland team up with Cadbury to create the ultimate Easter holiday day out. Alloa Tower, Culross Palace and House of the Binns are the nearest participating venues to Stirling, and provide three stunning backdrops to these fun, family hunts. Clues along the way will keep little ones on the scent, and there’s a Cadbury chocolate prize for each completed trail. If you can’t make it to any of the organised egg hunts, you can download your own ‘Cadbury Hunt Pack’ from the website too. Plug in your postcode to find your nearest egg hunt or build your own: http://easter.cadbury.co.uk/

Easter Egg Steam Trains: What could be better than a ride on a steam train? Only a ride on a steam train with chocolate. Boness and Kinneil’s annual Easter trains run from 25 to 28 March and are becoming ever more popular. Climb aboard, enjoy the short trip, and the conductor will soon arrive bearing a chocolate egg for every child. Children wearing Easter bonnets also have the chance to win a prize, and there are egg hunts in the museum too. For tickets and schedule, see: http://www.bkrailway.co.uk/your-visit/events/

The Art of Design: In addition to their Festival of Foolery on the Easter weekend, Stirling Castle will be running art and craft activities suitable for all the family on selected dates throughout the school break. Children will be able to create their own masterpieces, inspired by the Renaissance carvings and paintings to be found throughout the Castle. For more details, see: http://www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk/whatson/events/the-art-of-design/?month=0316

Crannog Centre Easter Extravaganza: If you want to body-swerve chocolate entirely, you might consider heading to the Crannog Centre on beautiful Loch Tay, Perthshire. There, you can celebrate Easter Iron-Age style, with their Pancake Eggstravaganza on Easter Sunday (10.30am to 4.30pm). 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 hear more about ancient crafts and ways of life from skilled Iron Age guides, or just gaze into the flames. Booking is only required for large groups. For more information, see: http://www.crannog.co.uk/

Take an Easter Special steam train at Boness and Kinneil Railway

Escape the chocolate and head for the idyllic Crannog Centre

Photo credits:

Rabbit and Easter Eggs in Green Grass: Image courtesy of jannoon028 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Boness and Kinneil Railway: Image by Thomas Nugent [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The Kelpies at the Helix: By Beninjam200 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Crannog Centre, Loch Tay: Carol Walker [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Local Heroes: Stirling Walking Tours & Ghostwalk

by ssc | Oct 28, 2015 | Blog

Wending their way in period costume through Stirling’s oldest cobbled streets, and bringing the city’s myths and legends to life, this week’s Local Heroes are Stirling Walking Tours and Stirling Ghostwalk.

Stirling Walking Tours welcomes you

Exploring the ancient and atmospheric streets of Stirling’s Old Town

The private walking tours are designed for groups and offer a selection of themed tours, such as Stirling Castle and the secrets of the Old Town, a private guided sightseeing tour of Stirling Old Town followed by visit to the mighty Stirling Castle. New tours now include the Stirling City Tour with Whisky and Craft Gin Tasting. This offers a unique journey round the sites, stories of the Old Town and City Centre, and takes in some boutique shopping in the Stirling Arcade. This is followed by a private whisky and craft gin tasting at a local independent specialist shop. Local experts explain the different malts and craft gins, with a chance to enjoy some tastings and samples.

For those interested in the heroes of Scottish history, Wallace and Bruce, Stirling Walking Tours have devised a fantastic tour based around the Wars of Independence. Hear the real stories behind William Wallace and Robert The Bruce. Get beyond the Braveheart myths and explore some of the highlights of Stirling.

But what was the inspiration for Stirling Walking Tours in the first place? We spoke to Director Jason Clark.

‘We felt there was a real opportunity to develop something special in Stirling with its cobbled streets and concentration of medieval buildings under the shadow of the Castle rock. Stirling is a leading destination for visitors: we think our guided tours really add to the range of tourist activities on offer – they’re the perfect complement to a visit to Stirling Castle’.

Jason explains that delivering Stirling’s history vividly is a key focus for the team: ‘We really enjoy delighting visitors with unusual tales from Stirling’s past. We’re passionate about Stirling and love bringing its history alive.’ And that passion has borne results – Stirling Walking Tours are not only rated 5 stars on Trip Advisor and invariably get great feedback from the people on their tours, but were a finalist in the regional Thistle Awards. Jason is rightly proud. ‘It confirms our place on the Stirling tourism map as a must-do, and highlights our commitment to providing unforgettable experiences for visitors to Stirling Old Town’.

To have earned such accolades, the tours are clearly top-notch – so how do the guides keep every walk fresh and spontaneous? David Kinnaird, guide for Stirling Walking Tours by day and Stirling GhostWalks by night, explains: ‘Although the formulae for the Old Town Tour and the Stirling GhostWalk are consistent, you rarely perform exactly the same tour twice. With the former, fact-based, tour I encourage audiences to ask questions, and those questions often lead us in very different directions – literally and metaphorically. The latter show is theatrical. I’m in character – usually as the 18th-century Happy Hangman, Jock Rankin – dealing with myth and legend and their peculiar intersections with local history. This offers lots of flexibility – a particular tale might be used comically one night, dramatically the next – and after 26 years’ writing and scripting the show, there are a LOT of tales to choose from. Both shows, in very different ways, keep me on my toes. The expectations of each audience are so very different, and prompt me to seek out new stories or facts.’

The Stirling GhostWalk, unsurprisingly, attracts a clientele with more specific interests: ‘Perhaps the oddest request involved me leading a group of trainee spirit mediums around famous sites in the Old Town, letting them sense … well … whatever it is they sense – and only THEN providing them with historical facts and tales from the folk-record which relate to the locations.’ It seems no two days are ever the same when you are a Stirling tour guide.

At this time of year, Stirling GhostWalks are in much demand, and explore many of the more unsettling corners of Stirling’s Old Town past. But David is unfazed: ‘The sites of the Old Town have never spooked me, appropriately enough, what with ME being the ghost! But in the darker months the Auld Kirkyard next to the Holy Rude can be very atmospheric. The moon shining on the grim and gruesome Momento Mori carvings on some of the 16th- and 17th-century headstones adds to the gothic mood. Lovely.’

Explore Stirling by day, and Stirling Walking Tours promise ‘an ever-changing mix of history, and storytelling, ’. Explore the city’s streets by night and you’ll enjoy ‘fear, fun and frights for boys and ghouls of all ages’. Two very different tours, delivered with the very same passion.

The city is brought to life with costume, story and drama

The tours are a perfect complement to a visit to the Castle

For details:

Stirling Walking Tours offer private pre-boooked tours of Stirling Old Town: www.stirlingwalkingtours.com
Stirling Ghostwalk offer spooky evening tours led by the ‘Happy Hangman’: www.stirlingghostwalk.com

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