stirling Archives - Page 7 of 10 - Stirling Self Catering

The Snowdrop Festival 2017: It’s spring!

by ssc | 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?

The Snowdrop Festival is now in its eleventh year

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:

BACK TO BLOG

Our top five family days out from Stirling

by ssc | 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

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

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

BACK TO BLOG

Spring and Easter escapes to beautiful Stirling

by ssc | 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

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

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

BACK TO BLOG

It’s Christmas! Dancing, singing, crafting, watching. You choose!

by ssc | Dec 8, 2016 | Blog

Many of us would admit that the journey to Christmas is as festive as the day itself – if not more so. So, if you love to stack up a few events to get you and your family feeling Christmassy, then why not try one – or all – of these four traditional Christmas pastimes?

Ceilidh magic at Ghillie Dhu

Theatre or ballet this Christmas? What's your choice?

Theatre or ballet this year? What’s your choice?

Dancing

There are still a few precious tickets left for the Tolbooth’s increasingly popular Christmas ceilidhs on 10 December. With a family-focused ceilidh at 3pm, and then a more grown-up version starting at 8pm, this is a brilliant way for everyone to get a taste for traditional Scottish ceilidh dancing. No experience needed – the band will talk you through everything, and mistakes are part of the fun! For tickets (hurry), see: http://culturestirling.org/whats-on/

If you miss out on tickets, why not plan a Christmas day out in Edinburgh before enjoying dinner and dancing at the Ghillie Dhu in Rutland Place, Edinburgh. You can dine and dance there right up till 24 December. And if you get together a group of six or more, they will throw in some fizz too. For details: http://ghillie-dhu.co.uk/ceilidh/

Watching

Nothing is more traditional than theatre at Christmas. And what could be more festive than a production of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’? On 16-17 December, this American family classic comes to the Tolbooth, Stirling. Performed as a 1940s live radio broadcast in front of a studio audience, six actors will play not only the radio actors, but the dozens of characters they in turn portray from Frank Capra’s heart-warming movie. In its fifth year, this production is gathering a fervent following, so book tickets soon: http://culturestirling.org/events/wonderful-life-radio-play-stage-3/

Prefer a fairy-tale at Christmas? Then watch the Macrobert’s screening of The Nutcracker, live from the Royal Opera House, from 8-15 December. For tickets, see: http://macrobertartscentre.org/event/royal-opera-house-the-nutcracker-26/

Crafting

For many people, Christmas means crafting. If you fancy some grown-up crafting but want both the materials and guidance on hand, why not book a festive crafting workshop at Green Aspirations in Balfron Station? The sessions use natural, sustainable materials to create wreaths, wall-hangings, baubles, wrapping paper, cards and gift tags. To book, and to enquire about children’s drop in craft sessions, see: http://www.greenaspirationsscotland.co.uk/workshops

If you’re getting ready for Stirling’s New Year, there are a series of lantern making workshops to get you all set for the celebrations on the 31 December. The workshops take place in the Old Town Jail until 30 December. For details on the sessions, and the Hogmanay celebrations, see: http://www.stirlingwinterfestival.com/

Singing

It feels good to give your voice a rare outing at Christmastime. Why not clear your throat for a carol or two in the splendid surroundings of Stirling Castle on 11 December? Enjoy a glass of mulled wine as the Stirling contingent of the National Youth Choir of Scotland perform some classic carols and Christmas songs. Booking is essential! For tickets, visit: http://www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk/whatson/events/carols-at-the-castle/

If you’re after a medley of modern Christmas classics, some brass, and some famous faces on top of your traditional carols, then head to the Albert Halls on 16 December. There, Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, John McCusker and Phil Cunningham deliver a fun night of modern and traditional Christmas music. Bring the family and get seriously Christmassy. For more information, visit: http://culturestirling.org/events/phil-cunninghams-christmas-songbook/

If you miss out on these or simply want more, then Stirling City Choir’s annual Christmas Carol Concert takes place at the Church of the Holy Rude on 10 December from 7.30 pm. For information, see: http://www.stirlingcitychoir.org.uk/

Stirling University’s annual lunchtime Christmas Carol Concert takes place on campus on 13 December. This event, along with refreshments, is free, but you should book your place: http://www.stir.ac.uk/events/2016/december/christmasconcert/name-138652-en.html

Create your own green Christmas decorations this year

Create your own Christmas decorations this year

The Church of the Holy Rude – just one of the many venues for Christmas carols this year

Photo credits:

Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling: By Robert Cutts from Bristol, England, UK (The Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling, nave) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Ghillile Dhu ceilidh image reproduced with kind permission from Ghillie Dhu: http://ghillie-dhu.co.uk/
Handcrafted wreath image reproduced with kind permission from Green Aspirations: http://www.greenaspirationsscotland.co.uk/

BACK TO BLOG

Supermoon 2016: fall in love with dark skies

by ssc | Nov 14, 2016 | Blog

Something special is going to happen tonight. Look up, and you will witness the biggest and best ‘Supermoon’ in around 70 years.

This is the second supermoon of 2016

The moon will appear unusually bright and ‘low-hanging’

The supermoon

It’s not just astronomers who are interested in the skies any more – we’ve become a nation of people who like to look up. And tonight, we’re going to be rewarded with something spectacular. This will be our closest full moon of the year – nearer to Earth than it has been since 1948. To be exact, the gap between the Earth and the moon will close to its shortest point (the perigee), a distance of 221,525 miles. As a result, tonight’s supermoon will appear some 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than a normal full moon. So, if it’s a cloud-free night, you’ll be hard pushed to miss it!

Where to see it

If you want to see Luna at her very best, you’ll need to wait until at least 5pm before looking south. If you can, head out of town to get away from light pollution. Our favourite place for stargazing is Sheriffmuir, Dunblane, which provides easily accessible height and good darkness. You can park your car at the Sheriffmuir Inn (why not have a bite to eat too?) then leave the car behind to find a vantage point on foot. Abbey Craig, Dumyat, and Stirling Castle ramparts will all afford great views, though the latter will have some light from the City.

What will it be like?

Not only will the moon appear large, bright, and beautiful – it will also appear very low in the sky. This effect is largely an optical illusion – because the moon is close to the horizon, it becomes ‘measurable’ to the eye against familiar landmarks in the foreground like rooftops, chimneys and trees. This exaggerates the appearance of the moon as ‘low-hanging’ and makes for a striking display. With binoculars and clear skies, the moon’s craters and seas will be visible. Those lucky enough to have telescopes will see the moon surface in remarkable detail.

Taking photos

Because of its ‘low-hanging’ position, tonight’s moon will offer unprecedented photo opportunities. Anything that breaks the skyline will provide a striking silhouette against the illuminated moonscape. The Wallace Monument is a clear choice, but you’ll need to be some distance away and north of the monument to create the shot you want. Stirling Castle, The Kelpies at Helix Park, and statues like Robert the Bruce near The Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre will all provide compelling outlines for photos against the supermoon.

When will it happen again?

This is the second supermoon of 2016. We had a lesser one in October, and there is another yet to come on December 14. However, tonight’s will be the best of the bunch – until 25 November 2034, that is.

Love dark skies?

If you are planning a late autumn or winter break in Stirling, how about planning some stargazing too?

You can pick up a star map for next to nothing
You can check for any forecast aurora sightings: http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/
Find out about seeing the Northern Lights in Scotland: http://www.visitscotland.com/about/nature-geography/northern-lights
Check for events like meteor showers on this stargazing calendar: https://britastro.org/observing
And for information on Dark Skies in Scotland: http://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/int_dark_sky_places.html

Landmarks like the Wallace Monument will provide striking silhouettes

Stirling Castle ramparts offer a good vantage point, though not free of light pollution

Photo credits:

The Wallace Monument (just outside Stirling, Scotland), taken from Burrough Meadow in the loop of the River Forth (Lat 56.1257 Lon -3.909). By John Preece (Taken by John Preece) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Stirling Castle in Stirling, Scotland. Taken at night, showing the extensive illumination of the castle. Taken December 28th 2003 by user: Finlay McWalter. Copyright © 2003, 2004, 2005 Finlay McWalter {{GFDL}} {{cc-by-sa-2.0}}

BACK TO BLOG