A Garden Gem at The Inn and Bistro, Strathyre.

Usually we find folk enjoying the superb views in the non too familiar sunshine but on the 9th July, there was a different find on our beer terrace.

Maxine Victoria Hunt from Skirling, Biggar decided to take full advantage of the space and summer sun in preparation for her performance at Katie Munro’s wedding that afternoon in Balquhidder Kirk.

The beautiful sound of the harp made a very pleasant and unusual interlude thoroughly enjoyed by the appreciative audience who were taking in summer snacks and refreshments .

Many thanks to Victoria for her impromptu renditions.

LETI: Jill and (Chef) Steven Nixon offer their guests comfortable accommodation and a friendly environment. They serve delcious food in their bistro, pub and garden terrace. Enjoy the ever changing selection of real ales by local Scottish brewers. There is nothing like the warmth of their roaring log fire especially on an evening of live music.

Get Active Around Loch Earn - Water Sports centre offers Free incentives

Active Scotland is our specialist water sports and activities centre in Lochearnhead. We have just released our end of season offers which can be pre-booked by calling the activities reception on 01567 830321.

1. Get 50% FREE water skiing or wakeboarding on Monday’s and Friday’s through September 2009. Pay for 4 sets(1 hour) and get an extra 2 sets (half an hour) Free!
2. If you book 4 bikes over the weekend we'll give you 40% off standard rates.
3. Book the activity centre for FREE in the evening if you are having a get together for over 20 people.
4. FREE quad bike trek for one if you book 5 others.
5. FREE tea or coffee before and a FREE mug of soup after if you book 6 quad bikes.
6. FREE speed boat blast if you spend over £50 in the Loch Earn Café.

Why not try something today with Active Scotland, Lochearnhead. You can visit us at http://www.activescotland.com/ for further details on us, our activities, offers and opening hours.

LETI: Matt and Barry McGrandles attract visitors of all ages and abilities to Loch Earn. They offer an exciting selection of on and off water activities and offer light meals, snacks and beverages from their cafe. Professionals, novices, corporate groups and school children of all ages will find something to suit their taste. Less energetic guests staying in the areas holiday accommodation admit that they go to the centre simply to watch others waterskiing from the comfort of the cafe while enjoying a bacon roll and a coffee. An equally pleasant pastime.

Loch Earn An Inland Loch..Can It Really Be Tidal???

Scotland’s varied terrain is greatly enhanced by rivers lochs and glens and the Highlands continue to show the effects of glaciation, which has shaped the landscape and provided such a variety of scenery.

The lochs of Scotland provided much needed communication links before the advent of the railway and motor car and both the tidal and non tidal Lochs served this purpose well.

Perhaps best know among Scotland’s Lochs are Loch Lomond and Loch Ness, the latter with its famous monster and the “bonnie banks” of both attracting many visitors.

Tidal lochs such as Loch Etive near Oban demonstrate the power of the sea which is best seen at the Connell Bridge where low tide presents a water fall “The Falls of Laura” as the water of the Loch rush out to sea at low tide. Less well known and somewhat surprising is the tidal nature of Loch Earn, an inland Loch in the heart of Scotland, which is one of only two Scottish Lochs to demonstrate this seiching or tidal effect. (The other Scottish Loch known to have this effect is Loch Treig to the east of Fort William). Probably the best known example of seiching in Europe is Lake Geneva.

The forces that cause this tidal effect are the wind acting on the surface of the east west orientated Loch and thermal stratification. In addition to being a central accommodation base for exploring the rest of Scotland, anyone who visits Loch Earn can enjoy the added attraction of witnessing “seiching” first hand.

Holiday accommodation in Perthshire can be found on the LETI community web site including the four villages around Loch Earn. One example of Perthshire holiday cottages in Scotland is Riverside Cabins set on the banks of the River Earn. Another holiday house that offers clear views of Loch Earn is Earnknowe.

Take a trip to Loch Earn and see if you can observe this tidal effect for yourself.

LETI: Jim Bradley runs two self catering holiday businesses; Riverside Log Cabins in St Fillans (6 cabins sleep up to 6 in 3 bedrooms) and Killin Highland Lodges on a wooded hillside in Killin (11 lodges sleep between 1-8 in 1-4 bedrooms). Jim also makes time to chair the LETI website group.