MHOR Festival 2014 - Monachyle Mhor 24th & 25th May

MHOR Festival MAY 2014

Another exciting line up for this years MHOR Festival on the grounds of Monachyle Mhor and the shores of Loch Doine, Balquhidder. A fun weekend of activities & antics, feasting & frolicking, music & magic.

Saturday 24th May 2014:

Raft Race
The MHOR Festival opening event is the Raft Race on Loch Doine with the theme of "Clans".  Who will pick up the £100 prize money?  Get building now and take part or cheer the participants on the day.

Plenty For The Children

Magwitch Monsters will organise a host of activities including; songs, dancing, musical instruments, traditional party games, giant parachute play, bubble time and Mini Commonwealth Games.

The MHOR Bake Off

This year's cake competition theme is "Commonwealth Cakes" - classic cakes inspired from any of the Commonwealth countries. £100 prize money for the winner. Enter your cake before 3pm.

The Great Scottish Feast

1 Meal with 5 Great Chefs cooking 5 Great Courses

Plus

• Bugsy Malone Bar
• Big BBQ
• DJ's: Mash (Mixmag)
• All Guns Blazing
• Live Music: Eilidh Shaw & Ross Martin
• Oyster and Champagne Bar /Pimms

Sunday 25th May 2014: 

Bake a loaf with Masterchef 1/4 finalists 

Bake or bring your best loaf. Two Masterchef quarter finalists will guide you through techniques for the perfect loaf of bread. Enter your loaf into the competition. £100 prize money for the winner 

Omelette Challenge

As seen on James Martins Saturday Morning Show - it'll be a cracking competition!

Shivering Sheiks
Live Music- 50's R&B

A Play A Pie and A Pint

From Glasgow's Oran Mor "arguably the best-vale cultural event in the country" Sunday Times

Ceilidh

The legendary Brian McAlpine and Session A9 -back again by popular demand

Plus

• Food and Beer Market
• Hog Roast
• Live Band: Rail Fan
• Mash (Mixmag) & Joshua (Stayfresh)
• Oyster and Champagne Bar /Pimms

There's Something for everyone and MHOR.  

Travel and Accommodation?

• Dedicated parking on site
• Local taxi Highland Glen Travel Lochearnhead or Kingshouse Taxi's
• Arrange to camp out in the MHOR field with your tent or camper van
• Check in at Monachyle Mhor or MHOR84
• Click to enquire about alternative area accommodation here.

NB: Under 14's go free

More information:

www.mhor.net/festival.net

Tel: 01877 384 622

Monachyle Mhor Farm

Balquhidder

Perthhire

FK19 8PQ

Stuc a’ Chroin Hill Race, May 3rd 2014, Strathyre

Strathyre: In 2013, on an action packed day, the Stuc a’ Chroin Hill Race celebrated its 25th Anniversary and we hosted the Scottish Athletics Long Hill Race Championship and one of the two Scottish Hill Runners Championship races. 

Stuc A Chroin Hill Race Competitors Set Off

In 2014, our race is one of the more popular races with the runners, and for good reason – stunning scenery, good timing (Bank Holiday), it’s well marked all the way to the summit, plenty of water stops, and our marshals always provide loads of encouragement for the runners, not to mention plenty of energy boosts to the runners in the form of jelly babies & jelly beans and chocolate.

There are prizes for the 1^st 3 places for every category of male and female ( adult, 40+, 50+, 60+ and 70+), as well as team prizes and Marshals spot prizes.

Normally for a non-Championship event, we attract 150 – 200 runners, all of whom require water, and have to be timed and marked at the staging posts. If you’ve been thinking about helping out or would like to be involved, this is the year to do it. We’re always on the lookout for marshals to take water up the hill, keep the runners on track and dispense water for them. 

Marshals are usually out on the hill for a couple of hours plus walking time and it’s an immensely satisfying day. We’ll need people to help set up the field on Friday 2^nd  including erecting the marquees.

For anyone interested in either coming to watch or helping out, a brief itinerary follows and don’t forget to come to the Strathyre Inn on Saturday night for live music to celebrate a great day out. 

Contact details can be found on the website www.stucachroin5000.org.uk

Fri 2^nd May

Hill Marking, Field preparation & marshals meeting.

Sat 3^rd May

08:30     Marshals’ muster and leave for hill

13:00     Race starts

15:00 +  Anticipated first finisher

21:00     Music at the Inn

Sun 5^th May Field take down

www.stucachroin5000.org.uk/marshals for information on the race, or follow the marshals link on the home page.

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LETI: If you are looking for accommodation in Strathyre or the surrounding area,  use the time saving live enquiry service on The Loch Earn Tourism Initiative website. Type in dates, party numbers and essential criteria and let the local accommodation providers get back to you with up to the minute availability. Additional tourist information, photos, events, services, where to eat and drink and more can be found at www.robroycountry.com.

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Scotlands Top Chefs Prepare Great British Feast at MHOR Family Fun Festival 25-26 May

Saturday 25th Sunday 26th May 2013

MHOR Festival

Family Run Luxury Boutique Hotel Monachyle Mhor and chef owner Tom Lewis 

Look out for a range of exciting Balquhidder, Strathyre, Lochearnhead and St Fillans.  events this spring and summer.

 

Something for everyone? Be one of 100 diners experiencing the culinary delights of Gleneagles chef Andrew Fairley alongside other leading chefs from famous Scottish restaurants. Check the impressive programme of bands, children's entertainment, food stalls, races and more at the annual MHOR festival held in the grounds of  luxury boutique hotel Monachyle Mhor,  Balquhidder.  

Programme

Saturday 25th May 2013

• 11:00  Raft Race, build your own boat or raft, life jackets + rescue boat provided
• 12:00 Barbeque and bar opens: Barbeque, Bacon rolls, soups and refreshments , Oyster bar, Homemade Pimms, Gin and Tonics, Champagne, Beers, Mhor fish & chip food truck, Food market.  Live music.  Djs, Childrens entertainment
• 13:00 Roman Road kick off the music with an accoustic set on the front lawn,
• For children: planting in the garden,  face painting, bouncy castle. guided walks, boules
• 14:00  Mini Olympics -  egg + spoon race, three-legged race, sack race, wheelbarrow race, welly throwing, tug of war
• 14:00  Afternoon Tea –  tea, cake and finger sandwiches, gin & tonic, Pimms, champagne
• 15:00  Cake competition – free style cake – enter by 1pm.  prize for winner
• All day  BBQ, Bacon rolls and refreshments

Evening Entertainment

• 19:00  The Great British Feast for 100 seats in the marquee/barn £60 per ticket,  Andrew Fairley- restaurant Andrew Fairlie - Gleneagles, Michael Smith 3 chimneys, Roy Brett – Ondine and Loch Fyne, Neil Forbes – Cafe St Honore, Tom Lewis – Monachyle Mhor
• 20:00  Recital by acclaimed Perthshire fiddler Pete Clark
• 21:00  Charity Auction after dinner – prizes donated to HIT Scotland and Mountain Rescue

Sunday 26th May 2013

• 12:00  Food  Market/Craft stalls/Beer Festival/Demos/live music,
• Tea & Tango – come and watch the wonderful dancers and learn how to walk the tango,  Food Demos throughout the day, Bread baking competition – bake and bring your best loaf– prize for winner, Children's entertainment
• 17:00  £10 for A Play, a pie & a pint  -  A  musical, by Dave Anderson – Butterfly Kiss

Evening Entertainment

• 19:30  Ceilidh, live music -  Brian McAlpine piano, Gregor Lowrey accordion and Alison Smith fiddle
• 21.00  SHOOGLENIFTY 

NB Prices

1. £5 day entry
2. weekend all inclusive £100 camping, day entry, feast and Sunday night entertainment
3. The Feast £60 per ticket 
4. Play, pie pint £10
5. Sunday Night Ceilidh and Shooglenifty  £15
6. Camping £10 per pitch. Day entry £5

For MHOR information http://mhor.net/  Tel: 01877 - 384 622

 

Where Else Can I stay? 

 Check out our extensive range of accommodation in Perthshire and The Trossachs around 4 villages,  whether you prefer a tent, caravan, bunkhouse, cabin, lodge, cottage, bed and breakfast, guest house, restaurant with rooms, hotel, motel or luxury boutique  hotel. 

 

Can I book a taxi? Yes.  Pre book with LETI members Highland Glen Travel,  Lochearnhead or Kingshouse Taxis Balquhidder for transport to and from your preferred accommodation

 

What Else Is On in this area of The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park? 

 

May 16th

Event: Golf Senior Men's Open. Venue: St Fillans Golf Club St Fillans

Contact : TEL:01764 685312 Email : Stfillansgolf@aol.com, http://www.st-fillans-golf.com,

Time : All Day

To enter please send your details along with a cheque to the club: St Fillans Golf Club, South Loch, Earn Road, St Fillans, Perthshire, PH6 2NJ. Visitors are welcome at St Fillans Golf Club which is situated in one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland surrounded by magnificent lochs and towering mountains. The terrain is quite level in spite of the imposing hills that surround the course. It is popular with beginners yet proves to be a difficult course to score well on for the more experienced player.

 

 

May 24th-26th

Event:   Birding Weekend

Venue: Strathyre Outdoor Centre

Event: Learn about the call of birds.  Watchbirds from a distance in the various habitats; woodland, marshes &  moorland,  Identify birds by sight with visual ID,  bat detection, Pre breakfast bird walks

Price £205 with food and accommodation £150 without. 

Contact: http://www.naturaltrossachs.co.uk

 

 

May 25^th and 26^th

Event: British Power Boat Water Skiing, Loch Earn

Venue: The Lochearnhead Water Sports Centre, Lochearnhead.

Price: Free to spectate

Contact Laura and Martin http://www.lochearnhead-watersports-centre.com and http://www.skirace.net/british-racing-calender2013 Time: 12.00

Witness up to 30 power boats pulling brave water skiers at speeds of 70 to 110 miles per hour.

 

JUNE

June 1^st/2^nd

Event: Strathyre Music Festival

Venue: Various including The Inn at Strathyre, Creagan House, Strathyre Village Hall

Price (TBA)

Contact Ken Higgens http://balvaig.co.uk/index.html

Time: All Day

Strathyre's 1st Music Festival, hosted by local group Balvaig who have invited another 100 entertainers to join them in creating a memorable music festival. Showcasing an eclectic mix of local and international musicians to suit a variety of musical tastes.

 

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Strathyre's 1st Music Festival June 1-2

Locals booked to perform at the Strathyre Music Festival

 

100 performers have already committed to perform at Strathyre's first music festival to be held over 2 days  during summer 2013 in an historic Trossachs village on the A84. Mark your diaries for June 1st and 2nd or why not make a week of it and book holiday accommodation with local members of  The Loch Earn Tourism Initiative (LETI) who live and work in the community www.robroycountry.com

LETI members look forward to assisting performers and guests with their requests for restaurants, outdoor activities, accommodation, things to see and do, history, private tours and taxis, wildlife watching, landrover safaris and cottage industry product shopping as well as the  music festival programme and venues. This applies to Strathyre  and the neighbouring villages of Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and St Fillans on the A84 and A85.

 

Jenny McLure

The Strathyre Inn and restaurant will be the flagship venue for performers.  Resident band "Balvaig" are behind the launch of this exciting new event.  If you can not wait until the festival you might like to go along to one of Balvaigs open music sessions at the Inn every Sunday at 3pm.   Band Chairman and musician Ken Higgins told us "News of the festival has already attracted interest from over  100 musicians, singers and choir members including a folk band from Jerusalem,  a musician from Rome, an act currently performing on celtic Connections,  a local Jazz band that regularly performs at the Callander Jazz festival  and a well known choir from Glasgow with 25 members attending".

 

Scottish tourism businesses are celebrating and promoting "Year of Natural Scotland 2013" .This  new music event, set in Strathyre Village, combines a beautiful and popular setting at the gateway to The Highlands with the opportunity to experience; an eclectic mix of music and musicians, outdoor activities, nature, wildlife watching, locally sourced food and drink and a warm and friendly community.



Stevie Higgins

Strathyre has a reputation as a venue where walkers, cyclists and tourers stop for food and shelter and leave with so much more.  A stop over is made all the more memorable  when you experience the warmth of the locals and their stories, a plate of hot food and a drink or two by the fireside or in the beer garden accompanied by a variety of musical sounds. 

 LETI accommodation includes Strathyre's  Immervoulin camping and caravan site, The Strathyre Outdoor Centre Bunkhouse, The Strathyre Inn,  Creagan House (an award winning five star restaurant with rooms) and other bed and breakfast and self catering options.

 

Visit  Balvaigs website www.balvaig.co.uk for  updates on the festival timetable and performers and www.robroycountry.com for accommodation and other activities and events in this area of The Loch Lomond and The Trossahs National Park of Scotland. 

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A Great Day Out At Any Event

 

Mark your calendars for the 2010 events around Strathyre, Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, and Strathyre. Whether you enjoy indoor or outdoor events, spectating or participating there is something for everyone.

On the banks of Loch Earn in Lochearnhead you can witness model aeroplane stunts (17-18th April), the great Loch Earn Boat race (25th April) and the Loch Earn swim race (11th -12th September). Yes - People travel for miles to swim the 6.5 mile length of Loch Earn from the village of Lochearnhead to the village of St Fillans. Seeing is believing!. WakeScot takes place on Loch Earn on the 7-8th August.  Enter this water skiing and wakeboarding contest organised by Active Scotland who are based at the Clachan Cottage Hotel in Lochearnhead or spectate with a hot drink (or something stronger ).  Marvel at the range of talent in each age group from rookie to advanced,  each performance taking place with Loch Earn, Glen Ample and Edinample Castle as the stage setting.

Are you a fan of live music and entertainment? Check the programmes at the Clachan Cottage Hotel in Lochearnhead every Saturday night (from 3rd April throughout the summer) or follow the eclectic Balquhidder Summer music programme at Balquhidder Church (visit Rob Roy McGregor and his family’s gravestone in the grounds while you are there). Tullybannocher, a café near St Fillans,  also hosts a programme of jazz suppers throughout the year.

Take part in or spectate at the Stuc a Chroin Hill race (1st May) organised by the Kingshouse Hotel in Balquhidder. A well organised event but not for the faint hearted as athletes run 22km climbing to 1500m. Impressive stuff!

Come dancing! The village Hall in Balquhidder is hosting a Ball (6th June). Whether you attend the Lochearnhead village ballroom dance classes or are on holiday,  you are welcome to buy a ticket and join in the glamorous fun.

Who will take the Black Face sheep shearing trophy this year? If you have never been to a sheep shearing contest then start at the top and witness the Loch Earn shears in the Lochearnhead games field (3-4th July). International contestants travel far just to take part. The same venue hosts The BLS Highland Games (July 24th) and the fun filled village fete (August). The Highland Games are traditional, attracting chieftains of the local ancient clans,  with invitation heavyweight and open prize events for children and adults.

The St Fillans village weekend is a 3 day affair (13-15th August) with a mixed programme including a cricket match, dance, live bands, a hog roast party, BBQ, and village games. For more regular village chat check out the Tuesday coffee mornings in the St Fillans village shop and tea room. The St Fillans golf club is due to announce its ladies, gents and mixed open challenge fixtures for the year too.

All four villages run regular classes like yoga, keep fit, youth club, oil painting and upholstery. For more event details and contacts check out the four villages website for events in Perthshire. Find out where to stay in Perthshire and where to eat in Perthshire as the website covers accommodation, restaurants, cafes and snack bars too.

LETI: The Loch Earn Tourism Initiative website offers information on holiday accommodation  in Perthshire and the Trosshachs in central Scotland - an area of outstanding beauty.  The site includes information on, accommodation, events, food and drink, shops, things to do, nature and more. You can be sure that you will be made to feel very welcome when visiting this area of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park..

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.