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..

Visit Scotland from Loch Earn or Loch Lubnaig in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park

Book holiday accommodation in the villages around Loch Earn and Loch Lubnaig if you are considering a picturesque base with stunning views, outdoor activities, an excellent choice of food and drink and easy access to other tourist towns and attractions in Scotland.

Loch Earn and Loch Lubnaig are positioned where Perthshire and Stirlingshire meet at the gateway to the Highlands within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The surrounding villages of Strathyre, Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and St Fillans stem from the A84 and A85 trunk roads enabling easy access to Scottish towns and cities in all directions including; Callander, Stirling, Falkirk, Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Inverary, Oban, Fort William, Aberfeldy, Pitlochry, Crieff, Perth, Edinburgh and more.

Towering mountains, Munro’s, forests and glens enhance the backdrop of the villages, lochs and golf courses in the area. On the 15th March every year the lochs attract fishermen, fisherwomen and their children. The Perthshire trout fishing season runs through to October 6th. Local retail outlets sell bait, floats and permits and you can rent a rod and tackle from the Lochearnhead Post Office. Gradually fishing boats, water skiers and wake boarders punctuate the lochs joined by intermittent yachts, kayaks, swimmers, model aeroplane groups and the resident sea-plane.

Locals and visitors are not the only ones to enjoy the water though. Throughout the year deer will come down from the hills to drink. Visiting ospreys return to fish alongside mallards, geese, heron, swans, otters and other wildlife.

Hotels, bistro’s and restaurants (many chef owned) within a 15 mile radius of the region offer something for everyone. Choose from snacks and home made cakes to inns that run guest beer festivals to award winning restaurants that use local ingredients to create first class cooking.

Whether you enjoy the outdoors, food and drink, history and folklore, wildlife, flora and fauna, fresh air, peace and tranquillity or you are looking for the perfect base to travel to other tourist towns and attractions; the villages surrounding Loch Earn and Loch Lubnaig in the centre of Scotland take some beating.

LETI: For further information on Loch Earn and Loch Lubnaig as well as Perthshire accommodation, food and drink, outdoor activities, retail and other services in this region of Scotland, click on Rob Roy.

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.