A View With A Room - Lochearnhead

NEW DELUXE BEDROOMS

New Deluxe Bedrooms -Clachan Cottage Hotel on Loch Earn

New Deluxe rooms available over looking Loch Earn

Visit The Clachan Cottage Hotel, Lochearnhead

New Deluxe rooms have been designed with the colours of the surrounding countryside - rich purples and greens - inspired by the autumn heather. When you’re looking out on the stunning views, you feel part of the landscape. There is every conceivable luxury to enjoy:whirlpool baths, steam rooms, power showers, under-tile heating, Nespresso coffee, mini bar, super king beds, luxurious leather furniture and of course, a view to amaze you.

One guest said, “Surely you can’t put a price on the view from here...? It’s outstanding!”

The Clachan has been busy once again! We’d like you to know what’s happening on the shores of Loch Earn.

FOOD

The spring menu has just been launched - and as the new St Fillans to Lochearnhead walking route has attracted some hungry walkers, there is more emphasis on the ‘light bite’ side. The restaurant has just won another award as the Best Informal Dining Hotel in Scotland. Try our daily specials: Fresh langoustines simply served with lemon and soda bread or antipasti sharing platter with 3 meats, olives, chilli infused hummus, Highland Perthshire Oatcakes and our very own home grown salad garnish.

NEW ACTIVITIES FACILITIES

Six years ago we transformed an old inn into a boutique hotel with a world class restaurant and bar. This has brought with it an entirely different customer base and a strong leaning towards activities.

Lochearnhead has also changed, with the demise of the water sports centre. We have now geared up to provide our own activities for hotel guests. Alan has recently sold his engineering business and will now have time to indulge in his passion for water sports and cycling. He can often be seen

out and about with his wife Shirley as they are always training for some event, be it a triathlon or road bike race. So we have started by providing a range of bikes (including electric models) to ensure that even the not-so-fit can get out there and enjoy the local cycling trails.

CANOES  • BIKE • BOAT TRIPS • WATER SKIING

If you stay in one of our rooms you can access a range of activities: Guided cycling tours can also be arranged for groups or individuals. Take advantage of the amazing variety of bike trails - with either road or mountain bikes.

Clachan Cottage Hotel
Lochside, Lochearnhead,
Perthshire FK19 8PU.
Email: info@clachancottagehotel.co.uk
By telephone: 01567 830247
International: +441567 830247
By fax: 01567 830300
International: +441567 830247

Loch Earn's Official Wakeboarding Event

Loch Earn’s official wakeboarding event, is preparing for its biggest year yet. Organisers of WakeScot, now in its 3rd year and the longest running wakeboarding event in Scotland, are delighted with initial enquiries.

Barry McGrandles, Outdoor Activities Director for Active Scotland, explained, ‘It’s always hard to start up an event and keep it going so I think people can see what we are trying to do and that we have a genuine interest in developing the sport. It’s made even clearer by the fact that we are seen by governing body Waterski Scotland as an event that can be used as a platform for all levels of rider who wish to compete in competition in Scotland.’

The event on Loch Earn is supported by both governing bodies in Britain and by local and national companies who share the brothers drive to develop grass roots sports in the area.  Barry’s brother Matt, who organises the event says, ‘It takes time to get the message across that our event is all about the riders and gaining support is not easy especially in this current climate. We dedicate a lot of time and finance to making this event happen but it takes more than just our business to make it work. Just speak to anyone that organises events and they will appreciate what kind of dynamics it takes to actually get something like this off the ground.’

Matt has been organising events for many years. One of his first was the International Festival of Youth Rugby in 97 where he managed 6000 players, staff and games throughout Scotland . WakeScot is not at this level yet but the brothers have a long term view. They aim to turn WakeScot into a  leading wakeboarding festival in Scotland.

WakeScot kicks off on Saturday 14th August 2010 with a coaching clinic at 9am. If you are looking for a weekend break or day away with friends and family then check out this event as it promises to be as spectacular as last years. Further details can be found at http://www.wakescot.com/

LETI: In addition to wakeboarding and water sports, Active Scotland  offers a number of activities including quad biking, archery and mountain bike hire. The office and shop are located at the front of the Clachan Cottage Hotel in Lochearnhead on the A85 overlooking Loch Earn.

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.

A Night at the Races

A trip to Perth Races to attend an evening of racing on Tuesday 28th July 2009 was organised by our Treasurer Pam Hopkins and nine Loch Earn Tourism Initiative members set out full of optimism and excitement.

Traffic jams meant the first race was missed but we all proceeded to win, break even and lose in varying degrees. Pam of Earnknowe Holiday Cottages bet carefully while her husband Lawrie was more reckless and would have put his shirt on if allowed. Jan and Richard Spencer of Glenogle Snax bet steadily with some success but more of Jan later. Our Chairman, Alistair Barclay of Alba Virtual Tours kept his hands in his pockets. He must have been cold or simply tight!! Jim and Liz Bradley of Riverside Cabins and Killin Highland Lodges worked as a team. Liz was the banker and Jim the runner and they both got more and more confused as the evening wore on. The dark horse was Andrew Low, of the Four Seasons Hotel who bet just once, on a horse called “Wotchalike”, and it romped in and as a result champagne suddenly appeared!! The rain set in before the last race and the party retired to the Nelson Suite to count up the winnings and to sink our sorrows but the highlight of the evening was yet to occur.

In driving rain an Abba tribute band struck at the end of racing and our abiding memory of a great day out was of Pam and Jan swaying to “Mama Mia” with Lawrie and Richard holding umbrellas above them and Andrew wishing he had a camera for the evidence.

Sadly the next days’ racing was lost due to a waterlogged track despite it being a beautiful day.

LETI: Clearly LETI members take their duty of experiencing events in the region very seriously indeed. No wonder our accommodation, hospitality, sports and event providers are great ambassadors for the area that they love to work and play in!

Scotland's Premier Annual Wakeboarding Event, with Air Tricks, Coaching, BBQ, DJ and Live Band "Chunks"- 1st and 2nd August

Loch Earn Tourism Initiative member Matt McGrandles is the business development director of Active Scotland based at the Water Sports and Activities centre in Lochearnhead, where a number of spectacular events are held throughout the year. Matt is proud to be hosting WakeScot 09 - Scotland’s premier wake boarding event which will be held every year on the first weekend in August. Wakeboarding regulars and wannabees will compete and entertain in the event that will attract rider entries in the U16’s, Rookie, Open Men and Open Women categories. Guest Brett Hodgkins will be on site offering coaching clinics. Brett coached the 1995 and 1996 junior European and world waterski teams and was team captain of the 2002 wakeboard worlds. The event has attracted top sponsors; Rock Star energy drink, Morrisons Landrover Stirling, Belhaven Breweries, Wake and Ski boats UK and Spiked Magazine. In addition to competitors showing off their air tricks against the picturesque backdrop of Loch Earn, there will be a VIP area for invited guests, a DJ marquee with a drinks promotion and an all day BBQ . Finishing off in style, popular live band Chunks will front the after party event. It is little wonder that this well organised event is endorsed by Waterski Scotland and British Water Ski. Well worth a day out if you want to experience a magnificent event in an idyllic setting. Check out the Loch Earn Tourism Initiative website for details of holiday accommodation in the area.