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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Learn the Art of Bushcraft at The Strathyre Outdoor Centre



Firelighting and fuel collection

Loch Earn Tourism Initiative member Anthony Phillips of Natural Trossachs (an eco tourism business) is hosting a Bushcraft weekend course at The Strathyre Outdoor Centre on May 4th & 5th,  for Year of Natural Scotland 2013, lead by a qualified instructor and experienced wildlife biologist.

Build a shelter

 

Anthony says  "This is an excellent beginner's bushcraft weekend and a valuable consolidation for those with a little bushcraft experience. You will learn the safe use of sheath knife and saw and can use these tools to help in maintaining a bow drill set. We will also cover firelighting with bow drill and sparks, water preparation, shelter building and plant uses."



 

 

Learning outcomes:

At the end of the course you should; know how to use a knife and saw safely, be able to tie some basic knots required to string up a tarp, know how to build a leaf shelter, understand how to find water and make it safe, understand the basic principles of responsible firelighting and fuel collection,  have succeeded in lighting a fire with sparks and/or bow drill and know how to recognise some of the plants that can provide food and other valuable materials

 

Instructor: Leon is a qualified and experienced wildlife biologist with a BSc (hons) in Ecology and a PhD based on otter research in Scotland. He has over 13 years field experience, studying badgers, foxes, grouse & otters. In 2004, Leon formalised his bushcraft interests and achieved a nationally accredited qualification (with distinction) to teach the subject. This year long NCFE course covered all aspects of leading groups, including bushcraft skills, understanding of the natural environment, teaching ability, knowledge of legislation, health and safety.

 

 

Duration: 2 full days: starts 19.00 on Friday night and ends 16:00 Sunday afternoon. Main lessons will be from 09:00-17:00 on Saturday and 09:00-16:00 on Sunday

 

Cost*: £150 per weekend or £75 per day (£10 discount if booked for both days) *(This cost does not include accommodation) 

 

Accommodation: To book from a wide choice of accommodation in Strathyre and neighbouring villages ,Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and St Fillans,  including;  campsites, bunkhouses, cabins, bed and breakfasts, hotels and more visit www.robroycountry.com 

A Tracking and Wildlife day is provisionally arranged for Monday 6^th May with a cost of £75 per day or £65 if booked alongside the Bushcraft weekend.

For further information and bookings please contact Anthony Phillips, Natural Trossachs:

Email: mail@naturaltrossachs.co.uk  Tel: 07917 674967   Web: www.naturaltrossachs.co.uk 

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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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Themed Short Breaks in a Country Hotel with views over Loch Earn

The Four Seasons Hotel, St Fillans on Loch Earn

 

 

Planning to get away for a well earned rest or do you prefer to be stimulated by themed activities on holiday.  Whatever your idea of a holiday break is, you dont have to travel out of the UK to try out these stimulating themed holiday breaks in Perthshire,  Scotland.  The Four Seasons, a luxury Hotel in St Fillans, Scotland, is offering something for everyone.  The country hotel sits in a picturesque village amongst mountains looking over Loch Earn.  Choose the hotel or its self catering accommodation and enjoy a short break with themes that include The  Beatles, whisky, valentines weekend, The Ryder Cup 2014,  a microlight experience and more.  Contact the Four Seasons Hotel St Fillans for prices and more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Breaks ,  Four Seasons Hotel,  St Fillans  2013

 

• As Time Goes By : Ruby wedding anniversary break.  DBB in Four Poster, 40 Red Roses, bottle of personalised Glenturret for arrival. Champagne Breakfast in your room and late check out.
• Beatles Break: Three  nights DDB staying a one of the two chalets the beatles stayed in in 1964 while playing in Dundee plus a copy of  ‘The Beatles in Scotland’ Book 
• Capture/Cook/Eat it:  Two night BB plus 1 nt Dinner with Venison main course  plus full day photography tuition, lunch on the  shooting day and all equipment
• Easter Break: 2 nights Dinner, Bed and Breakfast including Fizz on arrival 
• Gardens Break , three nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast including Garden Pass (11 gardens)
• Golf Breaks :9 Hole Ticket  Three Day DBB plus 3 day Perthshire Golf Ticket   OR Six Day DBB plus 5 day Perthshire Golf Ticket  18 Hole Ticket  Three Day DBB plus Three Round Green Card  6 Day DBB plus Five Round Green Card  
• Pet Butler  :Doggy Menu, Walking Service, Pet Sitting, Pooches Parlour.  Tailor- made to suit the pampered pet All year (or borrow Sham or Pagne). Pre booking required.
• Photography Break:  Four Days DBB, light packed lunch plus all tuition
• Romantic Break: Three nights DINNER, BED & BREAKFAST plus Champagne) All year       
• Ultimate Girlie: Dinner, Bed and Breakfast (chalet), plus clay pigeon shooting, Minimum 5 pax, boat ride and getaway & chocolate tasting.(Mini Bus hire £100 )
• Stag “do” :As Girlie Getaway, but max 8 pax, and Whisky tasting instead
• Walk on Wild Side: 1 night DBB plus White Water Rafting or Canyoning on/near Loch Tay. Adrenalin Break Can also have canoeing/kayaking in killin
• Walking Breaks : A three day break with hill walkers packed lunch, and D,B&B. 
• Warming Whisky:Two nights B&B, 1 night Dinner, comp dram digestif, Famous Grouse Tour Break – All year   
• Wine Tasting  1& 2 : Friday 8th March – and 15^th November 5 Course Dinner-  wines matched to each course Included.  
• Wine Tasting 3 :  Friday 29^th & Saturday 30^th November St Andrews Nights Whisky and Wine Gourmet
• Seize the day Breaks :  Gravity assisted downhill cycle trip - includes cycle hire and 17 mile cycle from Lawers Dam 1nt DBB, 1 nt BB   through Glen Lyon to Fortingall. 
• Micro light flying : includes 60 mins flying from Balado airfield, Kinross. 
• Gliding: includes a  beginners mini course introduction to gliding from Scotlandwell, Kinross -No Experience required
• Off Road Driving or Quads: includes an hour on each
• Ryder Cup Break 2014:   Four Day Break  to include 2 night DBB and 2 night BB 26^th Sept 2014         

 

 If an overnight stay with accommodation is simply not enough for you then contact The Four Seasons Hotel St Fillans 01764 685333 for more details of themed breaks and find out whats on in Perthshire and The Trossachs .

LETI Country Rich in Wildlife Spotting Opportunities, According to Leading Wildlife Author





Otter- copyright Frazer MacFarlane

Happy New Year.  

Did you know that this is "The Year of Natural Scotland 2013" ?  Yes, and The Loch Earn Tourism Initiative (LETI: accommodation, activities, events and retail service providers) is celebrating the country's incredible terrain and inhabitants along with Scotlands tourism community, Visit Scotland and Event Scotland.






Where should you begin to look for beautiful landscapes and fascinating wildlife?  The centre of Scotland is a great place to start.  LETI country is where Perthshire, Stirlingshire and The Trossachs meet at the gateway to The Highlands.  All roads North, South, East and West, lead to other attractions in Scotland. 

Have a look at www.robroycountry.com .  The area boasts landscapes that are as breathtaking and unspoilt today as they were when Queen Victoria, Sir Walter Scott, William and Dorothy Wordsworth visited and even long before Scottish tourism was popularised. The lochs, towering mountains and ancient forests set the scene.


We are not the only species attracted to such landscapes though. The habitat is absolutely perfect for an abundance of incredible creatures and birds bringing the area alive. The villages of Strathyre, Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and St Fillans (within The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park of Scotland) are shared with animals and birds that are regularly spotted by visitors, such as; golden eagle, sea eagle, red squirrel, ospreys, ptarmigan, salmon, otter, pine marten, deer and many more species, all year round. Each season we can enjoy different sightings.







Red Squirrel- copyright Frazer MacFarlane

Leading British wildlife author, Jim Crumley, lives locally.  He said: “This whole area has been at the heart of my own home territory as a nature writer for 30 years. It offers such a diversity of habitat – and therefore of wildlife – in such a compact area that I never tire of constant exploration of its mountains, low hills, native woodlands and plantation forests, wetland, and a remarkable diversity of lochs and rivers. I find that constantly re-working a familiar landscape is the best way to understand how nature works. It’s also true that the knowledge you gain of nature’s way of doing things is transferable to other landscapes, so that wherever I travel in Scotland and occasionally further afield, I carry my writer’s territory with me in my head. I know my native country pretty well, and it’s fair to say that whether you are a garden birdwatcher or mountain trekker or something in between, there is nowhere in Scotland that is richer in opportunities for getting close to nature than right here.”

If you would like to experience wildlife watching, similar to BBC Autumwatch and Springwatch, with hideouts and cameras focused on; pine martens, red squirrels, badgers etc, from the Strathyre Outdoor centre, then have a look at the services provided by Tony at Natural Trossachs 

 

Hidden Glen Safaris, offers an off-road jeep experience in Balquhidder. The tour combines nature watching with access to incredible scenery that is off the beaten track, with ancient stories of the Glen told on route.

 

Glenample Estates on the south side of Loch Earn attracts many overseas visitors who have been returning to enjoy the hospitality of LETI members for years. In addition to land management and improvement projects, like re populating black grouse, the estate manager offers a range of unique and tailor made wildlife experiences.

 

Whether you are an enthusiast or simply enjoy wildlife in the setting of your holiday, the LETI community of four villages in central Scotland is a perfect spot to base yourself.  Visit www.robroycountry.com for a choice of camping, caravans, bunkhouse, cabins, bed and breakfast, cottages, lodges, guest house, restaurant with rooms, hotels, luxury boutique hotel or email enquiries@robroycountry.com

Trossachs ©Frazer MacFarlane


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LOCH EARN TOURISM INITIATIVE (LETI) STRENGTHENS MARKETING TEAM

 

Neil's Seaplane  and The Lochearnhead Water Sports Centre
 by local photographer Alistair Barclay  © Alba Virtual Tours

The Loch Earn Tourism Initiative (LETI),  www.roboycountry.com   is preparing to launch a new marketing programme that hopes to rekindle love of romantic Scotland. The plan is to spark fresh interest in this idyllic part of Scotland and promote it as the natural destination for all year round short breaks and day trips within the UK. LETI members welcome their guests and visitors when the mountains are capped in snow and the fires are burning as well when the days are long.

As part of this plan LETI has appointed Shena Campbell (see Notes), who has many years of experience in delivering communications programmes for industry and trade body organisations.

 

LETI, which lies within Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, will focus initially on promoting the area and all it has to offer as a destination for short breaks within the UK. Known for its outstanding natural beauty with its mountains, lochs and forests, the area, also known as Rob Roy Country after the famous Highland hero Rob Roy MacGregor, includes the picturesque villages of Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, St Fillans and Strathyre.

LETI membership was established through an enthusiasm and appreciation for all this part of the country has to offer the visitor. The LETI communities have a reputation for the warm welcome and the wealth of activities that they offer visitors all year round in addition to the breathtaking landscape in this magical part of central Scotland.

Commenting on behalf of LETI members, Kim Proven said, “We are proud to live and work in such a natural and romantic setting where guests will experience local annual events and activities like water sports, golf, fishing, deer stalking, wildlife watching, fine dining and more adventurous pursuits including flying lessons by seaplane and Landrover safari tours.

There is also a wealth of Scottish history and folklore to uncover and plenty of opportunities to walk and climb at all levels.”

“Our plan is to attract new and repeat guests by re-awakening their senses to, and showing those who have never ventured here, the beauty, interest and diversity of what we have to offer. We believe that Shena Campbell’s skills and experience will be of great value to LETI in this process and we look forward to working with her.”
 

LETI: Shena Campbell is a PR professional and a former board director of Bell Pottinger with more than 20 years experience in advising organisations on their public relations and strategic communications. She has worked on a wide range of clients including Burns Stewart Distillers, The Beardmore Conference Hotel, the UK launch of easyJt, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Imes Group, 15 Royal Terrace Day Spa and Strathcarron Hospice.

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An Olympic Seafood Festival

Following the great success of its taster menu focusing on Scottish produce in winter and early spring Achary House Hotel in rural Perthshire is running a Seafood Taster night during the Olympics from July 27th to August 12th. The taster will be a six small courses, each featuring Scottish sea produce (even the dessert!). Langoustine Rates for two people are from £180 to £150, depending on the room booked. This includes the six course seafood taster menu and breakfast the following morning as well as an overnight stay. To book, call 0560 368 4252.

LETI: Alan and Jane Gibson are the proprietors of The Achray House Hotel in St Fillans Perthshire overlooking Loch Earn from the restaurant, bar and outdoor decking.  Check their website for information on accommodation, food and drink, short breaks and a choice of hotel or holiday lodge accommodation. 

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