All Posts by Gartmore House

Happy National Thread The Needle Day

Today is National Thread The Needle Day which is the perfect excuse to get out the sewing machine.  Although today is a day for sewing and those who enjoy the craft, it also has another meaning. The term “threading the needle” generally means to find a path through two opposing views. Therefore, you can train your skill on Threading the Needle Day to find harmony and balance.
At Gartmore House, we believe that taking time out, in beautiful and relaxing surroundings, allows us to get our balance back.  Here are some reasons why we think sewing and ‘threading the needle’ is a fantastic hobby to enjoy.
Sewing is a great form of relaxation and mindfulness
Sometimes it’s important to switch off and spend some time doing something with your hands.  We all need a little time away from our screens and to do list.  Crafting with our hands is extremely therapeutic.
Sewing is uplifting
The bright and beautiful colours chosen for sewing items  such as blankets and quilts can have an uplifting effect.  This contributes towards feelings of happiness and confidence and provides a wonderful opportunity for sharing and socialising.
Sewing is not as hard as it looks
At Gartmore House we offer a number of sewing activity breaks and get to watch our guests progress from beginners to advanced.  With a little patience, anyone can sew, it’s just a case of learning the basics and then practising.
Sewing patterns is fun and good for our brain
The process of sewing patterns together is really good for our brain co-ordination.  They are also wonderful to look at and it is so satisfying to see progress.  Here at Gartmore, Gill, our professional sewing tutor looks after our guests during their sewing activity breaks and will teach you everything you need to know about sewing patterns and getting the right fit.
To book a sewing break at Gartmore House
Complete the online enquiry form
Call us on 01877 382 991
Email: mail@gartmorehouse.com

National Park Week – Why we love Loch Lomond and The Trossachs

This week marks the beginning of National Parks Week.  This is National Parks family’s annual celebration of everything that is unique and wonderful about our 15 National Parks across the UK.  Here in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park we are spoilt for choice in terms of stunning Scottish scenery.
There are many things to do in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, which is a hot pick destination for both tourists and Scottish locals from the likes of Glasgow and Edinburgh in pursuit of beautiful nature and outdoor activities. Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park was Scotland’s first national park, designated in 2002. Loch Lomond is the largest inland stretch of water in Great Britain by surface area, and the park contains 21 Munros, otherwise known as Scottish mountains, two forest parks, 22 lochs, and over 50 designated special nature conservation sites that are home to a variety of wildlife.
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park is a stunning spot to visit all year round.  If you love water related activities, campsites, and boat cruises, then Summer is a fantastic time to come.  The most popular time to visit is between April and October as there is warmer weather, longer daylight hours, and more attractions are open.
However, the national park is also magical in the winter and if you are seeking peace and tranquillity then this could be the perfect time to come.  We love to see the snow-covered landscape in the winter and of course, it is extremely comforting sitting by our open fire in Gartmore House and looking out over the views.
Wherever you spend this week, we hope you enjoy some wonderful views.
 
 

Why we love crafting

Crafting is something we are passionate about at Gartmore House.  Crafting comes in so many shapes and sizes. Some of our favourites here are knitting, sewing, felting, painting and lace-making.
Crafting offers many benefits.  Some of us enjoy the full focus concentration when we are learning something new or doing something tricky or messy.  This is a perfect opportunity to practise mindfulness.  There is also a lot of social crafting activites – such as knitting.  Here at Gartmore, we love bringing people together.
There are loads of fun crafting activites that you can do in the comfort of your home, perhaps to unwind over the weekend.  This can be perfect for all the family, why not get the kids involved in a mini project such as a smaller version of the work you are doing?
Crafting also gives us a sense of pride and achievement, and it is also a wonderful opportunity to make personal, handmade gifts for people.  In such a fast paced world, a handmade gift is a really special treat.  We can all take the easy way out and buy a gift card or a bottle of wine, but homemade gifts are extremely thoughtful and a one-of-a-kind present that friends and family are likely to treasure forever. Nothing beats an original gift you know no one else will have.
At Gartmore House, we offer a wide selection of arts and craft breaks, including Knitting and Crochet and Patchwork and Quilting.  Our activity breaks at Gartmore House are in a relaxed and comfortable setting. There is breath-taking scenery to enjoy looking out over The Trossachs National Park and cosy open fires to sit by.
For further information and to book view all our Craft Breaks.

Happy World Music Day from Gartmore House

Music is something we love to embrace here at Gartmore House and World Music Day is a fantastic celebration of music in all of its forms and the impact it has on so many of us.

Here are 5 reasons why we love music:

A sense of achievement

Learning to dance (we love ballroom, jazz and Latin American) or play pieces of music on a new instrument can be a challenging, yet extremely rewarding goal to have.

Mental Health

Music is very relaxing which is great for our mental and emotional health.  Studies show that music helps to boost our self-esteem and is useful for coping with stress and anxiety.

Creative thinking

Music plays a great role in encouraging us to think creatively and solve problems by thinking outside the box.  It also inspires us and opens up our mind to new ideas.

Social

Music is a fantastic way to socialise with others as it allows us to relax and have fun.  Music also allows each generation their own voice as it is constantly changing and always evolving. Music has the capacity to teach us things about our values and others, other cultures, other periods of history.  It always adds something special to a party.

Mood Booster

If you are feeling low, there are many wonderful songs that can give you a boost. Music is the soundtrack of life. In fact, researches have showed that listening to music will make you more active and help improve your concentration and memory.
Why not book a singing or dancing weekend at Gartmore House and lose yourself in the music!

Happy Festival of Learning Week from Gartmore House

Today marks the start of the Festival of Learning Week, which is a celebration of lifelong learning and an opportunity for everyone to get involved and have a go.  Whether you already have a passion to learn, are thinking about having a go at learning something new, or are involved in running learning activities, events and courses for others, you can be a part of the Festival of Learning.
There can be huge benefits to learning new things and it really is never too late – you may even find a new passion that really excites you or perhaps allows you to unwind.
Learning a new skill enables us to grow as a person and the process helps to develop our knowledge base.   Learning something new allows us access to new and different opportunities and they say life begins at the end of our comfort zone. Learning new things, no matter our age, is essential for staying up to date in an ever-changing world. If we stop learning things, we can stagnate and actually move backwards, in both our personal and professional lives.
At Gartmore House, we offer a number of exciting activity breaks, in stunning Scottish surroundings, which provide our guests with the chance to break their comfort zone and learn something new.  Learning a new skill is very important for our self-esteem. The process keeps our brain cells active and gives us feelings of pride and accomplishment.
Another thing we love about learning and setting new challenges  is the social aspect. Trying anything different – such as crafting, painting, music, photography and forms of movement such as walking up a mountain or cycling allows us to meet new people, some of whom will have similar interests and be interested in some of the same things.  We love to watch new friendships form, as our guests bond over learning a new skill.
Happy Festival of Learning Week from Gartmore House – what are you going to try out this week? If you are interested in booking an activity break at Gartmore House then you can complete the online enquiry form or call us on 01877 382 991
 
 
 

National Sewing Machine Day

Today is National Sewing Machine Day and there are so many benefits to this fantastic creation. A sewing machine allows us to make our own clothes, to repair worn, torn or unused clothes and perhaps to re-design old clothing.  Who doesn’t love to be a fashion trend setter?  Sewing is also a fantastic way to unwind and escape from the frantic pace of life as we know it.
In 1790, the English inventor Thomas Saint invented the very first sewing machine design, but he did not successfully advertise or market his invention.  This first machine was designed to be used on leather and canvas material.
By the year 1900, over 20 million sewing machines a year were being produced from factories all over the world. It is true to say that no single invention was as eagerly accepted by people in all four corners of the planet as the humble sewing machine.
At Gartmore House, we love to give our guests an understanding of sewing machines, which includes how to put a needle in, how to thread it properly and sort the bobbin. You’ll also be able to sew straight lines and curves, explore all the stitches on the machine and a variety of patterns.  Our sewing retreats are highly therapeutic and enjoyable, especially once you get into a rhymn with the craft.  The stunning views out across the Trossachs and Loch Lomond National park are an added bonus.
The sewing machine is more efficient to use than stitching with bare hands. A piece of clothing can be created within a few minutes with the use of sewing machine while it will consume more hours if you do it with your hands.
Sewing is also a fantastic form of mindfulness, which is becoming more and more popular as a self-help and coping strategy. Being concentrated on one thing alone and experiencing it with all our senses is a fantastic way to de stress and get away from our screens.
If you are interested in booking a relaxing sewing or crafting retreat at Gartmore House then you can complete the online enquiry form or call us on 01877 382 991
National Sewing Machine Day!

National Walking Month – Discover Scotland and Get Fit

May is National Walking Month, which came about to remind us of the benefits of walking and taking ourselves away from the screens and the ‘to do’ lists.  It is a way to encourage everyone to walk more, no matter what our level of fitness is. Continue reading

Happy International Dance Day – Why We Should Dance More

Happy International Dance Day, a celebration for anyone who loves to dance.  It is hard to believe how many places frown upon or outright ban the act of dancing.  We believe that life is for dancing and agree with Chicago teen Ren McCormack, who stood up for the medium of dance in the hard-hitting 1984 documentary Footloose.
Dance opens up the freedom of creativity. We express our emotions when we dance, which are feelings some people try to suppress. Ignoring our emotions is not healthy, but sometimes people do not feel comfortable sharing that part of themselves. Dance expresses emotions like joy, pain, nostalgia, and many more. Creatively, dance also allows people to interpret how the music makes them feel whether it is through choreography or the meaning of their dance.
Dancing encourages us to be brave when trying new things and to get out of that comfort zone, which can be very useful in the outside world.
At Gartmore House we embrace music as often as possible.   We offer a number of musical breaks such as our dancing weekend. Teresa Mcclymont from Dance Time Scotland offers our guests the chance to learn ballroom dancing, swing, country and modern Jazz.
Teresa has been a dance teacher from the age of 17. She has trained and competed around the world in Line-dancing and couple’s country dancing having lots of success at an advance level winning numerous titles, which include the Scottish and British Championship.
Music is the soundtrack of life and there is no doubt about it that it gives us a boost. Scientific studies show that music releases dopamine, the feel-good chemical in the brain.  Further research found that dopamine was up to 9% higher when volunteers listened to music that they enjoyed.  Dancing is great for the soul and of course it is also fantastic exercise.  Why not come and join us for some dancing at Gartmore House?
To make a reservation please BOOK ONLINE or contact our team:
T: 01877 382991 | E: mail@gartmorehouse.com