Category Archives for "News"

0

Our Top 10 Cafés Around Gartmore

We’re spoilt for choice for great places to grab a cuppa and slice of something nice or a light lunch if you’re planning to venture out around Gartmore. Remember, we also have a restaurant here on site too! Here are our Top 10 cafés to try around Gartmore (no particular order really – they are all good!) … They are all great places to sit down and relax – whether you’re chilling out in the Scottish sunshine or warming up in the cooler months.

1. MacMillan’s Kitchen @ Ben View Garden Centre, Ward Toll

This lovely and welcoming café is found just 5 minutes from Gartmore, at the friendly Ben View Garden Centre. Enjoy sweeping views to the Trossachs as you tuck into some delicious, fresh, home-made fare – their gourmet burgers are legendary and you’ll be spoilt for choice with their delicious cakes and great coffee. The team there are super friendly and lovely – nothing is too much trouble. If you fancy something a bit more traditional, then try their yummy Cullen Skink – a flavour-packed fish stew/soup which you lap up with crusty bread… nommmm.
https://www.facebook.com/BenviewGarden/

2. The Wee Blether Tea Room, Kinlochard

Take a scenic 20-mins drive out to this hidden gem of a café – you head through Aberfoyle, then along the water’s edge of Loch Ard to picturesque Kinlochard where you’ll find the Wee Blether Tea Room – situated overlooking the loch, there’s an amazing array of sweet treats to tempt you, or for a hearty lunch try a jacket tattie, toastie or sandwich, or bowl of steaming hot soup. In the summer it’s pure delight to sit outside and drink in the views and tranquillity.  Walk or cycle-off those calories on one of the forest trails after, or gently doze off listening to the wind in the reeds surrounding the loch. Bliss.
https://www.weeblethertearoom.co.uk/

**UPDATE** Sadly the Wee Blether has now closed its doors. The drive out to Kinlochard is still well worth-while, and you can book for afternoon tea or just grab a coffee at nearby Forest Hills Hotel.

3. The Pier Café, Stronachlachar

A real favourite is this wee café at Stronachlachar Pier at the western end of Loch Katrine – well worth the winding, stunning drive to get here! You’re venturing into true Rob Roy country – wild and mysterious – with incredible vistas you’ll feel totally remote and then stumble upon this wonderful rest stop, with a panoramic glass conservatory overlooking the loch. Vegans will be very happy with the delicious cake choices on offer daily. The food is delicious and the staff are super friendly. The Pier Café is reached either by road (heading towards Aberfoyle then on via Kinlochard to Stronachlachar), or you can drive over the Duke’s Pass then take the steamer from the Loch Katrine Pier to Stronachlachar Pier, or from the Loch Katrine Pier take the breathtaking 14 mile lochside cycle path to the café (then either cycle or take the steamer back….). Check the steamer timetable at https://www.lochkatrine.com/cruises/book-a-cruise/
https://www.facebook.com/thepiercafestronachlachar/ 

4. The Coffee Kiln @ The Pottery Shop, Buchlyvie

Just over a 10 mins drive away you’ll come to the Stirling village of Buchlyvie, where you’ll find the Coffee Kiln and Pottery Shop, on the main street through the village. Filled with stunning ceramics, it’s the ideal cosy spot to stop off and grab a slice of cake and hot drink, whilst also being tempted by the surrounding shelves full of cups, saucers, and host of other delightful pottery on offer.  The pottery is created in the workshop just out the back (there’s a wee hatch you can peer through and that’s also where you purchase any goodies).
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1489481-d6364183-Reviews-Coffee_Kiln_at_The_Pottery_Shop-Buchlyvie_Scotland.html

5. The Woodhouse, Kippen

If you’re headed towards Stirling, this is a perfect pitstop, just off the A811 ( 20 mins drive from Gartmore) and close to Flanders Moss National Nature Reserve.  Their breakfast/brunches are outstanding – with Eggs Benedict choices to boggle the brain, and changing specials such as cheese soufflé and haggis toasties. What’s more, the farmshop is foodie heaven, with a huge array of goodies – from Scottish cheeses to artisan breads, fruit wines and even bottled beer from Kippen’s Fallen Brewery. With views of the majestic Gargunnock Hills, what’s not to love?
https://www.thewoodhousekippen.co.uk/

6. Brig o’ Turk Tea Room, Brig o’Turk

If you take the spectacular drive up over the Duke’s Pass (just past Aberfoyle) in half an hour you’ll come across this 1920s tea room, now run by Hungarian owners, resulting in a wonderful melange of Scottish and eastern European food.  Expect more than your usual café – dishes are beautifully presented and deliver in spades on taste. The pared-back and authentic interior is reminiscent of a traditional Scottish bothy. Highly recommended.
https://www.facebook.com/brigoturk.tearoom/

7. Three Sisters Bake, Killearn

Head south towards Glasgow and just a short diversion off the A81 you’ll find the pretty village of Killearn, and the delightful Three Sisters Bake Craft Café (15 mins drive).  Run by three sisters (and Glasgow gals), Nichola, Lindsey and Gillian, the café offers distant views to Loch Lomond and is a popular spot for a family lunch.  If you’ve a bit more time on your hands then the spectacular Afternoon Tea (book 48 hrs in advance) is a real treat.  Pick up a copy of their cookbook to drool over at home, where you can create a mess trying to replicate their delicious cakes and tarts.
https://www.threesistersbake.co.uk/killearn/

8. Liz MacGregor’s Coffee Shop, Aberfoyle

One of Aberfoyle’s long-established cafés, you can expect fabulous home-made cakes and scones as well as tasty hot food at Liz’s place.  It’s a popular spot with walkers and cyclists that flock to the ‘Gateway to the Trossachs’.  In fine weather grab a table on the pavement and watch the world go by. Just a 5 mins drive from Gartmore House.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Liz-MacGregors-Coffee-Shop/194838880542154

9. The Scottish Wool Centre, Aberfoyle

As well as offering a great shopping opportunity, The Scottish Wool Centre at Aberfoyle (5 mins drive) has a nice coffee shop to stop and ‘wet your whistle’. During the summer season you can also watch collie dogs herding Indian runner ducs through an obstacle course in the paddock! There are a variety of sheep on show in the surrounding paddocks too.
https://www.visitscotland.com/info/shopping/simply-the-best-destination-the-scottish-wool-centre-p845601

10. The Station, Aberfoyle

A relative new-comer to Aberfoyle, having opened in July 2019 (and a 5 mins drive away) and located in the old station, the interior offers a chilled, rustic vibe, or you can take a pew outside on the veranda.  Run by the  Fraser family, who also run the popular Oak Tree Inn and St Mocha Café at Balmaha, the Station Café is a welcome addition to the village.  Toasties, sausage and bacon rolls are washed down with mugs of freshly-ground coffee from their very own Loch Lomond Coffee Company. At the last glance, the cake cabinet boasted 5 types of vegan treats! Yum!
https://www.lochlomondcoffee.co.uk/st-mocha

The Black Bull Community Hub and Pub is also opening in September 2019 in the village – so you’ll be able to grab a coffee and slice of something nice there.
Do you have any recommendations of cafés to visit around Gartmore? Please let us know if so!

#gartmoreexperience

gartmorehouse.com | Tel: 01877 382991 | mail@gartmorehouse.com

 

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

0

Tutor Clare Workman talks about her new Millinery course 'Fabulous Fascinators'

0

Celebrating National Walking Month this May – Walking Resources and Top Tips

May is National Walking Month! Being situated in the midst of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, and surrounded by the Queen Elizabeth Forest , we’re lucky to have some amazing walking routes on our doorstep and even some famous national trails nearby. If you fancy joining a guided trip then Gartmore House offers Introduction to Hill Walking Holidays with expert local guide Gavin Clarke.
In celebration of all things hiking and walking, here are some great resources and top tips if you fancy a wander around these bonnie parts!
 
 
– A nice article by Countryfile talking about walks in our national park – Countryfile’s Best Walks in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs
– Walk Highlands – a huge array of walking routes are listed on this fantastic website, with details of start/end points, route notes, downloadable GPX tracks and even the route marked on online OS maps – here’s the link to the ever-popular Ben Lomond – Scotland’s most southerly Munro
– Ordnance Survey maps via the App – essential for safe hill walking. The App also has a lovely feature that allows you to point your phone or device at a certain vista and see all the mountains and features of the landscape named on your screen (such as towns/villages, lochs and lochans, hills and Munro’s)
– Ordnance Survey videos and leaflets – a handy blog linked to videos and downloadable leaflets which you should view if you need a refresher on map symbols, safety when hill walking, or advice on choosing the right scale map for you
– Iconic long distance National Trails the West Highland Way and the Rob Roy Way are within easy reach of Gartmore House – these are linear walks so if you have 2 cars you can easily dip in and out of part of the route, or give us a call and we can assist with arranging a taxi transfer back to your car to make your life easier!

– A lovely longer walk at picturesque Loch Katrine; drive to the pier (approx 30 mins from Gartmore House), then take the Sir Walter Scott Steamship out to Stronachlachar Pier and then walk the 13km along the loch-side back to your car (or walk to Stronachlachar and take the boat back) – make sure you check sailing schedules first. Both ends of the ferry have good cafes to replenish your energy with tea and cake!
And our TOP TIP if you do one hill walk in the area – make it Conic Hill – this is a popular and ‘short but stiff’ walk from the pretty village of Balmaha – you’ll be rewarded with some stunning views over Loch Lomond.
Happy Walking!
#gartmoreexperience
To book or enquire further please visit https://gartmorehouse.com/walking-holidays/ or call us on 01877 382991, or drop us a line mail@gartmorehouse.com
 

0

Student Feedback: A crafty little break at Gartmore House – intuitive felting with Ewa

0

Greenwood Spoon Carving Course – what you need to know – from tutor Steve Bretel

0

Outlander Film Locations in Scotland

In recent years Scotland has proven a popular location for lots of different films and TV series, most notably Outlander.  Some of Outlander’s film locations are very close to us here at Gartmore House – not more than half an hour away by car!  Visit Scotland has even created an interactive Outlander map so you can find your way around this ‘living film set’!
 
 
The Outlander locations closest to Gartmore are as follows:

• Loch Katrine (season 2) – this pretty loch is just a 25 mins drive away. You can cruise on the water, hire a bike or take a walk. There are a couple of good cafes where you can relax and enjoy the views. Day trips to Loch Katrine are included on all craft & activity holidays of 5 nights or more.
• Deanston Distillery (season 2) – one of our favourite local whisky distilleries, it’s just a 30 mins drive away.
• Doune Castle (season 1) – just 30 mins away,  Doune Castle turns into the fictional Castle Leoch – 18th century home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan. It also features in the 20th century episode when Claire and Frank visit the ruined castle on a day trip. Doune Castle is also used in Game of Thrones as ‘Winterfell’.

The interactive map features an incredible 36 Scottish Outlander film locations! You can even download a FREE OUTLANDER FILM LOCATIONS MAP from Visit Scotland’s website.
If you’d like to plan your visit to Gartmore House or book your craft and activity holiday, take a look at  gartmorehouse.com or just give us a call on 01877 382991, and we’ll be happy to help.

0

Your (included*) Loch Katrine Day Trip

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”3.20.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]Here at Gartmore House we’re lucky to have some truly stunning lochs on our doorstep.  Loch Katrine is one of Scotland’s hidden gems, and a visit there (with a one hour cruise on the water) is a real highlight of your holiday.  *We include a trip there in all craft and activity holidays of 5 nights or more. The trip is usually after lunch on Wednesdays (sometimes a packed lunch is included instead of a sit-down lunch in the restaurant – dependent on the time of the sailing that day).
You’ll sail on either the world-famous steamship Sir Walter Scott or the more modern MV Lady of the Lake. Both have indoor covered seating as well as outdoor seating, and hot drinks and snacks are available (at extra cost) on board. We include return transportation from Gartmore House (approx. 25 mins each way, by minibus), and the cruise itself is around an hour.  Find out more about the different vessels.
Loch Katrine has a fascinating history of supplying water to the people of Glasgow for over 160 years through a sytem of pipes and viaducts. It was opened by Queen Victoria in October 1859 and is still going strong!  Scottish Water (who are currently doing refurbishment work) have unearthed some amazing Victorian-era pictures. If you’ve ever visited Loch Katrine then you’ll no doubt be interested to take a look!   Watch the video about the recent discovery of these historic images on Scottish Water’s YouTube Channel.

Loch Katrine is also the setting for some of Sir Walter Scott’s most beloved poems, and is linked with legendary outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor.  Queen Victoria ordered a cottage and jetty be built for her on the loch, however she never stayed there as the windows were all shattered by the 21-gun salute to Her Royal Highness!
For further information about your cruise on Loch Katrine, visit Loch Katrine Cruises’ website, watch their video, or contact our friendly team in the Gartmore House office![/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

0

NEW for 2019! Art Cloth Doll Making Courses at Gartmore House

Art Cloth Doll Making is a new course for 2019 here at Gartmore House. Tutor Angela explains more about this fast-growing popular craft and how the 5-night course will pan out:
Hi! I’m excited about my first course next month at Gartmore and would like to introduce you to my art doll family.

When our class starts on Monday morning we will all have a chance to look at books, patterns and other artists’ work together – this is the really exciting bit. I’ll help each of you fine tune your own ideas into a manageable project, so that you have your own art doll by the end of the week.
Each day I will take you through the next step, demonstrating to the group and also individually as required. Don’t be embarrassed if it takes a couple of times before you quite “get it”. I will always be available for questions and will be checking in with everyone throughout the day. I am confident that even beginners can achieve a great result.
The list of techniques covered is long, but many are using skills with which you may already be familiar – drawing round pattern templates, basic sewing machine stitching, stuffing limbs, wiring fingers, ladder stitching openings, sewing button joints, needle sculpting faces, drawing, painting or stitching faces, making a basic doll’s wig, making clothes & shoes.
So it will be quite a busy few days. You may even choose to do “homework” (gasp!) – stuffing is laborious and takes time but can easily be done while chatting or watching TV.
I have used this workshop with 2nd year high school pupils, most of whom had never done any sewing, on machine or by hand. They had fantastic ideas which I helped them realise and they were all delighted with their finished dolls/puppets.
You can even work in pairs on one art doll if you like! Sharing out the tasks to suit. I’ve previously led a group containing 2 pairs of Mum’s & their 9 years olds – each pair making lovely dolls. The youngsters “drove” the sewing machines as if they were racing cars!!
This class is great fun and will provide plenty of laughs as the dolls begin to take on a character and life of their own, telling you how they want their hair and what clothes they want to wear! I’m looking forward to bringing doll making to Gartmore. See you soon!
Angela – Doll Making Course Tutor
Take a look at Angela’s Pinterest page for inspiration
If you’d like to join an Art Cloth Doll Making course at Gartmore House, visit our website or call us on 01877 382991 or email mail@gartmorehouse.com #gartmoreexperience

0

Q&A with Photography Tutor Ewan Barry

Edinburgh-based Photographer Ewan Barry runs our popular Photography courses here at Gartmore House. We grabbed him in between shoots for a few questions over a quick cuppa and piece of cake…

Q: Give us your top 3 take-away tips for great photos
A:
1. Get to know your equipment, whether it’s a phone or old school film camera – if you don’t know what the buttons do you won’t be in control of the way your image looks.
2. Regular practice – if you only get your camera out on the odd occasion, on holiday for example, the technical side of things will never become second nature.
3. Don’t try to fit everything into an image, try to remove as much as you can.
Q: What’s your favourite thing to shoot and why?
A: I don’t have a single favourite subject. I think variety keeps things interesting and there’s often crossover – I’ll learn something on one type of shoot that I can apply to another at a later date.
Q: Who is the course at Gartmore House aimed at?
A: Anyone who enjoys the outdoors and landscape photography in particular. I can help identify subject matter, help with composition and I offer technical advice along the way.
Q: What level/type of experience do most people on the course have?
A: Generally, I’d say beginners to intermediate level although more experienced photographers would still benefit from visiting the locations we use and enjoy the evening discussions we often have on the artistic side of things.
Q: What kind of cameras do most people bring/use on the course?
A: All kinds, but you’ll get more from the course as well as better photographs if your camera has manual control settings.
Q: What’s the best thing about learning photography in Scotland?
A: If the weather and/or light conditions aren’t inspiring you at any given time, you won’t have to wait long for it to change.
Find out more about photography courses at Gartmore House, or give us a call on 01877 382991.

0

Our Knitting & Crochet Breaks – Get the low-down from tutor Samira Hill

Knitting and Crochet breaks are one of the most popular crafting holidays here at Gartmore House.  Tutor Samira Hill explains a bit more about what you can expect from a rewarding escape to rural Scotland, where you’ll get to grips with knitting needles and crochet hooks:
Our retreats are the perfect choice for a relaxing, creative and inspiring holiday, based around your favourite hobby! Have you got a project that has been hiding in your bag for ages, but you can’t find the time to finish it? Have you a pattern that you would love to get on with, but need help with it? Or are you a complete beginner who would you like to learn something new?
If so, you’ll find a wide selection of knitting and crochet workshops available, and you’ll choose which of these to work on ahead of your break (see course info for example workshops).  During your time at Gartmore House you’ll be working on your chosen topic with me, Samira. The activities and workshops are designed to suit absolutely everyone, encompassing all abilities and levels of experience; there is no prior knowledge of a technique or topic required for those who would like to learn to knit, crochet, and learn Tunisian Crochet. For those with some experience in knitting, there are a lot of new techniques to explore, such as Brioche knitting, Entrelac knitting, Fair Isle, sock knitting, cables etc… For those with some knowledge of crochet, there are also some fun techniques to practice colour work stitches, texture stitches and crochet cables… As well as Tunisian Crochet!

I’ve designed each of the workshops so that by the end of your crafting holiday, you will have one or a few finished items to show off the new skills you have learnt. What’s more, you will have acquired a strong understanding of your new techniques, so that you can carry on exploring further on your own with confidence.
The workshops are suggestions only; I’m always on hand to help you with any topic or project that you would like to work on! The activity weeks are a great opportunity to relax, explore the peaceful surroundings of  Gartmore Estate, indulge in the delicious food on offer, and enjoy friendly and inspiring crafty chats by the fire… and naturally the simple pleasure of working with your hands – knitting and crocheting all day of course!