Callander, Scotland

 Callander is a bustling tourist town situated on the River Teith, near Stirling, and is often described as the 'Gateway to the Highlands'. The pretty town of Callander lies South of the Highland Boundary Fault which is historically a meeting point between the Highlands and the Lowlands. The town is a popular holiday destination for tourists exploring the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park or stopping off en route to the Highlands. 

The beautiful town is packed with tearooms and souvenir shops, the ideal holiday destination for the whole family. There are also a number of walks in the area which are popular with tourists and locals alike. Some examples of these are the Bracklinn Falls and the River Keltie which have mesmerised people for generations, as well as the cycle tracks which follow the old Callander to Oban railway.

Orkney Islands & Balfour Castle, Scotland

"Scotland really is a spectacular country with so much history"

Susan Eisenhower

 So far, my blog posts have been about places I have visited personally, however today's post is taking a slightly different angle by exploring the beauty of the Orkney Islands. I am yet to experience this island but hope to this summer. 

One of the prime attractions of Orkney is the rich archaeological heritage. The beautiful beaches, greenery, cliffs and wildlife are equally important too. The Orkney Islands lie just north of Mainland Scotland and is made up of around 70 islands, 18 of which are inhabited by about 21,000 people.

For visitors coming to the Orkney Islands, there are a wealth of visitor attractions ranging from archaeological sites, local museums, the Highland Park Distillery and St Magnus Cathedral.  

Travelling to Orkney is easier than you'd think, from Central Scotland there are flights, ferries, and coaches available weekly. 

Commonwealth Games 2014, Glasgow

The 2014 Commonwealth Games were held in Glasgow, Scotland from 23rd July - 3rd August. It was the largest multi-sport event ever held in Scotland with around 4950 athletes from 71 different nations competing in 18 different sports!

Sports

Athletics 

Badminton

 Boxing

 Cycling

 Hockey 

Judo 

Netball 

Rugby 

Tennis 

Triathlon and more.

Brand Identity

The full games brand identity was developed by Glasgow design studio Tangent Graphic. The official logo was inspired by three factors: time, data, and measurement. The rings are proportioned to represent the 20th Commonwealth Games, across 17 sports, over 11 days in 1 city.

Impact of The Games on Glasgow

Being the host of the Commonwealth Games 2014 did not only bring people to Glasgow but also created jobs for the people of Scotland. Glasgow 2014 is believed to have cost more than £500m to stage and the finances needed to host future events was believed to be one of the issues. 

Was Glasgow Really A Big Success?

There has been speculation over the success of The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow which The Guardian have an article on here.

Edinburgh, Scotland

“This is a city of shifting light, of changing skies, of sudden vistas. A city so beautiful it breaks the heart again and again.” Alexander McCall Smith

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and is the seventh most populous city in the United Kingdom. Not only is Edinburgh home to the world’s largest art festival every year, but it is packed with things to do to keep the family busy all year round!

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the worlds largest arts festival which takes place for three weeks in August of every year. It allows thousands of performers to take to the stage throughout various locations within Edinburgh to present shows to suit every taste. The artists range from well known big names, to unknown artists hoping to build their career. The festival includes comedy, theatre, comedy, circus, dance, cabaret, musicals, opera, children’s shows, exhibitions and events which ensures there is something to suit the whole family!

In 2014 there were 49,497 performances in 299 venues which made it the largest ever arts festival in the world. However, it was back in 1947 that the Fringe story began. Eight theatre groups showed up, unexpectedly, to the Edinburgh International Festival, an initiative created to celebrate European cultural life. Even although these groups weren’t invited to perform, they went ahead anyway and staged their shows on the ‘Fringe of the Festival’ anyway which gave the event it’s name.

Find out more at: https://www.edfringe.com/

Edinburgh Castle

Over one thousand years of history sit on top of the famous Edinburgh Castle which attracts over one million visitors per year. No visit to Edinburgh is complete without a visit to Edinburgh Castle, and once you have ventured up to the highest parts of Edinburgh Castle’s structure, you will be overwhelmed by the spectacular views of Edinburgh afforded from this Scottish “Castle of Castles”.

Edinburgh Castle is every schoolboy’s dream of what a castle should look like and the Edinburgh Castle website endeavours to give the Edinburgh visitor an in-depth view of Edinburgh Castle and it’s history from early times right up until the present day.

Book your tickets today at http://www.edinburghcastle.biz/

The Dome

No visit to the capital is complete without dinner and cocktails in one of the most beautiful buildings Scotland has seen. Located at the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town, The Dome opened its doors in 1996 and has become established as a first choice venue for weddings, conferences, seminars, dinner and cocktails.

Tigerlily

Looking for somewhere to stay during your visit? Choose Tigerlily – Edinburgh’s most talked-about boutique hotel, bar and restaurant. With it’s stylish interior, mirrored walls and chandeliers lies 33 bedrooms that feature originality within the Georgian building. Also home to a buzzing bar and restaurant, open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. The infamous cocktail menu with over 150 mouth-watering concoctions blends beautifully with the vibrant night-life on a Friday and Saturday.

The Open, St. Andrews

"This summer's sports event that's open for business"

So I decided to take a different approach with this blog post after a recent Business article caught my eye! The Open at St. Andrews is a Golf Championship held yearly and attracts golfers and tourists from all over the world. However, this is also a great opportunity for business, read on to find out why! 

The Open helps cement business relationships like no other major sports event. For a start, time is on your side, with the sporting event and relaxed hospitality present throughout the day. This summer from 12 - 19 July, The Open is back in St. Andrews and sales of tickets and increasingly-accessible packages are at record levels with a number of options already sold out.

Next month, the grandstand contractors start their work transforming the golf course into an arena in which the worlds greatest golfers will compete. Three-time Champion Golfer of the Year Jack Nicklaus triumphed twice in the 'Auld Grey Toun' in 1970 and 1978. With a famous quote of his to be, "you need to be the champion at St. Andrews if you are a player that will be remembered." 

Jack Nicklaus

Newcomers to The Open will encounter a bandwagon of would-be corporate hospitality hosts but The Open Hospitality Programme is the only ticket and hospitality provider approved by The R&A. No other company can offer facilities within the historic boundaries of The Old Course or guarantee tickets.

The Open Hospitality Programme offers a wide range of corporate hospitality options from on-course private chalets through fine dining course perimeter hotel suites and bistro style catering in the popular Champions Club. Located next to the 16th fairway on the Old Course, The Champions Club is making it's first appearance in St. Andrews. It combines admission ticket, Spectator Village location, exclusive entertainment and all-day hospitality. Dining is informal so patrons are free to come and go as they please to relax and refuel throughout the day. 

Unique to St. Andrews is a range of hospitality options hotels that sit on the fairway edge, The Old Course Hotel as previously mentioned, and the MacDonald Rusacks Hotel next to the 18th hole. Hospitality packages range from £345pp in The Champions Club to £899pp in the Rocca Restaurant next to the 18th hole. 

Full details on hospitality options at the 144th Open can be found at TheOpen.com/Hospitality or call +44 (0) 844 381 0565

Loch Lomond & The Cameron House Hotel

Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch which crosses the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest inland stretch of water in Great Britain by surface area and contains many islands such as Inchmurrin, the largest freshwater island in the British Isles. There are so many activities to take part in at Loch Lomond, but my favourite is climbing Ben Lomond. 

Ben Lomond is a distinctive mountain situated on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond. The mountain is 974 metres (3,196 ft) and on a clear day it is visible from the higher grounds of Glasgow. Nearer the bottom of the mountain there are paths made by walkers in order to ease the initial walk up the mountain, then thereafter it can get difficult climbing but definitely worth the challenge! 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

The Cameron House Hotel

There really is no where better to stay in Loch Lomond than the Cameron House Hotel. Whether it be fine dining, loch cruises, championship standard golf, spa breaks or simply chilling out, Cameron House is the place for you. The hotel is known for its legendary hospitality, location and beautiful grounds. You certainly won't be disappointed!

The room tariffs per room per night are as followings all on a Bed & Breakfast basis:

Chambre Unique - £309

Classic Garden View Room - £279

Loch View Chambre Unique - £339

Junior Suite King Bed - £354

Contemporary Feature Room - £404

Luxury Loch View Whisky Suite - £669

Full hotel information can be found at http://www.qhotels.co.uk/our-locations/cameron-house/

Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland

Back in 1924 when the Gleneagles Hotel opened, it was described as 'a Riviera in the Highlands' and 'the eighth wonder of the world' and to this very day, this luxury hotel remains dedicated to excellence. The hotel was built by the Caledonian Railway Company, which is also just minutes away.  The hotel's golf course and luxurious surroundings meant that golf and grouse shooting had become a fixed part of high society's calendar.

Between 1982 and 1986, £11million was spent on renovating the hotel and every year since then the hotel has been awarded five red stars by the AA. In 2014, the hotel was redeveloped in preparation for hosting the 40th Ryder Cup Matches played on the Centenary Course.

Suites

There are 232 rooms in the hotel, as well as 26 luxury suites. Each room has it's very own individual design and layout, with all amenities of a five star resort. Guests have the option of a traditional or modern room. 

Room Tariffs per room per night are as follows (inc. breakfast):

Classic - £355

Large Sovereign - £405

Estate - £455

Estate Suite - £745

Whisky Suite - £900

Spirit Suite Tier 2 - £1,075

Spirit Suite Tier 1 -  £1,350

Blue Tower Suite - £1,815

Royal Lochnagar - £1,815

Dining

There are four restaurants within the hotel, set with the highest culinary standards, including Scotland's only two Michelin stars in Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles. There are also a fine selection of of elegant bars to choose from.

Activities

Guests staying at Gleneagles make the most of it's beautiful 850 acres. The three championship golf courses are among the very best in the world: 

The King's

The Queen's

The PGA Centenary

Other outdoor leisure pursuits include shooting, fishing, falconry, off-road driving, horse riding and swimming in The Club's two indoor pools.

Spa

The Spa at Gleneagles by ESPA, is a sparkling experience of treatments and healing waters, as well as ESPA Life, an innovative residential programme encompassing complementary and alternative medicine practices, lifestyle treatments and personal training.