Briar Cottages Loch Earn Luxury and Pet Friendly Self Catering Holidays
>>Call Now<<
 07917 416 497
  • Welcome
    • Covid 19 updates 2021
    • About Fraser and Kim Proven
    • History and Heritage of Briar Cottage Lochearnhead
    • Kims Blog Stories around Briar Cottages Lochearnhead
  • Briar Steading
    • Floor Plan Briar Steading
  • Little Briar (Pets)
    • Little Briar Floor Plan
  • Book Cottages Contact
    • Booking terms
    • Directions to Briar Cottages Lochearnhead Scotland
    • Privacy Policy
  • See and Do
  • Eat and Drink around Loch Earn
  • In The News at Briar Cottages
  • Gallery of photos and videos Briar Cottages
  • Tourism Links
  • Reviews

Briar Cottages -A Busman's Holiday - Rest, Reflect, Reset

4/6/2020

0 Comments

 
Pieris at Briar Cottage
Pieris in bloom outside Briar Cottage
​We are both keeping well and hope that you are too. No-one saw this virus coming in spite of claims that it was inevitable!
Sunrise on Loch EarnSunrise on Loch Earn from the slipway
Amidst all of the pain and suffering there has to be hope. For some of us - not in the front line - our contribution has been to stay at home, out of harms way and to carry on with some kind of routine,  preparing for the future, as best we can. 

​We look out for each other as neighbours in a great community here in Lochearnhead and the surrounding villages. Our community newspaper The Villagers has even adapted to an on-line version to keep us all in touch. We have been maintaining and improving the grounds and cottages and I have been updating our local tourism group LETi,  on national tourism information as it unfolds. So, it's a busman's holiday for us this year, with no complaints.  

Easter cake and coffee at Briar Steading
Easter cake and coffee in National Trust thistle mugs
We are so grateful for local  refuse collection and  shopping deliveries. We currently enjoy vans delivering fish,  meat,  bakery,  fruit and veg. Gourlay and David Comrie butchers, The Handy Shop and Fish in Crieff.  We can order whisky smoked salmon and cheese from The Falls of Dochart Smokehouse in Killin and other deli products there like Glen Lyon coffee and sour dough bread from Wild Heart bakery in Comrie. In addition, supermarkets plus wine and spirit merchants will deliver. I hope that deliveries of exceptional local fresh produce will continue to be an option for our holiday guests after lock down.
Lewis lamb on a golden sunset over Loch Earn
Lewis the lamb, Golden sunset Loch Earn
Loch Earn's Achray House Hotel, has been offering a free and subsidised delivery service of hot meals for vulnerable locals with regular takeaway menus for others within a radius of about 6 local villages.  The takeaway and delivery service will be offered to local self catering guests after lockdown and before hotel restaurants are fully open again. 

We are appreciative of tourism associations like Visit Scotland, The Association of Self Catering Scotland, the Scottish Tourism Alliance and others like the Federation of Small Businesses, who have been working non stop to support our industry on employment and financial assistance guidelines. They are constantly in touch with the Scottish government, lobbying and sharing, ensuring that there will be a national approach to recovery, with cleaning protocols and other guidance.  Visit Scotland has helped by promoting and encouraging image sharing on social media and by informing the world about Scotland's rich experiences. Holidays to consider in safer times. For example, look at this YouTube video  Absence makes the heart grow fonder..
​
poppies in bloom at Briar Cottages
poppies popping
Bright pink rhododendron bush, Briar Cottage Loch Earnicture
vibrant rhododendrons
Picture
Wonderful wisteria
orange poppies lochearnhead
poppies
native bluebells at Briar Cottage at Loch Earn
bluebell season
new acer trees planted on the hill garden
new acer tree on the hill
​We are missing guest stories, personalities and pets as each garden  plant has bloomed and faded over the last 10 weeks. While we are delighted that the weather has enabled so much time out of doors, we are sorry that guests have missed out on one of the most consistent periods of weather in Lochearnhead for decades.    At least everyone has had good weather in the UK

We know that we are fortunate to live in a naturally beautiful landscape. This is the first time since opening in 2008 that we have taken the time to enjoy our grounds together for weeks on end.  I feel as though a pause button has been pushed on life.  A good time to rest, reflect and reset.  
Mary Berry recipe banana loaf
banana loaf using Mary Berry recipe
view of Loch Earn from Normans View at Briar Cottagesure
Norman's View
Fraser Proven relaxing at Norman's View Lochearnhead
Upgrading at Norman's View
Kim Proven birthday drinks at Norman's View of Loch Earn
Birthday toast
There have been some novelty moments for me like scone and banana bread baking plus his and hers hair cut creations. 

I enjoyed my birthday in May in spite of not seeing family and friends. I made my own coffee and walnut cake (good effort but not a patch on my mum's).  Fraser had us putting on the lawn ( he beat me with 2 holes in one, though revenge has been taken recently)  We popped fizz up at our recently landscaped Norman's View by the stream and ordered a takeaway 3 course dinner from the Achray House Hotel in St Fillans.  Fraser set the table up outside Briar Steading to ensure a great view over Loch Earn to the hills. He placed garden cut flowers on the table and played Ella Fitzgerald ballads on YouTube, courtesy of his mobile phone and the cottage WiFi.  Family presents arrived in the post including a decadent double layer Signature Collection of  Cocoa Mountain  chocolates that are made in Scotland.  What a treat. Glad there were 2 tiers. One each! I also received a delicious selection of Arran Cheeses,  Perthshire oatcakes and Scottish chutneys amongst other gifts.   A memorable foodie birthday and a party for 2.
​
Outdoor furniture black and white makeover at Briar Steadingicture
Furniture makeover
Lions and bench repainted at Briar Steading
Paint upgrade
OspreyOsprey

We've been busy painting outdoor furniture, landscaping the stream that runs the length of the garden, trimming hedges and more. 

Our Nature Watch Loch Earn events had to be cancelled. They were due to take place in March and July with local experts from Aquila Ecology in St Fillans. This was to be our contribution to Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 with Visit Scotland badges and hand out bags at the ready.  We hope to offer this some time in the future and who knows,  the September event might still be on the cards. ​

​In the mean time we have been surrounded by regular garden birds and birdsong including a woodpecker and cuckoo, 24 Canadian goslings and 4 ducklings!  The ospreys are practically a daily sight fishing for trout.  

Ducklings swim near Briar Cottages Loch Earn
Ducklings
Fraser cutting the grass for putting, Loch Earn
Fraser cutting the putting green
,
Self catering should be one of the safer options for holiday accommodation after lockdown if we are vigilant and guests are careful.  Lochearnhead and local villagers have remained locked own and trouble free from the beginning, so we can understand why they want the area to remain safe.  We don't know what the protocols will be.  Maybe use of masks in shops will be prudent to make locals and guests feel safer when outside of Briar Cottages three acre gardens. 

Regular guests know how clean our cottages are.  Liquid hand and washing soaps have always been included at Briar Cottages along with a range of cleaning materials to assist.  Countless articles explain why soap is best for Covid 19.  Nevertheless, we will check everything against the national cleaning protocols once they are approved by the Scottish government and shared to enable consistent national health and  safety standards.   

We have accepted people hopping over our garden fence to photograph Stan the Stag and our BLiSS trail thistle sculptures even though they are visible from the roadside. This will have to change now. The time has come to put up "Guest Only" signs so that the loch garden space remains exclusive to cottage guests, our  family and friends. Some minor changes like this will be sensible and necessary.  

Rear grass cut in lines as seen from Briar Cottages entrance, Lochearnhead
Rear lawn freshly cut,
We don't know when we will be open again, however we will follow guidelines and think everything through.  We are honouring all guest holidays that were booked direct with us and that were cancelled by the government from 23rd March,  whether this year or next year. No one is at fault. We did not cancel guests and they did not cancel their holidays.

I am disappointed to hear so many tales of insurance companies that have not helped guests or businesses though. I would still encourage people to take out insurance for any travel ( even home travel) though wonder if they will still choose to make Covid  19 and any new unknown epidemics exempt in future.  A regular guest made a claim to recover loss of their holiday around Easter. It took weeks for them to get a response. It was like jumping through ridiculous hoops. They were rejected but asked to produce even more information if they persisted, with no guarantee of any assistance. How unhelpful. I suggested to the guest that they should not waste further precious time. We immediately guaranteed to re-book their holiday for the same time next year and are flexible if they want to change the date once we know that we can start up again.  And there will be no price increase if it turns out to be next year.  So,  we lose half the value of the booking while still paying to maintain the cottage.  That is so much better than losing valued guests and does not begin to compare with what many people have lost during this epidemic.  

​We look forward to welcoming many guests back and meeting new people in the future. We just don't know when...yet. Phase 3...ish. Whatever that actually means.  So, in the mean time we will continue to make the most of our time together on this safe busman's holiday, while our hearts go out to key workers and those that have suffered pain and loss and our very best wishes go to guests past and future.  ​
Rainbow on Loch Earn from Briar Cottages
0 Comments

5 Fringe Benefits of Winning a Scottish Thistle Award

17/7/2018

0 Comments

 
PictureKim receiving the Scottish Thistle Award for LETi's BLiSS trail -"Innovation in tourism" drawing by Jo Adamson

​You  would think that representing your local tourism group - Loch Earn Tourism Information (LETi) - to pick up the groups Scottish Thistle Award for BLiSS trail "Innovation in Tourism"  would be honour enough!  It absolutely feels like the ultimate reward in the tourism industry.  Nevertheless, the rewards just kept coming in.  
​​

Fraser with Thistle The Fishers Laundry mascot
Fraser and Fishers Laundry "Thistle" #Thistles25
 ​
Fringe Benefit 1
- First of all,  during the night of the rewards ceremony in March 2018, the headline sponsor,  Fishers Laundry,  gave everyone a mascot dog in a box.

The dog was called  Thistle ( okay we worked out that he was a green facecloth with sunglasses and personality.)

This is a photo of Fraser sharing his wine with Thistle who had sneaked into his top pocket at the EICC for a better view of the stage acts.

Fringe Benefit 2:  Fishers Laundry group encouraged us to take selfies with Thistle,  to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Thistle Awards this year #thistles25.

We were asked to post them on social media during a four week period,  after the awards event. The winning photo on Twitter, chosen in April, was by Rona Burstow. Rona tweeted a lovely selfie with Thistle at Eileen Donan Castle.  A worthy winner, Rona won a £300 voucher for the Principle Hotel in Edinburgh. 
Kim Proven with thistles #BLiSStrailThistle heads galore
​
Imagine my surprise then, when two enormous parcels landed on my doorstep with a message from Fishers Laundry saying that they were impressed with the creativity of my photo entry.  My runner up prize was  two of the biggest,  heaviest, whitest, quality, fluffy dressing gowns I have ever seen.  

In my photo you see A.Thistle Dog,    B. The two headed thistle of BLiSS trail sculpture "Blawn Wi The Wind" by Kev Paxton, which stands proudly in Briar Cottages garden ( we bought it for our 25th wedding anniversary celebration)  C.The Thistle Award trophy.  D. My hair! ...lets face it,  my hair looked like a thistle top that day with a filtered purple tinge completing the look. 

My question on Twitter was "How many Thistle's can you see?  The answer should really have been "one" as the dog's name is spelled with a capital T.  A huge thanks to Fishers Laundry for going one step further in the fun that they invest at the Scottish Thistle Awards. Very much appreciated.

Fishers Laundry dressing gown prize for Kim Proven
Fishers Laundry luxury dressing gown
Fishers Laundry truck photo both with Kim and Fraser Proven
Kim and Fraser posing in Fishers Laundry truck
Is that the Fringe Benefit story over?? No! 

International Fringe Benefit 3.  Fraser and I decided to take a break and visit friends in Valencia in May, following the tragic, shocking and untimely death of Fraser's 48 year old son Andy, who we miss every day. 

​
We booked into the Ayre Hotel Astoria Palace in Valencia which turned out to be in a perfect, central location, near the incredible food market and old town. We gave our business card to the receptionist to save reading out our contact details.  We then checked in before going out to explore. Can you imagine our surprise when we opened the bedroom door on return to find a dish of sugar banana jelly sweeties and the following message from the hotel reception team with a beautiful photo.

​ "Dear Kim and Fraser,  its a huge honour to accommodate the winners of... 
​
Gift gesture from reception Ayre Astoria Pa;lace Hotel
Lovely gesture from reception team Ayre Astoria Palace Hotel -Valencia

​A lovely touch and example of "above and beyond" service where the reception team recognised and applauded the significance of our team Scottish Thistle Award,  thinking on their feet to provide a unique welcome.   
  
Fringe Benefit 4 I also received many letters on behalf of LETi from tourism partners and politicians as reported in my last blog. 

Then LETI was awarded Fringe Benefit 5. The opportunity to work with Geotourist in collaboration with VisitScotland.

Geotourist were the sponsors of the "Innovation in Tourism" category at the Thistle Award regional and national finals. They are world audio tour enablers via Smartphone technology.  How perfect for BLiSS trail! You can now follow a map and listen to fab stories about the artworks on your apple or android phone as you tour. 

It has been a great pleasure to work with Lindsey Wilson from Geotourist over the last few months. My task was writing a script outline for each installation, recruiting and working with the storytellers and getting 23 recordings over to Lindsey along with photographs and their GPS locations. Lindsey used the information to set up the Geotourist website page for BLiSS trail, ensuring that the recordings would be audible at each location with a smartphone. Lindsey is one of the most positive people I have ever worked with.

Then we both worked with Visit Scotland on the official news story.

Artists, locals, school and university students, Sustrans Scotland and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park all collaborated on reading various stories and facts to complement the installations on the trail along with yours truly. I represent Stan The Stag at Briar Cottage and Drover's Bho in Strathyre and... shhh top secret...  I am the voice of the MHOR coo. A fun coo! A pun coo! You have been warned, listen! https://geotourist.com/tours/2040/points/7058

​The audio tour was launched last week and has already attracted 880 visitors to date, with around 100 new people discovering it daily. Have you looked and listened to it yet? Check out the website here https://geotourist.com/tours/2040 

​VisitScotland went on to release the news story from their media centre on July 14th  NB: Full story here A Touch Of BLiSS  

So, I would encourage others to take part in the Scottish Thistle Awards. The discipline of reviewing your goals and achievements is rewarding enough. A trophy at this event nicknamed "The tourism Oscars" is definitely worth trying for,  though the fringe benefits of recognition, gifts and a bonus business opportunity can make you and your team feel like Hollywood Stars.  

None of it has gone to our heads though. Its Briar Cottage and LETi business as usual for me,  with extra adrenaline oomph from the feel good factor of the Scottish Thistle Awards win to spur me on. 

We are in the midst of launching the new Geotourist BliSS trail audio tour and will be announcing our first international artist on the BLiSS trail in conjunction with a new partner soon. 

That should give us enough material to enter the 2019 Thistle Awards when they open next June.  Best of luck to everyone who has entered this year though....missing it already.

This weekend is the Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathyre Highland Games in the Games Field opposite the Lochearnhead Village Hall - 21st July 12.30. 

​McLarens,  MacGregors and other local clans will gather for what is one of the best wee Highland Games in Scotland.  Guests from both of our cottages will be there as will Fraser and I.  Hope to see some of you too.

Let the BLS Highland Games begin where the Scottish Thistle Award fringe benefits end...for now!  Slàinte mhath! #ScotlandIsNow
BLS Highland Games march of the committee
President Angus Cameron on The March of The Committee - Highland Games Lochearnhead
0 Comments

Loch Earn Tourism Scottish National Award For BLiSS trail Innovation

25/3/2018

1 Comment

 
PictureFraser and LETi Chair Kim Proven with trophy sponsor's from GeoTourist, picking up the Scottish Thistle Award for Innovation In Tourism - BLiSS trail. Photo by Chris Watt

If you think we were excited picking up the regional Scottish Thistle Award trophy for BLiSS trail in 2017, imagine our shock and delight when Visit Scotland announced our local tourism group as the Scottish national winner in March 2018 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre!
KimProven with LETi trophy #Thistles25
Kim Proven Chair of Loch Earn Tourism Information (LETi) at the Scottish Thistle Awards
LETi (Loch Earn Tourism Information representing Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Strathyre and St Fillans tourism businesses) was crowned winner of the "Innovation In Tourism" category in the National grand final of the Visit Scotland, Scottish Thistle Awards.  The trophy was presented by the couple in the photo above, representing sponsors Geotourist.

The Scottish Thistle Award finals are referred to in the industry as the "Tourism Oscars".  I am delighted that our four village tourism business group was able to compete on the big stage with larger companies and organisations who have healthy marketing budgets and dedicated experts working full time. We represented Central (and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park) and emerged as winners amongst entrants from Fife, Tayside. Lothians, Borders, West, Highlands and Islands, Aberdeen City,  and Aberdeenshire. 
Picture
Ewen Westies of Craggan by Kev Paxton, Craggan Rd, St Angus Church Lochearnhead
Drover's Bho
Drover's Bho by Kev Paxton, with Strathyre Primary School children on Sustrans NCR7, Strathyre
The LETi group delivered three new sculptures to the Scottish regional and now, national award winning BLiSS trail during 2017 Year of History Heritage and Archaeology ( #HHA2017 ) - while securing the fun roadside art and architectural trail as a permanent attraction all year round. 

​Two of the sculptures 
Drover's Bho and Ewen Westies of Craggan were made by TV personality artist blacksmith Kev Paxton paid for with a Sustrans Scotland ArtRoots grant.

The sculptures mark the entrance to National Cycle Route 7 in Strathyre and Lochearnhead and it is possible to cycle from one to the other passing the BLiSS trail "Cockerel" Mile Marker by Iain McColl, on route. 

​Drover's Bho is a steel cow sculpture acknowledging the hard working drovers who gathered in Strathyre on their way to the Falkirk Tryst.

"Ewen Westies of Craggan" is named after a local tourism hero - Ewen Cameron OBE - who kick started water sports on Loch Earn in 1955, revived the BLS Highland games in Lochearnhead and so much more. The west highland terrier dog sculpture also marks Sustrans Cycle Route 7 from the grounds of St Angus Church in the Craggan Road where they were once bred by the honorable Torfreda Rollo (sister of Lady MacGregor of MacGregor) in Lochearnhead.

The Three Sisters sculpture Lochearnhead
The Three Sisters by Perth College UHI students
Miami and Shayna, The Three Si
Artists Miami and Shayna
The Three Sisters sculpture Loch Earn
The Three Sisters, Lochearnhead
The third sculpture to be added as a permanent attraction in #HHA2017 is The Three Sisters by Perth College UHI art students; Miami Mohsin, Shayna MacLean and Amy Butler.  A larger than life steel fishing rod can be seen at Lochside Cottages jetty in Lochearnhead, with three fish hanging from it.  The fish were crafted using clan tartans, MacGregor, McLaren and Cameron of Lochiel as well as professionally turned wooden heads, fins and tails with Celtic Carving. You can see the current list of 23 installation in the BLiSS trail slide show and follow the trail on the BLiSS trail art map

LETi finished the themed year by launching the BLiSS history map full of interesting facts surrounding the four villages in its constitution
​
PictureFraser + Kim Collect the LETi trophy for BLiSS trail
This year marked 25 years of the Scottish Thistle Awards for Tourism achievements #Thistles25. The evening was fantastic.  Expertly hosted by ex Miss Scotland and STV host Jennifer Reoch alongside Still Game and River City star and funny man Sanjeev Singh Kohli.  

Lovely singer and BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2018 Hannah Rarity kick started the entertainment. Ventriloquist and comedian Paul Zerdin, winner of America’s Got Talent 2015 was brilliant with his suitably cheeky co-star puppet pal. 
Paul Zerdin Ventriloquist
Paul Zerdin Ventriloquist
Fraser and Kim Proven at the Scottish Thistle Awards
Fraser and Kim at the Visit Scotland #Thistles25 + sponsors photobooth for winners - photo copyright Chris Watt Photography
Scottish Thistle Award for Innovation In Tourism
Innovation In Tourism
Kim with the LETi trophy for InnovationLETi Chair Kim with the Innovation trophy

​ 

Loch Earn Tourism Inforamtion Trophy #Thistles25
Geotourist Innovation In Tourism #Thistles25
Picture
Fun on the Fishers Laundry Truck
The Scottish Thistle Awards main sponsor was full of fun. We had photos taken in the Fishers Laundry Truck photo booth. The laundry company also gifted all tables with "Thistle" a green dog with ears, sunglasses and a purple tartan bow. (Don't tell Thistle he's really a facecloth!)  They challenged us with a Twitter competition to take a selfie with Thistle.  Fraser and I have put in the following entries if you want to RT @Briarcottages ​
Kim Proven with Thistle the Fishers Laundry Mascot
How many "Thistle" heads can you see? #Thsitles25 @FishersLaundry
Picture
Coo-l Coo's News Thistle @FishersLaundry with Fraser @BriarCottages and Brunas the @CrazyColor coo
We could not have shared a flavour of the awards without the assistance of the official photographer Chris Watt  He quietly worked the room to record the event on behalf of Visit Scotland. Have a look at Chris Watt Photography, his commissions, portfolio, awards, accolades and achievements. Simply Amaaaazing and he is charming too.
Innivatin In Tourism trophy for LETi
Sanjeev Kohli, Kim + Fraser Proven, Geotourist team and Jennifer Reoch - photo copyright Chris Watt
Picture
Kim and Fraser photo c Chris Watt Photography
We won!!! Scottish Thistle Awards 2017/2018 copyright Chris Watt
Have a read at this lovely letter from Malcolm Roughead OBE, Chief Executive of Visit Scotland.  
Picture

...and another letter of congratulations from Fiona Hyslop MSP -Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs
Letter from Cabinet minister for Tourism -Fiona Hyslop
Another lovely letter, this time from Roseanna Cunningham MSP
Letter of congratulations from Roseanna Cunningham MSP
Finally, have a look at this delightful drawing of me and the Scottish Thistle Award Trophy by "JoSunshineArt". Jo is a visually impaired artist who records moments in history as they happen in Scotland and sometimes further afield. She is constantly drawing people, animals, nature buildings and events from every day life around her in Glasgow and in the the news. Jo draws in bright colours on a large A1 scale. She always manages to create lovely compositions with warmth, playful characters and plenty of #ScotSpirit humour.  Jo can not actually see! All she sees is a misty blur in one eye. Find out more about Jo on Twitter @JoSunshineArt or read this about the wonderful Jo Adamson.
Picture
Kim with the Scottish Thistle Awards Trophy, by Jo Adamson
​ 
​LETi is now working on 
Year of Young People 2018 promotions
Picture
1 Comment

Winning Night At The Regional Scottish Thistle Awards with Kim and Fraser on behalf of Loch Earn Tourism Information Group (LETi)

27/11/2017

0 Comments

 
Kim with rep trophy sponsor GeoTourist and STV presenter Jennifer Reoch
Kim picks up trophy from Sponsor Geo Tourist beside presenter Jennifer Reoch of STV
Picture

​Long time no blog!  I know.

Being Chair of the Loch  Earn Tourism Information group for Lochearnhead, St Fillans, Balquhidder and Strathyre villages means that I am doing PR and social media work on www.robroycountry.com and Twitter for @robroycountry as well as planning strategies. And that's just for fun. My day job is running Briar Cottages business including all cleaning services and check-ins while Fraser tackles the three acre gardens. 

​It's all a labour of love and we never take the exceptional views that we wake up to for granted. We are proud to share Briar Cottages and gardens with visiting guests.

I am also passionate about sharing; whats on, things to do, where to eat and drink and more. It means that I need to keep up to date on everything that is going on like,  winter events , Hogmanay parties, Christmas markets plus the opening of a new local shop MHOR in Store,  coming to Kingshouse near Mhor84 on 9th December 2017. Fraser loves to chat to passers by who take an interest in the gardens and BLiSS trail sculptures on display. 

In addition to our "Blawn Wi The Wind" thistles and  Stan The Stag (whose photo was on The One Show this month) there is a Pop up art installation by Kev Paxton called Brunas.  Brunas is a CrazyColor pink coo.  Let me explain.  Renato Brunas invented Crazy Color hair dye. It is described as "hair colour for the fearless".  Bold pinks, purples,  and rainbow colours.  Renato Brunas had a hairdressing shop in Mayfair, London called "Brunas".  He sadly passed away in 2014, so when the Renfrew Scotland based Crazy Color team were planning a hair show in London, they recruited Kev Paxton to style one of his metal cows with a pink and purple Crazy Color ombre hairstyle. Brunas is currently taking the air in our garden after his recent modelling event. He is on holiday on The regional Thistle Award  winning BLiSS trail, for the winter.  Come and see him!

Brunas the CrazyColor pink coo by Kev Paxton watching the Loch Earn Sunrise at Briar Cottage -photo by Dave Maurray
Brunas CrazyColour Pink Coo at sunrise
Brunas by Kev Paxton at Briar Cottages #BLiSStrail Lochearnhead
Bruna loves Loch Earn
Please enjoy the picture blog of our wonderful celebrations of LETi's award for Innovation In Tourism - #BLiSStrail 2017.

The Visit Scotland regional awards event for Central, Tayside and Fife, was held in the incredible stables building at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh. The food was exquisite. How they produce such quality for hundreds of diners, I will never know. The service team were charming too.  A special thanks to Amitt who served table 23 for the LETi support team. 
Fraser and Kim Proven at regional Scottish Thistle Awards Prestonfield House Edinburgh
Fraser + Kim at Prestonfield House Hotel Edinburgh, Reg Thistle Awards
Thistle Award trophy sponsoreg by GeoTourist travel App
Innovation In Tourism Award for LETi
Kim Proven with winners certificate BLiSS trail 2017 -Innovation in Tourism Regional ThistleAward
Winners certificate for BLiSS trail 2017
Kim Proven with Tom and Lisa Lewis of Monachyle Mhor who won Best Festival 2017 for MHORFest
Kim with Tom and Lisa Lewis - winners for MHORFest 2017
Kim Proven with Martin Breslin, regional partnerships executive Visit Scotland
Kim with Martin Breslin - Visit Scotland Regional Partnerships Exec.
Kim Proven with Venachar Lochside joint director Meghan Haste -winner Best Informal  Eating
Kim with Meghan Haste, Director of Venachar Lochside - Winners for Best Informal Eating
Kim with sister Gilliam Donald from Hixons Business Enablers
Kim with sis Gill Donald - Hixons Business Enablers Bournemouth
LETi supportes at the Regional Scottish Thistle Awards Edinbrugh
Fraser with LETi member supporters Jane, Alex, Graham, Sue,Liz and Martin
LETi and BLS Highland Games supporters, Thistle Awards regional finals Prestonfield House
LETi and BLS Highland Games supporters from Lochearnhead
Alex Gargolinski secretary of the BLS Highland Games and LETi Lochearnhead supporters at Visit Scotland Regional Thistle Awards, November 23 2017
Alex Gargolinski, Secretary of the BLS Highland Games and LETi supporters from Lochearnhead
LETi  chair Kim Proven holds the regional Thistle Award Trophy for Innovation in Tourism -BLiSS trail 2017
Proud Chair of LETi with reg Thistle Award, Dartington Crystal Trophy for innovation In Tourism, sponsored by GeoTourist Travel App
Picture
Time to celebrate! Kim receives a bottle of Prestonfield House Champagne from Tom Lewis, neighbour, friend, LETi member, fellow award winner and gentleman
Finally,  I was very honoured to be nominated by Gordon Watson of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park in the Regional Tourism Ambassador category for services to tourism over and above my day job.  I made it to the top three and was delighted to receive this finalist certificate as joint runner up.
Picture

0 Comments

Its Amazing Who You Meet on Social Media! - Creativity links with Kev, Cat, Lynne, Dave, Jo and Matilda

12/6/2017

0 Comments

 
I have collaborated with some gifted, creative, fun loving people thanks to social media and am amazed at the links amongst the following people and a tandem bike!​​

Sculptor Kev Paxton

PictureKev and Bill The Bill
I discovered metal artist talent Kev Paxton of ArtFe Blacksmiths, on Facebook.

I was researching outdoor installation artists for The Loch Earn Tourism Information group (LETi) and recognised one of his sculptures "Bill The Bull" from an article that I had read in the Scottish Field Magazine.

 I contacted Kev for advice initially, however, our mutual enthusiasm for "art that makes you smile" resulted in Kev becoming a key exhibitor in the BLiSS trail - a roadside art trail that links the villages of Balquhidder, Lochearnhead Strathyre and St Fillans via Sustrans Cycle Route 7 and the A84 and A85.

Kev and I were both interviewed for STV news at six at the launch of #BLiSStrail.
​
The art and architectural installation trail earned our tourism group a Visit Scotland regional Scottish Thistle Award for "Working Together for Tourism".  I was extremely proud to pick up the trophy as Chair of LETi and delighted that Fraser and representatives of the BLS Highland Games were by my side to enjoy the moment.

​Bill The Bull enjoyed a scenic position outside The Lochearnhead Hotel during 2016 #BLiSStrail,  as per the photo below by ​Dave Murray 

Regional Thistle Award trophy received by Kim Proven Chair of Loch Earn Tourism Information group
Chair of LETi picks up regional Scottish Thistle Award for
Picture
Bill The Bull at the Lochearnhead Hotel 2016 #BLiSStrail

​Charity Founder Lynne McNicoll OBE

Lynne McNicoll OBE at The Ripple RetreatLynne McNicoll OBE
Then, Kev  introduced me to Lynne McNicoll OBE @ItsGood2Give.

Kev and ArtFe partner Cat, are ambassadors for the "Its Good 2 Give" charity that Lynne founded.

Kev had organised for his sculpture Bill The Bull to be painted in bright colours by children in return for donations that he forwarded to Lynne's charity and her ambitious Ripple Retreat building project.

The building is now complete and you can read this exceptional story of fundraising, collaboration, generosity, hard work and belief in the news.

​I think Lynne has surpassed her vision of a tranquil building offering space where young cancer patients can enjoy exclusive time with their families. The 3 bedroom retreat offers beautiful things to see, hear, read, play and do. It boasts a great line of Patrons now including Lorraine Kelly who opened the retreat.

Ripple Retreat Loch Venachar - Its Good 2 Give
The Ripple Retreat Loch Venachar
PictureRipple Retreat Ambassadors accept community cheque. Photo by Dave Murray in front of Blawn Wi The Wind sculpturei
Our local community helped to raise funds for the retreat through marathon sponsorship, tin collections and the Lochearnhead Married V Singles annual charity football game held the day after the Highland Games in Lochearnhead.

That's me on the left next to Cat (Catherine Stops) who is accepting our community cheque for Its Good 2 Give.

Artist Kev Paxton is in the middle. Lochearnhead local Martin Sanders,  who co-ordinated the football event and raffle, is handing over the cheque to Cat and married ladies football captain Ollie Cameron of Lochside Cottages Lochearnhead, is on the right.

​The photograph was taken in front of Kev's sculpture Blawn Wi The Wind that stands proudly in Briar Cottages garden on Loch Earn.  Dave Murray took the photograph..

Photographer Dave Murray

Stan The Stag BLiSS trail ornamental feature, Lochearnhead A84Stan The Stag on the BLiSS trail Lochearnhead
 ​I met Dave Murray one morning at our Loch garden. He had stopped to take photographs of Stan the Stag.

Dave is now a regular visitor and has taken many stunning photographs here including Blawn Wi The Wind,  the giant thistles sculpture by Kev Paxton, that lights up our garden at night.

After exhibiting three of Kev's sculptures in Briar Cotttages loch garden,  we decided to mark our silver anniversary last year, by making Blawn Wi The Wind a permanent feature alongside Stan The Stag (who also lights up at night against the dark skies of Lochearnhead).

Dave is a school janitor with a passion for Scottish landscape photography. He regularly travels from Dundee to capture Loch Earn at first light before travelling on to Glencoe.

Dave had a presence on Facebook when I first met him. I introduced him to Twitter and his photos under the handle @Canniejannie are now hugely popular.

Dave has taken some fantastic photos of Kev Paxton's sculptures and is an admirer of his work. He follow's Kev's progress and press coverage on social media.

I  know that Kev and Cat are also impressed with Dave's photographs of ArtFe sculptures at Briar Cottages and on the BLiSS trail - as they are of artist @JoSunshineArt who has interpreted some of Dave's photo's as drawings, 

Picture
Briar Cottages sculpture in snow, Photo by Dave Murray
Dragon Bike willow work installation in Lochearnhead byJune McEwan. Photo by Dave Murray @Canniejannie
Dragon Bike on the #BLiSStrail by June McEwan, photo Dave Murray
Thistle Sculpture -Blawn Wi The Wind by Kev Paxton, photo by Davie Murray @Canniejannie
Blawn Wi The Wind by Kev Paxton, photo by Dave Murray
Stan The Stag at Briar Cottages Lochearnhead, photo by Dave Murray
Majestic Stan photo by Dave Murray @Canniejannie
Briar Cottages Lochearnhead photo by Dave Murray
Briar Cottage A85 Lochearnhead, photo by Dave Murray

@JoSunshineArt

Drawing of the thistles sculpture at Briar Cottages by @JoSunshineArt
Drawing of Blawn Wi The Wind by @JoSunshineArt
Drawing of Stan The Stag at Briar Cottages Lochearnhead by @JoSunshineArt
Drawing of Stan The Stag Loch Earn by @JoSunshineArt
Drawing of ospreys flying over Briar Cottage's thatched roof Lochearnhead -By @JoSunshineArtOspreys flying over Briar Cottage's thatched roof Lochearnhead - By @JoSunshineArt
I spotted @JoSunshineArt on Twitter.   Jo is registered blind and draws with partial sight in one eye.

She uses bright coloured Caran D'Ache wax crayons to create size A1 happy pictures that have lovely compositions and movement.

​Jo started to draw Briar Cottages and photo's of Stan The Stag and Kev's thistles based on Dave Murray's photographs that I had shared on Twitter, taken around Briar Cottages.  


In the mean time Kev Paxton gifted Bill the Bull to Lynne McNicoll's Ripple Retreat garden.

 I was lucky to be invited to see the Ripple Retreat.  What an incredible building and gardens.

I  asked Jo if she would draw a composition of Bill The Bull at the Ripple Retreat having seen that colourful pictures were needed for the whitewashed lounge and bedroom walls.  

Jo and I have since collaborated to donate the picture below, which I am having framed for delivery this week.  I love this drawing and I know that it will be dear to Lynne's heart because of the connection with Bill the Bull, The Ripple Retreat and Kev Paxton. 

Picture
Drawing of Bill The Bull at The Ripple Retreat by Jo Sunshine Art
Kev also designed and made the steel gates at the Ripple Retreat.

Even with partial sight,  Jo does not miss a trick and her version appeared on Twitter.

I am delighted to read that Jo is having an exhibition of work this summer at Cass Art,  63 - 67 Queen Street, Glasgow, G1 3EN, between 24th June and 9th July. Guaranteed to be bright and full of Jo's style and humour.

​Jo sells her pictures on Etsy and via The Jo Sunshine Art Facebook page. Enjoy!
Ripple Retreat gates by Kev Paxton of ArtFe
Ripple Retreat Gates by Kev Paxton
Drawing of Ripple Retreat Gates by Jo Sunshine Art
Drawing of Kev Paxton's Ripple Retreat Gates by @JoSunshineArt

Matilda The Tandem & Crew

Matildas Musings crew, Captian Colin and Stoker Diane
Matildas Musings crew Captain Colin and Stoker Diane on Sustrans Cycle RT7 near Lochearnhead
Matilda the tandem with Captain Colin at Stan The Stag, Briar Cottages Lochearnhead on the BLiSS trail
Matilda and Captain with Stan The Stag at Briar Cottages Loch Earn
Tandem bike from Matildas Musings with Bill The Bull at The Lochearnhead Hotel
Matilda and captain Colin visit Bill The Bull
Kim Proven with Matilda the tandemKim and Matilda
Last but not least, I met the wonderful Matilda and her crew on Twitter.

This is my first experience with  a blogging tandem bike.

She is a vintage gal but don't underestimate her fitness on the road.

I noticed that Matilda had blogged about the Lochearnhead Loop of the BLiSS trail on Twitter and Facebook. Matilda carries Stoker Diane and  Captain Colin (spotted above kissing Bill The Bull) on all of her adventures.  I  invited Matilda to return and do the Strathyre and Balquhidder sections of the Bliss art trail.

Matilda picked up the challenge and the team are now regular favourite characters in the area. You can read all about Matilda's experiences - including visiting all of the BLiSS trail  installations, challenging me to be the stoker,  experiencing local music, food and culture festivals and more on her blog site called  Matildas Musings.

 I even sang the song A Bicycle Built For Two during her Strathyre adventures, which Matilda shared on her YouTube page.

Not only has Matilda been photographed with Kev Paxton sculptures like Bill The Bull and Blawn Wi The Wind, the tandem and crew have also been drawn by @JoSunshineArt.

​Matilda was so impressed that she bought Jo's drawing for Colin and Diane!  Jo even captured a drawing of the tandem team after they appeared on a recent episode of Landward near a BLiSS trail installation called The Look Out where Dougie Vipond was filming around Loch Voil.

Drawing of Matilda and crew on the BLiSS trail
Drawing by @JoSunshineArt of Matilda and crew at the Look Out #BLiSStrail

​Aye, Its amazing who you meet on social media and how one open door can lead to another adventure with talented and fascinating folk (and a tandem)!
0 Comments

    Author Kim Proven. 

    Welcome to my blog on life around Briar Cottages. We invite you to share our experience living on the banks of Loch Earn either by booking  a holiday or short break here in any season or by keeping up to date with our news, stories and photographs depicting this stunning location and way of life within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park of Scotland. 

    Archives

    October 2020
    June 2020
    February 2020
    January 2019
    July 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    June 2017
    June 2016
    May 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

    Categories

    All
    Acting
    Actors
    Art
    Art Exhibition
    Art Installation
    Artists
    ArtRoots
    Art Trails
    ASSC
    Bakery
    Baking
    Balquhidder
    Birdcraft
    Birds
    Birthday Celebrations
    BLiSS Trail
    Briar Cottages
    Brides
    Cake
    @Canniejannie
    Cavendish
    Christmas
    Christmas Cottages
    Christmas Holidays
    Cleaning
    Coasts
    Coffee
    Covid 19
    Creative
    Customer Service
    Cycle Route 7
    Cycling
    Digital Media
    Dougie Vipond
    Drama
    Drawing
    Drone
    Eagles
    Earl Of Atholl
    Eating And Drinking
    Ecologist
    EICC
    Events
    Facebook
    Festive Season
    Fiction
    Film
    Film Locations
    Fish
    Fish Monger
    Flowers
    Food Suppliers
    Fruit And Vegetables
    FSB
    Garden
    Geotourist
    Heritage
    History
    Hogmanay
    Holiday Cottages
    Holidays
    Home Grown Vegetables
    IAD2016
    Innovation
    Jennifer Reoch
    @JoSunshineArt
    Kev Paxton
    Landward
    Loch Earn
    Lochearnhead
    Lochearnhead Highland Games
    Lochearnhead Hotel
    Loch Earn Tourism Information
    Lochside Dining
    Lorraine Kelly
    Luxury Cottages Scotland
    MacGregor Clan
    MacLaren
    Marriage Vows
    McLaren Clan
    National Park
    Nature
    News
    Ornithologist
    Ospreys
    Painting
    Petanque
    Pet Friendly
    Photography
    Producer
    Reindeer
    Ripple Retreat
    Robroycountry
    Romance
    Rudolph
    Sanjeev Singh Kohli
    Santa Claus
    Scotland
    Scotlands Railways
    Scottish Thistle Awards
    Scottish Water
    Script Writer
    Sculpture
    Self Catering
    Smokery
    Snow
    Social Media
    Stag
    Steel
    St Fillans
    Stirling Enterprise
    Strathyre
    STV
    Sunbathing
    Sunrise
    Sunset
    Sustrans
    Sustrans Scotland
    Takeaway
    Tandem
    Television
    Tourism
    Tourism Award
    Tourism Information
    Tourist Information
    Trees
    TripAdvisor UK
    Twitter
    Vacation Rentals
    Valencia
    Village
    Visit Scotland
    Watersports
    Weather
    Wellness
    Whisky Month
    Wildlife
    Winter Holidays
    Winter Wonderland
    Year Of Coasts And Waters
    Year Of Innovation Architecture And Design
    YouTube

    RSS Feed

Briar Cottages,
 Lochearnhead, Perthshire, Scotland, FK19 8PU  Tel: 01567 830 443  Mob: 07917 416 497
website: www.stayatbriar.co.uk  email: briarinfo@btinternet.com


 Terms and Conditions        Copyright 2015 Briar Cottages. All rights reserved.             Privacy Policy.
Contact           Directions           Tourism Links          Prices               Blog             About the Owners