Briar Cottages Loch Earn Luxury and Pet Friendly Self Catering Holidays
>>Call Now<<
 07917 416 497
  • Welcome
    • Covid 19 updates
    • 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

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

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