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!

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. 

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.

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. 

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 ​

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.

Have a read at this lovely letter from Malcolm Roughead OBE, Chief Executive of Visit Scotland.  

...and another letter of congratulations from Fiona Hyslop MSP -Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs

Another lovely letter, this time 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.

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​LETi is now working on Year of Young People 2018 promotions

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!​​

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.
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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 

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.

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..

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!

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.