|
|
|
 |
Ardkinglas House Tours, Policy Walks and Landrover Trips
During 2008 there will be a guided house tour every Friday at 2:30pm from March through to October.
On some Saturdays there will be house tours which will concentrate on the films that have been shot here (see dates below). The cost of the tour is £6pp. Alistair MacCallum will also be resuming his walks round the policies and Landrover trips up the glen. If you would like further information or to make a booking, please contact the Estate Office, contact details as below or use the contact page.
Dates for 2008 for Saturday film tours: 19th April, 24th May, 28th June, 26th July, 23th August and 20th September. These tours are at 11.00 am.
All tours must be pre-booked. For groups of 10 or more we are happy to put on tours at times to suit you.
|
 |
Family Events at Achindrain Museum - 3rd and 4th May
Gaelic Waulking
When homespun cloth came off the loom it was stiff and harsh. To shrink and soften it the cloth was soaked and thumped. Songs accompanied this process, which was known as waulking.
Sgioba Luaidh Inbhirchluaidh (Inverclyde Waulking Group) will be re-creating this atmospheric part of Highland life at Auchindrain Museum during the weekend of 3rd and 4th May.
Storytelling
Also during the weekend a professional storyteller will be bringing to life the stories, myths and legends associated with the daily lives of the people who once lived and worked at Auchindrain.
Performances and storytelling sessions will take place from 10.30am until 16.30pm on 3rd and 4th May. The event is FREE to Museum ticket holders and local residents.
MORE...
|
 |
All the Big Stars Hit Town for 'Stars in Your Eyes'
'Stars in your Eyes' came to Inveraray on Friday and Saturday 14th and 15th December 2007 and with The Spice Girls and The Village People in town there wasn't a spare ticket to be had. Even on Ebay you could not find any spare tickets for the 2 night sell out.
The Primary School Parents Council raised £1406 for the school by organising this spectaculer which involved the children, the parents and their friends.
Stars included S Club 7, Crazy Frog, Elvis and Atomic Kitten, The Nolans, Abba, Harry Belafonte and Odetta.
Judy Garland from the wizard of Oz appeared with the children as Hunk the Scarecrow, Zeke the cowardly Lion, Toto and Hickory the Tin Man. The Spice Girls were fabulous and followed on from The Village People with YMCA and The Proclaimers with 500 miles..
It was a great show which everyone thoroughly enjoyed and head teacher Lynn Kidd thanks all those who organised, who took part, or supported this venture in any way.
18 Dec 2007
|
 |
Second Clyde Puffer coming to Inveraray
After 14 years of lying in the Crinan Basin rotting away, the Clyde Puffer 'Maggie' is coming to Inveraray to join the 'Vital Spark.
'Maggie' is VIC27, a steam powered Puffer built in 1943 and probably the oldest still in existance. She was formarly named 'Auld Reekie' but confusingly had the name 'Vital Spark' painted on her by the BBC who were the last to use her for the Para Handy TV series before she was laid up and abandoned.
Archie MacArthur, owner of the Inveraray Maritime Museum and Pier, purchased the 'Maggie' last year and it is only now that she has been able to complete the first leg of her journey through the canal to Ardrisaig over a 3 day move at the beginning of November.
She will now be towed to Inveraray by 'Vital Spark' at the beginning of 2008 to begin a long and expensive restoration programme. Fund raising will be stepped up in an effort to save her as a prime example of the shipping heritage of Scotland and the Clyde.
You can find out more at (www.ClydePuffers.com)
11 Nov 2007
|
 |
Inveraray Primary School plays host to American Congressmen
During the first week back at school, members of the United States House of Representatives visited the school from Washington DC and the Staff and pupils showed them some traditional Scottish hospitality.
The politicians were part of the first official Congress visit to Scotland. Two pipers and drummers who are former pupils welcomed the delegation of the Friends of Scotland Caucus on Capitol Hill, led by Congressman Mike Mclntyre.
Accompanied by their wives, they were given a presentation by the children about healthy eating then treated to a display of highland dancing. The group had the chance to sample the delights of the school canteen by having lunch with the children before they were given a guided tour of the school gardens and shown some of the fruit and vegetables the children have grown.
The children are to be congratulated for the wonderful friendly welcome which they gave to the congressmen.
|
 | British Champions and Now WORLD CHAMPIONS
Cowal Games Results:
Cowal Championships 2007 - Novice Juvenile - 1st place - CROSHER CHALLENGE TROPHY
Novice Juvenile Champion of Champions 2007 - BAND - MCNISH TROPHY
|
The INVERARAY and DISTRICT PIPE BAND has won the British Championship in Ballymena, Northern Ireland on Saturday 30th June 2007.
On Sunday evening an exhausted band returned to a heroes' welcome from supporters with banners and balloons. The band were all exhausted but when they saw all the people with their banners they just had to play for them.
The band, made up of youngsters from Inveraray, Dalmally, Strachur and Kilmartin, won its Novice Juvenille category, just as it had done at Dumbarton in the Scottish championships last month.
When they heard the result they were jumping about and throwing their hats in the air.They have just stood and smiled at other competitions they have won but in this standard of competition they were very happy and excited.
It gives them a lot of confidence because they know they can compete against the best bands in their category and are now the ones to beat.
When they got home and saw all the people waiting, some of the band got quite emotional.'
The Inveraray and District Pipe Band was the first to represent Inveraray in 70 years when it formed in 2004. After gaining third place at the Cowal Games in its first full year of competition, the band has gone from strength to strength and will be looking to complete a hat-trick of major titles this year at the European Championships in Inverness next month.
|
 | Another Win for Inveraray Shinty Club
Saturday 30th June 2007 saw the Inveraray team battle it out with Bute at Old Anniesland to win the Celtic Cup again.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO ALBUM
|
 | Argyll Caravan Park plays host to Professor David Bellamy
As last year's winners of a David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award, the caravan park were honoured to welcome the Professor on Saturday 16th June 2007.
He spent the day walking round the park talking to children and holiday home owners about the various plants and the benefits of nature in the eco conservation.
Led by the Inveraray and District Pipe Band, Professor Bellamy and son Rufus were welcomed to the park by manager Jim McCulloch and after a photo opportunity wisited many gardens around the park.
This was the second visit by Professor Bellamy as he last visited to celebrate the Park's 50th anniversary in May 2003.
Later in the afternoon he visited the primary school to see what changes had taken place since his last visit. He was impressed with their outdoor classroom and spent time with some of the children.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO ALBUM |
 | Argyll Caravan Park Inveraray has won the accolade of top caravan park in Scotland
Scotland’s top tourism businesses for 2006 were named at a glittering Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on 27th October. Jackie Bird and Tam Cowan hosted the evening, with over 800 people attending the renowned tourism ‘Oscars’.
Now in their 15th year, the awards were created by VisitScotland to recognise and celebrate excellence and quality in one of Scotland’s most important industries, and they are widely recognised as one of the top accolades a tourism business can receive.
For Customer Care: Camping and Caravan Park - the 2006 winner is Argyll Caravan Park (www.argyllcaravanpark.com) |
 | Argyll and Bute Councillors plan to kill off tourism in the town at 1p per minute
Following the upgrading of 'The Avenue' Car Park over the last few years, it was obvious that it wouldn't be long before the local councillors took the decision to install parking meters in the town's remaining off-street parking area to rip-off drivers.
They just don't seem to realise the value of tourism to the town and indeed to Argyll and Bute. The passing trade generated has declined as tourists just pass-by rather than pay to stop for that half hour break and £1 for 60 minutes that is a penny a minute.
It is also most evident at Arrochar where the car parks are now almost empty when you pass since the meters were installed there too.
Meters were supposed to be used to control parking, but as the town of Inveraray doesn't have a parking problem, why create one! The only free parking will now be in the Main Street, at the Community Hall and in Church Square or at the Top End of the Avenue car park beyond the very, very small sign opposite the recycling area which states that it is 'free beyond this point'.
What next? Full time parking wardens? or Parking Meters in Lochgilphead where the Councillors work - (no chance)?
HAVE YOUR SAY HERE |
Scottish Water's waste water problems are still here.
The unpleasant odour which plagued Inveraray during 2003 to 2007 is still here.
The smell around the A83 area at Inveraray Golf Course appeared after Scottish Water completed work on the town's new waste water system in 2003. Scottish Water thought that they had finally solved the problem at the end of 2004. In 2007 they re-layed all the sewers along the Newtown at a higher level, apparently the first lot were too low and the salt water from the loch was getting into the pipe and causing the smell, but this has still not solved the problem.
The smell appears to be coming back periodically and in the middle of December, after the completion of the remedial work, was quite noticeable.
Fortunately, as it is on the outskirts of the town, it does not affect visitors to the town, but passers-by hold their breath.
Perhaps Scottish Water will get it right through time, it's only taxpayers money anyway.
|
To report faults on the main trunk roads in Argyll
Scotland TransServ who now maintain them are asking motorists to phone their reporting freephone on 0800 028 1414.
|
Broadband in Inveraray
If you are moving up to broadband, shop around - there are many different deals available some a lot better and cheaper than others, all available on your BT line
ORDER NOW from Freedom2Surf - now only £13.99 a month for up to 8Gbit speed on your ordinary BT line
Recommended by SKWebpages
MORE...
|
|
The Inveraray Primary School Website is now on the World Wide Web
You can view the children's pages CLICK HERE
|
|
|
