Scottish Lamb Recipe from Fife

Looking for a wee recipe for something Scottish over the holidays?

Well how about trying the following receipe posted to us on facebook by The Inn at Lathones for Braised Lamb Shank. Now I know for a fact that only the very best local Scottish lamb is used at The Inn - provenance of their food being a big selling point - so see what you can pick up in your local butcher or if you must your supermarket!

Anyway here's the ingredients and method.

BRAISED LAMB SHANK
4 Fore Leg Lamb Shanks
250ml Red Wine
150ml Port
100g Tomato Puree
2 Bay Leafs
1 Sprig Rosemary
1 Sprig Thyme
6 Peppercorns
4 Juniper Berries
4 Gloves Garlic
2ltrs Good quality Beef Stock

Method:- In a large Pan brown outside of Lamb Shanks, add Peppercorns, Juniper Berries, Garlic and Herbs. Place Lamb Shanks in a large oven proof dish. De glaze frying pan by heating, add Tomato Puree heat for 1 min, add Red Wine and Port, stir then add to Lamb Shanks, add Beef Stock, cover and cook in Oven on 175oC for 3hrs.

Take out of Oven, remove Lamb Shanks, and cover with Tin Foil to keep warm. Place cooking liquid in pan, reduce by ¾ or more for a more intense flavour. Strain through a Sieve into a small Pot for serving with Rosemary and Garlic crushed Potatoes and seasonal Veg.

Visit their website to find out more more about The Inn atLathones - great golf and short break destination or just ideal for a meal when in St Andrews area

Festive Segway...

Nope it wouldn't have made any sense to me before I'd seen Stephen Leckie of Crieff Hydro bombing about in one!

Apparently great fun to "glide" about on and easy to get the hang of. Well if you fancy a go why not try it over the holidays at Dragon's Tooth Golf Course in Ballachulish in the West Highlands of Scotland.
Give them a call or visit the Dragon's Tooth Website for more information.

Whisky Stramash Looking For "AmDrammers"

Was just reading up some stuff earlier this morning on Creative Scotland 2102 - the press release that came in next was not realted to the project but strikes me as a great fun idea and in itself incredibly creative! Whisky isbig news again in the export markets and tying it in with tourism seems to be increasingly fashionable in the central belt (having been always fashionable in the Highlands!)

According to the press release on the Whisky Stramash website, "Aspirant actors and actresses from across the Central Belt are being invited to act in a ‘whodunnit’ murder mystery, as part of an exciting new event set to stir the whisky industry. Organisers of the Whisky Stramash, which takes place for the first time at Edinburgh’s Surgeons’ Hall on 26th & 27th May, are on the search for an amateur dramatics group to act out the gruesome game, which is being sponsored by Jura Single Malt Scotch Whisky."

The Whisky Stramash is explained on the site as being,

An affair to excite the purists, tempt the interested and intrigue the indifferent, enthusiasts of whisky from around the world will encounter many elements and experiences. Held in the historical Surgeons’ Hall, dram devotees will be exposed to a concoction of molecular experiments, murder mystery and an insight into the gruesome lives of barber surgeons.

Taking place on 26th and 27th May 2012, the Stramash aims to challenge the traditional “stuffy” whisky-associated events and promises to be full of mystery, entertainment, comicality and madcap pioneering, featuring chilling characters associated historically with the dram.

With regards to the amateur dramatics, colleges, universities and drama clubs from across the Central Belt are invited to audition and compete against other groups across the country for the chance to take part and win £1,000 cash prize. The winning group will be invited to the event to act out dramatic death scenes, plotting along the way and leaving clues to grip the unsuspecting audience, before helping to uncover the cunning culprit.

Auditionees are asked to send a three-minute video clip of their best performance to sarah@threebrandpr.com  and videos will be uploaded onto a dedicated YouTube site, before the Whisky Stramash organisers narrow the entrants down to their favourite three. These three will be invited to audition in front of the judging panel at a location in Edinburgh, before the winner is announced and invited to perform at the event in May 2012.

Always good to see some novel ideas. You can find out more at the WhiskyStramash website.

Boxing Day Night Out in Ayrshire?

Scottish Rugby Moves The Goalposts to Glasgow

Scottish Rugby has announced that the world famous HSBC Sevens World Series is heading for Glasgow in 2012.

The event, seen in more than 140 countries worldwide and with a following of over 200 million, will be held at Scotstoun Stadium on the weekend of 5 and 6 of May in 2012.

According to the press release "The move of the event from its traditional home in Edinburgh will give the people of Glasgow a chance to savour the unique festival atmosphere that a sevens tournament of this size and scale can deliver." Edinburgh losing a rugby event to Glasgow! The establishment must be rocking!

Anyway, it puts Glasgow on the international circuit of sevens which also takes in Hong Kong, Dubai and Australia’s Gold Coast and the First Minister was rolled out with his quote too,

“Scotland is well known as the home of rugby sevens and it will be tremendous to see this global spectacular staged in Glasgow. It is a city that knows how to put on a show and I have no doubt that come May, the people of Glasgow will take great pride in staging another major international event.

“I’m very pleased that we are part of the launch today and we look forward to working with Scottish Rugby and all those involved in making the event a world-wide success.”

Present at the launch, IRB Vice Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “Scotland is the home of Sevens and today’s announcement represents a further boost for the sport as we count down to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and Rugby’s return to the Olympic Games stage in Rio in 2016.”

“We are confident that the Scottish Rugby Union’s commitment to deliver a spectacular round of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Glasgow in 2012 and 2013 will be a huge success and engage new fans throughout Glasgow, across Scotland and from further afield.”

Scotstoun Stadium, soon to be home to the Glasgow Warriors rugby team, will see 16 teams from across the world competing and 15,000 fans descend on the site each day for the penultimate leg of the World Series.

The stadium will see two temporary stands built to take the capacity to three times it's current level. In keeping with the atmosphere of the unique global tournament there will be live entertainment, a food court and the event will be licensed. It will be the first time a sevens tournament of this scale has been played in Glasgow.

Tickets for the event are on sale now at the price of just £10 for those who buy before the end of the RBS 6 Nations (17 March). All concessions are at half the equivalent adult price. Tickets will be sold for particular stands and designated days, with two-day ‘weekend’ tickets also available.

AC/DC - Scotland's Family Jewels Exhibition

Been following an interesting discussion on music tourism to Scotland and how it may not be exploited fully enough.

Regardless of how it's viewed music plays a massive part of the majority of our lives in triggering emotional responses and whether Scotland has failed to exploit it is questionable.

Events such as the Edinburgh Festival, Celtic Connections and other smaller festivals have always waved the flag for Scotland as a destination. The old Apollo in Glasgow was a must play venue for every self respecting rock artist and we were always quick to exploit the festival scene - I remember Runrig playing on the banks of Loch Lomond in 1991 I think.

T in the Park and events such as RockNess have only cemented Scotland's musical relationship with large scale events.

On the micro music scale we are delighted to have been involved more recently with Mundell Music based in Kinross in developing marketing activity to promote their wonderful venues at The Inn at Lathones near St Andrews, Backstage at The Green Hotel (Kinross) and most recently Ducks at Kilspindie.

The list of artistes performing for Mundell Music is truly breathtaking and it is in the area of developing regular live music at this scale that the challenge exists. This is where the unexploited opportunity exists. We've just developed a great new project for him - his very own SiteBuilder Bands - which is a template based website project allowing his artistes to upgrade their online presence from their clunky old MySpace presence to a site that incorporates their own Content Management and integrates their social media presence into the website. Delighted just to have put Benny Gallagher's site live. What a wonderfully way to start a new website project.

Anyway if you need to see the link between music and tourism have a look - or better visit - the AC/DC Scotland's Family Jewels exhibition at The Kelvingrove Gallery in Glasgow. For those of us old enough to remember them back at the Apollo in Glasgow it's a fantastic couple of hours escape featuring a superb collection of memorabilia and telling a great story along the way. The exhibition also highlights the band's strong connections with Glasgow and Scotland.

It's open until 12th of  February 2012 and it only costs between £1.50 and £2 to get in. You can get your tickets in person at the Kelvingrove Shop or Buy your tickets online

And just as a personal indulgence here's our very own footage from AC/DC's last visit to Glasgow. Yes we were far too old to be that close to the stage but that's what music does to you isn't it!

Great Glasgow Golfing Destination - Welcome to Mar Hall

We always like to be a little different so why not promote golf when everyone else's mind is on skiing!

Well it's never too early to be thinking about your next golfing vacation or short break and new ideas are always good. So we were delighted when we got a link through from an old golf industry friend David Whyte whose Go Golf TV company produces promotional pieces for golf courses.

It just so happened we were putting out a mail shot for the hotel at the same time so it worked out pretty neatly.

The golf course is one of those locations that doesn't hit the headlines but provides a magnificent challenge for anyone staying in the Glasgow area. Of course the luxury rooms and Spa facilities of Mar Hall Hotel and Resort provide a pretty compelling case for staying on site!

Have a wee look at the video below and if you need some more information on some great golfing deals have a look at the December newsletter or visit Mar Hall website to Book on line

West Highlands Fishing at Tomdoun

On a recent wee drive around bits of the West Highlands I took a brief detour off the A87 en route to Inverness from Fort William to spend a night at the wonderful sporting estate of Tomdoun Hotel. 

I arrived in autumnal darkness and it made the expectation of arrival all the sharper. I checked in had a wee drink in the bar in front of the log fire and I couldn't help it; even although I was working I relaxed!

Checked into my room after a wee bottle of a Cairngorm Brewery beer to a magnificent King Size (plus) bed and deep deep bath and headed down to dinner with owner Mike.

Over dinner he explained the plans for the fishing market over the coming year with the purchase of a new multi seater landrover which will allow the accommodation of groups of fishing clients to enjoy more of the camaraderie. Being a townie and knowing nothing about fishing and stalking Mike explained a little more for me,
He pointed out the unique nature of Tomdoun, "It's not often that you find some of the best fishing, walking and stalking opportunities in the same location, even if you are not experienced you can learn to either stalk or fish here at Tomdoun. Many of our fishermen, walkers and stalkers have been coming here every year to enjoy a refreshing break with their favourite activities. It's the lure of the location that keeps bringing them back time and again."

"For fishermen there is approximately 25,000 acres of water including our own river the Upper Garry and Lochs Garry, Inchlaggan, Poulary, Loyne and Quoich where the guest can fish from our own boats or from the bank. And as far as stalkers are concerned, the estates of West Glenquoich and Barrisdale are legendary."

It's for this reason that Mike and his small team are looking to market their fishing credentials further.

Mike continued,
"You could try the small mountain lochans like Nan Breac or Staic, where a small 8ft 4# rod will suffice to catch sparkling wild brown trout up to two pounds on small traditional flies. Or the tumbling reaches and large pools of the upper Garry river, where a rod with a little more beef , 9ft 6ins 6# or even a 10ft 7#, may be needed for the longer casts for the heavier brown trout - last year a 11½lb came to the fly.Later in the year, break out your salmon rod and try for the late silver tourists the river can produce in the autumn to Alie’s Shrimp or Teal Blue & Silver.

The more leisurely angler may prefer a day on Loch Quoich, Loch Lochy or Loch Garry in a boat to drift with a team of three flies traditional loch style for Brown Trout or be a little more adventurous and try dapping for the bigger fish.Speaking of bigger fish our lochs are renowned for their Ferox trout so why not take out a boat and troll for these monsters of the deep with spoons and Rapalas - you could be rewarded with trout up to 18lb.The pike fisherman is also well catered for. You’ll find an abundance of hard fighting, well fed specimens in Loch Lochy with fish to 35lb. Loch Garry fish go to 20lb and Loch Loyne to 25lb. These fish will take dead baits, spinners and lures, either from the bank or boat."

Now I was lost and he could see that from my nodding head, "Tomdoun's great for the experienced fisherman but we're more than qualified to introduce the novice to the joys of the outdoors. We can tailor packages and events for any and all on the estate."

The conversation about the unique location and the benefits Mike outlined only really came into full understanding the next morning when I awoke to the view across the loch surrounded by hills. The beauty of arriving in the dark was that my sunrise vista was entirely unknown to me.

It is stunning and I can heartily recommend the Scottish breakfast too.

For more on fishing and outdoor pursuits at Tomdoun have a look at their website and then call Mike to discuss your requirements.

Skerryvore Live Act of the Year

One of the unexpected musical highlights of this year was during a wee trip to Dundee with the family. We were actually there to watch the good old Ayrshire Kille get hammered by Dundee United but that's a by product.

The aforementioned bonus was finding out that "bagrock" band Skerryvore were playing in the city and a quick call and we were off to see them play.

I think the kids were initially less than overwhelmed at the prospect but went along with the idea and we headed over to the Arts Centre in the city. Turns out it's a great wee venue with a fantastic bar and a tidy auditorium.

And Skerryvore?

Well I'd seen them before playing a set for us at the Golf Tourism Awards at Turnberry a couple of years earlier but in front of the more receptive audience they were excellent and totally won over the kids too - son even spending his pocket money on a T-shirt!

So we were delighted to hear that they won a gong in theTrad Awards winning 'Live Act of the Year' on Saturday at the awards ceremony in Perth.

The event was filmed for BBC Alba and shown on monday night with a short live Skerryvore set as part of the show. You can watch it HERE on the BBC iplayer if you wish but be warned some of  Gaelic and it will probably only be available in the UK and for a short preiod of time. But it's a pretty good piece of TV and worth a look.

Anyway, congratulations to the band and if you get the chance to watch them take it you can find out more at www.skerryvore.com

Fairmont St Andrews Named as Euro Golf Resort of Year

The five-star Fairmont St Andrews resort has cemented its position as a leading golf destination by being voted the International Association of Golf Tour Operators’ (IAGTO) European Golf Resort of the Year 2012.

The award is one of the most prestigious available to golf resorts, having recognised the quality of its facilities and service and been voted for by IAGTO’s 400 plus specialist golf tour operators in 58 different countries.

It is the latest in a long line of accolades for the luxurious Scottish resort and comes hot on the heels of Fairmont St Andrews being named Golf Tourism Scotland’s Resort Hotel of the Year for the third time in four years.

And it was a double celebration for the region, as Fife won the European Golf Destination of the Year category.

Fairmont St Andrews’ general manager, Garrett Turta, who accepted the award on behalf of the resort, said: “We’re very proud of all the accolades Fairmont St Andrews has amassed, but this really is one of the resort’s biggest achievements.

“To have been voted the best in Europe by industry experts is quite a coup and a testament to the investment the owners have put in and the hard work and high standards of all our staff.”

Former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance designed one of Fairmont St Andrews’ championship courses and had recorded a special video message at the resort which was played at the awards ceremony.

He said: “Congratulations to the Fairmont St Andrews for winning European Golf Resort of the Year. The facilities here are superb; I love coming to stay at the resort for golf, leisure, fun, a wee dram, anything you like, it’s all available here. I’ve been involved with the Fairmont St Andrews for 10 years, and I’m delighted with the way the resort and courses have matured.”

In recent years Fairmont St Andrews has benefited from a £17m investment which included extensive improvements throughout both The Torrance and The Kittocks courses, refurbishment of the entire hotel and an extension to the leisure facilities to create a luxurious spa and fitness complex.

Since then the resort has hosted numerous prestigious events including final qualifying for the 2010 Open Championship, as well as being the venue for the last three Scottish Senior Opens.

During its 10-year history Fairmont St Andrews has accumulated a host of accolades for hospitality, golf, spa and cuisine, as well as welcoming some of the world’s most powerful individuals as the venue for a G20 summit and Northern Ireland peace talks, while Prince William was a regular visitor and member of the spa and gym while studying at university.

For more information or to book a stay, call 01334 837000, email standrews.scotland@fairmont.com or visit www.fairmont.com/standrews.

Fife Voted Europe's Best Golf Destination

Fife Recognised Internationally as the Golf Destination of Choice 

Fife has been named as the “Golf Destination of the Year – Europe, 2012” at The International Association of Golf Tour Operators Awards in Turkey last night (17th November). The Awards recognise exceptional contributions to the world of golf travel.

Stephen Owen, General Manager of Rufflets, St Andrews and member of the Fife Tourism Partnership was in Turkey with six Fife golf businesses to receive the Award. He said, ”This is a prestigious award for Fife – not only because it places Fife firmly on the international “green” as a fantastic place to visit and play golf, but also because it brings such important economic benefits to the area, too. It is an honour to accept the award on behalf of everyone in Fife involved with golf tourism and I am delighted to do so in the company of such excellent ambassador businesses from Fife, the home of Golf.”

Representatives from Fairmont St Andrews, Kingsbarns, Macdonald Rusacks Hotel, St Andrews Links, The Old Course Hotel and Stay in St Andrews have been exhibiting at The International Golf Travel Market in Antalya, Turkey this week. They were promoting Fife to hundreds of buyers and journalists from 65 countries, including Argentina, Norway, South Africa and China.

A second award also comes home to Fife as Fairmont St Andrews won Golf Resort of the Year – Europe, 2012.

Accolades poured in for both awards including from a delighted John Parker, chair of the Fife Tourism Partnership, “Congratulations to everyone involved and to the Fairmont for winning both these coveted titles. The reputation and economic value of internationally judged awards like these is immense and makes a huge contribution to tourism in Fife.”

Keith Winter, Head of Enterprise, Planning and Protective Services at Fife Council and interim Chair of the emerging Fife Golf Partnership, also congratulated the winners and said, “These awards provide a great launch platform for the new Fife Golf Partnership which will have its official launch next week. It is a network of Fife golf courses and clubs, accommodation providers, golf travel trade and industry trade associations working together to develop and improve the market position of Fife as a must-visit golf destination. We want to capitalise on Fife’s world class reputation and facilities and news of these awards is the perfect start.”

Scotland's For Me Recommended Favourite Fife Golf Hotels

• Inn at Lathones
• Crusoe Hotel
• Old Manor Hotel
• Lundin Links Hotels

Winter Golf Offers in Ayrshire

Found this offer by chance but thought it may be of interest to some of the many golfers looking for a wee break over the winter months.

Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club on the outskirts of Troon are offering some fantastic winter rates between now and March 2012 the best of which looks to be a fourball between Sunday and Friday - subject to the normal availability - for only £100. Given that the standard rate is between £57 and £67 you are saving a bit of money.

The course is normally in good condition throughout the year so some good golf in prospect - if there's not four of you, you can still get a game for £30 a round until February and £37 in March with under 18's saving a further 50%.

Give the club a call on 01292 313920 or visit their website

Check availability top right for some equally good accommodation offers and make a wee break of it!!

Scotland's For Scarlettt....

Seems that Scotland has really turned around the movie location issue with Batman 3, World War Z and last week's announcement of James Bond's SkyFall now being followed up by the news that Scarlett Johansson film Under the Skin heads north to Glencoe for filming this week.

According to BBC Scotland, scenes for a new film starring Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson are set to be shot at locations in the Highlands.

Under the Skin is based on a novel of the same name by Michel Faber, who lives in the Black Isle north of Inverness and is about an alien who picks up hitchhikers on the A9 road in the Highlands for spare body parts. Clearly based on real life then!

A Transport Scotland spokesman said that the A82 south of Loch Ba would be closed for 10 minute periods on Wednesday and Thursday, "Following discussions with the filming company Saltfilm, our operating company Scotland Transerv and the police, we have granted an order giving permission to carry out filming for the film Under the Skin on the A82.

"The Scottish government welcomes the continued interest in Scotland as a filming location and we are confident that any disruption to drivers will be minimal."
Well there we go enjoy beautiful Glencoe Scarlett - if you're inspired to go Celebrity spotting you can check latest availability in the West Highlands with Scotland's For Me - just enter your dates at the top right!

Golf Holidays with Stena

Best of Scotland Holidays has teamed up with Stena Line to make life easy for you.  Take your own car on Stena Line Belfast/Cairnryan route and enjoy not having to pay for excess baggage.

Put your clubs and luggage in the back of the car and relax on board. Why not spoil yourself and upgrade to Stena Plus. You will enjoy the Stena Plus lounge which includes complimentary tea/coffee and biscuits, wine and fruit.

Please get in touch with Best of Scotland and they will take care of all the arrangements for you. Contact either Marie, marie@best-of-scotland.co.uk or Lesley, lesley@best-of-scotland.co.uk or visit the Best of Scotland website

You can also call them as well 01592 752 990.

Dundonald Links Best Environmental Performance

Dundonald Links has received the ‘Best Environmental Performance Award’ at the recent Ayrshire Business Awards. Over 260 business leaders from Ayrshire and beyond attended the annual awards ceremony which recognises the best performing companies in Ayrshire. The event was held at the Gailes Hotel, Irvine where the BBC’s Kaye Adams presented the awards.

The ‘Best Environmental Performance Award’ award, sponsored by Nestle (worlds leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness Company), has been designed for organisations that demonstrate environmental best practice, ethical best practice or sustainable development. In order to qualify for the final selection process, Dundonald Links was invited to demonstrate these practices and to explain the impact that these initiatives have had on the company.

Dundonald competed with two major employers in Scotland, McCaig Renewable and Lowmac Recycling, for the award.

Bill Donald, General Manager, Loch Lomond Golf Club and Dundonald Links, commented:

“This is a tremendous achievement for the team at Dundonald Links and is testament to all their hard work and commitment in ensuring that the golf course is maintained to the very highest of standards with environmental best practice always in mind.”

The club website also features an environmental policy.

Dundonald Links is committed to the implementation of a wide range of proactive measures, to help protect, and sustain, the local, national, and global environment, and strives for continual improvement of its environmental management systems.

Our Vision

To provide players with an authentic and distinctive links land experience by using best environmental practices and policies.

Our aim is to:

• Minimise waste, working towards zero waste
• Minimise energy consumption
• Protect and enhance biodiversity
• Maximise the Club’s role to provide the public with knowledge of ongoing environmental issues
• Inspire others to pursue sustainable resources

For further information, please contact Guy Redford, Director of Golf, Dundonald Links

T: 01294 314000 or E: guy.redford@dundonaldlinks.com

Ayrshire Golf Deal at Monty Course

More "flash sale" Golf Deals coming online daily just now and more now than ever before - have the golf clubs ever thought of giving the golf tour operators the same prices and see what they can do with the product? Hmmmm...

We'd suggest making an overnight of it with the boys or girls and staying in one of Ayrshire's welcoming hotels. You can take advantage of some great Autumn rates  and book online in Ayrshire now.

Anyway you can enjoy a Round of Golf With Tea or Coffee for £24 at Rowallan Castle Golf Club (£69 Value)

Highlights of the offer?

• Course designed by 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie
• Home to Europe’s only 19th hole
• Covers approximately 600 acres
• Glasshouse restaurant and bar
• Based at the historic 13th century Rowallan Castle estate

They didn't say it but we will - one of the highlights is that it is so accessible from Glasgow and the Central Belt as it sits off the new motorway from Glasgow. Maybe twenty minutes top to the clubhouse from the centre of the sity.

Expires 30 November 2011.  Groupon valid for 1 person, may buy multiples as gifts. Booking required. 24 hour cancellation policy. Subject to weather conditions; can reschedule in the event of bad weather. Must wear smart casual attire, no jeans or trainers permitted. Equipment not included. Handicap limits: 24 for men; 28 for women. Tea and coffee either before or after golf.


Our own small print! This is not a SFM promotion but just a reporting of the Groupon offer that was available at the time of writing. Don't shout at us if it's sold out!! See Groupon for their terms and conditions or bookings or go straight to the golf course and ask them for a deal!!

 

Drumnadrochit Deal

Ah another Groupon Deal for a Scottish Hotel! This time on the banks of Loch Ness at Drumnadrochit in the Highlands.

Two Night Loch Ness Break For Two With Breakfast, Wine and Entry to the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre for £109 at The Drumnadrochit Hotel (Up to £218.95 Value)

• Family-run hotel in the Highlands
• Wine on arrival
• Twin or double room
• Central location for tours around Loch Ness and beyond
• Boat trips, birdwatching, and waterfalls

According to the published copy the offer is valid 17 Sep 2011-30 Nov 2011, 1 Mar 2012-31 May 2012. Not valid 1 Dec 2011-29 Feb 2012. Groupon valid for 2 people, may buy multiple as gifts. Booking required.  48 hour cancellation policy. Original value based on rack rate. Expires 31 May 2012.

This offer was available on 22nd of September 2011 and was available through Groupon  and is not available through Scotland's For Me - you could always check availability in The Inverness and Nairn area for offers direct from a wide range of hotels if it isn't for you!

Short Break offer at Roslin Glen near Edinburgh

Another offer for Scottish Hotels from Groupon this time...

Overnight Stay Plus Afternoon Tea and Two Course Dinner With Wine For Two for £79 at The Roslin Glen Hotel (Up to 53% Off)

• Close to historic Rosslyn Chapel
• Six miles from Edinburgh
• Traditional Scottish character with modern comforts
• On-site restaurant serving locally sourced, fresh produce

According to the published copy the offer is valid 10 October 2011 - 19 May 2012.Groupon valid for 2 people, may buy multiple as gifts. Booking required. Check-in 1pm; check-out at 11am. 48 hour cancellation policy. Pets allowed for £10 additional supplement. Afternoon tea available midday to 2pm. Original value based on rack rate.

This offer was avaiable on 20th September 2011 and was available through Groupon  and is not available through Scotland's For Me - you could always Visit the Distillery's own website and buy direct.

 

Tullibardine Whisky Tour Offer

Whisky tours make it to Groupon! Ah there's no stopping Flash sales - we've taken a bit of time to decide whether featuring them will do Scottish tourism any good but who are we to decide whether the consumer is benefitting in the long term!! So we'll promote what we see on SFM and welcome your feedback. Here's their offer...

Whisky Tasting Tour For Two With Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Gift Bag for £38 at Tullibardine Distillery (Up to £89.60 Value)

• Traditional distillery methods
• 1 hr 30 min tour (approx.)
• Gift bag includes 21 year old 5cl whisky miniature and Glencairn nosing glass
• Hot soup and sandwich lunch
• Near Kincardine Castle
• Within 45 minutes’ drive of Glasgow and Edinburgh

According to the promotional copy, "the offer Expires 20 November 2011. Groupon valid for 2 people, may buy multiple as gifts. Booking required 36 hours in advance. First tour 10am, last 2.15pm. Must be 18 or over for tasting."

This offer was published on 20th September 2011 and was available through Groupon  and is not available through Scotland's For Me - you could always Visit the Distillery's own website and buy direct.

Lochgreen House Hotel in Ayrshire - A Short Break Waiting to Happen

It's just one of those places that were it located in Edinburgh or The Highlands or even Glasgow then it would have a world wide reputation. As it is Lochgreen House Hotel in Troon is remembered and I dare say recommended by all who visit it for its excellence in welcome, wining and dining and accommodation.

It is truly a world class hotel and whilst hardly unknown it remains in part one of those Scottish hidden gems that deserves visiting for a short break.

Minutes from Prestwick Airport and much less than an hour from Glasgow (90 minutes from Edinburgh Airport) it is easily accessible and with its views across the golf courses to Arran perfect for the golf trip. Of course there is much more to Ayrshire than golf but once you sit down to your Champagne afternoon tea and browse the evening menus you may just be tempted to sit in front of the fire with a little whisky and savour this wonderful country house ambience.

Have a look at the slideshow and just do it! Click on to the Lochgreen House Hotel website and book yourself a little escape to the Ayrshire coast.

Autumn Live Music at The Inn at Lathones

There's nothing like a small intimate Venue and The Inn at Lathones near St Andrews in Fife has a superb line up gigs in the next three months.

Here's a little taster of what;s in store - you can get full information on the venue and artistes at The Inn's website or at Mundell Music!

Have a look at the List below for some truly fantastic Artists who are literally lining up to play this Award Winning Venue.

More Artists will be added so keep looking at the website for additional gigs or call the booknig line on 01334 840494

• Thurs 15th Sept - John Goldie
• Sun 18th Sept - Nick Harper
• Fri 23rd Sept - Paul Rose / Acoustic
• Sun 9th Oct - Rodney Crowell & John Jorgenson
• Mon 10th Oct - Henry McCullough / Acoustic
• Wed 12th Oct - Rodney Crowell & John Jorgenson
• Fri 14th Oct - Rod Clements
• Sat 15th Oct - John Jorgenson Electric Band
• Sat 22nd Oct - J J Gilmour
• Tues 25th Oct - Ambassadors Of Morocco
• Tues 1st Nov - Mary Coughlan
• Wed 2nd and Thurs 3rd Nov - Orleans
• Fri 4th Nov - Dick Gaughan
• Sat 12th Nov - Classic Clapton
• Wed 23rd Nov - Keith James - The Songs Of Leonard Cohen
• Thurs 24th Nov - The Motives Feat Matt Taylor
• Sat 26th Nov - Steve Gibbons Band
• Sun 27th Nov - Adroit Records Showcase

"A Lonely Place To Die" starring Scotland

It's not been released by Disney Pixar so we haven't heard the VisitScotland chairman discuss it but just have a wee look at the trailer for this movie "A Lonely Place To Die" and tell me it's not worth a fortune in PR? Beautiful and this is the sort of thing that VisitScotland should be flagging up on their "Scotland is the star of the movie..." said the female lead Melissa George on Breakfast TV this morning.

If I was a hotel in the Highlands I'd have this embedded in my website now! Great sales tool and dare I say a little more effective than the cartoon representation of Brave?

"A group of five mountaineers are hiking and climbing in the Scottish Highlands when they discover a young Serbian girl buried in a small chamber in the wilderness. They become caught up in a terrifying game of cat and mouse with the kidnappers as they try to get the girl to safety"

Celebrate Hogmanay in Fife at the Inn at Lathones

Looking for something to do this New Year that doesn't involve standing out in the cold and snow/sleet/rain (delete as necessary). Well there's a host of things going on in hotels across Scotland year in year out and this year celebrating Hogmanay in Scotland may be even better value than ever.

In the first of a series of features on some great deals in Scotland we've turned our attention to Fife and the lovely property situated just outside of St Andrews - The Inn at Lathones.

Their Hogmanay package includes an overnight stay arriving on the 31st of December and includes Hogmanay Dinner at £55 for residents.


The overnight night package is priced at £134.00  per person for a standard room inclusive of bed and breakfast/brunch sharing a twin or double room.

Deluxe rooms are also available at £154.00 per person, bed and brunch and single rooms have a £35.00 supplement.

Check availability and Book Online Now 

Extra nights start from £45.00 per person, bed and breakfast sharing a standard twin or double room and deluxe rooms are £65.00 per person bed and breakfast.



Space is already limited and bookings can be made online directly on The Inn at Lathones website

Hogmanay Menu 

Reception canapés served with Prosecco 

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Game terrine Served with homemade chutney and freshly toasted brioche

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A Platter of Salmon Hot smoked, Tian and Gravadlax 

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Fillet of Highland Beef Served with spiced ox cheek and a red wine sauce

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Belgian Chocolate terrine with vanilla cream and chocolate biscuits
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Columbian rich roasted coffee With whisky truffles 

Stovies will be served at 1.00am

There are also non residential prices for Hogmanay Dinner on the 31st December £65.00 per person
New Years Day brunch is also available to non residents from 11.00am to 2.30pm at £20 per person.

Scottish Golf Events

Today sees the start of a busy two weeks in ‘the home of golf’ as we host three top events and welcome golfers from around the world. Old and young, male and female, there is plenty action across Scotland for everyone to enjoy!

Teeing off tomorrow if the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open, presented by EventScotland at Archerfield Links in East Lothian. The playing field includes ten Scottish players to lend your support to including Catriona Matthew, Lynn Kenny and Carly Booth. In this unusual three day pro-am format, there is sure to be plenty entertainment around the Fidra course. Entry is free.

Over the water in Fife, the Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open takes place from the 19th-21st on another links course of the Fairmont St Andrews. Former Ryder Cup player Barry Lane will defend his title and will be joined by leading European Senior Tour professionals, including Sandy Lyle, in the 54-hole tournament over the Torrance Course, which was designed by former Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance.

Moving away from the coastline, Gleneagles, host venue for The 2014 Ryder Cup, is where we turn out attention to next with the Johnnie Walker Championship taking place from 25-28th on the PGA Centenary Course. Defending champion Edoardo Molinari will be joining a host of international stars and eight of Scotland’s leading PGA professional, all battling for a share of the £1.4million prize purse. Don’t forget that they’re running ‘£5 Friday’ where all on-day ticket revenue will be donated to clubgolf - Scotland’s junior golf development programme.

Inn at Lathones - Live Music at its Best

Nothing to do as we head into Autumn? Nonsense.

In conjunction with Mundell Music, The Inn at Lathones is offering a wonderful list of live music gigs through September, October and November.

Click on the links to find out more about the artists - you can even book your accommdotion online at The Inn and make a night out of it - just clcik Book Now on the left.

Sat 3rd Sept: Chris Keys Read More
Thurs 8th Sept: Steve Daggett Read More
Tues 13th Sept: Sean Taylor Read More
Thurs 15th Sept:  John Goldie Read More
Sun 18th Sept: Nick Harper Read More
Fri 23rd Sept:  Paul Rose / Acoustic Read More
Sun 9th Oct: Rodney Crowell & John Jorgenson  Read More
Mon 10th Oct: Henry McCullough / Acoustic Read More
Wed 12th Oct: Rodney Crowell & John Jorgenson Read More
Fri 14th Oct: Rod Clements  Read More
Sat 15th Oct: John Jorgenson Electric Band  Read More  
Sat 22nd Oct: J J Gilmour  Read More
Tues 25th Oct:  Ambassadors Of Morocco Read More
Fri 4th Nov:  Dick Gaughan  Read More
Sat 12th Nov:  Classic Clapton Read More
Wed 23rd Nov:  Keith James - The Songs Of Leonard Cohen Read More
Thurs 24th Nov:  The Motives Feat Matt Taylor  Read More

Scotland Euro Qualifiers

We still can't shake our auld allegiance to all things Tartan Army so we thought this was as good a place as any to promote that there are still some spaces available for Scotland's crucial forthcoming double header against Liechtenstein and Spain with Passport Travel.

"On arrival at Zurich airport you will be accommodated in the superior four star Radisson Blu Hotel which is only a short walk from the terminal. Then about lunchtime, our private coaches will transfer you to Liechtenstein to enjoy the pre match atmosphere. Immediately after the match we will return you to the Hotel where the bar will remain open to welcome you back. The next day, it’s a short walk to the check-in for Alicante. On arrival our private coaches will transfer you to your hotels which are situated in the Levante Beach side of Benidorm.

On match day they will transfer you to the stadium in Alicante and afterwards to the airport. You can leave your baggage on the coach. Passport Travel will advise you a more exact timetable when they send you the itinerary a couple of weeks before departure.

For furtehr information on prices and transfers from other areas contact Jimmy or Eddie at Passport Travel on 0141 951 1515 or mail them at: admin.passporttravel@btconnect.com