Open Golf in Ayrshire 2014...

Open Championship Golf on the Ayrshire Coast. #thatswhyscotlandsforme

Mother's Day at Ducks at Kilspindie

The Crinan Canal For Me!

Great what day time TV throws up!

Just watching an old episode of Coast featuring the Caledonian and Crinan Canals and this wonderful bit of music appeared in the background. A quick Google for "Crinan Canal For Me" found the old footage. I have no idea of the source but the guy singing it is John Grieve who I believe played Dan McPhail, the engineer on the Vital Spark of Para Handy fame.

Maybe we need some Crinan Canal For Me! T-shirts for 2014

Great piece of retro video promotion!


 

St Andrews Day Choral Event in Glasgow

Glasgow Chamber Choir 20th Anniversary Concert

Saturday 30th November 

7pm at St Bride's Episcopal Church, Hyndland Road Glasgow

I am no aficionado but a year ago I was asked if I wished to attend a performance of the Glasgow Chamber Choir at the chapel in Glasgow University. It was well out of my AC/DC based comfort zone but thought what the hell! 

What transpired was actually a revelation. The venue was stunning in itself - having failed miserably to get near the qualifications required for access to that particular educational establishment - but it was the whole atmosphere and ambiance that took me away. Granted musically I found it challenging but I got the passion, the emotion and while I can't say I rushed out to buy a host of choral pieces I understood its attractions. In short it was actually a superb experience.

So delighted to promote this weekend's concert in Glasgow.

As Glasgow Chamber Choir begins a year of celebrations for its 20th Birthday, this gala concert marks two other significant anniversaries: the centenary of the birth of Benjamin Britten and 850 years since the foundation of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris. 

Britten has long been acknowledged as Britain's predominant twentieth-century composer, and this year gives us a chance to perform AMDG, a suite of poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins. Extracts from mass settings by composers based at Notre Dame complete this celebratory programme for which past members of the group return to mark 20 exciting years of music making.

The programme features Christopher Nickol on organ and conducted by Michael Bawtree

Benjamin Britten | Ad majorem Dei gloriam

Lois Vierne | Messe Solennelle

Michael Tippett | Spiritual from 'A Child of Our Time'

Yves Castagnet | Messe 'Salve Regina'

Tickets are priced at £10 and are available at the door.

Find out more online at the Glasgow Chamber Choir website

News From Glencoe Mountain

Free Zibobs at Glencoe for the 2013/2014 ski season

Free Zibobs will be available at the plateau cafe all season - these will be perfect for children of all ages and I'm sure adults will have great fun on them as well.

We are also in the process of planning the UK's first ever Zibob race, scheduled to happen in the last weekend of March - Find out about Zibobs.

Early Bird Season Passes

Early bird season passes are now available to buy - click here then e-mail your passport photo to admin@glencoemountain.co.uk

Bike Tracks

Both our bike tracks remain open until the 1st of November (weather permitting) so come and have some fun on your bike before the snow arrives. Day tickets are just £25.

The weather for the weekend is looking pretty good with sunshine and light winds forecast for Saturday and sunshine and moderate winds on Sunday.

Accommodation

We still have lots of availability for cheap accommodation in Nov and Dec - click here to book. or call 01855 851226

Golf Breaks in East Lothian

Are you planning your golf trip for 2014? Well having just spent a couple of days at Ducks at Kilspindie there is clearly worse places to visit than East Lothian host to the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield and the Ladies Scottish Open at Archerfield.

 I stayed and dined at the excellent Ducks Restaurant with Rooms and they have got some great packages available on line for 2013.

The wee video below was produced by David Whyte for GoGol TV and highlights just a few of the great golfing reasons for visiting East Lothian


 

Ducks Open Championship Music Festival

Open Championship golf visitors can soak up the atmosphere with some wonderful live music and great food every night at Ducks at Kilspindie near the Muirfield Course.

Owner Malcolm Duck has arranged live music from Tuesday through to Thursday in  the hotel featuring

• Marcus Bonfanti – Guitar/Vocals
• Paddy Milner – Keys/Vocals
• Scott Wiber – Bass Alex Reeves – Drums

In addition there is a special wine promotion featuring Ernie Els wines and a VIP Seafood Bar.

Limited Access only call 0774 0676 113 for details

Read More at Ducks Website