St Andrew's Day Celebrations Part 2

Happy St Andrew's Day.

As I mentioned yesterday some of the shops have a Scottish theme in their window, so I took some photos and as usual the batteries on my camera ran out before I could photograph them all. The town centre is looking well as there are a number of new shops which have opened, which can only be good.

St Andrew's Day Celebrations

St Andrew's Day is the feast of Saint Andrew, celebrated on the 30th November. Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. This weekend 29th/30th November in the town there is pipe bands, Christmas market, storytelling, classic car display, ceilidhs and a firework display. There is bunting out around the town and many of the shops put on a scottish themed window display. Thoroughly enjoyed the pipe band this afternoon, bit chilly out to put it mildly!

All the events are organised by our local tourist association Bepta.

Scottish saltire

Saint Andrew

Continental Market

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday there was a Continental Market held in the Wellmeadow, fortunately they had reasonably good weather for it. I had some traders staying with me, I don't envy them their job, very early starts and long days. The french ladies I had staying were telling me they go all over Britain as well as other European countries and are on the road for about 10 months of the year.

Happy Walkers

My guests from Germany who stayed on Tuesday night returned from walking the Cateran Trail. I was talking to them before they headed out for a well deserved beer and they were saying how fantastic the walk was and would thoroughly recommend it. They were particularly struck by the contrast in landscape from soft rolling lush countryside to the mountains of Glenshee with the snow already on the peaks and of course they had pretty good weather conditions apart from yesterday.

I have had quite a number of guests this year who have stayed on the first and final night of walking the trail, we are a 10 minute walk from the start/finish at the riverside and I am happy if you want to leave your car or luggage with me. If you come by public transport there are plenty of taxis to bring you up from the bus stop or there is a bus that goes around the town. I also have a couple of numbers for people who transfer luggage between accommodation.

Drimmie Wood

Had a lovely walk at Drimmie Wood this afternoon, one second it was bright warm sunshine the next torrential rain showers, so I got rather wet. At the start of the walk the heather is looking lovely and there are fantatic views, then you enter the wooded area, planted with spruce trees, before coming to part of the walk that follows old drove roads used hundreds of years ago to move cattle around. Dotted around the wood are wooden art sculptures made by a local group.

A walk by the river

Had a lovely stroll along by the river today, only a 10/15 minute walk from my house. The river was very low, due to the dry spell we have had and looked like a mill pond in places. However, don't be fooled as there are very strong undercurrents and I would not recommend going into the river for a paddle or swim. By 1860 there were 11 water powered mills on the river turning flax into linen, they are now long gone, in ruins or being developed.

The 'Knockie' Path

One of the lovely things about Blairgowrie is that apart from it being convenient for going to many different places is that within 5 minutes you can be walking in beautiful open countryside in total peace and quiet. A lovely walk I went today was to the 'Knockie', part of the Blairgowrie Path Network up above the town where you get spectacular views, unfortunately today there was low mist which hadn't cleared so I didn't see much! I shall endeavour to get pictures of the view another time. From my upstairs lounge window and one of my bedrooms you can see the hill I went over.

I had a telephone call this morning to inform me that I had come 2nd in the Blair in Bloom Accommodation Providers category for my garden, which was good news. There will be a prize-giving in the Autumn.

Bluebells everywhere

Went and took some photos in the nearby Bluebell wood today, it was a lovely walk. The weather is still being kind to us.

January 2008

Already getting into the middle of the month. It's hard to believe we are now into our 12th season here, how time flies. We have certainly done a lot of work to the old place since we arrived with only a van full of our worldly goods, but it all seems worth it. We like to think the standard of accommodation improves every year.

My guests at Hogmany had a great night out at the Ceilidh in the Town Hall and the annual New Year's Day Fun Run was a great success. Glenshee Ski Centre, just up the road, has had a good amount of snow and the skiers have certainly been going up the A93 in their droves. Have been up twice this year, hope to go tomorrow.