Like it or not...... the season of festive frolics will soon be here

Why not forget the mad rush before Christmas and have a holiday instead in a beautiful, relaxing spot in the Trossachs. Stay in one of our lovely, cosy estate cottages, put your feet up by the fire & venture out to enjoy the glorious countryside -always looking magnificent in mid-winter.

We had a great holiday.....

Well don't these dogs look happy ? .....book in you & your dogs for a festive holiday by the fire !

It's 1/2 term but it's not just the kids that need a break !

Think of your dog too......they too could benefit from a few days away in the countryside....great walks, log fires, fantastic scenery &  holiday treats. What could be better ?

Season of mist & mellow fruitfulness

Not just a season of mist & mellow fruitfulness......here are some things to do when you come & visit

the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park in October

Callander Jazz & Blues Festival

Friday 4^th October Saturday 5^th &

Sunday 6^th

16 venues in and around town

46  performances by  44 bands

Something for everyone.

www.callanderjazz.com

01877 339399

Car Boot Sale Brig o’Turk

Village Hall

Sunday 13^th October

Info/Bookings £5 pitch

01877 376283

Refreshments £1

Scottish Folk Music The LadeInn

Kilmahog by Callander FK17 8HD

www.theladeinn.com

01877 330152

Friday 4^th       Pure Malt

Saturday 5^th   Baran

Saturday 12^th  Pure Malt

Saturday 19^th  Cairdeas

Saturday 26^th  Pure Malt 

Blair Drummond Safari Park

Open daily 10am--5.30pm

Last admission 4.30pm

www.blairdrummond.com

01786 841456   FK9 4UP

Park closes 27^th October

Family Fun Farm

Open daily 10am--5.30pm

www.briarlandsfarm.co.uk

01786 841309  FK9 4UP

Blair Drummond Safari Park

Open daily 10am--5.30pm

Last admission 4.30pm

www.blairdrummond.com

01786 841456   FK9 4UP

Park closes 27^th October

Family Fun Farm

Open daily 10am--5.30pm

www.briarlandsfarm.co.uk

01786 841309  FK9 4UP

Forestry Commision Scotland

Sunday 6^th October  3pm--7pm

Red Deer Rut

Enjoy a minibus excursion into

Queen Elizabeth Forest Park to

Experience the sights and sounds

Of the Autumn rut. This event involves hill walking and requires a reasonable level of fitness.

Boots,waterproofs, binoculars

Recommended. £10/£8 child

Children must be over 10years.

Booking required.

01877 382258

                Fungi Adventure

Saturday 5^th  October 2pm--4pm

Sunday 6^th    October 10.30am-12.30pm

Join expert Liz Holden for a fungi

Adventure in The Great Trossachs Forest.

www.thegreattrossachsforest.co.uk

07775  034851

it is strangely warm

Much warmer than it should be & dry today too.... when you are hanging out your washing, just think that in just a few weeks it will be half term & the perfect opportunity to take the kids & dogs out for a frolic in the countryside. Cardross Estate is the ideal place, cosy cottages, woodburning stoves, autumn walks, wildlife spotting and plenty of outdoor activities before winter really sets in. We think the Trossachs really do look fabulous in the Autumn so come & stay....

it's all over now ...boo hoo

Well, we didn't quite know what to expect, in a flash we went from this

to this

to this

and now everyone is packing up & we will soon be back to this

it has been a fabulous weekend & much enjoyed by all....the tents went up, sun shone & the music played...ahhh. 

We are getting very excited at Cardross !!

Preparations are under way & even the weather forecast doesn't look too bad....so see the line up & come to Cardross for frolics this weekend.....

Doune The Rabbit Hole Festival

Doune The Rabbit Hole Festival is a small, friendly music festival with a twist.
Back for a fourth fabulous year, Doune The Rabbit Hole Festival takes place on the
weekend of August 22nd-25th 2013, at Cardross Estate, Port of Menteith, Stirlingshire.

In a beautiful new home, the festival aims to create a great atmosphere where
everyone is welcome. Original and interesting music is the order of the day.
With six stages of Live Music, DJs, Comedy, Workshops, a Cinema, a Kids Area,
Poetry & Stories, Art & Crafts, Local Food & Drink and an array of stalls, there is
sure to be something to engage and delight festival-goers.

The kaleidoscopically eclectic music line up includes: Clinic, Venetian Snares,
Alasdair Roberts & Friends, Orkestra del Sol, The Pastels, PAWS, Robyn Hitchcock,
Rachel Sermanni and many more. The Inspire Stage is a showcase of new Scottish
Music featuring bands from all over the country.

Childrenʼs activities and workshops include: Scottish Ceilidh Dancing, Knitting and
Crochet For All, Dressing Up & Face Painting, International Adventures on a Bicycle,
Tribal Drumming, Bike Maintenance, and Exploring The Rabbit Hole – a space where
younger revellers can engage with the sights, smells and sounds of the land and be
free to play creatively in a safe environment.

Doune The Rabbit Hole is also committed to reducing the overall carbon footprint of
the event by encouraging festival goers to use GoCarShare to organise lifts and fill
up vehicles used to travel to the site. Happy Bus will also be running shuttle services
from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling and Falkirk.

Tickets are available from dounetherabbithole.co.uk

Tickets also available locally at Cross Keys in Kippen & the Red Lion in Doune.

Follow @dounetherabbit on Twitter or like the festival Facebook page
Facebook.com/dounetherabbithole

Things to do before Doune the Rabbit Hole arrives at Cardross !

Check out: www.dounetherabbithole.co.uk

Glen Finglas  MTB Challenge

Saturday 17^th August  10.30am

17 miles of all mountain trails

Against the clock.

www.skidaddle.org.uk

pre-booking is advised to

ensure post race snacks.

Categories Junior 16-18 years

Senior19-39 years

Veterans 40+

Killin Highland Games

Breadalbane  Park

Wednesday 7^th August

Piping & Field events from 10am

Chieftan’s Parade  1pm

Traditional Highland Games Events

Piping & Dancing, Hill Race

Fair Ground ,Trade Stalls

Beer Tent.

www.killingames.co.uk

Charlie Grant  01567 820342

Drymen Show Balfunning Farm, Balfron Station

Saturday 17 August

Livestock, Vintage Tractors, Trade Stands, Entertainments, Catering

Adult £7.00, Child/Conc £5.00, Family £20.00

it's a heatwave !!!!!!!

Goodness - the sun is still shining & at Cardross we are making the most of it. You can too:

• Get out your swimming togs & head down to the Lake of Menteith  for a dip (or be daring & go skinny dipping !)
• Paddle in the Forth
• Go to Loch Katrine for a sail on the Walter Scott
• Go for an ice cream at Katy Rogers Ice Cream Parlour in Fintry
• Have a picnic
• Hire a kyak at Go Country on Loch Ard
• Try the waterbus on Loch Lomond
• Visit Blair Drummond Safari Park & get the real feel
• Do some pond dipping
• Lie down & look at the clouds................

don't panic.......

if you were wondering what to do......here's a few ideas to get you going:

Book a barefoot walk with intrepid:scotland - www.intrepidscotland.com
Go to a concert in Balquhidder - www.balquhiddersummermusic.org.uk
Toss the caber at the Rob Roy Highland Games at Kinlochard - 14 July 2013
Have a pint at the pop -up beer festival in Aberfoyle _ Forth Inn 5-7th July 2013
Practice your highland dance moves at a Ceilidh - McLaren Community Hall, Killin -20 July 2013
See the Falkirk Wheel - an amazing Milennium Project
......more to follow, so watch this space

Summer has finally arrived

After 3 years of non-stop rain summer has actually arrived !!!!! Bathing suits out, sandals on & BBQ lit - Hurrrahhh. Book a cottage now before it ends..........

Edinburgh Fine Arts

One busy day to another. Edinburgh Fine Arts Society out for a jamboree....50 guests lunch at Cardross before shooting off to the next venue !

Architectural Heritage Society

Goodness, the sun is ACTUALLY shining & it really feels as though summer might possibly arrive soon. Busy, busy at Cardross making preparations for the Architectural Heritage Society visit & tour of the house tomorrow.

Scribblers Picnic Sunday 12 May 2013 12- 8pm

Why not come & stay at one of our cosy cottages & explore the Trossachs.....travel even further afield & go to the Scribblers Picnic - a fantastic family music festival supporting the following charities:

The proceeds are split evenly between

• Macmillan Cancer Support -  www.macmillan.org.uk
• Marie Curie Cancer Care -  www.mariecurie.org.uk
• Strathcarron Hospice – www.strathcarronhospice.org
• Maggie’s – www.maggiescentres.org
• Children’s Hospice Association – www.chas.org.uk

See their website for details: http://scribblerspicnic.co.uk/

Easter

The sun shone, it didn't rain & in spite of the biting east wind, we had a fantastic Easter break at Cardross Holiday Homes...all the cottages were full & guests had a lovely time.

"The cottage has been fantastic and with the lovely weather have been able to see relatives and do some touristy things too! "

intrepid:easter

Lookinng for something to do at Easter.......then why not go & see intrepid:scotland at David Marshall Lodge on Easter Sunday for some Easter Crafts at the David Marshall Lodge Easter Fun Day on 31st March 11:00 - 16:00

The Visitor Centre is a mile north of Aberfoyle on the A821 (Dukes Pass).

The Easter bunny has been spotted

...So thinking about chicks & bunnies & spring & chocolate we thought we would offer a week stay in our cottages at a discount of £50 for bookings made between 23 & 30th March 2013

it's half term

it seems as though things have only just back into a routine since the upheaval of Christmas so why don't you treat you + family + dog to a few days off in the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park there is still a smattering of snow on the hills but there are signs of life, the snowdrops are emerging which means spring really is on its way......so cosy up to our lovely new woodburning stoves and enjoy the end of the winter !

Remaining cottages available for just £300 per week !

HAPPY NEW YEAR

We have just about recovered from the season of good cheer and have started to think about 2013........
As a special new year special offer - we are offering a 10% discount for any bookings made before the end of January.