Book Launch, Heritage Walks, BBQ, Ceilidh

Guided/Bussed Walks

The Whisky Trail

‘Wanted’! Smugglers in Glendaruel. Join The Walking Theatre Company for an intrepid romp through wild woodland to a ruined village. Keep the secrets of the Glen from the Excise men! Come and be a part of Scottish history through this interactive play which spans 200 years and a struggle for power after the Act of  Union!  Sponsored by The Heritage Lottery Fund.
Register in Hall, 2.30 pm
The Abandoned Village of Kildavain
A walk to the abandonned village above the West Road, guided by Michael Kaufman.
Register in Hall, 2.45 pm
Cruach Mhor Wind Farm
Take the free bus up the hill to wander around the turbines.  Bus or walk back
Register in Hall, from 2 pm (by request)
Owl Walk
A walk to visit owl chicks in boxes in the Glendaruel area, guided by expert Arthur French
Register in Hall, 7pm
(12 maximum)

“Free-Range” Walks

Home Farm walks
Enjoy the newly formed walks around Home Farm Steadings or visit the historical buildings and former site of Glendaruel House and Estate.

Maps and display available in Hall
Old Chapel open to public by kind permission of Anne Ferguson
Glendaruel House and Old Chapel

BOOK LAUNCH
4.45 pm - Join us for the official of the new Guide, published by Rucksack Readers, by Michael Russell, MSP, Minister for Culture, The Constitution and External Affairs.

Catering
Teas, Coffees and Homebaking
In aid of Kilmodan Primary School Funds from 2pm to 6pm
Bar from 4.30 - midnight
Winston Churchill’s Barbeque & Soup from 6pm

Entertainment (music from 5.30 pm)

Ceilidh with Canned Haggis
£5 per adult, children 16 or under free
Raffle
7pm

Free bus available (book in Hall or phone 0774 800 3351)
from Colintraive – 6 pm and 8 pm, return on request, last return bus midnight available from Tighnabruaich or Strachur if booked in by 4 pm

Image from Telegraph shows Chris Hunter measuring to the tip of the fir

The community of Colintraive and Glendaruel has received  a great deal of press attention over the last week or so as it has emerged that the Stronardron Douglas Fir has been crowned Tallest Tree in the UK.

from The Herald:

Mr Creelman, who hails originally from Greenock, says he regards himself more as a custodian of the tree than its legal owner. “When it was planted there was a kind of altruism where somebody plants a tree in 1848 and they are not going to see it in any great form and neither are their children,” he said.

“These days are gone but it’s nice that there are these living memorials. All you can do is look after the tree.”

While the title may seem rather obscure to some, it can be expected to boost tourism in the local area.

However, Mr Creelman is keen to strike a balance between making the tree accessible to the public and destroying the surrounding foliage.

“While we welcome people to come in and see the tree and see the garden, we don’t want to be trampled with people. It has survived there since 1848,” he said.

Reproduced with kind permission from The Herald

As more stories emerge they’ll be posted here:

• Scots fir is ‘tallest tree in UK’ (BBC)
• Trees worth meeting (The Telegraph)
• It’s a tall order measuring the biggest tree in Britain (The Scotsman)
• The tallest tree in the UK… by Fir (The Sun!)
• Douglas Fir in Argyll named tallest tree in Britain (Herald)
• Britain’s tallest tree is 209 ft Douglas Fir (Telegraph)
• The 210ft fir that’s been crowned Britain’s tallest tree – and is still growing (Mail)
• Sparsholt Lecturers Find Tallest Tree (Hampshire Chronicle)
• Is the Tallest Tree in the UK Argyll’s - in Glendaruel? (ForArgyll)
• Views of the Tallest Tree in the UK at Dunans Castle (LairdofDunansCastle.com)
• It’s a YES. Argyll has the tallest tree in the UK - see it from Dunans Castle in Glendaruel (ForArgyll)
• How long will Argyll’s Stronardron Douglas Fir hold on to the ‘UK’s Tallest Tree’ title? (ForArgyll)
• Dunans Castle Views the Tallest Tree in the UK – it’s official! (Dunans Heritage Project)
• Arborist’s to Search for Britain’s Tallest Tree (HortWeek)
• Sparsholt College Lecturers Search for Britain’s Tallest Tree (Sparsholt College)

A few months ago Anne McNaughton suggested getting a team together for the annual fundraising Moonwalk in Edinburgh. The event, in aid of breast cancer charities, involves 12,000 walkers, starting at midnight, and walking the length of a marathon (26.2 miles) in decorated bras. To be fair, we were a little dubious about the augmented underwear part of the challenge, but on the morning of  June 15th, seven of us, in garments of varying taste and modesty, crossed the finish line after walking for nine hours.
There was a great deal of humour, blood, sweat and tears, literally. But all that tramping around the glen must have paid off  because we all took it in our stride. Our bodies are now finely tuned athletic machines (?!)
Annie, Anne, Beth, Fiona, Heather, Jelena, and Kirsty give huge thanks to everyone for their generous donations, with a special mention to our families for their support. The amazing total we raised was over £4,000.
For the record, had we not been held up by the crowds, queues and toilet stops, we would have done it in around seven hours. Honest.

The Cowal Way Open Day takes place on Saturday 5th May.

The picturesque Clachan of Glendaruel once again hosts a day-long festival featuring a variety of guided walks for all ages and levels of fitness with free transport from the Clachan to the start of each walk. Other activities include a Clay Pigeon Shoot, Walking Theatre (perhaps with a malicious chainsaw), Mountain Rescue Challenge, Orienteering, Live Music in the Glendaruel Hotel, ‘Have a Go’ Art, Veteran Motor-cycle display, Craft Stalls and the Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop. Finish off your day at the annual Ceilidh with live music and bar.

Anyone wishing to set up a stall or display, please contact Annie Craig on 01369 820267