DIARY OF EVENTS

 
Here is a listing of local events. If you have an event you would like to include in this listing, please forward details to baata@live.co.uk

BLAIR CASTLE EVENTS - 2012

For up-to-date information on Events and Exhibitions listed hereunder as taking place at or in Blair Castle, please telephone 01796 481 207 or visit the Castle web site at www.blair-castle.co.uk and click on "Events" in the menu in the margin.

Castle Family Fun Days

Every Saturday throughout April, May and June
Every Friday throughout July and August
Special children's tours of the castle run at 2pm on Family Fun Days. Short tractor tours around the grounds are available during the day, included free of charge when you purchase a family admission ticket.

GUIDED WALKS - NATURE AND HISTORICAL - 2012

Throughout the year Atholl Estates Ranger Service operate a full program of Guided Nature Walks and Historical Walks for children and adults through Blair Castle Grounds and the wider Estate. Full details of the program can be found on the Ranger's web site at www.athollestatesrangerservice.co.uk or by obtaining a copy of the Highland Perthshire booklet, "Countryside Events and Guided Walks" available free from all Perthshire Tourist Information Centres

Contact Ranger on (01796) 481 646 (9am to 10am or 4pm to 5pm Daily March to October) or on 01796 481 355 out with those times and dates.

DEER STALKING - Hill Phones for Walkers

Deer stalking is important both to bring revenue to the local area and to keep the deer population under control. If the deer population becomes too high, the herd becomes less healthy and the moorland or grassland where they graze gets degraded.

Red deer stalking takes place between 1st July and 15th February (stag stalking 1st July – 20th October and hind stalking from 21st October to 15th February). The most important period is from 12th August to 20th October. During this shorter period hill walkers are asked to plan their route so as to cause minimum disturbance to the stalking. Our local Hillphone is run by the Atholl Estates Ranger Service, and provides daily information on deer stalking throughout this period.

Atholl Estates Hillphone – 01796 481740. Updated daily at 8 am from 12th August to 20th October.

Events in Atholl for 2012

MUSIC IN BLAIR ATHOLL - Lude House
May 2012

The Tunnell Trust for Young Musicians. Concerts will be held over several days throughout May.
Phone 01796 481230 for more information and tickets.

The annual series of Classical Concerts will again be held in Atholl, during the current season. For full details of all events please go the concert Web Site at - www.musicinblairatholl.com

Email :- info@musicinblairatholl.com - Secretary :- Lavinia Gordon 01796 481 230.

ETAPE CALEDONIA 2012 - Highland Perthshire's Closed Road Cycle Competition

For details and entry for the annual Etape Caledonia Closed Road Cycle Competition please go to the event website at www.etapecaledonia.co.uk

To view pictures of the previous Etape Caledonia Cycle Competitions,  courtesy of BAATA Member, James Rattray, please click on this link here to :- www.explore-highland-perthshire.com/etape_caledonia.htm . Official Photographs are also available on the Etape website, link above.

ATHOLL HIGHLANDER'S PARADE
2012 at Blair Castle

The very colorful annual Atholl Highlanders Annual Parade, with inspection by John Murray, 11th. Duke of Atholl, will take place on the parade ground before Blair Castle. Accompanied by their Pipe Band, the Highlanders will open the proceedings with the traditional firing of their mountain gun, a ceremony guaranteed to start things with a 'bang'.

Also includes talk about the Atholl Highlanders from 11.00am – 12.00 at Blair Castle – your opportunity to find out more about the regiment and their history.

For more details please click on the link to the Castle Web Site: - www.blair-castle.co.uk , or
Contact : Admin Office, Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Tel No. 01796 481 207.

ATHOLL GATHERING AND HIGHLAND GAMES
2012 at Blair Castle

The annual Atholl Gathering and Highland Games will take place at Target Park, Blair Castle, Blair Atholl next year. The games will be opened by John Murray, 11th. Duke of Atholl, in the time honored way by beating his sword four times on his shield. There will then followed an afternoon of traditional heavyweight competitions and races including the Atholl Highlander's Race, run in full regimental regalia.

For admission price and details please contact : bookings@blair-castle.co.uk Tel. No. 01796 481 207.

BLAIR CASTLE CELTIC NIGHT

July 2012

An opportunity to sit back and watch all things Scottish in a traditional Highland Night, featuring the Pitlochry and Blair Atholl Pipe Band, Highland dancers and much more. A great evening of entertainment for all.

Entrance fee to be decided nearer the date.

BLAIR ATHOLL SUMMER MARKET
29 July 2012

Blair Atholl Area Tourism Association will be holding it's annual Open Air Village Market on the green at the visitor car park, Blair Atholl.

For information contact Peter Barr, the Association Secretary on 01796 474 130

HIGHLAND FUN NIGHT
August 2012009

In aid of the Atholl Country Life Museum a Highland Fun Night with stalls and entertainment for all the family will be held in the The Memorial Park, Blair Atholl, commencing at 7.30pm.

For further information contact John Cameron on (01796) 481 232

THE LOCAL SKILLS DAYS
8th and 9th August 2012

The Blair Atholl Area Tourist Association will present the 2011 Local Skills Days, featuring local Artist and Crafts on Thursday 4th and Friday 5th August 2011. The event, which will now be in its sixth year, provides visitors with an opportunity to see local artists and craftspeople at work in Blair Atholl and Killiecrankie Village Halls and some, locally, in situ.

Featured skills at several locations include sugar craft, book-binding, kilt making; milling, fly tying, picture framing, painting, blacksmithing, clocks repairs, drystone dyking, archery, textile art, spinning, horsemanship and plant care. Visitors will be provided an opportunity to try their hand at some skills and a spectacular model railway will also be on show.

Full details will be posted here as soon as arrangements have been finalised.

BAATA Secretary and Skills Trail Convener - Peter Barr, Tel No. 01796 474 130

TOURISM ASSOCIATION GALA NIGHTS

July and 1st August 2012

Blair Atholl Area Tourism Association will once again be using the Memorial Park, Blair Atholl to hold its two very popular Annual Gala and Family Fun Nights, on the above dates this year commencing at 7.30 pm.  Proceedings will once again be opened with a march-on by our own award winning Pitlochry & Blair Pipe Band.

While each ride, demonstration, competition or stall is subject to availability on the night, the entertainment usually includes the following:-

Rides, Displays & Entertainment:- Model Steam Train Rides; Tractor Hay Rides; Carriage Rides; Horse Gymnastics; Silly McBee the Clown; Face Painting; Highland Dancing; Pipe Band; Farm Animals also vintage vehicles. Bouncy Castle and for the first time this year Riders of the Storm will be at this event on the 31st July, the highlight on 10th August will be Paragon Skydiving Parchutists who were such a big hit last year - so make sure you attend!

Competitions:- Football Competition; Target Golf; Ranger Service Fun Competition; Pet Competition; Ferret Forecast Competition; Name The Tartans and a Raffle

Demonstrations of:- Sheep Shearing; Horse Gymnastics: Horse Logging; Spinning: Roman and Jacobean Soldiers (not to be missed!), together with a CAR BOOT SALE, Tea, Cake, Ice Cream and Candy Stalls.

A GREAT EVENING OF ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY WITH ALL RIDES AND COMPETITIONS FREE OR ENTRY FEES RETURNED AS PRIZE MONEY.

For Bookings in respect of Car Boot Sale and Stalls - Contact Lin on 01796 481 269.

Association Secretary :- Peter Barr - 01796 474 130

BLAIR CASTLE INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS & COUNTRY FAIR

August 2012

 The 2012 Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair will take place during August 2012, with dressage for the main event taking place on the first two days with cross country and show jumping on the following days.

 To view full details of the programme of events and the Full Results of the 2011 Horse Trials please click on the link hereunder to the Horse Trials Web Site.


Horse Trials Office:- 01796 481 543. full information, visit - Web Link :- www.blairhorsetrials.co.uk

BLAIR ATHOLL GOLF CHALLENGE
2012

The Blair Atholl Golf Challenge for the Atholl Quaich is due to take place during September 2012. The event which is open to teams of four male and female golfers will tee off with a shotgun start at 9.30am.  Scoring will be based on the best two net stableford scores recorded by each team over 18 holes.

The Blair Atholl golf course is a classic James Braid design. It is generally easy-walking parkland with short climbs to and from a plateau, with elevated tee and green positions for several of the holes. The par 3's range from a wedge shot between towering Scots pines onto a tightly guarded green in the valley below, to a full drive along the edge of the River Garry, undoubtedly one of Scotland’s most challenging holes from the back tee.

The Golf Challenge is sponsored by the Blair Atholl Golf Club in conjunction with the Blair Atholl Area Tourism Association.  The £50 entry fee per team includes tea/coffee and bacon rolls on arrival. In addition to the main prize in the form of the Atholl Quaich, a number of additional prizes will be on offer.  Catering will be available during the post match celebrations. The field is limited to twelve teams so early registration is recommended! 

To obtain an entry form or to find out more about the arrangements for the event, contact Peter Barr on barr17@btinternet.com or phone/text 07969 155 005.

GLENFIDDICH PIPING CHAMPIONSHIPS
October 2012

The annual Glenfiddich Piping Championships for 2012 will be held in the Ballroom at Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, during October 2012. For more information and a full report on the 2011 results please click on this link to Glenfiddich Piping Championships. If Home Page appears, choose "Country" and click on "Enter".

For further information and Tickets for the 2012 event, please make direct contact with:
Mrs Liz Maxwell of Glenfiddich, Tel No. 0845 602 1974 E-mail :- liz.maxwell@wgrant.com

GLENFIDDICH FIDDLE CHAMPIONSHIPS
October 2012

The annual Glenfiddich Fiddle Championships for 2012 will be held in the Ballroom at Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, during October 2012. For more information and a full report on the 2011 results please click on this link to Glenfiddich Fiddle Championships. If Home Page appears, choose "Country" and click on "Enter".

For further information and Tickets for the 2012 event, please make direct contact with:
Mrs Liz Maxwell of Glenfiddich, Tel No. 0845 602 1974 E-mail :- liz.maxwell@wgrant.com

BLAIR ATHOLL CHRISTMAS MARKET
November 2012 - Blair Atholl Village Hall

Blair Atholl Area Tourism Association will be holding it's annual Village Christmas Market in the Blair Atholl village hall, Blair Atholl. The Christmas lights will be switched on the evening before outside the village Post Office.

For information contact Peter, the Association Secretary on 01796 474 130