Argyll Holidays blog

If wild swimming is your thing, then come along to cheer off the participants in a mega swim in Loch Lomond on 28 August. Starting at 5pm at Ardlui and finishing…. wait for it, at Drumkinnon by Balloch at about 7am. A distance of 21.75 miles and you’ll have noticed from the times – involving swimming overnight and nonstop.

To do this event you have to prove your fitness by registering 4 8 mile swims in 2 years and have a support boat beside you for safety and support.

I will be going up to watch start and cheer my pals on from the Lake District and get more information about future events and how to prepare. All I need is a support boat so if any man/woman would help me out you can contact me on 07917888620.

More info available from: http://www.bldsa.org.uk/
Good luck to all participants

Craig

The Small Acorns fun family environmental event at Hunters Quay was a buzz of activity, with over 3000 visitors to the park over the weekend.

With the week before being wet and the forecast showing no change, preparations had all been put in place for undercover activities. However, we need not have bothered – as if by request, the sun shone for the whole two days.

Folks flocked to the park in their droves,

This year’s event had a slightly different layout to previous years, with exhibitors situated throughout the whole of the leisure centre and outside in the marquee.

This worked wonderfully well, with children and adults following the footprints up and down the corridors to the next attraction, and then outside to try their hand at woodland activities with The Forestry Commission, Scottish Green Woodworkers and of course, the blue fairy, who was in charge of the children making miniature worlds in a shell. Everywhere you looked was another child proudly clutching his or her own treasured tiny world.

Excited children and their parents also explored the insides of the mobile police station, ambulance and fire engines (It must be noted that more dads than children rang the fire engine bell!) while officers were on hand to give out information about each of the services.

One of the most popular attractions was Pat with his Harris hawk – she flew happily around the grounds throughout the weekend, which was a great spectacle for visitors – particularly when she swooped graciously just above the crowd showing her flying skills off to amazed onlookers. In between flights she sat quietly in the marquee giving folks a chance to look closely at her, and if you were lucky, have an opportunity to hold her.

Ever popular again were the free guided tours with Forestry Commission Scotland – Which gave visitors the chance to view the beauty of Loch Eck from the forestry routes. This provided an excellent photo opportunity for the keen photographer.

Suffice to say there was something for all the family to see and do over the weekend.

If you feel you have something, environmentally linked, that you would like to see at the next event or indeed if you have something you would like to share with others, please feel free to get in touch with me via the contact details below and I will be happy to discuss your ideas

Thanks have to go to all the exhibitors, staff and volunteers who went all out to make this, out fifth, annual event a great success.

Regards

Jackie

Tel:       07717404520

Email:    jackie.mcburney@gmail.com 

Salvation Army charity swim
 
With the cancellation of the Scottish leg of British Gas Great Swim, due to water having toxic algae at Strathclyde Park, some 600 swimmers where left disappointed.
Rachel Alexander from Wellingborough was not to be put off and did some research on Google for another venue.  Thanks to the wonder of the internet, Loch Goil was flagged up. Rachel had already done a lot of preparation for her swim and was determined it would happen. So, Rachel booked flights and accommodation and travelled north clutching her sponsorship list of over £8oo.

.
This was Rachel’s first venture to open water swimming. I can report that she achieved her goal in a great time of 28mins. I followed her over the finish line a few seconds behind.

Rachel found it a bit cold but thought it was a great experience. A real taste of adventure due to our location here at Lochgoilhead.
The money raised will go to the purchase of clean birthing packs for third world countries. These will be distributed by the Salvation Army. Rachel’s job as a midwife, as well as being a member of Salvation Army, means she can combine her job and vocation for a great cause.
A big well done, and thanks to Rachel for getting in touch, I was only too glad to help.

If you are interested in organised ouutdoor swimming events, have a look at: http://www.greatswim.org/
Craig

A phone call from Thomas “the gladiator” Noblet, owner of the Langdale Chase Hotel in Windermere and TV star of The Lakes, brought the offer of a boxing match on their white collar show in aid of Penrith children and families.

The match takes place on 3 September in Penrith and will be recorded for the ITV 1 show The Lakes to be shown early 2011.
I have started training hard here and keeping in the zone. I travelled down to Blackpool for a training session with the rest of the fighters and a photo shoot which was also recorded for TV.
I am already feeling fitter and stronger and I hope to put in a good performance and not get hurt too much. This is something I have always fancied and am very excited about the event.

Not seen the show? Have a look at: http://www.visitcumbria.com/itvthelakes.htm

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland

Are you in shape? Are you planning on getting shape?

The Kyles Marketing Group are planning a run billed as:  The Kyles 10 Miles on Sunday Sept 12^th at NOON around the Ardlamont loop

There is a website: www.Kyles10miles.co.uk for info / registration etc

They are looking for some help/involvement in Cowal as a whole

• With the planning
• As a participant
• As a  sponsor
• Maybe you can put a team together
• Anyone prepared to be involved on the day – as a marshall / timing person/ water provider

Any offers would be gratefully received and of course you are all welcome as spectators (begins and ends at the Kames Hotel)

Changes in pool hours at the Drimsynie Leisure Centre.

New in the swimming pool this summer is the introduction of adult only swimming every morning 8.30am to 9.30am. An evening adults only session will run Tuesday and Thursday nights 8pm to 9pm.

A children and family water polo game is held every Sunday 3pm to 3.45pm in shallow end of pool. A floats and fun session are held  on Thursday at 3.30pm in shallow end of pool.

The west districts Open Water Championship was a overwhelming success. Staged on Saturday, 14 August 2010 it can only be said that Loch Goil worked its magic. With a water temperature of 16 degrees it was ideal, and the conditions were calm. The sun shone and with over 100 spectators watching, cheering and looking on in awe at the hardy competitors it was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
The route was a triangle shape in middle of loch with a depth of over 300 feet. 45 swimmers in total raced over a 4k and 2k course. There was also a novice and relay race. Total respect to all of them.

A big thank you to all who rallied round at such short notice to make this a great day. We are hoping to see this event staged back at Lochgoilhead next year.

The Great swims take place in London, Manchester, the Lake district, Suffolk and Strathclyde and they are the by far the biggest open water swimming events in UK attracting around 10,000 people . A film crew will be including Loch Goil as one of the UK locations. Olympic swimmer Cassie Patten will be lead on her local swim by Craig Nobes, the Activity manager at the Drimsynie Estate. Craig is becoming well known in the area as the person who keeps trying to get visitors, locals and guests into wetsuits and into the loch. If you want some more info on the Great Swims go to http://www.greatswim.org

Saturday 14th August

Noon – Register for the 4km and 2km race at the Drimsynie House Hotel

1.30pm 4km and 2km race starts

Noon to 2.30pm Novice and relay registration at Drimsynie

3.30pm Novice race start

4.15pm Relay race starts

Spect