Argyll Holidays blog

As the outdoor swimming society representative for the Argyll area it is my job to promote and encourage the joys to be had swimming outdoors in the beautiful lochs of Argyll.

The next event is a moonlight swim on Monday 18 April at 9pm. This is the first moonlight swim we have had here at Lochgoilhead and will sure to be amazing with the darkness, moon, stars and the shadows of the surrounding hills in the background. Come on, you know you’ll love it. What an experience.
There will be no set time in water or length of swim. Just taking a dip or coming along to support and getting warmed up with the fire on the sea shore, bring your own refreshments and meet to people have a laugh.
i will supervise the swim and all who enter first  must log on to the Outdoor Swimming Society website and become a member(free) and read the terms and conditions safety policy.

The web site also lets you see what other events are on around the UK.
 
Following on from the success of the big dip last year we will be holding again on Sunday 10 July. This is a European wide event with people all over taking the plunge in rivers, lochs, lakes and the sea at 3pm. We will do a touch of outdoor aqua aerobics at the same time. Details will follow on this closer to the day.
 
See you all in the loch.

Craig Nobes – Activity Manager at the Drimsynie Estate Leisure Centre.

Aqua aerobics exercises classes will be starting at Drimsynie Leisure Centre on Thursday 7 April at 10am and Monday 11 April at 7pm. They will continue on a weekly basis same time and day.

After doing a couple of taster sessions and getting into this different style of fitness with the locals and gym members, the feedback has been very responsive. Our aqua guinea pigs all have enjoyed and benefitted with the no impact on joints, working with the resistance of water and moving the body about while balanced and supported.

The class is great for all levels of fitness and abilities, especially if we have sore joints or back pain. The class will be fun with plenty of motivation and get up and go music to exercise along to.

Register at the leisure reception. The class is £3 in addition to the normal pool entry.

See you all there – Craig Nobes, Activity Manager at the Drimsynie Leisure Centre.

Full of news about what is happening around the company and parks, be sure to pick up a copy of the latest Argyll Holidays newsletter at any of the park receptions.

Friday 23rd to Monday 26th September the Cowal Open Studios (COS) is a unique opportunity to be welcomed into artists’ studios and to see a rich diversity of art and craft. For anyone interested in original art, be it painting, sculpture, woodwork and more… be sure to find yourself in Cowal this weekend. http://www.cowalopenstudios.co.uk/ 

 About Argyll Walking Holidays has designed an independent, self-guided itinerary with you in mind. Tricky forests? Boulders and cliffs? Rivers in the way? Horrible boggy bits? Cowal has them all as you’d expect, but they won’t bother you in the slightest. By careful selection of good paths, quiet forest tracks and unfrequented lanes About Argyll has created and clearly described a five-day route Across Cowal that avoids difficulty underfoot, ensures ease of navigation and still leaves you the joy of discovering the best that Cowal has to offer. And that best is magnificent. More details at: www.aboutargyll.co.uk/pages/acrosscowal.htm

Sunday, 20th March sees the last competition ever to be played at the Drimsynie Curling Rink.
Traditionally the end of season is marked with the Rose Bowl Competition. This is when all the week night league teams come together and play each other. It is always a good day with great banter and competition.
As today is the final day of the curling rink, it is only right that there should be a sense of heightened competition between the teams so as to get their name on the Rose Bowl Trophy.
I am heading out the glen for a few days so unfortunately will not be there to capture the occasion with some photographs. However, the camera has been handed over, the settings are fixed and now it is just up to someone to manage to point-and-shoot so we make sure we have some memories of the day. I will post the results of the day and some pictures on my return.
It will be a very different Drimsynie next winter. When the plans for the hall space are unveiled we hope that visitors and locals alike will continue to support Drimsynie as it enters the next phase.

Sunday 3rd April The Drimsynie Restaurant is offering a special Mother’s Day Menu from Noon to 9pm. Click for details. http://goo.gl/8on3G

Based in Dunoon, Insight is offering one and two day experiences including a simulated deer stalk, rifle introduction a venison BBQ and more. If you want to enjoy a day out on the hills at the same time as learning about the wild life, deer stalking and more, then have a look at their website. www.venisoninsight.co.uk

Argyll Holidays have seasonal vacancies, based in our Hunter’s Quay Holiday Park for the following: 

Housekeeping Team Leader (Permanent)

Housekeeping Assistants (Driving licence an advantage)

General Assistants

Pool Staff

We also have vacancies for the following seasonal posts based at Drimsynie Estate in Lochgoilhead:

 Shop/Laundry Assistants

Housekeeping Assistants

Interviews will be conducted week commencing 21^st March, with an immediate start available for successful applicants.

Please send your CV, together with covering letter stating which vacancy you wish to apply for; by 18^th March to hr@drimsynie.co.uk or telephone Iain Gibbs on 0845 459 7427, www.argyllholidays.com

After much consideration we are sorry to inform you at the end of this current curling season the rink at Drimsynie will close for the final time.

This has not been an easy decision to make and a combination of factors has brought us to this decision. The need to hire in an ice plant for the whole of this season, combined with the continued decline in the number of curlers, has meant on an economic basis that curling is no longer viable. For us as a company to commit the finances to putting in a new ice plant we would have to see that curling as a sport had the potential to grow. Our income from curling over the last few years has shown a downward trend and that does not look like changing.

We deeply regret having to make this announcement. As a family we wish to thank you all for supporting the ice rink over the past 24 years. Curlers travelled from all over the province to enjoy the facility. Some very competitive curling was played and many friendships formed. We were honoured to host some international tours, national play downs & RCCC events.

Some dedicated club members took time to coach the local youngsters, a number of whom represented Scotland in competitions.

The league nights were very well supported and people made the effort to come regardless of the weather. There was lots of good banter between the teams but it was still very competitive!

We will all have great memories of the Drimsynie Curling Rink and the fun and laughter we enjoyed.

We hope that the various curling clubs will be able to curl elsewhere and continue to enjoy the sport.

Yours sincerely:

The Campbell Family