The Voice

Autumn 2010 | Number 6

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 'Friends' Gifts with new Christmas Card, Gold Mine rejected, Pier Pressure, and more...

5 Letter From The Chair

6 Gold Mine Plans Rejected

7 Wind Turbulence Gathers Pace

8 Pier Pressure

Managing Visitor Pressures Effectively- A Conundrum?

9 Uncertain Future For Park TouristInformation Centres

11 Friends Membership

12 Picture This - Our Business Partnership

14 John Groome’s 1975 Diary

15 Young People’s Project

16 Our Park

19 Columba 1400

20 Scottsland: Celebrates the language ofthe landscape

22 Friends Gifts

23 Order Form

2 The Voice - Autumn 2010

Designed and printed by

The Inglewood Press Ltd,

Alloa, Scotlandwww.inglewood-press.co.uk

3

The Voice is the magazine of theFriends of Loch Lomond and TheTrossachs, the only conservationcharity working solely to protectand enhance the landscape andlochs of Scotland’s first NationalPark.To join us or to find out more aboutour work please visit

www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk

The Voice is published biannually inspring and autumn. Submissions ontopics relating to Loch Lomond andThe Trossachs National Park arewelcome. Please send submissions tothe editor at the address below or [email protected]

Friends of Loch Lomond & TheTrossachs63 West Princes StreetHelensburgh, Scotland G84 8BNTelephone: 01436 677733Mobile: 07799 262 742Email:[email protected]


Articles published in The Voice do notnecessarily represent the views of TheFriends of Loch Lomond and TheTrossachs.

Charity No. SC015389

The Voice is printed on100% recycled papersupporting the re-use offorest resources and inaccordance with FSCstandards only usingpost-consumer recycledwood and fibre

Since last I wrote my health has been somewhat dodgy – witnessthe fact that I had to miss our AGM – the first time since we startedin 1978. The years hang heavily upon me and I no longer getaround my garden and greenhouse – so no more regalpelargoniums and cuttings of shrubs and camellias! Luckily manyof them are still thriving in the garden and gladden my heart, alongwith the hydrangeas, now in full bloom.I had an invitation to the opening of the three villages communityhall by Prince Charles and Camilla on the 3rd June. Leanne got methere in my wheelchair. The Prince came over to speak to me andon seeing my MBE said, “I see you have met my mother, and madea comment on the good work that The Friends did.Being in a wheelchair in a crowded room with poor acoustics, theconversation was soon over.I recently celebrated my birthday with a splendid lunch at CameronHouse where I was well looked after by Stephen Carter and hisattentive staff. I was also pleased to hear that Stephen has agreedto Cameron House becoming the first Friends Foundation BusinessSupporter and to help our work in other ways including a charitygolf fund raising event at the Carrick in Spring, 2011.I am delighted to hear from our new Chairman that the Friends arethriving with lots of new initiatives underway or planned, so keepup the good work!As ever, I always welcome visitors at Auchendarroch, but please dophone first – 01301 702240.

All the best, yours aye Hannah

I see you have met my mother

A letter from

the President


With Sweeney’s four star tours on Loch Lomond you can enjoythe Loch in all its seasonal beauty in style and comfort,

whatever the occasion or time of year.Whether it's a relaxing cruise you're after or a fun night out

with a difference, Sweeney's Cruises caters for all.Call us on 01389 752376

or email: [email protected]

Dear MembersIt gives me great pleasure to

welcome you to the latest edition ofThe Voice in my role as the recentlyappointed Chair of the Friends. Asyou may know I have a longassociation with the area and theFriends through my former role asChief Executive of the Area TouristBoards over a period of more than20 years and I am delighted to betaking over the Chair of the Friendsfrom Rowena Ferguson who was verypersuasive! Rowena of course didmuch to modernise the Friends andlay the foundations for some excitingand very practical projects.

Since I took up the post of Chairin June I have been impressed bythe passion, enthusiasm andcommitment of your Trustees, yourstaff, local businesses and the manyvolunteers and individuals who havegot involved in furthering the work ofthe Friends. This was no moreevident than at the CaledonianChallenge event on the WestHighland Way and the recent LochLomond islands litter clean up whichcollectively attracted around 50volunteers to fund raise and get theirsleeves rolled up to help conservethe qualities of this special place.

I am also grateful to the localbusinesses that have joined the firstphase of our new BusinessSupporters Scheme, which isgrowing rapidly. Very many localbusinesses depend on the specialnatural qualities of the National Parkfor their business success, and byjoining our scheme, they enable usto protect and promote these specialqualities and the Park as a whole. I

look forward to welcoming manymore businesses into our BusinessSupporters Scheme over the comingmonths as we step up our activities. Iam also pleased some businesseshave taken advertising in the Voicewhich has enabled us toconsiderably boost the print run anddistribution.

We have taken stock of ourpriorities in recent months and weare now taking forward a veryambitious programme of work underthe strategic themes of helping toprotect and promote the LochLomond and the Trossachs area andprovide for its future through a rangeof special projects and initiatives.

Under the ‘protect’ theme inrecent months we have taken part inthe controversial goldmine andDrymen housing planning hearingsand also given evidence at a largescale wind farm developmentplanning hearing near the south westcorner of the National Park. We arecontinuing to lobby the ParkAuthority to modify the draft ParkPlan and make the Park a 'no goarea' for large wind turbine structures(see page 7).

Under the provide theme we arestepping up our fund raisingactivities to support practical work onprojects throughout the National

Park, in addition toorganising volunteeractivities and special events. It islikely this will take on an increasinglyimportant role as the National ParkAuthority's budget shrinks due tocutbacks in public expenditure. Akey short term priority is to lobby formuch needed investment in the piersaround Loch Lomond.

There have been some recentchanges to your Board of Trusteeswith Frank Bracewell stepping downafter many years of sterling service.Frank of course was involved in manyplanning issues over the years butundoubtedly one of his greatestachievements was helping to secureownership of Ben Lomond for thenation through his joint involvementwith the Friends and the NationalTrust for Scotland. A new recruit as aTrustee, but a familiar face to many,is Bill Dalrymple, the former and firstChief Executive of the National Park.We are delighted Bill has joined usand his knowledge and expertise willbe invaluable to the Friends.

We are grateful for yourcontinuing support and hope youenjoy reading the latest edition ofthe Voice. If there is any issue youwould like to raise with us or feelthere is any way you can help tofurther the work of the Friendsplease do get in touch. I lookforward to seeing some of you at ourChristmas event on the PS Maid ofthe Loch on Thursday 2ndDecember.

All the very best James FraserChair-Friends of Loch Lomondand The Trossachs

Our (new) chairman’s letter

5www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk

I am grateful to the localbusinesses that have joinedthe first phase of our newBusiness SupportersScheme, which is growingrapidly.

We set out the objection that thischarity made in the last edition ofVOICE, and the key points in thatletter of: Permanent physicaldamage to the natural heritage ofthe National Park, damage in one ofthe most accessible and visited partsof the Park, disturbance within thisaccessible yet ‘wild’ part of the Park,lack of overriding national interest,negligible guaranteed benefit to thecommunity, uncertain employmentopportunities, an uncertain futureand a damaged National Parkreputation.

In our comments at the meetingSimon Lewis our Director stressedthe Sandford principle – i.e. that ifthere was a conflict between thevarious aims of a National Park suchas economic activity andenvironment – that environmentalprotection should be the overridingfactor.

There was an impressivepresentation from the ScottishCampaign for National Parks whichstressed the significant deficienciesin the company’s plans forrestoration of the huge five storeyhigh earthwork that would containthe 800,000 tonnes of mine waste.This was also an area over which thePark’s own staff expressed significantconcern. National Park Authorityofficers also expressed concern over

the potential for pollution and thepoor standard of the planningapplication, particularly in respect toenvironmental damage andsubsequent restoration of the site.The company and its landscapeassociates significantly failed toanswer these concerns.

By now the meeting had run wellinto the evening and after a verytense voting session the applicationwas rejected by just two votes. Atthe time of writing the companyhave not appealed this decision, butare discussing a revised applicationinformally with the National ParkAuthority.

As was reported recently in TheScotsman:

“The company has been holdingprivate discussions with members ofthe Park Authority since itsapplication was voted down bytwelve votes to ten at a dramaticmeeting in Tyndrum last month.Investors are hoping that it will be acase of second time lucky for thefirm's flagship project if acompromise can be struck oversome of the Board's environmentalconcerns.

ScotGold is examining what canbe done to minimise the visual andenvironmental impact of the mine's"tailings management facility"where waste material is disposed.

Although the resulting mound wouldbe grassed over at the end of themine's life, environmentalcampaigners believe the landscapewould be marred by an unnaturalland form. There are also fears thefacility would ruin the "specialqualities" of the area for walkers…

…Despite last month's defeat,Chris Sangster, Chief Executive ofthe firm, said he continued to be"encouraged" by the close result ofthe meeting. With the Park's Boarddue to be reshuffled and reducedfrom 25 members to 17, supportersof the project hope a secondapplication containing severalconcessions may survive anothervote…”

Simon Lewis said of theoutcome, “There is certainly aneed for jobs and investment inthe Tyndrum area, though as Isaid at the hearing, the appealof the landscape and wildlifewill be drawing visitors forhundreds of years, while themine would last for only ten”.

We would welcome the views ofour members and our widerreadership on this important issue.Please get in touch!

On 18th August the full Board of

the National Park Authority met

to consider the planning

application by ScotGold for a

‘Proposed Gold Mine with

associated service and production

buildings, plant, tailings storage

area, pond and gauging station,

access roads and bridges and

diversion of burn’.

GoldMinePlans


RREEJJEECCTTEEDD


The threat from possible wind farmdevelopments to the special scenic andlandscape qualities of the National Park and itsapproaches from possible windfarmdevelopments has been to the fore in recentmonths and is likely to become greater nowthat the Scottish Government has announced arevised target of achieving 80 per cent ofScotland’s energy needs from renewablesources by 2020. While the Friends aregenerally supportive of the drive to securemore energy from renewable sources andconsider the National Park can make a majorcontribution to the national targets, we do notbelieve allowing clusters of wind turbinesbetween 40 and 70metres high (130 and 220feet – a five or nine storey building!) within thePark is the answer. There are less intrusivealternatives more suited to a National Parksetting including ‘run of the river’ hydro andbiomass schemes.We are campaigning against this with theScottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP)and are trying to persuade the National ParkAuthority to modify the draft Local Plan anddeclare the Park as a ‘no go area’ for windturbines. It is encouraging that our efforts ledto the issue being debated at a Park Board

meeting in the summer with agreement toclarify the draft policy on wind turbines - butwe remain concerned the final wording may notpreclude the development of clusters of thesehuge structures within the Park. We are urgingthe Park Authority to adopt as clear a stance onwindfarms as their counterparts in theCairngorms, where developments of this natureare not permitted.Meanwhile, we are pleased the Park Authoritysupported a group of South Cowal CommunityCouncils, SCNP and others, at a packedplanning hearing in the Kilmun Village Hall, tooppose a windfarm development of 8 windturbines, each with a height of 100 metres, onthe south western approaches to the Park. Thescheme, if permitted, would have dominatedthe skyline in an area which is being promotedby the local Cowal Marketing Group as theMaritime Gateway to the National Park. and itwould also have adversely impacted on majoroutdoor visitor attractions such as the YoungerBotanic Gardens and some of the more iconicviews in the south west corner of the Park. Wewere delighted when members of the Argyll &Bute Council Planning Committee decided tounanimously reject the application. The stanceof the Community Councils to oppose thedevelopment was particularly commendablegiven that they were being offered a‘sweetener’ of up to £1.6 million over 25 yearsby the developer for local community projects.

Wind Turbulence Gathers Pace

Refusal of the windfarm hashelped protect thespectacular views from theYounger Botanic Gardens

Loch Lomond is a popular destination for pleasure cruisetrips and two of the leading passenger boat tripoperators on the loch are the long established familybusinesses of Cruise Loch Lomond and Sweeney’sCruises. Both have signed up to the new FriendsBusiness Supporters Scheme (see page 12). Anotherlong established operator is Sandy MacFarlane atBalmaha who continues to serve the inhabited islands ofthe loch with the historic mailboat carrying bothpassengers and mail. New additions to the loch scenethis year include the impressively restored Silver Dolphin(Sweeney’s Cruises) and experimental ferry and cruiseservices between Luss and Balmaha, an around the bayservice linking Balloch, Balloch Castle Country Park andCameron House Hotel, and a service between Ballochand Balmaha. These trials are part of an effort toimprove waterborne linkages around the loch. Some ofthese new services have been financially supported bythe Park Authority and Scottish Enterprise, while CruiseLoch Lomond underwrote the Luss to Balmaha service.The new services have proved to be popular and thechallenge now will be to place the subsidised services ona more sustainable footing and ensure that the agenciesand all operators on the loch work together moreeffectively to provide a wider range of integratedservices which appeal to both visitors and local residentswho want to enjoy the wonders of the loch from thewater. More effort also requires to be made to link in withinnovative pilot transport services such as the 4Bs. BUT…there is a major issue which could undermine theprogress being made on better cruising opportunities onthe Loch - this is the poor condition of many of the piersaround Loch Lomond. This urgently needs to beaddressed before some of the structures are condemnedand declared unsafe for use. Surveys have beenundertaken and indicative costs for repairs assembled,but due to pressures on the Park Authority’s budget theprospects of serious investment in the piers in the shortterm seems unlikely. There is also the issue of upgradingof the piers so that they are suitable for the PS Maid ofthe Loch when she returns to full sailing capability in acouple of years.The Friends have made representations to GovernmentMinisters to release more funds to the Park Authority toaddress this vital issue.

A considerable amount of the Park Authority’s budget isdevoted to visitor management issues and funding what isreportedly the largest ranger service in the UK. This issupplemented by the efforts of the police, land owningagencies such as the Forestry Commission and charities, andlocal authorities. All are working closely with the ParkAuthority to try and stamp out anti-social behaviour atvarious ‘hotspots’ as part of ‘Operation Ironworks’. Sadly,despite the efforts of the various bodies the scale ofirresponsible behaviour at various loch sides throughout thePark is on the increase with a growing number of largely carborne visitors involved in cutting trees down for camp firesand barbeques, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol,creating noise disturbance and littering loch shores and theadjacent woodlands with all kinds of waste.While plans are being progressed to introduce byelaws toban outdoor drinking and wild camping between Drymenand Rowardennan on Loch Lomondside with the support ofthe local community, the Friends (with some caveats) andother bodies, there is a real concern in other Parkcommunities that this will lead to displacement of theproblems to other accessible loch shores such as LochsLubnaig, Venacher, Voil and Earn. These sites are alreadysuffering from similar problems. We have seen the problemfirst hand on recent visits by Friends Trustees to differentparts of the Park and the issue is frequently raised indiscussions with a range of local community and businessrepresentatives.We accept that a ‘do nothing’ strategy is not an option, andwe have some sympathy for the views expressed by DennisCanavan, former MP and MSP and current Chairman of theRamblers Association Scotland at a recent UK NationalParks’ conference held on Loch Lomondside. Dennis veryforcibly put the case for not ‘criminalising’ all wild campersfor 12 months of the year alongside the 13 mile stretch ofthe West Highland Way between Drymen and Rowardennanand suggested the problems were not being caused byvisitors coming to the area on foot, by bicycle or horseback,but was mainly a car borne visitor phenomenon exacerbatedby alcohol abuse. He felt the cause of the problem shouldbe tackled by taking firm punitive action with stricterenforcement of existing laws. He pointed out that there arealready adequate laws to deal with litter, vandalism and anti-social behaviour and argued a better solution would be torestrict alcohol and car access on the east side of LochLomond with overnight parking bans in specific areas andthe introduction of permit access for nominal sums.

Managing Visitor Pressures Effectively

- a conundrum?


Pier pressure


There is growing concern about the future ofthe network of Information Centres throughoutthe National Park. The Centres collectivelyhandle over a million visitor enquiries annuallyand perform very useful and importantfunctions showcasing the diversity of what thePark has to offer, as well as helping to orientateand educate visitors. The Park Authority hascontroversially leased the Luss Visitor Centre,which remained closed throughout the mainsummer months, to Purdie Soaps and most ofthe local interpretation material has beenremoved to make way for retail activities.Similarly, the £2.8 million publicly fundedNational Park Gateway Centre at Balloch hasbeen leased to Cadonas for a coffee shop andice cream parlour with all the interpretationdisplays on the National Park removed. Thereis also uncertainty about the long-term futureof some of the other visitor information centressuch as the Breadalbane Folklore Centre in

Killin and the Rob Roy & Trossachs VisitorCentre in Callander that serve the needs ofmany hundreds of thousands of visitors so well.There is a need for a clear strategy on thefuture role and purpose of the network ofInformation Centres in the Park. Do we wantour visitors to be oblivious to the wealth ofthings to see and do in the Park? Do we wantto help persuade visitors on touring holidays tolinger longer in the Park or move onto otherparts of Scotland to spend their money?Should the Centres have valuable educationand orientation roles to play as part of theinteraction with almost half of all visitors to theNational Park? Should the Luss Visitor Centreand the National Park Gateway Centrecontinue to benefit from extensive signingwhen they no longer perform their originalfunctions as important Park information andinterpretative facilities with trained andknowledgeable staff? Do we need informationcentres at all? What do you think?

Comments please [email protected]

Uncertain Future forPark iinformation Centres


Please join us! PLEASE JOIN THE FRIENDS! If you have been a

member in the past, or never supported this charity,

please JOIN NOW! As you can see from the contents

of this edition of our magazine VOICE, the charity is

actively involved in a wide range of activities to

protect and promote the National Park - we can only

do more with your support. This year membership

remains at £15 individual and £20 family/joint. For

new members who join this year (up to 31/12/2010)

we are again able to make the special offer of a free

copy (retail price £9.99) for each new member of the

guide to the National Park – ‘Discover Loch Lomond

and The Trossachs National Park’. It’s a

comprehensive guide to the Park with all the vital

information about where to go, what to see and how

to get there – produced in a small handy size just

right for a large pocket or small back-pack. The guide

is starting to sell well in retail outlets around the Park

– so this is the last chance for new members to get a

free copy!

From the beginning of 2011, we will be able to take

membership subscriptions by direct debit and

members will be able to simply renew at the same

time they joined, each year. In the meantime, please

join us for the first time, or renew your membership

with a cheque payable to The Friends of Loch

Lomond and The Trossachs –

The discounts and offers availableat a range of businesses in andaround the park are:

• 50% off entrance fees atDrumkinnon Tower, LochLomond Shores

• 10% off Sail Loch Katrine on the‘Sir Walter Scott’

• 10% off cruises with Cruise Loch Lomond,sailing from Tarbet

• 10% off food and beverages at The CoachHouse Coffee Shop, Luss

• 10% off food and beverages at The BuchannanArms Hotel, Drymen

• 10% off food and beverages at the MacDonaldForest Hills Hotel and resort,Kinlochard

• 10% off entrance fees at Go Ape,Aberfoyle

We will also be developing aspecial section onmembership on the newwebsite www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk

where all the membership information andspecial member offers will be listed.



A group of the first

businesses put

themselves in the frame

for our Business

Supporters scheme

gathering on Loch

Lomondside in mid

September – thank you

to our founder members!

This edition of VOICE marks the launch

of our new Business Supporters Scheme.

We’re delighted that a dozen of the

leading businesses in the National Park

have joined as members of the scheme,

alongside the many hundreds of ‘public’

members of the Friends.

Our business supporters are based in the

glorious natural asset of The Loch

Lomond and The Trossachs National

Park, and like us, they value this

wonderful setting in which their

businesses are operating. And through

the scheme they are now actively

supporting our work to protect the area’s

environmental quality heritage and

culture, promote it as a most special part

of Scotland, and provide for its future

through a range of projects for people

and for wildlife. A beautiful growing, and

thriving National Park is good for

everyone, and brings in both visitors and

customers!

We applaud the investment of our

founding business supporters! As Mike

Cantley, convenor of the National Park

Authority board said: “'I welcome this

new initiative by the Friends and I am

delighted so many businesses have

signed up for this initial phase of the

innovative Friends Business Supporters

Scheme which has tremendous potential

to fund worthwhile projects throughout

the National Park.”

James Fraser – the new chairman of The

Friends said: “Given the uncertain

public sector financial climate I think it

is critically important that innovative

ways are developed to source funds

for conservation, heritage and outdoor

recreation projects in the National

Park and I am enormously grateful to

our new Business Supporters, and

indeed those advertising in this edition

of VOICE, for their support”.

Picture this!

Stuart CordnerCruise Loch Lomond

Shona Brierton Cameron House

Mairi CordnerCruise Loch Lomond

Rowena Fergusson The Coach House

Coffee ShopJames Fraser

Chairman Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs

Mike Cantley Convenor of theNational Park

Authority and chair of Visit Scotland


Foundation Supporters• CAMERON HOUSE Loch Lomond, Dunbartonshire, G83 8QZ

Telephone: 01389 755 565 Fax: 01389 713 281 www.cameronhouse.co.ukA magnificent baronial mansion surrounded by 100 acres of woodland,Cameron House on Loch Lomond, blends traditional Scottish influenceswith sumptuous contemporary décor to offer guests a memorable stay inthe finest surroundings. This is your lochside Baronial mansion and muchmore with our Carrick resort our 18-hole championship golf course andluxury spa. Once tried, never forgotten.

• LODGE ON LOCH LOMOND HOTELLuss, Argyll, G83 8PA Tel: 01436 860 201Fax: 01436 860 203 email: [email protected] 4-star Lodge on Loch Lomond Hotel has a unique lochside setting. Itoffers stylish accommodation, some with en-suite saunas and privatebalconies, Colquhoun’s, a 2 AA rosette restaurant with panoramic views ofthe Loch and mountains and a health suite with swimming pool, spa andtreatment rooms.

• LOCHS & GLENS HOLIDAYSSchool Road, Gartocharn, Dunbartonshire G83 8RWTel: 01389 713 713 email: [email protected] www.lochsandglens.comLochs & Glens Holidays are proud to support the Friends of Loch Lomond& The Trossachs

Business Plus Supporters• THE OAK TREE INN Balmaha, Glasgow, G63 0JQ

Tel: 01360 870 357 email: [email protected] Family run inn on east side of Loch Lomond adjacent to WHW, servinggood food all day with bunk, standard and deluxe accommodationavailable

• THE WINNOCK HOTELThe Square, Drymen, Loch Lomond, G63 0BLTel: 01360 660 245 email: [email protected] The Winnock Hotel in Drymen is the perfect choice for everything from adelicious bar meal through to a fun-filled party-night, ceilidh or specialevent.

• BEST WESTERN BUCHANAN ARMS HOTEL AND SPA23 Main Street, Drymen, Glasgow G63 0BQTel: 01360 660 588 email: [email protected] www.buchananarms.co.uk

One of the finest and most popular small hotels in Loch Lomond and theTrossachs, with a character and charm which sits peacefully and calmly withthe qualities of its surroundings.

• CRUISE LOCH LOMONDThe Boatyard, Tarbet. Loch Lomond, G83 7DGTel: 01301 702 356 email: [email protected] www.cruiselochlomond.co.ukExperience the serenity of the bonnie banks through the winter on awardwinning cruises - Rambler; Explorer; Rob Roy Discovery, Ben Lomond Hike.From Tarbet, Luss, Inversnaid, Balmaha, Rowardennan.

• SWEENEY’S CRUISESBalloch, Dumbartonshire, Loch Lomond, G83 8SSTel: 01389 752 376 email: [email protected] www.sweeneyscruises.com Scottish Tourist Board 4-star tours on Loch Lomond. All cruises have livecommentary, bar and toilet facilities. Open 7 days a week all year round.

• COACH HOUSE COFFEE SHOPLuss, Loch Lomond, Argyll, G83 8NNTel: 01436 860 341 email: [email protected] Award winning coffee shop - gorgeous food, hearty soups, fantastic coffeeand cake – roaring log fires in the winter and tables outside in the summer

• BALMILLIG B & B64B Colquhoun Street, Helensburgh, G84 9JP Tel: 01436 674 922 email: [email protected] www.balmillig.co.uk Superb 4 star accommodation minutes from the National Park’s southernedge. An environmentally committed business also offering bespokeguided tours – day walking and mountain guiding.

• LOCHSIDE PHOTOGRAPHY2 Hamilton Street, Dumbarton, G82 2ADTel: 01389 733 888 Mobile: 07836 261956email: [email protected] www.lochsidephotography.co.ukWedding photography for all budgets, high quality press, corporate, andlandscape photography founded on many years experience in tourism andthe Loch-Lomond area

Business Supporters• POPPIES HOTEL & RESTAURANT

Leny Road, Callander FK17 8AL Tel: 01877 330 329www.poppieshotel.com

• THE HARBOUR CAFÉLoch Venachar, Callander FK17 8HP Tel: 01877 330 011www.venachar-lochside.co.uk

• WHEELS CYCLING CENTRE - BIKES / HIREInvertrossachs Road, Callander, FK17 8HW Tel: 01877 331 100www.scottish-cycling.com

Mike Cantley Convenor of theNational Park

Authority and chair of Visit Scotland

Niall Colquhoun The Lodge on LochLomond and theInverbeg Inn

Neil Wells Lochs and Glens

Holidays

John Sweeney Sweeney’s Cruises

Sandy Fraser Oak Tree Inn

David Warnes The Winnock Hotel Drymen


Christmas eventa date for your diaries! Thursday 2nd December, we are holding an early evening festive reception

in the wonderful setting of the Maid of The Loch at Balloch Pier.

With drinks, nibbles and some informal Christmas entertainment, it will be a

great opportunity to meet the Trustees, staff and other Friends. The

atmosphere will definitely be informal and there will also be an opportunity

to hear about the exciting plans to reintroduce sailings of the famous

paddle steamer in time for her 60th anniversary in 2013.

See you there 5.45 for 6pm till 7.30 or thereabouts

John Groome’s 1975 DiaryJohn Groome writes with Christmasapproaching in December 1975

You can still buy copies of the JohnGroome Diaries for either or both1978 and 1979. The two diaries,printed in full colour with hiswonderful illustrations, are availablefrom the office at £5 each – with £2postage and packaging – lovely andunique Christmas gifts.

Sunday 7th December: The weather has turned mild again, and the garden still hasplenty of flowers. Even fuchsia and lobelia survived the littlesnow we had. I was in Glasgow during the week and even atnight no overcoat needed to be worn.

Saturday 13th December:Frost enough last night to ice over the pools and curl therhododendron leaves, but as the day passed some warmthreturned. This week I have tidied Rowchoish shelter, whichhas recently been visited by undesirables who left it in amess and stole or destroyed the log book. I took away threesack fulls of empty cans, mostly beer, 26 bottles – wine andspirits, and burned a lot of other refuse. A lot of green birthhad been cut and littered about, the biscuit tins which I hadsupplied to hold food had been bashed about, the watercontainer thrown out and all the firewood burned. At thistime of year when hill walkers may take risks they should not,a supply of dry firewood can be a life saver, so I stocked upwith firewood, replaced the water container and left a noteabout refuse. I hope it works, but perhaps the ‘wrong types’are illiterate!


Watch for ourcharitygolf event!

As part of our exciting new partnership with Cameron House,

we are looking forward to running a special charity golf day at

The Carrick in the spring / early summer of next year – with

funds raised supporting the work of the Friends.

More details will be available soon – if you’d like to go on

the list to be emailed with full information as soon as we

have it – please email [email protected]

putting ‘golf’ in the subject line – then you’ll be the first to

know about the event and how to book a place!

We’re setting up the project now,with support from the National Park- the project aims to connect youngpeople in the populated heart ofScotland with their nature heritagein the National Park. This will bedone through a competition for aseries of web based ‘Species Tales’- web pages created by youngpeople that stimulate investigationinto, understanding of, growing asense of value and care for wildlife -nature - biodiversity …. natureheritage in the National Park. The competition will encourageinvestigation, insight, more thansuperficial understanding - lookingat connections with habitat andwider environmental forces,pressure from other species, threatsfrom man and man’s activities bothdirectly and indirectly. We willencourage entries to show as manyconnections as possible -with otherspecies, other habitats, the wider

environment beyond the NationalPark, and with either or bothhabitats and species listed in thePark’s Biodiversity Action Plan.There will also be strongencouragement to show the effectsof people in the park – thedisturbance and damage that canaffect these species.The project will culminate in theSpring with an awards event withpresentations from short listedschools/groups, and a VIP topresent awards. There will be a tripinto the Park with practical activityfor the short listed school groups.If you are a teacher working in aschool in one of the urban areasaround the National Park, or in thePark itself – get in touch and we’lltell you more!There will be a special report on theproject in the next Spring edition ofVOICE.

Young people’s projectLook out for our new young people’s project‘Get into the nature heritage of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs!’

A Huge Thank YouBALMILLIG B&B in Helensburgh -who have raised a fantastic £542!Balmillig B&B are very generouslymatch-funding their customerdonations £1 for £1!

FASCADAIL HOUSE in Arrochar –a very impressive £190 from acombination of £1 voluntarydonations on overnight bookingsas well as collections from their‘OUR park’ donation pot.

ROSS PRIORY in Gartocharn – Anoble £78 from loose changecollected from their ‘OUR park’donation pot located at the bar.

Many thanks to everyone fortheir generous contributions.

PROJECTS SUPPORTEDBY ‘OUR PARK’ DONATIONS…

OUR Park volunteers tackle loch lomond litter

A group of 20 volunteers gathered on Saturday 25September to collect a staggering 45 large bags of litterfrom the islands of Inchmoan, Inchconnachan andInchtavannach. Abandoned tents, plastic bottles anddisposable barbeques were just some of the items clearedby the group and there was also evidence of extensivetoileting at each of the sites. . The event was jointlyorganised by the new tourism group Love Loch Lomondand the Friends. We plan to do more – watch for theSpring edition for a full report.


With thegenerationsdonations fromvisitors andbusinessesparticipating in the‘OUR park’ schemewe are delighted to have been able to start to offersupport to conservation organisation completing vitalconservation works to protect the wildlife in the area,which includes:

• Assistance to the Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust, whom wefeatured in our last edition of The Voice, to assist withtheir vital survey and habitat improvement works toconserve native fish populations, such as Salmon andTrout in the rivers and water of Loch Lomond.

• Providing the Cowal Red Squirrel Group with squirrelfeeder boxes and feed so help them monitor grey squirrelexpansion in the area which will assist with formulatingplans to remove and help prevent their further expansionin Cowal, thus helping to conserve the native red squirrelpopulation.

With thegenerationsdonations fromvisitors andbusinessesparticipating in the‘OUR park’ schemewe are delighted to have been able to start to offersupport to conservation organisation completing vitalconservation works to protect the wildlife in the area,which includes:

Islands of sh...ame!!!


An appreciation of the changinglandscapes and wildlife in thePark – by well known localnaturalist Keith Graham who livesat Port of Mentieth

Autumn brings a strong sense of change to the

Park. Most evidently, that change is manifested in

the strengthening colours with the heather purpling

moor and mountain. The vast variety of woodlands

are tinted at first yellow and golden, then bronze,

copper and russet as the cycle of green that is so

strong during the summer months finally bows out,

except of course, among the serried ranks of

conifers.

It is a golden ending as the year declines towards

winter. And yet, it is a beginning too, for in that

decline, the dying leaves that even now are

carpeting the landscape, are the stuff of new life.

The reddening brackens blaze a defiant message,

illuminating the hillsides as the autumn sun gives a

grand finale to the year and brings with it the

natural harvests of the woods and hedgerows -

succulent brambles, rich, red haws and hips and

dark clusters of sloes. Red rowans also blaze a

message of fulfillment as nature’s harvest reaches

maturity.

There are new noises too. On those blazing hills

and in familiar glens, hackles are rising as red deer

prepare themselves for the climax of their year

when stag will challenge stag. No quarter is asked

for or given as each antlered monarch of the glen

strains every muscle to prove that he is the master

of all he surveys. The glens echo to the sonorous

roars as challenges are issued and then accepted.

Antlers clash as the annual rut that has been a ritual

to generation after generation of red deer reaches

its zenith. It is dramatic, it is at times nerve

wracking; it is about the triumph of the strongest,

yet for older stags it can in defeat, also spell the

end of their supremacy. They may find themselves

literally pensioned off.

Already by late September, the antagonists are

gathering, the hinds accepting their subservient

roles meekly. Great expectations! Let battle

commence! There are also new sounds in the air,

not this time from the mountains and glens but

from the gentler lowland parts of the Park, as great

skeins of geese descend to complete journeys from

beyond the Arctic Circle. Pink-footed geese from

Iceland and Greenland represent the bulk of these

winter migrants but there are also white-fronts from

Greenland, homing in most notably upon the

broad, southern waters of Loch Lomond.

Such is the variety of landscape across Loch

Lomond and the Trossachs, that there is always a

remarkable diversity of wildlife to observe. Red may

be the notional colour of the autumn season but

red too are the squirrels that dominate the Park’s

more northern landscapes. The alien greys,

interlopers from across the Atlantic, were

introduced to Britain – more specifically to Cheshire

– in 1876. They quickly carved out niches for

themselves and being larger and more aggressive

soon began to spread at the expense of the much

more attractive native reds.

Unfortunately, some of these foreigners were

released on the shores of Loch Long in 1896 and

quickly became the more dominant squirrels in

lowland Scotland, to the extent that reds all but

disappeared from areas to the south of the

Highland Line. However, happily in more recent

times the expansion of the range of a creature once

severely persecuted and nearly driven to extinction,

has seen grey squirrel populations on the retreat in

many parts of the Park. The pine marten, now of

course, protected under the law, is apparently

prospering and is targeting the grey squirrel as a

primary source of food.

Grey squirrels are on average, nearly twice the

weight of the native red, and are much less agile

than their red counterparts and thus easier for pine

marten to catch. Furthermore, they make a much

better square meal! About the size of domestic

cats, if a little more slender, these attractive

members of the weasel clan are an increasing and

welcome presence in many parts of the Park,

spending much of their time among the trees.

Most of the summer migrants, like swallows, martins

and our growing population of ospreys, have

departed for warmer climes but other birds are

flooding in from the north and east as autumn

advances. As well as great flocks of geese, there are

graceful skeins of whooper swans descending from

Iceland. Slightly smaller than our resident mute

swans, they are also much more pleasing on the ear,

their mellow fluting a welcome and musical addition

to the autumn mood.

And across the North Sea come all manner of

winter migrants, among them woodcock, short-

eared owls, minuscule goldcrests, nomadic flocks of

fieldfares and redwings and many more, escaping

from the perma-frost now beginning to seize their

native heaths.

There is more red on display with the burgeoning

numbers of red kites to be seen in many parts of

the Park. The re-introduction of these attractive

raptors has certainly embellished our skies with the

magnificence of their languid, drifting flight but

another

newly

introduced

bird, is also

putting in regular

appearances especially in

the eastern parts of the Park. ‘Flying barn doors’, is

how some people describe the presence of the

mighty sea eagles. However, it is the more

populous golden eagle perhaps, that is more likely

to be seen, especially in the mountainous areas of

the park.

And as autumn finally cedes to winter and the first

snows decorate the mountain tops, new dramas

unfold. Mountain hares, residents of those high and

lonely places and sometimes referred to as ‘blue

hares’, respond to shorter days and lowering

temperatures by turning white. Stoats too become

ermine and ptarmigan grow in new white plumage

as they seek obfuscation – anonymity – in their

quest for survival.

Change is the ever recurring theme in the natural

world but throughout the shortening days of

autumn if there is a sense of decline, there is

nevertheless a sense also of the fast approach of a

new beginning. Indeed, the old season of Yuletide

is a celebration of the passing of the significant

landmark of the shortest day. Thus, the New Year

really does mark the start of something new.

Already eagles are proclaiming territorial rights and

even selecting nesting sites for the coming year,

whilst down in the wild woods something stirs deep

inside roe deer does as the fertilised eggs that will

in May become kids, now at last begin their life’s

cycle.

Indeed, as days now almost imperceptibly begin to

lengthen, there is a sense throughout the Park of

renewal - that a new cycle of life is about to be

generated. Blackbirds may be heard bursting into

song as early as January. Redbreast and Jenny

Wren at last have vocal company and spring may

well be just around the corner! And as January

passes the baton on to February, so are the first

signs of regeneration beginning to manifest

themselves. Now as days lengthen, it is a time to

look forward as nature begins to set in motion yet

another season of re-birth.

Autumn Reflections

our park • our park • our park • our park • our park • our park • our park •

A weekend marshalling for the Friends at the Caledonian ChallengeOne of our new volunteers, Sarah Cartwright, talks about her experience marshalling this year’s

Caledonian Challenge to help raise funds for the Friends.

“I had been volunteering with Loch Lomond National Park for a few months when an email

was sent around on behalf of the Friends of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs asking for

volunteers to marshal at the Caledonian Challenge. Up for a weekend in Glencoe, meeting

new people and doing my bit, I signed up.

The Tennent’s Caledonian Challenge, held this year on 11-13 June, sees teams of competitors

attempt to walk (or run if superfit/mad!) 54 miles of the Great Glens and West Highland Way

within 24 hours. The event raises money for the Scottish Community Foundation and, in addition,

the Friends of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs received money for every marshal provided.

The teams started out on Friday afternoon but our first shift did not start until midday Saturday. We

were stationed at Glencoe Ski Centre, the 34 mile mark. Our duties were varied – directing traffic in the

car park, checking the participants in and out, manning road crossing points, directing participants to the

route, cleaning up, watching for those walking alone and for those in trouble. Our most important task,

however, was to do lots of cheering! The atmosphere at the checkpoint was great, from the participants, marshals

and supporters. I was even thinking of putting my name down to enter next year!

The army provided much of the logistics for the event and entered a few teams as well, with their

recruiting team in first to the Glencoe checkpoint. Having run for 34 miles, they looked like they’d just

been for a stroll in the park. A banana and a bottle of water later and they were off again. According

to one of the army volunteers I was chatting with, this event was the warm up for the next weekend –

running all 95 miles of the West Highland Way!

Our shift finished at 8pm and we headed off for some food and beer at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel, whilst

the participants walked through the night. Then it was off to bed in the bunkhouse in preparation for an

early start. Our Sunday shift started at 5am and was at the finish line at Strathfillan. I was manning the

bag drop, along with Alice, next door to the medical tent. There were a lot of hobbling people, some with

their feet held together with tape! The sense of achievement was fantastic; it really is quite a feat (!) to

complete it. When we had finished at the bag drop, we went down to the finish line to cheer in the last teams.

The army recruiting team completed the route in 11 hours and eight minutes; the last team made it in 27 hours

and 20 minutes and every single person well deserved their medal.

As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend. The atmosphere from start to finish was great; I met a lot of

people and made new friends; I was persuaded by quite a few of them that mountain biking is the future

and I am now well on my way to choosing a new bike; the Friends received £2250 for providing marshals

and I am now a member!”

Many thanks to Sarah and the rest of our 20 volunteers who helped with this event – together we

raised £2,250 which will be used to deliver the ‘OUR park’ initiative which is helping to deliver vital

conservation and enhancement works in and around the National Park.


For more information on any of our

volunteer events, or to register for an

event please call our project officer

Alice on 01389 727 761 or by email

[email protected]

Friends membership

and marketing officer

Sue Cameron showing

the way to go on the day

our park • our park • our park • our park • our park • our park • our park •

Columba 1400is changing young people’s lives and their communities

Norman Drummond, the founder ofColumba 1400, telephoned his good friendPeter Armitage in September 2006 andpersuaded him to visit Gartocharn. He hadspotted an advert for the sale of Ardoch, anestate on the edge of the village, andbelieved that it could be the right place toimplement a plan that had been swirlingaround in Peter’s head for more than a year.Peter was seeking a property suitable forhosting the highly acclaimed leadership anddevelopment programmes run by Columba1400 on the Isle of Skye for young peoplefrom tough realities. Peter’s happychildhood and a successful careermotivated him to give back to society andhe identified Columba 1400 as theorganisation best positioned to help him toachieve his goal of making a positive impacton young people’s lives. Finding the right property had proved to bea time consuming and challengingassignment but it was immediatelyapparent that Ardoch met all the criteria,including the requirement for aninspirational location, which is such animportant part of the Columba 1400

experience. The ideal property also had tohave potential as an attractive meetingplace for paying groups. This is a criticalelement in the business plan, whichconverts rising commercial revenues intogrowing subsidies for Columba 1400courses, thereby underpinning the financialsustainability of Columba 1400’s work atArdoch. The practical challenges of developingArdoch were numerous but the biggest ofall, once planning permission had beenobtained, was to design a new building thatwould appeal not only to discerning adultgroups but also to young people. Thearchitect brief emphasised this key aspecttogether with others such as lowmaintenance and environmentally friendlytechnologies. The development has abiomass boiler, solar panels, grey watercollection and excellent insulation. Therehas been a major tree planting programmeon the estate, a small pond has beenenlarged to form a lochan, which isattracting many forms of wildlife, and aborehole has confirmed that undergroundwater supplies are adequate for all Ardoch’s

needs.The original steading has been totallyrefurbished and the new building wascompleted recently. The differencebetween the old and the new is verystriking with traditional fabrics and furniturein the cosy steading contrasting vividly withthe rough stone, timber, galvanised metal,brickwork and rusted steel plates in thecontemporary building. There are woodburning stoves throughout, artwork onalmost every wall and uplifting views fromalmost every window. The property is very flexible. It has a total of18 bedrooms (15 bathrooms and 32 beds)spread across the new building, 3 cottages,a farmhouse and Ardoch House. There is anelegant drawing room, a large familykitchen that seats 10, a byre that makes awelcoming reception area, a dramaticdining hall, two meeting rooms and manybreak out areas including the double heightspace and large terrace, both with stunningviews over Loch Lomond.Ardoch feels like a place where good thingscan happen.www.ardoch-scotland.com


Scottsland: celebrates the languageof the landscape

The Scottsland programme staged over forty events during the summer,culminating in the Chase, a sporting event which followed the route of the stagchase in the first Canto of the poem. And the National Park hosted the UK ANPAconference on 21-23 September on the banks of Loch Lomond with more than100 delegates from National Parks and environmental agencies across the UK. The Scottish Association of Literary Studies also held their annual conference inthe Park in June exploring the influence of Sir Walter Scott on the Trossachs.Together with the National Park Authority they marked the occasion with thepublication of a new illustrated version of the poem which has actually been out ofprint for many, many years. Throughout the summer, the Scottsland celebrations had a strong community feelwith many events staged by local groups and organisations. There were guidedwalks, photography competitions, heritage displays, cruises, picnics and awonderful film festival. Callander Community Development Trust worked with the local primary school tostage the Soaring above the Trossachs Kite Festival on 24 September 2010. TheTrust gave each pupil a kite to decorate in the summer term, and then the KiteClub of Scotland helped all 280 children launch their kites with a colourful displayof kites from around the world. Callander Enterprise put on an innovative ‘Words in Windows’ exhibition with 80framed verses from the poem on display throughout the town centre. Each verse was carefullychosen to link with thegoods on sale inside andshoppers were invited toenter the Words inWindows competition tolink each verse to thepremises. As a tiebreaker,entrants were asked, havingbeen inspired by Scott, towrite their own short verseabout Callander;


2010 has been a big year in the life of theNational Park and its many communities....and for many reasons... but possibly nowheremore so than in and around The Trossachs.Two hundred years ago in 1810 Sir WalterScott, arguably one of the greatest Scots ofall time, wrote and published his epic verse‘The Lady of the Lake’ set in and around TheTrossachs. The poem sold over 25,000 copiesin its first year of publication and touristsflocked to the area from across the globe toexperience the place so beautifully depictedthroughout the poem. In celebration of thebicentenary the National Park launchedScottsland, a wide ranging programme ofevents centred on Callander and the widerTrossachs. The original idea for the celebrations camefrom a National Park Board Member andFriend of Loch Lomond, Bob Aitken. Asearly as 2005 Bob put a formal proposal tothe National Park Authority setting out thesignificance of the poem and recommendingthat the Authority take the lead in planningand delivering a programme of celebrations– and to start that planning as soon aspossible. Bob’s paper was instrumental inraising awareness of the significance of SirWalter Scott’s epic verse and prompted theAuthority to focus attention on the Park’squite unique arts and literary heritage. TheBoard fully supported his recommendationand one of the early actions put in place wasto make a bid for this Park to host the UKAssociation of National Park Authority’sannual conference.

‘Spreading the Word: A candlelitevening with Scott and Friends’The Friends trustee Carron Tobin sawScottsland as a golden opportunityto help raise awareness of TheFriends in the eastern area of thePark. She devised ‘Spreading theWord: a candlelit evening with Scottand Friends’ – it proved to be a veryspecial treat, and not just for thoseable to e there on the evening... On 14 September an audience of 30sipped Rob Roy cocktails bycandlelight in the wood panelledlibrary of the Roman Camp CountryHouse Hotel while CallanderAmateur Operatic Society presentedSir Walter Scott’s life story and hisworks through narration, song,recitals and a delightful traditionalpuppet show. Part way through theevening Brian Collie, local tradesmanplaying the part of Sir Walter, treatedthe audience to the first ever publicrecital of ‘A Highland Journal’ writtenby Sir Walter Scott in 1797 whilestaying in Callander at Cambusmore.The poem begins;

From the cliffs of sweet Killin,From the paps of woody LennyBlythe we traveled the Highland GlenMountain, moors and slopes many

The reading of the poem wasimaginatively and generously madeavailable to the Friends by the BaillieHamiltons when trustee Carron Tobinshared with them the plans for‘Spreading the Word’. Sir WalterScott regularly visited and stayedwith the family and the poem hadlain undiscovered for over 200 yearsin a bundle of letters in an estatebox. Following a press release from the

National Park, the first readinggenerated huge media interest witharticles in many UK newspapers anditems on Asian, Indian and Americanwebsites and translations intoSpanish. And then just before thesecond performance on 21September, the Friends received acall asking if NTV, Russia’s largestnon-governmental television station,could film the second performanceand also interview the BaillieHamilton family.

Interview with Bruce and Angus BaillieHamilton for Russian TV!

Eugene Ksenzenko presenter withNTV said ‘Sir Walter Scott and hiswork is as big as Tolstoy in Russia.’On 22 September 2010 ‘NTV’beamed the news piece to over 100million viewers in the former SovietUnion countries, and many moreworldwide by satellite. Paula Baillie Hamilton is filmedunlocking and displaying thecontents of the battered black estatebox within which the poem layundiscovered for over 200 years in abundle of letters from Sir WalterScott to the family. Paula said ‘we arepleased that so many people areinterested.’ A special feature on the news itemwas an interview with Bruce andAngus Baillie Hamilton. The boys,both pupils at Beaconhurst in Bridgeof Allan, are in their early teens and

have been studying Russian for overthree years. The boys offered to beinterviewed in Russian and took timeto translate one of the lettersespecially for NTV. Markedly the filming took place onthe anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’sdeath on 21 September 1832. The ‘Spreading the Word with Scottand Friends’ programme, written byClare Hunter, was beautifully scriptedand guests were delighted with theevening. Ian Inglis president of CAOSnarrated Scott’s life story while MarkMacDonald recited Lochanvar andEmma Milligan sang Schubert’sbeautiful Ave Maria inspired by thewords in The Lady of the Lake. AlanClark provided the musicalaccompaniment. A highlight was atraditional cardboard puppet theatreperformance of Rob Roy. Brian Collie, Callander’s very own SirWalter Scott, whose parents were inthe audience, laughed ‘earlier today Iwas plastering a bedroom wall andthis evening I was reciting ‘aHighland Journal’ to over 100 millionpeople!’David Redwood commented ‘As oneof the guests representing Forth &Lomond Leader I thought this was animaginative way to commemoratethe life and work of Sir Walter Scottand the members of the CallanderAmateur Operatic Society certainlydid him justice.’

The two evenings generated £400in donations which were splitbetween the two societies.



For the first time for a number of years, we haveagain produced a Christmas Card with a classicscene of snow-clad Ben Lomond. We have alsoproduced a blank ‘notelet’ with a lovelyAutumnal Trossachs scene – both cards come inpacks of 10 with envelopes at £5 per packcollected from the office, or with £2 post andpacking. Cards are shown below – you canorder yours by using the enclosed order form oremailing [email protected]

Branded Outdoor WearWe have also developed a range of high quality clothingwith the Friends logo proudly emblazoned in full colour –order yours now and wear with pride! The best way toorder outdoor wear, with a full colour embroidered Friendslogo, is direct from our website – click on the GIFTSbutton for as full range of colours and sizes and newclothing items as soon as we have them. ON-line orderswill be delivered within 21 days. If you do not have acomputer – please copy or cut out this form and send tous with your cheque. Clothing items ordered by post cantake up to 28 days.

LADIES AND GENTSPOLO SHIRTS

Ladies and gents short sleevedpoly cotton polo shirt

LADIES AND GENTSFLEECES

Cosy long sleeve outdoor fleeceswith full zip front

SPORTS CAPwith peak

AUTUMN COLOURS IN THE LOCHLOMOND AND TROSSACHS

NATIONAL PARK - A5 NOTELETSCHRISTMAS CARDS DISCOVER LOCH LOMOND

AND THE TROSSACHS BOOKJOHN GROOME’S DIARIES

1974 AND 1975


Order FormI would like to order the following items from the Friends Gifts selection: PLEASE TICK SIZE AND COLOUR REQUIRED

OUTDOOR WEAR QUANTITY

Ladies Fleece S �� M �� L �� Black �� Green �� Blue �� @ £24.99 ....................

Gents Fleece S �� M �� L �� Black �� Green �� Blue �� @ £24.99 ....................

Ladies Polo S �� M �� L �� Black �� Green �� Blue �� @ £15.99 ....................

Gents Polo S �� M �� L �� Black �� Green �� Blue �� @ £15.99 ....................

Sports Cap @ £5.99 ....................

For Outdoor Wear items please add postage and packaging £4.00 per item

GIFTS

Trossachs Notelets - set of five (A5) plus envelopes @ £5.00 ....................

Christmas Cards - set of ten (210 x 99mm) plus envelopes @ £5.00 ....................

Discover Loch Lomond and the Trossachs by Martin Varley @ £9.99 ....................

John Groome’s 1974 Cuilness Diary @ £5.00 ....................

John Groome’s 1975 Cuilness Diary @ £5.00 ....................

For Seasonal Gifts please add postage and packaging £2.00 per item

Name ........................................................................................................

Address ........................................................................................................

.................................................... Postcode ..................................

Tel. No. ........................................................................................................

email ........................................................................................................Please complete the order form below and return to: Friends of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, 63 WestPrinces Street, Helensburgh Scotland G84 8BN with cheque made payable to: Friends of Loch Lomondand the Trossachs

BY PHONE:You can also order by phone on 01436 677733 – just leave us a note of your order, with your full addressand phone number. We will phone you back to confirm the order and the cost.

IN PERSON:the office will usually be staffed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10am-4pm.

The Friends of

Loch Lomond and

The Trossachs needs you...

To help us do more for the future ofLoch Lomond and the Trossachs

we are looking for volunteers to helpwith many aspects of running the society.

We are looking for volunteersin specific areas such as:

• Helping with administrationat our office in Helensburgh

• Writing for or editing this magazine

• Becoming a trustee and helping plan ourfuture programme and raising the funds to

enable all our work

Friends of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs63 West Princes Street,

Helensburgh Scotland G84 8BNTelephone: 01436 677733

Email: [email protected]

Publication dates for next year: the next (Spring)edition of VOICE will be published in mid April 2011.We would welcome your input – letters, articles –please get in touch!

Over the next few months, we will be undertaking amajor overhaul of the website to make it easier touse, more up to date, and rather less complicated! –Log on to www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk and seethe work in progress! Amongst the new featuresthat will be up and running in 2011 will be a specialversion of The Voice that you can read ‘live’ onscreen, turning the pages with a mouse click. We willalso be starting a regular email news service for allmembers for whom we have an email address (if wedon’t have yours please email it [email protected] with ‘email alert’ inthe subject line). These bulletins will also go out toeveryone who has registered for updates on thewebsite.


We gratefully acknowledge the support of the following for our workand for the OUR Park scheme in particular

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The Voice