The Crieff & Comrie Quair

The Crieff & Comrie Quair

ADVENTURES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY AT HIGHLAND SAFARIS

Explore the stunning Perthshire countryside with exhilarating Land Rover Safaris, picturesque boat trips on Loch Tay, a visit to our renowned Red Deer Centre, and engage in friendly competitions with archery or axe throwing. There’s so much more to discover!

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• extenSionS

• renoVationS

• attic conVerSionS

• cladding,

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• dry rot and wet rot treatment

Roofing & Damp Proofing Services

Roofing

We

IN AUCHTERARDER

The Crieff & Comrie Quair

tel/text: 07436 793785 e: crieffandcomrie@thequair.com w: www.thequair.scot Aberfeldy, Perthshire, PH15 2ZX

IN AUCHTERARDER

WHERE LEGS AND FEET MATTER

GREGOR McCOSHIM FCPodS MChS

WHERE LEGS AND FEET MATTER

Welcome to the April 2025 edition of The Quair! As we step into a new month, we bring you the latest news and key dates to note in your calendar. With plenty of events taking place, planning ahead ensures you won’t miss out as the weeks fly by. While organisers strive to keep everything running smoothly, unexpected changes can happen. To avoid any last-minute surprises, we recommend checking event details in advance. Did April Fool’s Day catch you off guard this year? We heard a rather amusing tale - apparently, a Perthshire locksmith was granted key worker status, unlocking some interesting possibilities for other trades!

HCPC REGISTERED

ROUTINE CHIROPODY

On a more serious note, schools will break for the Spring Holiday on Friday, 4 April, with students returning on Wednesday, 23 April

GREGOR McCOSHIM FCPodS MChS

WALKING/RUNNING INJURIES

ORTHOTIC/INSOLE MANUFACTURER

This year, Easter, which follows the lunar cycle and the spring equinox, falls on the following dates: Friday, 18 April (Good Friday) Saturday, 19 April (Easter Saturday) Sunday, 20 April (Easter Sunday).

Easter Sunday is always the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon, which determines the date each year. (Paschal refers to Easter or Passover.)

LEG/FOOT HEALTH ASSESSMENT

ORTHOTIC/INSOLE MANUFACTURER

LEG/FOOT HEALTH ASSESSMENT

206 HIGH STREET, AUCHTERARDER, PH3 1AF

206 HIGH STREET,   AUCHTERARDER, PH3 1AF

TEL: 07932 725211

EMAIL: grm@mccoshim.plus.com

TEL: 07932 725211

www.grmpodiatry.co.uk

EMAIL: grm@mccoshim.plus.com

Comrie Allotments Association

Interested in having an allotment plot? Our plots are located at Cultybraggan Camp and available to residents of Comrie. Half and full plots are serviced with water close by and surrounded by beautiful scenery. To find out more please email: comrieallotments@gmail.com

Finally, for students preparing for exams, the SQA exam period begins on Friday, 25 April. To stay informed, check the latest timetable on the SQA website. We wish all students the best of luck in their exams - stay focused, study well, and do your best!

Alistair and Linda

The Crieff & Comrie Quair is an open access monthly magazine which is delivered FREE to over 6,150 homes and businesss in the Crieff & Comrie area - that's from the county boundary west of St. Fillans to Madderty in the east. Copies for visitors are also made available each month from our outdoor dispensers in Crieff and Comrie. The extra print run is dependent on the normal fluctuating seasonal demand from visitors and tourists and, of course, local and regional lockdowns due to worldwide pandemics! As well as being a Community Magazine, The Quair is an excellent source of information for visitors. We also produce The Atholl & Breadalbane Quair. Each month, between the two magazines, we print an average of 15,000 and deliver more than 13,500 copies directly to homes and businesses throughout Highland Perthshire and Strathearn. Local voluntary groups and organisations may submit articles, free of charge. All contributions are carried subject to space being available. We ask that any article reaches us by email by the specified copy date, is factual, non-political, under 400 words and not likely to offend.

www.lovelocal.scot

Copy Date - The copy date for advertisers and organisations to submit an advertisement or article for the May 2025 edition is noon on Wednesday, 9 April The Magazines are due to be distributed the week commencing Monday, 28 April 2025.

Heart of Scotland Herb Society - 25 Years of Herbs : Health : Happiness Members Night - Celebrating Herbs will take place at the Bowling Club Aberfeldy at 7 pm Wednesday, 16 April

Further information contact Cath McGregor 01887 830234 or Susan Craik Tel: 07501 095602.

Richmond Community - Our weekly health walk now meets at the Crieff Community Hospital, King Street, Crieff at 10.30 am every Thursday, then after the walks we have a chat over a cuppa in the day room. The friendly weekly walks are tailored to your needs but are more suited to the beginner. We have a shorter walk which normally takes about 30 - 45 minutes and a longer walk that lasts just over an hour. They are both led by trained walk leaders, and we also have Dementia Accreditation. ‘Health Walks On Tour’ is Thursday, 3 April, when we will be walking around The Falkirk Wheel and then heading to The Visitor Centre afterwards for a cuppa and scones. To get your name on the list for the bus trips, please come along to our regular Thursday walks. We had a lovely walk around Killin last month and enjoyed refreshments at the Killin Hotel. To stay in touch with what is happening in the community, visit our Richmond Community Facebook.

Our friendship group is every second Friday. We meet at the Crieff Community Hospital 10.30 am12 noon. On Friday, 4 April, we have Cary Hughes from Nature Connects coming to help us make wild garlic pesto. Cary will also bring along garlic treats for us to try. On Friday, 18 April, we will be having a games morning where we will be playing bingo, indoor curling and board games. Please feel free to come along, join in, have a chat and a cuppa.

Richmond Community runs the Carers Café, which takes place on the second Thursday of every month at the Crieff Community Hospital. The next monthly meeting will be Thursday, 10 April. The café also gives unpaid carers the opportunity to meet other carers and staff from agencies such as Perth and Kinross Coun-

cil, Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Services (PKAVS) and Carers Voice over a cup of tea or coffee and delicious biscuits. Everyone is welcome to come along.

For information on any of these activities, contact Karen Hapka at karen@richmondcommunity.org or telephone 07587 088403.

Crieff Probus Club

Local people in Crieff are well aware of the Remake Scotland premises near the Visitor Centre on Muthill Road but how many really know about its various activities and services? On March 4, members of the Crieff Probus Club heard from Marie-Claire Fisher, Community Engagement Coordinator for the charity.

Remake Scotland is a ‘reuse charity’ whose main aim is to reduce how much society sends to landfill and to recycling, by encouraging a Circular Economy. Rather than the ‘linear’ model (buy, use, dispose), a circle of reuse between ‘use’ and ‘dispose’ is encouraged. They achieve this by accepting donations of unwanted items and selling them on: some go straight into their shop while others may need electrical testing or some repair first. Other charity shops and schools benefit from Remake. But Remake Scotland has many other strands to its operation. As well as the Reuse Hub, there is a Tool Library, the Bike Reuse Project, the Food for Good shop in the High Street (plastic-free: bring your own container for refilling), the Climate Café and the monthly Repair Hub at the Community Campus, where volunteers lend their skills to repair small household items, electricals and textiles. They also run workshops and education sessions. A current favourite is developing sewing skills. Traditional sewing skills are not being passed down the generations as much as they once were and this helps to maintain an important ability within society.

The Bike Reuse Project, in conjunction

You can find all of The Quair advertising details at our website by scanning the QR Code to the left and view our Facebook page by scanning the QR code to the right

with Cycle Crieff, renovates unwanted bicycles for resale. There is a big turnover of children’s bicycles, given the rate at which youngsters outgrow their bikes.

Recent figures from the Tool Library indicate the most commonly borrowed items have been pressure washers, circular saws and cordless drills. In all, 331 items have been borrowed by 505 users, amounting to 4,276 loans.

The organisation depends on much input from its 50 volunteers. Many of these are young people, some working on their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award; others are older; and a few are experts in certain skills, including IT and software.

Interesting facts about recycling were shared. Glass can be recycled infinitely, but plastic only a couple of times. Globally only 9% of all plastic waste is recycled, 79% goes to landfill and 12% is incinerated. General recycling rates are 43% in Scotland, a similar amount in England and slightly more in Wales, but 90% in Sweden.

There have been some interesting developments in scientific research. Plastic bottles can be made into fabric for fleeces, but these in turn cannot then be recycled. Exciting work is being done in the search for micro-organisms that can eat plastic but to do that at scale is still some way off. After her talk, a vote of thanks was proposed by Carol Buchan and members showed their appreciation of a very interesting presentation.

Crieff Probus Club - Crieff Probus Club meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month September to May, in The Royal British Legion, Crieff, at 10 am for tea and coffee and the meeting begins at 10.30 am till 12 pm. Details of the full programme are available on the club website crieffprobusclub. org.uk.

New members and visitors are welcome. April speakers are - Tuesday, 1 April, Making a New Perth Museum, Mark Hall. Tuesday, 15 April, Barvick Burn Wood, Acquisition and Project, Julie Wilson Community Ranger Forest and Peatland, Edinburgh University.

The Perth and District Guide Dogs Fundraising Group

The Perth and District Guide Dogs Fundraising Group is holding a Charity Golf Day at Murrayshall Golf Club, Scone on Saturday, 5 July.

Guide Dogs is a well-known national charity which provides an extraordinary service to thousands of blind and partially sighted people in the UK. The charity receives no funding from government for its core business. All of its costs are funded by charitable donations and the fundraising activities of volunteer groups such as Perth and District. The owner of a guide dog is provided with the dog and Guide Dogs pays for everything. It takes care of the dog’s food, vet bills and all necessary expenses for its entire working life. A dog may be partnered with its owner for up to 9 years and the total cost of this is approximately £56,000. Fundraising is therefore crucial to pay for our lifechanging guide dogs.

The Golf Day at Murrayshall will consist of eighteen teams of four playing Texas Scramble format with a shotgun start at 9 am. There will be prizes for the winning team and runners up as well as longest drive and nearest the pin. In addition there will also be a raffle and silent auction as well as an opportunity to meet some guide dogs. The entry fee per team is £400 which includes bacon roll and tea/ coffee available on arrival from 8 am, and a 2 course buffet lunch. It is also possible for individuals or companies to offer hole sponsorship.

Deirdre McVean, Fundraising coordinator for the Perth and District Group said, ‘This event is already proving to be very popular.’ Please contact deirdre.mcvean@btinternet. com for a team application form or for any further information.

Crieff visitor Centre

Spring is in the Air

Easter has arrived at Crieff Visitor Centre and our Gift Shop has a great selection of decorations, cards and ornaments. For younger visitors there are yummy chocolate Easter eggs and bunnies, as well as soft toy lambs, rabbits and chicks.

If you’re looking to bring a touch of Spring colour into your house our new range of mugs, artificial flowers and botanical soya wax melts will do the trick. Also the Caithness Glass shop has the most gorgeous sheep paperweights in stock.

Easter Sunday Lunch Menu

Come and enjoy Easter Weekend Lunch in the Drover’s Restaurant.

• Slow Roasted Beef served with Mashed and Roasted Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables and a Rich Gravy £15.95

• Jewelled Nut Roast served with Mashed and Roasted Potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding, Seasonal Vegetables and a Rich Gravy £14.95

• Homemade Rice Pudding with Raspberry Jam £4.50

best life!

Needing extra care needn’t mean peace and quiet. But we can arrange that too, of course. It can mean living some of your best life.

Living life at Dalnaglar Care Home means care and kindness, safety and warmth, and lots of activities - home and away. As well as company, when you want it.

We know choosing your new home can be daunting. That’s why we’d love to take the time to show you around, and chat over any questions.

Want to take a look? Call Marta on 01764 655231 or email manager.dalnaglar@bcgcares.co.uk

NHS 24 - NHS 24 is a confidential out of hours telephone health advice and information service available across Scotland. If you or someone you care for is unwell and you feel that it can’t wait until your GP surgery re-opens then you can call NHS 24 on 111. You will speak first to a healthcare advisor who will capture important information and then direct your call to either an experienced nurse for an assessment or a health information adviser for information. Where clinically appropriate a GP home visit or an ambulance may be arranged for you. In a life threatening situation you should dial 999.

Perth Citizens Advice Bureau

You can reach Perth CAB for Advice on: FREEPhone: 0808 196 9440 10am - 3pm Monday to Friday.

The Crieff & Comrie Quair is published by Scot Active, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, PH15 2ZX tel/text: 07436 793785 e: crieffandcomrie@thequair.com

Advertising Information

Please note that all advertisements carried by The Crieff & Comrie Quair are done so with the understanding that any claims, statements or information given are the sole responsibility of the advertiser in question. We cannot be held liable for any commercial or consumer disputes, problems or difficulties arising from their workmanship or services.

Editorial and Event Information

@BCG Caring @bcgcares

t. 01738 254254 w. bcgcares.co.uk

All of our listed events are published in good faith. However, for a variety of reasons, things can sometimes change. This edition of The Crieff & Comrie Quair was sent for print on Saturday, 15 March 2025. Please therefore always check times and venues of events listed in The Crieff & Comrie Quair independently before going. We cannot be held liable for any mistakes, typographical or otherwise, by ourselves or changes made by Event Organisers.

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From Technician to Trusted Leader: Michael Murrie’s GreenThumb Journey

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The Arts Society Tayside - After a fascinating look at the world of consumerism in art with Bill Powell: Much More Than Soup, the Life and Works of Andy Warhol, on Monday, 10 March, we heard Caroline Holmes on the life and works of Painter and Plantsman Cedric Morris. Members were joined by young artist pupils from Cargilfield School in Edinburgh, who were keen to learn about the subject. We are looking forward to our April lecture on George Villiers, the Handsomest Man in 17th Century Europe by Lucy Hughes Hallett. After April, we have two more absorbing lectures in our 2024/5 season to go before we break for the summer, ranging from the Golden Age of Spain to the Carry On Films.

Our spring and summer programme of activities this year features Aberdeen Art Gallery on Wednesday, 21 May (transport by coach provided). Three further visits to houses and gardens are in the process of being finalised and details will follow shortly. Following our donation to Grandtully Primary School for art materials for their aspiring young artists, members of the Arts Society Tayside committee visited the school on Tuesday, 11 March to see the young artists in action!

The Arts Society Tayside is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run society dedicated to providing its members with enjoyable and approachable experiences in the arts. Each year we offer ten absorbing and accessible daytime lectures at Birnam Arts on a wide variety of topics, as well as a range of house, garden and gallery visits and interesting add-on activities. Please visit our website to see the full programme: theartssocietytayside.org.uk. Reduced price membership for the remainder of our 2024/5 season is £40. We are not culture snobs! Come and join us. Please contact us for a complimentary lecture or to become a member: tastmembership@ gmail.com or 01350 724232.

Crieff Drama Back On Full Stage

Crieff Drama Group’s upcoming production is the Two-Act comedy The Park Bench by Ashley Burgoyne and will be on stage

at Morrison’s Academy Hall on Friday, 11 and Saturday, 12 April. The play is a gentle, contemporary comedy of errors and with its six contrasting characters it’s giving the Group scope to showcase newer players alongside well-known faces. This will be the Group’s first full length comedy since their 2019 production of A Bunch of Amateurs by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, so players, backstage crew and front-of-house people are all looking forward to welcoming everyone to a great night out. Anyone who has seen the Group’s many productions over the years at Academy Hall will recall the full-theatre experience that comes only from a traditional proscenium stage. It’s a unique venue. Tickets are available now at £12 and can be bought online at www. crieffdramagroup.co.uk and on Facebook, ‘crieff drama group - new’. For those who prefer to purchase by phone they can buy at Ticketsource Box Office on 0333 666 3366. Doors and licensed bar (cash only) open at 7 pm with curtain up at 7.30 pm - and cash will also be needed to join in their customary draw of raffle prizes.

Crieff’s Fibro Warriors - Crieff’s Fibro Warriors is a support group for anyone suffering from Fibromyalgia in the Strathearn area. We have a Facebook group and we meet in Crieff Baptist church on Tuesdays at 1.30 pm. For more information contact Claire Scott at clairegrieve@hotmail.co.uk.

Looking for an afternoon out?

We are a small Whist Club, who meet on a Wednesday afternoon in Cameron Court. So why not come along, just turn up, and join us for a friendly game of whist, 2 o’clock until 4 o’clock. You may not always win a prize but you will always get tea/ coffee, cake and biscuits. There is no membership fee but £2 fee each week.

SWI Fowlis Wester - In our February meeting Jandy Stevenson gave an interesting if rather sad account on behalf of ‘Families Outside’.

The impact of imprisonment does not end with release. Instead, costs to families often remain high.

Competitions

Individual quiche 1. Corinne Craig 2. Anne Hubbard 3. Helen Newton Knitted premature baby hat 1. Anne Hubbard 2. Heather Walker 3. Corinne Craig

The hostesses were Helen McDermott and Sheila McMillan.

Remake Reuse Hub

Ready for an adventure into second-hand shopping? Step into our world where the quirky meets the cool! You’ve never seen a store quite like ours, where weird, wonderful, and everything in-between comes together in a delightful whirlwind of preloved treasures.

We have a treasure trove of fabrics and haberdashery, sewing machines and vintage patterns. Our curtain and cushion collection is extensive, and if you’re into DIY, you’ll love the small furniture pieces (some antique, some ready for a little TLC) perfect for upcycling or reupholstering.

The DIY section is a playground for project lovers - think garden tools, electrical gadgets, lighting, and even sports equipment for when you want to get active.

Art lovers, we’ve got you covered with a huge selection of original artwork, plus a wide range of frames if you want to showcase your own creations.

Oh, and don’t miss our ever-changing selection of vintage gems! From fine glassware, quirky household items, and even the occasional military artifact, there’s always something unexpected waiting for you.

At our Reuse Hub, the thrill is in the hunt! You never know what you’ll stumble upon, so why not pop by and see what catches your eye? We promise, it’ll be a fun and fascinating browse.

Remake Food for Good, East High Street Crieff - Remake Food for Good is on East High Street in Crieff. Our cozy food store is open Monday to Saturday, from 10 am to 4 pm, ready to help you fill your shopping bag with wholesome goodness. From wholefoods and bulk ingredients to eco-friendly soaps and cleaning products, we’ve got everything you need for a healthier, plastic-free shopping experience. Pop in Monday to Saturday and don’t forget to bring your refill containers - your future self will thank you!

Repair Hub - Our next Repair Hub is on Saturday, 12 April, 10 am - 1 pm at Strathearn Community Campus in Crieff. We are based in the Activity space which is opposite the school canteen. We offer an opportunity to have your broken and damaged items from home repaired by our skilled volunteers. Currently, we accept small household items, electricals and textiles for repair at our sessions. Our team of volunteers will work with you to make repairs to your item and get it back to working order! Whilst we can’t always guarantee that we will be able to repair your items, we’ll at least give it a try! We don’t charge for repairs but do ask for a donation

to cover expenses and parts. Mending Circle Launch - Let’s Make Mending Fun! In celebration of Fashion Revolution Week 2025, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our fortnightly Mending Circle! Join us on Wednesday, 23 April from 7 pm - 9 pm at our Reuse Hub workshop for a relaxed and social evening of mending. Dig out your long-lost mending projects, and come along to learn more about repair and enjoy the company of other like-minded individuals. Guidance available from skilled repairers who will offer advice and inspiration as you work. Let’s stitch a brighter future, one mend at a time! Tool Library - For both the Tool Library and the depositing of your donations please remember to bring them directly to us on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays 10 am - 4 pm only. The Crieff Community Tool Library is a Remake Scotland resource which provides members with access to a Library of Things, including tools for DIY, camping equipment, crafting stuff, play items (children’s games, bouncy castle, karaoke), decorating aids, carpet cleaners, gardening equipment and lots more. Visit our website to find out about what the Tool library can offer you and sign up for free. www.remakescotland.co.uk

Bikes - We have 4 Preloved Bike Sale Days coming upSaturday, 5 April, Saturday, 17 May & Saturday, 14 June. Classes in the WorkshopWe have lots of exciting classes coming up in the Remake Hub Workshop. To book, go to www.remakescotland. co.uk/whats-on.html.

Friday, 4 April from 2 pm - 5 pm - The World of Raw Edge Applique £40 Monday, 7, Tuesday, 8 & Wednesday, 9 April from 10 am - 12.30 pm - Holiday Sewing Club for young people, 10 years+ £5

Thursday, 10 April from 10 am - 12 pm

- Make Your Own Lip Balm with Carys Hughes (Funded Family Holiday Session) £2.50 Friday, 11 April from 10 am - 12.30 pm - Remake Holiday Junk Club, 5yrs+ £2.50

Saturday, 12 April from 11 am - 4 pmFelted Slippers, Beginner £50. Saturday, 3 May from 10.30 am - 3.30 pm - Spring Willow weekend with June McEwan (Dragonflies & Swifts) £50 per day or £80 for full weekend

Sunday, 4 May from 10.30 am - 3.30 pmSpring Willow weekend with June McEwan (Hares) £50 per day or £80 for full weekend Friday, 9 May from 2 pm - 4 pm - Make Your Own Lip Balm & Herbal Salve with Carys Hughes (Funded Session) £5. Saturday, 31 May from 10 am - 12 pm - Sewing Machines for Beginners £20

New pastor of Crieff Baptist Church

We are delighted to have the opportunity to introduce our new pastor of Crieff Baptist Church, Rev John Burns. John studied at the Scottish Baptist College before going on to serve as a youth pastor in Kilmarnock, Troon and Bearsden, before moving to Crieff to take up the role as Pastor of our church in September. John and his wife Gillian are settling into the area and are hoping to get involved in various aspects of the life of both the church and the local community. At CBC we have weekly services on a Sunday morning at 10.30 am. We are a welcoming, friendly church and our services reflect this in being fairly informal in style, with participation from various members of the congregation each week. We have children’s groups which run during the services as well and tea & coffee are served after the service for a time of fellowship. Each week there are various house groups which run throughout the year where we study the bible, pray together and encourage and support one another. For more information on days/times/locations of these, please just get in touch. We currently also run a warm spaces group (Coorie & Crafts) on a Monday from 12.30 - 2.30 pm. Come along for some tea, coffee and home baking, everyone very welcome. For further information on any of these events, or to get in touch with the minister, please contact via: crieffbaptist@gmail.com; pastor@crieffbaptist.org.uk; Crieff Baptist Church, 1 Addison Terrace, Crieff, PH7 3AT. Registered Scottish Charity SC053381

Comrie Cancer Support - A new venture is starting soon in Comrie. It is aimed at anyone who has been affected by a cancer diagnosis - whether for themselves, a partner, family member or friend - and is looking for support. It is not medical or professional in any way but is being started by some folk who have either been diagnosed themselves or know others who have and who understand that it can sometimes be a lonely journey. Here in Comrie, we are also quite a long way from centres like Maggie’s at Ninewells. While we couldn’t and wouldn’t attempt to supplant the incredible support available at Maggie’s, we want very much to do what we can. We meet in Comrie Parish Church Hall Annexe on the second-last Tuesday of the month, so our next meeting will be on Tuesday, 22 April, from 5.30 pm - 7 pm. Coffee, tea and a friendly face will be provided. For further information, contact Agnes Drysdale on 01764 670162 or drysdale747@gmail.

Handyman Services provided in Perthshire  including

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Drystone Walling Taster Day

On Easter Saturday, 19 April, the Central Scotland Branch of the Drystone walling association is running a taster day for those who might like to try the craft at Little Trochry Farm, PH8 0DX. There will be a professional Waller and experienced amateur members to demonstrate and guide ‘tasters’ in taking down part of an old, damaged farm wall and then rebuilding it. The cost for the day is £40, payable on the day - cash or credit transfer to the branch account.

The hosts will provide refreshments, and the branch will provide tools for the day. Participants must be 18 or over, and wear robust footwear such as work or walking boots, and bring work gloves.

Numbers will be limited, so please send your contact details to contact@csdswa. org.uk. Or VEG@LittleTrochry.co.uk. Perhaps this will lead to greater things like a full weekend training course, or a week at the DSWA training site in Cumbria leading to a qualification... Trish Waite. Chair CSDSWA

Cultybraggan Camp History Project

The Project was founded in 2017 to work with the camp’s owners wherever possible to preserve history and fabric of the camp. Members include academics and volunteers who are dedicated to investigate and document in central resources all aspects of the camp’s past. We continue in discussion with other organisations doing similar work to us, which is proving mutually beneficial. Our members are the experts to guide tours, give talks and support authors, historians and filmmakers, allowing them direct access to our resources and personnel. We provide illustrated talks to many groups including organisations and institutes, colleges, schools, Probus, Rotary and Local History Clubs. There are now more talks in our repertoire so you can select whether to have our general introduction or more specialised versions that dig deeper into real history.

If you have any enquiries please email us at history@camp21.org.uk.

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Strathearn Arts What’s On

Buy tickets now at Strathearn Arts Box Office or online at www.strathearnarts.org

2 Comrie Street, Crieff, PH7 4AX 01764 655556

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Carpet Care

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Crieff Community Council - Easter fun for all at Crieff’s Spring Fair

Crieff Community Council is inviting you to come along and enjoy a wonderful family day out full of fun and entertainment in the town’s beautiful Taylor Park this Easter. A huge success last year, the now annual Spring Fair will be back bigger and better than ever this Easter Sunday, 20 April, with games, raffle, stalls, tombola, live entertainment, music, fabulous food and refreshments. And there’ll be plenty on offer to delight the youngsters, including face painting, bouncy castles, Wee Adventures, Imagine This, the Fire Brigade, Scottish Adventure School, Pedro portraits and lots more. Drop by and spend a few hours enjoying the many treats on offer; the Fair will run from 11 am to 3 pm. There was a large turnout of over 100 people in a February meeting to discuss the community’s feelings on what should replace the Drummond Arms Hotel once demolition had been completed. Organised by the CCC, many passionate views were aired, with a general consensus that given the site’s prime High Street position, the preferred option would be a mixture of public space and community facilities. Given the PKC’s lack of consultation on the issue, CCC Chairman Brian Wilton has submitted a Participation Request, which is designed to ensure local communities are consulted on specific local issues.

The March CCC meeting also heard that PKC would soon be holding a public meeting in Crieff to go over details of the imminent demolition project.

The meeting also heard from local artist June McEwan on plans for a mural on a gable end at the site of the former Star Hotel. She is seeking ideas from the community on what people would like to see and is enlisting the help of the town’s youngsters for both ideas and help with implementation.

The next CCC meeting is on Monday, 7 April at 7.30 pm at the Community Campus. If you wish to get involved in any of the CCC events or activities, find out more on the Crieff Community Council Facebook page, visit www.crieff.scot (you can see a listing of Community Events and add your event) or email welcome@crieff.scot

Walks and beginner workshops held regularly at venues throughout Highland Perthshire

For more information, please get in touch. Call/Text: 07828 086062

Email: nwhighlandperthshire@gmail.com

Web: www.nordicwalkinghighlandperthshire.com

Instagram: nw_highland_perthshire

Facebook: nordicwalkinghighlandperthshire

fowlis Wester village hall pant sale - We are pleased to announce the date for this year’s annual charity plant sale at Fowlis Wester Village Hall, it will take place on Saturday, 17 May from 10 am - 2 pm and the nominated charity this year is the Macular Society (SC042015).

There will be a wide variety of plants from veggies, annuals and perennials. The Hall will also be open for tea, coffee and home baking with preloved book stall.

Strathearn Music Society - With the end of another wonderful season of concerts, there will be a pause in our activities, but we will return in June with our popular summer concert, back at our normal venue of St. Andrew’s Halls at the corner of Ferntower Road and Strathearn Terrace in Crieff. As mentioned last month, the date will be Friday, 6 June, so do make a note in your diary and look out for further details in due course.

If you are looking for more information

about any of our concerts or other activities, then visit the Strathearn Music Society’s website at www.concertsincrieff.co.uk or follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter) @concertscrieff.

Dunkeld & Birnam Art and Crafts Fair

Dunkeld & Birnam Art and Crafts Fair takes place on Easter Weekend - Friday, 18 to Sunday, 20 April in The Drill Hall, The Cross, Dunkeld from 10 am to 5 pm each day.

Lots of unusual crafts, old friends and new faces demonstrations. Free entry.

4 Enterprising Actions for April

As we head into spring, it’s a great time to get energised and ready to take on some new business projects, or refresh your current ideas. GrowBiz’s free support for rural enterprises and the self-employed can give you a boost along the way. Here are four actions you can take this month to ensure you’re on the right track:

Attend a learning session - Our free online learning sessions are based around topics that can help you run your business more effectively. In April the focus is on marketing, with sessions around how to plan your promotional content, and how to use the messaging your customers want to hear.

Speak to an advisor - Meet with one of our friendly advisors and receive support to identify what you need to get started or to achieve your business goals. Talk through your ideas, develop a business strategy or identify areas where you require training and development.

Download a resource - The GrowBiz website has a number of free editable resources to help you run your business efficiently. Download a business plan template, bookkeeping spreadsheet, marketing content planner and more.

Sign up for our newsletter - The GrowBiz newsletter is sent out fortnightly and contains a list of our upcoming events, opportunities for Scotland’s rural enterprises and communities, and positive client stories, so you can stay up to date with what’s happening in the local business community.

You can book our events, request a 1-1 support session, download free resources and sign up to our newsletter at www.growbiz.co.uk

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OVER 30 YEARS IN THE TRADE

Cllr Stewart Donaldson

Strathearn Ward - SNP

Many of you will know by now the outcome of the Council Budget. As indicated back in November there was a Council tax increase. At 9.5% the outcome was better than expected. Helped by additional funding from the Scottish Government we achieved a Budget that was both prudent, and one that defended front-line services. There’s not enough space in an article such as this to cover everything. I’m more than happy to send anyone who wishes a copy of the Administration’s Budget motion. Plus, revisions we made to include proposals from other groups. We did endeavour to be inclusive. Three things, though, I want to mention. On Libraries the threat of closure has been lifted for the next two years. That includes of course Comrie. What matters now is engagement between local campaigners, community groups, and the Library Service. Of course, libraries are about books. Yet, they need to be about many other things. Going forward it may well that the way ahead will differ in the various localities in Perthshire.

Another area with new funding was in relation to bloom groups, biodiversity groups, and friends of cemeteries. Greenspace will be able to provide more information for each group, but in addition there are funds to support the roll out and enhancement of the Grow Wild project. Another area that received a boost was the Green Living Fund to support community-led projects focused on climate change and biodiversity. Unfortunately, we needed to allocate new funding to deal with ash dieback. That will continue to be an issue for several years.

One big initiative we took on the local economy was not just on modern apprentices, but also on commercial property investment. Along with £2m going in right now we have allowed for further increased capacity of over £7m over the next three years. That enables not just refurbishment of existing units such as at the Crioch Business Centre in Crieff, but the development of new serviced units and land. In Crieff that will happen with new serviced employment land and 8 small business units on Broich Road, helping small businesses locally.

In Crieff at time of writing there is still no date for the public meeting to be held by Council officers as to the demolition of the Drummond Arms. Yet, as I have said previously, it is vital that detailed research is carried out, and that options are explored in depth, given the sheer scale and complexity of the project. Moreover, that in particular local residents are kept informed of developments, and concerns are allayed.

In Comrie, another newsletter was issued recently about work on the Flood Protection Scheme. Most necessary tree clearance is now completed. Piling operations commenced at Strowan Road in mid-March, with further work on the west side of the village this month. Added to that a temporary bridge is being installed across the Lednock. There will disruption and some noise, but the floods team will monitor matters. There are also contact details on the newsletter for raising concerns.

Finally, the Learning and Families Committee of the Council will meet on Wednesday, 2 April. I’m not a member but interested in what it decides on the use of personal mobile phones in schools.

If you want to contact me I’m on SDonaldson@pkc.gov.uk, at 2 High Street, Perth. By phone it’s best to contact on my Council mobile on 07557 815544.

Brass Central Strathearn - Brass Central Strathearn is your local community band! We rehearse every Thursday evening at Morrisons Academy and always welcome new members. Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just starting out, we have instruments available to borrow, and our Development Band is perfect for beginners. If you’re interested or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at brasscstrath@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you!

A Thought for Easter from J Hay, Comrie

I Believe - I Believe was one of Elvis Presley’s hits, and older readers may remember it. The lyrics expressed a belief in ‘someone in the great somewhere’ who can hear ‘above a storm the smallest prayer’. It’s a bit vague, but the following Bible quotation has more clarity, and is a strong statement of Christian belief that is relevant for Easter: ‘We believe that Jesus died and rose again’ (1 Thessalonians 4.14).

Jesus Died - The death of Jesus Christ was predicted in the early part of the Bible hundreds of years before He was born, and every prophecy about His death was fulfilled precisely. For example, that a friend

(Judas) would betray Him; that Judas would be paid thirty pieces of silver; that Jesus would be scourged and spat on; that His hands and feet would be pierced, death by crucifixion.

His death was recorded in all four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The harsh brutal facts are detailed; He was falsely accused, unjustly condemned, tortured, and viciously executed.

His death was explained later in the New Testament; ‘Christ died for our sins’ (1 Corinthians 15.3). ‘Christ also has once suffered for sins … that he might bring us to God’ (1 Peter 3.18). Our sins offend God and warrant His eternal judgment, but because He loves us He has provided a Saviour, His Son, Jesus Christ. His death as a sacrifice for sins has made it possible for God to save and forgive us. These are the facts to be believed. ‘Jesus died’; in the Hebrew language, enshrined in the name ‘Jesus’ is the word ‘Saviour’. I am glad that He is my Saviour; I can say, ‘I believe that Jesus died, and that He died for me’. What about you?

Jesus Rose Again - Good Friday was followed by Easter Sunday, and the empty tomb signalled His triumph over death. When God raised His Son to life He was expressing His complete satisfaction with His sacrifice for sins. The disciples were then sent with a message of hope and forgiveness to the whole world. No one need now be enslaved to the crippling habits of sin. No one need now live in fear of meeting God and experiencing eternal judgment. No one need now endure the misery of a nagging conscience. Death has been defeated and forgiveness and eternal life are available to those who believe. Can you say in reality, ‘I believe that Jesus died and rose again’?

Crieff Rotary - Rotarians have been astonished by the speed at which the construction of ‘our’ new maize mill in southern Malawi has progressed. While all the bricks were cast by the local villagers last September, further work ceased because of the onset of the rainy season but was able to recommence in early January, starting with that delivery of 20 tonnes of river sand which was illustrated in the February

Quair. Then in last month’s edition we were able to show readers the completed walls, although the roof, doors, windows and internal fittings were still outstanding.

Now, just over three months since physical work started, the building is virtually complete and we just need the electricity

company to connect it to the local threephase power supply and then for the milling equipment to be delivered and installed. If everything continues satisfactorily, we hope that the first load of maize will be milled here by the end of June and the ladies of Masaleema village will no longer have to trudge 10km to the nearest commercial mill and then carry the ready grain the same distance home.

95% of the products needed for this building have been sourced locally and almost all the work has been carried out by the Masaleema villagers, under the supervision of the Zomba Presbytery which will assume ownership once everything has been completed. Because of rampant inflation in Malawi together with a wildly fluctuating Kwatcha/Sterling exchange rate, it looks as if the overall costs may well exceed our original budget, even though we have been cautious by only transferring funds on a ‘buy now’ basis so that our Presbytery friends can purchase the necessary items just at the time when they are needed. We are looking at fresh ways to overcome the possible shortfall, because we are determined to get this project completed this year.

Back home in Strathearn we were recently delighted to welcome two representatives from the Perth Guide Dog Fund Raising Group who not only told us about the es-

sential work done to raise and train suitable dogs, but also brought along the friendly and beautifully-behaved yellow labrador Kai. We weren’t quite able to take on the lifetime sponsorship of a dog (£50,000 at present), even though this would have enabled us to choose the dog’s name! However, we did make a quite generous donation to the Group and that has been gratefully received. Coming up this summer will be our annual cycling challenge (on a static bike). Further details of the confirmed date and venue will be given in next month’s Quair. We try to work hard, but enjoyably, to help those who are somewhat disadvantaged compared with ourselves, but we still need more like-minded people to join us - and those who do will find it both rewarding and fun to be a Rotarian!

Crieff’ Rotarians continue to meet twice a month at the friendly Meadow Inn in Burrell Street. For further information about Crieff Rotary, please scan this QR code, or visit its website, or email the Secretary at Secretary@crieff.rotary1010.org.

Aberfeldy Farmers Market and Arts and Craft Fair

We are kicking off markets this year on Sunday, 6 April. Come along to the square between 10 am - 2 pm and see what is for sale this year! For further details email aberfeldymarket@gmail.com

• Tree felling, shaping & trimming

• All other landscaping services available

• Mono blocking, Patios & Paths laid

• Pathways & drives gravelled

• Slabbing and walls repaired or replaced

• Fencing & Turfing

• All types and sizes of trees supplied and planted - from 1m to 10m

Pete Wishart MP

Perth and Kinross-shire

I can be reached at 63 Glasgow Road, Perth, PH2 0PE, by telephone on 01738 639598 or by email at pete.wishart.mp@parliament.uk

Pete Wishart MP

Perth and Kinross-shire SNP

At the time of writing, I will soon be opening Elaine McConnochie’s new shop in Comrie, ‘Elaine at No.1 Dunira’. I have known Elaine for many years and have seen first-hand her dedication to the local small business community.

It is fantastic that the new premises will bring the historic Mackintosh Building back into use, a perfect setting for the shop’s charming aesthetic.

Comrie has an excellent range of small businesses, and Elaine’s new and improved site will be a welcome addition which will further enhance the village’s offering to locals and visitors alike.

In other news, since my last column we have had the Perth and Kinross Council budget. I know there will have been disappointment about the decision to increase council tax. From speaking to council colleagues, this was not a decision that was taken lightly. However, after many years of a freeze on rates, which was done to ease the cost of living for households, the increase was decided upon in order to be able to protect and expand service provision.

This became particularly necessary in light of the UK Government’s increase to Employers’ National Insurance, which has placed an immense additional cost on local authorities across the country. Despite this, Scotland continues to have by far the cheapest rates of council tax in the UK, and I hope that the budget decisions provide reassurance that the money is being put to good use. There were a number of fantastic commitments, but I was particularly delighted to see a £1m investment to save our rural libraries.

Over the past few months, I have been inundated with correspondence about the potential of libraries closing, including Comrie Library. I met with a number of local campaigners and took forward their concerns with my council colleagues.

The impassioned campaign to save the libraries speaks to what an important issue this has been for residents. Libraries are, of course, a vital resource, not just for learning, but also socialising and feeling that sense of community.

I know my council colleagues very much share this view and had been doing everything they could behind the scenes to secure this funding in order to continue their provision. As a minority administration, this involved working in partnership with other parties. The other overarching themes of the budget were tackling child poverty, investing in green initiatives and enhancing social care, with each receiving millions of pounds in additional funding.

All focus will now be on delivering on those commitments and helping to build Perth and Kinross into a happier, healthier and greener place for us all to live.

Please feel free to contact my office if you have any queries on 01738 639598 / pete. wishart.mp@parliament.uk.

vision pK: Comrie social group for people with a visual impairment Vision PK support a regular group in Comrie for people with a visual impairment. The group is run in partnership with Cameron Court and is open to anyone with a visual impairment. We have been running for over a year now, meeting up for a chat and some refreshments. People working or living in the community have been invited along to chat with us about their work or interests. If you would like to volunteer to help at the group then please get in touch, we would appreciate community support.

Our meetings in Comrie are in: The Lounge, Cameron Court, Almond Place, Comrie PH6 2BB. We meet every second Tuesday of the month from 10 am until 11.30 am.

Tel: 01738 626969 info@visionpk.org.uk

Plants

Preserves

Roofing

JBR Roofing

Derek Saunders Builders

Spring Lawn Care: Essential Tips for a Healthy Garden

As winter fades and temperatures rise, spring is the ideal time to give your lawn the care it needs to flourish. A well-maintained lawn not only enhances your garden’s appearance but also provides a welcoming space for relaxation, play, and socialising. Here are some essential steps to ensure your lawn thrives this season.

Spring Lawn Care Essentials

Clear Away Debris - Over winter, leaves, twigs, and other organic matter can accumulate, preventing sunlight, air, and nutrients from reaching the grass. Raking and clearing debris will encourage healthy growth and reduce the risk of disease.

Mowing Matters - As grass starts growing more actively, regular mowing helps maintain a healthy lawn. Keep your grass between 25mm (1”) and 40mm (1.6”) in length, adjusting the height depending on weather conditions. In dry spells, raising the mower to 50mm (2”) can help grass retain moisture and stay resilient.

aeration & scarification - These essential treatments improve lawn health by enhancing air circulation and reducing thatch build-up. • Aeration involves making small holes in the soil to improve drainage and allow water, oxygen, and nutrients to reach the roots. • Scarification removes moss and thatch, preventing it from suffocating the grass and encouraging stronger growth.

Addressing Bare Patches - Cold weather and heavy foot traffic can leave some areas of your lawn looking sparse. To restore these patches, rake the affected areas, apply grass seed with a light covering of topsoil, and keep the soil moist. Germination is most successful when soil temperatures are above 5°C.

Weed Control - Spring is the time when weeds start to flourish, competing with grass for nutrients and moisture. Regular mowing helps keep some weeds at bay, but persistent growth may require targeted treatments to maintain a healthy, even lawn. Encouraging Wildlife - For those looking to support biodiversity, allowing some areas of the lawn to grow longer can attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. This ap-

proach creates a more natural and wildlifefriendly garden.

By following these essential steps, your lawn will have the best chance of staying lush and healthy throughout spring and into summer. Consistent care, alongside seasonal treatments, will keep your grass strong, resilient, and looking its best all year round. Brought to you by Green Thumb - Dundee, Perth & Fife branch - Call 01382 562417

Email dundee@greenthumb.co.uk. You can see the Green Thumb advert on page 9.

St Fillan’s RC Parish Church

Ford Road, Crieff PH7 3HN, Also serving St. Fillan’s and St Margaret’s, Comrie stfillancrieff@dunkelddiocese.org.uk

Sunday Masses - 5.30 pm Saturday Vigil in St Fillan’s, Crieff 9.30 am in St Margaret’s, Comrie 11 am in St Fillan’s

We are here to welcome you home, to God, to us, to your true and better self. Our church is located in Ford Road, Crieff, in the heart of Perthshire, part of the Catholic Church in Scotland.

Crieff Parish Church www.crieffparishchurch.org

Crieff Parish Church is a congregation of the Church of Scotland. We meet for worship every Sunday at 11 am in the St Andrew’s building at the corner of Strathearn Terrace and Ferntower Road.

Services are led by our minister, Rev Andrew J Philip, with a blend of new and older musical praise led by our band - these services are livestreamed for folk who can’t come along.

Our church family is made up of all sorts of people at all stages of life - there’s even a play corner for the youngest children. We

seek to teach and understand the message of the Bible, loving God and showing that love to our community.

Members of our church are involved in a number of local and national charities, and in partnership with other churches in town we offer people support getting free from debt through CAP Strathearn. As a church we seek to be opened up to God and opened out to others in Worship, Nurture and Mission. If you are new to Crieff, visiting the area or looking for a church we would love to welcome and get to know you, so please come along or get in touch.

Crieff Parish Church, Strathearn Terrace, Crieff, PH7 3AQ

Scottish Registered Charity SC004304

A congregation of the Church of Scotland within the Presbytery of Perth Congregation number 281650.

Comrie Parish Church

www.comrieparishchurch.org Comrie Parish Church, 22 Burrell Street, Comrie, PH6 2JP

Welcome to our Church - We seek to follow Jesus Christ, to share the Gospel, and bring the knowledge of God’s love to all.

Sunday services are 10 am Comrie Parish Church and 11.30 am Dundurn.

To contact Rev Craig Dobney call 01764 679196 or email him at CDobney@churchofscotland.org.uk.

Charity No: SC 001878

Dundurn Parish Church - Dundurn Parish Church in the village of St Fillans is the linked charge with Comrie Parish Church. Sunday worship is at 11.30 am.

Crieff Baptist Church

1 Addison Terrace, Crieff PH7 3AT crieffbaptist@gmail.com www.crieffbaptist.org.uk

We meet at 10.30 am on Sunday mornings. Coorie and Craft at Crieff Baptist Church

warm spaces - Every week from Monday, 21 October at 12.30 pm2.30 pm.

Tea/coffee and home baking.

Everyone welcome.

Mid Strathearn Parish - Mid Strathearn Parish in rural Perthshire was formed in 2018 with the Union of the congregations of Fowlis Wester, Gask, Madderty and Monzie Churches.

As a family of Christian people we offer opportunities for regular worship and aim to serve our community through caring and involvement. We seek to be welcoming, open, warm and friendly, and look forward to welcoming you to our services.

Seventh Day Adventist Church

Gwydyr Road, PH7 4BS

info@crieffadventist.org.uk www.crieffadventist.org.uk

We meet every Sabbath (Saturday) for our worship services. At 10 am we have our Study Hour (with separate classes for adults and children). Our main worship service is at 11.20 am and we often have other events throughout the week. Our aim and vision is to be a community that reflects faith in God demonstrated by faith in our fellow men and women, thus honouring the command of the Lord Jesus found in passages such as John 13:34,35

‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ Come and join us...

Local opticians scores big with football team

SPECSAVERS in Perth is helping a youth football team hit the back of the net by providing them with new kits to allow them to focus on their game.

The store, which is located at 176 High Street, has sponsored Crieff Juniors by providing funding for the team to buy full kits and training tops.

The team was established in 2000 and has been running teams for both boys and girls for the last 24 years. The current under 7’s currently play in the Perthshire league on Sundays.

Robin Mitchell, manager of Crieff Juniors, says: ‘The sponsorship from Specsavers Perth has helped us to ensure

each of the kids on the team now have matching kits. In addition to this, we’ve been able to buy spare kits for any newcomers, or kids who might forget theirs.

‘I just want to extend my thanks to Sharon and Sandra at Specsavers Perthwithout their sponsorship, we wouldn’t have been able to buy the new kits for the team.’

Sharon Philip, optometrist director at Specsavers Perth, says: ‘When Crieff Juniors approached us to sponsor their kits, we knew it was something we wanted to do.

‘Supporting the community is at the heart of everything we do at Specsavers, and it’s been great to contribute to the team’s success both off and on the field. We know this is the start of a great partnership, and look forward to cheering them on, and off, the field!’

Did you know that all children under 16, as well as those under 19 in full-time education, are entitled to a free NHS funded eye test. It can be difficult to tell whether your child has sight problems,

which is why regular eye tests are so important. Getting your child an eye test before they start school means any potential problems can be identified early, setting them up for a happy and fulfilling school life.

Specsavers Perth is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm, Saturday 8.30 to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm and covers all your optical and audiology needs.

Specsavers in Perth also offer prescription sports goggles for youngsters who need eyewear while playing sport, which are much more durable and practical than wearing glasses.

It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, what kind of prescription you have, or what kind of lifestyle you lead - almost anyone can wear contact lenses, Specsavers Perth offers lots of different types and brands of contact lenses and picking one will depend on your lifestyle and prescription. Pop into a Specsavers store to find the right type of lens for you.

To book an appointment please visit, www.specsavers.co.uk/book/perth/ or call 01738 643796.

Jehovah’s Witnesses

26-30 King St, Crieff PH7 3HA

Jehovah’s Witnesses hold meetings for worship twice each week. (Hebrews 10:24, 25)

The Crossing Crieff

At these meetings, which are open to the public, we examine what the Bible says and how we can apply its teachings in our life. Most of our services include audience participation, much like a classroom discussion. Meetings begin and end with song and prayer.

You don’t have to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses to attend our meetings. We invite everyone to come along.

Seats are free. No collections are ever taken. www.jw.org/en

Strathearn Episcopal Churches Crieff, Comrie, & Lochearnhead Rev. Gennie Evans rev.gen@btinternet.com.

St Columba’s, Crieff; St Serf’s, Comrie; St Angus’, Lochearnhead and St Fillan’s, Killin www.strathearn-episcopal-churches.co.uk

St James Episcopal Church Muthill Station Road, Muthill, PH5 2AR

Phone Number - 01764 662525

Website - www.stkessogs.org/st-james Clergy in Charge - Rev Duncan Strathie Our Sunday services at 5.30 pm are usually traditional Evensong, with a Holy Communion service on the first Sunday of each month. All are welcome to join us and to stay for refreshments afterwards. For further details contact Harriet on stjamesmuthill@gmail.com.

Please check any service times listed independently before attending. If you see any out of date information, or feel that there any omissions, we’d be obliged if you could email us at crieffandcomrie@thequair.com

Who are we - The Crossing Crieff is a Gospel-centred, local, independent church. A Community who gather to Worship, learn from His Word, and fellowship. We believe in the power of studying the Word of God (the Bible) and having a community of people which is not just on Sunday.

We meet twice a week for worship, bible study/teaching, and fellowship, in which we systematically go through the bible looking at the big picture of the bible and the individual events and stories and how it all fits together.

Service Times

Sunday Morning Service - 11 am for children service (all welcome), and 11.30 am12.30 pm for adult service, followed by tea, coffee & fellowship at Strathearn Campus, Pittenzie Rd, Crieff PH7 3JN

Tuesday Evening Bible study - 5.30 pm for a meal and fellowship followed by a discussion-based bible study starting at 6.15 pm - 7 pm at Craiglynne, Dallerie Road, Crieff, PH7 4EG

More Information - Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about God or ourselves.

Our details are Pastor: Allan Holleran Email: info@thecrossingcrieff.co.uk Web: www.thecrossingcrieff.co.uk Tel: 07864 803123

Address: Craiglynne, Dallerie Road, Crieff, PH7 4EG. Charity No: SC052382.

Muthill Parish Church

www.muthillparishchurch.co.uk

A warm welcome awaits you every Sunday at our new time of 10.30 am. Our services can also be viewed online on our YouTube channel or on our Facebook page. We also have lots of opportunities throughout the week where you can come and meet up and enjoy some heat and company. Check out our Facebook page for details The long presence of a church in Muthill is evident by the remains of a medieval building and burial ground in the centre of the village.

Charity Registration Numbers Muthill: SC004984 Trinity Gask & Kinkel SC000004

The Baha’i Faith - The Comrie and Crieff group is hosting a space for communal support, uplifting readings, prayer and reflection on the second Tuesday of every month at 7.30 pm. There will be a different theme and on Tuesday, 8 April the theme is ‘Spring’, a time to be renewed and refreshed, to put a spring in one’s step! These gatherings welcome all comers. For further information please contact Diana on 01764 670399 or Gordon on 07510 454342.

‘Sow the seeds of My divine wisdom in the pure soil of thy heart, and water them with the water of certitude, that the hyacinths of My knowledge and wisdom may spring up fresh and green in the sacred city of thy heart.’ Baha’u’llah

Awe Walks - Please join us for these restorative, gentle walks in nature to reconnect with who we truly are. The next one will be on Saturday, 19 April at 10 am. Let’s walk together in a spirit of joy and harmony. Observing all we see, hear and feel with awe helps us to connect deeply with the mysteries of life, to develop our sense of hope, serenity and oneness. Delighting in the ordinary and finding the extra-ordinary raises our spirits, stimulates our mental wellbeing and strengthens our resilience.

All ages are welcome, children do this naturally! There will be pauses for reflection, both personal and shared, on the walk. Please wear appropriate clothing for mixed terrain, nothing too challenging. Each participant is responsible for their own safety and respectful of other’s. There is no charge.

For further information on where to meet and to register interest please contact either Diana on 01764 670399 or Gordon on 07510 454342.

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What to expect from a complimentary hearing assessment at The Edinburgh Hearing Practice

Most hearing centers will measure the quietest sounds that you can hear and based on this will make a recommendation. Although this type of hearing test provides useful information, by no means does it provide a full picture, we hear with our ears but it is our brain that understands speech! With this in mind, we have designed our test protocol to ensure that we measure your exact individual issues.

First and foremost, we will listen to you. Hearing loss is personal and we take the time to listen to your experience.

We recommend that you bring someone with you as they can often provide useful information and support. Our hearing assessments usually take about 90 minutes.

We will ask some medical related questions so that we have a good understanding of your general health and history. Next we will examine your ears. We have the latest technology and can show you images of your ears on a screen if you are interested in seeing exactly what we are looking at.

We thoroughly check your ears using state of the art video equipment and keep the images on your records so we can keep track of your ear health.

We thoroughly check your ears using state of the art video equipment and keep the images on your records so keep track of your ear health.

If your ears are blocked with wax your hearing test will not be accurate. You’re in safe hands at the Edinburgh Hearing

If your ears are blocked with wax your hearing tes accurate. You’re in safe hands at the Edinburgh Hearing

very latest audiometric equipment to record the quietest sounds that you can hear, but also importantly, the way that

very latest audiometric equipment to record the qui sounds that you can hear, but also importantly, the

both quiet and in the presence of the dreaded background noise.

both quiet and in the presence of the dreaded background noise.

Where appropriate, we perform tympanometry to check how the middle ear is working (this is a really simple comfortable test, and is nothing to be nervous about).

Where appropriate, we perform tympanometry to check how the middle ear is working (this is a really simple comfortable test, and is nothing to be nervous about).

At each stage we will explain the results really thoroughly to you and make sure that everything is completely clear.

At each stage we will explain the results really thoroughly to you and make sure that everything is completely clear.

Occasionally we may feel that onward referral is required – this is unusual, but you can trust us to always do the right thing.

Occasionally we may feel that onward referral is required – this is unusual, but you can trust us to alwa the right thing.

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Cllr Noah Khogali

Strathearn Ward - Conservative I would like to use my section this month for a slightly different purpose than usual, and encourage anyone reading this who is able to give blood to go and do so. Personally, it was something I intended to do for a long time before finally doing it a few weeks ago for the first time. I regret that I put it off for so long. Every day across the UK, hospitals rely on a steady supply of blood and plasma to treat patients in need. Whether it’s for accident victims, people undergoing surgery, cancer patients, or those with rare conditions, donated blood and plasma can mean the difference between life and death. It is critically important to the futures of so many, and there’s always a need for more donors. Giving blood is simple, safe and quick. The process takes less than an hour, and the actual blood giving portion will likely only take 15ish minutes. Each donation can help save up to three lives. Plasma donations, and immunoglobulin that comes with it, are just as vital, particularly for patients with immune disorders, severe burns and rare health conditions, including some types of epilepsy. If you’re in good health and meet donation criteria, you can give blood or plasma regularly. The Scotblood website includes all of the logistics you need to know, but the closest place you can give blood is Auchterarder, whilst you can give plasma in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Inverness.

Finally, I would also like to encourage anyone that can to donate to ‘Gracie’s fundraiser for Epilepsy Research Institute UK’, on Just Giving. It is a cause that means a great deal to so many people.

If there are any issues then please feel free to contact me on - Telephone 01738 475000, email NKhogali@pkc.gov.uk or at Perth & Kinross Council, 2 High St, Perth PH1 5PH

Comrie Heritage Group (CHG) CHG plays a vital role in preserving and celebrating the vibrant history of Comrie and its surroundings.

Our role includes the conserving and interpreting the history of Cultybraggan Camp - Cultybraggan is Scotland’s only remaining prisoner of war camp. Its history is multifaceted: Initially, it served as a labour camp for Italian prisoners of war until Italy surrendered in 1943. In 1944 it became a camp for German POWs, including soldiers, submariners and airmen. After the war, many of these men remained and underwent a programme of denazification before being returned home. Some returned later in their lives to revisit the camp and to meet again the friends that they had made in Comrie. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) eventually took over the camp, using it as a training facility for TA, regular soldiers, and cadets. In 2007 Comrie Development Trust acquired the camp from the MoD. Cultybraggan Museum - The museum, located in the Jail block, opened in 2021. It provides insights into the daily lives of prisoners and showcases storyboards detailing camp life and interactions between prisoners and Comrie villagers. The museum will reopen from 10 am until 4 pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting on Friday, 11 April. It will also be open on Easter Monday. While there is no entrance fee, donations which will enable us to continue running the museum would be greatly appreciated.

Guided tours - Comrie Heritage Group offers guided tours of Cultybraggan Camp. Adults: £10; children over 10 years: £5; educational groups: £2 per person; groups of more than 12 adults: £8. To arrange a tour, please visit the Cultybraggan Museum website at www.cultybraggancamp.uk and select contact us.

How can you get involved? If you would like to become a volunteer helping to organise events, welcome visitors to the museum or conduct guided tours please contact thomashollins12@gmail.com.

By supporting the Comrie Heritage Group, you contribute to the rich tapestry of Comrie’s past and ensure that its legacy lives on.

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Comrie Bridge Club - Think your bridge is a bit rusty or not good enough to join a club. Think again and give us a try. Why not turn your heating off and come for a warm welcome at Comrie Bridge club. We are a small friendly club that plays duplicate bridge each week from early October to the end of March. We welcome new players both experienced and improvers and your first visit is free. On a Wednesday afternoon you are welcome to come and just watch for a few weeks before joining in play.

Café Comrie

• Traditional Scottish breakfasts • Baked potatoes

• Hot filled breakfast rolls • Home made soups • Freshly made sandwiches & toasties

• Croissants

• Mackies ice cream

• Twinnings tea selection and fresh ground coffee

• Daily special board

• Takeaways Available Spring Opening Times will vary.

Please check our Facebook & Instagram accounts for details

Café Comrie, Drummond Street, Comrie, PH6 2DW

Tel: 01764 670838 e: cafe.comrie@btinternet.com

We play on Wednesday afternoon at 2 pm and Thursday evening at 7 pm in the Comrie Bowling Club, Camp Road. We ask players to arrive at least 15 minutes early. You do not need a partner for Wednesdays. Thursday is for pairs but if you need a partner give us a ring and we will try to arrange one for you. Both sessions have a break for tea or coffee and biscuits. The annual membership fee is £7 which includes both days and the table fee is £3 per session. If you are interested in joining us or want more information please contact: Phil 07713 643565 philiptipping61@gmail. com or Kate 07714 291077 kate@thecreativepractice.org

Front Cover Picture - A wonderful image courtesy of Morrison’s Academy! We usually use photos from our own stock, however if you think you have something suitable you would like us to use for The Quair please feel free to email it to us at crieffandcomrie@thequair.com stating your name and providing a short narrative about the photo. Please note that by sending your photo you are also agreeing to let us use this for any Quair activity.

Liz Smith MSP

Mid Scotland & Fife Regional Member - Conservative

A few weeks ago, I wrote to the chairman of my constituency association to tell him that I would not be seeking re-election at the Scottish Parliament Elections in 2026. I felt that, after two decades as an MSP, it was time for new blood and also because I have the opportunity to move on to other pursuits in public life.

It has been the greatest privilege to serve the Scottish Parliament and the electorate of Mid Scotland and Fife for two decades and to enjoy the support of many parliamentary colleagues across the political spectrum.

In my early days in politics, I was very privileged to work with both Sir Malcolm Rifkind and the late David McLetchie. I shall always be grateful for their advice and encouragement and for their wise counsel when it came to addressing some of the more difficult aspects of serving the public. In both cases, they expected the high standards and, at all times, a focus on effective debating points rather than on being dragged into personal attacks on political opponents. The unacceptable rhetoric and mistruths which are currently being perpetuated in some quarters, most especially in some aspects of foreign affairs, is the complete opposite of what these two politicians stood for and thank goodness for that.

There is still a long way to go until the next election so there is still a great deal of work to be undertaken at Holyrood, not least of which is securing successful passage of my Private Member’s Bill which seeks to provide every child in Scotland with a week of residential outdoor education. I will continue to do all I can to convince MSPs to back this legislation, which all the evidence shows will be of so much benefit to young people across Scotland.

Another priority of mine must remain the support for the victims of rogue surgeon Sam Eljamel during his employment at NHS Tayside. I am, of course, satisfied with some of the progress so far in securing a public inquiry that is currently underway. But there remain many obstacles to securing justice for hundreds of former patients, especially around the police investigation. I am continuing to work closely with cross-party colleagues including Michael Marra MSP and Willie Rennie MSP to reassure former patients that they will have strong voices in Parliament across the political spectrum. As well as this, there are plenty local issues to address and therefore I have no intention of reducing the work rate just yet.

As always if any local residents would like to raise issues with me please get in touch by calling my office on 01738 553990 or emailing elizabeth.smith.msp@parliament.scot

Comrie Library

Bookbug Sessions - These fun, interactive sessions are suitable for pre-schoolers from baby years. The sessions are held on the 2nd Thursday of the month, 1.30 pm - 1.50 pm. No need to book.

Café Books - Do you love to read? Join us at Café Books to chat about new authors, share your own favourite books and be inspired to read more. Café Books is held at Comrie Library on the last Thursday of the month from 5.30 pm - 6.30 pm.

Comrie Writing Group - This free, informal workshop takes place on the 3rd Thursday of every month 5.30 pm - 7 pm

Opening hours - Thursday: 2pm - 4.30pm/ 5.30pm - 7pm Friday: 10 am - 12.30pm Saturday: 9.30am - 12.30 pm. Contact us - 01764 657860/comrielibrary@culturepk.org.uk

You can see all of our advertising details, and read The Quair Magazines online, at www.thequair.scot

Strathearn Talking News

Strathearn Talking News is your local talking newspaper. We are volunteers who read and record onto USB the Strathearn Herald, the local newspaper for Crieff and District. We also read and record onto USB the monthly magazine The Crieff and Comrie Quair. A USB may be more familiarly known as a memory stick.

Strathearn Talking News is a Charity (SCO 15628) and in 2014 the Charity received a grant from Awards for All to go digital. Prior to that the newspaper was recorded and copied onto cassettes. We are proud to say that Strathearn Talking News has been providing a service for nearly 35 years for those in our community with a visual impairment and who find reading difficult. We provide a USB player. It is a small lightweight box no larger than a box of tissues. It runs off the mains electricity but it can also run on a battery which is automatically charged when the player is plugged into the mains. This makes it very easy to take into other areas of the house. The yellow on/off dial at the front is also an excellent volume control. The dial and the forward/back/pause buttons are yellow to make them more vis-

ible. The service we provide is completely free. We record and copy from our own homes on a weekly rota, 52 weeks of the year. Listeners to Strathearn Talking News hear local news concerning Crieff and the surrounding villages. We record all the news items, letters to the Editor, Intimations, Planning Applications, reports from local Clubs and Organisations, a calendar of events, as well as the main feature in the newspaper that week. We also do our best to describe photographs!

The Crieff and Comrie Quair is an open access monthly magazine and carries articles on a variety of interesting topics. We record and copy it onto our weekly USB once a month.

E: info@strathearntalkingnews.org

T: Maureen Anderson 01764 652406

W: www.strathearntalking news.org

Morrison’s Academy

Morrison’s Academy Launches its 165th Birthday Celebrations with Iconic Milestone Photo. In a fitting tribute to its 165 years of educational excellence, Morrison’s Academy brought its entire school together on February 13 for an iconic aerial photograph, capturing a moment that reflects the rich history and continued growth of the Crieff school.

With 560 pupils, from nursery to senior school, united in one spectacular display, the photo celebrated this significant milestone and captured the heart of Morrison’s Academy; its pupils. Standing together as one, the photo symbolizes the strength, unity, and enduring spirit that has defined the school for over a century and a half.

Founded with purpose and built on tradition, Morrison’s Academy opened its doors in the 1860s with a clear mission to inspire learning. The first Rector, Dr. William Ogilvie, welcomed sixty boys to the school on October 1 that year, followed shortly by girls in the next session.

Today, Perthshire’s leading independent day school is proud to have a vibrant roll with over 500 pupils.

The school has just completed a series of

planned improvements to its campus and facilities and continues to invest in the development of new initiatives to benefit its pupils. In 2024, it celebrated a remarkable achievement, securing the highest Higher results in Perthshire, underscoring its commitment to academic excellence and the success of its pupils.

The School’s Rector, Mr Andrew J McGarva said, ‘As we mark this incredible milestone, we celebrate the legacy that has been built by those who came before us while looking forward to the future. From our founding in the 1860s to today, Morrison’s Academy remains a place where every child is inspired to grow academically and personally, surrounded by a supportive community. We are excited for what lies ahead, with a vision to continue fostering the motto that has defined us for 165 years ‘Ad Summa Tendendum’ - Striving for the Highest’. Morrison’s Academy has an exciting year in store, filled with a series of events to celebrate its 165th anniversary, bringing together pupils, staff, alumni, and the wider community. Highlights include a glamorous 165th Anniversary Summer Ball, a range of special family races during Sports Day, a lively family festival, and unique artwork

created by the pupils to commemorate the milestone.

As Morrison’s Academy looks ahead, it remains deeply committed to its mission of ‘Developing the Whole Child’ and inspiring the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and creators. With an eye on the future and a deep respect for its storied past, it is poised for continued growth and success.

‘We are looking forward to the next 165 years continuing with the same passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment that have been the heart of Morrison’s Academy since its very inception,’ continued Mr McGarva. ‘As we honour our rich history, celebrate the vibrant present, and look toward a bright future, we raise a toast to all those who have shaped and continue to shape Morrison’s Academy into the extraordinary institution it is today. Here’s to the countless students, staff, alumni, and supporters who have made this journey possible, and to the exciting chapters still to come.’

For more information please visit www. morrisonsacademy.org

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Comrie & St Fillans Music Circle

Meetings are held at the Rural Hall Comrie, starting at between 12 pm/ 12.30 pm on a Tuesday (but never the second Tuesday in the month) which is then followed by a light lunch and the subject for the day. Regardless of the programme we are finished at no later than 4 pm.

Our last meeting was held on March 26 starting with our AGM and followed by a superb Buffett Lunch prepared by Bistro@ Comrie, then followed by a very varied collection of music chosen by members’ requests. We are closed now until October where we shall have a further 10 meetings taking us up to December, exact dates for our new season will be presented in future editions of The Quair. We have been entertained over the past 3 months with a very varied set of speakers and musicians, congratulations must be given to our Chairman - John Southorn - for his efforts in putting it all together.

Membership is open to everyone and all are welcome, we are a very friendly club so come and try us out.

If further information is required please contact Malcolm Gregory H 01764 670493 or M 07752 498187.

Comrie Probus Club - All meetings are held on every other Wednesday at the Comrie Parish Church Hall at 10.30 am starting with tea/coffee followed by the presentation of the day.

Our programme finished on March 26 with the Club’s AGM followed by a superb 3 course Annual Lunch at the Comrie Golf Club (supplied by Bistro@Comrie). At the AGM, congratulations were given to Chairman John Cook for his superb presentation and organisation throughout the last 12 months. John Cook stood down as Chairman and Mr Ian Rogers was voted to be the new Chairman of Comrie Probus Club.

Meeting dates and speakers for the coming

12 meetings starting in October 2025 are already well under way and will be advised in later editions of The Quair.

Membership is open to everyone; we are a friendly club and all are welcome. Please come along and give us a try.

For further information please contact Malcolm Gregory on 01764 670493 or 07752 498187 or Valerie Banwell on 01764 685208 or 07714 548219.

St Kessog’s Church - Members of St Kessog’s Church, Auchterarder are hosting a Traditional Afternoon Tea for the community from 2 pm to 4 pm on Saturday, 26 April in the Aytoun Hall, Auchterarder. There will be live music to accompany the tea, delicious home baking, a raffle and produce stall. All welcome. Tickets to be purchased in advance through the QR code in the advert below.

Friends of Crieff Cemetery - Friends of Crieff Cemetery would like to thank The Crieff & Comrie Quair for featuring us each month.

FoCC have had an amazing response from the public contacting our volunteer group via this publication, from general enquir-

ies, historical research, donations and volunteering opportunities. Many thanks to Alistair & Linda for their support past, present and future.

If you would like to contact or find out more about our group, visit our website www.friendsofcrieffcemetery.blog, message us at www.facebook.com/CrieffCem or email focc1858@gmail.com

Probus Club Auchterarder - You are invited to join Auchterarder Probus Club which is a social forum providing fellowship and friendship for likeminded people. It is not affiliated to a central organising body. We are a broad church with retired and semi-retired professional people and others and comprise farmers, ministers, senior armed forces people, surgeons and marketing folk and engineers from a wide background. You will be most welcome. We meet twice a month in the winter and once a month in the summer. Meetings are held in the Auchterarder Golf Club and start at 12 noon with lunch at 12.30 pm followed by a guest speaker. Past speakers include the Consul Generals of Japan, America and Ukraine, a chairman of a national bank and senior marine biologists. If you are interested in joining us please contact our Press Officer by email at forbesmcnaughton@icloud.com.

Book Group - We are a small, friendly, book group based in Crieff, looking for new members.

For details please email Valerieminns@yahoo.co.uk.

Comrie & St Fillans Music Circle

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Aquila Wildlife & Nature - It’s been a full year since Aquila Wildlife & Nature (that’s us!) became incorporated as a community interest company. Since then, we’ve been as busy as beavers; constructing our community events, engineering wildlife walks and tours, and building up our funding for future projects. We want to share some of our highlights from our first year and celebrate the generosity and enthusiasm of our communities here in Strathearn!

This past year, we’ve hosted several community events, starting with bringing the Big School Birdwatch to Comrie Primary School. We ushered in the spring season with our all-day Launch Event, including activities such as birdwatching, owl pellet dissecting, willow weaving, and listening to a presentation on red kite and beaver reintroduction. Then summer brought a flurry of wildlife activity, culminating in our Bat, Bird, and Beaver accessible walking tour around St Fillans for the Summer Solstice. We also led a Level 1 Bat Detector Workshop, strolled around the shores of Loch Earn for a Wildflower Identification Walk, and spoke about Scotland’s Lost Species at a pop-up Iron Age Village. Once the autumn chill swept in, we started the spooky season with a Bug Hunt for all ages at MacRosty Park and held a Supermoon Bat Walk. We also hosted holiday themed events during the winter months, including a day of Sustainable Christmas Crafting and a New Years Nature Ramble. Recently, we kicked off 2025 with a Nest Box Building event and sale for garden birds!

2024 also marked the start of our first big community project called Natural Narratives, a series of free events exploring topics of nature, sustainability, and rewilding. Events included screening rewilding films, hosting engaging talks from experts in biodiversity and beaver coexistence, and promoting Scottish sustainable businesses. We have enjoyed the enthusiasm and worthwhile conversations at these events from our communities across Strathearn. For more details of each event, check out our blog on our website!

Outside of community events, we’ve also been busy conducting ecological surveys throughout the Scottish countryside. Additionally, our team has recruited volunteers, led bespoke day tours and riverwatch tours, attended nature-related conferences, and given advice to encourage wildlife in gardens. We’ve also been successful in raising funding for our new upcoming project, Nature Mingle, which aims to bring the beauty of the natural world indoors for those who face barriers accessing it.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us or collaborated with us in our first year as a CIC. We are excited to continue making wildlife and nature exciting and accessible for all. If you would like to join us for our events or book a wildlife tour, please visit our website at www.aquila-cic.org. We hope to see you soon, and here’s to another fabulous year!

The Museum opens for the season on Thursday, 17 April 2025 at 12 noon and our opening times are Thursday, Friday and Sunday 12 -4pm and Saturdays 10am-4pm. We will be having completely new displays including one for the 80th Anniversary of the end of WW11. It will be focussing on ‘Life in Strathearn’ at that time. If anyone has any memorabilia or photos relating to The War that they would like to donate or lend the museum we would be most grateful.

There will also be a display on The Jacobites and the development of General Wade’s Roads that came through Strathearn after the first uprising. In Crieff itself Valentines of Crieff and Gordon & Durward’s will both have had their shops in Crieff for 100 years and we will be highlighting these achievements in the museum.. Donations of objects/documents/photos/postcards relating to Crieff and Strathearn from St Fillans to Madderty, Muthill to Culdees, Innerpeffray, The Gask, Wester Fowlis and as far as Newbridge in the Sma’ Glen would be much appreciated. If you have anything you would like to donate or stories to tell, please contact us at the email address at the end of this article.

Our AGM this year is on 11 May 2025 at 11am in the Museum so please come along to support the museum and find out all we have achieved over the last twelve months.

If you are interested in volunteering as a guide during the season then please email us at info@crieffandstrathearnmuseum. org.uk or if you would like to become a member of the museum please check our website for details and a membership form. The membership fee is £12.00 per annum and you will be supporting us with the running costs of keeping the museum open. Our website is: www.crieffandstrathearnmuseum.org.uk

Cycle Crieff - Cycle Crieff is a community initiative with the aim to encourage and support all cyclists to explore the routes around Crieff. No one is paid a salary; our volunteers and links help make the project a success.

There are three main strands Routes - Categorised by bike style; road & gravel. Use the QR code to access the routes easily! Repairs - Puncture repairs to electric conversions are catered for in our well-equipped workshop. We are supported by Morrison’s Academy, and we appreciate a call before coming to our workshop. Reuse - We accept donated bikes directly and utilise these to provide transport for all sections of the community. We always have a range of bikes for sale.

Community cycling - We have an active cycle group, offering rides instigated by WhatsApp chat riders. Each week we explore a few of the Cycle Crieff routes. Pace and distance are decided by the cyclists taking part. We also run bike maintenance courses and ‘back on your bike confidence courses’.

Since the last Quair we have ‘A’ (easy social), ‘B’ & ‘C’ Rides - The first social ‘A’ ride was hosted by Alan Butler on the March 9 when 19 riders turned out and enjoyed a fresh spin in the mist. The Steading hospitality was very welcome. Colin’s Karting trip was a great success as was the Golf club outing. More info to follow in the next edition.

Maintenance courses and workshop use - We ran three Dr Bike sessions in March. They enabled riders to get their bikes checked but also to familiarise themselves with issues such as hanger replacement, with supportive experienced mechanics to help. The volunteers were simply brilliant and have a wealth of knowledge to back up their qualifications and people skills. Two maintenance courses were also run with Graeme M and Shubam teaching young people and a couple of Spanish locals how to look after their bikes.

upcoming

Cycle Crieff ‘A’, ‘B’ & ‘C’ rides - There

will now be two rides a month on the first Sunday and last Saturday. Other rides will be published on the group’s social media. These will be hosted by active and community focused members who want to encourage and support other riders. Socials & trips - There are plans to increase the socials and use these to plan trips. We have instigated a number of ideas and a group of riders have planned to visit Islay in the summer. More info to follow. There are plans for Arran, the 5 ferries, Aviemore, Spain and possibly Mongolia. Bike donations - Thanks, it has been great to receive so many offers of bikes and know that these will make a difference. Disc brake mountain bikes are still in demand. We’ll collect if required. If you donate a bike, we’ll service your other bikes for free. Inspiration of the month! - Some may not realise how many people support the group and enable it to flourish. One of these is

Graeme Lister. He is a vital member of the workshop team and as an experienced Ex Naval engineer is very competent. He is calm and thoughtful and always happy to host rides and show the local area. Another volunteer, Shubam, is another vital element that makes the team tick. Friendly helpful and pleasant, nothing is too much trouble. Come and meet the team at Dr Bike and sales, in conjunction with Remake. Please get in touch if you want to know more or join our adventures!

Visit our website www.cyclecrieff.scot/ about.html & Facebook

Email - cyclecrieff@yahoo.com

Strathearn Community Library

Create With Remake - Get crafty this spring with Remake Scotland’s Marie-Claire at Strathearn Community Library! Kids can create fun projects from recycled materials. Two sessions are available on Thursday, 10 April: 10.30 am - 12 pm for ages 5-7 (under 8s need an adult) and 2 pm - 3.30 pm for ages 8-12. Book by phone on 01764 657705 or at strathearnlibrary@culturepk.org.uk.

The Changing Nature of Afghanistan

Local author DS MacDonald will be giving a talk at 7.30 pm on Tuesday, April 22. David is a sociologist who worked in Afghanistan as a Senior Drug Demand Reduction Specialist for UNODC between 2000 and 2004. He also worked as an advisor on drugs and development for several UN agencies and other organisations in countries such as Pakistan, Liberia, Uganda, Egypt, Lebanon, Thailand, Comoros and Morocco. David will focus on the changing nature of Afghanistan over the last 25 years. Tickets are £5 and are available from Perthshire Box Office. www.perthshireboxoffice.com/whats-on/the-changingnature-of-afghanistan

Outstanding Walks Scotland - Join author Felicity Martin at 7.30 pm on Thursday, May 8 as she explores Scotland’s best walks from her book, Outstanding Walks Scotland. Discover hidden gems, learn about history and wildlife, and get tips on planning your own adventures. Felicity will share memorable stories from her research, both good and bad, followed by a Q&A. This event supports the Drovers’ Tryst Walking Festival, which runs from Friday, 9 - Monday, 12 May. Tickets are £5 and available from Perthshire Box Office www.perthshireboxoffice.com/whats-on/outstanding-walksscotland

Bookbug Sessions - These fun, interactive sessions are suitable for pre-schoolers from baby years. The sessions are held every Thursday including school holidays from 10.30 am - 11 am. No need to book.

Opening hours - Tuesday: 10 am - 7 pm Wednesday: 10 am - 6 pm, Thursday: 10 am - 7 pm Friday: 10 am - 6 pm Saturday: 10 am - 1 pm. Contact us - 01764 657705/ strathearnlibrary@culturepk.org.uk

Easter Fun for all at Crieff’s Spring Fair

This Easter come along and enjoy a wonderful family day out full of fun and entertainment in Crieff’s beautiful Taylor Park.

A huge success last year, the now annual Spring Fair will be back bigger and better than ever this Easter Sunday, 20 April, with Games, Raffle, Stalls, Tombola, live entertainment, music, fabulous food and refreshments.

And there’ll be plenty on offer to delight the youngsters, including face painting, bouncy castles, Wee Adventures, Imagine This and That Face Painting, the Fire Brigade, Scottish Adventure School, Pedro portraits and lots more.

Drop by and spend a few hours enjoying the many treats on offer; the Fair, brought to you by Crieff Community Council, will run from 11 am to 3 pm. See you there!

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Jim

Fairlie MSP

Perthshire South & Kinross-shire - SNP

I recently enjoyed a visit to Comrie Primary School to catch up with teachers and pupils involved with the Breaducation project. The project is a collaboration with John Castley of Wild Hearth Bakery and his colleague Tyra Dempster and the school. It aims to ensure that the pupils learn where bread comes from and the enjoyment of producing your own food from scratch. Not only does it provide the pupils with valuable knowledge of where food comes from, but it also provides them with valuable life lessons in terms of skills in preparing meals. The children picked the grain they wanted, ground the grain, made the dough, proved it and then baked the bread. I was lucky enough to stick around long enough to end up going home with a wonderfully baked Comrie Primary sourdough loaf! Projects like this are a wonderful example of the connections between our schools and the local community, ensuring that valuable life skills are not lost in this day and age of technology.

Locally we have also seen the passing of Perth and Kinross Council’s budget plans for the coming year. I want to congratulate Councillor Grant Laing and the SNP team of PKC councillors for navigating the difficult waters that the budget setting process brings every year. I was particularly pleased to see a reprieve for rural libraries, with funding of £1 million delivered to secure their future. It is now vital that the communities that could have been impacted by the potential closures work with Culture Perth and Kinross to evaluate how they see their library provision going forward. We know that people engage with the services that libraries provide in a different way to how they might have some years ago, so it is vital that we are providing a service fit for the modern library user.

Jim

Fairley MSP

South & Kinross-shire - SNP

The Scottish Parliament Párlamaid na h-Alba

Jim Fairlie MSP

Perthshire South & Kinross-shire

I can be contacted by telephone on 01738 620540 or by email at Jim.fairlie.msp@parliament.scot

The local budget also delivered over £1m extra funding to help tackle poverty in our communities, and over £100m for the social care budget. These are huge sums of money that are being invested locally, albeit at a time of challenging finances. I look forward to seeing the impact that this investment will have across Perth and Kinross, including here in Strathearn. Locally I was sorry to hear that Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith has decided not to seek re-election. Whilst Liz and I don’t always see eye to eye politically, I know that she fights passionately for her constituents, and I will be sorry to lose her years of experience in The Scottish Parliament. I wish Liz all the best for her retirement.

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As always, if you need to contact me, please email Jim.Fairlie.MSP@Parliament.Scot, call 01738 620540 or write to me at 63 Glasgow Road, Perth, PH2 0PE.

Crieff Choral Group - What a year 2024/2025 has been. Huge thanks should go to our conductor, Ulrike Wutscher, to our rehearsal accompanist, Gordon Turnbull, and to the committee and of course to all the singers.

The choir performed a variety of music, their concerts included works by classical composers such as Schubert and Handel, the American composer Mary Macdonald’s ‘Festival of Christmas’ and music by emerging female composers such as Harriet Beech and Marianna Martinez. This year, as well, the choir was pleased to welcome Brass Central Strathearn to join them for the Christmas concert.

The tour to Vienna in October was a great success, what an opportunity to perform in a city which is such a centre for music, and to explore its culture and dare we say culinary delights?

Members of the choir have also entertained in the community and are looking forward to singing for Comrie ‘Silver Circle’ in May. Crieff Choral Group was pleased to welcome a number of new singers this year. If you would like to join, no audition necessary, contact the choir secretary at crieffchoral@gmail.com. For latest information about the choir, look at our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/crieff.

Rehearsals will begin again in September. Mondays, in Crieff, 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm.

THE

NURSERY KINDALLACHAN

West Countlich Farm, Kindallachan, Near Ballinliug, PH9 0NW www.alexbutter.co.uk | 07554 008058 nursery@alexbutter.co.uk

Herbaceous Perennials | Shrubs

Bedding Plants | Scottish Heathers

Alpines | Specimen Trees

Fruit Trees | Fruit bushes | Climbers

Conifers | Vegetable Plants

Compost | Pots | Gift Vouchers

Summer & Autumn Hanging Baskets (New & Refills)

OPENING HOURS OPEN

Summer Hours April - October Monday – Saturday 9am – 4:30pm Sunday 11am – 4pm Winter Hours November – March

Monday – Friday 9am – 4:30pm

HOW TO FIND US

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Happy Easter from Bertie Bus

The Bertie Bus team would like to wish you a Happy Easter as we all welcome in the spring and look forward to brighter months ahead. The team looks forward to all the opportunities that better weather provides for their service users, and the wider range of days out that they will all be able to enjoy as a result.

Quiz Night Eggstravaganza - The Bertie Bus team is excited to welcome you to this year’s quiz night! Following last year’s fantastic turnout and great feedback, the team is gearing up for another lively evening of fun, trivia, and community spirit.

Culinary Delights - Participants won’t simply get a fun night out, they’ll also enjoy a great spread of food,, prepared by Crieff Golf Club’s head chef, Ian. With a wealth of experience from Comrie Hotel, Delivino’s, and Wild Thyme Catering, Ian has built a strong reputation for creating exceptional food. We have no doubt that his menu will set the perfect tone for an enjoyable evening.

team up for fun - Teams will be made up of four, so it’s easy to make up numbers for a team from friends, family, or a selection of brainboxes who might tip your chances of winning the quiz. Whoever you decide to join forces with for the night, you’re sure to be in for a great time!

Save the Date - Mark your calendars. Bertie Bus’s quiz night will take place on Friday, 25 April, at Crieff Golf Club. The buffet will be served at 7 pm, with the quiz kicking off at 8 pm. Booking Details: Spaces are limited, and bookings will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis-so don’t miss out!

For more information about tickets, and to reserve your spot, contact the Bertie Team via email at secretary@bertiebus.org.uk or phone at 07917 415942.

A Commitment to Community - Bertie Bus’s quiz night isn’t just a fantastic evening out - it’s also a key part of their fundraising efforts, supporting a service that has been at the heart of the Crieff community for 50 years.

Bertie Bus provides essential transport for those with mobility challenges, help-

ing them stay connected through weekly outings, library visits, shopping trips, and special events. More than just a means of getting around, Bertie Bus fosters independence, friendships, and social opportunities for local residents.

With a dedicated team of volunteers, Bertie Bus are proud to keep this vital service running. By joining them for the quiz, you’ll be helping to ensure that Bertie Bus continues making a difference in our community.

A New Way to stay connected with the Bertie Bus team - Starting during the first week in April, Bertie Bus now offers more regular updates via social media platforms Instagram and Facebook. If you would like to stay up to date with Bertie Bus and all of its community activities then you can find your way to their Instagram and Facebook pages by scanning the QR codes below with your phone’s camera, or by typing the link into your web browser. They’ll be celebrating the history of Bertie Bus this year, as 2025 marks 50 years of service to the community for Bertie Bus and associated past organisations. If you have any stories about Bertie Bus throughout its 50 years of service they would love to hear from you, and social media is a great way for you to share your Bertie Bus stories. Feel free to message them or tag them in your own posts regarding Bertie Bus through the years.

Crieff and Strathearn Drovers’ Tryst Walking Festival

The 25th Anniversary of the annual Crieff and Strathearn Drovers’ Tryst Walking Festival has opened for bookings and is off to a tremendous start!

Within a fortnight of the bookings opening online, 40% of all walk places have already been filled - and some walks are already sold out or with only limited places remaining! The popularity of the Walking Festival (Friday, 9 to Monday, 12 May) highlights the attraction of offering guided walks across a range of walk types or difficulty.

Extra Hard walks include Ben Chonzie and also Beinn Mhanach.

As our ‘local Munro’ Ben Chonzie is often overlooked but this year will see a very different approach, with walkers meeting at the Loch Turret dam and then walking along the path to the head of the loch before swinging up onto the shoulder and on up to the summit, before taking the long south-easterly ridge back to the dam.

Ben Mhanach (- the Monks Hill - so called as a monastery was established at the foot of the mountain in bygone days) is snuggled at the end of Glen Lyon and often missed because of its remoteness. This walk is especially attractive as it follows no established path but rather allows the walkers to traverse across the grassy slopes as they ascend.

A more relaxing, Medium grade walk is the Amulree - Loch Freuchie loop which pick up part of the Rob Roy Way and explores Glen Quaich before a gentle climb up Greag nan Grabhar and winding back down to the start point!

Full walk details can be found on the Drovers’ Tryst website (www.droverstryst.com) and walkers are encouraged to book their preferred walks ASAP, to avoid disappointment - as the walks are filling fast!

All in all, it’s a great start to what will hopefully be yet another fun filled long weekend in May - hopefully supported by some lovely weather as we enjoy our days on the hills!

Innerpeffray Library

The Library of Innerpeffray is open for tours until the end of October, with a fascinating exhibition on the theme of Book Marking - exploring the ways that past owners and readers of our historic collection of books have left their marks upon the pages, through notes, names and even doodles.

Dates for Your Diary

Wednesday, 9 April - Friends of Innerpeffray Library AGM. 7 pm. The official business of the Friends AGM will be accompanied by a programme of music and readings, with actor Crawford Logan and musicians Joan Taylor and Peter Banks. Tickets: Friends members free, guests £10.

Sunday, 27 April - Morag Brown and Lewis Powell-Reid. 3 pm. An afternoon of acoustic instrumental music from Scotland to the Balkans and beyond, with sparkling improvisations and a joyful spontaneity that draws deeply from the wells of traditional repertoire. Tickets £15, available online.

Friday, 2 May - Reading Forms: Exhibition Launch with Helen Gallogly. 6 pm. Textile

artist Helen Gallogly, known for her costume textile design work on the Outlander drama series, presents a site-specific visual art project inspired by Innerpeffray. Tickets available soon.

Friday, 2 May - Saturday, 31 May - Reading Forms: Helen Gallogly. This innovative art installation will display printed textile sculptures positioned throughout the Library location, presenting new visual narratives investigating the site and the content of its collections. A launch event, artist’s talk and artist-led tours of the exhibition will take place over the course of the month, and the exhibition will be available to view and explore for anyone taking a Library tour during regular opening hours. See the ‘What’s On’ page on our website for full details.

Wednesday, 14 May - 7 pm. The Friends of Innerpeffray are delighted to welcome Mike Bullock OBE, Chief Executive of the Northern Lighthouse Board, to give a talk in the Old Schoolroom. Tickets available soon.

Tuesday, 24 June - Good Again? with Sarah

DUNDEE'S HIDDENGEM

Small. 7 pm. A musical tour with a difference, Sarah Small is cycling from venue to venue to perform a programme of music ranging from the 17th century to the present day on the Viola da Gamba.

Tickets available soon.

Thursday, 10 July - The Three Inch Fools: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 7 pm. The everpopular Fools are back, in their 10th anniversary year, with an outdoor performance of this glorious audience favourite. Tickets £20 / £12 / £48, available online.

Call for volunteers - Whether you would like to be a visitor guide, join the gardening team, do behind-the-scenes admin or help out with our programme of events, we’d love to hear from you.

Email info@innerpeffraylibrary.co.uk or call the number below.

The Library’s regular opening hours are Wednesday - Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm, and Sunday, 2 pm - 5 pm.

Contact us on 01764 652 819 or visit our website at www.innerpeffraylibrary.co.uk for more details and for ticket booking.

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Cairngorm Gifts

A warm welcome to our new advertiser, Cairngorm Gifts

Cairngorm Gifts is owned and run by Mark & Sally McCallum who work together as an artist and crafter in their riverside studio in Kirkmichael, Perthshire, offering a range of handmade bespoke tweed gifts, original artwork, upcycled whisky cask ends with original artwork, all carefully crafted with love and attention to detail.

At Cairngorm Gifts, quality is the top priority, from Scottish sourced materials and unique products, to excellent customer service.

Mark & Sally strive to deliver a personalised and reliable service to ensure you go home happy with a handmade Scottish gift.

Visit us at our working studio, Old Mill House, Kirkmichael, PH10 7NB.

For more information see the following websites - www.cairngormgifts.com & www. mark-mccallum.com

You can also telephone Mark & Sally on 07812 349733.

Crieff Trefoil - Crieff Trefoil continues to meet throughout the year on the fourth Monday monthly - indoors over the winter and at various locations outdoors over the summer months. Our indoor autumn/ winter sessions began recently and are held at St Columba’s Episcopal Church, when meetings will once again this year be full of surprise activities. Each year we are tasked by UK Trefoil with attracting only one new member to each of our Guilds - could you be that one new member? Crieff Trefoil is a small, active, fun group but play an active part in the bigger Perth & Kinross County, Scotland and the UK with national and international opportunities, eg holidays at home and abroad, available for all members - why not give us a try?

For further information Crieff Trefoil can be contacted by email at criefftrefoilguild@ gmail.com or by making an enquiry via the Trefoil Guild website www.trefoilguild. co.uk. Trefoil Guild Scotland and Trefoil Guild UK have public Facebook pages and are also on Instagram where you can see much of the fun activities we get up toyou may be surprised!

Crieff Lunch Club - Crieff Lunch Club is run under the auspices of the Royal Voluntary service and staffed by a brilliant group of volunteers from Crieff and district.

We meet in Duchlage Court in Crieff every Thursday lunchtime in term time, and provide a 2 course lunch and tea and biscuits for a very modest cost. It is a great opportunity for folk living alone to come along, meet others and have a hot meal together. Transport to the lunch for those who live out with Duchlage Court can be arranged through Bertie bus. We are always looking for new clients and, of course, new volunteers to join our teams of volunteer helpers for about 2 hours, once a month. If you are interested in coming along or volunteering for the lunch club, please contact the RVS office in Perth on 01738 633975 or email at perthsupportingyou@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk.

Strathearn Ramblers Walks Programme

Friday, 4 April - Loch Leven and Burleigh Sands. Stroll. Distance 5miles. Start point Burleigh Sands Car Park Getting there, take the M90 to Edinburgh come off at junction 7 (Milnathort/Stirling.) and turn left onto A91. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit A911 then right again on the A911 (Burleigh Road). After 1 mile turn right at the junction and the car park is approximately 1/3 of a mile along this road. What3Words ///inclined.wings.thumbnail Leave Laggan Park Comrie 10 am, Crieff Co-op Car park 9.15 am Burleigh Sands Car Park 11 am. Description Out of the car park crossing the road to take a path through trees then join a cycle path until you reach a sign for Burleigh Castle. Walk through fields and a community woodland. Stop at the Castle for coffee and a browse returning to the path already taken to join the to cross the road and follow the sign for Burleigh Sands and follow the path signed posted to Milnathort. After a short walk along Milnathort High Street we take a path by the golf course back to the car park.

Sunday, 27 April - The Pipe Walk. Walk. Distance 6 miles. start/finishing point Macrosty Park, Crieff. What3Words /// envisage.adopts.adjusting Leave Macrosty park at 10 am. Description Starting at Macrosty park this walk follows Turret burn on its east side and passes the cemetery before reaching the road and crossing the Earn river bridge. Passing the rugby ground the river is followed on its west side all the way to Strowan. On crossing the pipe bridge the main track is taken back to Lady Mary’s and on to Macrosty. Completely different views of the river Eran.

Sunday, 11 May - Kinclaven (Bluebell woods circular). Stroll. Distance 3.5 miles Start point Kinclaven Bluebell Wood Car Park at 11 am What3Words ///gratitude. intrigues.zips Start time Laggan Park Comrie 10 am; 10.15 am Crieff Co-op car park. It takes approximately 55 minutes to the start point from Comrie. (To get there. Take the B9099 through Luncarty and Stanley. Just outside Stanley take a right sign-posted to Kinclaven and Blairgowrie

after about 3 miles at a T junction take a left sign-posted for Kinclaven Church, Murthly and Caputh. The large Kinclaven Bluebell Wood car park is along this road on the left). Description Reputed to be one of the best woods for bluebells in the area with a wide variety of native tree species in an ancient woodland. This walk will be around the Bluebell Wood and Court Hill, the latter providing good views of the surrounding countryside. The walk is on good defined paths and some short areas of grassland. Dependent on the weather some of the paths may have some boggy areas.

Thursday, 22 May - Birks of Aberfeldy and beyond. Walk. Distance 8.5 miles. Start Point Birks of Aberfeldy Car Park. What3Words ///submit.reconnect.aunts

Leave Comrie Laggan Park 9 am Crieff Co-op Car park 9.15 am; Birks Car park 10 am Description This walk takes in the Birks of Aberfeldy plus a walk into the hinterland of Aberfeldy. At the top of the Birks to pat a path onto the Urlar Road for approximately half a mile then join a track beside the Urlar Burn. The walk heads west by some pylons joining then joins the Rob Roy Way in Bolfracks Wood back to the Birks. Mostly on well-defined paths but can be messy in places with some sharp ascents, total ascent 450m.

Monday, 7 July - Muckhart and Rumbling Bridge. Stroll. Distance 6.5 miles. Start Point Coronation Hall, Pool of Muckhart. What3Words ///announce.snack.asterisk

Leave Comrie Laggan Park 10 am Crieff Co-op Car park 10.15 am Coronation Hall, Pool of Muckhart 10.45 am Description This is a lovely circular walk starts from the Pool of Muckhart takes you past Muckhart Mill and through the Rumbling Bridge Gorge before returning to Muckhart via farm tracks. There is about 180m of ascent in total which is spread out across the walk making this pretty much a flat walk. The route is entirely on paths/ tracks and quiet roads although some bits can be very muddy. Sunday, 20 July - Falls of Bruar Circular. Walk. Distance 7.5 miles Start Point at 10.30 am. House of Bruar What3Words ///intruders.rainfall.removing Leave Comrie Laggan Park 9 am; Crieff Co-

op 9.15 am Description A delightful circular walk past waterfalls & lofty trees to an ancient watch tower.

Comrie Fortnight Sunday, 27 July - Chairman’s walk. Walk. Details and description to be advised. Tuesday, 29 July - Vice chairman’s stroll. Stroll. Details and description to be advised. Booking details. These walks must be book through Comrie Fortnight Booking Office in the White Church. Friday, 15 August - Loch Venacher circuit. Walk. Distance 11.5 miles. Start 10.15 am/finishing point Glen Finglas visitors center car park. (Also signed Lendrick Hill) just east of Brig o’ Turk on A821. What3Words ///chose.extent.carpentry Leave Laggan Park Comrie 9.15 am. Crieff Coop car park 9 am Description Spend a leisurely day circumnavigating loch Venachar by a mixture of cycle paths and minor roads with good views of the water most of the way. Refreshments available at the Byre Inn near Brig o’ Turk, the Brig 0’ Turk tea room. Approx walk time 4.5 - 5 hours

Sunday, 31 August - Oak & Jubilee Walk, Auchterarder. Stroll. Distance 4.5 miles start/finish point at 10.30 am. Crown Inn Wynd Car park What3Words /// zaps.puffed.messy Leave Comrie Laggan Park 10 am Crieff Co-op Car park 10.15 am

Description This circular walk explores the surrounds of Auchterarder. The walk starts in the centre of town and follows paths taking in the woods and fields around.

Sunday, 14 September - Loch Ordie. Walk. Distance. 10 miles. Start Point The Cally Car Park, Dunkeld off the A923 Blairgowrie Road. What3Words ///rhino. back.blatantly Leave Comrie Laggan Park 9 am Crieff Co-op Car park 9.15 am The Cally Car Park 10 am Description One of the Ramblers’ favourites, walking through woodland, moorlands and by lochs with a bit of history attached. Out of the car park take the road uphill through a set of gates towards Mill Dam, at Mill Dam continue to follow the main path on the left of the loch, passing two smaller lochs, until you reach Loch Ordie, a good place for lunch. Leaving Loch Ordie cross a bridge over the Dowally Burn and take the sign

for Dunkeld. Follow waymarkers back to the Mill Dam on a gentle downward path and join the road back to the car park. Sunday, 28 September - Dalchonzie to St Fillans return. Stroll. Distance 7.8 miles start 10.30 am/ finishing point Parking area (limited) at Dalhonzie just off left from the A85. What3Words///waltzes.applauded.wink Leave Comrie Laggan Park 10.15 am; Crieff Co-op car park 10 am

Description This is a stroll to St. Fillans and back along the old railway track. Lunch spot on the Loch Earn shore near the Four Seasons hotel. (Or possible lunch at the St. Fillans Golf Course. To be researched.)

Walk & stroll reminders

Booking procedures - Visitors are always welcome and should contact The Ramblers on strathearn.ramblers@gmail.com in the first instance. A token charge of £1 per visitor will be requested as a donation towards the group’s insurance cover.

Colin Andrew Smith Architect . Treetops . Dull . Aberfeldy . PH15 2JQ 01887 820815 . colin@casarchitect.co.uk . www.casarchitect.co.uk

Heather Watson-Ross BSc (Hons) MCPod - Registered HCPC Podiatrist/Chiropodist

Ochils Podiatry offers a comprehensive range of podiatry/chiropody treatments.

For all enquiries please contact by: Telephone 01764 752252 Email info@ochilspodiatry.co.uk www.ochilspodiatry.co.uk

Please note - The main leaders for each event will decide whether it will take place on the date shown in the programme or on another nearby day if there are adverse weather conditions on the date stated in the programme. They will communicate this to all Ramblers who have previously indicated an interest in participating, usually 3-4 days ahead.

On the day please carry your contact details in case of emergency and where possible bring your own First Aid Kit & mobile phone.

Please remember that when taking part in The Ramblers walks and strolls you are responsible for your own health and safety.

We are located within Davidsons Chemist, 54-56 High St, Auchterarder.

"Keeping the community on their feet"

social enterprises and the selfemployed in rural Perth & Kinross

Based on the grounds of Ardvreck School in Crieff, the Scottish Adventure School runs residential outdoor education trips for school children from all over Scotland. They have now opened their doors for families, children and adults looking to try their hand at a range of different adventurous activities, all under the watchful eyes of their highly trained and experienced instructors. The most recent addition to the activities comes in the form of an exciting, tree to tree high ropes course. This contains a series of obstacles and challenges to overcome on the way to the final zipline. Multiple laps can be completed over the course of a two hour session and training, supervision, full body harness and helmet are all included.

Other popular activities include canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding at Loch Earn, rock climbing and abseiling at Bennybeg, gorge walking in the nearby River Turret and some of the on-site activities such as air rifle shooting, archery, bushcraft or a mass game of laser tag!

For more details, please visit www.scottishadventureschool.co.uk/familyactivities, scan the QR code, and see advert top right..

Looking

for

an adventure for all the family?

Come and check out the Scottish Adventure School, based in Crieff.

We run a variety of outdoor activities and are open every weekend and throughout the school holidays. Lasertag, High Ropes, Gorge Walking, Rock Climbing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Hillwalks, Bushcraft. Canoeing, Archery and Air Rifles all available.

Check out www.scottishadventureschool.co.uk/familyactivities

WATER COLOUR

Byre Theatre in partnership with Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland and Pitlochry Festival Theatre present

Written by Milly Sweeney Winner of the St Andrews Playwriting Award

The St Andrews Playwriting Award is generously supported by Mike and Elisa Levy and the late Elizabeth Mussen and has been developed in collaboration with the University of St Andrews MLitt in Playwriting and Screenwriting.

Directed by Sally Reid

Blair Castle & Gardens

We’re reopening on 1st April and can’t wait to welcome you back.

Take a self-guided tour of Blair Castle & Gardens and wander through 30 beautifully preserved rooms, before strolling through the stunning 9-acre walled garden.

New for 2025

Step into our interactive ‘Life Below Stairs’ exhibition and discover the hidden world of those who kept the castle running in the 19th century.

Enjoy exclusive discounts and unlimited visits with a Friends of Blair Membership. Friends of Blair

Please check the website for opening times and prices.

What’s on

Easter Ranger Events 8th - 18th April

Ranger Julia has an action-packed Easter break with outdoor activities, crafts, and walks.

Easter Sunday Fun Day 20th April

Easter activities for children plus prizes for egg painting, egg rolling and egg hunting.

Spring Foraging 10th - 11th May

Learn the art of foraging at Blair Castle.