In yet another innovation Cowalfest, the Cowal Walking and Arts Festival have launched Cowal Peninsula Walks in dvd and video formats to coincide with the start of this year's festival.
Shot by filmmaker, Gordon Davidson, in a joint production with the Festival Association, the film features five walks throughout the Cowal Peninsula.
Don McNeil and Jean Bell of Newton originated the project on behalf of the walking festival. Commenting on the film Don said: "Gordon has captured the spirit of the Peninsula. The images of landscape and waterscapes are stunning and portray the vibrancy of the peninsula in a riot of colour and in its different moods."
Jean added: "As artists we draw inspiration from this amazing landscape. The film is another way to share it with others and encourage people to get out and walk in surroundings that constantly stimulate the senses."
Cowal Peninsula Walks are all examples from the Cowalfest programme - one of each of the 5 walking grades. Chris Beveridge acted as film walks co-ordinator arranging for the film crew to link up with the five Cowalfest walk leaders. Chris, well known for her role in Canned Haggis, also recorded harp music for the soundtrack.
Dorothy Bruce, Vice Chair of Cowalfest said: "Gordon's art training shines through in the film. He has extended in the medium of film the imagery we use in our print material to showcase the peninsula as an unrivalled walking destination with spectacular and diverse scenery. The film of Puck's Glen is amazing and a tribute to Gordon's skills. It is a technically challenging location for photography and filming."
Speaking about his experience making the film Gordon Davidson said: "It was a joy to work with the walk leaders. Liz Connelly, Dougie Walker, Jim McLuckie and Andy Beveridge were just great. Everyone was so friendly and helpful, providing excellent information for scriptwriter, Allan Watson to work with and Chris's organisation enabled filming to be completed with ease in a surprisingly short timescale." Gordon, himself a keen walker added: "I had no idea before we started filming that Cowal had so much to offer. It really is West Highland and people are so welcoming. Now that I have discovered this hidden corner of Scotland on my doorstep I will be returning again and again."
Cowal Peninsula Walks on dvd or video is priced at £12.99 and available from The Cowal Walking Festival Association, Dunoon Tourist Information Centre, The National Park Gateway Centre, Balloch and Here We Are at Cairndow.
Cowalfest starts this Friday, 8th October, with six walks during the day and Walkers Welcome Ceilidh in the evening at the Highgate Hall Strone.
21st August 2004
Cowal’s Gaelic heritage is evoked as packed programme unveiled for Cowalfest 2004
Programme Launch
As sounds of the harp hang hauntingly in the air, Princess Deirdre will emerge from the waterside through the long grass and wild flowers, reciting a translated lay from the Glenmassan Manuscript. Written in classical common Gaelic, the manuscript relates the story of Deirdre of the Sorrows, her lover Naisi and their wanderings in Argyll - a story of love, betrayal, power, honour and revenge.
Princess Deirdre, played by actress Sadie Dixon Spain, is dressed in traditional Celtic costume to evoke the peninsula’s Gaelic heritage, as the Cowalfest 2004 programme is officially unveiled. The Glenmassan Manuscript recital gives a taste of what is to come in the festival, which marries walking, wildlife, heritage, arts, music and drama and runs for ten days throughout Cowal - Friday 8 to Sunday 17 October 2004.
The Glenmasson Manuscript originated in Ireland in 1512 and was known to be in Kintyre by the 17th century. One of only 70 pre-1700 Gaelic manuscripts in Scotland, it was in various hands in Cowal for 100 years before being brought to the attention of the Highland Society. Although studied by Gaelic scholars in Cowal, it finally came to light up a Forester's lum in Glenmassan. It is now in the care of The Trustees of the National Library of Scotland.
"Few people realise that only 200 years ago Gaelic was still the principal language of Cowal," said Russell Bruce, Chair of event organisers the Cowal Walking Festival Association. "That was to change when the wealthy merchants of Glasgow fell in love with the area and set up home here.
"Just as the Victorians were captivated by such a special place, West Highland in character with breathtaking scenery yet little more than an hour away from Glasgow, we hope to encourage more people to discover its hidden treasures today and come back for more. Tellingly Different is our theme this year.
"Cowalfest 2004 is our golden opportunity to really shout about the beauty and the heritage of the area. So we are combining 67 themed and guided walks with a rich and varied programme of concerts, ceilidhs, exhibitions, displays, talks, workshops and much more. There will be something for everyone whether locals, day-trippers, short break or longer autumn holiday visitors."
A biodiversity hot spot, Cowal has the vast Argyll Forest Park at its heart - Scotland’s oldest forest park and now part of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park - interspersed with mountains, sea and fresh water lochs. The series of graded walks take in the marine environment, ancient Atlantic oak woodlands, giant North American redwoods, early Christian sites and the internationally renowned Benmore Botanic Gardens, in a wide variety of easy, low-level paths to more strenuous routes for fit, experienced walkers.
Cowalfest is being supported this year by Argyll and the Islands Community Economic Development Programme, Argyll and Islands Enterprise, Argyll the Isles Loch Lomond Stirling and the Trossachs Tourist Board, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, the Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Argyll and Bute Council and Tulloch Holdings.
Although the majority of walks are free, prior booking is essential as numbers participating are limited to ensure a quality experience.
20th June 2004
Cowalfest goes to Edinburgh
Over 80 images of Cowal - portraying its natural heritage, scenery, wildlife, history and culture were shown in a photographic display at Treefest in Edinburgh this month.
Organised by the Cowal Walking Festival Association to promote the peninsula and the Cowal Walking and Arts Festival Russell Bruce, Chair said “this was a huge success and the response from visitors to our stand was tremendous with many expressing a keen interest to visit the peninsula. This year’s festival is being promoted under the Cowalfest brand to strengthen the concept that this is more than a walking festival with arts as a key part of both the festival and the visitor experience.
The crowds at Treefest in Inverleith Park were treated to a painting demonstration by artists and committee members Don McNeill and Jean Bell who gave their time free to promote the festival. Onlookers found themselves brush in hand and, under Don and Jean’s expert guidance, painting scenes of Cowal using the photographic images as their inspiration.
Treefest in Edinburgh is a lively and hugely enjoyable event and the attendance this year was around 10.000. “The capital and the east of Scotland are key markets for the festival, explained Dorothy Bruce, Vice Chair. With more and more people taking short breaks we have to get out and persuade them to spend some of these breaks in Cowal. That is why Treefest in Edinburgh was the logical place to launch this year’s promotional campaign.”
The recently announced results of the National Geographic Survey of the world’s most scenic destinations placed the Highlands and Islands in seventh place. “That”, explained Russell, “underlines our strategy in working with the tourist board to emphasise that Cowal is a West Highland destination.
“The perceptual survey we carried out during Treefest confirmed that this message was connecting with potential visitors. Using dramatic and strong photographic images to promote our natural environment as an unrivalled walking destination certainly took a trick.”
Cowalfest acknowledges the support of Argyll and The Islands Enterprise and Argyll the Isles Loch Lomond Stirling and Trossachs Tourist Board which made our attendance at Treefest possible.
This year Cowalfest - Cowal Walking and Arts Festival takes place from 8th to 17th October.
Programme Launch
"Few people realise that only 200 years ago Gaelic was still the principal language of Cowal," said Russell Bruce, Chair of event organisers the Cowal Walking Festival Association. "That was to change when the wealthy merchants of Glasgow fell in love with the area and set up home here.
