Cowalfest Booking Kiosk opens at Dunoon Tourist Information Centre
From left to right: Dr Mike Cantlay, Convenor, National Park, Gail Simon and Wynn Simon, Cowalfest Booking, Margaret Martin, Manager Dunoon Tourist Information Centre
As part of a developing partnership with VisitScotland, Cowalfest opened their booking kiosk in Dunoon Tourist Information Centre this week.
Officially opening the service, Dr. Mike Cantlay, Convenor of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park said "I am delighted to see such close co-operation being put in to practice between VisitScotland and Cowalfest. This provides a practical option for people to book in the centre of Dunoon.
Dr. Cantlay continued "Cowalfest has been running for 5 years and the work it does to showcase the stunning environment of Cowal and the Argyll Forest is important. Environmental and cultural tourism are internationally the market growth sectors and it is vital for the tourism sector in Cowal to position itself to take advantage of the enormous opportunities available."
Russell Bruce, Chair of Cowalfest said " We have our own online booking system up and running this year which allows anyone to book from anywhere in the world but our Dunoon based walk-in service remains important to us. The kiosk will not be manned by us all day but Gail or Wynne will be here for some of the time on most days. TIC staff will always be on hand to assist and answer queries, added Russell.
15th August, 2007
Robin Jenkins Sculpture
Widely regarded as one of Scotland’s greatest contemporary writers, Robin Jenkins lived, until his death two years ago, in Toward.
Cowalfest, along with its funding partners and the Younger (Benmore) Trust, has commissioned a work in wood by sculptor Nigel Ross to commemorate Jenkins’ association with forestry in the area. The work will be sited in Benmore Garden and will be unveiled by the Minister for the Environment, Michael Russell MSP on Monday 8th October. By invitation.
4th March, 2007
Cowalfest to support Mount Everest climb
Cowalfest, Scotland's largest Walking and Arts festival will be one of a number of sponsors behind the ascent of Mt Everest this spring by James Ogilvie of Forestry Commission Scotland. James is getting out from behind his desk at the Commission's Head Office in Edinburgh, where he deals with grants and licences, to head for Nepal in April to climb the world's highest mountain.
"There is much more to our involvement than just the ascent of Mount Everest" explained Cowalfest Chair, Russell Bruce. "The money James is raising through his climb is for Tree Aid and their work in Africa and Cowalfest's speaker fees will go towards this work.
"In Cowal the predominant land use is forestry and around 40% of the land under is forest, but in Africa trees are scarce and the work of Tree Aid is making a difference to rural African communities by helping them to become more sustainable. Trees provide shade and shelter. They create a micro climate that diminishes the remorseless acrid heat of parched plains. Many of the trees planted provide fruit or nuts or are host to bees from which honey can be collected.
Trees also provide building material and fuel."
Russell added : "The Tree Aid strategy is to build the capacity of poor families to manage trees and forests and apply agro-forestry techniques whilst expanding their work to promote income generation from trees through their Village Tree Enterprise work. Tree Aid works where people
need trees most: in the poorest villages in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Northern Ghana and Mali where 90% depend on trees for basic survival needs. Simply, without trees there is no life."
James will be speaking about Tree Aid and the preparations for his climb at the Cowalfest AGM at Strachur Hall on Wednesday 14th March at 8.15. This is an open meeting to which all are welcome. Individuals can make their own contribution to support Tree Aid at the meeting or by going to www.justgiving.com/jamesogilvie.
James will be returning during Cowalfest to give an illustrated talk on the climb. Cowalfest runs from 5th to 14th October this year and is part of Highland 2007 supported by Argyll & Bute Council and HIE Argyll & The Islands.
22nd January 2007
Cowalfest at Argyll Launch of Highland 2007
Cowalfest as one of the major festivals in Argyll during the Scottish Year of Highland Culture,
was represented at a seminar in Oban last week to hear how the festival would be supported by the Highland 2007 team in Inverness. Following the big launch and street party in Inverness earlier this month, Argyll 2007 was launched in style last week in Oban.
Cowalfest organisers, Russell and Dorothy Bruce, promise that Cowalfest 2007 will be a special year for the Cowal Walking and Arts festival, now in its fifth year. "We have always presented a programme that showcased the best the Cowal Peninsula can offer in walking in stunning landscape and combined that with a programme of arts events that reflected a West Highland location to give people a real taste of our cultural heritage", said Chair, Russell Bruce . "This year we plan a very special programme", explained Cowalfest Vice Chair, Dorothy Bruce. "The national profile of Highland 2007 will mean we are included in the national publicity of a year long celebration of Highland Culture which will increase exposure of the Cowal Peninsula, a little discovered Highland jewel", Dorothy added.
The seminar was followed by a Civic Reception organised by Argyll & Bute Council in partnership with HIER Argyll & The Islands which was also attended by well known Cowalfest committee members and local artists, Don McNeil and Jean Bell. Highland 2007 is a year long programme of events across the Highlands and Islands. Cowalfest 2007 runs from 5th to 14th October.
Cowalfest, Scotland's largest walking and arts festival is taking to the water. Western Ferries (Clyde) Ltd have generously donated The Sound of Scarba for a special evening sailing to launch Cowalfest 2006 and raise funds for the Cowalfest organising committee.
In a mini festival taster event, this special sailing will include music by Mike Whellans who returns from a tour of Norway to help launch Cowalfest 06, live action painting by Don McNeil, a drama performance by Sadie Dixon-Spain and an on board screen of Films of Scotland's award winning production Seaward the Great Ships.
Cowalfest is a multi faceted festival bringing outdoor activity and landscape together with all the art forms that draw inspiration from and celebrate a unique area that is both West Highland and Clyde Coast.
Media contacts
Russell & Dorothy Bruce
Chair and Vice Chair Cowalfest
The Bannachra, Blairmore, by Dunoon Argyll PA23 8TL
Tel 01369 840 488
Mobiles: Russell - 07845 984250, Dorothy - 07709 948550
Email:
