Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway

What's On in the Stranraer, Portpatrick and Cairnryan area:
events 2012 | regular events | add an event

What's On in 2012

"Flight" Art and Photography Competition 2012
Castle Kennedy & Gardens, DG9 8SJ
Open Daily: 10am until 5pm
APRIL - OCTOBER
The theme of this year's competition is flight – picture for example the flight of a butterfly, a skein of geese in flight or sycamore seeds. Draw, sketch, paint, photograph or create a 3D piece of artwork based on “Flight in the Gardens”. There are four age categories (4-7, 8-11, 12-18 and 18+) as well as Judges’ and School’s Special Prizes. Sponsors include Stena Line, J&M Train, MacKenzies, Daisy Chain @Reids, Baxters Picture Framing, East by West and the Stranraer and Wigtownshire Free Press. First prize is a 5 day return ferry trip for a car plus 4 passengers from Cairnryan to Belfast. Entry forms are available from Castle Kennedy & Gardens’ Shop.

AUGUST 2012

Emma – Open Air Theatre
Castle Kennedy & Gardens, DG9 8SJ
Wednesday 8th August
7.00 pm (Grounds open 5.45pm)
Join us for this wonderful tale of matchmaking, marriage and merriment. Emma is a young woman determined to pair her friends off with their perfect matches. But could it be that amidst her plotting, her own true love has been there all along? Filled with glorious fun, this brand new adaptation of Jane Austen’s comedy of manners promises love and laughter a plenty. Bring a picnic and enjoy an evening with friends in the beautiful setting of Castle Kennedy & Gardens.
Cost: Tickets purchased in Advance: Adult £11.00, Children & Students £7.00 , Family £32.00 (2 Adults and 2 Children)
Tickets purchased on the Day: Adult £12.00, Children & Students £8.00 , Family £36.00 (2 Adults and 2 Children)
For more information please contact 01581 400225 or visit website www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk
(Family Event)
Ponds and Avenues – Guided Walk
Castle Kennedy & Gardens, DG9 8SJ
Wednesday 15th August
2.00pm to 3.30pm
See the glorious Round Pond with its rare Victorian water lilies and the Avenues for which the Gardens are famous many of which were originally plant with specimen seeds given by Joseph Hooker. These include the 150 year Monkey-puzzle Avenue and the Dettingen Avenue lined with evergreen Oaks. Led by the Head Gardener.
Cost: £2.00 plus admission to the Gardens (which includes a slice of cake and a cup of tea or coffee).
For more information please contact 01581 400225 or visit website www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk
Guide in the Hide
Castle Kennedy & Gardens, DG9 8SJ
Friday 17th August
2.00pm until 4.00pm
The natural freshwater lochs at Castle Kennedy & Gardens offer an amazing variety of wildlife and the White Loch is a site of special scientific interest. Join Hannah Doyle of the RSPB in our new Bird Hide and find out more about these birds, habits and habitat.
Cost: included within admission to the Gardens. Binoculars and guide books will be available for hire or purchase.
For more information please contact 01581 400225 or visit website www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk
(Family Event)
Wind Socks
Castle Kennedy & Gardens, DG9 8SJ
Wednesday 22nd August
11.00am to 1.00pm
Build and see your own wind sock fly using recycled materials where possible. Work with Elizabeth Tindal of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Ranger Service for this family based activity.
Cost: included within admission to the Gardens
For more information please contact 01581 400225 or visit website www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk
(Family Event)
Pond Dipping
Castle Kennedy & Gardens, DG9 8SJ
Wednesday 22nd August
2.00pm until 3.30pm
Explore the life in the pond at Castle Kennedy & Gardens. Join Elizabeth Tindal of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Ranger Service and learn about the weird and wonderful creatures inhabiting the pond.
Cost: included within admission to the Gardens
For more information please contact 01581 400225 or visit website www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk
(Family Event)
Brilliant Borders – Guided Walk
Castle Kennedy & Gardens, DG9 8SJ
Wednesday 29th August
2.00pm to 3.30pm
The Walled Garden will now be at its best in the height of summer with the borders and summer bedding in full bloom. Highlights to be shown by the Head Gardener include the Salvias, Osteosperum, Verbenas and Delphiniums and tender perennials.
Cost: £2.00 plus admission to the Gardens (which includes a slice of cake and a cup of tea or coffee).
For more information please contact 01581 400225 or visit website www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk

September 2012

Lochinch Castle Food and Drink Festival
Victorian Stables at Lochinch Castle DG9 8RT
Sunday 2nd September
10.00am until 4.00pm
The Food and Drink Festival returns to Lochinch Castle as part of Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight and Flavour Fortnight. Browse through a wide range of stalls from local producers featuring the best form the region including home baking, cakes, pork, beef bacon, cheese, real ales, jams and chutneys, fruit and vegetables, all in the ambient surrounding of the Victorian Courtyard. Enjoy product tasting and samples as well as local food and drink demonstrations.
This is a family event and children can enjoy an entertainer, bouncy castle and inflatable obstacle course.
Lochinch Castle is situated at the far end of Castle Kennedy & Gardens (Sat Nav DG9 8RT)
For more information telephone 01776 702024 or visit www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk
Guide in the Hide
Castle Kennedy & Gardens, DG9 8SJ
Wednesday 5th September
2.00pm until 4.00pm
The natural freshwater lochs at Castle Kennedy & Gardens offer an amazing variety of wildlife and the White Loch is a site of special scientific interest. Join Hannah Doyle of the RSPB in our new Bird Hide and find out more about these birds, habits and habitat.
Cost: included within admission to the Gardens. Binoculars and guide books will be available for hire or purchase.
For more information please contact 01581 400225 or visit website www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk
(Family Event)
Mellow Mists – Guided Walk
Castle Kennedy & Gardens, DG9 8SJ
Wednesday 12th September
2.00pm to 3.30pm
See the onset of Autumn in the garden as the leaves start to turn and the bright flower colours are overtaken by the changing of the leaves to their autumn livery. Led by the Head Gardener.
Cost: £2.00 plus admission to the Gardens (which includes a slice of cake and a cup of tea or coffee).
For more information please contact 01581 400225 or visit website www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk
Guide in the Hide
Castle Kennedy & Gardens, DG9 8SJ
Friday 14th September
2.00pm until 4.00pm
The natural freshwater lochs at Castle Kennedy & Gardens offer an amazing variety of wildlife and the White Loch is a site of special scientific interest. Join Hannah Doyle of the RSPB in our new Bird Hide and find out more about these birds, habits and habitat.
Cost: included within admission to the Gardens. Binoculars and guide books will be available for hire or purchase.
For more information please contact 01581 400225 or visit website www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk
(Family Event)

October 2012

Story Telling
Castle Kennedy & Gardens, DG9 8SJ
Tuesday 16th October
10.00am to 1.00pm
Autumblings – Tales and Tunes of Changing Seasons
“October gave a party; the leaves by hundreds came– the Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples, And leaves of every name. Sunshine spread a carpet , And everything was grand, Miss Weather led the dancing, Professor Wind the band “ – George Cooper. Celebrate autumn!
Join author and story teller Renita Boyle for tales and tunes of the changing seasons.
10.15am to 11.00am
11.30am to 12.15pm
Cost: £1.50 plus admission to the Gardens. Please bring cushions or rugs to sit on.
For more information please contact 01581 400225 or visit website www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk
(Family Event)
Autumn Glory – Guided Walk
Castle Kennedy & Gardens, DG9 8SJ
Wednesday 17th October
2.00pm to 3.30pm
Experience the wonderful colours of the trees and leaves as the Garden gets ready for Winter. Glory in the beautiful hues of the beech leaves and Acers with the Head Gardener as they turn from green to red and orange and brown.
Cost: £2.00 plus admission to the Gardens (which includes a slice of cake and a cup of tea or coffee).
For more information please contact 01581 400225 or visit website www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk
Getting ready for Winter
Castle Kennedy & Gardens, DG9 8SJ
Thursday 18th October
11.00am to 12.30pmFind out about the changes to the Gardens as the inhabitants bed down for winter. Led by Elizabeth Tindal of Dumfries and Galloway Council Ranger Service.
Cost: included within admission to the Gardens
For more information please contact 01581 400225 or visit website www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk
(Family Event)
Getting ready for Winter
Castle Kennedy & Gardens, DG9 8SJ
Wednesday 24th October
2.00pm to 3.30pm
Find out the changes to the Gardens as the inhabitants ready themselves for winter. Led by Elizabeth Tindal of Dumfries and Galloway Council Ranger Service
Cost: included within admission to the Gardens
For more information please contact 01581 400225 or visit website www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk
(Family Event)

November 2012

Lochinch Castle Victorian Charity Christmas Fair
Victorian Stables and Christmas Marquee at Lochinch Castle DG9 8RT
Friday 9th November – 3.00pm until 7.00pm
Saturday 10th November – 10.00am until 4.00pm
Enjoy a festive day out with friends and family with a wide range of choice for your Christmas shopping. The Fair will have a Victorian theme and is in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
Lochinch Castle is situated at the far end of Castle Kennedy & Gardens (Sat Nav DG9 8RT)
For more information telephone 01776 702024 or visit www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk

events | regular events | add an event