Latest news with #AnimalMan
Scottish Sun
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Inside the perfect Scots family resort after £5m makeover, from animal experiences and playpark to incredible dining
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MANY of us will remember our gym teachers saying: 'Pack away the basketballs and hockey sticks, it's time for social dancing.' Those school sessions, where we'd enter an unknown land of Dashing White Sergeants and Gay Gordons, set us up for being whirled about at weddings and parties in later life. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 The hotel has had a major revamp 7 You get up close with red deer 7 Cocktails in the bar were a real treat 7 The adventure park is perfect for kids And I got to relive that dance floor adventure with my wee boy on a mini-break at Crieff Hydro. The stunning Perthshire resort is a haven for families, full of activities to entertain kids, both big and small. And, for me, our highlight was the Saturday night ceilidh, where I spun five-year-old Jimmy around the ballroom for jigs and reels, leaving us grinning like loons. We arrived on a rainy Friday and checked into our spacious family room with gorgeous views. Gin and tonics had been left for the adults while the wee one was delighted with a bag of pick and mix — welcome, thoughtful touches. Each day, guests are provided with a daily activity rota with fun to be had every hour. We ditched our cases and immediately headed for an Animal Man session, where youngsters were introduced to amazing creatures while the adults relaxed — at one point I spotted a chicken wandering across the ballroom, and I'd only had a half pint! After a quick jaunt round the expansive grounds, we got dressed for the evening activities, starting with cocktails in the Ballroom Bar. You couldn't ask for a better vista to enjoy a cool drink, looking out over the rolling Perthshire Hills. My Penicillin was bitter and punchy, just how I like it, while husband Ryan loved his decadent Kir Royale and Jimmy was delighted with his bubblegum spritz mocktail. Dinner was at one of the Hydro's new restaurants, East, established after a multi-million pound revamp. Serving Asian fusion small plates, the menu has so many tempting dishes. A couple of highlights were black pepper beef fillet and sticky corn ribs, while Jimmy hoovered up sticky pork belly. Ronan Keating enjoys family holiday It was early to bed as we were up at the crack of dawn for a delicious buffet breakfast before a Highland Safari, an amazing must-do experience just 40 minutes from the hotel. We packed into a Land Rover with an expert guide who drove us high into the mountains passing through Dull on the way — and the trip was anything but. We learned about the flora, fauna and history of the area while we gasped at the stunning scenery. Jimmy loved hearing some of the wackier facts, like how a woodpecker wraps its tongue around its brain to soften the impact of drilling into trees with its beak. 7 The views on the safari were stunning 7 East has amazing fusion flavours Next on the agenda was a red deer experience back at Highland Safari base. We found out all about the beautiful creatures before getting up close to feed them. And before we headed back to the hotel we got to pan for gold, sifting through stones to find hidden gems — I was hooked on delving deep for gemstones like jasper and pyrite. We arrived back at the Hydro around 3pm, just in time for a treasure hunt, looking for hidden clues in a bid to win a medal. Glory secured, we had time for a relaxing dip in the pool before more cocktails and dinner, this time at the family-friendly Italian Piccolo. And, after fuelling up on pizza and pasta, it was time for my main event, the ceilidh. GO: CRIEFF STANDARD double rooms from £120 per night for midweek bookings. Grab 15 per cent discount plus a free experience, such as afternoon tea or Action Glen Adventure passes, this summer. Find out more at We danced into the night with expert musicians taking us through the steps and throwing in kids' classics, like the Hokey Cokey, to keep everyone on their feet. We were checking out on Sunday, but not before we headed for the on-site Action Glen where you can try everything from mini Land Rovers and disc-golf to axe throwing and archery. We had a fantastic time sampling almost everything before home-time. Crieff Hydro really is an exceptional escape for families — and we'll be St Bernard's Waltzing back as soon as possible.
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
All the fun of the fair from Calderwood Primary School Parent Council
A terrific afternoon raised thousands for the school, and there was a special video message from former pupil and TV presenter Sally Magnusson. Calderwood Primary School Parent Council brought all the fun of the retro fair to the local community on Saturday. And it was also an extra-special one as the school – which recently received a glowing report following an inspection in January – was also celebrating its 75th anniversary. Visitors to the fair enjoyed some fun in the sun with attractions that included fairground games, circus skills, Animal Man's mini-zoo and a silent disco. Ex-Calderwoodies were reunited for the anniversary celebrations which included a video message from well-known Scottish broadcast journalist and TV presenter Sally Magnusson. She is a former pupil of the school who lived on Calderwood Road with parents Magnus Magnusson and Mamie Baird. A 75th birthday celebration cake was also cut by some original pupils that attended the school in the 1950s and a time capsule was buried in the garden with specially-selected items from current pupils in each class. Ex-pupils of the Rutherglen school also had a chance to wander down memory lane through a corridor of photo memories and memorabilia that were lovingly curated by the staff. The fundraising event generated a whopping £9147 pure profit – the most the school has ever made at a summer fair. These funds will ensure every child enjoys a school trip, free fun events and additional school resources. Elaine Miller, chair of Calderwood Primary School's parent council said; 'The sun shone in more ways than one on Saturday. What an incredible day and a fantastic amount of funds raised in three hours. 'With local council cuts these funds are even more vital. They enable each child to have at least one school trip a year and allow us to deliver free fun events for our children in recognition of the cost of living for families. 'We have also funded some essential school resources like books and overhead projectors in the absence of local council funding. This event could not have been achieved without a tremendous team effort. 'A huge thank you to all our parent volunteers, school staff, pupils and Calderwood community for coming along and supporting the school.'
