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The National
7 days ago
- Business
- The National
Former national watersports centre on Scottish island hits the market
The former home of the Cumbrae National Watersports Centre closed in 2020 and will now go up for sale at auction on August 21 with a guide price of £275,000. Located on the Isle of Cumbrae, around 1.5 miles west of the mainland and the town of Largs, in the Firth of Clyde, the building comes with four residential chalets, workshops/stores, and yardage, along with some undeveloped land. The main sailing centre building comprises a reception, four linked offices and private offices, a kitchen, prep area and servery, dining hall, three classrooms, lounge, gym, sauna and WC facilities on the ground floor. READ MORE: Scottish airport vows improvements for visitor terminal following complaints There are also staff and visitor male and female changing facilities, a former wet suit store, drying room and maintenance workshop, and stores on the lower ground floor. The former sports centre, which opened in 1976 and was operated by SportScotland, was used to host a variety of aquatic activities, including windsurfing, kayaking, and sailing, along with professional tuition on offer. Planning consent for 34 glamping pods, creation of a kiosk and campervan parking was granted by North Ayrshire Council back in March. (Image: Shepherd Commercial Property Auction) But interested parties have been advised to make their own enquiries directly with North Ayrshire Council Planning. Kevin Bell, partner at Shepherd Chartered Surveyors in Ayr, said: 'This is a unique opportunity to acquire a purpose-built facility with potential for conversion or redevelopment and we anticipate much interest in this lot.'
The Herald Scotland
23-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Enjoy exhilaration like never before at the Cairngorms' Glenmore Lodge
For more than seventy years this Highland retreat, which is less than 10 miles from Aviemore, has served as a gateway to Scotland's great outdoors for mountaineers, backcountry skiers and paddle sport enthusiasts, delivering high quality training at all levels from novice to expert. Generations of outdoor explorers have honed their skills here, learning the techniques that they have needed in order to scale high peaks or ski off-piste in some of the world's most challenging terrains and doing it in a way that has been safe for them and for other people. Today Glenmore Lodge continues that tradition of excellence whether that's providing under-18s with their first taste of real adventure or taking experienced mountaineers, kayakers and mountain bikers through the qualifications that they need in order to become instructors in their fields. (Image: There's no obligation on guests to do anything more active than enjoy the views) This summer it is offering a wide range of activities where 10-year-olds and upwards can experience gorge walking, rock climbing, trail riding, canoeing and a host of other fun activities, through a series of courses from half-day to five-day duration, that will help to boost their confidence and their skills. This is a world away from screen time and social media, where young people can get the chance to experience nature and to discover new talents and interests that could stay with them for a lifetime. Meanwhile, the options for adults include courses in walking, climbing and scrambling; Alpine mountaineering; mountain biking and paddlesports. Some places on upcoming courses are still available, including navigation skills, sea kayaking at both beginner and white water improver levels, and trail riding at Laggan Wolftrax. For participants, Glenmore Lodge and its activities offer a chance to escape the urban environment, immerse themselves in nature and enjoy the adrenaline rush of mastering something new and exciting. (Image: Guests may find themselves motivated to climb or canoe upon arrival) The Lodge is Sport Scotland's National Outdoor Training Centre and its facilities include an indoor pool, where, amongst other things, kayakers learn to right themselves following submersion before testing their skills in the white water environment of the nearby River Spey. There is also one of just a handful of indoor winter climbing walls in the country, where climbers can practice with ice picks and crampons all year round. For actual rock-face experience, however, they do not need to travel very far because right on Glenmore's doorstep lies the UK's only Arctic-Alpine environment, a vast area of upland habitat that provides adventurers with the high-level challenges that they are seeking. It is formidable terrain and it is seldom predictable. 'We had snow up there last week,' says Jon Jones, Glenmore's Chief Instructor. His team, which includes an annual intake of four recruits to the Instructor Development Scheme, is made up of highly-experienced mountain and outdoors professionals whose job it is to teach course members how to cope in any situation that they may encounter in the wild and to do so in a way that respects the natural world. 'Climbing, kayaking, walking and canoeing have all seen an upturn in participation since the Pandemic,' says Jones. 'More people have discovered the beauty of the Highlands and tourism is good for the economy, but everyone who comes to train here finds out about sustainability, it is part of the basic narrative. We work from the shoreline to the summit, and we educate people on how to care for those environments.' (Image: Glenmore Lodge offers guests a luxurious experience) Part of Glenmore's remit is to be as accessible as possible and it has a track record of adapting its courses to accommodate people of all backgrounds and abilities, including navigation using British Sign Language, paraclimbing for young people, hillwalking for those who are partially sighted and activities to encourage ethnic groups to experience outdoor activities. However Glenmore Lodge isn't just a training facility, it is also an accommodation provider not just for course participants, but for anyone who wants to spend time in the heart of the Highlands. Between Lodge rooms and family-sized self-catering chalets set around the grounds, there is an occupancy of 70 people per night and even well-behaved pet dogs are welcome.
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
John Higgins offers clear verdict on Ronnie O'Sullivan's radical snooker plan
Seven-time world snooker champions Ronnie O'Sullivan is advocating for a plan that would boost the sport in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and John Higgins has given his verdict Snooker legend John Higgins has enthusiastically backed Ronnie O'Sullivan's radical plan to allow snooker in Britian and Ireland to blossom, and would love to be involved. The seven-time world champion has advocated for academies to be launched in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland in a bid to stop a Chinese takeover of the sport. A record 10 players from China made it to this year's World Snooker Championship, with four players among the top 16 seeds. Seven of those players are in their 20s, with two Wu Yize and Lei Peifan only 21. The nation had previously had two seeded players on five occasions, with trailblazer Ding Junhui being the first Chinese player to reach the Crucible back in 2007. The 38-year-old remains the highest ranked player from his homeland. But China appears set to continue to blossom as a snooker nation. Most of those playing at the Crucible came through an academy in Beijing, and the country has also set up two bases in Sheffield. And now the Rocket wants to see a new offering across nations. O'Sullivan would lead an academy in England, and Class of 92 rivals Higgins and Mark Williams could front the ones in Scotland and Wales respectively, in his proposal. Four-time champion Higgins, who remains world No.3 and is set to take on three-time winner Williams in this year's quarter-finals would only be happy to involved. "It's a brilliant idea," he said. "I would love it if Scotland could invest in something like that. Snooker's been an unbelievable sport for Scotland with Stephen Hendry starting the revolution and a lot of us following his lead. "I would be up for anything like that. If Sport Scotland were up for investing in something like that then I would definitely love to be involved. "It would be incredible if that could lead to players coming through from Scotland." O'Sullivan would love to see a renewed push for British talent in the sport and believes an intervention is required to keep up with the growth in China. 'I've seen what they do in China, I've seen what the runners do in Kenya, it's about time we do something in this country to give the kids a chance," he said, per the Times. "We need to put some academies in place here. I'd love to see one in Wales, one in Scotland, one in England and one in Ireland. John Higgins can front one in Scotland, Mark Williams in Wales, me here, and maybe Ken Doherty in Ireland — or something like that. Get kids from as young as seven or eight, send them to the academy and get the kids playing. "Life's tough in the UK for everybody so it's a good chance for youngsters to come to a safe place, learn a trade — that's what snooker is — and then we can do what China's doing, which is churning out champions. "We're a bit thin on the ground with British talent, that's what I'm saying. It'd be helpful if we can get some academies over here. It might take ten, 15, 20 years, but we can do it.' "I'd love to get behind it, I'd love to support it and put my name to it," he added. I don't know how you get funding, I really don't know, but it'd be good if we can. In China the government gets behind it and the same in Saudi Arabia, but I'm sure there's ways we can do it. "We're really not looking at millions of pounds, we're looking at maybe a few hundred thousand. Just pay the rent, get maybe ten tables, a nice building where you've got enough space and pay a few coaches to go there. At least put the infrastructure in place to allow young kids to come in and get better at snooker."
Scotsman
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Nominate your Edinburgh Award candidate
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Edinburgh Award – an honour that recognises those whose exceptional contributions have helped shape our capital and promote it on the national and global stage. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Since its launch in 2007, the Award has celebrated individuals from all walks of life: world-class athletes like Sir Chris Hoy, cultural icons such as Alexander McCall Smith and Nicola Benedetti; scientific pioneers including Professor Peter Higgs and tireless campaigners like Sir Geoff Palmer and Mel Young MBE. Last year's recipient Mel Young MBE with Lord Provost Robert Aldridge and the cast of his handprints at the City Chambers Last year's recipient, Mel Young, exemplifies the Edinburgh spirit. Through the Homeless World Cup—now active in 70 countries – Mel has improved the lives of over 100,000 people experiencing homelessness. His earlier work as co-founder of the Big Issue in Scotland and service as chair of Sport Scotland reflect the deep and lasting impact he's made on our city. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Now in its 19th year, the Edinburgh Award continues to showcase the values that define our capital: compassion, creativity, and commitment to the greater good. The handprints of each winner are immortalised outside the City Chambers. As Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said, the award is a chance to recognise the individuals who make Edinburgh the extraordinary place it is today. I encourage everyone to take part by nominating someone whose achievements deserve this civic recognition. Nominations are open until noon on Friday 16 May, following which we have four weeks to cast nominations for the 2025 award, before a recipient is selected by the Civic Awards Committee. Full details are available on the Council's website.
