Latest news with #UniversityofStirling
The Courier
21-05-2025
- The Courier
6 amazing wellness retreats in and around Stirling - from £300 to more than £3,000 per person
If you are looking for a relaxing break away and the chance to unwind, there is nothing better than heading to a wellness retreat. There are several wellbeing experiences to choose from in and around Stirling. Here are six Stirlingshire wellness retreats where you can re-charge the batteries, leave your cares behind you and indulge in some much-needed chill out time. This three-day wellness retreat in rural Stirlingshire combines 'naughty' sheep with mindfulness, yoga and nature. The retreat is based at Beccy Routledge's home in Gartmore, near Aberfoyle. Overlooking the stunning Loch Lomond and Trossachs countryside, the location couldn't be more idyllic. Included in the package is: Three nights accommodation in a cosy cottage, six yoga/meditation classes, three breakfasts, two dinners and afternoon tea. It also features trips to Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and a cruise on Loch Katrine, a woodland walk, sound healing class and sheep therapy (including de-stress techniques) and interaction with Herdwick sheep. Separate afternoon tea retreats are also available. The retreat runs with a minimum of two and the from per person price is based on a booking for two people. The Sheep Sleepover is priced from £799 per person. Check here for available dates. Address: Tuair House, Gartmore, Stirling FK8 3RY This restful and restorative wellness retreat takes place this summer at the University of Stirling. Based in the tranquil setting of Airthrey Castle, on the grounds of the university campus, the retreat is easy to reach by public transport. The campus is a short walk or bus ride from Stirling city centre and Bridge of Allan train station. It includes a full programme of wellbeing sessions. These include: Tai Chi, Iyengar Yoga, Restorative yoga, Oxygen experience, Vinyasa yoga, Pilates flow, Sound bath, Hatha yoga, hand massage and reiki. Included in the package is: 10 wellbeing sessions over the two days, based at Airthrey Castle. Dinner, bed and breakfast in Stirling Court Hotel, private rooms for all guests (shared rooms available on request), lunch and refreshments each day, a Wallace Monument sunrise yoga session. And a welcome gift, including exclusive yoga mat bag and essential oils. It runs from August 23-24. The retreat costs £375 for University of Stirling Sport members / £395 for non-members. Address: University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA This seven-day retreat – Co- Creation with Crystals Healing Retreat Week in Scotland – is billed as a 'magical exploration' of crystals and healing. Participants work with and learn about crystals through meditations and healings. Included in the retreat is: Seven nights accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, All programme content including specialised daily crystal workshops, meditations, light refreshments throughout the day, group excursions and activities. Other retreats, which include Communicating with Nature for Healing, are also available. It runs from July 19 – 26. The price for the retreat varies as it is all-inclusive and includes accommodation and home cooked vegetarian food. It costs between £1,030 for a shared room to £1,405 for a King size bedroom. There is also a discount if participants book early. Address: Creagan House Retreat Centre, Strathyre, Callander, FK18 8ND The Wild Compassionate Warrior retreat is for women only. It takes place in a private country house nestled on the edge of Loch Katrine. The retreat is aimed at women who are ready to slow down, reconnect to themselves, and gently heal. It is described as a 'deeply restorative and joy-filled weekend' and a 'reset for the heart, mind and spirit.' The retreat includes: All home cooked meals, accommodation, sessions, materials, gifts and coaching. Forest bathing, mindful nature walks and Kintsugi healing. Kintsugi is the ancient Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with lacquer mixed with precious metals, like gold, silver, or platinum. It also includes a soulful vision board session. There is also a healing circle on the final night and gift bags for participants. For details of other retreats visit here It runs for four days from May 29 – June 1. A shared twin room is priced £647.50 and queen rooms start at £1275. Address: Lochside House, Stronachlachar, Loch Katrine, By Aberfoyle (A81), FK8 3TY This retreat is led by Sandra Sabatini, a world-renowned yoga teacher and Michal Havkin who has over three decades of experience dancing professionally in Israel and around the world. The retreat includes: Food, accommodation as well as five hours of yoga practice a day and an evening meditation. The course is ideal for yoga students and teachers. Separate yoga sessions for teachers are also available. It runs from July 16-21. The cost of the course is £645. Accommodation and meals costs an extra £425. Address: Lendrick Lodge, Brig O turk, Callander, FK17 8HR Participants are invited to experience the tranquil beauty of Stirlingshire while immersing themselves in art and creativity with this retreat at Rachel's Farm. You will start the mornings with scenic walks overlooking the Trossachs mountains and this will be followed by a locally sourced homemade meal. While in the afternoon participants can paint and explore the nuances of colour contrast, guided by expert coaches Susan Melrath, Terri Froelich, and Caroline Millar. The retreat includes: seven nights accommodation, morning and afternoon teaching sessions with Susan, Terri and Caroline, all meals – made fresh daily and sourced locally (wine and beer available for purchase). Use of an indoor painting studio, a phone photography class, a mindfulness session at an animal sanctuary where you can bond with horses, llamas, goats and tortoises, hot tubs and cold plunge barrels. Massages can be arranged upon request for an additional fee. October 8-15, 2025 Prices range from US $4,900 (£3,684) for single accommodation. Address: The Farmhouse, Rachel's Farm, Buchlyvie, Stirlingshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, FK8 3NR.
The National
18-05-2025
- The National
Scottish archaeologist to excavate William Wallace's Stirling camp
Scottish archaeologist Dr Murray Cook, working independently, has identified what he believes to be the medieval road walked by Wallace and Andrew de Moray's – usually known as Murray – army on the morning of their decisive battle against the English. The feature – a sunken causeway sealed within an 18th-century estate – aligns with contemporary accounts and topography of the battle site. The surrounding area, known as Spittal Hill, was once home to a medieval hospital and could have served as the Scots' base camp, offering shelter, water and medical support. READ MORE: Europe's first museum of contemporary Palestinian art opens in Edinburgh Now, a Crowdfunder has been launched by Cook alongside comedian and amateur historian Bruce Fummey to raise £2000 for an excavation to confirm the findings. Cook, a research fellow at the University of Stirling and Stirling Council's archaeologist, plans to conduct an excavation in September, coinciding with the anniversary of the battle. He believes the discovery is not only exciting for historians but also for heritage tourism. The site is close to the Wallace Monument and if confirmed, would benefit from existing visitor facilities like car parking and toilets — with the potential to become a major attraction. "What we're talking about here is a landscape feature from 1297 that was upstanding when Wallace walked it, and is still upstanding now. That's astonishing," Cook explained. The ditch on the right is what remains of the road (Image: YouTube) "Over 700 years of development and ploughing, and it survived — probably only because a wealthy East India Company landowner incorporated it into his estate. That's huge for heritage, for education, for tourism. "If we metal-detect it, maybe we'll find traces of the camp — coins, artefacts, personal items. More data gives us a clearer understanding of the people and the place." If historians know where the Scots camped, they may be able to understand how the battle unfolded, how far Wallace had to travel, what his line of sight was and where he could have planned to retreat to if needed. The battle was an important victory during the Wars of Independence as it showed that the Scots could beat the English given the correct place and time. "And there's always the potential for surprises. You find one thing, and it shifts the whole interpretation," Cook said. "This is Wallace's greatest-ever victory. We don't have the bridge, the causeway or the English-occupied castle, Robert the Bruce destroyed it, and the river's changed. But this – this road – is still there. It's something concrete, tied to Wallace." The English army is estimated to have had no more than 12,000 footmen and 3000 on horse, which outnumbered Wallace and Murray's combined force of around 8000 to 9000. The two Scottish commanders set their men in position on the northern side of the wooden bridge over the River Forth at Stirling. Confident they could easily beat their opponents, the English were led by their leaders over the bridge, with half of the army left behind to follow. When Wallace and Murray saw how the English had divided, they led their entire Scottish force in a rampaging charge, with Wallace confronting the vanguard and Murray leading his men on horseback and on foot to surround the half of the English army that was over the bridge. In panic, the English tried to turn back but the bridge collapsed under the weight of men and horses. The Scots forded the river downstream and routed the rest of the English army who either fled or drowned in the river.
Scotsman
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Golf scholars at Scottish university handed huge boost with new facility
Dean Robertson delighted with addition of Performance Golf Studio at Stirling campus Sign up to our Golf newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, 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... The University of Stirling's reputation for producing top-class golfers is set to be enhanced by a new state-of-the-art indoor golf studio on its campus. Including a Trackman simulator, the Golf Performance Studio has been funded through a grant from the Macleod Foundation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It will enable golf scholars to use data-driven insights to perfect their game as they bid to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Catriona Matthew, Richie Ramsay and Graeme Robertson. An external shot of the University of Stirling's new state-of-the-art Performance Golf Studio, located on the Stirling campus | Contributed 'The University of Stirling is one of the top destinations for golf scholars in the UK, with many of our alumni going on to compete in the professional game,' said Head of Golf Dean Robertson. 'Our Performance Golf Studio further elevates the excellent facilities we have here at Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence and complements our existing coaching methods, delivered here at Stirling and out on course. Stirling scholars can 'reap the benefits' 'The technology allows our golfers to realistically simulate playing on some of the best courses in the world, while using data-driven insights to hone their technique. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are thankful to the Macleod Foundation for its ongoing support and look forward to seeing our scholars reap the benefits of the new facility in the coming months and years.' Located beside the Golf Pavilion on the campus, the new facility has two bays which combine radar and camera technology to provide a realistic and immersive experience. 'The Macleod Foundation has been a supporter of the University of Stirling golf programme for over 40 years, and we are delighted to be able to contribute to its continued success whether by supporting students directly or by assisting in capital projects such as this,' said Neal Hughes from the foundation. Dean Robertson, the University of Stirling's head of golf, with past programme member Louise Duncan and current scholar Ross Laird in the new state-of-the-art facilitiy | Conributed Other players to come through the University of Stirling programme include Louise Duncan, who created history along with Hannah Darling as the first Scots to play in the Augusta National Women's Amateur, and Lorna McClymont, a member of Great Britain & Ireland's winning team in last year's Curtis Cup at Sunningdale. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are delighted to launch our new Performance Golf Studio – a unique and important addition to our high-performance golf environment - as we seek to recruit, develop and nurture the next generation of golfing talent,' said Cathy Gallagher, the university's Executive Director of Sport.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Unique Scottish hill race which began with £1 bet celebrates 50th event
Hundreds of athletes turned out to celebrate the 50th edition of one of Scotland's most popular hill running races – first established in the 1970s when a £1 bet was wagered in a university bar. On Wednesday, the Dumyat Hill Race – organised by the University of Stirling – saw 450 runners from across Scotland complete the 8km, 418-metre ascent and descent. A prominent fixture in the hill running calendar and highly competitive, the event sells out every year and the fastest runners complete the gruelling challenge in little over 30 minutes. But it's the quirky history of the race that makes it truly unique. While standing in the University's Gannochy Sports Bar in 1971, Stirling psychology lecturer Dr Ranald Macdonald laid a £1 bet claiming 'no member of the University could, without mechanical assistance, do the return trip from the Gannochy to Dumyat in less than an hour'. On graduation day 1971, intrepid researcher John Evans won the wager – completing the run over a rocky, rough terrain with three minutes to spare. In 1972, a small group of athletes took part in a run to and from the summit – however, there was no formal mass start nor winner – before Professor Ian Thomson, the University's first Director of Physical Recreation, oversaw the creation of an official event from 1973 onwards. It has run almost every year ever since – becoming a staple in the University's sports calendar on the first or second Wednesday of May. READ MORE: How Scotland's Parkruns set off on the road to success How Scandinavian style outdoor saunas changing the face of swimming in Scotland Scottish racing driver makes pit stop in Stirling for graduation ceremony Dr Macdonald had his £1 returned to him decades later – when, on his retirement in 2007, his colleagues presented him with a framed note in recognition of the part he played in the founding of the race. Cathy Gallagher, Executive Director of Sport at the University of Stirling, said: 'With an intriguing history, and a stunning setting, the Dumyat Hill Race is unique to the University of Stirling, Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence. 'We are delighted to be celebrating the race's 50th edition and it has been great to see yet another sell-out event in 2025. Decades after it was established, the Dumyat Hill Race continues to bring together students, staff, alumni, athletes and the wider community with the core message of health and wellbeing at its heart. We are proud to have reached this milestone – and look forward to another 50 years of success.' This year's race – which doubled as the Scottish Student Sport Hill Running Championship and the Scottish Hill Running Race – took place on the evening of Wednesday, May 7. Men's winner Angus Wright, of the University of Edinburgh, came agonisingly close to beating the course record – missing out by just one second – with a time of 32 minutes, 14 seconds. Fellow University of Edinburgh runner Matt Knowles continues to hold the record after setting a time of 32 minutes, 13 seconds in 2024. Terry Macdonald, widow of lecturer Ranald Macdonald, with the £1 note (Image: Jim Mailer) Speaking after the race, Mr Wright said: 'It was a really nice course, and a lovely evening for it. For a hill, it's quite fast and quite runnable – especially the descent, you can definitely get the legs moving! 'I was a bit behind at the top, but I had a really good downhill section – it was really good fun. I only realised towards the end that I was in a winning position and had a look back, and that might have cost me the course record in the end, which is a shame. But it didn't even occur to me that was a possibility, so I'm not worrying too much. 'It was a good fun course, and I look forward to coming back next year.' In the women's race, first-time hill runner Emily McNicol, of the University of Glasgow, won with a time of 38 minutes, 55 seconds. That record continues to be held by former World Mountain Running champion Dr Angela Mudge, a former student and an honorary graduate of the University of Stirling, with a time of 36 minutes, 36 seconds set in 2007. Ms McNicol said: 'It was great fun – and hard work! I've not ran Dumyat before; it was my first hill race, and I really enjoyed it. There were great views at the top, but it was hard coming downhill. 'Towards the end, people were shouting that I was the first female – so I just kept going. It's quite special to be the winner in the 50th edition of the race.' In addition to competitive runners, the event also attracts students, staff and community members alike. Daniel Færestrand Ellefsen, from Norway, is studying MSc Human Rights and Diplomacy at Stirling and decided to give the race a go. Asked about his running background, the 28-year-old joked: 'There's not actually much to tell! I've been running a little bit – I've always been athletic – and I enjoy the slow-paced tranquillity of running. 'This was a fun little challenge, right here at the University, so I thought I might as well take part.'
The Herald Scotland
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Unique hill race which began with £1 bet celebrates 50th event
A prominent fixture in the hill running calendar and highly competitive, the event sells out every year and the fastest runners complete the gruelling challenge in little over 30 minutes. But it's the quirky history of the race that makes it truly unique. While standing in the University's Gannochy Sports Bar in 1971, Stirling psychology lecturer Dr Ranald Macdonald laid a £1 bet claiming 'no member of the University could, without mechanical assistance, do the return trip from the Gannochy to Dumyat in less than an hour'. On graduation day 1971, intrepid researcher John Evans won the wager – completing the run over a rocky, rough terrain with three minutes to spare. In 1972, a small group of athletes took part in a run to and from the summit – however, there was no formal mass start nor winner – before Professor Ian Thomson, the University's first Director of Physical Recreation, oversaw the creation of an official event from 1973 onwards. It has run almost every year ever since – becoming a staple in the University's sports calendar on the first or second Wednesday of May. READ MORE: How Scotland's Parkruns set off on the road to success How Scandinavian style outdoor saunas changing the face of swimming in Scotland Scottish racing driver makes pit stop in Stirling for graduation ceremony Dr Macdonald had his £1 returned to him decades later – when, on his retirement in 2007, his colleagues presented him with a framed note in recognition of the part he played in the founding of the race. Cathy Gallagher, Executive Director of Sport at the University of Stirling, said: 'With an intriguing history, and a stunning setting, the Dumyat Hill Race is unique to the University of Stirling, Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence. 'We are delighted to be celebrating the race's 50th edition and it has been great to see yet another sell-out event in 2025. Decades after it was established, the Dumyat Hill Race continues to bring together students, staff, alumni, athletes and the wider community with the core message of health and wellbeing at its heart. We are proud to have reached this milestone – and look forward to another 50 years of success.' This year's race – which doubled as the Scottish Student Sport Hill Running Championship and the Scottish Hill Running Race – took place on the evening of Wednesday, May 7. Men's winner Angus Wright, of the University of Edinburgh, came agonisingly close to beating the course record – missing out by just one second – with a time of 32 minutes, 14 seconds. Fellow University of Edinburgh runner Matt Knowles continues to hold the record after setting a time of 32 minutes, 13 seconds in 2024. Terry Macdonald, widow of lecturer Ranald Macdonald, with the £1 note (Image: Jim Mailer) Speaking after the race, Mr Wright said: 'It was a really nice course, and a lovely evening for it. For a hill, it's quite fast and quite runnable – especially the descent, you can definitely get the legs moving! 'I was a bit behind at the top, but I had a really good downhill section – it was really good fun. I only realised towards the end that I was in a winning position and had a look back, and that might have cost me the course record in the end, which is a shame. But it didn't even occur to me that was a possibility, so I'm not worrying too much. 'It was a good fun course, and I look forward to coming back next year.' In the women's race, first-time hill runner Emily McNicol, of the University of Glasgow, won with a time of 38 minutes, 55 seconds. That record continues to be held by former World Mountain Running champion Dr Angela Mudge, a former student and an honorary graduate of the University of Stirling, with a time of 36 minutes, 36 seconds set in 2007. Ms McNicol said: 'It was great fun – and hard work! I've not ran Dumyat before; it was my first hill race, and I really enjoyed it. There were great views at the top, but it was hard coming downhill. 'Towards the end, people were shouting that I was the first female – so I just kept going. It's quite special to be the winner in the 50th edition of the race.' In addition to competitive runners, the event also attracts students, staff and community members alike. Daniel Færestrand Ellefsen, from Norway, is studying MSc Human Rights and Diplomacy at Stirling and decided to give the race a go. Asked about his running background, the 28-year-old joked: 'There's not actually much to tell! I've been running a little bit – I've always been athletic – and I enjoy the slow-paced tranquillity of running. 'This was a fun little challenge, right here at the University, so I thought I might as well take part.'
