Tourism Archives - Page 14 of 18

‘Big Stuff Rides’ At GTM Thursday 10th July 2pm – 4pm

Aberdeenshire, Events, Featured No Responses »

Jul 042014

The Grampian Transport Museum in Alford is preparing to host its first Rides session of the School summer holidays when representatives from the world of commercial vehicles take to the circuit on Thursday 10th July.

‘Big Stuff Rides’ will give museum visitors the chance to jump in the passenger seats of some interesting and unusual commercial vehicles – including vintage buses from the Aberdeen & District Transport Preservation Trust, recovery vehicles from S.S Walker in Aberdeen and a 1975 Commer Fire Engine which is privately owned by an enthusiast from Aultmore, near Keith.

These ‘rides’ sessions are unique to the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford and offer museum visitors the chance to take to the passenger seat and enjoy laps around the dedicated road circuit at no additional cost, being included in the museums standard admission.

Curator, Mike Ward, is looking forward to summer at the museum.

“It’s always a great feeling when we reach the summer season. Our unique events programme gets into full swing with events just like these ‘rides’ sessions, which are always popular with families and youngsters.

“July and August are among our busiest months and once the Big Stuff event has passed we still have the Classic & Vintage Gathering and Fast Car Rides events to look forward to before the end of the July!”

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Bon Accord Steam Fair 2014: Review

Aberdeenshire, Featured, History 2 Responses »

Jun 272014

By Duncan Harley

There are well over 25 thousand museums in the UK, ranging from national institutions such as Glasgow’s Burrell collection, to the likes of the Maud Railway Museum, with many others in between.

Some museums are open 24/7 and are free to all comers.

Others are subject to a voluntary donation and are open mainly during the summer months, except on Wednesdays, unless of course there is a Q in the month; but I digress.

Funding, or the lack of it, dictates opening hours, and unpaid volunteers are the mainstay of most such museum enterprises. In the main they are a sterling effort, but often difficult to access due to these constraints. There is no criticism intended here, only comment.

Fortunately for us in the North East of Scotland, the Bon Accord Steam Engine Club is in the habit of bringing heritage right to our doorstep.

Hosted by the Scottish National Trust flagship property, Castle Fraser, the Bon Accord Steam Fair of 2014 was by all accounts a flagship event. With over 50 thousand gallons of water and a good few tons of coal on tap, the magnificent engines which drove the industry of both Victoria’s last decades and the early years of the 20th Century fairly wowed the crowds.

Steam power is of course nothing new, and the history of the steam engine stretches back to the First Century AD, with the first recorded rudimentary steam engine being the Aeolipile described by the Greek mathematician and engineer Hero of Alexandria.

It’s a powerful means of propulsion which the likes of Scottish inventor James Watt used to good effect, to produce rotary motion.

At some risk of injury, try placing some tinfoil over the spout of your kettle at full boil and you’ll see what I mean. Steam is indeed powerful stuff.

Steam engines powered Scottish industry for well over eighty years. Mills, ships and transport benefited from the power of steam. In fact some would argue that the empire was built on the back of it. The Clyde built steam ship Waverley and her sister ship Jeanie Deans epitomised the breed.

However at the heart of it all was the humble steam traction engine.

The Bon Accord Steam Engine Club (BASEC) was founded by Bill Barrack, an enthusiast concerned that many magnificent self-propelled steam engines were ending up as scrap. He and a few like-minded folk set about preserving them for the enjoyment of future generations. I am pleased to say that Bill’s efforts, plus those of all of his fellow enthusiasts, have not been in vain.

As if the spectacle of over forty steam-powered road vehicles entering the show ring at last Sunday’s event was not enough, one in particular caught the public’s attention.

While the Kintore Pipe Band piped “Happy Birthday” amidst the grey coal smoke and white steam of yesteryear, the veteran one hundred year old steam traction engine Finella, owned by the Barrack family since 1947, stood proudly to attention while her birthday wishes from the Queen were read out to the assembled crowd.

Her Majesty had taken time to send her good wishes to a centenarian who even in retirement continues working to bring pleasure to all who see her.

Founded in 1967, and with ten years under its belt at the Castle Fraser venue, the Bon Accord Steam Engine Club have proved yet again how enduring the power of steam can be.

On the drive home we followed a line of admiring petrol heads, in a long and smoky queue behind Grampian Transport Museum’s Sentinel Steam Wagon as it slowly drove along the highways and byways of the long road to Alford, at an average speed of 19 mph or less.

No one overtook the smoking monster and no one really minded the holdup.

Such is the price of heritage.

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Alford SpeedFest: Sun 29 June

Aberdeenshire, Featured, History No Responses »

Jun 242014

With thanks to Martyn Smith, Marketing and Events Organiser, Grampian Transport Museum.

Enthusiasts will be heading to Aberdeenshire for the annual Alford SpeedFest, to be thrilled by the largest gathering of rare supercars, exciting performance cars, and historic racing cars in the north east of Scotland.

We are delighted to announce that Park’s Motor Group of Hamilton will be providing a collection of McLaren sports cars, to join the McLaren P1 supercar on display.

These will join iconic names such as Maserati, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus, Frazer Nash, Aston Martin, TVR.

SpeedFest is an established flagship event at the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford. SpeedFest generates a lot of excitement and will showcase 120 specially selected and invited cars to make up the best entry list ever seen in the north east. The cars themselves participating actively in the event are made as accessible as possible to the public.

The event is based around the oval road circuit which incorporates the famous Alford Pursuits. As well as seeing the cars put through their paces, families have the chance to join in with fast car rides for the first 150 through the gate before the event gets fully underway.

Organisers James Parker and Nick Livingstone comment ‘With 39 days to go, preparations for Alford SpeedFest14 are well underway. We are beginning collect and prepare some of our exhibits. The ‘Jim Robbins Special’, a 1951 Offenhauser engined Indycar, which was on pole position for the 1955 Indianapolis 500 has arrived, and is currently undergoing its final preparation for the event, where it will be running on track.

The car has kindly been lent to the event by Mr E. Dean. Butler. The car was last seen in public at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it was driven by the US Formula 1 driver, Eddie Cheever.’

Another EDB racing car on our track will be the ‘Charles Bang special’ slingshot dragster, which set the US ‘D’ class quarter mile record at 10.35 seconds.

Powered by a flathead V8, this car wowed the crowds at the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed, running in a display of vintage dragsters.

Most of the cars were shipped over from the USA, and, although the US has particularly rich pickings as far as drag cars go, the C.B. special made it into the show on its own merits.

Historic racer Chris Williams brings his unique Packard Bentley directly from the Cholmondeley of Power, this beast spits frames from the exhausts of the 1500bhp 42-litre supercharged engine and is more powerful than a Bugatti Veyron. Other key attractions this year include Jimmy McRae’s rally cars, and Richard Pargetter’s fantastic aerobatic display in his Pitts Special.

We are planning a great day for enthusiasts and families with exciting non-stop action on the circuit, and a range of sidestands and activities for families.

Local and national companies are providing support for the event, including Park’s Motor Group, John Clark BMW, Revolutions of Perth, Glack Attack mud run, EDB Racing, Storm Windows, Crosshill Garage.

We thank these companies for their charitable funding contribution for the Grampian Transport Museum.

Alford SpeedFest14
Sun 29 June 2014: 11:00am- 5:00pm
Grampian Transport Museum, Alford, Aberdeenshire AB33 8AE

Adult £10, Child £5, OAP £7, Family £25.
Tickets on the gate: Advance sales (inc. Early Bird fast car rides from May 26; tel GTM 01975 562292)

For further information please email James Parker or Nick Livingstone.
Web: alfordspeedfest.co.uk

Search For A Dinnie Stones Strongman At Aboyne Games

Events, Featured, Sport No Responses »

Jun 202014

Mark Felix will attempt to recreate Donald Dinnie’s amazing feat of strength.

World’s Strongest Man competitor, Mark Felix will take on the legendary Dinnie Stones challenge at 2014’s Aboyne Highland Games. With thanks to Eoin Smith.

After a global search, the annual Aboyne Highland Games have found a strongman worthy of attempting the ultimate strongman challenge – lifting and carrying the world famous Dinnie Stanes at this year’s games, which are taking place on Royal Deeside on Saturday August 2nd.

The event will also form part of the 800-strong Homecoming Scotland 2014 event programme which is designed to showcase hundreds of events and festivals across the country from mass participation to small community activity.

Strongman and World’s Strongest Man competitor Mark Felix will attempt to fill the athletic shoes of legendary Highland strongman Donald Dinnie. Mark will re-enact the famous scenario where he will attempt to lift and carry the original stanes, which weigh over 733 lbs, for a distance of over 5 yards, the width of the famous 200 year old Potarch Bridge.

Originally from Grenada, UK-based Mark has competed nine times at the World’s Strongest Man and is a previous World Record Holder for the IronMind Silver Bullet challenge. The muscleman will attempt to carry the stones over a replica of the Potarch Bridge placed in the centre of the Games arena, which has been created by pupils from Aboyne Academy.

Earlier this year, the Games were keen to find a strongman with credentials as impressive as Donald Dinnie. The search began initially by trying to locate a competitive weightlifter called Peter Puszer whose titles include Strongest Man in Slovakia. However, finding him proved to be the greatest challenge and the search went global, capturing the imagination of the local and national press.

Eventually, the mysterious Peter contacted the games, but was not able to visit to attempt to lift the stanes. Fortunately, the Games head-hunted muscleman Mark who is equally worthy of the ultimate strongman challenge.

Celebrated as the ‘World’s Greatest Athlete of the 19th Century’ with 20 Highland Games championships under his belt, Donald Dinnie famously carried the ‘Dinnie Stanes’ across the Potarch Bridge in Aberdeenshire in 1860 and then became a founding member of the Aboyne Highland Games in 1867.

If Donald Dinnie had the opportunity to compete in the Olympics in the 19th Century (or even possibly today) his strongman prowess and all round track and field talent would have catapulted him to true Olympic legend status. The Dinnie Stanes challenge is highly respected by strongmen and one that many have attempted, but not been able to complete without the use of aids in the past.

Ian Scott, chairman of the Aboyne Highland Games, comments:

“Donald Dinnie is a historical figure at the very heart of these games, as he was a founding member of the Games back in 1867. Having a World Strongest Man competitor take on the Dinne Stone challenge at this special Homecoming Scotland 2014 Games will be really exciting and one of the many highlights of this year’s games.

“We have a great range of events lined up for 2014’s Aboyne Highland Games and there really is something for all members of the family to enjoy.”

Mark Felix’s Dinnie Stanes attempt completes an exciting programme of events at this year’s games. More than 9000 visitors from all over the world will travel to Aboyne to enjoy an array of traditional events including the famous ‘heavies’ tossing the caber, throwing the heavy hammers, putting the shot, Tug o’ War, fiddle competition, as well as experiencing the stirring pipe bands and Scottish dancing.

And, all taking place in the stunning surroundings of Royal Deeside.

There will also be many other sporting events to see and take part in from the high jump to the junior sack race – a hugely popular event for children.

There is also the Fungle Hill race which offers the braver participants an extra tough circuit to test their legs on. Come and join us on August 2nd 2014.

Caroline Packman, Homecoming Scotland 2014 Director said:

“Aboyne Highland Games will see one of the most exciting feats of Homecoming Scotland 2014, when Mark Felix attempts to lift the legendary Dinnie Stones. Scotland is the perfect stage for events, and with over 9000 visitors from around the world set to visit Aberdeenshire in August, the Games will showcase the very best of Scottish tradition.”

Further information on the games and all of the activities can be found by visiting www.aboynegames.com

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Diorama Of Great Train Robbery Arrives At Alford

Aberdeenshire, History No Responses »

Jun 132014

Show stopping Model completes Great Train Robbery Exhibit. With thanks to Martyn Smith, Marketing & Events Organise

Scale model of the scene at the Bridego Railway Bridge, Ledburn

A new arrival to the collection at the Grampian Transport Museum has completed the line up of a topical new exhibition on the events of the Great Train Robbery.
Still billed as the ‘crime of the century’ the events which took place in the early hours of 8th Aug 1963 were only ever photographed in the hours after, when the authorities arrived to begin their investigation.

The Son et Lumiere model, which is now on show at the museum, is an absolutely accurate scale model of the scene at the Bridego Railway Bridge, Ledburn.

Recently built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the infamous raid, it is on loan from the Luton Model Railway Club until the end of August and helps to bring together the first serious exhibition of its kind on the subject.

Having already reunited two of the actual vehicles used in the raid, Curator Mike Ward is delighted to have secured the Diorama.

“It’s great to have this show-stopping model as part of our Great Train Robbery exhibition. This has been painstakingly built, from scratch, working from the Police photographs which were taken in the hours after the raid – the only visual record of the scene of the crime which was captured.

“There was a lot of mis-information reported following the incident and the Luton Model Railway Club have done a fantastic job of peeling back the layers to get to the truth and recreate the scene of the crime. We’re very grateful to the Luton Club for allowing us to borrow the model until August. It really does put the finishing touches to our exhibition!”

Along with the Diorama, Grampian Transport Museum was also to locate and secure on loan the actual Austin Loadstar truck which was used to flee the scene of the crime with the loot. An ex army Land Rover Series 1 was also tracked down and is also on display until the end of August.

Father’s Day Supercar Rides At The GTM

Articles, Featured, History No Responses »

Jun 062014

With thanks to Martyn Smith.

Grampian Transport Museum will be the venue for a special treat for Dads on Father’s Day, Sunday 15th June.

Some of the world’s fastest and most exotic cars will take to the museums purpose-built road circuit, each with a passenger seat waiting to be taken. Just £10 will buy one of our Fathers Day Supercar Rides tickets, giving several laps around the track as a front seat passenger.

An eclectic mix of cars including Ferrari, Lamborghini, TVR, Luego, and Porsche will give Dad a day to remember.

Rides are limited to dads only – who must be over the age of 18 – but the event is a great day out for all the family. Tickets for the rides sessions are £10 if pre-booked or £15 on the day, subject to availability.

Later in the summer children will be able to enjoy a ride around the circuit as part of the ‘Big Stuff’ session, which takes place on Thursday 10th July – or the ‘Fast Car Rides’ session which takes place on Wednesday 23rd July.

The Grampian Transport Museum features a number of exciting and exclusive exhibitions for 2014 including The Great Train Robbery exhibit and multi-million pound HGV simulator. Also, the unique Junior Driving School will be open for younger visitors to enjoy.

GTM Classic And Vintage Gathering: Entries Sought

Aberdeenshire, Information No Responses »

May 232014

Grampian Transport Museum is accepting entries for its Classic and Vintage Afternoon Gathering 2014. With thanks to Martyn Smith, Marketing and Events Organiser, Grampian Transport Museum.

The Grampian Transport Museum is now accepting entries for its annual Classic and Vintage Afternoon Gathering on Sunday 20th July.
A traditional, relaxed meeting for owners of all pre-1990 cars, commercials and motorcycles, the gathering represents an excellent opportunity for enthusiasts to meet and display their cherished classic.

The event is also open to museum visitors as part of the standard admission price.

Pre-booked entry for car owners is £10; this is a donation which will be used to fund educational visits to the Grampian Transport Museum for local schools. Included in the price are admission to the museum itself and light refreshments – tremendous value considering the standard admission rate of £9.50 or £7.50 concessions.

Entry forms can be downloaded from the museum website at www.gtm.org.uk and should be completed and returned by Monday 7^th July.

The Grampian Transport Museum features a number of exciting and exclusive additions for 2014, including a Great Train Robbery exhibit – featuring real vehicles used in the raid – and a multi-million pound HGV simulator. The event is sure to add another dimension to the museum experience for visitors.

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VisitAberdeen Promote New Riga Air Route

Aberdeen City, Information 1 Response »

May 092014

With thanks to Beverley Tricker.

A group of journalists from leading Latvian and Estonian media titles are in Aberdeen this week on a press visit to the Granite City.

With the new direct airBaltic flight route from Riga to Aberdeen, the city has the potential to grow tourism from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Seven writers including supplement editors, specialist travel writers and key travel bloggers will be in Aberdeen until Sunday.

The writers are being hosted by VisitAberdeen, the destination marketing organisation (DMO) responsible for attracting more leisure and business visitors to Aberdeen and the surrounding area.

In a packed itinerary which will give the writers a taste of the North East, the group are staying at Skene House Hotel Suites in the Rosemount area and will enjoy a guided city tour, a trip to Dunnottar Castle and an afternoon at Deeside Activity Park. On Saturday night they will go to His Majesty’s Theatre to see ‘Happy Days The Musical’ before spending Sunday with a tour of Meldrum House Hotel and golf course and a tour of Glen Garioch distillery.

They’ll visit Trump International Golf Links on Sunday before departing for Riga on Sunday evening.

VisitAberdeen Chief Executive Steve Harris says,

“A new route such as the airBaltic Riga to Aberdeen flight, opens up Aberdeen as a short break and holiday destination to a whole new audience. Hosting this press trip gives us the chance to showcase Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to a big audience across Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. The journalists who will be visiting write for a wide range of lifestyle and travel publications and they will produce features which give their first hand experiences of their visit to Aberdeen.

There have been several new routes into Aberdeen International Airport recently and it’s important that we focus marketing activity to these key cities to attract further visitors. The itinerary which we have planned for this group will show just how much can be packed into a weekend break which takes in city dining and shopping with trips into the surrounding countryside”

VisitAberdeen is a partnership between Aberdeen City Council and the industry including Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels Association and Aberdeen Inspired. For further information contact VisitAberdeen on 01224 900490 or visit www.visitaberdeen.com.

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Transport Museum: Clubs Spectacular – 11 May 2014

Aberdeenshire, Events, Featured, History No Responses »

May 012014

The ‘Desert Rats’ will provide a living history display.

The award-winning Grampian Transport Museum hosts its first Clubs Spectacular on Sunday 11th May. With thanks to Martyn Smith.

More than 24 clubs and groups will be showcasing their vehicles on the museums outdoor circuit, giving museum visitors and car enthusiasts alike the opportunity to find out more about the wide range of car clubs in the area and their activities.

The lunchtime gathering will showcase a selection of vehicles, including Alvis, Ferrari and Jaguar to every day cars, represented by clubs such as the Fiesta Owners and the Aberdeen Mini Owners.

The Mazda MX5 Owners Club, with over 20 examples present at the event, will be celebrating the clubs 20th birthday and also marking 25 years since the model made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show.

Vintage vehicles will also be in attendance, with a pair of locally owned Stanley Steamers dating from 1910 and 1918, representing the Steam Car Club of Great Britain.

Along with the vehicle displays, the ‘Desert Rats’ will be providing an informative and interesting living history display throughout the afternoon.

Museum Curator, Mike Ward, is looking forward to the launch of the new event:

“We hope the event will act as a point of focus for the vintage and classic vehicle enthusiasts in the North-East Scotland and as a season opener for classic car events in our area. It promises to be a significant gathering of the best of our areas preserved road vehicles.”

Museum visitors will be able to browse the many cars and clubs on display with admission to the event included in the standard museum admission price.

Clubs Spectacular A New Date In Alford Diary

Aberdeenshire, History, Information No Responses »

Apr 252014

Grampian Transport Museum revving up for new clubs event. With thanks to Martyn Smith, Marketing & Events Organiser.

The award-winning Grampian Transport Museum will be hosting its inaugural Clubs Spectacular on Sunday 11th of May.

With the potential to be the largest vehicle clubs gathering held at the museum to date, the event promises
to be a fantastic showcase for local clubs.

After discussions with a number of clubs, an initial press launch for the initiative was held in October 2013.

With over 100 drivers and their vehicles in attendance, this helped to sow the seeds for a much larger gathering where museum visitors will be able to find out more about the clubs in the local community and beyond.

The museum was recently voted ‘Visitor Attraction of the Year’ at the Aberdeen City & Shire Tourism Awards, which were held at the Ardoe House Hotel in Aberdeen on Friday 28th of March. The win came just two days ahead of the start of the museum’s 31st season.

Car, motorbike and commerical clubs from all over Scotland will gather on the museum grounds for a lunchtime gathering. Museum visitors are welcome from 12pm until 2:30pm, when vehicles will begin departing the grounds.

Vehicles confirmed for display include models from Ferrari, TVR, MG, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Jaguar, plus many more!

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