achindarrochtp

End of season

2011-09-22T10:17:00.009+01:00

Hi folks, we are nearly at the end of our summer season. We have been really busy and I am glad that we are slowing down a bit so we can catch our breath for the next season, which is of course is the winter. Casper is getting big and bold now and still likes to chase the birds. I would like to thank all of our customers this year. I have met some really nice people and enjoyed all their stories. We have nearly finished the decking around the reception, and then on to new projects. The weather is turning now, getting wet and cold, so I think that the tenting season is finished. But remember...... we have the Pods, and they are great in this weather! We hope to see you all again next year and I will post some pics of the projects as we do them over the winter. Thanks again from all of us here and Casper of course.

2011-05-17T16:34:00.005+01:00

Hi folks, sorry it has taken me a while to put this on, but we have had a lot going on. The park was really busy for the April bank holidays we were having to turn people away. Casper is getting big now and Dick has taken some photos, so I will post them when he downloads them on to my PC.
The pods are starting to get bookings, which is great, and the people who have stayed in them already say they are great, no wet tents to take down. We had good weather over April, but this last week it has done nothing but rain. The decking around the reception is half complete now, so we are waiting for the weather to change and dry up a bit then hopefully, dick will be able to finish it. The grass is growing like mad with the changeable weather and everything has now turned out green. The daffs on the bank looked beautiful this year. All the ones Dad and Uncle John put in came up, so it looked really nice. Casper has been good with the other dogs on the park, so I think he will be ok. Not too territorial! Well, I will go now and I will put another post on later.

2011-02-14T15:17:00.002Z

Hi folks, just a few pics of Casper he is growing fast enjoying the park I don't know if what he will be like when all our visitors start to arrive it should be fun. The pods are now on and the path to them is now complete. We have had a bad start to the year, we have had 3 bereavements, so things can only get better. The electrics are all complete we just have to sort out all the ground which we have dug up and that is nearing completion. The reception is up and running and all that's left is the decking to be completed. We look forward to seeing you all this season.

2010-12-16T15:37:00.003Z

Today is the 16th Dec and yesterday I posted that the pods had arrived we were hoping to start reinstating the paths. However, we have had snow today here are some pics of the pods. Different from yesterday!

2010-12-15T12:47:00.008Z

Just a few more pics

2010-12-15T12:07:00.004Z

Hi everyone, Yet again I have been really busy this past few months. We have had the roads dug up and trenches put in for the electrics upgrade. Dad, Uncle John and Dick have been preparing the ground up on the bank ready for the pods, which arrived this morning (2 weeks late due to the bad weather). We still have to finish the paths and decking and things, but the electric is now live to the new reception and the pods. The new reception should be up and running just before Xmas and once the ground defrosts a bit, we will be able to reinstate the paths. Casper is growing fast and is a little monkey. He has found his voice and is barking at everyone and everything. He loves to run around the park without his lead on (closed season of course!). He comes back when he's called, however, just out of arms reach so you can not catch him. Well, here's some pics and if I don't get a chance to put another update on, I wish you all a happy Xmas and New Year.

Update

2010-09-24T15:08:00.003+01:00

Hi folks, yet again I am trying to catch up with things and have only just found time to add a post. The summer season has been great, really busy and at times had a full park, the shower block has coped well and we have had the AA grading of 3 pennants and the visit Scotland has just awarded us 3 stars both has a good percentage and once the new reception is up and running we could get 4 so here's hoping. We are delighted to get 3 for the first grading. We would like to thank all the customers that have made this season a good one and we are all looking forward to you all coming back next season. We have had some fun and meet a lot of lovely people and are looking forward to meeting more. We have a new addition to the family business and his name is Casper he is 9 weeks old and a handful but cute and lovely. The park is fairly quite at the moment but we are coming up to the autumn weather and the closed season. will put another post in a week or so.

A few pics for you

2010-07-14T15:37:00.007+01:00

A few of our regular customers with sapper

Pics of the new reception going up

These are the three longest stayers at the park so far they arrived in march for 4 weeks and stayed a least 12 nice guys no trouble and are welcome any time.

Latest

2010-07-14T15:16:00.005+01:00

Well hi everyone as you can see I have not put a post on for a while we have been fairly busy with things so I thought it was about time I updated every one. The weather this past month has been great, apart from last week, so we have been busy grass cutting hedge trimming and yesterday I started ditching. The phone has been going mad for bookings in August and the busy time starts next week. I have put on some pics of happy campers for you. The van is something new, an airstream base. I had never seen one before but it is a great looking van with a tent on the back. A couple of weeks ago we had a young woman called Amy who is walking the whole of great Britain's coast in aid of kidney research. You can look her up on 'Amy goes coastal' web site. If she is in your area, give her your support. Today the weather is windy and dry but I think the rain is on its way. On a sad note Sapper had to be put to sleep on the 06 July as his kidneys failed. It was a very heartbreaking time for us, but better for him. He had a whale of a time since we moved to the park and really came out of himself and I would like to thank everyone who has sent cards and things. Well folks I will try to post more regularly and I hope to meet you all in the near future.

Busy Busy

2010-06-03T19:40:00.003+01:00

Well sorry there has been no blog for a little while as we have been very busy the site is buzzing with activity and we have not had time to do a lot but run the park and at the end of the day we are tired. We have had a lot of visitors from other countries which is good. Had our very first American motor home yesterday they are something else. Sapper is being very sociable and is enjoying the company of others which has surprised me. We have nearly had a full park last weekend with tents and motor homes which is really good and we are getting drive ins all the time now. The grass is growing fast and green which is good and the trees and shrubs are all in leaf and flowering. The midges have been out this last week and are biting me and sapper nobody else seems to be getting bit. The Sun has been shining a lot and the heat is very hot but the campers are loving it. Well I will sign off now and put some pics on the next time.

Getting busy

2010-04-22T19:12:00.006+01:00

Hi everyone, sorry for the delay in putting a new post on but we have been very busy with lots of visitors. We have had a few tents and vans and it was great to meet Lainey and Dave and we have a little corner for you when you return lol. We have had a lot of nice people from all over and people from Hungry, Switzerland and France. So far everyone has had a good stay. The weather has been great this past couple of weeks and we are hoping it stays a bit longer but who knows. The bookings are coming in and we are hopefully going to be busy. Sapper is getting used to all the coming and goings and is enjoying meeting everyone. The sit on mower is back from getting sorted and dad has had fun cutting the grass except for the wheel blowing up first time out but that's fixed now. Dick has finally sorted the loos so that's great. All the bushes are growing and had hair cut today by Dad and Uncle John. The hill on the other side of the road had a very large fire it was like something you would see on the tele thankfully no one was hurt and our park looks the other way. It wont take long for everything to turn green again. I have put on a few pics of our happy customers.

Update

2010-03-31T19:17:00.007+01:00

Well things are looking up now we have had some bookings coming in and the website is getting a lot of hits so that seems to be working. The weather up here has been a bit hit and miss we had a really lovely day on Monday then Tuesday it was rain and the wind was strong today we got up to snow but the sun came out this afternoon and the snow disappeared and we had a great afternoon. We have had 3 roaming sheep on the park this week and sapper has had a great time herding the away from the park we do not know who they belong to but they can be a nuisance and I am having to pick up the mess they are leaving behind. But sapper loves chasing them off I was surprised because he normally runs away from other animals. Our shower block is finished so I have put some pics on. We had visitors yesterday mums aunt Elaine and uncle Les and we all went to the Holly Tree for a meal which is a hotel restaurant in the next village and it was lovely the staff could not have looked after us any better it was a real treat. Well I will sign off for tonight and will do a new post in a couple of days. Oh before I forget we had a power cut on Tuesday but we coped very well with our customers and every one was ok. Dick has had a power cut all day today at the old schoolhouse on the east coast but I hope it will be back on soon.

2010-03-21T19:38:00.003Z

Sorry not to have updated everyone, but we have been busy setting everything up. We have had our first tents this week and our first seasonal pitch is arriving tomorrow. The Toilet and showers are just about complete with 1 toilet in the gents and 1 in the ladies still out of operation. We are still waiting for some parts to arrive, but dick has been busy finishing the rest and they are all operational. I will take some photos later and post them on. All of the toilet roll holders and everything are now on. We have had to send some of the wall panels back so we are waiting for them and they should be back this week. All in all we are now fully functional and we think they look great. The weather has let us down with rain but the ground is fully drained but it stops us tidying. It was nice this afternoon so tomorrow we will start again. Dads shed is up now and water tight. The reception is now up and running and bookings are starting to come in so we are looking forward to meeting all the people who have booked. We had a visit today from mums pal Pat and Alec and it was lovely to see them. I will finish of now and will post some pics tomorrow

Refurb in its last stages

2010-03-07T19:45:00.007Z

The pictures above are of the fitters Darren and Ian who have fitted the cubicles for us and the one below is Dick fitting all the plumbing for the new toilets which he is doing as I am typing I will take him a coffee once I have posted this. The other pic is dad and uncle John in the shed which is half way up now Just the windows and doors to put on and the jobs a good one.

We are hoping to have the plumbing done by the 10th. The Gents is just about complete and the ladies is just about there then we can turn the water on and hope for no leaks but dick is working hard and I am sure it will all go smoothly. Dad has been busy and painted around the new windows and doors today. Mum, Uncle John and I have been pulling all the dead grass away from under the bushes and trees to day and things are starting to look quite tidy now. Sapper is loving it here he keeps trying to chase things and is always tired at he end of the day. The weather has been great for the last few days and the sun has shone hopefully we have seen the last of the snow.

Refubishments

2010-02-28T18:37:00.008Z

The refurbishments are now starting to take shape now the gents is almost complete and the ladies has been started, the men are turning up to do the floor on Tuesday then the cubicles, toilets etc can be fitted so all in all we are getting there. The weather for the past 2 days has been dry so dad and uncle john have been painting gates and dick has been fitting all the cisterns and things mum and i took the strimmer to the long grass at the barrier and it looks a bit better still a lot of tidying to do but we are getting there. Sapper is exhausting himself nearly every day with all the running about between everyone. We hope the shower block will be finished next week for our opening on the 15th of march. We are looking forward to meeting the people who have already booked and for the visits we are going to get. Mum and I moved the barrels and planted them out with daffs and pansies to add a bit of colour the seeds that mum sowed a couple of weeks ago have not come through yet if we get a few hot days it will help them keep your fingers crossed for us.

The weather is against us

2010-02-24T18:53:00.006Z

Well the weather is against us again the snow is back and the temperature for past few nights has been freezing. The boys are here doing the refurb and are doing a good job what they have completed is looking really nice we got a new door and window into the gents to day and i am really happy with the look of them we will not see the full look until it is finished but it is looking good. We have finished the base for the shed yesterday thank goodness. Next stage put the shed up that will be a giggle as the plans are in Chinese. Mum is looking forward to the start of the season and her aunt and uncle are planning a visit at the end of March. We have had a few more bookings so things are starting to pick up now so we are all excited. Sapper is not enjoying the cold as he is not able to get out as much his little hips get stiff in the cold. He chased dad down the drive today with the wheelie bin it was quite funny. I will put his pic on again when the weather is better. Dick drove back to Aberdeen yesterday and said the weather up there is just as bad with roads closed north of Aberdeen due to the snow. Is this weather going to get any better?

Refurbishment

2010-02-22T19:38:00.010Z

Today started very cold and frosty then a trip to Oban for me, mum and Uncle John as I had an appointment to get my eyes checked. Then back to the park where Dick and Dad were waiting for the men to turn up to start the refurbishment. Dick managed to complete the battening last night so we were just in time for them turning up. Dick is now concentrating on the plumbing as the pipes needed to be lengthened for the new walls as they are thicker. Mum and I planted out a barrel today with daffodils and pansies so it will add a bit of colour. Dad and Uncle John painted one of the entrance gates yesterday so one more to go. The men turned up at 3pm and got started so hopefully in 10 days we will be complete.

Winter Wonderland

2010-02-17T19:03:00.010Z

All our plans for today went on hold, we had a lovely day yesterday sun shine, the sanitary wear for the shower blocks arrived and Dads aggregate came so Mum and I were shoveling it into barrows and dad and Uncle john were putting where the shed is going it was heavy work but as the sun was shinny it was nice. We had planned to do some more today until I open the blind to find we were in a winter wonderland the snow had fallen over night. Dick is away in Norway on business and will return on Friday to finish the battening in the shower block ready for the refit to start on Monday. We have had 4 confirmed bookings now and are hoping for some more but it is still exciting when we get an email or phone call. We had a guy in on Sunday looking for a pitch for the night but we are not open yet but it means that we will get some drive buys which is good

shower blocks continued

2010-02-14T18:58:00.005Z

Dick arrived on Friday night and on Saturday he got straight on and battened out the ladies toilet ready for the insulation which I followed him round doing it takes an age to do but dick has finished the battening and I am half way round with insulation. Dad and uncle John have got all the rubbish and sorted out the entrance gates which were all over grown and we can now see the gate. Mum has started to clear the old paint of the water point near the barrier ready for painting and I have cleared out all the grass from the electrical points and given them a clean. Today dad and dick have put up new strip lights and PIR sensors in the toilets so that's good. Mum and I on Thursday cleared out the back hedge which runs along the back of the park and we found so many stones that mum has started a rockery with all the stones we have found loads. The picture below is just some of them there are a lot more now I will take another picture tomorrow.

Ground Works

2010-02-10T20:32:00.004Z

Dad, Uncle John, Mum and I have been preparing the ground today for the shed it was heavy going but we just about finished it ready for the hardcore. The Sun has been shining for the last 5 days no rain or snow and it has been fab. Dick has been busy sourcing the PIR sensors for the toilets and has managed to get them so that's one tick in the box. The deer were in field 3 times today once in the morning, mid afternoon and tea time. We have discovered due to mums keen eye that we have a girl and a boy. Dads weather station arrived last week that we ordered for him for xmas but was out of stock so when the shed is up he is going to put it up then he should be able to give me a forcast as it is a bit to technical for me. Ha ha.

Deer

2010-02-08T20:04:00.010Z

Well I got a picture of the deer just. I could not get any closer she just ran off. I will keep trying to get a better one. Today, dad and I insulated the Gents before the new walls go up, and uncle john started to clean up the water points. Mum was busy all day but managed to make a boiled fruit cake which I am so looking forward to eating. I have put some pics below of our day.

No more old showers

2010-02-07T18:34:00.003Z

The shower block is now just 2 empty rooms, as it is all in the tip apart from the loos, which Dad and I hope to make into some flower pots or something different. The boys are coming to re fit the showers this month. They have confirmed now so that is a weight of our minds. Now to start the tidy up. Hopefully we will be ready for opening in March, but if you have been before you will know that its going to be a long job. Dad is head grounds man so I will be taking direction from him as I am not green fingered, however Dad is Brill. Mum is good at growing all the seeds so hopefully we will have some colour this year. Uncle John has his proficiency badge at the pushing of the wheel barrow so we will all be OK there. Dick has returned to Aberdeen today after framing the gents loo ready for the insulation as there was not any before. The deer were in the field again this morning tried to get a picture however they heard me coming will try again tomorrow. It has been a nice weekend with the sun out so everyone has enjoyed it. I will take some pictures tomorrow and post them in the next few days.

The work continues

2010-01-30T19:52:00.004Z

Dick arrived at 8.30 on Friday night having been back to work for a week to find only toilets standing in the shower block as dad had ripped everything out, so he could get on with the plumbing. We hope the boys will be here in the next few weeks to refit the shower block and it should all be finished by the end of February. Mum and Uncle John have nearly finished the hole for reception today and dad and I took all the rubbish to the tip. We had deer in the field at the back again this morning. Thats 3 days in a row. Had some snow yesterday but it has all gone today. We have had some enquiries this week, now all we need is some bookings! Sapper (the dog) seems to be settling in fine, loving all the open space.

Progress

2010-01-24T19:06:00.002Z

Started on Saturday to prepare the ground for the reception a bit wet after the weather we have had. Dick and dad started to rip out the gents shower block and got on rather well. Mum, Uncle John and I dug all day but we have just about completed the task given to us by Dick and Dad. On Sunday we carried on and I collected up some twigs and branches that have fallen and Dad and Uncle John used the Mulcher for the first time what a machine now I know how to dispose of things just put it in there and it eats it. Hope to get some more pictures on the blog once i have downloaded them from dicks camera.

We all would like to thank all the people who have sent good luck cards and we hope to see you all soon.

Here at last

2010-01-08T18:29:00.002Z

Moved over on Sunday 3rd Jan 10, Snowing the night before not to bad on the way here. Trust us to move in the worst winter for years. It was -16 at Glencoe on the way over but the views were fantastic. The House is just about sorted and Mum, Dad and Uncle John have settled in Dick, Sapper and I have got the van just about sorted once we found out how to use the gas central heating which is fantastic. We had to make a ramp for Sapper as he had trouble jumping in and out. As for the park the snow, frost and ice have made it impossible to do any ground works but we will start in the shower block next week. Uncle John and dad have cleared the ice off the path to the cottage. Dick has been doing the DIY in the house and van. Mum and I have been sorting, washing, feeding and all the usual jobs. Hopefully the weather will get better and we can really start to sort out the park. Oh forgot to say the new reception arrived Wednesday.
Dick is taking photos tommorrow so I will post them when he has.

The park in the snow

2009-12-30T21:47:00.003Z

The pic on the left is from the shower block looking south, we took this pic on Monday 28th Dec 09.

The pic below is from the shower block looking east taken on the same day.

Water Leak

2009-12-30T21:24:00.003Z

We had a phone call on Christmas eve to say that the shower block had a leak and the water board had turned off the water at the mains. What a time to get that phone call, but as the water was off there was nothing we could do until after Xmas. On Sunday morning, we all got up early and set off to the park to check it out or so we thought! We got as far as Perth when we had to turn back as the snow was falling very heavily and as the roads were dangerous it was not safe to carry on. On Monday morning Dick and I decided to give it another go, it was ok and the roads were fine. It was like Sunday had never happened. When we got to the park the leak was from the heating system so it was not as bad as we thought. On Tuesday we all decided to go back to the park, so Dick and dad went in mum's car with the trailer and Mum and I went in dad's little car. It was a lovely sunny day, but cold. We sorted things out and all trekked back in Mum's car. Now we are packing up because we all move over on Sunday the 3rd and that's when we are starting to rip out the shower block. Hopefully the weather get's better so we can crack on with the upgrades.

Thanks for best wishes

2009-12-10T21:16:00.002Z

I would like to welcome our followers to our blog and hope that you enjoy following our progress. Mum and Dad were thrilled to see that Toby and Alison are following us on our journey.
Please Toby if you could drop them an email the address is on the web site it would make their day. If I don't get chance to do another post before Xmas we wish you all a merry Xmas and a happy new year from us all at Achindarroch Touring Park and hope to see you all in the new year.

Caravan Move

2009-12-10T20:55:00.002Z

Took the caravan over at the weekend and put it into position so that's my new home in place, Mum (June) and I have cleaned the cottage so that's ready for her and dad (Trevor) to move into. Started the planning ordering and things for the shower block. Every thing is happening the way we want at the mo so lets hope it Carries on that way or we will all be grey in a few months just like dad. Sapper the dog is getting excited with all the packing going on. Had our first enquiry this week so that was really exciting. I have 6 days left to work then all the hard work at the park begins.

Finally Ours

2009-11-24T19:13:00.000Z

Took over the park on sat 21 Nov 09. All the usual meter readings etc. Had a good poke around as we now can, great! Web site now live and everything is coming along great. Now the hard work starts. Refurbishment of the shower block, gardening, tidying up the site, new reception the list goes on. will take pictures as soon as i can learn how to use the camera ha ha!

Getting there

2009-11-04T13:22:00.000Z

Things are looking good. The date is nearing, Dad has now retired from his job and is gearing up to get over to the park. Dick is looking a costings for the shower block and we hope to start that early in the new year. When we get to the park I will take photos before we start and as it progresses to the finish.

home renovation and self build show

2009-10-25T16:23:00.000Z

We all went to the Renovation and self build show in Aberdeen AECC today, got some good ideas for the park and house which we hope to build.

Purchase of Touring Park

2009-10-25T16:04:00.000Z

Hoping to get the keys to the park in november lets see how it goes!

Then I will post some pics.