Santa and the PandJ

Well a great write up in the Press and Journal today.

Now all we need is snow!! Sigh!!!

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2563682

Fiona

Elves, Santa and nae a lot of snow!!!

We had over 100 children here at the park yesterday, 18th December seeing Santa and his elves.  They had fun on the sleigh and got a little present from Santa.

Santa Claus is coming too town!

Well still no snow but lots going on!

This weekend we have our Sunday lunch Carvery and also our Santa Grotto & Sleigh Rides.

A wee mention in the P&J yesterday but need to book fast as places are limited!

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2557841

Only 9 days left till Christmas Day now!

Fiona

Santa's Grotto

Hi Everyone

So it is the week that Santa is coming to visit!!  There was a great article in the Deeside Piper this week.

If you haven't already booked your space at the grotto or your sleigh ride give us a call on 013398 83536 or email info@deesideactivitypark.com.

Fiona

Competition Winner & Christmas

Well Christmas has landed at Deeside Activity Park! There are decorations everywhere, lots of sparkle and we are getting ready for Santa's visit on the 18th.  He will be at the park and giving visits to his grotto and sleigh rides between 11 am and 3 pm. Call on 013398 83536 to book now.

We are looking forward to the snow coming so that we can get our power boards out again.

http://www.mattrackspowerboard.com/

Congratulation to Rebecca Gall who won our compeition for the Hilton Craigendarroch.  A 2 night DBB with a bottle of prosecco.

See you all at the park soon

Fiona

QR Codes, DAP kicking and powerboarding into 2012!

So we will go kicking into 2012 with the latest internet craze, if you have a QR code reader on your Iphone then scan the code and get onto our facebook page or buy your Christmas gift vouchers!

 Buy your gift vouchers!

Join us on facebook!

Fiona

Christmas time is coming!

Well Nicola might think its silly but I was excited last night to see the coca cola truck in Aberdeen city centre, it really did feel like Christmas is coming!!

We have been getting ready for the cold and Christmas here with Ola logs and our hampers!

You can give us a call to reserve your Ola Logs or your hampers.

Fiona

Wonderful Pictures

Look at the wonderful photographs sent to us by Otravista Photos

Fiona

Its a bit wet but perfect for a mud splattered Quad Trek!

So this weather is a bit changeable!  It is a bit damp here at DAP at the moment but that doesnt stop us and it also makes for perfect weather for Quad Trek or a bit of 4x4 Off Road Driving.  All this rain makes for a great course and lots of slippery mud!

Of course we are all eagerly waiting the return of the snow here at DAP so that we can get the snowboards out once again, at least this year they are here for the start of the snow rather than in customs in Manchester like last year!!

http://mattrackspowerboards.com/

Fiona

Some Pictures from Sunday and a press article!

http://local.stv.tv/deeside/news/27059-around-600-attend-deeside-activity-centres-bonfire/

Lots of Bangs and no Buns!

Well a huge thank you to everyone that helped, donated and enjoyed last nights fireworks and bonfire.  What a great night!  Although there is some debate as to how many people were actually here, we think somewhere between 500 and 800 people!

An amazing night, the fire has now smouldered down and gone out but we have started building next year's fire. 

Ken had a watch this year so all the fireworks didnt go off at 5 pm then went off as scheduled at 5.45 pm.

We ran out of buns!  We used all 500 buns that were ordered and then went onto using bread!

We hope that next year will be just as successful!

Fiona

Fireworks & Bonfire

Well we have been working hard on the lead up to our bonfire and fireworks night, which if you haven't heard is on Sunday!

Yes this Sunday, it was mentioned on North Sound 1 this morning by Gregsy and Jaz, and they say the weather is going to be better on Sunday than it is on Saturday.

The event is free to everyone and we will have our usual Cairnton Aberdeen Angus BBQ on the go, with burgers, steaks, Ingrams Pork Sausages. Soup, hot and cold drinks, sweets and glow sticks and sparklers!

See you all there 5 pm till 6.30 pm on Sunday 6th November!

Fiona

What a fun day, we had 90 Norweigans doing one of our highland games, haggis hurling, caber tossing, whisky tasting, axe throwing, scottish dancing and lots of other things.

Fiona

Awards, corporates and the threat of snow!

Well it has been a busy couple of weeks. 

We were a finalist in the Northern Star Business Awards, and we collected our certificate last week at a drink reception but were pipped at the post last night at the Awards by the AECC who were very worthy winners indeed.  Well done to them.

We have had steak nights, corporates and are looking forward to our 3rd Doric Dirl next Thursday.

However they keep threatening snow in October which is a bit of a worry or maybe not!  We can get our power boards out! Watch this space!

Fiona

Ken has his pinny on!

Well it has been a busy old day here at the park, with the sun out it is lovely.  Shame there is a little wind.  We have a couple of staff off today so Ken has had to don his pinny and work in the coffee shop!  We have space at the weekend for any group that would like to come along an play on the quads and karts.  It looks like it is going to be a nice one so why not bring a picnic and come on out to Deeside!

Fiona

2nd Steak Night

Well tonight is our 2nd Steak night in the past 2 weeks.  It was over subscribed last week so we decided to have 2.  We haven't decided on the date of our March steak celebration evening but I will let everyone know as soon as I can.

Me and Fiona

 Well this weekend Fiona came to baby sit me we had loads of fun. We played on the wii we did my homework and it was so funny this morning beacuse we went to get the horse feed. And it fell through the bottom. I also went horse riding and I cantered over the jumps

By Nicola

Monday 12th September - Kart Racing Session

Due to Popular demand we ran a Kart Racing session for children after school on 12th September.  This was in view of setting of a Kart Racing League for during term time.  There were 6 attended so we are running it again on 19th September to see how it goes.

The times were:

Jordan Matthews - 21.23 seconds

Thomas Daines - 21.48 seconds

Stuart Gray - 21.76 seconds

Sean MacPhail - 22.55 seconds

Callum Calbort - 23.20 seconds

Victoria Matthews - 23.79 seconds

See you all next week

Fiona

On the Radio

What a busy day we are having here at the park. 

Laura from BBC Radio Scotland's Out of Doors Programme has just been out to interview Pete and I for this Saturday's programme to promote our Autumn Kart Racing Session on Monday.  It will be aired on Saturday and Sunday.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074hjr/episodes/upcoming. 

There are new and very professional looking pictures coming from Visit Scotland of our food, so watch out for them.

Still some places to do activities at the weekend so if you want to book something give us a call.

Fiona

Compeition Winners

Well we had 2 compeitions running one on our Cairnton Cottages Facebook Page and a colouring compeition to celebrate opening our soft play area.

The winner of the Weekend for 2 at Cairnton Farm Cottages was Steve Hirnik and the winner of a £10 gift voucher for the colouring compeition is Abi Gray aged 8.

We also had another great review on trip adviser  for the cottages.

Its another busy week at the park with lots of corporate groups coming out to enjoy the Deeside weather.

Fiona

Nothing much new!

Hi

Nothing much new happening this week, we are again really busy at the park with corporates, BBQ's and the end of the school holidays.  The start of our winter events is coming up though starting with an Autumn Kart Racing day, £20 per person, 4.30 pm till 5.30 pm.  We will run more sessions if there is a great interest in doing so.

Then we have our 2 steak celebration evenings 16th September and 23rd September, for Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight, closley followed by our Coffee Morning to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Support.  Then in October or Doric Dirl on 13th with world renowned Tarland Fiddler Paul Anderson.

Fiona

Family Fun Day Season!

Well it has been a while since we blogged at DAP.  It has been a busy old time with lots of corporate groups bringing their teambuilding activities here to the park.  We have family fun days here for companies over the next couple of weeks and it is all go.

We still have spaces in September at the cottages at the farm if anyone out there is looking for a last minute break.

Ken got a shiny new tractor and Nicola has started a new school in Aberdeen.

Fiona

Pictures of the Kart Racing League Final

Here are some of the pictures of the Kart Racing Final.

Kart Racing League Final

So today was the final of the Kart Racing League and it is sunny hooray!

There were 9 here to take part in the final.

Ashley Will - 20.74 seconds

David Morgan - 20.77 seconds

Kieran Will - 21.02 seconds

Jordan Matthews - 21.30 seconds

Tom Gauld - 21.56 seconds

Ollie Inglis - 22.15 seconds

Thomas Daines - 22.74 seconds

Harry - 22.77 seconds

Hugo Inglis - 22.88 seconds

As today was the final the overall results for the summer was announced

Donald Thomson - Overall Winner

Ashley Will - Female Winner

Jordan Matthews - Most Improved

Thomas Daines - Most Improved Runner Up

Well done to everyone that has taken part and we hope to see you all karting again soon.

Fiona

Looks like a wet week ahead!

What a weekend, really busy Saturday and it stayed dry for all our hen and stag parties and the Aboyne games.  New guests in all the cottages.

Yesterday was just a very wet day but got busy with people out for lunch etc.

8th August results for the Kart Racing League

Another wet one!

Ashley Will - 23.70 seconds

Donald Thomson - 24.00 seconds

Thomas Daines - 24.02 seconds

David Morgan - 25.10 seconds

Jordan Matthews - 25.08 seconds

Kieran Will - 26.10 seconds

Joel Booth - 29.06 seconds

Saul Booth - 31.90 seconds

Well done to all those that took part, we look forward to the final and the prize giving next week.

I think it is to be a wet week but that shouldn't stop you, come out to the park and get involved!

Fiona

Kart Racing League 1st August & Pictures of the baby swallows

1st August results for the Deeside Activity Park

Donald Thompson - 20.64 seconds
Ashley Wills - 20.91 seconds
David Morgan - 20.98 seconds
Tom Gauld - 21.00 seconds
Chris Tom - 21.11 seconds
Kieran Wills - 21.15 seconds
Sandy Cater - 21.29 seconds
Harris Buyers - 21.46 seconds
Carley Buyers - 21.57 seconds
Jordan Matthews - 21.67 seconds
Olly Inglis - 21.73 seconds
Stuart Blackwood - 22.05 seconds
Lewis Ingram - 22.12 seconds
Haley Buyers - 22.32 seconds
George Barlas - 22.37 seconds
Hugo Inglis - 22.53 seconds
Toby Parsons - 22.94 seconds
Thomas Daines - 23.33 seconds
Jordan Duncan - 23.70 seconds
Keiren Strachan - 25.66 seconds

swallows nest

We have found a swallows nest. We took pictures of the nest. We will upload them on Sunday. And we hope you like them. We have just had a sleepover. And Joyce has just made a wonderful breakfast.

By Nicola and Ruth



baxter

You may have heard about baxter the dog. Well he is as happy as Larry i hope you are to and that is the news.

By Nicola



25th July Kart Racing League Results

The results for 25th July kart racing league are as follows:

Tom Gauld - 19.29 seconds

Callum Strang - 21.33 seconds

Jordan Matthews - 22.39 seconds

Horley Buyers - 22.51 seconds

Donald Thomson - 22.63 seconds

Hayley Buyers - 22.76 seconds

Thomas Daines - 22.91 seconds

Harris Buyers - 23.01 seconds

Marcus Quirk - 23.36 seconds

Joel Booth - 24.12 seconds

Fin Pearson - 25.40 seconds

Saul Booth - 53.55 seconds

It had been wet but times are getting better from last week, a few new faces too.

Fiona

Summer Fun at Deeside Activity Park

So it is the school holidays at the park and there is lots going on!

We are averaging around 10 to 30 children coming to play in our new arena each day and we are filling up with all our activities.

The Kart Racing League is in full swing with 16 people signed up for this Monday morning, will they all turn up if it rains though!!!

Fiona

Summer Kart Racing League - 18th July

Kart racing league - 18th July

Goodness me the rain chased everyone away today, only 5!

Times as follows:
Donald Thomson - 23.20 seconds
David Morgan - 24.50 seconds
George Watt - 25.70 seconds
Fin Pearson - 26.80 seconds
Thomas Daines - 27.30 seconds

See more of you next week, we will have to pray for some sunny weather!

Fiona

the holidays

I have just come back from my holiday in Monorca. It was so hot in the SUN .We had a pool in the garden and we swam in it everyday. And on the whole it was great. Baxter is fine and we lonched a soft area.

Forbes 50th Wedding Anniversary and Harry's 21st!

Busy day at Deeside, not as dramatic a week as last week!

Tonight we have Mr & Mrs Forbes 50th Wedding Anniversary dinner along with their grandson Harry's 21st.

Just to let you all know the dates that the INDOOR ARENA WILL BE CLOSED

We apologise for any inconvenience caused but the indoor arena will be closed
on the following days:


Saturday 20th August
Sunday 21st August
Sunday 28th August
Thursday 1st September

Fiona

Wonderful new cakes on the trolley

Well we have a new baker in town.  Sharon started with us just over a month ago and is cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

On Friday with the help of her able assistant Amanda they made lots of goodies, here are some of the pictures.

Yum!

Fiona

2nd week of Kart Racing Grand Prix and it rained!!!

So it rained and the times are a bit higher but well done to everyone and we will get those times down again next week!

Alesi Jane Park - 25.16 seconds

Allan Thomson - 26.50 seconds

Hugo Inglis - 26.88 seconds

Connor Elrick - 27.00 seconds

Nathan Herd - 27.50 seconds

Ollie Inglis - 27.53 seconds

David Morgan - 28.62 seconds

Karcher Cox - 30.75 seconds

Hamish Forfar - 30.81 seconds

Donald Thomson - 30.22 seconds

Max Forfar - 31.12 seconds

Calum Cameron - 32.15 seconds

Christopher Park - 34.22 seconds

George Watt - 43.56 seconds

Fiona

Its the school holidays at Deeside Activity Park

Well you can tell it's the school holidays, there are kids every where and a few brave parents and corporates!

Margaret and Nicola are away in Spain this week and I think poor Ken is missing them!  They will be back tomorrow.

The new soft play area and ball pit is going down a treat, in fact we have never seen so many outisde orders.

Hopefully the sun will shine, Ken will get his hay turned and we will have a fun busy weekend.

Fiona

1st Kart Racing League Day of the season

 Today was the first Kart Racing day of the season with the following results:

1st Greg Gordon with 17.84 seconds

2nd Ashley Will with 17.87 seconds

3rd David Morgan with 17.90 seconds

Full results on http://www.deesideactivitypark.com/

Well done to everyone that took part, see everyone next week there is still everything to race for!!

Fiona

Busy Friday

Hi

It's been a busy old Friday here at DAP!  What a long week, 3 late nights 4 corporates, 1 70th Birthday party, 1 ball pit launch and Ken is off to the Fettercairn show tomorrow!

So Joyce and I had some childs play this afternoon and tested out the new ball pit, here is the evidence!

Soft Play Area Launch

So Todays launch went really well with a new ball pit, soft play area and lots of more fun things to do.

It will be open every day 9 am till 5 pm and it is only £2 per child

Fiona

The babies are hatching

As well as the many hundreds of children we had a Deeside Activity Park at the weekend the baby oyster catchers are hatching.  We have some at the park and also up at Cairnton Farm. 

They are laying a new road up to the clays at the farm and the boys are having to be careful as they are very interested in the machines. 

On the Loch we have some new ducklings and we are hoping that the foxes stay away and let them grow into adult ducks.

We have a new baker at the park and she is trying all sorts of new cakes, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!  Last week we had mint slices and I saw custard creams coming out of the oven last night.

Fiona

FACEBOOK PRIZE DRAW

FACEBOOK PRIZE DRAW

Become a fan of Cairnton Farm Cottages page and we will put you into our prize draw to win a weekend stay at the cottages. Last day for clicking the like button will be 31st August 2011.

Draw will be made on the 1st of September.

Cairnton Farm Cottages Facebook Page

 

Good Luck to you all.

Joyce & Fiona fame at last!

Joyce & Fiona, fame at last in the press and journal on Saturday!  http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2306508

The new heaters are going in!

In a bid to bring our carbon emmissions back into line we are making changes to the arena by removing our bouncy castle and replacing it with a soft play area and a ball pit.

And the plumbers are in today to fix up our new heaters that are connected to our wood pellet boiler getting rid of our space heater and completely doing away with the need for oil heating.

Fiona

Ken running late again!

Well it was a busy weekend again here at the park.

The oyster catchers are still nesting well and we are trying to keep the crows away from their eggs both here and at the farm. 

Ken did activites all day Saturday and you all guessed it, he was running late!  It is a bonus though if this happens because everyone gets a lot more time on the activities for their money.

We also had a great write up in the P&J  http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2280472. Pete we knew you were a star but now it is in writing!

Fiona

Oyster Catchers are nesting at DAP!

We have lots of Oyster Catchers nesting at the front of Deeside Activity Park and in the Quarry up at the farm!  Nicola is going to take some photographs to let the world see them.

Another busy week of corporates and schools, the weather is amazing for them and there is a real buzz of summer in the air!

Our bouncy castle is about to go into retirement well until the first family fun day of the year!  We are replacing it with a ball pit and soft play area and a few more giant games to save on electricity.

Fiona

What's happening at DAP?

Hi

What a windy weekend!

We have another busy week of schools and Corporate bookings and next weekend another stag fest!

Saturday saw our largest stag party ever drink us out of Vodka, in fact Margaret had to go for emergency supplies.

We had another great review on Trip Adviser for the cottages have a look!

Tristan has gone now to join the RAF and Catherine has decided to leave us and go and work at Craigendarroch.

Fiona

Well we didn't get blown away!

After the stroms on Monday we thought we might get blown away but everything is still intact.  The guests that were out on Monday all survived and even said the karting is better in the rain which I must agree with!

The staff of DAP have done a stirling job this week with 5 corporates and 3 schools to look after.

A busy weekend coming up with one of our biggest stag parties of between 52 and 55, they have just ordered a keg of beer from Deeside Brewery so they should have a great time on Saturday night.

Fiona

A quiet start to the week!

Well its been a nice gentle start to the week, a corporate yesterday and the active schools orienterring today.

Still busy but nowhere near the numbers of Friday.

Next year's Beer Festival has been booked for 11th May and the Ceilidh is for 12th May.

All the calves have been born, the last one yesterday, twins and all are doing very well.

Fiona

The feet of the DAP customers really were made for dancing!!

So Saturday nights ceilidh with Clachan Yell was a great success, lots of people turned up to drink the beer that was left, which was only some Macbeth and the very strong Alban Arthan and Hefin Alban!

Deeside Beer Festival

Lots of people came to the Deeside beer festival last night. It was the third and arguably the most succesfull year that the beer festival with around 300 people turning up to sample the wide selection of Ales.
Around 50 people made use of the bus from Aberdeen which arrived in the early evening and departed again at 11pm.
The weather held out and the sun shone through which added to the atmosphere and kept the increasing number of campers happy up at the loch side.
All in all a good time was had, only a shame we have to wait another year until the next one.

The scene is set!

Last night was great, the sun was shining and there were 70 plus runners all out enjoying the weather too.

Well the scene is set for the Deeside Beer Festival and the Deeside Ceilidh with Clachan Yell.  Lots of hard work with the arena to make it look really pretty and lots of promotion.

Very pleased today as in the Deeside Piper and the Press and Journal!  Was beginning to give up that they weren't going to print the press releases.

Here are some getting ready shots!!

Fiona

A busy old week at DAP!!

Well that was a busy one!  We had just recovered from the Royal Afternoon Tea and Mr & Mrs Gilbert's Ruby Wedding party when a long week of corporate bookings came upon us.  Lots of pots of coffee, burgers and teambuilding activities were enjoyed in the lovely Deeside weather!

Saturday was really busy with everyone deciding to come in a four hour slot in the afternoon.  On Sunday the dogs were out and walking for sponsership to raise money for the local SSPCA.  We do think though that we need a bigger kitchen as there were 250 people through the door for soup, sandwiches, coffees and cakes, anything to keep them warm after getting a soaking in the rain that was Sunday!

Anyways the sun has come out here again today and not much has gone amiss apart from Viv spilling custard powder all over her so the special for today Fruit Sponge with a bit of Viv on the side!

Fiona

What a busy weekend !

We had an afternoon tea for the royal wedding.


It was so sunny I went on a walk to the Falls of Dess with my friends Maisie and Florence, and it was very good.

by Nicola

How many people can you fit in the office of DAP?

Answer lots! 

We all crowded round to watch this morning, staff, customers and all.  Well done to Kate and William.

She looked amazing, and he was very handsome in his uniform.

Maybe they will pop in to DAP for a cuppa when they are on honeymoon!

Fiona

Wedding Fever Hits Deeside

Well the event that everyone is talking about is here tomorrow!

We are running our Right Royal Affair Afternoon Tea, Scones with Jam & Cream, Cakes, Sandwiches and Tea/Coffee for only £6.50 per person or with a Glass of Champagne for £11.50 per person.  The P&J have been on the phone and they are doing a Deeside special for the wedding so we might be in there tomorrow too!

Deeside Drinks Emporium have just confirmed they are hosting a wine tasting evening here on Thursday 12th May, 3 whites, 3 reds and a fizz.  Tickets £5 from Sandy on 01330 822 650.

Its lovely and sunny in Deeside which makes it look just beautiful.  We have our competition winners from the Scottish Field coming to stay with us at the cottages over the weekend and we have the Gilbert's Ruby Wedding Dinner and Dance too

All great fun, see you all out here soon

Fiona

A Bit of a Flood!

Oh dear folks we are paddling in our dishwashing area!  The dishwasher has sprung a leak but hopefully it will be getting fixed now that the holidays are over till Friday!!! 

We are open all days including this Friday but we are doing a Right Royal Affair Wedding Afternoon Tea from 2 pm on Friday.

We have been baking today and there are fresh Cairnton Aberdeen Angus Steak Pies in the fridge to buy and lots of cupcakes on the cake trolley.

Fiona

Easter Sunday at DAP

Today we had a beastie hunt and it was very good.We found lots of beasties and had fun.We took Baxter, my Black Labrador puppy who was 1 year old on Thursday, with us. 

Rebecca, aged 11 years, won the Best Decorated Egg competition.

By Nicola

Mike Rumbles & Tavish Scott and lots of Sunshine!

This week at Deeside Activity Park we have so far had a visit from Mike Rumbles & Tavish Scott promoting their tourism goals.  We have also had lots of calves born up at Cairnton!

Fiona

A View from DAP!

Welcome to the staff blog from Deeside Activity Park.  Keep up to date with the goings on or the not through the eyes of the staff.