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Are you a Racing Champion?
One of the North East’s premier outdoor activity centres have relaunched their summer karting league in a bid to find a racing champion of the North East in 2010.
Popular outdoor activities venue Deeside Activity Park, is hosting a karting league to entertain locals and visitors alike and to crown new champions this year. The leagues are being held every Monday morning, starting Monday 5thJuly 2010 with the last one on Monday 16th August 2010, visitors are invited to the Centre at 9.30am to take part in the competition.
“Karting is one of our most popular activities here at the park,” said Ken Howie, owner. “Last year we provided this interesting and challenging event for 3 days during the summer holidays and it proved to be very popular so we thought we would run it again but for the whole summer this year.”
The costs are £15 per person per session, which represents a substantial saving from standard activity rates. Racing times will be accumulated week by week to decide an overall winner in three categories, under 14’s, 15 – 18’s, and adults. There will be prizes for best lap times and new lap records announced at the end of the summer. Last year’s winners were Connor Hayward, Craig Burney and Graham Hayward.
Deeside Activity Park has a 375 metre outdoor asphalt racing circuit. The Bizz 200 karts are suitable for adults and there are cadet karts for the children, all have been fitted with electronic transponders ensuring accurate lap times and competitive racing.
“It’s a great way to get families doing things together during the summer holidays. It is one of many special events that the park has going on this summer, we also have a mini moto race day on 25th July ,” said Fiona McIver, Sales and Marketing for the Park. ‘We would really like to find someone with real talent that we can sponser to a semi professional level.’
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Deeside Event a Right Royal Success
A three-day Deeside extravaganza paying tribute to legendary Scots king Macbeth has been hailed as a royal success – and plans are already in the pipeline to repeat the event next year.
For the second year running, Deeside Activity Park at Dess near Aboyne was the venue for Macbethfest featuring a running event, beer festival and ceilidh. The venue lies a stone’s throw from the site where King Macbeth is said to have been killed at the Battle of Lumphanan in 1057.
Macbethfest 2010 kicked off with a running event in conjunction with Running the Highlands last Wednesday (May 12th). The event – which attracted 96 competitors – was won by Team Simpson Buchan comprising Rhona Buchan and her daughter and sons Ellie, Doug and Robbie who finished in 69 minutes, 45 seconds. Special congratulations went to Ewen McMillan who, at the age of just 11, completed the course in 18 minutes, 12 seconds.
On Friday (May 14th) beers from the renowned Deeside Brewery and guest beers from around Scotland were the focus for the second ever Macbethfest beer festival while Saturday (May 15th) saw a ceilidh with local band and T in the Park regulars “Hogtie.”
Thirsty drinkers ensured that no less than 3,200 pints of beer were enjoyed during the event.
Macbethfest also raised £200 for Macmillan Cancer Support thanks to a raffle featuring a luxury food hamper created using kind donations from Deeside Activity Park’s suppliers.
Throughout the Friday and Saturday events, a spit roast served up beef from the well known Cairnton Aberdeen Angus cattle herd run by Deeside Activity Park proprietor, Ken Howie.
Commenting on the success of Macbethfest 2010, Ken Howie said: “It was great to be joined by so many visitors from throughout the area for what was without doubt the most successful Macbethfest to date and we look forward to building on the success of the event in 2011.”
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Deeside Earth Day draws in lots of support
A well known event that has been run for the past 40 years and in many different countries had its own local mini event on Saturday. Earth Day which highlights the importance of using the worlds dwindling resources responsibly, started in the USA in the 1970’s and is now recognised all over the world. It tries to draw attention to some of today’s most important issues, like recycling and using other forms of energy.
Deeside Activity Park in Dess, Aboyne ran their own local Earth Day on Saturday drawing in over 500 visitors throughout the day. Many exhibitors including donside heating, Aberdeenshire Waste Aware and Sustainability, Forestry Commission, G5 Technologies, Aberdeen City Waste Aware, Aberdeen Forward, Andrew Nicol Forestry Consultants, DWR Architecture, Roy Cowie, Albert Middleton Pallet Recycling, Phase NRG, Ian Ballantyne, Puffin Pellets and Nuergy joined 20 car boots for the day. Cllr Peter Argyle officially opened the day and commented on how important it was to get the message out there about recycling and alternative energy resources.
‘It was a busy day and was great to see the enthusiastic car booters selling lots of items that could easily just have been thrown away! It was important for us to have a car boot sale here on the day so that not only local companies could get involved but the local people were also included. A car boot sale is the ultimate recycling experience.’ Commented Fiona McIver Sales and Marketing for the park. The park itself has just installed a wood pellet Biomass boiler to heat all its buildings onsite alongside an automatic composter, dealing with all our food and green waste. It was a day to show these off as they are usually in the background and let people know how they can themselves get involved and become a little greener in both their homes and businesses! Ken Howie park owner and Kenny Patterson from Nuergy were on hand to give guided tours and answer everyone’s questions.
‘It is all very well people knowing that they should be recycling and using the world’s resources responsibly but the day gave people the opportunity to ask the experts how they do this, and everyone went home with the tools and knowledge on how to reuse, recycle and reduce their waste.’ Fiona said. ‘The park also harvests their rainwater, has a community recycling centre, uses low energy bulbs, and solar panels to charge the batteries for our clay pigeon ranges.
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More Companies Onboard for Earth Day
Our 1st ever Earth Day on 17th April looks set to be a busy one. With G5 Technologies, Donside Heating and Nuergy just confirmed their place amongst the rest of the companies for the day.
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Hogtie Confirm for Macbeth-fest Ceilidh
World famous ceilidh band Hogtie have confirmed that they will be available to play at the 2nd Macbeth-fest ceilidh at the park. The event being held on Saturday 15th May 2010 is sure to be a huge success and Hogtie are sure to get everyone on their feet. Tickets available to purchase soon.
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Earth Day Deeside
We're hosting a new event on the 17th April this year. It's all about recycling, re-using, and alternative sources of energy. We've got lots of exhibitors and exciting demonstrations throughout the day. Entry is free to all. We are looking for local residents for our car boot sale, so if you have any unwanted articles, call us to book your space.
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Welcome to Cambus O'May Cheese Company
We are delighted to confirm that the Cambus O'May Cheese Company are to move into our 2nd business unit here at Deeside Activity Park, as they await completion of their new premises at Cambus O'May. Their delicious and traditionally produced cheeses, Lochnagar, Lairig Ghru & Cambus O'May, are proving hugely popular with our farm shop customers, and the long list of awards are testament to the quality of the product and dedication of the staff.
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Steak Celebration Evening
Due to the continued bad weather, we have re-scheduled our Aberdeen Angus Steak Celebration Evening to Friday March 19th. There are still one or two tables available if you'd like to join us.
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Welcome to Andrew Nicol Forestry Consultants
We'd like to say a huge welcome to Andrew Nicol Forestry Consultants, who move on-site to one of the new business units on Friday 29th January. The Company specialises in forest & tree management, tree planting and restocking, landscaping and woodland design, timber harvesting and marketing, among many other duties. We feel they fit perfectly with the ethos of Deeside Activity Park, and hope they will be very happy in their new premises.
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Special Events
We've just added a load more special events to this season's programme. Have a look at the special events page of this website, and get prepared to join us for our Steak Celebration, Earth Day, or the Emmerdale Karting Grand Prix. There are exciting times ahead - make sure you are part of it!
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Winter Solstice ShopFest
Thanks to Santa for joining us on Saturday 19th December. He was great to all our junior visitors and everyone went away happy with a little present. Despite the weather we had a great time and sold plenty of beer.
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Business Units for Let
Those of you who have visited us over the past month or so can not have failed to see the flurry of activity close to our Park entrance. The comotion is the building of two new office suites. We're in such a desirable location with extensive parking that one has already been snapped up. There's still one available, if you're interested see the office space or accommodation section of this website.
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Brand New Carvery Restaurant
Come along to Deeside's only Cairnton Aberdeen Angus Carvery Restaurant. Every Sunday we're opening 'The Bull Ring', our brand new and exciting carvery. From 12pm to 2.30pm we'll be carving off our own Cairnton Aberdeen Angus beef along with another guest roast from a local supplier. Further information available in the restaurant section of this website. Please note, that it is advisable to book.
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Bonfire Night
Following last years great event, we're once again having a family bonfire and fireworks display. The date is the 8th November and it's free entry for everyone. See you there!
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Stonehaven Real Ale Festival
Deeside Brewery is the proud sponsor of a brand new event to be held in Stonehaven on the 5th and 6th November 2009. The Stonehaven Real Ale Festival will feature at least one ale from every brewery in Scotland which will include Deeside Brewery's signature ale 'Macbeth', among others. In fact, there will be over 60 different ales, making this a must see festival for all real ale enthusiasts. This is a not-for-profit event, with all proceeds going back into the community or local charitable organisations. The 1st Stonehaven Real Ale Festival is open to all and will run from 5pm until midnight on both days at the Stonehaven Town Hall.
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Equipment Auction
Following the success of the equipment auction last year, we've just confirmed a date for another event this year. So if you're looking for a second-hand but well maintained quad bike, come along on Sunday 25th October. I'm still getting all information confirmed but a full list of equipment and auction details should be following shortly. Keep an eye on the special events section of this site. Bidding starts at 12pm and you are welcome to come along early to view the items if you wish.
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The Deeside Doric Dirl
The north east Doric festival runs from Friday 2nd Oct to Sunday 18th Oct, and this year we've decided to get involved. So we're organising a night of music, dance, song and recital. Headlining on the night will be Paul Anderson, internationally renowned fiddler from Tarland. He'll be joined on the night by a wealth of talent from the local area. We'll be putting on a plate of stovies or similar and the tickets will cost £9.50 or £7.50 senior citizens.
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Aberdeen Angus Steak Celebration
Join us on the 11th September as we celebrate Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight. Our restaurant will be open for one night only for a special steak supper. The 3 course meal will feature an array of fresh, seasonal produce from the local area, most notably our own Cairnton Aberdeen Angus beef. To make it a little different, we will be giving guests the opportunity to see the meat before it is cut and prepared, and they can choose which type of steak and the size that they would like. Booking in advance is absolutely essential, and if you'd like more information see the special events section of our website.
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Beer, Beef & Bungee
To celebrate the official launch of Deeside Brewery's occasional ale 'Talorcan', we're hosting an event on the 2nd August. Come along to the Activity Park between 11am and 4pm to taste the product and purchase some bottles. We'll also have our own Cairnton Aberdeen Angus beef on the BBQ and a bungee running competition. Should be plenty of fun, so we'll see you there.
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Kildrummy Vintage Rally
Thanks to everyone who turned out on Sunday June 14th and made our 2nd Kildrummy Vintage Rally such a huge success. A record number of spectators came along to enjoy the fine weather and to marvel at the cars from days gone by. It was a treat to see over 60 vehicles on display, from old Rolls Royces & Jaguars to Austin A7's and BSA Bantam motorbikes. Well done to all the enthusiastic owners who dedicate their time and resources to the restoration and preservation of these pieces of history.
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MacbethFest
Thank you to everyone who came along and supported us throughout our 4 day Homecoming Event - MacbethFest! From Wednesday 20th to Saturday 23rd, Deeside Activity Park was teeming with guests eager to learn the truth behind the real Macbeth and to participate in the many fun events we had arranged. Thanks also to Neil Stewart from Running the Highlands who organised the team running event, Retracing the Route. To Prof. Driscoll and Paul Anderson for entertaining our guests at the medieval banquet. To Rob James for supplying us with lots of ale at our beer festival. The medieval realm for their battle re-enactment and living history display. And finally, to Jing Bang and Paul Anderson for making our ceilidh such an incredible success. News and pictures will be on this site soon. I just need a moment to catch my breath.
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Holiday home achieves 4 star grading
All our hard work towards the end of last year has paid off, and in mid-April, Cairnton Bothy achieved the 4 star Visit Scotland grading. We're absolutely delighted but it's a beautiful self-catering holiday home so it was definately well deserved. The 4 star self catering award joins the 4 star Activity Centre grading which we already hold for Deeside Activity Park. For more information about Cairnton Bothy check out the accommodation section of our website.
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Deeside Brewery Opening Event
Thanks to everyone who came along and helped us welcome Deeside Brewery into their new premises on the 17th/18th April. Following months of hard work and preperation, the Brewery finally threw its doors open and introduced their quality, local, real ales to the people of Deeside and beyond.
On Friday 17th VIPs, trade and members of the press were invited to the official opening, performed by Sarah Mack from the BBC and Paul Anderson, internationally renowed fidler from Tarland. Guests were treated to tastings of the 6 ales produced by the brewery and a buffet with our own Cairnton Aberdeen Angus roast beef.
On the Saturday, Deeside Brewery opened up to the general public with tours and tastings for all. A huge number of people turned up to show their support and enjoy the beers.
Casks of Deeside Brewery's ales are now available at many inns, pubs and hotels throughout the north east,and bottles will soon be available at Deeside Activity Park and a number of other local outlets.
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MacbethFest
In celebration of Homecoming Scotland 2009, we're running a 4 day event highlighting our area's connection to King Macbeth in May next year. Our exciting program of events will include a team running competition & fun procession, medieval carvery featuring a renowned Scottish historian and internationally acclaimed fiddler Paul Anderson, a beer festival, a battle re-enactment and living history display and a traditional Scottish ceilidh. Check out the special events section on this website to find out more, and we look forward to you joining us as we celebrate our unique Scottish culture and heritage.
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Red Nose Day
Have you got a good idea for Red Nose Day on Friday 13th March? For one day only, we are giving away our facilities ABSOLUTELY FREE for visitors with a really interesting and original way of raising money for Red Nose Day. We're prepared to consider any ideas that will make use of our range of activities which includes clay shooting, quad biking, kart racing, 4x4 off roading, archery and much more. Call Jenny with your idea or email it to sales@deesideactivitypark.com.
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We say goodbye to Kristian and welcome Tim to the team
It's with great regret that we have to say goodbye to our head instructor Kristian in March 2009. Kristian has been with us since his school days, right the way through his university years, and since graduating he took over the demanding role of head instructor. He's decided it's time to move on and unfortunately, we have to let him go. However, we'd like to say a big hello to Tim Heighton-Jackson who is currently in training to take over from Kristian. Tim has the perfect background for our position, with higher education qualifications in Wildlife Management, and in Countryside & Environmental Management. He has worked as a countryside ranger and on many Game Estates in and around the north east. We're sure he'll make an invaluable addition to the Activity Park team. Welcome and Good Luck Tim!
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4x4 Owner's Open Day
A big thank you must go out to all guests who came along to our 4x4 open day on Sunday 18th January. It was a huge success with 44 vehicles of all shapes and sizes arriving on the day to test out our courses. Congratulations to Jim Lamb from Montrose who won our 'Riding Big Bertha' competition. And comiserations to Mark Middleton and Steve Cutting who were just pipped at the post in our 'Ride Off'. See our special events section for a full run down.
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Burns Lunch
A big Thank You to all guests who came along on Sunday 25th January to our biggest ever Burns Lunch. With just shy of 150 bookings, we were pretty nervous. But it all went very smoothly and we've had some lovely letters & phone calls of support. Check out the pictures on our special events page.
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Weekly Mini Moto Track Update
Due to recent adverse weather conditions, mini motos are cancelled until further notice.
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RNLI & Aberdeen Foyer benefit from auction attendees generosity
A big thank you to all who attended the Royal Northern University Club auction, at which Ken acted as auctioneer. The event was a huge success with £6,800 being raised for the RNLI and Aberdeen Foyer.
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Bonfire & Fireworks Night
We'd like to say a huge thanks to everyone who came along to our bonfire and fireworks night on Sunday 9th November. Despite the cold weather, almost 400 local people turned up to enjoy the heat of the bonfire which was held in a field within the activity park. Lighting up the sky from 6pm was a spectacular fireworks display. We provided refreshments in the form of our own homemade Aberdeen Angus beef burgers and Deeside Brewery took along a keg of their popular Macbeth Ale. We'd also like to make mention the local businesses who generously donated towards the fireworks - Paterson Stoves, Jim Lees & Roy Cowie Landbased Services. And also thanks go to E&M Lees who provided a courtesy coach. The whole event was such a success that we expect to host another next year, so if you missed this one you'll get another chance.
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Charity Auction a Huge Success
On Sunday 12th October we held a charity auction to clear some of the excess kit that we’ve managed to accumulate over the years. Quad bikes, go karts, archery equipment, shotguns, hovercrafts, rifles, the Glencoe and even a pressure washer and clay traps all went under the hammer. And, the day was a huge success. Approximately 200 people turned up to watch the auction, with about 60 hopefuls bidding for lots. We managed to raise £500 for Macmillan Cancer support, and we’ve been able to clear some much needed storage space. The Auction kick-started our Winter season of special events. Keep an eye on our website for further details about the season, which should include a mini moto race day, the annual Ladies Day and a 4x4 owner’s open day amongst others. Hope to see many of you at our special events throughout the winter.
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Senior Citizen Lunches
Starting from Monday 15th September, we're going to be offering Senior Citizens lunch time specials.
The meal will consist of 2 courses, either soup and a main, or main and a dessert, and will only cost £6.50 per person
The lunches will be available every Monday and Tuesday from 12pm to 2pm.
Pass the news round your elderly parents, relatives and friends!
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Deeside Activity Park launches its first newsletter
In June this year, Deeside Activity Park employed Jenny Ogden as the new sales and marketing manager. This is a new position within the company but increased business and expanding interests called for such a change to be actioned.
Jenny will be embarking on a new and improved marketing campaign, which includes the implementation of an updated website, due to go live very shortly, and the creation of a monthly newsletter.
The very first newsletter went out on Friday following a couple of extremely stressful days in the Deeside Activity Park office. It's really just a trial run this time but we've highlighted a couple of problems which we'll work on ironing out before the next one in October.
If you want to receive our monthly newsletter, which is packed full of information and includes details of special offers, then simply fill in our enquiry form in the booking section and check the opt-in for updates option.
If you didn't receive the first newsletter and want to see what was in it, have a look at the link below.
Deeside Activity Park Newsletter
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Christmas 2008
It's time to starting thinking about Christmas parties again, and there's no better place to celebrate than at Deeside Activity Park. We're putting on the usual delicious menu, packed full of locally sourced fresh foods, and as in previous years, we're offering special deals on activities plus Christmas lunch.
Details of our our Christmas menu and our festive activity specials can be found on our homepage.
Booking your Christmas meal, and your activities is essential, so give us a call and we'll get you entered into the system.
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Deeside Activity Park unveils the 'Garden Room'
It hasn’t been the driest of Summers, not this year or last, and the beautiful decking we constructed at our centre three years ago has hardly been used at all. It’s been such a waste.
But in August this year, Peter our multi-talented mechanic, popped a roof onto the redundant marquee frame, and we sent Fiona to Springhill Nurseries in Dunecht to collect honeysuckle, ivy and clematis plants, which in time should creep their way up the supports and all the way across the roof.
It’s already been a huge hit with guests and staff alike. In fact, here's a pic of some guests relaxing with a beer after a hard day of activities. Why not come along and check out our tranquil new food/drink area for yourself?
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Shooting - an unusual opportunity!
Well, that’s the ‘glorious 12th’ now past and what can only be described as ‘patchy’. Certainly on Deeside, there have been no reports of big ‘bags’ of grouse.
However, for those guys who only aspire to ‘grouse shooting’, August does remind us that it’s only a few short months before we get a start to our ‘low ground’ or pheasant shooting.
Just across the river from Deeside Activity Park is the Ballogie Estate. The shooting there has been in the hands of local enthusiast Kevin Murray, for quite a number of years. As well as letting some days to ‘teams of guys’, he also runs two syndicates. One shoots Wednesdays, the other Saturdays.
Kevin tells me he has a couple of spaces on his Saturday syndicate. Ideal for an individual, or for a couple of guns.
To find out more, call Kevin or his father George on 07989643296 or 01330822784.
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Deeside Activity Park gains service achievement award
A big well-done goes out to Fiona, Steph, Meghan, Margaret & Nicola who worked so hard to achieve this award. It’s the culmination of months of hard work and dedication, but I think we’re all agreed that it was worth the effort.
The Service Achievement is awarded to local businesses that provide excellent customer service. To obtain this, we were required to analyse our systems, policies, procedures and work ethics, to standardise our working practises, and to investigate ways in which to offer a better service to our valued guests.
At the core of Service Achievement are the staff who are the face of the business and without whom success would be impossible. A big thanks has to go to every member of our team who strive everyday to offer our customers the best that they possibly can.
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Cairnton Aberdeen Angus Cattle
Show Season 2008
As well as providing the beef for Deeside Activity Park restaurant, the Cairnton herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle have had some show successes over the years.
Last year 2007, was a ‘wash out’, in terms of showing, as most of our local shows were cancelled due to the wet, or worse, cancelled due to the food and mouth disease outbreak in southern England.
However, 2008 has seen some more action. The Cairnton herd exhibited at Fettercairn, Echt, Banchory, the National Aberdeen Angus Show at Turriff, and finally at our local Tarland show.
We managed to clock up 3 reserve championships, 5 firsts, 2 seconds, 4 thirds, and a host of other lesser rosettes.
So not exactly a fantastic season, but pretty good considering the competition.
It is really heartening to see Aberdeen Angus cattle being shown so well and with numbers outclassing other breeds.
Long may it continue!
Remember, if you’d like a tour of Cairnton Aberdeen Angus cattle contact Deeside Activity Park
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Congratulations to deeside activity park for gaining the service achievement award
A big well-done goes out to Fiona, Steph, Meghan, Margaret & Nicola who worked so hard to achieve this award. It’s the culmination of months of hard work and dedication, but I think we’re all agreed that it was worth the effort.
The Service Achievement is awarded to local businesses that provide excellent customer service. To obtain this, we were required to analyse our systems, policies, procedures and work ethics, to standardise our working practises, and to investigate ways in which to offer a better service to our valued guests.
At the core of Service Achievement are the staff who are the face of the business and without whom success would be impossible. A big thanks has to go to every member of our team who strive everyday to offer our customers the best that they possibly can.
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Vintage Cars find a new showground at Deeside Activity Park
A couple of weeks ago, we were honoured to host the 51st annual Kildrummy Veteran and Vintage Vehicles Rally and Run. A huge selection of beautiful vintage cars and motor-cycles congregated on our front lawn for judging and pictures before heading out for a drive in the stunning Deeside countryside.
The club was created in 1958 by a local landowner and vintage car enthusiast. His vision was a single event to get a selection of cars together and show them off to fellow devotees and to the general public. His event was such a success that the club was founded and the vintage extravaganza has become an annual event attracting a fantastic range of cars, motor-cycles and lorries of yester-year.
The weather was kind to us and the turn-out was amazing. Not just the number of vehicles on display, but also the number of spectators who came to marvel at them. Visitors were able to wander freely between the exhibitors, to admire their engines and even to sit in some of them. We put on an outside burger stall to take some of the pressure off our coffee shop and it proved to be a great hit – Ken didn’t get to sit down all day.
Guests who had turned up for a normal activity session got a wonderful surprise as their hour or two of quad biking and kart racing turned into a whole day event with an activity session, vintage rally and lunch. The Kildrummy Club have already booked their event with us for next year - Sunday 21st June 2009, so get in quick and book your activities, or at least reserve a slot in your diary to come along and check out the cars.
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New website & other developments
Deeside Activity Park is moving into a new stage of development. We’ve got better facilities, improved activities, competent and qualified staff. Coming later in 2009 will be our brand new holiday cottages, a selection of upmarket serviced apartments with panoramic views over the Dee Valley, and a premier outdoor activities park practically on their doorstep. We’re also going to be constructing business units. One will house Hillside Brewery, famed for their delicious local real ale Macbeth.
With all these improvements and developments we felt it was time to step our marketing up a notch. The first stage of this will be to refine our website. Deeside Activity Park’s site will soon look as good as the centre itself. It’ll have a more professional and corporate layout, simpler navigation buttons taking you directly to the section you want, and watch out for us popping up at the top of your google and yahoo searches.
Also, keep an eye out for our exciting new pictures, which will be debuting on the site. We’ve got an up and coming local photographer coming to see us and she’ll be taking fresh and innovative pictures of our site & our guests, and she’ll be capturing the laughter and the exhilarating atmosphere that is central to what we are all about at Deeside Activity Park.
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Ch..Ch..Ch..Changes!
After 1½ years of following the sun in Australia, NZ, and SE Asia, I finally returned home 2 weeks ago. I popped up to Deeside Activity Park for a nosy, and was so excited with all the new developments that I’ve barely left since. So many things have changed but the essence of the centre remains the same. It’s become more professional, with improved facilities, greater variety of activities, better trained and experienced staff, and yet still it’s the same fun and honest centre that we worked so hard to create in the past.
First of all, I can’t get over how busy it is. We’re welcoming more visitors to the centre than ever before. Lots of new guests, in addition to our many regulars who have supported us over the years. To cope with demand we’ve got more staff and new positions. Fiona has risen from waitress to catering manager and Kristian from instructor to chief instructor, Christina is back making delicious home bakes, and Fraser has returned as a favourite instructor. The new faces include Steph as administrator, Jack, Andrew & Luke as instructors, and so many new waiting staff that I don’t know where to start.
The Petrolhead Pavilion not only looks fantastic but serves a purpose that was sorely required. Gone are the days of frozen karts and quad bikes on a winter morning. No longer do our overalls and helmets take days to dry, and we’ve finally got rid of those awful stopwatches. With a large, heated indoor space to store all our gear, and a new fancy electronic timing system, there’s no doubt that it’s a fantastic facility which greatly improves the experience for both guests and staff.
We’ve also got new activities. Axe throwing is proving to be a popular option for our multi activity packages and the power-boat navigation is an event I can’t wait to see in action. Of course, we still offer all the usual favourites - quad bike trekking, kart racing, 4x4 off road driving, clay shooting and archery to name but a few.
I’ve been offered the newly created position of Sales and Marketing manager, so that makes it my job to ensure that all our clients from past, present and future hear about all our developments. I’ll be re-vamping our website, issuing regular newsletters (sign up on our enquiries page), regularly updating this news page and creating innovative ways to remind you that we’re here everyday all year round!
Most importantly, I’m looking forward to meeting and greeting all new guests as well as seeing all the old faces. Come up for a coffee, a blast on the karts, or just to say hello!
See you soon! Jenny
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A venue for all - Visually impaired kids enjoy a day out at Deeside Activity Park
Deeside Activity Park proved once again to be an all-inclusive venue, when it welcomed children from Aberdeenshire council’s Sensory Support Services unit for a day of fun activities and quality food.
The partially sighted kids were given the opportunity to try their hands (and feet) at a variety of activities. From racing round our karting circuit in the 2 seater go-kart to climbing by feel on our low-level bouldering wall. We also tried something new for this particular event – target shooting with paintball guns so the children could see the paint splatter as they hit the target.
Our new chief activity instructor Kristian Lilly said “it’s very rewarding to be able to offer these children such an experience. The day was really well received and all the kids were able to participate fully in the activities”. And we received a lovely thank you card from the vision support team just days after the event, proving that it had been the phenomenal hit we’d hoped.
This day was just one of many events we will be hosting in the coming months for people of varying disabilities and from many diverse backgrounds. At Deeside Activity Park we’re keen to be a centre for all to enjoy. So whether you’re in a wheelchair, have problems with vision or hearing, or simply aren’t terribly fit, we’ll find something to suit your requirements to ensure a really good day out.
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Malt Whisky Journey of Discovery
During the Offshore Europe Exhibition in early September we met lots of interesting guests from all over the world. One of my personal favourite events was for Talisman Energy. They invited some of their valued suppliers on a 'Malt Whisky Journey of Discovery'. It sounds a bit dramatic, I know, but that's exactly what it was and it was very well received by Talisman's VVIP's.
We met at Deeside Activity Park for coffee and bacon rolls before introducing our three guides/drivers for the day. The guests got onboard the three station wagon Santana's, like Landrovers but better, and set off. Gentle at first we started at Queens View, Douneside before heading up Glen Tanar over the Military Road and driving up Glen Gairn. We then pasted the ruin of Morven Lodge, over the top and through 'The Strone' to Balmoral and twisting up to Royal Lochnagar Distillery.
We had stopped a top 2000 feet Tom Liath for sloe gin and dram cake, and on arrival at Lochnagar we where met with a gazebo full of fresh poached salmon, roast Cairnton Aberdeen Angus beef, and many other fresh and tasty goodies.
Having enjoyed lunch, outside and in one of the most glorious days of the year, we met Stuart Adamson who guided us on a tour of the still and it's workings. He was great, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and with a spot of humour.
Stuart then took us into a wonderful room, with a huge oak table big enough to get us all around and surrounded by malt wiskys from all over Scotland. We where offered four different malts, first to nose and then to taste - Royal Lochnagar, Coal Isla, Clyneish and the other, which tasted great but I can't remember it's name.
Anyway, it all came to an end too soon as a coach was waiting to take some of our guests back to the airport. It really was a great day, something quite special and different, and as Blair Donald the Project Services Manager at Talisman said "(it was) such an enjoyable day for us and our guests last Friday. The mix of on and off-road around some very interesting and scenic countryside was just pefect and complimented by your obvious wide knowledge of our local history."
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New Magic forSummer Family Fun Days
After many years of organising events onsite and offsite while struggling with an old-fashioned canvas and guy-rope marquee - no more!!
A shiny new 20ft x 40ft (6x12m) steel framed marquee, complete with windows and zip up sides arrived in July - just in time for some of our biggest events of the summer!
The biggest of these being our corporate Summer Family Fun Days and this year we hosted ones for JP Kenny, AGR Peak, BP, Chevron, Talisman, and Red Spider with guests of all ages and numbers ranging up to 400 people!
At the summer Family Fun Days the marquee was used in particular as 'The Magic House', which was looked after by Scotland's Top Children's Entertainers - the 'Two Allans'. And, as well as the magic shows, balloon modelling, and up close magic - they've got a Giant Rabbit... or the Giant Rabbit's got them!!!
If you've got a big event to organise for 2008, give us a call or come in and see us!
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Opposite Steer Landrover
Although we are still saddened by the loss of our
Opposite Steer Landrover.
We’d like to announce the Rebirth of a
1970 long-wheel based Landrover as the successor!
Our new Opposite Steer Landrover was dumped over 10 years ago in Kemnay, and after much care and many days in the workshop with our mechanic Peter, it’s been given a second chance. Peter worked to rebuild the vehicle, namely new seats, a new engine, and a fantastic new paint job!
As the name suggests, the steering is made to be opposite from what you’d expect. You turn the wheel right and the car will go left! One of our many teambuilding challenges is to blindfold the driver and have team members in the back seat calling directions without actually saying ‘right’ or ‘left’. A great lot of laughs!
We wish the new Landrover many successes
here at Deeside Activity Park!
Remember, if you’d like a tour of Cairnton Aberdeen Angus cattle contact Deeside Activity Park
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