Bealach Fiddle Retreats

Bealach fiddle retreat

Based at Kilcreggan House 

Bealach (n):  a mountain pass, gateway

Join Ros Gasson and Kirstie McLanaghan for a weekend of musical immersion. We’ll provide a beautiful idyllic setting, good food, tuition, inspiration, fun and laughter. Just bring yourself, your fiddle and an open mind. We’d particularly like to welcome players who have never been to a residential weekend before.

This will be an intimate weekend of sharing, resulting in new friendships, a full head and most definitely a full heart.

Timings

We’ll meet together at Kilcreggan in time to eat together in the evening on Friday 5th. We’ll have workshops through the weekend and on the morning of Morning 8th June 2020 and end the weekend with a shared lunch.

Playing ability

You don’t need to have reached a particular level of technical ability to join us for this weekend. All you need is to be able to learn simple tunes by ear and you’ll be able to take part.

Fiddle tuition

Over the weekend there will be an opportunity to learn:

• A selection of Scottish fiddle tunes in various styles
• Regional fiddle styles
• Technique
• Bowing
• Tension-free playing
• Tune writing
• How to make the most of your practice time

We’ll be planning fiddle-related activities in the evenings, alongside plenty of opportunities to play together in sessions. We’ll also offer the opportunity for participants to opt in to 1:1 ‘troubleshooting’ sessions with either tutor.

We’re both passionate about playing the fiddle and Scottish music, and with more than 65 years of playing experience between us we are extremely excited to share this fiddle retreat with you.

The weekend is open to adults who are able to learn tunes by ear.

Venue

Kilcreggan House is a newly opened venue west of Helensburgh, on the Roseneath peninsula. The house has been renovated specifically to provide a great venue for music workshops, with space to sleep over 20 people, and 3 large spaces where we can teach, and play together in the evenings.

Kilcreggan House
Argyll Road
Kilcreggan
Argyll & Bute
G84 0JT

Dogs are not allowed in the venue

Accommodation

The house has 7 bedrooms and beside it there are six studios in the grounds which each have their own bathroom. All bedrooms are either single, double, twin or three-bedded.

Getting there

By public transport:

• There is a bus service from Helensburgh (bus route 316 operated by Wilsons of Rhu and Garelochhead Coaches).
• Take a train  to Gourock, then the SPT ferry to Kilcreggan. The boat runs every 2 hours.

By car:

Kilcreggan is at the southern tip of the Roseneath peninsula. Follow the A82 north from Glasgow. Turn left at either Arden or Shantron and follow the road to Garelochhead. Take the B833 down the west side of Gare Loch to Kilcgreggan. There’s plenty of parking in the grounds of Kilcreggan House.

Meals

All meals from our evening meal on Friday evening to lunch on Monday are included. We’ll ask about any dietary requirements when you register.

Registration

We have recently rescheduled the weekend to 2021. While most participants have rebooked for the new dates, it’s likely that we will have 2 or 3 vacancies. We’ll advertise these in the autumn, once things have become clearer regarding the Coronavirus outbreak. If you would like to be informed when we’re taking new registrations, please sign up to our mailing list.

Prices

Prices per person:

Twin room/double £310
Triple room (3 single beds) £285
Single room £340 – none available
Camping £230

This includes accommodation (you must bring your own tent, bedding etc if camping), all meals from dinner on the Friday evening to lunch on the Monday, and all fiddle tuition over the weekend.

Read our cancellation policy