Strathpeffer Introduction

Attribution: unknown (The ruin of Free Church in Jamestown)

Welcome to Strathpeffer

Strathpeffer stands in a beautiful setting at the head of the Peffery Valley, 200 ft. above sea-level and guarded to the North by the massive bulk of Ben Wyvis. Strathpeffer is a unique place in that it is the only remaining Scottish Spa. The benefits of its waters were first recognised during the latter half of the 18th. century, although the first Pump Room was not built until 1819. In 1861 a larger Pump Room was built , but this has now been demolished. That site is now occupied by The Tasting Pavilion and Tourist Office. The waters contain Sulphur and Chalybeate (Iron) but only the Sulphur Wells are available at present.

The outstanding Victorian Architecture of the village owed much to the development of the Spa, as does the presence of some outstandingly beautiful trees. The village has several small but interesting shops, most clustered around the Square. The old Railway Station has been converted and now houses the Highland Museum of Childhood, a wood-carver’s workshop and some craft shops.

Several walks exist around the village, giving beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. For the energetic, there is also a splendid 18 hole Golf Course. The population of Strathpeffer is in the region of 1200. A large percentage of its inhabitants are retired. Those employed are involved in Tourism, Forestry, Farming and crofting, with quite a number commuting daily, either to Dingwall or Inverness. The village boasts two vey large hotels (over 100 bedrooms each), several hotels and guest houses, Bed and Breakfast accommodation and self-catering establishments.

Strathpeffer is a good centre from which to explore and visit places of interest, including Loch Ness, Cawdor Castle, Dunrobin Castle and Gardens, Culloden Battle Field, John O’Groats, Skye, Inverewe Gardens with many other diverse and interesting places within easy reach. Hill-walking, sailing, horse riding, tennis and golf can all be sampled without travelling far.

The water feature in the Square, built in the early 1990s

Attribution: unknown

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Strathpeffer » Strathpeffer Social » Strathpeffer Burns Club
Burns Cover
Burns Cover
The photographs and text which follow concern the annual Burns Nicht Celebration which took place in the Strathpeffer Hotel on Friday 21st January, 2000. The picture below is of the cover of the programme of events of 'The Nicht's Ongauns' The programme was sponsored by Andy Henderson and printed by the Inver-Ross Printing Co. Ltd. Dingwall There are also photographs of the proceedings from the 29th Anniversary Dinner - 23 January 1959
Burns Photo
Burns Photo
The photographs and text which follow concern the annual Burns Nicht Celebration which took place in the Strathpeffer Hotel on Friday 21st January, 2000. The picture below is of the cover of the programme of events of 'The Nicht's Ongauns' The programme was sponsored by Andy Henderson and printed by the Inver-Ross Printing Co. Ltd. Dingwall
29th Anniversary Dinner - 23 January 1959
29th Anniversary Dinner - 23 January 1959
29th Anniversary Dinner - 23 January 1959 In May 2019 RCHS received the undernoted photographs of a 1959 programme from Mrs Hazel Thomson whose husband's grandfather, Andrew Macleod of Kinettas Cottages, a local postman, had attended the dinner.
29th Anniversary Dinner - 23 January 1959
29th Anniversary Dinner - 23 January 1959
29th Anniversary Dinner - 23 January 1959 In May 2019 RCHS received the undernoted photographs of a 1959 programme from Mrs Hazel Thomson whose husband's grandfather, Andrew Macleod of Kinettas Cottages, a local postman, had attended the dinner.
29th Anniversary Dinner - 23 January 1959
29th Anniversary Dinner - 23 January 1959
29th Anniversary Dinner - 23 January 1959 In May 2019 RCHS received the undernoted photographs of a 1959 programme from Mrs Hazel Thomson whose husband's grandfather, Andrew Macleod of Kinettas Cottages, a local postman, had attended the dinner.
29th Anniversary Dinner - 23 January 1959
29th Anniversary Dinner - 23 January 1959
29th Anniversary Dinner - 23 January 1959 In May 2019 RCHS received the undernoted photographs of a 1959 programme from Mrs Hazel Thomson whose husband's grandfather, Andrew Macleod of Kinettas Cottages, a local postman, had attended the dinner.
Guest
Guest
Strathpeffer Burns Club
Strathpeffer Burns Club
Friday 21st January 2000 was the night that the members of Strathpeffer Burns Club had been looking forward to for many months - the 70th Annual Celebrations of the Bard to be held by the Club. To mark both the Millennium and the 70th Anniversary, a record attendance for recent years - ninety members and guests - assembled in Strathpeffer Hotel.
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
Bob Wilkie
Bob Wilkie
Guests
Guests
Strathpeffer Burns cover
Strathpeffer Burns cover
The President (Jock Watt) and principal guests
The President (Jock Watt) and principal guests
Guests
Guests
Piper
Piper
Addressing the haggis
Addressing the haggis
Addressing the haggis. After a sumptuous meal purveyed by Sean Kennedy and his staff, the President gave his welcoming address during which he had made special mention of the fact the celebration was being photographed by Dr Kerr Yule for the benefit of the Ross and Cromarty Heritage Society's Millennium project. He also thanked member George Thomson for the gift to the Club of a beautiful table lectern which had belonged to his late wife, the Rev Morag Thomson. In concluding his remarks, President Jock Watt alluded to the fact that since 1958, member Leon Radin had served in every office, had proposed all the various toasts, had sung at many celebrations and finally, had, for many years, served the Club as President. In recognition of his faithful service, dedication and commitment to the Club, Leon was presented with Honorary Life Membership of the Club.
Receiving the haggis.
Receiving the haggis.
Speeches
Speeches
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
strathburnsclub022b.jpeg
strathburnsclub022b.jpeg
Hamish Polson
Hamish Polson
Guests
Guests
John Crawford and Alexander (Sandy) Glass
John Crawford and Alexander (Sandy) Glass
Jock Watt doing some last-minute homework?
Jock Watt doing some last-minute homework?
Guests
Guests
Catherine O'Rourke
Catherine O'Rourke
Fiona Larg, Alistair MacCallum, Leon Radin.
Fiona Larg, Alistair MacCallum, Leon Radin.
Donald MacKillop piping the President, Jock Watt and the principal guest, Ian Morrison, to the top table
Donald MacKillop piping the President, Jock Watt and the principal guest, Ian Morrison, to the top table
The night got off to a stirring start with Donald MacKillop piping the President, Jock Watt and the principal guest, Ian Morrison, to the top table and returning shortly after to pipe the Haggis, which was borne aloft in the customary manner by James Matheson, to the top table. The tempo was maintained by the President who addressed the Haggis in his own inimitable style much to the delight of his audience.
Fiona Larg getting instructions?
Fiona Larg getting instructions?
Fiona Larg getting instructions? Responding to Bill MacAllister's excellent Toast, Fiona Larg, Group Business Manager with Cap Gemini, very capably equalled Bill's humour putting the men folk firmly in place. She questioned whether today's men possessed the same charm that Robert Burns obviously possessed - again illustrating her theory with much wit. Fiona concluded by making the observation that if the three wise men had been women, they would have got there on time, helped with the birth, cooked a casserole and would have taken sensible presents. Again, a standing ovation was the order of the day as the audience expressed their delight at Fiona's response to the Toast of the Lassies.
Bill MacAllister
Bill MacAllister
Bill MacAllister That well known journalist and broadcaster, Bill MacAllister was then called upon to Toast the Lassies. A speech, full of the native wit alluded to by Alastair MacInnes earlier in the evening, had the audience in tears of laughter before moving to a more serious examination of Burns's love of women quoting appropriately from many of his love poems. Bill concluded with his own ode to the women folk, reaping a standing ovation to his endeavour.
An animated Stewart Macpherson with Hamish Menzies in the background.
An animated Stewart Macpherson with Hamish Menzies in the background.
Hugh A Mackay
Hugh A Mackay
Hugh A Mackay Hugh Aberach MacKay, one of the north's foremost Burns orators himself, very eloquently proposed the Toast to Our Club and Artistes.

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