If the exertions of Scotland’s Bruce Mouat have pricked your interest this last week for a new sport to follow then here’s where to curl up and enjoy this winter pastime.
Chances are that for most of us the strange sport of curling with its stones, brushes and dartboards only comes onto our radars every four years at the Winter Olympics.
But long before football became Scotland’s national team sport curling had a hold.
And there was indeed a rival for golf to be the Royal & Ancient game too.
Championed by one Queen Victoria.
We are amused
The story goes that the British monarch and Empress of half the world took to the quaint Scottish game.
On a visit to Scone Palace, near Perth in 1843.
When a certain Earl of Mansfield put on a demonstration of curling on the grand ballroom floor.
And she was so taken by the sport that she granted the Caledonian Club’s name to be changed.
To the Grand Caledonian Curling Club her Royal seal of approval.
The ink on the actual rules of this loose game had only, in truth, been dry on the paper for five years.
Swisskey and curling
Curling could actually trace its roots back as far as 1540,
When Paisley notary (or legal clerk) John McQuhin recorded in his protocol book a challenge.
Between monk John Sclater and Abbot worker Gavin Hamilton.
And he notes that Sclater threw a stone along the ice three times.
And he asserted that he was ready for the agreed contest.
Which is as much skills as yours truly showed halfway up, of all places, the Eiger in the Swiss Alps.
At the Ice Bar with a Swiss whiskey chaser to fuel me.
Now where Scotland led, others followed most notably Canada, the go-to country for Caledonian crofters and penniless Picts.
While, of course, winterlands like Austria, Switzerland, Italy and France also quickly picked up on curling.
Rolling stones
Now, for those of us fortunate enough to live in this top bit of Britain, and for all you other Albaphiles.
The good news is that you can build a holiday around curling,
In Stranraer, in the south-west tip of Scotland, which to our shame we probably all pass through getting on and off the ferry to the North of Ireland.
If ye bide awhile, which you should, you will soon learn that the pride of Galloway is also the de facto home of Scottish curling.
Where Olympic silver medallists Hammy McMillan, Bobby Lammie and Grant Hardie.
And Olympics champion Vicky Wright from Eve Muirhead’s 2022 rink never have to buy a drink.
Bespoke curling breaks in Stranraer
Bespoke Holidays helpfully point us in the direction of residential stays residential stays, organised to suit any number of delegates from 2-100.
Beginners to the Roarin’ Game are welcome and breaks with curling lessons included can be arranged.
Of course, we’ll be roarin’ on Bruce Mouatt and his rink today.
And even putting our mind to that poster that has gone up in our own wee town of North Berwick.
Promoting curling in nearby East Linton for those bitten by Bruce’s heroics.
MEET YOU ON THE RINK