Gartmore House

Jean Leader

Lacemaker and Textile Enthusiast

Lacemaking Holidays at Gartmore House

Gartmore House is an 18th century country house in Scotland’s Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. It was part of the estate of the Graham family for about 150 years until it was sold to Sir Charles Cayzer, a shipping magnate, in 1900. It passed through various hands during the twentieth century until it was bought by Peter and Anne Sutherland, and it became a charitable trust in 2000.

Today Gartmore House serves as a centre for a wide variety of activity holidays, and I was first invited to introduce lacemaking courses there in 2016. I found the situation and arrangements to be excellent, and have been happy to return several times — I feel very much at home now. The staff are friendly and helpful, the food and accommodation is good, and this provides an environment that is enjoyable and friendly, as well as instructive. You will find more information about the lacemaking holidays on the Gartmore House website.

Gartmore is about an hour’s drive from Glasgow, and an hour and a half from Edinburgh. (Gartmore House is just off the A81 by car — look for the sign to Gartmore House and don’t let your satnav take you via Gartmore village.) There are train and buses to Stirling from where a free pick-up service is provided.

Do please if you would like any further information.