HELLO Spring

Make Helensburgh & Lomond your gateway to Argyll this spring!

Only 45 minutes by train from Glasgow, and within easy reach of both the west coast and central belt of Scotland, Helensburgh & Lomond is the ideal location for Spring day out. The town of Helensburgh is known as the ‘Garden City of the Clyde’, famous for its tree-lined streets and the spectacular Cherry Blossom that flowers every year. Enjoy the gardens at Glenarn, or explore Geilston Garden and Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Hill House (both National Trust for Scotland). Visit for the day to browse in our unique shops, or relax in fabulous cafés and restaurants.

Casper, the Wee White Dug at Geilston Garden, photo by Sam Grant

In Spring 2022 we were delighted to welcome blogger Sam Grant with husband Alex and Westie Casper, aka the Wee White Dug, to experience Helensburgh, the ‘Garden City of the Clyde‘. As well as seeing our fabulous cherry blossom, they visited local gardens at Glenarn in Rhu and Geilston at Cardross, and took in a boat trip on the Clyde and a visit to the famous Hill House by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Casper got a smart bow-tie and some other goodies at Tweedie from their Dapper Dogs range. There was lots of eating on the trip, at Beachcomber Cafe at Kidston Park, Sugar Boat, The Park Pavilion, The Artist Patisserie and Cattle and Creel, and boutique accommodation and hearty breakfasts at the gorgeous Riva Boutique Restaurant Bar & Hotel on Helensburgh’s seafront.

You can read about all the trip and see all their fabulous photos at the blog on their website or at their Facebook Page. You can also follow the Wee White Dug on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

Casper, the Wee White Dug, at Riva Boutique Restaurant Bar & Hotel, photo by Sam Grant — Casper, the Wee White Dug at Riva Boutique Restaurant Bar & Hotel, photo by Sam Grant

Casper, the Wee White Dug, at The Hill House, photo by Sam Grant — Casper, the Wee White Dug at The Hill House, photo by Sam Grant

Casper, the Wee White Dug at Tweedie, photo by Sam Grant

Ragu and gnocchi at Sugar Boat, photo by Sam Grant

Spring Events (March-May)

Date

Title

Current Month

March

28marAll Day31Helensburgh Book FestivalHelensburgh

29mar10:0016:00Saturday Studios at Cove ParkCove Park

Event Details

Sat 22 Feb 2025 – Pattern Disruptors is a textile printing workshop led by artist Kate Owens and inspired by the work of Bernat Klein. Together we will explore the idea of non-patterning using small scale wooden print blocks. The starting point for this session is thinking about Klein’s resistance to repeating pattern. He used space-dyeing and irregular yarn to create variety in his woven fabrics. In this workshop, we’ll play with variety, trying different block printing techniques including masking, overlapping, rotating and combining. This is a chance to make your own unique non-patterned fabric!

This workshop covers the basics of block carving and textile printing using simple materials. It’s a fun and engaging table-based activity which can be done by any age. We will be using Soil Association approved inks and a mixture of reclaimed and sustainably sourced fabrics.

This free two-hour workshop is for children aged 7 and over and their families or carers. There are two chances to come along so please book the time that works best for you. Full details and book at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/covepark

29 March 2025 Join us for a Wintering Ritual, an immersive workshop designed for adults and children alike. This workshop invites participants to explore with the rhythms of the winter season through movement, theatre, and writing. Led by interdisciplinary artist Andrea Ling, whose practice explores rekindling rituals and bringing communities together, we’ll explore how seasonal traditions can offer care, connection, and meaning in modern life.

Two sessions, 10-12am and 2-4pm, free tickets, full details and book at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/covepark

Time

29 March 2025 10:00 - 16:00(GMT+00:00)

Location

Cove Park

Peaton Hill, Cove, G84 0PE

Other Events

Go to Event Website

Calendar GoogleCal

29mar10:0016:00Spring Market in the SquareColquhoun Square

29mar11:0015:00Free Cycling EventsHelensburgh

29mar11:00LCCO Orchestra Spring ConcertHelensburgh

29mar19:00New Shop Opening!Helensburgh

30marAll DayMother's Day OffersHelensburgh and Lomond

30mar10:0014:00Arrochar Beach CleanArrochar

30mar15:0017:00Jazz at La JupeHelensburgh

30mar19:00Sunday @ Seven ConcertsHelensburgh

Event Details

All concerts start at 7pm and last about an hour. Entry is free although there is a retiring collection to help pay for the series.

20 𝙊𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙧 2024 – 𝙇𝙚𝙖 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙬 (𝙈𝙚𝙯𝙯𝙤-𝙨𝙤𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙤) 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘿𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙠 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙠 (𝙥𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙤)
Following study at the RCS, Lea Shaw has just completed two years as an Emerging Artist at Scottish Opera, during which time she made a very favourable impression on audiences as a mezzo to watch. Her varied recital programme here includes five rarely performed songs by Alma Mahler, whose music is only now receiving the recognition it deserves, following years of neglect after her husband, fellow composer Gustav Mahler, insisted give up composition when she married him. Also included are the lively ‘Canciones negras’ by Spanish composer Xavier Montsalvatge, based on West Indian rhythms.
24 𝙉𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 2024 – 𝙂𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙜𝙤𝙬 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙧 (𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙚𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙬𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚)
This concert forms part of the Glasgow Chamber Choir’s 30th anniversary season, so to celebrate they are performing music by composers who also have anniversaries this year. Swiss composer Frank Martin died 50 years ago, and his Mass for double Choir lay in a cupboard unperformed for many years. Charles Villiers Stanford died 100 years ago. His setting of the Magnificat, also for double choir, was inspired by the motets of J. S. Bach. Jonathan Dove’s choral song cycle, The Passing of the Year completes this virtuosic programme.
22 𝘿𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 2024 – ‘𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜’ 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩—𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 7.30𝙥𝙢!
Our annual Carol concert with augmented choir, brass ensemble and organ and plenty of opportunity to join in, followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the hall. There will be the usual retiring collection in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support, for which the choir has now raised over £33,000.
26 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙮 2025 – 𝙏𝘽𝘾
17 𝙁𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙮 2025 – 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙥 𝙀𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚
This Glasgow- based ensemble comprises two singers (soprano Jessica Leary and baritone Andrew McTaggart) with cellist Andrew Drummond-Huggan and pianist Andrew Forbes. They present a programme of specially arranged music with a sea-faring theme (including Stanford’s well-known ‘Songs of the Sea’) which was originally put together for the Tall Ships Festival in Aberdeen.
30 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 2025 – 𝙋𝙪𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝘼𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙮
Local school pupils present a varied programme of vocal and instrumental music to suit all tastes under the direction of their Head of Music, Pamela Frew.
27 𝘼𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙡 2025 – 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨
Former colleagues from the Orchestra of Scottish Opera join HPC’s Director of Music for another evening of chamber music, centred around Brahms’ Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34. This work, described as ‘Brahms’ most epic and monumental chamber work’ started out as a quintet for strings, and was then recast as a sonata for two pianos, before assuming its final form. It contains one of the composer’s most beautiful slow movements and an especially powerful and dramatic finale, bringing the work to a triumphant conclusion. Definitely a season highpoint!
25 𝙈𝙖𝙮 2025 – 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙝 𝙃𝙮𝙢𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙩
A much-anticipated return for this popular event. Join the augmented choir, praise band, brass and organ to make a joyful noise with a programme of favourite hymns and worship songs which will combine old favourites with some newer items A ‘good sing’ is guaranteed.
29 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙚 2025 – 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙑𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙣 𝘿𝙪𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝘼𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙮𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙
A return visit from husband and wife duo Danny and Alison Miller with a wonderfully nostalgic trip down memory lane featuring music from many of Hollywood’s greatest films. Music by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Erich Korngold and Richard Rogers, to mention but a few, provides what we hope will be the perfect finale to our season.