2009 International Gathering

[Thomas Cameron]

Hi Camerondaughter,

It's great that another member from the Red River Branch is joining us here in the Message Center - welcome!

What a wonderful tribute to your father, taking the trip to Scotland. It's important to honor our ancestors, whether recently departed or from generations past. One of the ways the Clan Cameron Association is trying to make this happen is by planning the Cameron Clansmen's Oak Grove, on the grounds at Achnacarry. This will be the place where clansfolk may donate toward oak trees that will stand for generations to come, in tribute to their ancestors. I plan on having a tree planted in honor of my Cameron grandfather and I'm sure many clansfolk will also do likewise for their ancestors. We hope to have details posted to the 2009 Gathering site soon, so everyone may begin to get involved in this exciting project.

I'll close, but not before wishing you the very best. If you to see Cerise, Bobbie or Cindy at an event soon, please tell them I said "hi!"

[cafin8ed1]

Hi~ New member here. I am an active member with Clan Cameron of the Pacific Northwest. I have been trying to scrape together and save my pennies to make the Gathering but was not looking good. Now my mother is talking about the two of us going! I am supposed to gather information about costs. I'll be watching this board to see what others are finding about traveling to the Gathering.

For starters ~ which airport should one plan on flying into?

[Thomas Cameron]

Hi Cafin8ed1,

That's a difficult question to answer - there's many options. For me, it's always Glasgow, but that's not even set in stone. Leaving from Chicago, we don't have a direct flight available to Scotland any longer (American used to, but it's no longer running). As such, from this area we have two options.

The first is connecting somewhere east of us; Newark is a major hub for Continental and Toronto is for Air Canada. Both have flights into Glasgow and I believe (don't quote me on this one!) they also have flights into Edinburgh. The same goes for other airlines, such as Air Lingus, Northwestern, KLM, BMI, British Airways... For us, we look for one-stop flights into Glasgow (GLA), since it's more convenient getting to Lochaber from that airport.

The other option is connecting in either London, Manchester or Ireland. I can't say that I've tried any of these options, but they will probably be something to consider. I look for a combination of price and total flight time, where others (depending on schedule and habit) might look at only one factor and not the other.

Personally, I'd recommend looking for flights into Newark and connecting from there. This seems to usually be a good option. I'd also suggest reading this article, from our Gathering website:

www.clan-cameron.org/gathering/guide/ch-2.html

Hope this helps...

[cameroning]

Thanks for the flight information. I have seen that some airlines connect through other countries - have you had any experience with this? It looks like this would take us out of our way if we went over to scotland. Thanks

[laphroaig13]

I think it great that so many people from overseas are coming to the Gathering. I look forward to meeting you all.

[ianjonefan]

:)I'm a lucky Scotsman !!!
Had an e-mail from my agent in Scotland telling me that my hotel has been upgraded from the Nevis Bank Hotel to the Alexandra Hotel in Fort William . I'll be getting a larger room for the same price as I would have for a smaller room at the Nevis Bank Hotel . Now that's what I call being a canny Scot , being lucky enough to find an agent that will work with you instead of against you . If anyone is interested in my schedule I can e-mail them my itenary if they're interested in meeting up with me after the Clan Cameron Gathering. If there's any Clan Cameron members from Edinburgh , Glasgow , or Greenock , I definitely would like to meet up with you . I would like to know more about Greenock as that's where my granfather's family came from .

[ianjonefan]

When I was in Scotland in 2004I was told Spean Bridge is closer to Auchnacarry than Fort William is that correct ?

[houndofthearrows]

Hey Pops,
I was told the same thing as well. Through my research I've done it also shows / proves that Spean Bridge is indeed closer than Fort William. I hope that helps you.
Yours Aye,
Sean

[Thomas Cameron]

Yes, Spean Bridge is much closer than Fort Wiliam. Please see the map, with driving distances and times on the Clan Cameron Gathering website (www.clancamerongathering.org) ot directly at: www.clan-cameron.org/general-map.jpg

In addition to the map, late last year we also created and posted a resource for clansfolk looking to make lodging choices. It's a chart showing driving distances and times from a large number of Lochaber accomodations to both Fort William and Achnacarry. It is also linked from the Clan Cameron Gathering site or directly at: www.clan-cameron.org/gathering/distance-time.pdf

A word of advice: We will have events at both Achnacarry and also at venues very close to Fort William. As such, regardless of where you lodge, there will be a bit of a drive some events and less of a drive to others. For those looking for something in the middle, so to speak, there are a few lodging options between Spean Bridge and the Glen Nevis Roundabout - those would result in about a 15 minute, give or take, drive to either Achnacarry or the Fort William area. However, even the lodging choices well into Glen Nevis are less than 30 minutes from Achnacarry, and the drive is very pleasant and scenic. There's really no "bad" choices, unless you're looking south of Fort William toward Ballachulish (driving times to Achnacarry become lengthy from down there).

[Thomas Cameron]

Aug 24, 2008 22:11:11 GMT -6 cameroning said:

Thanks for the flight information. I have seen that some airlines connect through other countries - have you had any experience with this? It looks like this would take us out of our way if we went over to scotland. Thanks

Yes, there are typically connections for many flights into Scotland. For those of us from North America, it's common to connect in either Ireland or England; those connections aren't necessarily taking flights much out of their way. However, connections in mainland Europe (as an example, some KLM flights connect in Amsterdam) are also offered, and that would definitely involve some back tracking. My advice would be to check the airlines and see what the total flight time and also connection time is. While it would be convenient to state that attendees should connect in Tornoto or Newark for flights into Glasgow, there are often "deals" out there for other routes. Just like most anything else, you'll typically pay more for convenience though...

Best of luck to all in your airline choice!

[dragonhmc]

Hello All, I am a new message board member from South Florida! My Cameron ancestor, Archibald, came to the US in 1883 from Greenock, Scotland, and I look forward to seeing the land of his birth. My best friend and I plan on attending the gathering next year, and we are starting to plan our trip. We hope to stay 2 weeks and see the Highlands and Edinburgh. I submitted the interest form for the gathering, but didn't know if there was anything else I needed to do? Are there tickets, etc. we need to purchase?

[Thomas Cameron]

Greetings,

Welcome to the Clan Cameron Message Center - it's always nice to greet a new member!

Hundreds of clansfolk have already submitted their interest regarding the Clan Cameron Gathering, via the form linked from www.clancamerongathering.org. Each person has had their e-mail address added to a special e-mail list and will soon begin receiving periodic communications. If anyone hasn't submitted their form to express interest (even if they are unsure about attending) I'd suggest they do so.

In the meantime, I'd recommend that anyone attending check back periodically to the gathering website, where updates will be posted as they become available. To answer your specific question, yes, there will be tickets available for purchase, directly from the Clan Cameron Association of Scotland, via Pay Pal. This should commence in the next few months; as of this time tickets are not yet available. The Cameron Clansmen's Oak Grove will also begin accepting donations via Pay Pal in the coming weeks/months.

[ianjonefan]

What exactly is Pay - Pal , and how does it work ? Also as inthe case of those in the U. S. Will the tickets be priced in Dollars , or Pounds ?

[Thomas Cameron]

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[ianjonefan]

Slight change in ternary From July 28th , 2009 - Aug 3, 2009 I'll be staying at the Alexandra Hotel instead of the Nevis Bank Hotel in Fort William , on the 4 & 5 th of August 2009 I'll be staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Glasgow , 0n the 6th , 7th, & 8th of August I'll be staying at the Tudor Bank Lodge in Edinburgh . Just in case someone needs to get in touch with me .

[ianjonefan]

For new members that might want to find out what the weather will be like before going to the Clan Cameron Gathering next year . Go to your browser type in weather.com , then in the space that says city , then type in your arrival city it should give you the weather report for that city . So if it says it's going to be raining when you arrive you will be prepared . What I usually do before I go anywhere I always check out the weather at least 3 days before my departure . Then I print it out , and put them with my other travel documents . I hope this will be of help to someone .

[Terry Quandt]

Right about the weather. But then, Camerons are known for meeting and besting all challenges!
I have finally locked in my plans for Scotland in 2009 through Progressive Travel Management (Bill Blair) in Palatine, Illinois. They handle travel for the Illinois St. Andrew Society.
My sister and I will travel non-stop from Newark, New Jersey, to Edinburgh on July 23rd aboard Continental Airlines FL #36V (7:50 pm). She lives in Tampa, Florida. I will be flying to Newark from O'Hare.
We will be in Edinburgh for the Gathering 2009, and will be staying at the Howard Hotel through July 26. I have already paid for my 2 SILVER PASSPORTS, and will be seated with the Clan Cameron at the Grand Clan Pageant in the Castle Esplanade after the Grand March of the Clans up the Royal Mile from Holy Rood Palace. I do hope the Clan will allow me to march with them.
On July 27, we will drive up to Inverness and stay at the Craigmonie Hotel for 2 nights.
On July 29 we drive to Fort William and will stay 5 nights at the Ballachulish Hotel. This will allow plenty of time for participation in all the Clan Cameron Gathering events.
On August 3, we will be off to Oban for a ferry ride and day-bus excursion to Mull, and an overnight in Oban at the Queens Hotel.
On August 4, we drive to Kennecraig to get the ferry to the Isle of Islay, where we will stay 2 nights at the Port Charlotte Hotel.
On August 6, we ferry back, and drive to Edinburgh via Loch Lamond and Stirling for next days' flight back to Newark, and home.
Best wishes, AYE!
Terry (CLARK) Quandt
(email) [e-mail]

[ianjonefan]

Sorry I forgot the name of the person who has those rail passes that they will not be able to use . If they're still available I'm very interested in having them .Please contact me through my e-mail address if you still want to give them away . My e-mail address is cu1745@ yahoo.com
Jon
P.S.
Since I get alot of junk emails please memtion Cameron in the subject heading .

[Thomas Cameron]

Many of you (if you've registered your interest in the Gathering via http://www.clancamerongathering.org) should have received an e-mail from the Clan Cameron Association late this evening. It welcomed you to the mailing list and also gave two updates (that you will find at the Clan Cameron Gathering website). If for any reason you did register your interest and did not receive the e-mail, please check your SPAM filter or see whether your in-box is full. If you would like to be added to the e-mail list (even if you are unable to attend the Gathering or are still uncertain) please fill out the registered interest form.

[ianjonefan]

According to my itenerary I'll be flying from Omaha to Newark on the 28 th of July 2009 . Then from Newark to Glasgow Scotland . I'll be leaving Omaha sometime either in the afternoon , or early evening . On the return trip back I'll be leaving Edinburgh Scotland on the 9th of August 2009 around 10: 00 A.M to fly back to Newark , and then onto Omaha . Would anyone be willing to share flight expences with me on the Newark to Glasgow segment , and from Edinburgh back to Newark ? If anyone in the Newark area is looking for someone to fly with let me know , and I'll send you my itenaey so you can decide on whether you would like to fly with me , or not .