PD237 - Trossachs Water Festival, 1974
On 16 January 1973, the Callander and District Tourist Association held a meeting in conjunction with the Scottish Tourist Board, Scottish Sports Council, Central Scotland Tourist Association and Forestry Commission. The aim was to explore the possibility of hosting Scotland’s first inland water sports festival in the Trossachs.
The Association believed that the festival could provide a considerable tourist attraction to the area at a time of year when the density of tourist movements was not heavy. The main branches of sport considered were sailing, canoeing, water skiing, sub-aqua, hovercrafts, rowing and fishing.
Events were to take place on Loch Ard, Loch Achray, Loch Venachar, Loch Lubnaig, River Teith, River Leny and the Meadows, Callander. After a year of preparation and discussions with various water sports groups, the event finally took play from 24 May to 2 June 1974.
The event was publicised nationally and a promotional video for the event can be seen at the National Library of Scotland moving image archive: https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/T0079
The River Leny hosted the canoeing and attracted over 150 competitors. The rowing events were also particularly well received. The sailing events had run the most smoothly but were mostly attended by members of the local sailing club.
A surprise success were the hovercraft events, with a larger participation number than predicted. School groups had created their own hovercrafts and a world record for the measured mile was achieved.
The festival was considered a success by the Callander and District Tourist Association, although there were some teething problems to rectify. The event amassed a £1500 deficit and there were complaints over access to sites. The festival would run for another two years with the final event taking place in 1976.
