07/02/2026
Many of our Wild Sauna guests *love* to share their personal memories about the famous but rare 'Bonspiels' they have experienced during their lifetime here at The Lake of Menteith - and we just love hearing about these special slices of history as told through each unique, personal lens.
As you might remember, we were very excited when the Lake partially froze last month ❄️ - but it was nothing on this scale.
In fact, thanks in part to climate change, we've experienced so much rainfall that the biggest challenge we've had to deal with has been the mud! 😭 Whilst we're more than comfortable dealing with whatever the elements have thrown at us, we won't lie - the mud situation has been more than a bit disheartening. Thank you to all our wonderful sauna guests for their understanding that a 'Wild' sauna can mean exactly that!
Happily, we've come up with a temporary solution (more about that later 🙌🏻) that should tide us over until things dry out a bit.
In the meantime we hope you enjoy reading about the Grand Bonspiel of 1979 as much as we did...🥶🥌❄️
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1453677559658472&id=100050487249727
On this day in 1979, around 12,000 people gathered on a frozen Scottish lake… to play curling.
During one of the coldest winters in decades, the Lake of Menteith froze solid, thick enough to host Scotland’s legendary outdoor curling tournament known as The Bonspiel, or The Grand Match.
But this wasn’t just a sporting event.
Traditionally contested as North vs South of Scotland, curlers travelled from every corner of the country to take part, while thousands more came simply to witness the spectacle.
And it quickly turned into something closer to a national winter party.
The ice became a vast arena of roaring stones and sweeping brushes, with bagpipes echoing across the lake and plenty of whisky circulating to keep the cold at bay. (For the record, the North claimed victory that day!)
The tradition dates back centuries, but it can only happen when the ice is thick enough to safely hold the weight of players and spectators, something that has become increasingly rare.
In fact, 1979 remains the last time the Grand Match was played outdoors on the Lake of Menteith.
A reminder of just how brutal Scottish winters used to be.
Imagine organising a national sporting event… entirely dependent on a lake freezing over. 🥶
