Hotel group urge children to get creative

To mark National Storytelling Week Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, has launched a search for budding young authors to submit stories for a new bedtime story book based on one of its venues.

Children aged five to 14 can submit a short story of up to 200 words, fact or fiction, with the 30 shortlisted stories being printed in a limited edition book.

The entries will be split into three age categories and one story from each category will be brought to life in an illustration for the book – as well as the three authors winning a family hotel stay.

The eight hotels within the family, including the Isles of Glencoe and Kingshouse hotels in Ballachulish, are all set in iconic and picturesque Scottish locations, an ideal setting for a fairytale or action adventure and children are encouraged to submit their true or fictional story based or inspired by one of the hotels.

The submissions will be read by a panel of independent judges – John Bray, Helen Grant and Susy McPhee – selected

Kingshouse Hotel in Ballachulish

with

Arts.

Entries close on Monday March 1, with the book created by summer, and if restrictions allow, shortlisted entries will be welcomed to a Mini Book Festival at Crieff Hydro Hotel in July to be presented with their prizes.

Nic Oldham, head of customer and commercial at Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, said: 'Storytelling is a powerful tool that allows us to share tales which can inspire and teach others.

'We hope this competition will inspire young people and get the creative juices flowing help from

Strathearn as we eagerly anticipate restrictions lifting so we can experience our own adventures again.

'Many families are currently home-schooling and we hope this may be a welcome assignment for imaginative youngsters. We can’t wait to read the entries and our one piece of advice is to remember that imagination knows no bounds!'

Entries should be emailed to nsw@crieffhydro.com

To read the full competition details, terms and conditions, visit www. crieffhydrofamily.com/ national-storytelling-week