Stonehame Lodge and Chalets located in Scotsburn, Pictou County, Nova Scotia has been recognized by Fodor’s Travel, the foremost name in travel publishing, as a 2010 Fodor’s Choice selection. This distinction represents a remarkable achievement and recognizes Stonehame as a leader in its field for service, quality, and value in the 2010 year.

Since 1988, Fodor’s Travel has been awarding the Fodor’s Choice distinction to only the very best hotels, restaurants and attractions around the world. Every year, Fodor’s writers experience, examine and evaluate thousands of hotels, restaurants and attractions in their travels across the globe. While every business included in a Fodor’s guide is deemed worth a traveler’s time, only fifteen percent of those selections are awarded the very highest, Fodor’s Choice designation by Fodor’s editors.

“From hidden-away restaurants to can’t-miss museums, Fodor’s Choice selections recognize the top sights, properties, and experiences our editors and updaters have found in their travels,” says Fodor’s publisher Tim Jarrell. “These places are the best of the best, providing a remarkable experience in their price range or category.”

As a 2010 Fodor’s Choice recipient Stonehame Lodge and Chalets receives special recognition in the current Fodor’s guidebook to this region and on Fodors.com.  “To be recognized by a leading travel guide like Fodor’s is truly an honor.  It is extremely rewarding for us as owners and staff to see our hard work and dedication to quality pay off,” says Jeff Gunn, co-owner of Stonehame.

Stonehame Lodge and Chalets is a year-round, 4 star (rated by Canada Select) mountain top retreat located in Scotsburn (near Pictou), in the Northumberland Shore Region of Nova Scotia.  Stonehame is family owned and operated and offers panoramic vistas; peaceful woodland trails for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, etc.; pool and outdoor hot tub; farm animals; quality accommodations (chalets and rooms); award-winning service and licensed lodge with meeting facilities for corporate retreats, weddings, family reunions and parties.  Stonehame is centrally located in the province and is only 90 minutes from Cape Breton, Halifax and the New Brunswick border and only 15 minutes from the PEI ferry.

About Fodor’s Travel:

Fodor’s Travel, a division of Random House, Inc., is one of the world’s leading providers of travel information.  Covering over 300 destinations worldwide, Fodor’s guidebooks and Web site, Fodors.com, have provided the most up-to-date, accurate information for travelers for more than seventy years.  Written by a team of over 700 writers located around the globe, Fodor’s provides travelers with engagingly written, intelligently and accurately reported, and absolutely indispensable travel guidance.

A Pictou County group is determined to save some 313 acres of rich Acadian Forest near Scotsburn, Nova Scotia. The group, known as the Friends of Redtail Society, has to raise $250,000 by December 10th to purchase the land from US based Wagner Forest Nova Scotia Ltd.

The Acadian Forest  is considered among the most threatened forest systems in North America. The land in Pictou County is a prime example of this forest type, a mix of old growth forest stands and diverse tree species (of varying age) that support a cornucopia of wildlife habitats.

Recently, the profile of the Friends of Redtail Society received a much needed boost when Victoria, B.C. student, Ben Miller lent his support to the group. Ben and three other students began a cross-country bike tour in May to raise money for several charities. Ben chose the Redtail Society after attending a number of retreats and educational camps in the county. The Tandun Tour left Victoria on May 5th and is expected to arrive in Halifax in about 10 weeks. Ben Miller hopes to raise $5000 for the society land purchase.

Stonehame Chalets is supporting the Friends of Redtail Society in its efforts to purchase this important piece of forest heritage in the region. Manager Jeff Gunn says like many people in this area of the province, his family is proud of its rural roots. “Our family have farmed nearby land for five generations. We believe it is important that this piece of Acadian Forest is preserved and protected for all generations.”

Stonehame Lodge and Chalets would like encourage local residents and people across the province to contribute what they can to the cause, by donating directly to the society or by contacting the Tandum Tour. All donations are tax deductible and can be made through the society website.

Just before Christmas, Nova Scotia singer/song writer, Dave Gunning (and backup guitarist, Jamie Robinson) sang and played to a sold out concert at Stonehame Lodge & Chalets. The concert, one of the premier events at Stonehame in 2009, featured a traditional Christmas dinner (with all the fixin’s) including turkey, stuffing and homemade dessert.

The Gunning concert was a real hit with all those who attended, many of whom had driven several hours to see Gunning perform songs from his new CD, ‘We’re All Leaving’. One of the songs, ‘Smith’s Rock’, is a tribute to the hard working farmers who originally settled the area in and around Fitzpatrick Mountain, Pictou County. The rock (with commemorative plaque) is located near the entrance to Stonehame.

Gunning’s ‘We’re All Leaving’ was recently listed among the Top 10 ‘roots’ CD’s in Canada for 2009. Well done, Dave!

Couple enjoying Christmas Dinner at the concert.

Gunning and Robinson performing.

All is ready for the event.

Our staff were busy during the concert.

Singer/ Songwriter Dave Gunning

Pictou, Nova Scotia native and folk singer Dave Gunning continues to impress and delight both music critics and fans across the country with the release of his latest CD, ‘We’re All Leaving‘ . The album, Gunning’s seventh release (and many say, his best), is a a beautifully produced and polished compilation of 11 original songs he co-wrote with fellow Nova Scotian, Jamie Robinson and others, including Rose Cousins, Matt Anderson and David Francey. The collection includes the title song, ‘We’re All Leaving’ and other soon-to-be roots favourites, ‘There’s A Song in There’ and the CD single, ‘Made on a Monday’ (which has received considerable air play on radio stations across Atlantic Canada).

The first song on the CD, Smith’s Rock, could easily be a single. The song is a lively, country rock tribute to the back breaking work of the early settlers to Pictou County, who from “sun up to sun down” cleared the land of trees and roots for the harvests of future generations.  Dave Gunning and co-writers, Jamie Robinson and John Meir were inspired by the story of Smith’s Rock, a well-known landmark at Stonehame Chalets. A plaque near the famous rock tells the story of the untimely death of Howard Smith, a local farmer who was killed as he attempted to blast the huge boulder from his land on Fitzpatrick Mountain.

“The next day, July 14th, 1938, his brother stopped by to see him but only found the door open to his little cottage and some of Howard’s blood-stained clothes on his bed. A search party was conducted and Howard’s body was found a short distance from his barn. This is the rock that tragically took Howard’s life and is a symbol of  the hardships many faced during these times. It has been placed here in his memory and the memory of all of those who toiled over this land.”

Jeff Gunn, a fifth generation farmer in the region and Manager of Stonehame Lodge and Chalets says he was delighted to see Smith’s Rock included among songs on Gunning’s new CD. “I love the song and the story it tells. And as you might expect, it’s my personal favourite.”

Dave Gunning (and Jamie Robinson) will perform Smith’s Rock and other songs from the MacKenzie Room at Stonehame Lodge and Chalets on December 20th. The venue, on Fitzpatrick Mountain, is not far from Smith’s Rock on the Stonehame property. The live concert will include a traditional Christmas dinner with all the “fixins”, homemade dessert (warm apple crisp with Scotsburn ice cream), and tea or coffee.

Dave Gunning released his first CD in 1997. Since then, he has garnered six Music Nova Scotia Awards and three East Coast Music Awards. He plans to release a CD dedicated to the music of John Allen Cameron over the next several months.
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