When is this event?
- 17th November 2024
Findlay Napier returns to Grantown-on-Spey for a special one-off concert to mark the release of his latest album, Outsider.
Napier grew up on the banks of the River Spey and has enjoyed immense musical success in the past 20 years.
He is widely regarded as one of the finest performers on the UK music scene and has been touring a releasing music since the early 2000s – first with groundbreaking trad folk band Back of the Moon, then with Nu-Folk pioneers Findlay Napier and the Bar Room Mountaineers. Most recently, he has worked as a solo act, under the guidance of legendary songwriter Boo Hewerdine.
In this show we are exhibiting new landscape work by gallery artist Kirsty Ritchie, as well as a range of other artists. We always stock a selection of high quality crafts including jewellery, glass, wood, tweed and ceramics.
Strathspey Thistle FC v Inverurie Loco Works FC, Seafield Park, kick-off 3pm. Hot food, half-time draw, merchandise, team-sheets. Parking at ground and at Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club, by their kind permission. Overflow parking at Burnfield Ave car park (200m). Wheelchair spaces in grandstand.
Strathspey Thistle FC v Banks o’ Dee FC, Seafield Park, kick-off 3pm. Hot food, half-time draw, merchandise and team-sheets. Parking at ground and at Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club by their kind permission. Overflow parking at Burnfield Avenue car park (200m).
Come and celebrate with us for an evening of delight and surprise! In a warm and relaxed evening at Am Fasgadh, Highland Folk Museum with hot drinks and nibbles, we’d love to share the creative work of this year.
The Storylands Sessions Word Workshops this season have been hosted at the Highland Folk Museum where we have been inspired by items from their collections, including a Women’s Land Army Jumper, vicious anti-poaching devices, a 200 year-old shepherd’s plaid, the Travellers’ tent and tinware, and a collection of wheeled items.
We have been privileged to learn from the Highland Folk Museum curators, Helen Pickles and Liz English, as well as local people for whom our focus that week is a way of life: sheepfarmer Campbell Slimon and Traveller John Macdonald.
Places are very limited, so book early
Create enchanted memories for all the family with a festive steam ride on the Santa Train at Strathspey Railway – The home of Highland Steam. Steaming through the beautiful Cairngorm National Park, entertained by our festive elves and a visit from the man himself Santa Claus!
Book your own table to share with family or friends, on one of our heritage railway carriages and experience a magical trip.
Treat yourself to a festive light lunch or indulge in a festive afternoon tea. For an extra special experience, upgrade to an exclusive First-Class compartment.
Children (2-15) on all services, will receive a special pack containing a festive gingerbread man, activity book, souvenir railway bauble and pin badge.
Journey time (Aviemore to Broomhill and return) 1h 30m
Departures available:
12:30 – Take in the wintery landscape, of the Cairngorms National Park, as you steam along our Highland Heritage line. Treat yourselves to a Festive Light Lunch, or for that extra special experience, upgrade to a First-Class Celebration Festive Lunch, in your own exclusive compartment.
14:40* – Experience the Highland winter golden hour, as you steam along our Highland Heritage line. As the daylight fades, experience the sparkle of Christmas, with our festive lights. Indulge in a Festive Afternoon Tea or for an extra special experience, upgrade to a First-Class Celebration Afternoon Tea, in your own exclusive compartment. *14:40 service unavailable on Friday 6th and 13th.
17:00 – Experience the sparkle of Christmas, on a winters evening, cosy in our festive trains. Indulge in a Festive Afternoon Tea or for an extra special experience, upgrade to a First-Class Celebration Afternoon Tea, in your own exclusive compartment.
Spot the festive displays, along the line, as you steam through the Highland landscape. Sing along and be entertained by our mischievous elves and say hello to Santa Claus himself!
Scheduled dates:
November: Sat 30th December: Sun 1st, Fri 6th, Sat 7th, Sun 8th, Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Sun 15th, Thurs 19th, Fri 20th, Sat 21st, Sun 22nd, Mon 23rd
SANTA STANDARD – Table (seats 4) – £80
Price for up to 4 but if you are a family of 5 and would like to snuggle up, you can choose to add an extra child (2-15) for an additional charge of £10
Children (2-15) on all services, will receive a special pack containing a festive gingerbread man, activity book, souvenir railway bauble and pin badge.
Spot the festive displays, along the line, as you steam through the Highland landscape. Sing along and be entertained by our onboard mischievous elves and say hello to Santa Claus himself!
FIRST CLASS CELEBRATION FESTIVE LUNCH – Your own Exclusive compartment (seats 4) £200
Price for up to 4 but if you are a family of 5 and would like to snuggle up, you can choose to add an extra Child (2-15) for an additional charge of £25
Choose from Festive themed soups like butternut squash or traditional hearty broths combined with turkey and Cranberry, Hummus and Roast Parsnip sandwiches followed by mince pie and brandy butter accompanied by a celebratory glass of prosecco or for that highland twist a wee dram.
Child friendly options with, Turkey, cheese sandwiches, festive cookies, and cake, sparkling apple juice or butterbeer.
Children (2-15) on all services, will receive a special pack containing a festive gingerbread man, activity book, souvenir railway bauble and pin badge.
Spot the festive displays, along the line, as you steam through the Highland landscape. Sing along and be entertained by our onboard mischievous elves and say hello to Santa Claus himself!
FESTIVE LIGHT LUNCH – Table (seats 4) – £150
Price for up to 4 but if you are a family of 5 and would like to snuggle up, you can choose to add an extra child (2-15) or an additional charge of £15
Choose from Festive themed soups like butternut squash or traditional hearty broths combined with turkey and Cranberry, Hummus and Roast Parsnip sandwiches followed by mince pie and brandy butter accompanied by tea/coffee.
Child friendly options with, Turkey, cheese sandwiches, festive cookies, and cake.
Children (2-15) on all services, will receive a special pack containing a festive gingerbread man, activity book, souvenir railway bauble and pin badge.
Spot the festive displays, along the line, as you steam through the Highland landscape. Sing along and be entertained by our onboard mischievous elves and say hello to Santa Claus himself!
FIRST CLASS CELEBRATION AFTERNOON TEA Your own Exclusive compartment (seats 4) – £240
Price for up to 4 but if you are a family of 5 and would like to snuggle up, you can choose to add an extra Child (2-15) for an additional charge of £45
Festive themed afternoon tea with turkey and cranberry, hummus and roast parsnip sandwiches, scones, mince pie, brandy butter, shortbread, and festive cakes, accompanied by a celebratory glass of prosecco or for that highland twist a wee dram.
Child friendly options with snowman cookies, marshmallows, sparkling apple juice or butterbeer.
Children (2-15) on all services, will receive a special pack containing a festive gingerbread man, activity book, souvenir railway bauble and pin badge
Spot the festive displays, along the line, as you steam through the Highland landscape. Sing along and be entertained by our onboard mischievous elves and say hello to Santa Claus himself!
FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEA – Table (seats 4) – £190
Price for up to 4 but if you are a family of 5 and would like to snuggle up, you can choose to add an extra Child (2-15) for an additional charge of £30
Festive themed afternoon tea with turkey and cranberry, hummus and roast parsnip sandwiches, scones, mince pie, brandy butter, shortbread, and festive cakes, accompanied by accompanied by tea/coffee.
Child friendly options with snowman cookies, marshmallows and juice.
Children (2-15) on all services, will receive a special pack containing a festive gingerbread man, activity book, souvenir railway bauble and pin badge
Spot the festive displays, along the line, as you steam through the Highland landscape. Sing along and be entertained by our onboard mischievous elves and say hello to Santa Claus himself!
OBSERVATION CARRIAGE – £32pp
Travel in style in our art deco carriage, with panoramic, wrap around windows, comfy armchairs, complimentary tea, coffee and mince pies, served by the carriages exclusive, onboard steward.
Children (2-15) on all services, will receive a special pack containing a festive gingerbread man, activity book, souvenir railway bauble and pin badge
Spot the festive displays, along the line, as you steam through the Highland landscape. Sing along and be entertained by our onboard mischievous elves and say hello to Santa Claus himself!
OBSERVATION CARRIAGE AND DRAM – £37pp
Travel in style in our Art Deco carriage, with panoramic, wrap around windows, comfy armchairs, a wee dram (butterbeer for the kids) and mince pies, served by the carriages exclusive, onboard steward.
Children (2-15) on all services, will receive a special pack containing a festive gingerbread man, activity book, souvenir railway bauble and pin badge
Spot the festive displays, along the line, as you steam through the Highland landscape. Sing along and be entertained by our onboard mischievous elves and say hello to Santa Claus himself!
Discover nature on Atholl Estates this Autumn. Our Ranger, Julia, has an action-packed programme during October.
From Children’s events like mud pie making in the forest and crafting your own bird feeder, to rewarding volunteer days and nourishing Autumnal walks for adults.
Contact [email protected] 01796 481355 for more information.
Information Centre: The Information Centre is the white building at the back of the Bridge of Tilt car park.
Volunteer Session
Saturday 5th October 10am – 1pm
Location TBC
Book onto this volunteer session with Julia, where you could be planting trees, maintaining paths or surveying the different species on the estate. Please email [email protected] ahead of the session to book your place and to find out more info.
Castle Grounds Nature Walk
Sunday 6th October time TBC
Blair Castle
Join Julia for a guided 1-hour walk through Diana’s Grove and St. Bride’s.
This walk is perfect for those looking to enjoy nature and learn some interesting things about the nature on the grounds at Blair Castle. Please note, the walk will only proceed if the wind stays within safe limits.
Meet Julia at the deer park in the Blair Castle grounds. Participants will need to have a valid gardens ticket.
All About Owls!
Saturday 12th October 11am – 12pm
Information Centre
Join Ranger Julia for the well-loved story ‘Owl Babies,’ followed by making your own owl nest and playing some fun owl-related games. You’ll also learn some fascinating facts about our magnificent feathered friends.
Best for: Age 4 and up.
Finding us: Meet Julia at the Information Centre in Blair Atholl (next door to the chippy). The car park is free and there are toilets next door to the centre.
Parents: Younger siblings are welcome to join in or watch the session, there is plenty of space to park prams.
Mud Pies In The Forest
Wednesday 16th October 11am – 12pm
Glen Tilt Car Park
Join the Ranger (or should we say Head Chef Julia?) in the forest to make some mud pies. We will be decorating them with leaves, berries, and sticks we have foraged. We will provide spoons and crockery for digging and making our pies!
Best for: Age 3 and up.
Finding us: Meet Julia at the information sign in the Glen Tilt Car Park. The car park is free.
Parents: Waterproof suits, messy clothes, and wellies are recommended for this activity. Please bring wipes or water to clean little hands after the session.
Spells and Magic In The Forest
Thursday 17th October 11am – 12pm
Glen Tilt Car Park
Join Ranger Julia in the woods and delve into the world of spells, wands, and magic. Children will make and decorate their own wands and create potions that make magical things happen.
Best for: Age 4 and up.
Finding us: Meet Julia at the information sign in the Glen Tilt Car Park. The car park is free.
Parents: Waterproof suits and wellies are recommended for this activity. We may require you to play along and pretend the children have turned invisible!
Make Your Own Bird Feeder
Saturday 19th October 11am – 12pm
Information Centre, Blair Atholl
Autumn is a critical time for our feathered friends as they need to gear up for the colder months! During this activity, children will make their own simple bird feeder to take home, allowing them to look after the birds in their garden.
Best for: Age 4 and up.
Finding us: Meet Julia at the Information Centre in Blair Atholl (next door to the chippy). The car park is free and there are toilets next door to the centre.
Parents: We will be filling our bird feeders with nuts, so this activity may not be suitable for those with nut allergies. Younger siblings are welcome to join in or watch the session, there is plenty of space to park prams.
Visitor Centre Signage Launch
Wednesday 23rd October 1pm – 4pm
Information Centre
Join our Ranger and Marketing Manager, Jess, for a special “show and tell” of the new signage in the visitor centre.
Drop in any time to explore the new displays and feel free to ask Julia or Jess any questions about volunteer days or opportunities with Atholl Estates. Refreshments will be provided.
The signage was part-funded by a grant from the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
Spooky Activities
Thursday 24th October 11am – 12pm
Information Centre
Join the Ranger (or should we say Witch Gertrude?) for some Halloween fun, games, and spooky laughter. Activities could include earning points by throwing bean bags into pumpkins or bobbing for apples. Spooky costumes are encouraged!
Best for: Age 5 and up.
Finding us: Meet Julia at the Information Centre in Blair Atholl (next door to the chippy). The car park is free and there are toilets next door to the centre.
Parents: Younger siblings are welcome to join in or watch the session, there is plenty of space to park prams.
Autumn Crafts
Saturday 26th October 11am – 12pm
Information Centre
Autumnal crafts and colouring session. Come along and create something autumnal to get us in the mood for the season. We could be collaging hedgehogs or creating things with leaves to take home.
Best for: Age 3 and up.
Finding us: Meet Julia at the Information Centre in Blair Atholl (next door to the chippy). The car park is free and there are toilets next door to the centre.
Parents: Younger siblings are welcome to join in or watch the session, there is plenty of space to park prams.
Please note: Children must be accompanied by an adult. A donation pot will be available at each event, and we would greatly appreciate any contribution you feel is appropriate for the session you attend.
All proceeds go directly to The Cairngorms to help care for wildlife, maintain paths and car parks. Ensuring both our enjoyment of the outdoors and the thriving of natural habitats.
Ever wondered about the stars and constellations and wanted to find out more?
Guided stargazing sessions in small groups of up to 10 people at Howe of Torbeg in the stunning Cairngorms National Park, with its exceptional dark skies.
Simple & accessible, looking at the stars and learning a bit about them is the perfect way to get away from it all for a few hours, & spend some time in nature.
Join Cairngorms Connect to get hands on doing practical habitat restoration work.
Help us to block up old, but still active, ditches on a small area of bog woodland in Glenmore Forest, using hand tools and wood. The aim is to hold more water in the peat, slow the loss of water from the site and to benefit the bog vegetation.
Tools and work gloves will be provided, as will instructions so no experience is necessary.
However, please note this is a physically demanding volunteering session, which includes walking roughly 2km to site and moving around on rough and wet ground with drainage ditches.
It is important that all people have equal access to Cairngorms Connect events. We are happy to provide for your requirements, wherever possible eg. BSL interpreters. If you have any accessibility requirements, please get in touch.
Step into a world of suspense, intrigue, and elegance at The Boat Country Inn with our exclusive two-night Murder Mystery Weekend, MIND YOUR MANORS. This thrilling experience will transport you to the stately Cluckington Hall, where secrets lurk in every corner, and one unfortunate soul won’t make it through the night. Will you be the one to crack the case?
The Story:
Lord Cluckington has just acquired a stunning piece of art, and tonight, it’s being unveiled at his grand manor home by the artist himself. But as the evening progresses, tension fills the air. Dove, the maid, is brooding in the shadows, and Arthur, the art connoisseur, seems unnervingly preoccupied. Little do they know, a much darker turn of events is about to unfold…
A dead body has been discovered in the master bedroom.
Will you uncover the secrets that led to this dastardly deed? With a colourful cast of characters, hidden motives, and clever clues, it’s up to you to solve this classy upstairs/downstairs mystery.
Themed Dining Experiences: Enjoy delicious, period-appropriate meals that immerse you further into the world of Cluckington Hall. Themed dinners and interactive elements make for an unforgettable experience.
Costume Party & Prizes: Get into the spirit with our optional costume party and dress up as part of the aristocratic elite or the hardworking manor staff. Prizes will be awarded for the best sleuths and best-dressed guests!
Where is this event being held?
The Spey Bank Studio is housed in the former offices of the Bank of Scotland. Enter the building via the big green doors on the Square side, opposite Co-op.
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