Posts for November, 2023

Highland League: Strathspey Thistle FC v Wick Academy FC, Seafield Park, kick-off 8pm. Parking at ground and at Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club, by their kind permission. Overflow car parking at Burnfield Ave car park (250m). Snack bar, half-time raffle, merchandise. Covered wheelchair spaces.

Highland League: Strathspey Thistle FC v Turriff United FC, Seafield Park, kick-off 2pm (N.B. Note earlier kick-off time). Parking at ground and at Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club, by their kind permission. Overflow parking at Burnfield Ave car park (250m). Snack bar, half-time raffle, merchandise. Covered wheelchair spaces.

Highland League: Strathspey Thistle FC v Huntly FC, Seafield Park, Grantown-on-Spey, kick-off 8pm. Parking at ground and at Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club, by their kind permission. Overflow parking at Burnfield Ave car park. Snack bar, half-time raffle, merchandise. Covered wheelchair spaces.

Highland Football League: Strathspey Thistle FC v Deveronvale FC, Seafield Park, Grantown-on-Spey, 2pm (N.B. Note earlier kick-off time). Parking at ground and at Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club by their kind permission. Overflow parking at Burnfield Ave car park (250m). Snack bar, half-time raffle, merchandise. Covered wheelchair spaces.

Moray’s earliest surviving tower house is reputed to have been built for Scotland’s vilest man- Alexander Stewart, the Wolf of Badenoch.

Drumin Castle is an impressive medieval fortification standing on a commanding bluff overlooking the confluence of the River Livet and the River Avon.

Once we get to the castle, you’ll learn a bit about the architecture, history, and the notorious Wolf, whose evil deeds continue to cast a long shadow in Moray’s history.

This castle has recently reopened after masonry repairs. Access to the first floor is once again possible via a narrow, stone staircase. Sensible footwear is recommended.

Toilets are not available on site.

Children are very welcome to attend.

Well behaved dogs are welcome.

Funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

“Glenlivet it has castles three, Drumin, Blairfindy and Deskie”. This Heritage Ranger led castle walk will take us to the 16th century tower house of Blairfindy and begins outside the iconic Glenlivet Distillery. On the walk in we’ll enjoy fantastic views over the glen. You’ll learn a bit about Glenlivet’s rich history and some whisky history too.

Blairfindy Castle was completed in 1564 by John Gordon. In 1586 Blairfindy passed to the Earls of Huntly, another branch of the family, who used it as a hunting seat. A panel above the arched doorway bears the Gordon arms and this date. In its heyday Blairfindy was a fine example of a three storey L-plan tower house and even today shows a remarkable degree of preservation.

Research has shown that the castle was probably burned by troops after the Battle of Culloden in 1746, and it was never repaired or occupied after this time. A project to stabilise Blairfindy Castle took place in 2019, funded through the Tomintoul & Glenlivet Landscape Partnership, a programme supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The castle is now open to visitors for the first time in decades and has been specially adapted to encourage nesting birds and pollinators.

Please park at the The Glenlivet Distillery car park. The walk will start from outside the stillhouse under the green signpost marked ‘Blairfindy Castle 1/2 mile’ (see last photo).

Access is by foot along a dedicated track. Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing for changeable weather.

Toilets are available inside The Glenlivet Distillery Visitor Centre.

Children are very welcome to attend.

Well behaved dogs are welcome.

Funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Sale of arts and crafts with a Christmas feel made by members of the Society of Badenoch & Strathspey Artists

Stories & Stars in the Braes of Glenlivet

Storyteller Nana Tumova will enchant us with seasonal and celestial stories from 4:30pm and again at 5:30 pm. Nana is an acclaimed Traditional Oral Storyteller and a nature connection guide. She loves stories of the wild, and her favourite place to tell them is out on the land. She is the creator of the Story Apothecary Podcast, where she dispenses stories as medicine. If you would like to attend the storytelling, please arrive a few minutes before each session. If the weather is good the storytelling may take place outside around a campfire otherwise the stories will be shared in the hall.

As day turns to night, our local astronomy group will host telescope and stargazing sessions for all ages and abilities from 18:45. Come along for an introduction to the constellations, enjoy a laser guided sky tour or try out our community telescope. If it is cloudy on the night there will be an indoor presentation in the hall.

All events are free and are on a drop-in basis.

Toilets are available on site. Parking is available onsite or on the road across from the hall.

Supported by Crown Estate Scotland and Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

The famous Grantown on Spey Hogmanay Street Party returns once again with live music, dancing, bar, hot food and a firework display at ‘the bells’ accompanied by a traditional piper.

We will once again be joined by Speysound Radio to get the party started.

Peaking on December 13th, the Geminids are set to be the most impressive meteor shower of 2023. Join Cairngorms Astronomy Club and TGDT to experience this special celestial phenomena.

The meteors of the Geminid meteor shower are very bright, moderately fast, and are unusual in being multi-coloured – mainly white, some yellow and a few green, red and blue. These colours are partly caused by the presence of traces of metals like sodium and calcium, the same effect that is used to make fireworks colourful.

Please meet at the Tomintoul & Glenlivet Discovery Centre at 18:30 and come dressed for outdoor weather. We’ll have a briefing in the Discovery Centre before taking a short walk down to the Field of Hope or over to the school field dependent on conditions. Parking is available in the square. If the weather isn’t suitable on the night a presentation will take place indoors at the Discovery Centre and the Dark Skies Exhibition will be accessible.

Suggested donation of £5 will contribute to our local lighting improvement plan in the Cairngorms Dark Sky Park.

Funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.