Posts for October, 2023

Come along and see how good an archaeologist you could be!

Meet Saranne, our Ranger in the Pinewood to join in the fun.

There’s a Bronze age Treasure Trail through the Pinewood for you to follow & you can try an exploratory dig in our special sandpit!

There is also a archaeological timeline for you to try your hand at!

No need to book, donations welcome.

Come and enjoy our annual Halloween Trail around the Museum!

See if you can spot ten pesky pumpkins who have taken root in some of our buildings!

£1.50 per trail, including a prize.

No need to book, just turn up and join in the fun!

The Autumn Festival in the Braes of Glenlivet offers something for everyone. Explore the fascinating history of Scalan Mills & Seminary, which will be open from 1:00pm- 4:00pm and then join us at the hall from 4:00pm for apple pressing and apple games, spooky crafts, soup and home baking. Mark Johnston, Head Ranger at Glenlivet Estate will lead a easy family friendly wildlife dusk walk at 4:30pm where you can learn all about the animals that live on Glenlivet Estate.

Storyteller Nana Tumova will enchant us with seasonal and celestial stories around a campfire from 5:30pm and again at 6:30 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.

As day turns to night, our local astronomy group will host telescope and stargazing sessions for all ages and abilities. 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 and are open to all (apart from the wildlife dusk walk) that can be pre-booked in advance for free at Eventbrite.

Every Thursday from 9pm, come and join us for a lively ceilidh band from Inverness and Speyside. The band has played throughout the UK and Europe, whilst having residencies in Aviemore – which has allowed them to flourish and build a great repertoire of entertaining material. Weaving together traditional ceilidh music with funk, ska beats and anything in between.

“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.

Join Glenlivet & Inveravon Heritage Ranger Lydia for an introduction to Pictish art and symbol stones. We will be looking at four Pictish Stones discovered in the churchyard of Inveraven, which has been a site of spiritual practice and pilgrimage for centuries. This tour will provide an overview to Pictish art and culture and will show how the Picts contributed to the shaping of modern Scotland.

Access to Inveraven Church is off the A95 about half a mile north of the entrance to Ballindalloch Castle, and can be found by following the brown tourist sign directing visitors down the single track road to the Inveraven Pictish Stones.

Parking is available at the bottom of the drive before you arrive at the church or in front of the church building.

As we will be outside, please dress appropriately for changeable weather.

Children are very welcome to attend. Please note that toilet facilities are not available on site.

Well behaved dogs may attend but must be leashed.

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

Live Entertainment in the Lounge Bar with Chris Grant Guitarist Singer

Live Entertainment with Ann & Calum

Live Entertainment in the Lounge Bar with Kevin Fraser

Live Entertainment with Fraser Gallacher Guitarist Singer