Posts for January, 2026

Su-a Lee and Friends
Featuring Duncan Chisholm, Donald Shaw & Hamish Napier.
What better way to spend a Wednesday in April than with Su-a Lee, who is one of Scotland’s most versatile, adventurous and charismatic cellists. She has worked with rock icons such as Jack Bruce and `Eric Clapton (Cream); jazz musicians including Peter Erskine (Weather Report) and Thomas Strønen; Classical Indian sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Scottish folk-electronica pioneer Martyn Bennett.

For this very special show Su-a will be joined by three of these stellar collaborators: Duncan Chisholm, one of Scotland’s most accomplished fiddle players; Donald Shaw, celebrated multi-instrumentalist/composer/producer and Hamish Napier, producer, tunesmith and multi-faceted performer.
Doors: From 7pm (no earlier, please)
1st Half: 7.30pm – 8.15pm
Interval: 8.15pm-8.45pm
2nd Half: 8.45pm-9.30pm
Finish: 9.30pm
BAR – the Hall is running the bar, which will only be open before the concert and during the interval.
SHOP – there will be a merchandise stall, selling “CDs and vinyl of solo albums by Su-a, Hamish, Duncan and Donald. Contactless card and smartphone payments will be accepted.

Bruce, the comedian behind the 230k subscriber YouTube channel Scotland History Tours, comes to Boat of Garten with a new show. Laughs galore and quirky observations as he explains how Scotland Made the World.
His unique style showcases and celebrates Scottish culture and history, in a way that will not only keep you fully engaged, but have you rolling with laughter and screaming for more!
This show will deliver more jokes than you’d get from the YouTube videos, and some might even make you blush, but you’ll still leave having learned about Scotland’s role in the world while laughing along the way.
Nominated for comedy awards in Australia, at home in Scotland and even named Scottish Comedian of the Year, Bruce appeared on ABC series Stuff the British Stole and many UK TV and radio shows

Friday 6 March 2026 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Boat of Garten Community Hall

Join us on Monday 23 February 2026 at 7:30pm at Boat of Garten Community Hall for an evening celebrating cold water, wild places, and personal challenge.
Since 2016, Ben Sparham has been on a mission to swim every high loch and lochan in the Cairngorms. As he nears completion of his epic project, Ben shares tales from his high mountain swims — the beauty, the solitude, and the endurance it takes to dip into icy waters miles from anywhere.
Tickets £6 on the door
Boat of Garten Community Hall
Monday 23 February 2026 | 7:30pm
Available to stream later for a small donation – get in touch for the link!
Join the Boat Talks mailing list by emailing info@boathall.org.uk

Join us at Boat of Garten Community Hall on Monday 9 February 2026 at 7:30pm for a fascinating insight into the “ghosts of the forest.”
Dane Stewart from Highland Wildlife Park introduces us to the story of three rescued female lynx — from their precarious beginnings to thriving in the Highlands. Learn about the myths, folklore and conservation efforts surrounding these elusive cats, and the powerful local support that helped them find a new home in the Cairngorms.
Tickets £6 on the door
Boat of Garten Community Hall
Monday 9 February 2026 | 7:30pm
Available to stream later for a small donation – get in touch for the link!
Join the Boat Talks mailing list by emailing info@boathall.org.uk

Join us for a remarkable evening at Boat of Garten Community Hall on Monday 26 January 2026 at 7:30pm.
Gill Williams shares her journey from adventurous Oxford schoolgirl to police diver and sergeant — a career that took her from the depths of rivers to the height of mountain rescue. This is a powerful story of courage, compassion, and a lifetime dedicated to “looking for the dead and finding hope for the living.”
Tickets £6 on the door
Boat of Garten Community Hall
Monday 26 January 2026 | 7:30pm

Available to stream later for a small donation – get in touch for the link!
Join the Boat Talks mailing list by emailing info@boathall.org.uk

Are Car Boot Sales your ‘thing’? If so, book in for our first sale of the year! All indoors so we don’t need to worry about what the weather will be doing. Great time to get rid of stuff in time for spring or grab a bargain.

Sunday 22 March 2026
12:00
Boat of Garten Community Hall (main hall)

If you are interested in holding a stall, please get in touch.
Contact Boat Hall:
info@boathall.org.uk
01479 831123
£10 per car/space to be paid in advance

We’re delighted to announce a special performance by The Farmers Choir at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort on Saturday 28 February 2026, raising vital funds for RSABI and SAYFC, with 50% of net ticket sales supporting the Big Build initiative.

The Farmers Choir was formed in September 2013, following a call for past and present members of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) to take part in its 75th Anniversary Concert in Glasgow. On 30 November 2013, when members took to the stage at the Hydro Arena, in what was initially expected to be a one-off performance. Instead, it marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey.

Since then, the choir has continued to grow, performing at events across Scotland — including regular appearances at the Royal Highland Show — and bringing together voices from across rural communities including Ayrshire, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Campbeltown, Dumfries & Galloway, Fife, Lanarkshire, Loch Lomond and Perthshire. Through music, the choir celebrates rural life while fostering connection, friendship, and raising awareness of mental health and wellbeing in agriculture.

Hosted by farmer and comedian Jim Smith, this uplifting evening promises music, laughter, and a strong sense of community spirit. With over 80 choir members from across rural Scotland, audiences can expect well-loved cover songs that lift hearts, spark conversation, and highlight the importance of looking after one another within the farming community.

Renowned master of the fiddle including the “Strathspey” genre, Paul Anderson invites traditional musicians to join in a mentored session from 7.15pm to 8.15pm (£10 per player) followed by the popular open session in the bar from 8.30pm to 10pm (free to all).

Immerse yourself in creative fun for a morning of nature painting with Ellie Dimambro-Denson.

In 2024, Ellie challenged herself to walk 250 kilometres across the Cairngorms Connect partnership: the UK’s biggest habitat restoration project and 600 square kilometres of ancient forest, peaty bog, and magnificent mountains.

On her journey she captured her experiences in beautiful watercolour, using natural pigments she made herself from the plants that grow within the landscape.

Join us at the Loch Garten Nature Centre for a beginner’s workshop on the world of wild watercolours:

~ Get an introduction to making paint pigments from nature

~ Learn tips & tricks on how best to capture your favourite scenes through watercolour

~ Enjoy the mindfulness and peace of painting in an ancient forest location

This workshop is for beginners but all abilities are welcome!

This is an indoor event at the Loch Garten Nature Centre but please bring warm layers in case you feel inclined to take inspiration directly from the outdoors! The centre is a short, 3-4 minute walk from the car park over even ground, however if you require further assistance, an all-terrain wheelchair is available to use for free. Please contact us in advance if required.

Royal Deeside’s annual art exhibition, featuring the artwork of around 40 artists from across the North East and Cairngorms, working in a variety of mediums. Exhibition includes original paintings, drawings, jewellery and sculpture as well as prints and cards.

Open daily in Aboyne’s Victory Hall 10am-6pm between July 11th and August 1st 2026. Find out more on our website and Instagram/Facebook @artaboyne.