Posts for April, 2023

Distance: 17 miles / 27.2 km
Grade: Challenging
Leader: Mark Johnston
Dogs: Sorry, dogs are not allowed

Join the Estate Ranger on a day’s hillwalking to this relatively unfrequented part of Glenlivet. Making our way from West Avonside, we’ll start big and ascend to the highest point in the Cromdales, Creagan a’ Chaise. At 722m this is classified as a Fiona which is a mountain in Scotland between 2000 & 2500 feet high – these were previously known as Grahams. Near the trig point at the top is a rather large Cairn built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.

From there we will traverse the ridge also taking in the nearby Coronation Cairn, built to commemorate the crowning of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria in 1902. On a clear day, the views from the ridge are excellent looking to the Cairngorms and across Speyside. We will continue to take in the lesser summits of Carn Eachie and Carn a Ghille Chearn before making a rough descent back towards Knock farmhouse and onwards to the Car Park.

This walk will hopefully provide opportunities to see moorland birds and deer while crossing typical northeast Scotland hill and moorland territory.

The terrain will be a mix of rough track and heather moorland, involve some steep climbs and take us into a remote, exposed country. Please be prepared with appropriate clothing and plenty of food and water. A reasonable level of fitness and the knowledge that you are able to handle this type of terrain is required.

This is a full-day lengthy hill walk with steep terrain. It is essential participants wear or carry suitable clothing that reflects the potential weather. Items to be considered include multiple layers, waterproofs, sturdy walking boots, hats, gloves, insect repellent, and sunscreen.

Sufficient food and liquid should also be carried for at least seven hours in the hills.

There are no toilet facilities at the start/end point or on the walk.

Distance: 2.5 miles / 4 km
Grade: Easy Plus (info)
Leader: Annie Ives
Dogs: Sorry, dogs are not allowed
Category: Nature, Walk

Bumblebees need our help! In the UK, two species of bumblebee have gone extinct in the last 100 years, and a further seven are on national conservation priority lists due to concerns about their large-scale declines. Monitoring bumblebees is an essential part of helping with their conservation. Finding out where different species of bumblebees are thriving and where they aren’t doing so well helps to target conservation efforts to where they are needed most and can have the biggest impact.

Join Annie Ives from Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Mark Johnston from Glenlivet Estate to learn more about bumblebees and how you could help survey for them, from simply identifying and recording bumblebees in your back garden to becoming a ‘BeeWalker’ – counting the bumblebees you see on a fixed monthly walking route.

At this event, we will start indoors, brushing up on our knowledge of bumblebee identification and surveying methods, before heading outside on to Glenlivet Estate for a walk-through demonstration on our 1.5km ‘BeeWalk’ bumblebee survey route through grassland, woodland and moorland, working together to identify and count bumblebees along the way.

Cost:
£10.00 – £15.00
Distance: 13 miles / 20.8 km
Grade: ModeratePlus (info)
Leader: Stephen Reeves and Mark Johnston
Dogs: Yes, well behaved dogs are welcome
Category: Forest, Heritage, Hill, Moderate +, Nature, Walk

Join the Rangers from Dorenell Ranger Service and Glenlivet Ranger Service for a walk up the River Fiddich all the way to its source then over the watershed to meet the River Livet. We’ll park at the finish point in Glenlivet and be transported by coach to the start at Bridgehaugh, south of Dufftown. The route will follow Moray core path SP29, going past Glenfiddich Lodge and up Glenfiddich itself where we’ll have an opportunity to see Elf House cave and the McHardy stone. Once up on the watershed, we’ll hopefully have views across to the Cairngorms before following the Suie Burn down to the River Livet and out to Glenlivet.

Along the route, the Rangers will talk about the Cultural and Natural History of the area and will be on hand to point out any wildlife along the route which could include Red Deer and various birds of prey including Golden Eagles and White-tailed Eagles.

Although starting off on patchy tarmac track the route is mainly rough landrover tracks with a number of small stream and river crossings. A larger river crossing towards the end can be avoided by a bridge further upstream but walkers should come prepared for potentially wet feet.

Mark Johnston is Head Ranger for the 23000ha Glenlivet Estate. The Crown Estate acquired Glenlivet (now managed by Crown Estate Scotland) in 1937 which today comprises over 30 let farms, 1500 acres of commercial forests and a sporting tenancy including grouse moors, salmon fishing and deer stalking.

Stephen Reeves is Head Ranger for the Dorenell Ranger Service, set up by EDF Renewables in July 2019 as part of the Dorenell Wind Farm on Cabrach and Glenfiddich estate. Based at the Dorenell Wind Farm Visitor Centre, the Rangers are responsible for delivering the Access Strategy and Habitat Management Plan whilst delivering environmental education and guided walks in the Cabrach and surrounding area.

A lively ceilidh band from Inverness and Speyside. Weaving together traditional ceilidh music with funk, ska beats and anything in between.

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Come along for an evening stroll along the banks of the River Livet, through woodland which is home to the rare Twinflower and finishing with spectacular views from Drumin Castle.

Join the Glenlivet Estate Ranger for a guided walk on a on circular trail with detours to Drumin Castle and Twinflower translocation site. This walk follows a beautiful section of the River Livet where dippers, wagtails and other riparian wildlife are often seen. It will visit woodland which contains the rare Twinflower, where we will look for the plant and hear about the translocation project we are working on in conjunction with Plantlife and Cairngorms National Park. We will then finish up at Drumin Castle hearing a little of its history and enjoy the views across the surrounding hills.

Information for attendees
This is a three mile mostly gentle walk, however, there are a few moderate slopes. Most of the walk will be on tracks but some can be muddy and uneven. Wear sturdy footwear and clothing suitable for the conditions. Bring binoculars and cameras if you have them.

This event is free, but donations to Plantlife are welcome on the day.

Accessibility
There are steps and off-track sections so this walk is not suitable for wheeled access. For specific accessibility enquiries, please contact Mark at mark.johnston@crownestatescotland.com

Parking and public transport
There is free parking at Drumin Castle Car Park.
Unfortunately, this event can’t be accessed by public transport.

Toilets
There are no toilets on the walk.
The closest public toilets are on Back Lane in Tomintoul which is 10 miles away or a 20 minute drive. Alternatively, there are public toilets in Albert Place Car Park in Dufftown which is 13 miles away or a 25 minute drive.

Dogs
Dogs on leads welcome.

The CLAN STUNT TEAM – Cairngorm Mountain

With over 1000 shows under their pedals, The Clan Stunt Show is an amazin’ showcase of stunts and tricks on 2 wheels –

Fun for all the family.

Time of shows: 12.30, 14h00, 15h30

Location: Cairngorm Mountain – Base Station

Other info: FREE EVENT – Please note visitors will will need to pay a £3 car park charge per vehicle.

An evening with Markus Stitz – author of Bikepacking Scotland, Great British Gravel Rides and round the world singlespeed cyclist.

Markus will talk about his new book Bikepacking Scotland, which features routes of different lengths which take in the best of the country, from the Ayrshire Alps, Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders in southern Scotland, through Perthshire’s unique drovers’ roads and the grand architecture of the Central Belt, across to Argyll’s islands on ferry-hopping adventures around Islay, a paradise for whisky connoisseurs, and Jura and Mull to spot magnificent golden eagles.

And of course the Scottish Highlands with an epic tour of the Cairngorms National Park, home to 25 per cent of Britain’s rare and endangered species, as well as the author’s own take on the North Coast 500 and more.

You will also hear more about Markus’ childhood growing up behind the Iron Curtain, his round the world trip on a singlespeed bike and bikepacking races in Kyrgyzstan, Morocco and Scotland.

Our time in the field will be spent enjoying our passion for Lepidoptera whilst learning more about identification, ecology and trapping techniques all of which will add to your overall enjoyment of natural history and your knowledge of the subject.

We will search for target species: Sword Grass, Scotch Flatbody (Exearetia ciniflora) and secondary species include Juniper Carpet.

Our time in the field will be spent enjoying our passion for Lepidoptera whilst learning more about identification, ecology and trapping techniques all of which will add to your overall enjoyment of natural history and your knowledge of the subject.

Over two days and nights we will look for Dark Bordered Beauty in the Aspen stands of the Dee, Aberdeenshire. This species is scarce and will require a focused trapping effort as well as daytime searches. We will also operate traps at higher altitude to try for a couple of Scottish specialities.

Target Species include Dark Bordered Beauty, Northern Dart and secondary species include Northern Arches, Cousin German, Chestnut-coloured Carpet, Grey Mountain Carpet, Pretty Pinion, Dark Tussock and Scotch Annulet.

Landseer – A Highland Romance

Sir Edwin Landseer was one of the greatest artists of the Victorian age.

He was inspired by the drama and mystery of the Highlands to paint a romantic vision of the landscape and its people in an exotic northern wilderness. Grantown Museum brings together rarely seen works by Landseer to explore how Highland culture has been shaped by his enduring imagery.

13th May – 30th Sept
Weekdays 10 -5
Weekends 11-3
£5

‘Arrival at a ball in Glenfeshie, The Duchess of Bedford and Party’ , credit: From the Woburn Abbey Collection