When is this event?
Did you know there are over 800 Health Walks taking place across Scotland each week? There are 12 in the Cairngorms National Park coordinated by the Cairngorms National Park Authority, and joining one of them is a great way to enjoy nature, make new friends and feel better!
Health Walks are short, safe, social, local, low level, with a trained leader to show you the way. From 10 minutes up to an hour, they are open to a wide range of abilities, although to ensure they are as safe and welcoming as possible we ask that no dogs other than assistance dogs are brought along.
If you join one of our groups, it will give you the chance to explore the outdoors, get to know the local area, meet new people and support your wellbeing!
Please note meeting days, times and locations can sometimes change in the course of the year. For the most up to date information, we recommend you visit www.cairngorms.co.uk/healthwalks to check details before you head along.
Image credit Will Hall.
Exploring the history, folklore and uses of the plants, trees and mushrooms found in the Highlands of Scotland on a foraging adventure in Grantown.
Learn how dandelions can be made into honey, how alder was seen as the cursed tree, and why juniper was burnt in illegal whisky stills. We follow the foraging code: “Never munch on a hunch”.
Explore how the village of Nethy Bridge developed in the last hundred years on this guided walk.
Visit the old railway station, the poorhouse and the remains of the WW2 Canadian Timber Camp.
Hear stories of a train explosion, rowdiness at the Hotel and a murder of a policeman that shocked the nation.
Walk Details: 2.5 hours, 4.7km long. Pavement and forest paths.
Explore scenic Carrbridge with its picture-postcard old packhorse bridge and beautiful pine forest.
Hear stories of how Tom nan Ceann (the Hill of Heads) got its name, the Speyside Coach and the 1914 railway disaster.
2.5 hours, accessible to most, 3.6km.
Explore Inverallan and Ballintomb to find out what was here before the town of Grantown was established in 1765.
See the ancient Pictish stone of Inverallan and learn about the mysterious Picts.
Hear stories of the courts of Ballintomb and investigate the Neolithic standing stones.
2.5 hours with rough terrain (fisherman path) Moderate fitness required.
Join us for an Open Water Swimming or Aquathlon experience you will never forget.
We aim to provide swimmers with exhilarating, challenging, enjoyable, safe and professionally organised events, whatever their age or ability.
We want as many people as possible to come and enjoy the incredible experience of open water swimming, from newbies to racing snakes. So, whether it’s your first time, or you’re looking for your next adventure, get out of the pool and take the plunge with Go Swim!.
World famous Loch Morlich is our venue – a truly spectacular location in the shadow of the mighty Cairngorms.
Loch Morlich is freshwater, and unusually has an amazing sandy beach – the highest in the UK!
The loch has a proud history of swimming and watersports, and we will be using the fantastic facilities associated with the Watersports Centre.
A guided walk of the Battle of Cromdale, the last Scottish battle of the 1689 Jacobite Rising.
Starting at Cromdale Church, we will explore the context of the Rising and the surprise attack on the Jacobite lookouts in the churchyard, before journeying to the site of the Jacobite encampment on Tom Lethendry. Here we will examine why the Jacobites chose Cromdale to encamp and the battle itself. At the ruins of Lethendry Castle, hear stories of how Generals Canon and Buchan escaped as well as how the government forces forced the garrison to surrender. Finally, back at the church, we will look at the aftermath of the battle and how it still impacts Britain today.
Explore the history of the Balmenach Distillery with its former whisky railway and discover the story of Caorunn Gin on this unique experience, bringing together a guided walk and a distillery tour.
The 2.5 hour walk will begin at the Balmenach distillery, home to Caorunn Gin. After journeying through the history of the distillery, we then follow the course of the old railway through the village of Cromdale to the old station which has been transformed its former glory.
We will then retrace our steps back to the distillery for an hour’s lunch break at an ideal picnic spot in the grounds of the distillery.
At 2pm, start a behind-the-scenes tour of the Caorunn distillery with the world’s only working copper berry chamber, used to infuse the gin with flavour of the foraged botanicals. After the tour embark on a tasting session of the flavours of the unique handcrafted gin.
The experience costs £30 per person, with a maximum of 8 people on the tour. With limited places, book now to avoid disappointment!
Join this behind the scenes tour to learn more about the gorgeous Invereshie and Inshriach National Nature Reserve and help with some practical woodland management.
Led by NatureScot, we will explore this special reserve – a mixture of pine plantation and naturally regenerating Caledonian forest, nestled under the stunning Cairngorm plateau.
We’ll learn how to manage woodlands, including the importance of deadwood to the forest ecosystem and discover how the Cairngorms Connect scientists monitor the health of the forest, with the help of some special insects.
After hearing about a variety of conservation techniques that are used to manage woodlands, you will be able to have a go yourself at a technique called ringbarking*
Friday 8th July
1pm-3:30pm
Meet at the Allt Ruadh car park – about 1.5miles past Lagganlia (grid ref: NH85260123)
This event is free but spaces are limited, so booking is essential!
There will be some walking on steep and uneven terrain, so suitable footwear and clothing is required.
*All tools and equipment required for the ringbarking will be provided. Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult.
Edward Mayer of Swift Conservation will be talking about Swifts, those most spectacular and charismatic urban birds, their sad decline and what every one of us can do about it. A keen birdwatcher since he was a child, Edward has devoted the past 20 years since retiring from his job at the Tate Gallery to working for Swifts, having noticed that the Swifts in his local population in London were declining rapidly. He designed and set up a website www.swift-conservation.org providing a wealth of information and conservation guidance, and then set about giving talks with the aim of inspiring people to set up local groups to assist Swifts both here in the UK and in Europe too. The results have been surprising and very gratifying, and he will tell us about them in this richly illustrated talk, which also doubles as a training class in how to help Swifts yourself. Edward will also be answering your questions about Swifts and how to help them, and pointing out where you can see them in Grantown on Spey, where the local Swift population is still in a very good state, some of them actually nesting in the Grant Arms own roof.
Where is this event being held?
Join our Mailing List
Sign up to get notified of the latest deals, news and all the latest information direct to your inbox.