Posts for March, 2022

Legendary Braemar is a new commission from St Margaret’s, exploring landscape, love and legends: tales from the village and upper Deeside area.


A collaboration in music and storytelling, Legendary Braemar features original music from award-winning duo Chris Stout (fiddle) and Catriona Mckay (harp) and stories selected and retold by North East Makar Sheena Blackhall and actor Hamish Somers.


This new work is created especially for the magical, intimate surrounds of St Margaret’s Braemar, drawing inspiration from this unique corner of the Grampians which has borne witness to major historical events, hosting kings, queens, Jacobite rebels and mysterious murders — spawning countless ghost stories and local legends. Little wonder it was Braemar that inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to create one of the most fiendish villains in literature in the form of Long John Silver.


The performers will weave together spoken word and music, immersing the audience in this world of local lore and legend.

Highly acclaimed Scottish saxophonist Tommy Smith OBE performs live in St Margaret’s for an intimate and personal performance. There will be no form of amplification to allow Tommy to use and experiment with the natural acoustics of St Margaret’s. This special performance will be a part of Tommy’s April tour across the country in association with Scotland on Tour.

Born in Edinburgh, Smith grew up in the housing schemes and began his prolific career at 14 when his quartet won Best Band, and he received Best Musician Trophy at the 1981 Edinburgh Jazz Festival. A year later, he was invited to appear on the TV show ‘Jazz at the Gateway’ with Niels Henning Ørsted Petersen and Jon Christensen; toured with the European Youth Jazz Orchestra, and recorded his quintet for BBC Radio. At 16, he released his first two albums, Giant Strides and Taking Off! and studied at Berklee with financial assistance from Sean Connery.
He joined Gary Burton’s quintet after a recommendation from Chick Corea at 18, toured worldwide, and recorded on ECM’s album Whiz Kids. Smith has documented over thirty solo albums for Blue Note, Linn, ECM and his own Spartacus Record label; toured 50+ countries, composed over 300 works, and collaborated with musicians, poets, and visual artists, including Arild Andersen, Scofield, MacCaig, Alan Davie, Kenny Munro, Jaco, Wheeler, DeJohnette, Liz Lochhead, Christine de Luca, Trilok, and poet Edwin Morgan who he developed a unique artistic relationship in 1996 collaborating on 55 works of poetry and music.

In 1995 he established the SNJO and ensured its progress until funding began in 1998. He founded the TSYJO in 2002 to provide an educational opportunity for the country’s best young jazz musicians and fought to establish the first full-time jazz course in Scotland. In 2009 Smith was appointed head of Jazz at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and became Professor in 2010.

Smith holds numerous jazz accolades: 2 BBC, 2 British, 2 UK Parliamentary and 9 Scottish – Jazz Awards. His contributions to Jazz were recognised nationally when in 1998, he became the youngest-ever recipient of an honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in recognition of his extraordinary artistic achievement. He subsequently received honorary doctorates from Glasgow Caledonian and Edinburgh Universities. In 2019 he was given an OBE for services to Jazz from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Exhibition of fine art and crafts inspired by the landscape and wildlife of the Cairngorms National Park.
Crafts include glass, tweed, jewellery, ceramics, and wood.

A young Han Solo finds adventure when he joins forces with a gang of galactic smugglers and a 190 year old Wookie named Chewbacca. Indebted to the gangster Dryden Vos, the crew devises a daring plan to travel to the mining planet Kessel to steal a batch of valuable coaxium.

Join us at The Grantown Community Cinema based at Grantown YMCA for some family fun.

A selection of drinks and snacks can be purchased prior to the film, please don’t bring your own. This is a community funded project raising funds for the Grantown YMCA as a community centre for all. Visitors and locals welcome.

Please adhere to current Covid-19 guidelines and follow any instructions or posters within the YMCA building.

Having made a makeshift family, Peter can’t shift his mischievous reputation. He leaves the garden for a new life, but his family risks everything to come looking for him. Peter must figure out what kind of bunny he wants to be.

Join us at The Grantown Community Cinema based at Grantown YMCA for some family fun.

A selection of drinks and snacks can be purchased prior to the film, please don’t bring your own. This is a community funded project raising funds for the Grantown YMCA as a community centre for all. Visitors and locals welcome.

Please adhere to current Covid-19 guidelines and follow any instructions or posters within the YMCA building.

A stunning 10k Trail Run on our magnificent Cairngorm Estate and Deer Farm. Experience rolling hills, the beautiful meandering River Don and more breathtaking scenery you will never forget. This Epic 10k Trail Run is suitable for most abilities and will be sure to put you to the test. With nearly 300m elevation gain you will be heading to the summit of Clachcurr, and traversing the ridge along side our Red Deer Herd, to the otherside of the estate before descending through monument Valley!

Only £28 per person! If you book before February 28th tickets are just £26 per person!! Age 16+, Under 18s must accompanied by a particicpating adult!

Registration Starts at 09:30am and finishes at 10:30am, Ready for an 11:00am Race Start!



Whats Included:


-Electronic Chip Timing!

– 1/2 way Water station

-Fully Marked out route, easy to follow

-Bespoke wooden medals for all who finish

-1st place Stag Trophy!

-First Aid

-Free Parking on site

More Info:

Strathdon Ranch’s Adventure Forest will be available for spectators to use during the race, along with their delicious Wood Fired Pizza Cafe!

Ideal for kids and Families supporting their racer!

There is no Bag drop off for the Race, please leave all valuables in your car.

Please arrive from 9:00am to allow time for you to get registered and ready to set off for an 11:00am start.

Award Ceremony at 1:30pm

Refreshments Available from 9:00am

Woodfired Pizzas Available from 11:00am -3:00pm

Easter Sunday family egg hunt at Loch Insh!

Good Friday, 15th April 2022

Family Curry Quiz and Skating

Gordie Peters delivers a fun night with both Karoake and some amazing vocals.

Live in our Bothy Bar