Posts for June, 2025

An opportunity for local S1-S3s (for the 2024-25 year) interested in art, creativity and this amazing landscape.

Landscape Creatives is an opportunity for local young people to explore art and creativity through different landscapes, habitats and species. Based at Badaguish Outdoor Centre and working outdoors as much as possible through a series of workshops, we’ll create and reflect on the wellbeing and positive futures of landscapes we’re all part of.

Free to attend and no special skills required, just a keen interest in exploring and learning about nature in creative ways, including choreography, film-making and drawing.

We are asking young people interested in taking part to complete a short expression of interest form, available on our website: https://bit.ly/LandscapeCreatives

Deadline for expressions of interest: Wednesday 25th June 2025.

We are so delighted to be welcoming back The Three Inch Fools to The Dell for what is always such a fun filled evening for all the family. The Most Perilous Comedie of Elizabeth 1 is a stage set for regicidal rivalries, devious dramatics and plotting playwrights.

The performance will be on our lawn on the evening of Sunday 6th July, with plenty space for you to bring your own picnic rugs and deck chairs. You are very welcome to bring your own food, but we will be running a bar so no BYOB.

Head to the link to get your tickets and not miss out on the fun – early bird tickets available until 31st March

The Craft Fayre at Blair Atholl Village Hall is in its 5th year.

They support makers, bakers and creators from the local area whom showcase and sell what they make.

They gather together in the hall once a month over the season.

Please wonder down if you’re in the area and show our great community some support.

Enjoy four open-air cinema screenings, in the picturesque setting of Balmoral Castle’s North lawn.

During the day, included in the General Admission ticket, the whole family are invited to enjoy a film screening on the North lawn.

The screenings will be ‘Paddington in Peru’ on the 26th July, and ‘Moana 2’ on the 2nd August.

There will be other activities available throughout the day, such as a Birds of Prey display, the return of our Balmoral BBQ, and other stalls and attractions still to be announced.

Bring your camping chairs, blankets and refreshments to enjoy an outdoor screening of Wicked on the 26th July, and The Greatest Showman on the 2nd August, on Balmoral Castle’s North lawn.

Food and snacks can be purchased from the Balmoral BBQ, as well as other food stalls.

This is a separate ticketed event, permitting entry to the grounds from 5pm, for a 6pm screening, on the day in question.

“Glenlivet — it has castles three: Drumin, Blairfindy and Deskie…”

Step back in time and explore the hidden histories of Glenlivet on this easy, guided walk to the recently conserved 16th-century tower house of Blairfindy.

We begin at the world-famous Glenlivet Distillery, where our journey through one of Scotland’s most iconic glens begins — a landscape once shaped by powerful families, illicit distillers, and whisky smugglers.

On the way, enjoy stunning views and discover:

· Tales of smuggling and illicit stills in the hills of Glenlivet
· The strategic role of castles like Blairfindy
· How Glenlivet became a name known around the world for whisky

Blairfindy Castle, completed in 1564 by John Gordon, is a remarkable L-plan tower house — still standing proud after centuries. Thanks to recent conservation efforts by the Tomintoul & Glenlivet Landscape Partnership and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the castle is open to visitors for the first time in decades and now also supports nesting birds and pollinators.

Meeting point: Outside the Glenlivet Distillery Stillhouse
(under the green signpost marked “Blairfindy Castle ½ mile”)

Parking: Available at the Glenlivet Distillery car park

Booking advised: Reserve your spot in advance or email to confirm Heritage Ranger availability.

Suggested donation: £4 (supporting local heritage tourism – free for under-16s)

Family-friendly: Children love castles — and they’re very welcome!

Join us for a history walk through the world-famous glen of Glenlivet.

We would like to express thanks to Foundation Scotland, who help to fund this event through the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Famous Courageous John Roy Stuart poet and warrior in Love and War reinacted by Michael Nevin with Bill Taylor harpist Jason Faulkner bag piper and Sheena Farquhar folk singer

Step back in time and uncover the mystery of the Picts with the Glenlivet & Inveravon Heritage and Dark Sky Ranger. This engaging talk and tour will introduce you to the Pictish people, their unique art, and the symbol stones that continue to inspire centuries after they were carved.

Set within the ancient and atmospheric site of Inveravon Church—an important place of worship and pilgrimage for generations—we’ll closely examine the intricate carvings on the four remarkable Pictish stones discovered here. You’ll learn how these enigmatic symbols fit into a wider cultural story and how the Picts helped lay the foundations of modern Scotland.

This is an opportunity to connect with Scotland’s ancient past, surrounded by the stunning scenery of Speyside.

Practical Information:

Meeting point: Access to Inveravon Church and burial ground is via a single-track road off the A95, about half a mile north of the entrance to Ballindalloch Castle. Follow the brown tourist sign for the Inveravon Pictish Stones.

Parking: Available at the bottom of the drive and in front of the church building.

Family-friendly: Young visitors are often fascinated by the Picts and are warmly encouraged to attend. All children and youth under 16 attend free.

Inveravon Church is currently under threat of closure and sale by the Church of Scotland. The local community is working hard to preserve it as a heritage centre and community hub. Your support helps keep this unique site alive and accessible for future generations.

Please note that toilet facilities are not available on site. Public toilets are available in Cragganmore at Ballindalloch Station on the Speyside Way or in Aberlour.

Well behaved dogs may attend but must be leashed.

This event is generously funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Enjoy an afternoon of poetry celebrating the languages of Scotland at Braemar Castle. Joining us will be Miriam Gamble and Peter Mackay for a special walk-through event, combining a reading and tour of the castle.

Miriam Gamble is a Northern Irish poet. She has published three collections with Bloodaxe Books, The Squirrels Are Dead, Pirate Music and What Planet. In 2020 What Planet was awarded the Piggott Poetry Prize, the most valuable poetry prize in Ireland. Miriam lectures in creative writing at the University of Edinburgh.

Peter Mackay is a Gaelic poet originally from the Isle of Lewis. His poetry collections are Gu leòr/Galore and Nàdar de/Some Kind Of. He has also written critical books on the work of Sorley MacLean, Wordsworth and Seamus Heaney. Peter lectures at the University of St Andrews and in 2024 was named the new Scottish Makar.

In association with the University of Aberdeen

Come and see / try heritage crafts in action. There will be demos across the site of traditional skills including rope making, spinning & weaving, waulking the cloth, tradition games and lots more!! Don’t miss the coracles on the Sawmill Pond and visit the Smiddy to see the Blacksmith in action.

No need to book just drop in and enjoy! There will be a full list of demos for each day available at reception. Activities 11am—1.00pm and 2.00—4.00pm each day. (Activities may differ on different dates.)