Posts for February, 2025

Reach into the living landscape of the Northern Cairngorms in this immersive and creative workshop, accompanied by Ed’s creative input and professional eye as he guides you with expansive knowledge of his local wilderness.

Photograph light and movement as it glows through ancient forests and follow the flowing burns as they tumble down from the granite monoliths looming above. As you capture the essence of what it means to be amongst this living and ever-changing landscape, you will advance your photography skills and deep dive into creating a powerful narrative with your pictures.

From an all-inclusive accommodation base in Kingussie you will be guided through inspiring and evocative locations in the Northern Cairngorms, taking in the fresh light and colour of spring. Alongside Ed’s accomplished and specialist insight, two of the course days include the addition of a mountain leader to support access to more remote locations.

Saturday Sessions will set out on foot from Eleven41 Gallery on Kingussie High St, after meeting for a pre-departure coffee at 9am.

These instructional sessions will explore and open up creative possibilities within the local landscape, whatever the weather, focusing on photographic narrative and a variety of techniques to enjoy the variety of Kingussie’s local moors, woodlands, burns and landmarks.

As a Highland town Kingussie is very fortunate to have an expansive variety of outdoor terrain, accessible via a plethora of well made hill and woodland tracks made by the fantastic volunteers of Kingussie Community Development Company.

From capturing ethereal long exposures of the Gynack Burn rapids to dramatic plays of light along the Spey valley, or focusing on the micro details of the flora spotted along the way, these one-day sessions will bring your senses to the forefront in advancing what you can capture and the stories you will go on to tell from your own local landscape.

Join acclaimed local Strathspey musician and composer Hamish Napier for an imersive day delving into top trad tunes, arrangements and creativity. This workshop is designed for players who want to deepen their skills and explore traditional Scottish tunes in a welcoming group setting.
Open to people age 16+ who play a folk instrument at intermediate to advanced level.

We will focus on:
🎵 Expanding your trad session tune repertoire
🎶 Learn a few cracking local tunes from Badenoch & Strathspey
🎻 Exploring ornaments and variations to bring melodies to life
🎼 Learning how to arrange music for small folk ensembles

Come and kick your heels up at the Storylands Sessions Ceilidh Concert in the Kincraig Community Hall.

Celebrating the rich culture and connections of our Highland community, this multi-generational event brings together the best of traditional music, dance and storytelling with an upbeat, contemporary twist.

There will be music from Grantown piano player / dance-caller Hamish Napier, Cromdale fiddle player Eric Pirie and the Fèis Spè Junior Ceilidh Band. All the popular folk dances from the Gay Gordons to the Virginia Reel interwoven with performances from Merryn Glover and other writers, storytellers and poets, this is set to be a very special night.

BYOB – Bring your own drinks. Juice, teas and coffees provided.

Image credit Peter Dennis

Join acclaimed musician and composer Hamish Napier for a series of engaging folk music workshops, designed for players who want to deepen their skills and explore traditional Scottish tunes in a welcoming group setting.

🎵 Expand your trad tune repertoire
🎻 Explore ornaments and variations to bring melodies to life
🎼 Learn how to arrange music for small folk ensembles

Open to people age 16+ who play a folk instrument at intermediate to advanced level.

Strathfest is up and running again this year, with competitions from 24th February to 27th February, culminating in a Showcase concert on Saturday 1st March. Competitions, spread along the Strath, are open to all school age youngsters, in classes covering traditional instruments, classical instruments, singing and Gaelic.

Some of the winners will be performing in the Showcase Concert, 6.30pm in the YMCA Community Centre, High Street, Grantown-on-Spey. Everybody is welcome to come and enjoy the youngsters’ music for a suggested donation of £5. An appreciative audience will be a great encouragement to the young musicians.

See https://www.strathfest.org to discover the heritage and scope of this long-running festival.

How do I become an instructor?

The honest answer is it’s not for everyone, but if you choose to answer the call and step out of your comfort zone, the rewards and the personal growth you experience are beyond belief. Even if you don’t want to become an instructor, you can still immerse yourself fully in the experience of a lifetime as you complete the most empowering course on the planet… The Firewalk Instructor Training!

The time you spend with your fellow delegates during the training, will be one of the most challenging, but worthwhile experiences you will have… ever!

Training
Throughout The Firewalk Instructor Training, you will learn all you need to know to be able host and facilitate your own empowering events including firewalking, but you will learn so much more. You will learn about the nature of fear, and how it will affect your audience, and understand what tools and resources you can use to get the very best from everyone in the room!

Workshops
Team Building exercises
Eliminating Limiting Beliefs using metaphor
Breaking through Fear
Overcoming Obstacles and Barriers
The Power of Focus
Risk & Safety in your seminar
Hazards – Identifying and eliminating
Creating The Elements of your course
Fire building, safety & management
Firewalk preparation and delivery
Hands On Empowerment Training Classes
Firewalking
Glass Walking
Board Breaking with Bare Hands
Brick Breaking with Bare Hands
Arrow Breaking with your Throat
Steel Bar Bending with your Throat
Falling into Friends

Hands On Empowerment Training Classes
Firewalking
Glass Walking
Board Breaking with Bare Hands
Brick Breaking with Bare Hands
Arrow Breaking with your Throat
Steel Bar Bending with your Throat
Falling into Friends

Join us at The Boat Country Inn, Boat of Garten for an evening of indulgence and discovery at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. Hosted by the charismatic Hamish Malcolm, also known as The Dram Caddy, this exclusive event brings together the rich flavours of five exquisite Speyside whiskies paired perfectly with artisanal charcuterie.

The Stagecoach number 37 or X37 travels through Boat of Garten.

Settle in for an unforgettable experience as Hamish shares the stories behind each dram, weaving in a delightful golfing theme that adds a unique twist to the evening. From the smooth notes of Tomintoul Single Malt to the bold character of Glen Elgin Fable Piper, each whisky promises to be a highlight of the night.

Indulge your senses, savor the finest Speyside has to offer, and connect with fellow whisky enthusiasts in this intimate celebration of Scotland’s liquid gold.

Book your tickets now spaces are limited!

Our fully inter-generational themed shows draw out the storytelling, music, poetry and song of the area, and feature an invited guest to share about their work in the arts, heritage, ecology or adventure spheres.

Our young performers will be programmed into the first half, but are welcome to stay the whole time, and our guest will feature in the second half.

Follow the booking link for guidance on how to contribute at a Storylands Sessions event.

We welcome:

– folk who just want to come along and listen. You don’t have to perform to be taking part and thunderous applause is always appreciated!
– all kinds of stories: historical, myth and legend, your own experiences – or a mix!
– poetry: ideally your own, but your faves from other poets are welcome, too
– music: traditional, contemporary, original or borrowed; instrumental or sung; solo or ensemble
– art, photography, video and other multi-media presentations

Calling writers and artists! Or those who’d just like to give it a go. Ignite your creativity with this series of word and image workshops in this exciting partnership between the Highland Folk Museum and Storylands Sessions. Join us in responding to the the lesser-known stories of the Highlands, inspired by images of unique objects from the Museum’s collection.

Each month, we will gather online via ZOOM (or similar) to explore intriguing artefacts. These objects act as springboards for imaginative journeys – stories, poems, memoirs, or drama – with no limitation on genre or style and no expectation to focus on history or the Highlands. Let the objects spark your creativity and see where it takes you!

The workshops are offered to anyone aged 16+, with no writing experience necessary.

Visual artists are also warmly invited to make responses to the objects in your chosen medium. Please book in the normal way and supply your own materials.