Posts for October, 2025

Grantown and vicinity has a long tradition of brewers and distillers, licensed premises and off-licences. Join us on this virtual tour as we peer into dark corners and bright lounges and hear astonishing tales of some characters of long ago and more recent times. Researched and presented by Bill Sadler. (Drinks may be brought through from the bar!).

This workshop will be delivered by Clare-Louise Battersby and is designed for artists, makers, and creative practitioners who wish to explore how their practice can align more deeply with place, land, and non-extractive ways of working. Rooted in the principles of biophilic design and the Gaelic concept of Dùthchas, the session invites participants to reconnect with their creative practice through sensory exploration, storytelling, and material reflection.

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 autumn, journey back through thousands of years of history at Inveravon Church, set along the beautiful River Spey. This exhibition, generously loaned from Grantown Museum, traces the story of the very first people who encountered this landscape as the Ice Age ended, through to the arrival of Picts and early Christians.

Explore how early hunter-gatherer societies lived, and learn about local hillforts and sacred sites, and how the enigmatic Pictish symbol stones connect us to this past. The Inveravon Pictish symbol stones are also on display, with interpretation that helps us understand their meaning and significance.

Whether you are fascinated by archaeology, heritage, or simply curious about the lives of those who walked this land before us, this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to uncover the layers of history woven into the Spey valley.

This exhibition was made possible with funding from Museums Galleries Scotland.

Classical Concert with the Braeriach Quartet and Friends. Entry by donation. Refreshments from 6.30pm in the Wheatley Hall (attached to the church) and concert starts at 7pm.

Acclaimed local composer and musician Hamish Napier is joined by Patsy Reid, one of Scotland’s finest fiddle players, for a special folk concert followed by a community ceilidh dance. Doors open 6.30pm. CONCERT 7pm to 8pm then after a break for refreshments and raffle (bring CASH for raffle) CEILIDH from 8.30pm to 09.30pm. Licensed bar, teas & coffees, prize raffle. Free venue parking.

A wide range of events including walks, tours, talks and concerts, with something for everyone interested in learning more about heritage around Badenoch – come and join us as we celebrate, learn about and remember the heritage of this wonderful region.

The full programme of events can be seen here (since printing the Kingussie of Old event will be rescheduled for later in the year – we hope it will take place in October as one of our Winter Talks).

Folk in the Forest returns for another year; RSPB Loch Garten invites you to an unforgettable day of traditional music and storytelling, in the heart of Abernethy Forest.

Join the dynamic and witty Anna Massie, one of Scotland’s finest trad guitarists; award-winning Orcadian fiddler Kristan Harvey, known for her powerful playing with Blazin’ Fiddles and FARA; and captivating storyteller David Hughes, whose mythic tales bring the forest to life, for a spellbinding afternoon of live music and storytelling inspired by the natural world.

The Loch Garten Nature Centre, with its vaulted ceilings and panoramic forest views, offers the perfect atmospheric setting to sit back with a hot drink and soak up the sounds of Scotland’s rich cultural heritage.

Select from a matinee or evening show
1pm-3pm – https://events.rspb.org.uk/events/131138
7pm-9pm – https://events.rspb.org.uk/events/131068

*This is a fully covered, indoor event within the visitor centre.

“What’s in a Name?”: The first of this season’s Grantown Society talks is by Neil Macgregor, with special reference to Gaelic place names around Grantown including tales of landscape, crofts and characters and perhaps even a mention of your own homestead!

Talk is on Friday 19th September at 7.30pm in the Grant Arms Hotel following our Grantown Society AGM (for members only) commencing 7pm.

All next week in the Hub, there will be an interactive display on the theme of place names, and linked to that, a short leisurely “walk with history” entitled “Six Sovereigns and a Shepherdess” will leave from The Grantown Hub (2 High St.) on Thurs.

18th September at 10.30am.

General knowledge quiz from The Grantown Society in aid of the Fiddler of Strathspey Festival.

Drinks available from the bar of the Royal British Legion bar before the quiz starts at 7.30pm sharp.

Teams of 6 maximum.