When is this event?
Treasure Hunt: along the High St., Grantown. Let’s see if any eagle-eyed youngsters can find the miniature musical instruments in Grantown’s glorious shop windows! Forms to complete available from the Grantown Hub, YM Community Centre and on-line at https://www.fiddlerofstrathspey.co.uk.
Join us for an activity-packed, history-focused charity day at Blair Castle, set against the stunning landscapes of Highland Perthshire.
Sunday 13th October 2024 10:00 AM – 16:00 PM
Ticket includes lunch in the ballroom plus exclusive activities
£25 per adult, £11.50 per child. (For children under 5, admission is free.)
This autumn, we are excited to present our “Women of Blair” charity day in collaboration with Smart Works Scotland, a remarkable charity that empowers women to re-enter the workforce through clothing and coaching. By purchasing a ticket, you’ll be supporting this important cause.
The ticket price includes a warm buffet lunch in the ballroom, where a cosy open fire will be lit. Female staff from the estate will be available to answer any questions about their role in this history-rich organisation.
Additionally, several special activities will be running on the day, you must book your place on each activity. Activities can only be booked if you are a Women of Blair x Smart Works Scotland ticket holder. All proceeds from the day will be donated to Smart Works Scotland.
We will have a designated Smart Works Scotland clothes drop-off area at the castle, please bring any workwear you would like to donate to the charity.
Hercules Garden Tour with Gardener, Jim
10:00 – 11:00
Join our knowledgeable gardener, Jim, as he guides you through the beautiful garden, sharing his expertise on the herbaceous borders, fruit trees, and vibrant pond.
Children’s Mini Ranger Experience with Ranger, Julia
10:00 – 11:00
The perfect activity for little rangers! Join Julia as she shows children what it’s like to be a ranger. She’ll explain how she monitors the wildlife on the estate, and together, you’ll help tidy a small area—stacking tree branches so wildlife can enjoy a new habitat. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Nature Walk with Ranger, Julia
11:15 – 12:15
Be at one with nature and enjoy the autumn colours on a walk through a variety of habitats, including woodlands, meadows, and hedgerows. Julia will share insights into the wildlife residing at Blair Castle, and with a bit of luck, you’ll spot some of it too.
‘Women of Blair’ History Talk with Archivist, Keren
12:45 – 13:15
Step back in time and listen to captivating stories of how the duchesses lived in the castle over the years. Discover their daily routines, way of life, and the visitors who came to stay.
Lunch in the Ballroom with Atholl Estate’s Staff
13:00 – 14:30
Warm up after an autumnal walk and join some of the great female staff of Atholl Estates for a cozy buffet lunch in the ballroom. The fire will be lit, making this a really special autumnal lunch.
Castle Tour with Head Guide, Magda
14:45 – 15:45
Focusing on the incredible women who lived in and visited Blair Castle, Magda will guide you through its rooms, each revealing fascinating stories about the Women of Blair.
What’s on for children
Colouring competition in the Banvie hall
If you were starting a new job, what would your outfit look like? Would it be bright and colourful, or smart and stylish? Draw your best idea, and you could win a prize!
Adventure playground
Brand new for 2024 is our hidden playground in the woods. Our forest play area features a fantastic assault course for children to run, jump, balance and climb among the trees. It includes a wooden castle fort perfect for imaginative play and a sheltered picnic area with rustic log seating.
Children’s Mini Ranger Experience with Ranger, Julia
The perfect activity for little rangers! Join Julia as she shows children what it’s like to be a ranger. She’ll explain how she monitors the wildlife on the estate, and together, you’ll help tidy a small area—stacking tree branches so wildlife can enjoy a new habitat. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
About the charity
Smart Works are a UK based charity that exists to give women the confidence they need to reach their full potential, secure employment and change the trajectory of their lives. The women who go to Smart Works are referred from Job Centres, mental health charities, women’s refugees, homeless shelters, the prison service, care service and youth organisations.
63% of clients secure a job in a month. Once a woman has gained a role, she is welcomed back for a Second Dressing and receives a capsule wardrobe to last until her first pay cheque.
There will be a work clothes donation box at the castle, please bring any unwanted smart clothing to donate to the charity.
In this workshop we will be making the Pathfinder Vest from Twig & Tale – which is a great starting point for learning to sew outerwear. It can be made with or without hood, with different fastenings and pockets. There are also the options to include Animal Add Ons – a range of fun ears, tails & pockets to create Animal themed vests
This course is designed for those with basic machine skills – knowing how to set up, thread and sew straight seams.
During the workshop we will learn:
– How to read the pattern and cut our pieces
– Constructing the vest
– Adding ears, tails etc (optional)
What’s Included
– Pathfinder Vest pattern – Adult or Child
– Animal Add on pattern (optional)
– All equipment, threads etc
What you will need
– Outer Fabric – Wool, Wool blends, corduroy, denim, fleece or softshell (upcycled blankets work really well)
– Lining Fabric – cotton, linen, flannel, thin fleece
– You may wish to get a thread which matches or co-ordinates with your fabric (many fabric retailers offer a thread matching service)
Once booked we will contact you to discuss measurements & which size you wish to make & inform you how much fabric you will need.
For this course we will be using the Polychromatic pattern from Elizabeth Hartman – which contains instructions for the rainbow block pattern which you can then use to create a pillow case & small or large quilt. We’ll be making the pillow case in this workshop but you will go away with the skills for all the options.
This course is designed for those with basic machine skills – knowing how to set up, thread and sew straight seams.
During the workshop we will learn:
– How to read the pattern and cut our pieces
– Sewing together the rainbow block
– Construction the pillow case back pieces
– Attaching the batting with quilting stitches
– Constructing the pillowcase
What you will need
– Rainbow: 4 Fat Quarters (precise measurements below if you want to use scraps)
– Background Fabric: 0.5m
– Backing Fabric: 1m
– Muslin/Lightweight cotton: 1m
– You may wish to get a thread which matches or co-ordinates with your fabric for quilting.
For more details on fabric please see our website
Socks are a hugely popular knitted item. We will be using the free pattern from Tin Can Knits – the Rye socks. This is a great beginners sock pattern, with simple techniques & a nice garter pattern feature. The pattern has 7 different sizes and can be worked in 4ply, DK or Aran yarn.
We know everyone knits at different speeds so we will be knitting a baby size pair of socks, using Aran yarn – giving everyone the opportunity to finish at least one sock
During the workshop we will learn:
– Casting on & working the rib
– Creating a flap & turning the Heel
– Working the Foot
– Decreasing for Toe
What you will need
– Aran Yarn (80m, roughly 1x 100g ball max)
– 3.25mm & 3.75mm needles, either a set of 4-5 double pointed needles or circular needs (we recommend 40-60cm cable length)*
*Needles – these are the sizes specified for the pattern, but if you are knitting these socks only for the purpose of this workshop then 3.5/4mm needles will work just as well
This knitting skill opens up a whole collection of new patterns & techniques!
We will learn to cast on in the round & working both stoking & garter stitch to create a cowl
Then we will create a toddler size pair of mittens to learn increasing & decreasing in the round.
We will be working with free patterns from Tin Can Knits
You will need to bring
– Aran Yarn (92-165m for cowl, 65m for mittens, roughly 2 balls max)
– 4mm & 5mm needles, either a set of 4-5 double pointed needles or circular needs (we recommend 40-60cm cable length
Full concert programme featuring all the talents: Paul Anderson, Shona Donaldson, Feis Spe Junior Band and Monadh Ruadh, Belle Voce Choir, Badenoch Ladies Waulking Group, Reel Scotch. Organised by The Grantown Society SCIO in furtherance of its community aims and objectives. Fundraising prize raffle. See website www.fiddlerofstrathspey.co.uk for full description of all Festival events.
Speyside Hotel, Grantown-on-Spey. Original and classical pieces performed by Dmytro Moraykit, piano; Andrew Harden clarinet; Braeriach String Quartet. Organised by The Grantown Society as a unique curtain-raiser to Fiddler of Strathspey Festival 2024. Pre-concert supper option available (combined ticket, supper at 7pm).
During Scottish Archaeology Month, join local archaeologist Dave Macleod and STGA guide John Halliday on a walk over part of the Dava Moor. Explore recorded archaeological sites over four thousand years from the Bronze Age to the coming of the railway and some that Dave has discovered himself. John will recount stories about the people and the place in more recent times and both shed more light on this fascinating place that so many people come to explore by foot and bike.
The Dava Moor, a wild, bleak or romantic spot north of Grantown. Walk with John as he reveals during Scottish Archaeology Month, the history, legends, placenames and former settlements of a previous time. Part of the route will retrace that which John took Cameron McNeish on in an episode of ‘Roads Less Travelled’ for BBC Scotland’s Adventure Show.
John Halliday is a local STGA guide for the Northern Highlands. Local to Grantown, his family have lived in the area for generations. He regularly leads walks in and around Grantown and has written three books on Strathspey placenames, myths and legends.
Where is this event being held?
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