Posts for January, 2026

Immerse yourself in creative fun for a morning of nature painting with Ellie Dimambro-Denson.

In 2024, Ellie challenged herself to walk 250 kilometres across the Cairngorms Connect partnership: the UK’s biggest habitat restoration project and 600 square kilometres of ancient forest, peaty bog, and magnificent mountains.

On her journey she captured her experiences in beautiful watercolour, using natural pigments she made herself from the plants that grow within the landscape.

Join us at the Loch Garten Nature Centre for a beginner’s workshop on the world of wild watercolours:

~ Get an introduction to making paint pigments from nature

~ Learn tips & tricks on how best to capture your favourite scenes through watercolour

~ Enjoy the mindfulness and peace of painting in an ancient forest location

This workshop is for beginners but all abilities are welcome!

This is an indoor event at the Loch Garten Nature Centre but please bring warm layers in case you feel inclined to take inspiration directly from the outdoors! The centre is a short, 3-4 minute walk from the car park over even ground, however if you require further assistance, an all-terrain wheelchair is available to use for free. Please contact us in advance if required.

Royal Deeside’s annual art exhibition, featuring the artwork of around 40 artists from across the North East and Cairngorms, working in a variety of mediums. Exhibition includes original paintings, drawings, jewellery and sculpture as well as prints and cards.

Open daily in Aboyne’s Victory Hall 10am-6pm between July 11th and August 1st 2026. Find out more on our website and Instagram/Facebook @artaboyne.

Available 23th – 25th January 2026

Is there a better place to celebrate Burns night than in the Highlands of Scotland?

Experience a taste of the Scottish Highlands this Burns Weekend at the Cairngorm Hotel Aviemore.

Our special menu features locally sourced, seasonal dishes bursting with flavour, from Scottish salmon and black pudding scotch eff and, of course, the classic Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties to a twist on our classic Sundae.

Why not make a night of it and stay over.

Is there a better place to celebrate Burns night than in the Highlands of Scotland?


Experience a taste of the Scottish Highlands this Burns Night at The Boat Country Inn.

Our special menu features locally sourced, seasonal dishes bursting with flavour, from tasty mushrooms to Scottish salmon and, of course, the classic Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties.

Experience the passion and drama of Moulin Rouge in this adults-only dance workshop! Explore theatrical moves inspired by the iconic musical, bringing the romance, energy, and flair of the world of cabaret to life.

After the workshop, unwind with our own showing of Moulin Rouge on the big screen, immersing yourself in the unforgettable songs and dramatic love story that has captivated audiences worldwide.

Unleash your inner vaudeville vixen in the final chapter of our Cell Block Tango experience!

Join us for an adults-only dance workshop inspired by the iconic world of the hit musical, Chicago. But that’s not all – after dancing, settle in for a special screening of Chicago on the big screen! Experience the glitz, glamour, and unforgettable music of the film while celebrating all your energy from the workshop.

For our Christmas special screening, as requested by our community, we bring you CINEMA PARADISO! Come and enjoy it on the big screen for our final event of the year.

Giuseppe Tornatore’s classic gem of nostalgic cinephilia from 1988. A celebration of youth, friendship and the everlasting magic of the movies, Cinema Paradiso won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and is considered a classic of world cinema.

The story of Salvatore, a successful film director, returning home for the funeral of Alfredo, his old friend who was the projectionist at the local cinema throughout his childhood.Soon memories of his first love affair with the beautiful Elena and all the highs and lows that shaped his life come flooding back, as Salvatore reconnects with the community he left 30 years earlier.

As usual, doors will be 6.30pm, with film on at 6.40pm.

Fiver tickets for all.
Run by the community, for the community.

We are very excited to bring back Indie Fridays, where we can celebrate independent businesses and crafters on the run up to Christmas. The Dell Grocer will be open as usual on a Friday until the slightly later time of 6pm, with an array of gorgeous gifts and decorations. Why not pick yourself up a custom made hamper, grab a glass of mulled cider and some of our tasty samples and just soak up the festive feels. We also have gift vouchers available to purchase, another great idea for a Christmas present!
If you aren’t able to make it along to our Grocer then everything is available to buy online and you can add a little note to your order if you wish for it to be packed up as a hamper. We are also offering free UK delivery for orders over £50.

Our Indie Fridays will be starting up on Friday 28th November and running through till 19th December. The Grocer will be open as normal every day (except Sundays) from 9 – 5pm with fresh sourdough from KJs Bakery available on Fridays.

Nestle in with us to watch this festive favourite for an afternoon filled with laughter, warmth, and the spirit of the season.
Doors Open 230pm, screening begins 3pm sharp.
Fresh home made popcorn, home baking and hot drinks available to purchase.
In the spirit of a reformed Scrooge, bring along an item to donate to Moray Food Plus – download the Bank the Food App to see which items are needed or email markjohnston2019@outlook.com.
Bring along your favourite puppet or cuddly toy to keep you company.

Join us at The Iona Gallery in Kingussie for a fantastic weekend filled with creativity and delicious cuisine. This weekend is all about celebrating culture, community and supporting a great cause.

We will be accepting donations on the door for Hope & Play, a UK-based charity supporting Palestinian children. All donations beyond covering event costs will be given to them, and 100% of each donation goes towards their projects on food and water, art and play, and education.

**Registration is needed for some parts of the event, marked below, due to venue capacity. Other parts of the event are drop-in with no registration required.**



Friday 28 November

Film night with mint tea!

7pm for a prompt 7.30pm start – please register

We are delighted to share two award-winning films: ‘Foragers’ by Jumana Manna (60 mins), plus another short Palestinian film.

‘Foragers’ depicts the dramas around the practice of foraging for wild edible plants in Palestine/Israel with wry humor and a meditative pace. Shot in the Golan Heights, the Galilee and Jerusalem, it moves between fiction, documentary and archival footage to portray the impact of Israeli nature protection laws on these customs. ‘Foragers’ captures the inherited love, joy and knowledge in these traditions alongside their resilience to the prohibitive law.

Suggested donation: £10 – cash or card on the night.



Saturday 29 November

A day of family activities, crafts and art, Palestinian food, and talks. We invite you to join some or all of the day!

We will have a quiet reading area with books and resources, and will also be selling Palestinian products provided by Highland Wholefoods (great as Christmas presents!) Payments by card or cash.

10.30am-12.30pm – drop in (no registration needed)

Crafts and activities, including:

Lego printing – with Colleen Coe, Timber + Stitch Studio
Kite-making
Storytelling – Palestinian folktales with Sarah Hobbs, Strathspey Storywalks
Colouring – Palestinian tatreez (embroidery) and Islamic patterns, contributed by artist Lizzie Hobbs

12.30pm-2pm – drop in (no registration needed)

A delicious home-made Palestinian lunch (and you can buy some of the ingredients afterwards!)

2pm-4pm – please register

Short talks about Palestine with local folk, followed by discussion. We are thoroughly delighted to welcome the following speakers:

Avigail Abarbanel was born and raised in Israel and served in the Israeli army. In 1991, at age twenty-seven she moved to Australia, and ten years later renounced her Israeli citizenship in protest. She’s beens speaking and writing about Palestinian human rights and against Israel’s Zionist settler-colonialism ever since. In 2010 Avigail moved to the Scottish Highlands, where she lives and works. She is a BACP Senior Accedited psychotherapist in private practice, a clinical supervisor, consultant and trainer. Avigail is a published author and the editor of Beyond Tribal Loyalties: Personal Stories of Jewish Peace Activists. (For more information please visit fullyhuman.co.uk and https://avigail.substack.com/).

Brendan Stephens is an international observer who represents ‘Friends of Madema and Burin’, having visited with other international volunteers to support farmers and harvest olives. Having spent time with Palestinians in both villages, he will share observations from his recent visit to the Occupied West Bank of settler and IDF activity and the impact of this upon increasingly isolated rural and farming communities.

Suggested donation: £5-10 – cash or card on the day.




This event is organised by The Olive And The Pine, a group of Badenoch and Strathspey residents who stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine. The group is open to anyone who wishes to learn more about Palestinian heritage and culture, and who supports peace, justice and equal human rights in the region. The group includes a wide range of people of different backgrounds and beliefs.

We aim to raise awareness through learning circles, film screenings, arts and crafts, sharing Palestinian food, and fundraising.

The group chose its name because olive trees have long played a pivotal role in the cultural and economic life of Palestine, just as the pine tree is emblematic of Badenoch and Strathspey. As part of the systematic erasure of Palestinian life by the Israeli occupation, olive trees have been uprooted and replaced with non-native pines. The tree that symbolises natural abundance in our own region actually represents erasure and colonisation to Palestinians.