Posts for April, 2025

Welcome to the Deeside Nature Festival 2025, a wonderful amalgamation of local individuals, organisations and businesses drawn together to celebrate the natural heritage of Deeside in the Eastern Cairngorms, and coordinated by us, Wild Discovery.

We are thrilled that our small festival in 2024 is growing arms and legs and the overwhelming positive feedback for an event in 2025 has been very uplifting.

The Deeside Nature Festival is a celebration of nature and an opportunity to connect as many people with the natural world as possible. Those connections may present themselves in a variety of forms from direct observation of wildlife right through to the expression of nature through the arts. We have endeavoured to bring together as large a spectrum of events as possible over the long weekend and hopefully something for everyone.

Our goals are simple:
To connect people with nature
To promote the natural heritage of Deeside
To support rural livelihoods and green initiatives
Dan and Rachael of Wild Discovery with guests
The whole festival is organised in a voluntary capacity and while there may be charges to some of the events hopefully you will agree that this only reflects the value of the expertise and experience you have attended, and knowing that a fundamental aim of the festival is to promote rural livelihoods and green initiatives.

The 2025 festival is coming together nicely and we will be adding more events as they are confirmed. Keep checking back to make sure you don’t miss out!

Image credit www.wild-discovery.com

Soak in the delights of the dawn chorus around the River Dee in Ballater with Dan and Rachael from Wild Discovery. Over the course of the morning we will listen for as many species as possible getting to know the commoner species and understanding a little more about how to identify different bird calls and songs. We will be able to hear and discuss the differences between birds that sing in woodlands and those in more open habitats and with luck our encounters could include Tree Pipit, Redstart, Sedge Warbler, Common Sandpiper and Dipper. Profits from this event will be donated to a relevant conservation charity.

This will be followed by the ‘Magic Moths of Deeside’ at Ballater Green.

Part of Deeside Nature Festival 2025
Our evening will start by looking at the marvellous moths that have been caught in the light traps from the previous evening. We will then go on a short walk to explore the clear, evening sounds of the glen. As dusk falls hone your senses to experience this slightly different take on the wildlife of the area. Profits from this event will be donated to a relevant conservation charity. Run by Wild Discovery.

Part of the Deeside Nature Festival 2025.
Wild Discovery’s Dan and Rachael will lead a walk at Keiloch, Invercauld in search of open pine forest birds, such as Crossbills, and other wildlife. We will enjoy a round-walk from Keiloch car park of approximately 4km. We will search for Crossbills and other woodland birds, birds of prey, butterflies and plants along this scenic route with views across Craig Leek and down to the River Dee. Profits from this walk will be donated to a relevant conservation charity.

Part of the Deeside Nature Festival 2025.
We will gather on the green in Ballater to look through the moth traps that will have been set the previous night. You will be introduced to a wide variety of beautiful and intricately patterned moths. This fun, hands on event will get you up close and personal to these wonderful creatures and is suitable for the whole family.

Run by Wild Discovery.

Part of the Deeside Nature Festival 2025
Join Dan and Rachael from Wild Discovery for a guided walk at Glenshee looking for Mountain Hares, Ptarmigan and birds of prey. We will enjoy a walk up the Cairnwell and surrounds in search for Red Grouse, Mountain Hare, Ring Ouzel, Golden Eagle and a number of Arctic-alpine plants. If conditions are suitable we will endeavour to reach an area where Ptarmigan can be found. It may be possible to take the Cairnwell chairlift to this area if it is operating (at your own cost). Profits from this walk will be donated to a relevant conservation charity.

Run by Wild Discovery

Don’t miss this incredible family-friendly event on Saturday August 2rd 2025. Join us and enjoy the spectacle of the kilted ‘Heavies’ and get goosebumps courtesy of the massed pipe bands echoing out across the games field. The Highland dancers will be up on stage to entertain us too, and your kids can join in with any number of track events – or maybe you fancy the Haggis eating competition!?

There’s a variety of stalls, family-friendly rides and games, our iconic Hill run up Creag Dhubh, and the annual Macpherson Rally with all of its colour and traditions. Burger-vans, ice-creams and other refreshments including the beer tent will be available as well as lots of stalls to browse.

Adding further colour and ceremony to the Games is the Clan Macpherson Annual Gathering; clansfolk from around the world join in this grand tradition,

Events start on the Eilan (free parking) from 11am onwards, and you can watch the pipe bands march through the village to the Games field from 1pm.

New for 2025, the over 40s six-aside shinty tournament, and we’re so excited that Newtonmore Camanachd club are bringing this thrilling spectator sport to the event.

See social media posts for more details as we get closer to the date.

Come and meet Cory the Talking Dinosaur and watch our adorable newborn baby dinosaur. And shhh… don’t wake the sleeping baby dinosaur resting in its cage in the hatchery!

All your favourite summer attractions will be open too, including the Tropical Hot House, Wonderwood, Ancient Forest Adventure, and Bamboozeleum. And don’t forget NetworX—Scotland’s first-ever aerial net challenge!

Ever wondered what it’s like to zoom through a giant cloud of foam? Now’s your chance to find out! During our legendary Foam Days at the Wild Water Coasters, you’ll experience an explosion of foamy fun that the whole family will love.

Choose your adventure on the Otter or Wild Cat slides—each offering a thrilling ride with a delightfully foamy surprise at the bottom. Don’t forget your camera as you’ll want to capture the unforgettable moment your loved ones emerge from their foam-filled boats. It’s a must-try experience you won’t want to miss!

All are invited to journey with us through Holy Week from Palm Sunday where we recount the Passion Narrative, and each day following until we end on Easter Day with the risen Christ.