Posts for September, 2025

BattleZone: Apocalypse – The Ultimate Halloween Experience!

Rise and shine for a spine-chilling, Halloween-themed battle in the heart of the Cairngorms! This 2-hour adrenaline-fueled adventure takes place in the atmospheric autumn evening, where you’ll face off in a thrilling digital zombie shoot-off. Armed with infra-red technology and full-size model weapons, battle through spooky scenarios, eerie mini-games, and intense missions.
Perfect for families, friends, and thrill-seekers ages 8+, BattleZone: Apocalypse offers unlimited lives, endless ammo, and unforgettable fun. Are you ready to conquer the apocalypse and end your day with a bang?

Highlights;
Unique Halloween-themed BattleZone experience
Infra-red zombie shoot-off
Multiple game scenarios to keep you on your toes
Suitable for all ages (8+), families, and friends
Halloween candy included!

Pull on your Santa hat and join us for a jolly 2km trail run through the magical Abernethy Forest! Wear something red, bring your festive spirit, and enjoy a fun morning out for all the family.

📍 Registration from 10am at Nethy Bridge Games Field
💷 Entry £5 per person / £15 per family (all profits go to Abernethy Primary School Parent Council)

Primary-aged children must run with an adult.

After the run, warm up with home baking and hot drinks, available to purchase (cash or card accepted).

Bring in the New Year with a magical evening in Nethy Bridge. Starting at 6pm on Lynstock Crescent, Nethy Bridge enjoy hot chocolate and mulled drinks before the procession begins. At 7pm, led by the stirring sound of a young local piper, we’ll light up the village with a sparkling river of torches.

Torches will be available to purchase from 6pm for £5 each. The procession leaves Lynstock Crescent at 7pm.

This family-friendly event is a wonderful way to celebrate Hogmanay together. All proceeds go towards supporting Abernethy Primary School.

Come and explore our Grantown-on-Spey Trail Map during North East Open Studios (13–21 September) and enjoy a unique opportunity to step inside the creative world of local artists. Visit them in their working spaces, chat about their practice, and gain insights into the inspirations and processes behind their work.

If you’re looking for a short, walkable trail, nine participating artists are based in and around Grantown-on-Spey. You can download our trail map to plan your visit, or head further afield to discover many more artists across the North East of Scotland via the North East Open Studios website.

Studios come in all shapes and sizes, from purpose-built creative spaces to private homes, garden sheds, galleries, and more. The art and craft you’ll encounter are as varied as the spaces themselves, reflecting a wide range of skills, inspirations, and experiences. Part of the joy of North East Open Studios is stumbling across artwork you’ll fall in love with in unexpected places and always receiving a warm welcome along the way.

Look out for the yellow NEOS signs guiding you to our artists’ doors. You’ll also be able to pick up a copy of the yellow guidebook from many local shops and galleries in Grantown-on-Spey.

Please check individual artists’ opening hours, as these may vary.

Christmas Day Lunch – pre-booking essential

• Package price £85 per person
• Children under 12 £42.50. Children under 3 eat free

Pipers to welcome you to lunch with crackers on the table. Santa will be paying us a visit on Christmas Day with gifts for all the children.
Please advise at time of booking what time you’d like to dine (see below), and the age of your children, for Santa research purposes!
Times
First seating at 12.00 pm
Second seating at 3.00 pm
Third seating at 6.00 pm

Terms & Conditions

• Offer is subject to availability
• A credit/debit card is required to guarantee the booking
• This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer

EXHIBITION | Yellow Broom | Design + Making

: Creators of bespoke, design-led utilitarian objects

Yellow Broom are a collaborative two-person design studio quietly rooted in the Cairngorms National Park. With foundations in visual art, design and contemporary craft practice, the duo create sculptural, thought-provoking, functional pieces that embody a deep respect for material and process. Narrative, people and place are integral to their work.

The studio collaborates closely with architects, interior designers, fellow makers and private clients to create site-specific and bespoke commissions. Blending traditional making techniques with modern low-waste construction methods results in functional objects that are rich in meaning and crafted to last. These thoughtful, contextual designs are intended to be lived with, used and passed on to future generations.
Each Yellow Broom object is crafted by hand with care and precision.

Centred in their practice is a commitment to sourcing environmentally responsible materials. Every piece is made to order, which promotes a slower, more conscious design culture.

The outcome is as simple as it is powerful: a true testament to their circular approach to making with the future of our planet at heart.

The Spey Bank Studio is taking part in North East Open Studios for a second year.

This long-running event involves 300 artists opening up their studios to the public for 10 days. That means you can delve into their practice, see their materials and where they spend their days producing amazing artwork.

The event runs from September 13-21, with each artist keeping different opening hours – check the wee yellow book (available from us!) or check the website entries.

This year, as well as Angus’s work, we will be hosting a young local glass artist, Brodie Birss, AKA Brodie B Designs.

Brodie is a graduate of Gray’s School of Art, where she studied 3D design and specialised in glass and metal. She went onto attend Bishopsland Educational Trust, which provides postgraduate education in silversmithing. Since returning to Scotland, Brodie has continued to develop her glass and silver practice.

Her work is inspired by nature, process and material. She believes that that working with our hands and immersing ourselves in nature is essential to mental and physical wellbeing.

What is Anagach Woods parkrun?
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it’s up to you!

When is it?
Every Saturday at 9:30am.

Where is it?
The event takes place at Anagach Woods, Forest Road, Grantown-on-Spey, PH26 3JL. See Course page for more details.

What does it cost to join in?
Nothing – it’s free! but please register before you first come along. Only ever register with parkrun once and don’t forget to bring a scannable copy of your barcode (request a reminder). If you forget it, you won’t get a time.

How fast do I have to be?
We all take part for our own enjoyment. Please come along and join in whatever your pace!

Anagach Woods parkrun needs you!
It is entirely organised by volunteers – email anagachwoods@parkrun.com to help.

Safeguarding
parkrun is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. For our full safeguarding processes and policies, including how to report a concern, please see our Safeguarding Hub.

We’re friendly!
Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee at Fiona’s Wholefoods, YMCA Building, High Street, Grantown – please come and join us!

Breedon Highland League: Strathspey Thistle FC v Inverurie Loco Works FC, Seafield Park, kick-off 3pm. Parking at ground and at Burnfield Ave car park. Ground is 10mins on foot from town centre. Snacks, drinks and hot food. Half-time raffle, merchandise and team-sheets. To book hospitality packages or sponsorship, contact: hospitality@strathspeythistlefc.uk.

Put on your best Halloween outfit and join us for some spooky fun on Thursday 30th October from 5.30pm.

Book your 30 minute time slot online. The last tour is at 7pm.

Fancy dress is encouraged and pizza and drinks will be available in our restaurant. There will also be a firepit on the castle forecourt where you can toast marshmallows.*

* Marshmallows on long sticks will be sold on the night.