Posts for November, 2024

This work party will be removing small regenerating trees and bushes by hand and using hand tools to prevent the shading out of bird’s-foot trefoil, the foodplant of dingy skipper caterpillars. Please let the organizer know in advance if you plan to attend. Bring lunch and wear old clothes. If you have them, bring work gloves.

Image credit – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erynnis_tages,_Dingy_Skipper,_Llanymynech_Hill,_North_Wales,_April_2014_(21689891521).jpg

Whether you’re a fan of The Grinch’s mischievous holiday antics or the twinkling glow of festive lights, this is an event the whole family will love.

Where:
📍 Landmark Forest Adventure Park

When:
📅 November 23rd & 24th
⏰ The Grinch: 11.30am – 3pm (at intervals during this time)
⏰ Twi-LIGHTS Switch-On with The Grinch: 4pm

Get ready to:
● Meet and take photos with The Grinch 📸
● Explore the park in all its festive glory ✨
● Witness the magical Twi-LIGHTS come to life at dusk 🌟

Appearance times:
The Grinch will be in the Dinosaur Kingdom at the following times:
11:30,12:30,13:30,14:30 and then 4 pm to launch the Ancient Forest Twi-LIGHTS

Don’t miss out on this festive kick-off to the season—book your tickets now!

Adult £20
Child (4-14 yrs) £16
Senior (65yrs plus) £16
Toddler (3 yrs) £12
Under 3yrs Free

Also available is a Winter Admissions (only) ticket and Ancient Forest Twi-Lights (only) ticket. Please visit www.landmarkpark.co.uk for ticket price info.

Run Balmoral is a two-day running festival catering for all age groups.

It is held in the stunning grounds of the Balmoral Estate with the famous Castle providing a spectacular backdrop. All races are held on traffic-free roads and trails, offering wonderful views of the Deeside countryside and the Cairngorm mountains.

In addition there’s a vibrant Event Village offering a range of quality catering facilities and numerous fun activities for children.

It’s a true family day out.

Family Friendly Halloween Archery
Get ready for a thrilling 90-minute Halloween archery session! Take aim at spooky targets like ghosts, vampires, and zombies, perfect for kids and adults alike. After mastering your archery skills, let your little monsters decorate their own pumpkins and watch them go ‘splat’ in our exciting pumpkin-shooting finale. With professional coaching, fun challenges, and Halloween candy for the kids, this session promises spooky outdoor fun for all the family.


Highlights;
90-minute Halloween-themed archery experience
Shoot at creepy targets like vampires and ghouls
Pumpkin decorating in family / small groups and smashing finale
Suitable for kids (ages 8+) and adults
Halloween candy included!

Chris Carter recounts his unforgettable cycling journey through Vietnam and Cambodia. From the lively streets of Ho Chi Minh City to the tranquil temples of Angkor Wat, this talk covers rich cultural experiences, historical insights, and personal adventures. Discover the beauty of these two fascinating countries through the eyes of a seasoned traveler.

Jess Tomes and Jeremy Roberts recount the revival of the Osprey in Scotland and the rise of the Cairngorms Connect project. From early conservation efforts to the UK’s largest habitat restoration initiative, this talk highlights the stunning landscapes, wildlife, and rewilding projects that continue to shape the future of the Scottish Highlands.

David Balharry celebrates the John Muir Trust’s 40 years of conservation work, from Ben Nevis to Sandwood Bay. Named after the Scots-born founder of the modern conservation movement, the Trust preserves wild landscapes while advocating for sustainable conservation. Discover their achievements and the exciting future plans to protect the UK’s most iconic wild spaces.

Come onto our farm for a magical Christmas experience.

Santa is visiting us on the 14th and 15th of December, he has lost his reindeer and needs to find some animal replacements before Christmas Eve.

Our Alpacas think they are Reindeer, the Donkeys have visted Bethlehem, our Goats have escaped into Candy Lane and the Highland Cows are getting in the festive spirit.

•Santa’a Grotto and gift.

•Hot drinks and Baking stand.

•Kids Crafts.

•Animal Interactions.

•Photo opportunities.

•Toilet and hand washing.

•On-site parking.

Entry is by booking only, so please make sure you have purchased the correct tickets. We are open in time slots, you can arrived anytime within your chosen time slot, but please make sure to leave at the session end time, we need to make the next session as magical as the previous for our next visitors.

There will be opportunities to purchased some carrots and small bags of food for the animals if you wish.

Hot drinks and baked goods will also be available, with the profits from these going to local community groups.

Come and join us at Newtownmore Golf Club for an evening for Bonfire Night Fun.

Bonfire and fireworks at 7pm, and bar and food available at the Club House from 5pm.

Everyone welcome!

Proudly sponsored by Newtonmore Winter Lights Association.

Join Cairngorms Astronomy Club and members of the Tomintoul & Glenlivet Dark Sky Park Group at the Field of Hope, Tomintoul for a comet spotting session. Please meet at the Field of Hope from 6:00pm.*

The comet will be closest to Earth on October 12th with good visibility in the northern hemisphere. Assuming clear skies we hope to be able to see it in the telescope at the Field of Hope. As comets are notoriously unpredictable, there’s no way to know at this time exactly how bright this comet will become. The comet is named after the observatories that discovered it. In this instance it was discovered by the Tsuchinshan or “Purple Mountain” Observatory in Nanjing, China on January 9th, 2023 and also by the ATLAS telescope in South Africa on February 22nd, 2023.

We’ll have the Celestron telescope on hand for comet spotting.

(*If the weather conditions are unfavourable on the 12th, the event will run again on Sunday, October 13th.)

The Glenlivet and Tomintoul area is one of the best places in the Cairngorms National Park to discover the wonders of the night sky. Not only does this remote area have stunning dark skies but it also has easy access allowing everyone to enjoy a night sky brimming with stars.

Public toilets are available in Tomintoul at Tomnabat Lane, opposite the public carpark. As we will be outside in October please dress appropriately for cool autumn conditions and changeable weather.

Limited parking is available at the Field of Hope, but you can also park in the village and walk down to the bird hide.

Tickets are free for this event. Donations are also always appreciated and can be made on the night if you wish.

Thanks for supporting our Dark Sky Park!