Posts for August, 2024

Lots of childrens activities, a 5 km run, BBQ, tea, coffee and cakes with a book stall…

Hamish Brown, the author, photographer, broadcaster and mountaineer, celebrated his 90th birthday this year, and also the 50th anniversary of his “mountain walk”, the first continuous round of Scotland’s Munros.

As well as walking and climbing in Scotland and as far afield as the Andes and the Himalayas, Hamish has spent many years walking and climbing in Morocco. In 2006 he made the first continuous traverse of Morocco’s Atlas mountains, and on the evening of Friday September 27th he’ll be giving an illustrated talk about this first traverse in Dalwhinnie Village Hall.

The talk will begin at 7.30, tickets are £8 with no charge for children under 14, and all proceeds are in aid of Dalwhinnie village hall funds.

Tea and coffee will be available, and Hamish will be happy to answer any questions and chat informally after his presentation. He’ll also be bringing a selection of his books for those who might want to buy a copy or two!

If you would like to book a ticket please contact Bill Carr, the Dalwhinnie village hall secretary, at carr_bill@hotmail.com or on 07770 733980

Teas and coffee will be available at a small charge and all proceeds in aid of Dalwhinnie Village Hall Funds.

Glenlivet Enduro – Round #2 – Aberdeenshire Enduro Series

We’re super excited to be heading back to Bike Glenlivet for our second event of the the 2024 Aberdeenshire Enduro Series (#AES2024). The crack team at this bike park continues to innovate and develop the trails, making it bigger and better than ever, for riders of all experience and abilities!

For those new to it, an enduro race is where riders are timed in downhill stages, with neutral transfer stages (climbs!) in between. Enduro routes are aimed to be rideable by reasonably competent mountain bikers, with the lite being slightly easier, both technically and endurance wise.
The Glenlivet full route is around 24km long, with 840m of climb and includes 7 timed single track stages. The lite route omits the trickiest stage, making it a bit shorter and with less climb. If you’re new to this location, or riding in enduros, plenty of local coaching and guiding companies, including some of our fantastic sponsors, will be able to help you get familiar with the area and provide some useful riding tips, before the race.

Our one day events have a fun and friendly atmosphere. We attract all levels of rider, from the seriously competitive, to those just looking for a brilliant day in the hills in good company. We have a wide range of categories for male and female riders of all ages, including full suss, hard tail as well as ebikes and we are proud to be the only Scottish events offering entry to 9-12 year old riders (who need to be accompanied by an adult chaperone).

All categories have great prizes provided by our fantastic sponsors, which are Scottish businesses, mainly based in our Aberdeenshire home area. Afterwards you’ll be able to catch up with friends old and new in the event village and pick up some tasty hot food and drinks from the Bike Glenlivet cafe. So make sure to bring a card or some change!

This gentle Ranger Ramble at Dava Moor (near Grantown-on-Spey) offers a serene stroll through a typical Highland moorland, with bogs, a lochan and even a few trees!

Bring your binoculars if you have them, but we’ll be concentrating on the botany and beasties, with some history thrown in too…hopefully we’ll get some gorgeous wildlfowers and weather permitting, a butterfly or two!

As we’re focusing on slow observation rather than brisk walking, this wee event is suitable for all – including good dogs.

Join our wildlife guide NICK BAKER for a guided stroll, appr 2 hours, from the Grant Arms Hotel through Anagach Woods looking for some of our local and iconic wildlife.

Possible sightings include Blue, Coal, Crested, Great and Long Tailed Tits, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Crossbill, Goldcrest, Robin, Siskin, Treecreeper, Wren, Great-Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Buzzard, Red Squirrel and Roe Deer.

Limited to 10 people.

Pre-booking essential, please ring our Reception Team on 01479 872526 to avoid disappointment.

Meet in the Reception Area by 9am.

Image credit Graham Niven

🏊‍♂️🏃‍♀️Loch Garten Summer Olympic Challenge 🤸‍♂️🧘
Join us in our Olympic Challenge!
Compete in our five nature based events to win an eco friendly medal 🥇
When: August 12-18th
Where: Loch Garten Nature Centre
Price: £2 (includes kids Olympic challenge sheet and medal)
Can you build a nest like an osprey or run as fast as a wildcat? 😼Can you balance as well as a squirrel or jump as far as a frog? 🐸
Come along to find out!

“Glenlivet it has castles three, Drumin, Blairfindy and Deskie”. This easy guided walk will take us to the 16th century tower house of Blairfindy and begins outside the iconic Glenlivet Distillery. On the walk in we’ll enjoy stunning views over one of Scotland’s most famous glens. You’ll learn a bit about Glenlivet’s rich history and some whisky history too.

Blairfindy Castle was completed in 1564 by John Gordon. In its heyday Blairfindy was a fine example of a three storey L-plan tower house and even today shows a remarkable degree of preservation. A project to stabilise Blairfindy Castle took place in 2019, funded through the Tomintoul & Glenlivet Landscape Partnership, a programme supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The castle is now open to visitors for the first time in decades and has been specially adapted to encourage nesting birds and pollinators.

Please park at the The Glenlivet Distillery car park. The walk will start from outside the stillhouse under the green signpost marked ‘Blairfindy Castle 1/2 mile’.

Join us for a walk around Moray’s earliest surviving tower house, reputedly built for Scotland’s vilest man, Alexander Stewart—the infamous Wolf of Badenoch. Drumin Castle, an impressive medieval fortification, stands on a commanding bluff overlooking the confluence of the River Livet and the River Avon.

Upon reaching the castle, you’ll learn about its architecture, history, and the notorious Wolf, whose evil deeds continue to cast a long shadow over Moray’s history.

Drumin Castle has now reopened after masonry repairs, with access to the first floor now possible via a narrow stone staircase. Sensible footwear is recommended.

Please park at the Drumin Castle car park. This short circular walk will begin at the Drumin Castle sign in the car park. The route follows a pedestrian trail to the castle and returns via a set of steps. Please dress appropriately for changeable weather. Children love castles and are very welcome to attend. Well-behaved dogs are also welcome.

Please note that toilets are not available on site.

This event is funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Heritage Ranger talk: Inveraven Church & Pictish Stones

Join the Glenlivet & Inveravon Heritage and Dark Sky Ranger for an introduction to the Picts, their art and symbol stones. We will be examining the intricate carvings on the four stones discovered in the churchyard of Inveraven, which has been a site of spiritual practice and pilgrimage for centuries. This tour will provide an overview to Pictish art and culture and demonstrate how the Picts contributed to the founding of modern Scotland.

This event offers a unique opportunity to delve into Scotland’s past, allowing you to connect with its ancient roots. Join us for an afternoon of discovery and insight in stunning Speyside.

Children are usually fascinated by the Picts and are encouraged to attend. As we will be outside, please dress appropriately for changeable weather.

This event is by donation. Donations can be made through Eventbrite or in person on the day. Children and youth under 16 are free. Like many churches across Scotland, Inveravon Church and Pictish Stones have unfortunately been earmarked for closure and sale by the Church of Scotland. The local community is currently in the process of exploring ways to keep it open by creating a heritage centre and community hub. Thousands of tourists visit the stones every year from every corner of the globe and it would be disappointing if they were no longer accessible. Funds raised from talks and events help to support community and heritage events run by the Friends of Inveravon Church.

Please note that toilet facilities are not available on site. Public toilets are available in Cragganmore at Ballindalloch Station on the Speyside Way or in Aberlour. There are also customer facilities available at the nearby Lagmore Cafe when open.

Well behaved dogs may attend but must be leashed.

Funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Join Kathryn Joseph and Lomond Campbell in a world-first performance that reimagines Kathryn’s songs, born from their collaboration at Lengths Studio.

Discover the unique synergy between these two artists as they bring new life into familiar melodies on a night of innovative musical exploration where Kathryn Joseph’s heartfelt compositions meet Lomond Campbell’s atmospheric prowess.