When is this event?
From the Community switch on of our hotel Christmas lights, to stunningly dressed Yuletide interiors, carol singers, candlelit concerts and festive foods galore, the 24th of November truly marks the start of the Fife Arms’ Festive celebrations in the Cairngorms.
Join Cairngorms Astronomy Group and Tomintoul & Glenlivet Development Trust for a night of introductory stargazing and star stories during the new moon at Inveraven Church & Pictish Stones. Where do we get our stories of the night sky? What did the Celts see in the night sky? Come along to find out more and have a go trying out our community telescope.
Access to Inveraven Church is off the A95 about half a mile north of the entrance to Ballindalloch Castle, and can be found by following the brown tourist sign directing visitors down the single track road to the Inveraven Pictish Stones.
Parking is available at the bottom of the drive before you arrive at the church or in front of the church building. We will be meeting in the foyer inside the church building before walking up to field above to access the telescope.
As we will be outside, please dress appropriately for cold and changeable weather.
Suggested donation £5 on the night.
Funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.
Join Cairngorms Astronomy Club and TGDT in The Square, Tomintoul for an all ages telescope moon viewing session. The first quarter moon on the 20th rises mid-morning and sets at midnight so it’s a great time of the month to view and learn about the moon.
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.
We’ll have the Celestron telescope and a smartphone bracket on the night that will allow you to take the moon home in your pocket!
If the weather isn’t suitable on the day, we’ll run another session on the 21st at the same time.
Suggested donation £5 on the night.
Visit Grantown during the first weekend of December to celebrate Christmas.
Shop in the outdoor Christmas Market, High Street full of independent stores and an art and craft fair at the Museum.
Vote for your favourite Christmas tree at the Christmas Tree Festival – always a very popular activity!
This year the event goes into the early evening when the Christmas lights light up the town.
Come along and see how good an archaeologist you could be!
Meet Saranne, our Ranger in the Pinewood to join in the fun.
There’s a Bronze age Treasure Trail through the Pinewood for you to follow & you can try an exploratory dig in our special sandpit!
There is also a archaeological timeline for you to try your hand at!
No need to book, donations welcome.
Come and enjoy our annual Halloween Trail around the Museum!
See if you can spot ten pesky pumpkins who have taken root in some of our buildings!
£1.50 per trail, including a prize.
No need to book, just turn up and join in the fun!
“Glenlivet it has castles three, Drumin, Blairfindy and Deskie”. This Heritage Ranger led castle 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 fantastic views over the glen. 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 1586 Blairfindy passed to the Earls of Huntly, another branch of the family, who used it as a hunting seat. A panel above the arched doorway bears the Gordon arms and this date. 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.
Research has shown that the castle was probably burned by troops after the Battle of Culloden in 1746, and it was never repaired or occupied after this time. 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’ (see last photo).
Access is by foot along a dedicated track. Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing for changeable weather.
Toilets are available inside The Glenlivet Distillery Visitor Centre.
Children are very welcome to attend.
Well behaved dogs are welcome.
Funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.
Hosted by the Cairngorm Hotel.
Join us for Aviemore’s annual free fireworks display outside the Cairngorm Hotel.
This year with every adult main meal children under 12 will receive a complimentary hot chocolate and popcorn. Available all day on Wednesday 5th November.
The display starts at 6pm. Restaurant & bar open before and after the fireworks. No ticket required.
Moray’s earliest surviving tower house is reputed to have been built for Scotland’s vilest man- Alexander Stewart, the Wolf of Badenoch.
Drumin Castle is an impressive medieval fortification standing on a commanding bluff overlooking the confluence of the River Livet and the River Avon.
Once we get to the castle, you’ll learn a bit about the architecture, history, and the notorious Wolf, whose evil deeds continue to cast a long shadow in Moray’s history.
This castle has recently reopened after masonry repairs. Access to the first floor is once again possible via a narrow, stone staircase. Sensible footwear is recommended.
Toilets are not available on site.
Children are very welcome to attend.
Well behaved dogs are welcome.
Funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.
Surrounded by spectacular Highland scenery and into the heart of the spectacular Cairngorm Mountains, this race really showcases what this amazing area has to offer.
Extensive views across to the vast plateau around the Cairngorms’ most spectacular corries & summits, including Ben Macdui, Braeriach & Cairn Toul, the UK’s second,third & fourth highest mountains
Visits both the major Cairngorm Lairig passes – the Lairig an Laoigh and Lairig Ghru. Through the magnificent Caledonian pinewoods of Glens Derry, Luibeg & Quoich. Experience this Wild & Remote Area with Support from a Great Event Team.
Date: Saturday 1st June 2024 Distance: 60km Ascent: 1146m/3760′ Start Time: 0800
Event Venue: Mar Lodge, Mar Lodge Estate, Braemar, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5YJ.
The event start & finish will be located here.
Entry Fees: Special Early Bird Price: to 30th November: £60 From 1st December: £65 (+ 4% onine entry fee)
Entries: As this a conservation area entries will be limited. Minimum entry age 18 years old.
Event briefing notes will be published HERE approx five days before the event.
Please check these as there will generally be no further information emailed to participants prior to the event.
Registration: This will be based from Mar Lodge. Numbers will be issued at registration.
Registration will be available both Friday (1600-1830 approx) & Saturday 0630-0745.
Where is this event being held?
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