Posts for March, 2023

Join Glenlivet & Inveravon Heritage Ranger Lydia for an introduction to Pictish art and symbol stones. We will be looking at four Pictish 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 will show how the Picts contributed to the shaping of modern Scotland.

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.

As we will be outside, please dress appropriately for changeable weather.

Children are very welcome to attend. Please note that toilet facilities are not available on site.

Well behaved dogs may attend but must be leashed.

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

Meet at roadside car park on unclassified road (NCR7) next to Carrbridge A9/A938 junction for a 6.30pm start.

Probable route announced nearer the time but as always subject to any last minute change on the night to suit weather and rider needs. Following feedback from the 2022 member’s survey we intend to have a faster group as well as the usual ‘no-drop’ group on all social rides. The exact pace will be subject to experimentation!

All riders must register via the website. Potential new members and visitors are always welcome.

Meet at the Strathdearn Community Centre for a 6.30pm start.

Probable route announced nearer the time but as always subject to any last minute change on the night to suit weather and rider needs. Following feedback from the 2022 member’s survey we intend to have a faster group as well as the usual ‘no-drop’ group on all social rides. The exact pace will be subject to experimentation.

All riders must register via the website. Potential new members and visitors are always welcome.

Meet at Ardvonie car park Kingussie (adjacent to the Medical Practice) for a 6.30pm start.

Probable route announced nearer the time but as always subject to any last minute change on the night to suit weather and rider needs. Following feedback from the 2022 member’s survey we intend to have a faster group as well as the usual ‘no-drop’ group on all social rides. The exact pace will be subject to experimentation.

All riders must register via the website. Potential new members and visitors always welcome

1st Thursday of each month, meet at Museum car park Grantown for a 6.30pm start.

Probable route announced nearer the time but as always subject to any last minute change on the night to suit weather and rider needs. Following feedback from the 2022 member’s survey we intend to have a faster group as well as the usual ‘no-drop’ group on all social rides. The exact pace will be subject to experimentation.

All riders must register via the website. Potential new members and visitors always welcome.

Regular Thursday evening ride, meet at Aviemore Retail Park near Tiso for a 6.30pm start.

Probable route announced nearer the time but as always subject to any last minute change on the night to suit weather and rider needs. Following feedback from the 2022 member’s survey we intend to have a faster group as well as the usual ‘no-drop’ group on all social rides. The exact pace will be subject to experimentation.

All riders should register via the web site. Potential new members and visitors are always welcome.

“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.

Scalan was originally the site of a secret Roman Catholic seminary where priests, known as ‘heather priests’ were trained in the 1700s when Catholicism was prohibited. Following the departure of the priests in 1799, Scalan reverted to a farm. Two steading buildings were built housing corn threshing mills which served the Glenlivet farming community. The threshing machines and water wheels are still in place along with a wealth of historical graffiti telling the story of farming life in the 19th and 20th centuries. A major project to conserve the mill buildings took place in 2019, restoring the waterwheel and lade in North Mill and improving visitor access to the site. This was funded through the Tomintoul & Glenlivet Landscape Partnership with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Join Glenlivet & Inveravon Heritage Ranger Lydia on a guided tour of the site and the mill buildings. In addition to being a special area of historical interest, this area of the Glenlivet Estate abounds with oystercatchers, curlews, and lapwings in the spring and summer months – be sure to bring your binoculars if you have them.

We will be meeting in the Carrachs car park before proceeding by foot along a farm track, 1km from the car park at the end of the public road. Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing for changeable weather.

Children are very welcome to attend.

Toilet facilities are available during the summer season but are currently closed.

Well behaved dogs are welcome in the mill buildings, but are not permitted in the seminary. Please note that sheep and other livestock live on site. Please be aware that there may be cattle present on the walk in.

How to get to the Carrachs car park:

Turn east off the B9008 at Auchnarrow (signposted for Scalan) and follow this road right to the end ensuring to follow sign for Chapeltown of Glenlivet. If you are using a navigation system, the postcode AB37 9JS will take you most of the way to Chapeltown of Glenlivet. Drive past Braeval Distillery and at the road end follow the 90-degree right hand turn which leads to the car park. This track is quite potholed and uneven in places so please proceed slowly and carefully.

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

3rd event of 5 in the Club TT Series

Meet at 6.45pm at the Carrbridge car park next to the school and childrens play area.

Start from outskirts of Carrbridge on Carr Road (unclassified road from Carrbridge on S side of River Dulnain) and head east to junction with A938 at Balnaan. Turn left on A938 and continue to Carrbridge 30mph signs. This is a club confined time trial and for insurance reasons is limited to 25 riders who should be members unless trying out the club.

The Club TT Series is scored best 3 out of 5 each on a different course with riders using normal road bikes. (i.e TT bikes and tri-bars not permitted)

Please register by midnight Monday*. A start list will be emailed to everyone taking part by midday Tuesday. Entry fee £2 payable at the start or by bank transfer.

* Entrants on the night accepted at timekeepers discretion.

1st event of 5 in the Club TT Series

Start on B970 outside Corrour House, near Rothiemurchus and Aviemore Tennis Club and head west to the Aviemore roundabout. Turn left onto B9152 and follow this to Kincraig (junction by war memorial). Turn left onto unclassified road down through Kincraig, over bridge, past Loch Insch Watersports centre and up to junction with B970. Turn left and follow B970 to finish 150 metres before main Inverdruie junction. This is a club confined time trial and for insurance reasons is limited to 25 riders who should be members unless trying out the club.

The Club TT Series is scored best 3 out of 5 each on a different course with riders using normal road bikes. (i.e TT bikes and tri-bars not permitted)

Please register by midnight Monday*. A start list will be emailed to everyone taking part by midday Tuesday. Entry fee £2 payable at the start or by bank transfer.

* Entrants on the night accepted at timekeepers discretion.