Posts for September, 2025

Run Balmoral is North-East Scotland’s biggest mass participation sporting event.

Each year around 5000 runners, from primary-school pupils to international athletes, take part in our two-day community running festival, set against the spectacular backdrop of Balmoral Castle and Estate.

Joining them are around 10,000 spectators, all free to enjoy the food and fun of the bustling event village, as well as the beauty of the event’s magical Deeside location. Every finisher receives a special medal and, in 2026, will have the option to purchase a sustainable Run Balmoral t-shirt. Saturday plays host to the McIntosh Plant Hire 1.5km Primary Schools Race, the RAM Tubulars 2.5km Secondary Schools Race, the Harbour Energy 5km and the Stena Drilling 10km.

Sunday is trails day with two off-road events: the 6 Mile Trail Race and the 15 Mile Trail Race. Take on all four main events over the two days and you’ll become one of our John Clark Motor Group Devils of Deeside!

Meet at The Grantown Hub at 12.30pm for a relaxed heritage walk for all ages through town and woods with musical interludes.

Arrive at Grant Park at 13.45pm for an outdoor picnic and more music. (N.B. Picnic is weather dependent).

The perfect way to unwind after the multifarious FoS programme the day before – musicians, please bring your instruments and join in the fun!!!

Part exercise, part social group, part exploration of the beautiful place we live in.

Joy Rides are all about using your bike to get around and passing on the magic of time spent on two wheels to anyone that wants to join in, regardless of ability, confidence or equipment.

These group rides meet once a week in Aviemore (Apr-Oct) and Grantown-on-Spey (Jul-Oct). They’re inclusive and social cycle rides, with options for a shorter 1-hour ride or a longer 2-hour outing. When there’s good conversation and the chance for a cake stop, the riding doesn’t always have to be priority number one!

Rides are led by a qualified, experienced ride leader, who will plan the route to be suitable for all participants and will carry the necessary tools and equipment to sort out any trail-side mishaps. Routes will take in quiet road sections and multi-use off-road trails. You don’t need to be a mountain biker to join in, and almost any bike will be suitable, from hybrid/town bikes through to mountain bikes and e-bikes.

Hill to Grill is back!

Join Cairngorms Connect and friends for a day celebrating and exploring local forests and enjoying delicious local food

When: Saturday 25th of October 2025, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Where: Nethy Bridge Playing Field

Tickets: Hill to Grill is completely free but why not click ‘Going’ on our Facebook, so we can make sure we have enough burgers for everyone!

Due to increased popularity, some elements of the event will require booking in advance – there will still be lots of drop-in activities on the day too. More info coming soon!

We’re excited to welcome you to Cairngorms Connect’s free outdoor festival celebrating local forests and local food. We’ve got a whole host of exciting activities planned for people of all ages and abilities, from woodworking to cooking demonstrations.

Learn about the importance of Deer management to restore local forests while enjoying a free BBQ with wild Cairngorms Connect Venison and other local, foraged, and gathered produce.

Meet a local butcher who will teach us about preparing different cuts of venison and what they are best used for.

Discover new ways to incorporate local food into your everyday meals with simple and inspiring cooking demonstrations from Scottish food expert Catriona Frankitti.

Immerse yourself in the folklore and stories of the forest with Sarah from Strathspey Storywalks.

Join in with family-friendly games and activities throughout the day
Hill to Grill is a largely outdoor event, mostly taking place in tents and on the Playing Field behind Nethy Community Centre, so please dress appropriately, and prepare for all weathers.

The event area is accessible for wheelchair users and buggies, but the grassy ground could be a little rough in places so please take care.

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!

Looking for the perfect way to keep the kids active and entertained this Inset Day? Our Day Camp is back on Monday 15th September, 10am – 3pm, and it’s going to be a day jam-packed with exciting activities, fun challenges, and outdoor adventure! 🌲🎉

🌟 Our camps are always popular, and spaces go quickly – so don’t wait around! The first 10 people to book will get 10% OFF using code CAMP10.

Our camp is designed to keep your little adventurers entertained, active, and engaged throughout the day. From thrilling laser tag battles to fun-filled raft-building, they’ll discover new skills, make new friends, and create fantastic memories!

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.

Join Dr Hugh Webster and Dan Puplett on this fascinating day to learn about what life might be like living alongside a reintroduced lynx population in Scotland.

Across mainland Europe, the Eurasian lynx is staging a comeback. Freed from the pressures of unsustainable hunting and benefiting from a softening of public attitudes, this enigmatic feline has been successfully reintroduced into several countries and is now growing in numbers and expanding its range.

This special Learning Day will explore what a reintroduction in Scotland might look like, what challenges we might face and how we might manage coexistence.

We will also explore what it would be like to walk in the lynx’s footsteps once again, as we sharpen our senses to forgotten cues and learn how to identify and track pine martens, wildcats, badgers and foxes, comparing their behaviours and signs to those of a lynx. We will learn to think both like a lynx and like the lynx’s prey, experiencing the landscape through their eyes, ears and noses, as we seek to re-imagine how our woodlands would feel in the presence of this apex predator.