Posts for March, 2026

Join us for a guided night walk in the Cairngorms National Park, led by a qualified Mountain Leader and certified Star Ranger. Begin with an engaging Dark Skies / stargazing presentation before heading out to explore the landscape in darkness. Discover the area’s rich history and nocturnal wildlife as you walk beneath some of the darkest skies in Scotland. When conditions allow, you’ll see constellations, planets, and the Milky Way in breathtaking clarity.

Travel in comfort aboard our private minibus — affectionately known as the Starship — with collection available from the Ballater area. You’ll be whisked away to a tranquil location for an engaging Dark Skies presentation, complete with hot drinks to keep you warm. Location of the event will be in the Ballater / Braemar area depending on winter road conditions and localised weather forecasts. You can choose to travel in your own vehicle if preferred and meet us / follow us to the chosen walk location.

This autumn foraging course is an invitation to learn about the edible and medicinal autumnal plants and fungi found in the grounds of Blair Castle & Gardens. Autumn is a special time for foraging and this walk will give us time to celebrate the best of this season, join us as we discover many different varieties of mushroom, nutritious nuts and seeds and succulent berries.

The course consists of a 2.5 hour foraging walk, in which you will learn lifelong identification techniques, inspiring recipe ideas, and a wealth of ethnobotanical tales.

During the walk we will move through a variety of habitats – woodland, meadow, hedgerow and garden – taking time to connect with each surrounding environment, noticing their changing flora and subtle variations in character.

We will finish up with a wild tea and homemade cake and biscuits in Hercules Garden, with time to revise the plants learnt and how best to store them for future use.

All participants will also receive a personalised PDF containing information about all the plants met.

Meeting point: Meet on the green in front of the castle, next to the ‘The Cannon’ coffee cabin.

This spring foraging course is an invitation to learn about the edible and medicinal spring plants found in the grounds of Blair Castle & Gardens. Spring is a special time for foraging and this walk will give us time to celebrate the best of this season, as the plants wake from the winter providing the first flowers, leaves and nutritious seeds of the growing season.

The course consists of a 2.5 hour foraging walk, in which you will learn lifelong identification techniques, inspiring recipe ideas, and a wealth of ethnobotanical tales.

During the walk we will move through a variety of habitats – woodland, meadow, hedgerow and garden – taking time to connect with each surrounding environment, noticing their changing flora and subtle variations in character.

We will finish up with a wild tea and homemade cake and biscuits in Hercules Garden, with time to revise the plants learnt and how best to store them for future use.

All participants will also receive a personalised PDF containing information about all the plants met.

Meeting point: On the green in front of the castle, next to ‘The Cannon’ coffee cabin.

Soul Embers is a four-night Spring Equinox retreat held at Badeguish within the ancient landscape of the Cairngorms National Park. This intimate immersion offers protected space to slow down, reset, and reconnect with your intuition through nature. Through elemental ceremony, guided and solo nature immersion, sacred glasswalk and firewalk, Equinox threshold work, and deeply held circle, you’ll step away from noise and responsibility to listen more honestly to yourself. With comfortable and warm rooms, nourishing shared meals, and a largely phone-free environment, Soul Embers supports nervous system restoration, grounded courage, and a conscious new beginning aligned with the season you are stepping into.

Come for a Wildlife Wander with someone from our knowledgeable team to see some of the amazing wildlife that Spring brings to Insh Marshes.

On this leisurely walk see the lush green Aspen leaves trembling and a variety of bird species, including Curlew (which we may hear calling), Lapwing and Snipe (which could be displaying) and song birds singing through the trees. During sunny intervals early butterflies like Orange Tip and Small Tortoiseshell will be flying.

We will meet in the RSPB Insh Marshes Car Park – what3words: ///epic.youth.venturing / grid ref: NN775998

Some areas may be rough and/or slippy underfoot. It is unfortunately not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies, and we recommend sturdy footwear.

Please note that there has been low levels of Avian Influenza (bird flu) on the reserve this winter. Do not touch any dead or unwell birds if you see any, make sure to stick to the paths and keep dogs on a short lead.

Every morning in the springtime, one of nature’s greatest choirs is performing. Experience the marvel of birdsong amidst Abernethy’s ancient Caledonian pinewoods in the company of our rangers, who will guide you through one of nature’s wonders and explain who is singing and why.

After a gentle walk along our trails by the loch, hot drinks and a light breakfast will be provided at the Loch Garten Nature Centre.

Please bring appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear. An accessible all-terrain wheelchair is available for use if required.

No dogs are permitted on this event.

Join us for a magical dawn chorus walk at Loch Garten, followed by an exclusive early morning viewing of the Ospreys from the Nature Centre.

Meeting in the car park, we will head out on a short, gentle walk around the edge of the loch. As the forest awakens, we’ll take in the sights and sounds of the Caledonian pinewood at dawn, learning to identify the different birds that make up the dawn chorus.

After the walk, we’ll return to the Nature Centre for an exclusive morning viewing of the Osprey nest as the sun rises. Dawn can be one of the most active times for Ospreys, with birds often returning to the nest carrying fish, and in April, birds can be seen sky dancing overhead as they set up their territories.

Inside the Nature Centre, you can relax with tea, coffee, and a pastry while enjoying views of the nest, watching live cameras, and learning more about the history of ospreys at Loch Garten and the ecology of these remarkable birds.

Join us for a magical dawn chorus walk at Loch Garten, followed by an exclusive early morning viewing of the Ospreys from the Nature Centre.

Meeting in the car park, we will head out on a short, gentle walk around the edge of the loch. As the forest awakens, we’ll take in the sights and sounds of the Caledonian pinewood at dawn, learning to identify the different birds that make up the dawn chorus.

After the walk, we’ll return to the Nature Centre for an exclusive morning viewing of the Osprey nest as the sun rises. Dawn can be one of the most active times for Ospreys, with birds often returning to the nest carrying fish, and in April, birds can be seen sky dancing overhead as they set up their territories.

Inside the Nature Centre, you can relax with tea, coffee, and a pastry while enjoying views of the nest, watching live cameras, and learning more about the history of ospreys at Loch Garten and the ecology of these remarkable birds.

Love trees but not sure what you’re looking at (especially in the winter!)? Join us for a guided walk around Loch Garten to learn more about how to spot some of our most popular species.

The largest remaining remnant of the ancient Caledonian forest, we sit at the heart of a gorgeous pine forest dotted with birch, aspen, alder, willow, rowan, and a long history. But when the winter leaves fall many of these species can be difficult to differentiate.

Our expert ranger Ewan will take you on a 2-hour walk around our trails, showing how best to identify our leafy friends and indulge you in a bit of forest folklore.

This event will involve walking around 3 kilometres on rough and uneven ground. Outdoor shoes and warm clothing are required.

Children are welcome with a paying adult.

Love trees but not sure what you’re looking at (especially in the winter!)? Join us for a guided walk around Loch Garten to learn more about how to spot some of our most popular species.

The largest remaining remnant of the ancient Caledonian forest, we sit at the heart of a gorgeous pine forest dotted with birch, aspen, alder, willow, rowan, and a long history. But when the winter leaves fall many of these species can be difficult to differentiate.

Our expert ranger Ewan will take you on a 2-hour walk around our trails, showing how best to identify our leafy friends and indulge you in a bit of forest folklore.

This event will involve walking around 3 kilometres on rough and uneven ground. Outdoor shoes and warm clothing are required.

Children are welcome with a paying adult.