Posts for August, 2026

The Partial Eclipse if Coming!
Watch as the nearly 92% of the sun disappears behind the moon. This rare and awe-inspiring event offers a chance to connect with the cosmos and witness one of nature’s most mesmerising phenomena in the height of summer.

Thanks to Stargazing UK official eclipse viewing glasses will be provided. So keep your fingers crossed for good weather, which will allow us to experience this amazing spectacle together.

Booking Essential: Contact ranger@glentanartrust.org

Meeting Point – Glen Tanar Visitor Centre w3w:denser.subway.equivocal
What to Wear – Dress for the weather. Please wear good footwear such as walking boots or shoes.
What to Bring – Bug spray and a snack/ drink.

Could you be the next Ranger Hamza or David Attenbourgh?

Come along to the Glen Tanar Visitor Centre and try your hand at capturing images and film of our local wildlife. Get hands on experience with film and photography, get tips for using your own camera or mobile phone and find out how the Rangers use cameras as part of their work.

Booking Essential: Contact ranger@glentanartrust.org

Meeting Point – Glen Tanar Visitor Centre w3w:denser.subway.equivocal

What to Wear – Dress for the weather. Please wear good footwear such as walking boots or shoes.

What to Bring – Bug spray, Binoculars, and a snack/ drink.

A short talk on the rare Small Scabious Mining Bee, followed by a guided walk to local nesting sites. Learn about its habitat and food plants, and how you can help support it. Each attendee will receive free Devil’s-bit Scabious plant plugs to take home and support the Bees main food source.

Join us for a fascinating walk to the site of an old bobbin mill with Strathspey Story Walks’ Sarah Hobbs who has been researching their hidden history

Leaving from the museum in a minibus to location..

Please bring weather appropriate clothing , footwear and something to drink.

Free to attend, however please book your ticket as spaces are limited.

Starting at Abernethy Old Kirk, with an introduction to its history from Frank Bardgett, then across the newly restored Aultmore Bridge and into the woods to see the remains of a World War II timber camp.

A short, relaxed, sociable walk with RSPB rangers to hear and find out more about one of spring’s most magical events

History Walk from Dorback Lodge to Brig o’ Broon with local man Stuart Black, Ed Curley of Dorback Estate and others talking about the history and personal memories of the area

Join us for an evening walk in the Cairngorms, with minibus transport from Ballater area.

Your guide will be on hand throughout to share stories, answer questions, and point out wildlife, plants, and the rich history of this remarkable glen.

After a scenic drive from Ballater, we begin our walk from the Spittal of Glen Muick car park. The path travels through woodland near the visitor centre, where red deer are often seen moving quietly through the undergrowth.

As you continue your walk along the track from the Spittal, Loch Muick stretches out before you like a mirror, perfectly reflecting the deepening twilight sky. Surrounded by steep glens and the broad shoulders of the surrounding hills, the loch offers a stunning Highland vista.

We follow the lochside trail to the old boathouse, crossing the outflow of the Loch, River Muick. With a bit of luck, you might spot a golden eagle soaring overhead or hear the haunting calls of red deer stags in the autumn months. With the warm tones of the photography golden hour, it’s the perfect time to capture breathtaking images of the landscape.

Our return route takes us past Allt-na-giubhsaich, Queen Victoria’s remote lodge, where she and Prince Albert would retreat from Balmoral.

Limited to 8 participants.

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

September is a good time to look out for raptors like Hen Harriers hunting over the marshes. Buzzards are common and may be seen along the Tromie Trail. Butterflies and dragonflies will continue to fly as long as the weather is warm and sunny – Scotch Argus, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Peacock and Black Darter are most likely. Many summer flowers have come and gone, but the blues and purples of Harebell, Devil’s-bit Scabious, Common Heather (Ling) and Bell Heather can be seen along the Tromie Trail. Other flowers may include the whites of Yarrow and Eyebright and the yellow of Lady’s Bedstraw.

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

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

The breeding season for birds is coming to an end, however there is still plenty of other life to be seen on the marshes and in the meadow. The Heather should be in full flower and Field Gentian may be coming into bloom. Wild flowers like Knapweed and Scabious provide nectar for butterflies. We will lookout for the nationally scarce Scotch Argus butterfly which breeds on the reserve and can be the most common butterfly to be seen in August. Dragonflies like Black Darter and the impressively large Golden Ringed may also be seen.

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