Posts for August, 2024

This event is organised by the Grant Arms Hotel, and you can join our wildlife guide Nick Baker at Insh Marshes Reserve looking for some of our local and iconic wildlife.

We may move between the three hides and take a walk along some of the trails taking in woodland, heather moorland and marsh.

Potential sightings include Curlew, Lapwing, Redshank and Snipe, Goldeneye, Roe Deer, woodland birds on the feeders as well as Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, Red Squirrel, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Hen Harrier and passing Ospreys and Eagles.

Meet at the car park RSPB Insh Marshes by 2pm.

Limited to 15 people.

Pre-booking essential, please ring our Reception Team on 01479 872526 to avoid disappointment.

£15 per person payable upon booking.

Credit James Stevens

Join our wildlife guide NICK BAKER for a guided stroll, appr 2 hours, from the Grant Arms Hotel through Anagach Woods looking for some of our local and iconic wildlife.

Possible sightings include Blue, Coal, Crested, Great and Long Tailed Tits, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Crossbill, Goldcrest, Robin, Siskin, Treecreeper, Wren, Great-Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Buzzard, Red Squirrel and Roe Deer.

Limited to 10 people.

Pre-booking essential, please ring our Reception Team on 01479 872526 to avoid disappointment.

Meet in the Reception Area by 9am.

Image credit Graham Niven

“Glenlivet it has castles three, Drumin, Blairfindy and Deskie”. This easy guided 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 stunning views over one of Scotland’s most famous glens. 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 its heyday Blairfindy was a fine example of a three storey L-plan tower house and even today shows a remarkable degree of preservation. 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’.

Join us for a walk around Moray’s earliest surviving tower house, reputedly built for Scotland’s vilest man, Alexander Stewart—the infamous Wolf of Badenoch. Drumin Castle, an impressive medieval fortification, stands on a commanding bluff overlooking the confluence of the River Livet and the River Avon.

Upon reaching the castle, you’ll learn about its architecture, history, and the notorious Wolf, whose evil deeds continue to cast a long shadow over Moray’s history.

Drumin Castle has now reopened after masonry repairs, with access to the first floor now possible via a narrow stone staircase. Sensible footwear is recommended.

Please park at the Drumin Castle car park. This short circular walk will begin at the Drumin Castle sign in the car park. The route follows a pedestrian trail to the castle and returns via a set of steps. Please dress appropriately for changeable weather. Children love castles and are very welcome to attend. Well-behaved dogs are also welcome.

Please note that toilets are not available on site.

This event is funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Heritage Ranger talk: Inveraven Church & Pictish Stones

Join the Glenlivet & Inveravon Heritage and Dark Sky Ranger for an introduction to the Picts, their art and symbol stones. We will be examining the intricate carvings on the four 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 demonstrate how the Picts contributed to the founding of modern Scotland.

This event offers a unique opportunity to delve into Scotland’s past, allowing you to connect with its ancient roots. Join us for an afternoon of discovery and insight in stunning Speyside.

Children are usually fascinated by the Picts and are encouraged to attend. As we will be outside, please dress appropriately for changeable weather.

This event is by donation. Donations can be made through Eventbrite or in person on the day. Children and youth under 16 are free. Like many churches across Scotland, Inveravon Church and Pictish Stones have unfortunately been earmarked for closure and sale by the Church of Scotland. The local community is currently in the process of exploring ways to keep it open by creating a heritage centre and community hub. Thousands of tourists visit the stones every year from every corner of the globe and it would be disappointing if they were no longer accessible. Funds raised from talks and events help to support community and heritage events run by the Friends of Inveravon Church.

Please note that toilet facilities are not available on site. Public toilets are available in Cragganmore at Ballindalloch Station on the Speyside Way or in Aberlour. There are also customer facilities available at the nearby Lagmore Cafe when open.

Well behaved dogs may attend but must be leashed.

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

Ranger Ramble: Explore the Dava Moor

This gentle Ranger Ramble at Dava Moor offers a serene stroll through a typical Highland moorland, with bogs, a lochan and even a few trees!

Bring your binoculars if you have them, but we’ll be concentrating on the botany and beasties, with some history thrown in too…hopefully we’ll get some gorgeous wildlfowers and weather permitting, a butterfly or two!

As we’re focusing on slow observation rather than brisk walking, this wee event is suitable for all – including good dogs.

Any queries please phone: 07818 588 222

Meeting place by the ‘Jesus Saves’ rock on the Nairn to Grantown road. Ignore the map!

Discover the stories of the hidden 18th Century seminary of Scalan and the lives of those who lived and worked there when it was farmed during the 19th and 20th Centuries.

Soak up the atmospheric character of the landscape. Wander around the seminary building which provides information on how the Catholic faith was kept alive in this small glen as well as peeling wallpaper fragments from when it later became a home for those working the site as a farm.

See inside the two mill buildings, including areas that are usually locked, and get a glimpse of what everyday life was like for those who lived and worked here during the 19th and 20th Centuries from their own hands. The wooden walls are daubed with handwritten, dated snippets of everyday life.

The left behind objects tell their own tale of those who lived and worked here. The restored waterwheel will also be turning bringing back the sounds of the past. Videos will be playing which provide information on the whole history of the site and the surrounding Braes of Glenlivet.

There will be volunteers onsite to answer questions and bring the history of the site alive with their own stories, memories and knowledge. Drop in anytime between 1 and 4 pm.

Parking is at the Carrachs Car Park with a 0.5mile (approx) walk along a farm track to the site. The short walk in takes in the stunning scenery of the Braes of Glenlivet. There is one parking space for restricted mobility only onsite, but please note this is accessed via a rough farm track and the site is not fully wheelchair accessible.

Donations to the Scalan Association on the day are most appreciated and help them to care for this special place.

Children are very welcome to attend.
Toilets are available on site. There is also a picnic area and benches.
For further information please contact scalanseminaryandmills@gmail.com and look out on Facebook.

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.

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

Experience wellness travel at its finest with our carefully curated active getaway that seamlessly fuse adventure, fitness, and relaxation. Embark on an unforgettable journey toward improved wellbeing in a location that’s nothing short of breath-taking.

This retreat is perfect for solo travellers, small groups or couples, and promises an invigorating blend of wellness activities, beautiful scenery, nutritious locally sourced meals, and rejuvenating experiences amidst the stunning Cairngorms National Park.


DAY 1:

The adventure begins with a leisurely hike, leading you to an incredible viewpoint before we gather around the dining table to enjoy our first evening meal together, savouring local cuisine, prepared by our private chefs.

DAY 2:

After breakfast, we kick off the day with a group boot camp style workout, accommodated to all fitness levels, with the scenic backdrop of the surrounding mountains.

Following a hearty lunch, take some well-deserved time for yourself, indulging in relaxation and self-care, before a 2-hour group walk that will lead you to the cascading River Feshie and to a secluded waterfall. Immerse yourself in the fresh Highland waters with a wild dip (optional).

DAY 3:

Get up close and personal with the majestic wild reindeer that freely roam Cairngorm Mountain. These gentle creatures are not only approachable, but can also be hand-fed.

Following this unique encounter, we head to the hills to push ourselves physically to be rewarded with panoramic views of the Cairngorm Mountains.

After lunch at the lodge, we embark on an adventure through the pine forest, this time on quad bikes, before some well-deserved relaxation in our riverside wood-fired sauna.

As night falls, we conclude the retreat by gathering around the riverside campfire (weather dependant), reflecting on the cherished memories created and the lasting connections made.

Join us on this extraordinary adventure, where the Cairngorms National Park becomes the backdrop for your health and wellness transformation.

Go animal tracking around the Grantown area with expert tracker Dan Puplett, a two hour walk learning to spot the signs of birds and animals in the wild. great for families!