When is this event?
All welcome to come along.
No charge but donations gratefully accepted.
Tours start outside the front of the Invercauld Arms.
Come behind the scenes and discover over 12,000 artifacts of Highland life in our wonderful collections store, brought alive by one of our store tour guides.
Only £6 per adult (no charge for children).
You can book in person at the museum reception or by calling 01349 781650.
Join us for a walk around Moray’s earliest surviving tower house reputed to have been built for Scotland’s vilest man- Alexander Stewart, the Wolf of Badenoch. Drumin Castle is an impressive medieval fortification standing on a commanding bluff overlooking the confluence of the River Livet and the River Avon.
Once we get to the castle, you’ll learn a bit about the architecture, history, and the notorious Wolf, whose evil deeds continue to cast a long shadow in Moray’s history.
“Cathedral and Toun
Wyld wrath did engulf
Lone Lochindorb Castle
The lair of the Wolf”
This castle has recently reopened after masonry repairs. Access to the first floor is once again possible via a narrow, stone staircase. `Sensible footwear is recommended.
Please park at the The Drumin Castle car park. This short circular walk will start from the Drumin Castle sign in the car park. Access is by foot along a pedestrian trail and will return by a set of steps. Please dress appropriately for changeable weather.
Toilets are not available on site.
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 members of the Scalan Association and 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.
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 in the summer months.
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.
Funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.
Join Glenlivet & Inveravon Heritage Ranger Lydia for a talk on 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 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.
Well behaved dogs may attend but must be leashed.
Funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.
Please note that toilet facilities are not available on site.
“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.
The festival promotes traditional music and dance in a variety of formats and venues in and around Grantown.
Open music sessions throughout the weekend. Come and enjoy the Concert, starring Paul Anderson, Shona Donaldson, Fèis Spè Junior Band and more at the British Legion, 7.30pm on 15th Sept.
Sign up for an exciting Heritage Walk with Music, led by John Halliday of Strathspey Tours, 2.30pm 15th and 10.00am 16th from Ben Mhor Hotel; or choose the Family Guided Walk with Tunes and Tales, 2.30pm 16th from Ben Mhor Hotel.
Enhance your skills, or just enjoy playing along in the Saturday afternoon Workshops in Fiddle, Singing and Moothie for all ages and abilities, and Drumming for children, 2.00pm Ben Mhor Hotel. Join in with the combined Open Session at 3.30pm, Ben Mhor.
Dance the evening of the 16th away from 7pm, Ben Mhor Hotel at the Family Ceilidh with the Dunphail Ceilidh Band. “Treasure” Hunt in the shop windows of Grantown’s interesting High Street – can you identify the musical instruments? Fiddle Competition for all ages and abilities, 10am 16th at Ben Mhor. Registration details from the website or phone for entry form.
Will YOU be THE FIDDLER of STRATHSPEY 2023?
Ballater Walking Festival has been in operation since 1999.
It takes place on the third week of May every year and welcomes over 100 walkers to Ballater.
There are up to 4 walks offered every day ranging from easy, medium, strong and special interest.
Transport is either provided by mini bus or car share.
Walkers often come to Ballater for the whole week and walk most days.
Evening entertainment includes a free welcome meal, a talk or quiz, a free ceilidh at the end of the week and a group meal (paid for by walker).
Strong walks are mainly lead by qualified guides, whereas the easy and moderate ones are lead by locals.
A week not to be missed!
Register online.
Booking are taken from January 2024 on www.walkballater.com
Join our lichen expert for an accessible introduction to some of the species that thrive in the Caledonian forest. Whether you are an intrigued beginner or an avid naturalist, we aim to take you on a journey lichen no other!
The lichen walk will last 2-3 hours and will start from the Loch Garten Nature Centre car park. Please bring appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear.
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 members of the Scalan Association and 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.
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 in the summer months.
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.
Funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.
Where is this event being held?
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