Posts for April, 2023

Distance: 2.5 miles / 4 km
Grade: Easy Plus (info)
Leader: Annie Ives
Dogs: Sorry, dogs are not allowed
Category: Nature, Walk

Bumblebees need our help! In the UK, two species of bumblebee have gone extinct in the last 100 years, and a further seven are on national conservation priority lists due to concerns about their large-scale declines. Monitoring bumblebees is an essential part of helping with their conservation. Finding out where different species of bumblebees are thriving and where they aren’t doing so well helps to target conservation efforts to where they are needed most and can have the biggest impact.

Join Annie Ives from Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Mark Johnston from Glenlivet Estate to learn more about bumblebees and how you could help survey for them, from simply identifying and recording bumblebees in your back garden to becoming a ‘BeeWalker’ – counting the bumblebees you see on a fixed monthly walking route.

At this event, we will start indoors, brushing up on our knowledge of bumblebee identification and surveying methods, before heading outside on to Glenlivet Estate for a walk-through demonstration on our 1.5km ‘BeeWalk’ bumblebee survey route through grassland, woodland and moorland, working together to identify and count bumblebees along the way.

Cost:
£10.00 – £15.00
Distance: 13 miles / 20.8 km
Grade: ModeratePlus (info)
Leader: Stephen Reeves and Mark Johnston
Dogs: Yes, well behaved dogs are welcome
Category: Forest, Heritage, Hill, Moderate +, Nature, Walk

Join the Rangers from Dorenell Ranger Service and Glenlivet Ranger Service for a walk up the River Fiddich all the way to its source then over the watershed to meet the River Livet. We’ll park at the finish point in Glenlivet and be transported by coach to the start at Bridgehaugh, south of Dufftown. The route will follow Moray core path SP29, going past Glenfiddich Lodge and up Glenfiddich itself where we’ll have an opportunity to see Elf House cave and the McHardy stone. Once up on the watershed, we’ll hopefully have views across to the Cairngorms before following the Suie Burn down to the River Livet and out to Glenlivet.

Along the route, the Rangers will talk about the Cultural and Natural History of the area and will be on hand to point out any wildlife along the route which could include Red Deer and various birds of prey including Golden Eagles and White-tailed Eagles.

Although starting off on patchy tarmac track the route is mainly rough landrover tracks with a number of small stream and river crossings. A larger river crossing towards the end can be avoided by a bridge further upstream but walkers should come prepared for potentially wet feet.

Mark Johnston is Head Ranger for the 23000ha Glenlivet Estate. The Crown Estate acquired Glenlivet (now managed by Crown Estate Scotland) in 1937 which today comprises over 30 let farms, 1500 acres of commercial forests and a sporting tenancy including grouse moors, salmon fishing and deer stalking.

Stephen Reeves is Head Ranger for the Dorenell Ranger Service, set up by EDF Renewables in July 2019 as part of the Dorenell Wind Farm on Cabrach and Glenfiddich estate. Based at the Dorenell Wind Farm Visitor Centre, the Rangers are responsible for delivering the Access Strategy and Habitat Management Plan whilst delivering environmental education and guided walks in the Cabrach and surrounding area.

Come along for an evening stroll along the banks of the River Livet, through woodland which is home to the rare Twinflower and finishing with spectacular views from Drumin Castle.

Join the Glenlivet Estate Ranger for a guided walk on a on circular trail with detours to Drumin Castle and Twinflower translocation site. This walk follows a beautiful section of the River Livet where dippers, wagtails and other riparian wildlife are often seen. It will visit woodland which contains the rare Twinflower, where we will look for the plant and hear about the translocation project we are working on in conjunction with Plantlife and Cairngorms National Park. We will then finish up at Drumin Castle hearing a little of its history and enjoy the views across the surrounding hills.

Information for attendees
This is a three mile mostly gentle walk, however, there are a few moderate slopes. Most of the walk will be on tracks but some can be muddy and uneven. Wear sturdy footwear and clothing suitable for the conditions. Bring binoculars and cameras if you have them.

This event is free, but donations to Plantlife are welcome on the day.

Accessibility
There are steps and off-track sections so this walk is not suitable for wheeled access. For specific accessibility enquiries, please contact Mark at mark.johnston@crownestatescotland.com

Parking and public transport
There is free parking at Drumin Castle Car Park.
Unfortunately, this event can’t be accessed by public transport.

Toilets
There are no toilets on the walk.
The closest public toilets are on Back Lane in Tomintoul which is 10 miles away or a 20 minute drive. Alternatively, there are public toilets in Albert Place Car Park in Dufftown which is 13 miles away or a 25 minute drive.

Dogs
Dogs on leads welcome.

Our time in the field will be spent enjoying our passion for Lepidoptera whilst learning more about identification, ecology and trapping techniques all of which will add to your overall enjoyment of natural history and your knowledge of the subject.

We will search for target species: Sword Grass, Scotch Flatbody (Exearetia ciniflora) and secondary species include Juniper Carpet.

Our time in the field will be spent enjoying our passion for Lepidoptera whilst learning more about identification, ecology and trapping techniques all of which will add to your overall enjoyment of natural history and your knowledge of the subject.

Over two days and nights we will look for Dark Bordered Beauty in the Aspen stands of the Dee, Aberdeenshire. This species is scarce and will require a focused trapping effort as well as daytime searches. We will also operate traps at higher altitude to try for a couple of Scottish specialities.

Target Species include Dark Bordered Beauty, Northern Dart and secondary species include Northern Arches, Cousin German, Chestnut-coloured Carpet, Grey Mountain Carpet, Pretty Pinion, Dark Tussock and Scotch Annulet.

Meet at 1.30pm outside Nethy Bridge Community Centre, PH25 3DA, where we will arrange transport to the start of the walk.

Walk is around 2 miles, with some fairly rough terrain and a short gradient, and will include signs of an ancient site, a former farmhouse, a good example of a lime kiln and various other points of interest.

Event is free, but donations are welcome (£5 suggested) to help Explore Abernethy maintain the paths network and Visitor Centre.

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.

Join Glenlivet & Inveravon Heritage Ranger Lydia for an introduction to 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 of 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. Please note that toilet facilities are not available on site.

Well behaved dogs may attend but must be leashed.

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

Whisky-enthusiasts will delight in the popular walking trail the Speyside Way. Cragganmore was the first distillery in Scotland to have its site selected and be built specifically to take advantage of its proximity to the Strathspey Railway. This walk follows the route of the old railway from Cragganmore station to Blacksboat Station and back again.

Come and join the Ballater Walking Festival. We have 3 or 4 walks a day, from Strenuous uphill routes , Moderate walks, Easy walks and walks of Special Interest. The walks start on Sunday 4th June and are every day until and including Friday 9th June. Walkers meet in Ballater at the hut on the green in the centre of the village , usually at 8am (Strenuous), 9am (Moderate) and 10am for the Easy and Special Interest walks. Friendly and informative leaders.
There is also a programme of evening events – a reception, an informative talk about the future of the Cairngorm National Park, and a Ceilidh on the Friday night. These events are free to walkers. We also have a dinner in the middle of the week.
The event is run by a volunteer committee, who would be very happy to welcome you to our friendly festival. Places are still available, so please go on our website, book your walks, and we shall see you in June.