Posts for September, 2022

For children and adults!

‘Rise, winds of autumn, rise; blow upon the dark heath! Streams of the mountains, roar!’

Join us on an autumn walk into the Glen and experience Ossian’s bardic tales in their natural environment of the Highlands. Listen to Ossianic poetry, while looking at the scenery that surrounded the bard and understand, how the Ossianic stories generated a fascination with our Highland landscapes far beyond the Scottish borders. Learn about the importance of nature in these stories and hear of their important link to Highland tourism.

On this walk, you will be encouraged to participate in a dialogue, not only about Ossian, but also about the modern understanding of landscape, culture, and belonging. We invite you to express your understanding of these in creative photography.

A selection of these photographs will be displayed in the special exhibition of 2023 at the Clan Macpherson Museum.

Meeting point is the end of the minor road up Glen Banchor, the coordinates are 57°04’13.8″N 4°09’27.4″W and the start point can be accessed through Google Maps, it is the end of Glen Road.

Once parked at the end of the minor road leading from Newtonmore into Glen Banchor, we will continue on foot along Allt a’ Chaorainn, to reach the foothills of the Monadhliath and enjoy the views of two glens merging together. We will have plenty of time to talk about Ossian, exchange stories and take photographs along the way. After a break and some snacks, we will retrace our steps back to the car.

The walk is approximately 4km long and we will cover an elevation of 100meters. Our highest point will be approximately 400m. It is best suited for all fitness levels, but please be aware that you need sturdy footing.

At an average fitness level, this walk will take 2 hours, however, we plan to take 3 hours in total to have enough time for breaks and photographs along the way.

In case of severe weather conditions, we reserve the right to change the route of the walk.

Please bring waterproof clothing, as well as sturdy shoes, and be aware that sections of the path can be rather boggy. We recommend some additional layers, as the weather in the Highlands can change very quickly and be unpredictable at times.

Please also bring a protective cover for your camera, if needed and some snacks/lunch.

Picnic blankets will be provided. Additional portable seating can also be provided. If required, please leave a note upon signing up for this event.

4 to 5 hour-long deer-watching walk up Craeg Dubh to Cluny’s Cave. Discover the beautiful Monadhliath mountains and walk in the tracks of Ewan (‘Cluny’) Macpherson who hid from the British army for a total of 9 years after Culloden, while listening to deer facts and lore. This walk, which will lead you to one of Cluny’s hiding spots, combines nature and fascinating history with the rugged landscape of the Highlands.

Suitable for more experienced hillwalkers, with steep sections off track. Sturdy footing and waterproofs are essential. Remember to bring water and snacks!

2-hour walk to explore Glenbanchor Estate in Newtonmore. Explore the natural habitat of the wildcat, while listening to folklore and facts about wildcats and the history of the Macphersons in this area. This is a unique opportunity to experience history and tales intermingle, within the breathtaking setting of the Highlands. This walk is suitable for most abilities, and we will take breaks whenever necessary. Sturdy footing and waterproofs will be required. Please remember to bring water and snacks.

As the nights begin to draw in, join us for a special evening of yoga and nature connection at the gorgeous Kinrara House

We will begin our evening in the beautiful grounds of Kinrara estate, walking through woodland and up to the Duke of Gordon viewpoint looking over the Cairngorm mountains. Led by a local wildlife guide, we will learn more about the land we are walking through and looking at, and what Cairngorms Connect is doing to protect and restore it.

As darkness begins to fall, we will return to cosy Kinrara House for a candle-lit yoga session, led by local yoga instructor Jo of Wilderness Flow Yoga, who will guide us through a dynamic yoga flow, suitable for beginners.

To round off the evening we will share a delicious meal of Cairngorms Connect venison, prepared by The Pagoda. This local, sustainable source of meat is an important part of the habitat restoration story, and gives us another way to connect with the land we are in. (A vegetarian/vegan option will also be available.)

Booking is essential.

Join Cairngorms Connect and friends for a day celebrating and exploring local forests and enjoying delicious local food.

*Enjoy local, sustainable, tasty food like wild Cairngorms Connect Venison, at the free BBQ which will also celebrate other local, foraged and gathered produce. Full menu to be announced.

*Local musician Hamish Napier will be performing music from his award-winning album, The Woods, inspired by the beautiful Caledonian pine forest here in the Cairngorms.

*Discover new ways to incorporate local food into your everyday meals with simple and inspiring cooking demonstrations from Scottish food expert Catriona Frankiti.

*Explore nearby Dell Woods on a guided walk with woodland and wildlife experts from NatureScot and learn more about how our local forests are managed to provide benefits for people and nature.

*Learn how to identify edible plants, fruit and mushrooms growing wild with foraging expert Natasha from Gathering Nature.

*Meet Cairngorms Connect deer stalker, Jack, and find out all about the importance of deer management and the benefits of venison, for our health and our climate.

*Immerse yourself in the folklore and stories of the forest with Sarah from Strathspey Storywalks.

*All ages welcome: there will be plenty of family-friendly games, crafts and activities throughout the day – to be announced!

Hill to Grill is completely free and there is no need to book, but why not click ‘Going’ on our Facebook event so we can make sure we have enough burgers for everyone!

*An important part of Cairngorm Connect’s habitat restoration work involves controlling deer numbers in order to protect woodlands from the pressures of grazing. Cairngorms Connect Venison uses venison produced from necessary deer management to share the story of Scotland’s recovering forests. While supporting forest restoration, the project also enables local people and visitors to benefit by increasing access to local venison.

Each month we have a different seasonal theme for our Stories Round the Fire.

We’ll be going outside so please dress warmly!

The event is free, but donations are always welcome.

Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

Follow General Wade’s road as it makes its way to Ruthven Barracks. The walk will be led by Pete Moore (Laggan Heritage) and Eve Boyle (HES).

Come and take a walk around the Museum with Lorna from the Highland Archive Centre, as part of the Badenoch Heritage Festival. Lorna has been giving online talks about the collections in our High Life Highland Archive through lockdown and we are really pleased that she is coming to give us a live talk, connected to our collections here at the Museum. No need to book, just meet at reception at 11am. (Museum open 10.30am – 4pm, entry by dontation.)

Scalan was originally the site of a secret Roman Catholic seminary where priests, known as ‘heather priests’ were trained during 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 Glenlivet & Inveravon Heritage Ranger Lydia on a guided tour of the site and the mill buildings. You will learn about the history of the site and the mill buildings and we’ll touch on the history of illicit whisky distilling and smuggling too. In addition to being of historical interest, this area 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 at 1:00pm 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.

Children are very welcome to attend.

Toilet facilities are available during 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.

How to get to the Carrachs car park:
Turn east off the B9008 at Auchnarrow (signposted for Scalan) and follow this road right to the end ensuring to follow sign for Chapeltown of Glenlivet. If you are using a navigation system, the postcode AB37 9JS will take you most of the way to Chapeltown of Glenlivet. Drive past Braeval Distillery and at the road end follow the 90-degree right hand turn which leads to the car park. This track is quite potholed and uneven in places so please proceed slowly and carefully.

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.