Posts for August, 2025

Join Lynn Cassells, co-owner of Lynbreck Croft, for an immersive learning day focused on planting, growing and working with trees, surrounded by the inspiring landscapes of the Cairngorms National Park.

As climate changes accelerates and weather extremes become more frequent, the need to create diverse, resilient landscapes grows ever more important. Trees play a critical role in the landscape, providing essential shade, shelter and forage, as well as slowing the flow of water off the hills, maintaining soil health and enabling food production.

This immersive learning day provides a unique opportunity to find out everything you want to know about tree planting, tree protection and woodland management at the multi-award-winning Lynbreck Croft, owned by Lynn Cassells and Sandra Baer. With 28 years of combined practical experience, Lynn and Sandra are creating a landscape at Lynbreck where trees and food production go hand in hand.

With practical hands-on learning opportunities and Lynn’s expert guidance, this course will help you to observe and understand the varied ways that trees are nurtured, managed and utilised on a working croft, emphasising their central place within a landscape that benefits nature, climate and people.

A circular walk, led by RSPB archaeologist Jill Harden

Step back in time and uncover the mystery of the Picts with the Glenlivet & Inveravon Heritage and Dark Sky Ranger. This engaging talk and tour will introduce you to the Pictish people, their unique art, and the symbol stones that continue to inspire centuries after they were carved.

Set within the ancient and atmospheric site of Inveravon Church—an important place of worship and pilgrimage for generations—we’ll closely examine the intricate carvings on the four remarkable Pictish stones discovered here. You’ll learn how these enigmatic symbols fit into a wider cultural story and how the Picts helped lay the foundations of modern Scotland.

This is an opportunity to connect with Scotland’s ancient past, surrounded by the stunning scenery of Speyside.

Practical Information:

Meeting point: Access to Inveravon Church and burial ground is via a single-track road off the A95, about half a mile north of the entrance to Ballindalloch Castle. Follow the brown tourist sign for the Inveravon Pictish Stones.

Parking: Available at the bottom of the drive and in front of the church building.

Family-friendly: Young visitors are often fascinated by the Picts and are warmly encouraged to attend. All children and youth under 16 attend free.

Inveravon Church is currently under threat of closure and sale by the Church of Scotland. The local community is working hard to preserve it as a heritage centre and community hub. Your support helps keep this unique site alive and accessible for future generations.

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.

Well behaved dogs may attend but must be leashed.

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

“Glenlivet — it has castles three: Drumin, Blairfindy and Deskie…”

Step back in time and explore the hidden histories of Glenlivet on this easy, guided walk to the recently conserved 16th-century tower house of Blairfindy.

We begin at the world-famous Glenlivet Distillery, where our journey through one of Scotland’s most iconic glens begins — a landscape once shaped by powerful families, illicit distillers, and whisky smugglers.

On the way, enjoy stunning views and discover:

· Tales of smuggling and illicit stills in the hills of Glenlivet
· The strategic role of castles like Blairfindy
· How Glenlivet became a name known around the world for whisky

Blairfindy Castle, completed in 1564 by John Gordon, is a remarkable L-plan tower house — still standing proud after centuries. Thanks to recent conservation efforts by the Tomintoul & Glenlivet Landscape Partnership and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the castle is open to visitors for the first time in decades and now also supports nesting birds and pollinators.

Meeting point: Outside the Glenlivet Distillery Stillhouse
(under the green signpost marked “Blairfindy Castle ½ mile”)

Parking: Available at the Glenlivet Distillery car park

Booking advised: Reserve your spot in advance or email to confirm Heritage Ranger availability.

Suggested donation: £4 (supporting local heritage tourism – free for under-16s)

Family-friendly: Children love castles — and they’re very welcome!

Join us for a history walk through the world-famous glen of Glenlivet.

We would like to express thanks to Foundation Scotland, who help to fund this event through the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Step back in time and uncover the mystery of the Picts with the Glenlivet & Inveravon Heritage and Dark Sky Ranger. This engaging talk and tour will introduce you to the Pictish people, their unique art, and the symbol stones that continue to inspire centuries after they were carved.

Set within the ancient and atmospheric site of Inveravon Church—an important place of worship and pilgrimage for generations—we’ll closely examine the intricate carvings on the four remarkable Pictish stones discovered here. You’ll learn how these enigmatic symbols fit into a wider cultural story and how the Picts helped lay the foundations of modern Scotland.

This is an opportunity to connect with Scotland’s ancient past, surrounded by the stunning scenery of Speyside.

Practical Information:

Meeting point: Access to Inveravon Church and burial ground is via a single-track road off the A95, about half a mile north of the entrance to Ballindalloch Castle. Follow the brown tourist sign for the Inveravon Pictish Stones.

Parking: Available at the bottom of the drive and in front of the church building.

Family-friendly: Young visitors are often fascinated by the Picts and are warmly encouraged to attend. All children and youth under 16 attend free.

Inveravon Church is currently under threat of closure and sale by the Church of Scotland. The local community is working hard to preserve it as a heritage centre and community hub. Your support helps keep this unique site alive and accessible for future generations.

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.

Well behaved dogs may attend but must be leashed.

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

EXPLORE WALKING HOLIDAYS IN SCOTLAND: WALK ON THE WILD SIDE IN THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK

When you explore walking holidays in Scotland with a focus on wildlife encounters, you’ll find this trip on your radar. This trip takes place in the Cairngorms National Park, Britain’s largest National Park.

visit the Strathspey Wildlife Hide managed by Speyside Wildlife
walk on the RSPB Abernethy reserve with the opportunity to see Scottish Crossbill, Crested Tit and even the elusive Capercaillie
keep your eye out for ptarmigan and snow bunting when we head up Cairngorm

This summer foraging course is an invitation to learn about the edible and medicinal summer plants found in the grounds of Blair Castle & Gardens. Summer is a special time for foraging and this walk will give us time to celebrate the best of this season, as the plants bring forth the last of their flowers, nutritious seeds and ripening berries.

The course consists of a 2.5 hour foraging walk, in which you will learn lifelong identification techniques, inspiring recipe ideas, and a wealth of ethnobotanical tales.

During the walk we will move through a variety of habitats – woodland, meadow, hedgerow and garden – taking time to connect with each surrounding environment, noticing their changing flora and subtle variations in character.

We will finish up with a wild tea in Hercules Garden, with time to revise the plants learnt and how best to store them for future use.

All participants will also receive a personalised PDF containing information about all the plants met.



This course will give you:

How to safely identify over 20 edible and medicinal summer plants and trees Methods and techniques for how best to work with them as food and medicine A time of mindful walking among beautiful grounds Exciting recipes to regularly include wild plants in your meals
What to bring:

Shoes that are comfortable and waterproof

Wet weather gear in case of rain

A basket or container

Meeting point:

Meet on the green in front of the castle, next to the ‘The Cannon’ coffee cart.

This autumn foraging course is an invitation to learn about the edible and medicinal autumnal plants and fungi found in the grounds of Blair Castle & Gardens. Autumn is a special time for foraging and this walk will give us time to celebrate the best of this season, join us as we discover many different varieties of mushroom, nutritious nuts and seeds and succulent berries.

The course consists of a 2.5 hour foraging walk, in which you will learn lifelong identification techniques, inspiring recipe ideas, and a wealth of ethnobotanical tales.

During the walk we will move through a variety of habitats – woodland, meadow, hedgerow and garden – taking time to connect with each surrounding environment, noticing their changing flora and subtle variations in character.

We will finish up with a wild tea and homemade cake and biscuits in Hercules Garden, with time to revise the plants learnt and how best to store them for future use.

All participants will also receive a personalised PDF containing information about all the plants met.



This course will give you:

How to safely identify over 20 edible and medicinal autumn plants, fungi and trees Methods and techniques for how best to work with them as food and medicine A time of mindful walking among beautiful grounds Exciting recipes to regularly include wild plants in your meals
What to bring:

Shoes that are comfortable and waterproof

Wet weather gear in case of rain

A basket or container

Meeting point:

Meet on the green in front of the castle, next to the ‘The Cannon’ coffee cart.

Loch Muick Guided Walk
A fairly level circuit around the spectacular Loch Muick on the Balmoral Estate provides good views of the surrounding mountains and the local flora & fauna.

The walk takes in the impressive Glas-allt Shiel house on the shore of the loch. Queen Victoria built it in 1868 and is nicknamed ” Widow’s House”

There is an optional detour to see some waterfalls, just let your guide know your ability.

Loch Muick – The “loch of the swine” on the Royal Balmoral Estate. See Regeneration of the Highland Environment and the late Queen’s picnic spot (where you can stop for lunch as well). Transport needed.

Morven from Cairngorm Bothies is a there and back route of 16-17km with about 800m of ascent which would equate to approx 8 hrs hrs including stops.

A low Carbon Footprint walk from the Cairngorm Bothies to The Jewel of Deeside; the “Big Mountain” standing alone surveying Mighty Lochnagar; the awe inspiring Cairngorms and beautiful Royal Deeside.

Meeting Point is at the Solar array at Cairngorm Bothies.