Posts for February, 2022

Find out how Boat of Garten developed from a simple ferry crossing of the Spey to the Highland Railway village.
The walk occurs on the same day as the Strathspey Railway Diesel Gala and will give guests great views of the railway and the trains.
More details TBC on the Facebook page.

This 2.5 hour guided walk begins at Grantown Caravan Park before travelling to Castle Grant along the old Highland Railway line (The Dava Way). We will then walk into Grantown to find out why the town was moved.
Hear stories about the Comyn Skull, Lady Barbara’s ghost and why a railway cutting is named after a outlawed clan.
There will also be a chance to forage for seasonal medicinal and edible plants.

This 4 hour guided walk (including breaks) will start at the medieval Castle Roy with its connections to the infamous Wolf of Badenoch, before walking past the elegant Aultmore House. We stop at a viewpoint to see an awe inspiring vista of the Cairngorm mountains before climbing up to the breathtaking Backharn Valley.

Hear stories from the local folklore of an ambush of cattle thieves in the Backharn valley, the evil white serpent and fairy changelings.
The walk will also include an opportunity to forage for seasonal wild food, just as highlanders did through the centuries.

Visit the ancient Pictish Stone at the old Inverallan churchyard and learn about the mysterious Picts. Hear stories of drowned Bailies and cursed Lairds. Visit the standing stones of Ballintomb and explore the unexplained cross shaped earthwork.

Explore the history of the Old Strathspey Railway, the grand Nethy Bridge Hotel and the ruins of the Canadian timber camp.
Hear stories of train explosions, rouges at the Hotel and a murder of a policeman that shocked the nation.
See the Facebook page for more details.

Join artists Louise Emslie and Louise Kernaghan on an artful walk exploring concepts of the physical and metaphorical boundaries within the landscape.

Through a series of creative exercises that Louise and Louise will guide you through, we will ask ourselves ‘what does it feel like to walk along a line on a map and what will we discover along the way?’

We’ll be walking a total distance of 6.5k at a gentle pace along a smooth gravel track. All ages welcome (under 18s accompanied with a responsible adult). For more info, please email louise_emsile@msn.com

No previous art experience required and all materials provided.

This event is free, but please ensure to book as places are limited.

Our through hike goes from south to north cutting directly through the heart of Britain’s largest mountain range. The route will take us along the Lairig Ghru which is the best known hill-pass in Scotland. It climbs to an altitude of 835 metres and crosses through the central Cairngorms.

It is essentially a valley hike, so is sheltered from the worst of the elements and (if needed) bothies can provide extra protection. We will hike, wild-camp and cook as a team. Unpredictable weather will add to the test as we get these hard 30kms under our belt.

This trip will require a basic level of fitness and some experience with hiking in windy or rainy conditions. Our trips are not feats of endurance or about rushing up mountain peaks, they are immersive outdoors experiences, so there are always opportunities to rest and take in the views.

Our guides James and Scoob walk with you offering help and advice or sarcasm and negativity depending on the situation! We’ll laugh, we’ll swear, we’ll breathe the cleanest air, we’ll see hidden mountains and drink from clear mountain streams, we’ll have fun, we’ll learn and when we get to Aviemore we’ll drink the most well-earned beer of our lives. And we’ll leave with a story to tell and, after the blisters heal, a newfound spring in our steps…..

Our feral Konik ponies make light work of grazing the Marshes, keeping the habitat in tip-top condition for the special birds that live there.

Join us to learn all about them, before going on a short walk to find out about how they fit in with our wider work managing the reserve and our plans for the future.

Wednesday 2nd February
10am-12noon

This event is free, but booking is essential as places are limited by parking capacity – please email: insh@rspb.org.uk

(Our walk will be about 1 mile over uneven pathless terrain with one small, but fairly steep slope. Unfortunately this route is not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies. Wellies are essential as the entrance to the field regularly floods in winter – we do have a small number of pairs available to borrow, please let us know and we’ll see if we have your size!)

Join us for an epic spider hunt around Grantown Library and Storytime with some of your favourite 8-legged themed tales

Ages 3 -7
Please note – Children must be accompanied by an adult
BOOKING ESSENTIAL

For more details contact us:
grantown.library@highlifehighland.com
01349781630

saranne.bish@highlifehighland.com
07818 588 222

Join us at Grantown Library for an outdoor themed Storytime around the fire with your favourite Stick Man book

Ages 3 -7
Please note – Children must be accompanied by an adult
BOOKING ESSENTIAL

For more details contact us:
Grantown.library@highlifehighland.com
01349781630

saranne.bish@highlifehighland.com
07818 588 222