Posts for May, 2025

Loch Kinord & Muir of Dinnet Guided Walk
A beautiful circuit around Loch Kinord in the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve. The walk is excellent for nature lovers with plenty of flora and fauna both on and around the loch and in the surrounding birch woodland.

Loch Kinord – a short walk around Loch Kinord in the beautiful Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve – full of wildlife on the loch and in the surrounding Birch woodland. Included in the walk is the popular hidden gem; the Burn o’Vat – a fantastic example of a bowl-shaped “pot-hole”; a geological feature carved out by glacial meltwater at the end of the last Ice Age around 10,000 years ago. Please note Transport is needed.

Discover Blairfindy Castle: A Guided Walk Through Glenlivet’s Rich Past

“Glenlivet it has castles three – Drumin, Blairfindy and Deskie.”
Join us for an easy, guided walk through the heart of Glenlivet, beginning at the iconic Glenlivet Distillery. As we make our way toward the impressive 16th-century Blairfindy Castle, you’ll be treated to sweeping views across one of Scotland’s most renowned glens. Along the way, we’ll delve into the rich history of Glenlivet, with a dash of whisky heritage thrown in too.

Blairfindy Castle, completed in 1564 by John Gordon, stands as a nice example of an L-plan tower house that remains remarkably well preserved. In 2019, a major conservation project—supported by the Tomintoul & Glenlivet Landscape Partnership and the National Lottery Heritage Fund—stabilised the structure and opened it to visitors for the first time in decades. The site has also been enhanced to support wildlife, with features that encourage nesting birds and pollinators.

Step into the story of Blairfindy and see a different side of Glenlivet—one where history, nature, and whisky meet.

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 as livestock live on site.

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

Please note that toilet facilities are not available on site.

Soak in the delights of the dawn chorus around the River Dee in Ballater with Dan and Rachael from Wild Discovery. Over the course of the morning we will listen for as many species as possible getting to know the commoner species and understanding a little more about how to identify different bird calls and songs. We will be able to hear and discuss the differences between birds that sing in woodlands and those in more open habitats and with luck our encounters could include Tree Pipit, Redstart, Sedge Warbler, Common Sandpiper and Dipper. Profits from this event will be donated to a relevant conservation charity.

This will be followed by the ‘Magic Moths of Deeside’ at Ballater Green.

Part of Deeside Nature Festival 2025
Our evening will start by looking at the marvellous moths that have been caught in the light traps from the previous evening. We will then go on a short walk to explore the clear, evening sounds of the glen. As dusk falls hone your senses to experience this slightly different take on the wildlife of the area. Profits from this event will be donated to a relevant conservation charity. Run by Wild Discovery.

Part of the Deeside Nature Festival 2025.
Wild Discovery’s Dan and Rachael will lead a walk at Keiloch, Invercauld in search of open pine forest birds, such as Crossbills, and other wildlife. We will enjoy a round-walk from Keiloch car park of approximately 4km. We will search for Crossbills and other woodland birds, birds of prey, butterflies and plants along this scenic route with views across Craig Leek and down to the River Dee. Profits from this walk will be donated to a relevant conservation charity.

Part of the Deeside Nature Festival 2025.
We will gather on the green in Ballater to look through the moth traps that will have been set the previous night. You will be introduced to a wide variety of beautiful and intricately patterned moths. This fun, hands on event will get you up close and personal to these wonderful creatures and is suitable for the whole family.

Run by Wild Discovery.

Part of the Deeside Nature Festival 2025
Join Dan and Rachael from Wild Discovery for a guided walk at Glenshee looking for Mountain Hares, Ptarmigan and birds of prey. We will enjoy a walk up the Cairnwell and surrounds in search for Red Grouse, Mountain Hare, Ring Ouzel, Golden Eagle and a number of Arctic-alpine plants. If conditions are suitable we will endeavour to reach an area where Ptarmigan can be found. It may be possible to take the Cairnwell chairlift to this area if it is operating (at your own cost). Profits from this walk will be donated to a relevant conservation charity.

Run by Wild Discovery

“Glenlivet it has castles three, Drumin, Blairfindy and Deskie”. This easy guided 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 stunning views over one of Scotland’s most famous glens. 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 its heyday Blairfindy was a fine example of a three storey L-plan tower house and even today shows a remarkable degree of preservation. 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.

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 as there is often livestock on site.

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

Please note that toilet facilities are not available on site.