Posts for August, 2024

Ever considered that your future might be here in the Cairngorms? Do you love the idea of working outdoors, dream of an office with a view, want to contribute to the community and crafts that draw nearly 2 million visitors to this part of the world every year, or simply value the perfect work life balance where adventure awaits? If so, you can find out about all the opportunities that are here for you by joining us on Thursday 12th September at Macdonald Aviemore Resort.

This informal event is open to everyone living and working in and around the Cairngorms. Whether you’re just leaving school and exploring your next steps, are actively looking for work, are in further or higher education and want to find out more about the opportunities and possibilities post-study, or are further down your career pathway and are looking to upskill or reskill – this event is for you!

Come along and find out about jobs that you might never have considered or even knew existed. With inspirational speakers, practical demonstrations, deep dive workshops, live job vacancies and more, you’ll hear from industry experts about all the possible careers on your doorstep, how to access them and current opportunities which may lead you to a fulfilling career.

We recognise that rural careers in a place like the Cairngorms are much broader than careers just within traditional industries . That’s why we’re excited to be joined by representatives from a wide range of industries including Environment and Conservation, Digital Technology, Engineering, Manufacturing, Food & Drink, Hospitality, Energy and Renewables, Forestry and Land management. A full list of exhibitors and workshop timetable will be released in early September.

Sign up today to secure your free space!

You’ll find us in the Osprey Arena at Macdonald Aviemore Resort – follow the signs for the Conference Centre. The venue is located in the centre of Aviemore with good public transport links, free onsite parking and ammenities nearby for refreshments.

Join us in Abernethy Forest for a behind the scenes masterclass with Cairngorms Connect Venison.

* Cairngorms Connect deer stalkers will talk about the methods, equipment, ethics, and sustainability of deer stalking for conservation management and will give a hands on demonstration of lardering the deer.
* A local butcher will then teach us about preparing all the different cuts of meat and what they are best used for, and you can even have a go yourself.
* We will then relocate to the tepee at the Dell of Abernethy for a live cooking demo over the fire by a local professional chef. Discover creative venison dishes and different ways to incorporate venison easily into our diet.
* And finally, we’ll share a meal of delicious dishes at a long communal table.

Please note the exact location of the event will be provided upon booking.

It is important that all people have equal access to Cairngorms Connect events.

We don’t want finance to be a barrier to people attending and so have made some tickets available for free or by donation – please take advantage of this if you need to.

Donations go towards our ongoing community engagement work, supporting more people to connect with this landscape. We’re able to offer these ticket options thanks to funding from the Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme.

We are happy to provide for your requirements, wherever possible eg. BSL interpreters, off-road wheelchairs, adapted bikes etc. If have any accessibility requirements, please get in touch.

Book your tickets now

We have a stellar line up for 2024 featuring sessions from renowned novelists, historians, artists, food writers and actors.

Discover more about each event via the links below and book your ticket. Please note tickets are nonrefundable.

Saturday, 21st September
10:00 Tom Parker Bowles in conversation with Matthew Fort

11:30 Kate Mosse on 30 Years of the Women’s Prize for Fiction

12:45 Jessie Burton in conversation with Vicki Perrin, CEO of The Queen’s Reading Room

14:00 Frances Morris and Fiona Bradley: The Life and Work of Artist Phyllida Barlow

15:30 In conversation with Jon Sopel – Renowned British Journalist – SOLD OUT

17:00 Ken Follett in conversation with Vicki Perrin, CEO of The Queen’s Reading Room

18:30 LYR

Sunday, 22nd September
10:00 Alan Cumming in conversation with Fiona Kennedy – SOLD OUT

11:30 Simon Armitage in conversation with Nick Barley

13:15 Jinny Blom

14:30 Discover Award-Winning Jinny Blom’s Garden at the Fife Arms – SOLD OUT

Food & Drink

Refresh between talks, with some tasty food in the village. If you’re in the mood for tea and scones or sandwiches, Gordon’s Tearoom, The Bothy or Hazelnut Patisserie are the perfect venues. For a heartier meal, book a table at The Flying Stag, and indulge in pub classics like fish and chips whilst enjoying live music and poetry in the evening, or visit Farquharson’s Bar and Kitchen located in the village. And when the day is done, head over to the Invercauld Mews Pub to enjoy a drink and chat about the days highlights with fellow bibliophiles.

Learn all about the tastes and smells of different whisky’s with Gordon the Whisky Tutor.

Reservations are required. Reserve now by calling us.

You’ll taste four spirits including gin and rum made at Lost Loch Distillery near Aboyne on Royal Deeside, while listening to the story of the Lost Loch, how Haroosh began and why we made Scotland’s first absinthe, Murmichan.

A two hour walk in the Grantown area with expert forager and tracker Dan Puplett and learn about the edible plants and fungi that grow wild on our doorstep.

Excellent for complete beginners to foraging.

First people of the Spey talk From the Metal Cultures to Picts and Early Christians
With Dr Steve Goodall

The Grant Arms Hotel (free entry)

Braemar Local History Group are delighted to be planning our usual programme of Winter Talks for 2024/25.

They will be advertised again nearer each date on Facebook, to other local History Groups and around the village with posters, but here’s the chance to get them into your diary.

The talks are all at 7.30pm on the date shown in Braemar Village Hall. Entry is £3.00 and includes light refreshments afterwards.

All welcome, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for an event like no other!

Start time picnic talk: 10:00
Start time walk: 11:00

Picnic-Talk
Time: 10:00 AM
Bring your own snacks and join us for an engaging outdoor talk where we’ll explore the sustainable practices of the historic Highland population. You will also have a chance to see how natural products were utilised. Items might include handmade rope, brushes, charms, and even some samples of food to try.

This session will blend historical information and captivating stories, providing a tangible connection to the past. The talk will last approximately 1 hour, including a Q&A session.


Guided Walk:
Time: 11:00 AM
Part two of the event takes us on a scenic walk in Glen Banchor. We’ll delve deeper into the availability of natural ressources for the historic Highland communities and discuss ways of living harmoniously with the land.
The walk, including breaks for discussion, will last between 1.5 to 2 hours. We’ll follow a 1.86 km route up the first part of Creag Bheag, avoiding the steepest sections. Depending on the group’s pace and interest, we can extend the walk with a visit to the nearby river.


Event Highlights:
Historical Insights: Discover how industrialisation and colonialism disrupted sustainable practices and contributed to the current climate crisis.
Traditional Stories: Hear tales that highlight the deep connection between people and the landscape, showcasing the wisdom and sustainable knowledge from the past.
Environmental Roots of the Scottish Enlightenment: Learn about the ‘improvers’ and ecologists who used the Highlands as a great outdoor laboratory, leading to improvement schemes and the resulting anxieties over overpopulation, resource exhaustion, and physical limits.
Evolution of the Idea of Progress: Explore how progress was once linked to moral and spiritual advancement but became increasingly associated with scientific and technological development, economic growth, and material advancement.
Sustainability Origins: Discuss the origins of the concept of sustainability.
Interactive Experience: Engage in conversations about sustainable practices, living with the land, and how to use our environment without abusing it.

An evening talk with a difference, keen all round Naturalist and TV Presenter Nick Baker will give us a live introduction to the hidden and private lives of some of our overlooked “small folk”. We will find out more about their life cycles and stories, a fascinating insight into a hidden world.