Posts for September, 2025

The award-winning writer, broadcaster, comedian, and lifelong Motherwell FC supporter is bringing his riotous stand-up show to Boat of Garten.

Expect sensational stories from his incredible 35-year career in radio, TV, and newspapers, served up with his signature no-holds-barred style.

This is your chance to witness Tam’s sharp wit and infectious humour live – a guaranteed evening of unforgettable entertainment.

Doors 7pm and show will start at 8pm.

Licensed bar – cash/card sales.

As part of The Highlands & Islands Climate Hub Climate Festival, the Grantown YMCA Community Centre is proud to present a series of 22 free events that aim to address Climate Change.
Each event will give you the information and guidance, to allow you to make subtle changes to your lifestyle, to reduce your impact on climate change.
We have children’s ergo Club and art competition, talks on Beavers, Peatland and AI computers, workshops on bike maintenance, clothing and furniture restorations, a big Capercaille build, a cinema night, climate cuisine and a recycle, reuse table sale to finish.
We look forward to meeting you all.

Join us for a walk around Moray’s earliest surviving tower house, reputedly built for Scotland’s vilest man, Alexander Stewart—the infamous Wolf of Badenoch. Drumin Castle, an impressive medieval fortification, stands on a commanding bluff overlooking the confluence of the River Livet and the River Avon.

Upon reaching the castle, you’ll learn about its architecture, history, and the notorious Wolf, whose evil deeds continue to cast a long shadow over Moray’s history.

Drumin Castle has now reopened after masonry repairs, with access to the first floor now possible via a narrow stone staircase. Sensible footwear is recommended.

Please park at the Drumin Castle lower car park. This short circular walk will begin at the Drumin Castle sign in the car park. The route follows a pedestrian trail to the castle and returns via a set of steps. Please dress appropriately for changeable weather.

Children love castles and are very welcome to attend. Well-behaved dogs are also welcome. Donations can be made through Eventbrite or in person on the day.

Please note that toilets are not available on site.

This event is funded by Foundation Scotland from 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.

Tuesday September 16th, we are super excited to be hosting a local screening of the documentary following our beloved local event, “The Golden Spurtle”.

Constantine Costi’s warm and beautifully crafted documentary lovingly captures the eccentric local villagers who orchestrate the competition every year, as well as the plucky contestants and their determination to make the best bowl of porridge on earth using just three ingredients: oats, water and salt.

Channeling the symmetrical framing and picturesque compositions of Wes Anderson – the film brings the quaint village of Carrbridge to life in a truly cinematic way.

As usual, doors will be 6.30pm, with film on at 6.40pm.

Plus we will have a special post film Q&A with some of the local stars, so bring your autograph books and questions!

Fiver tickets for all. Run by the community, for the community.

Join Dr Hugh Webster and Dan Puplett on this fascinating day to learn about what life might be like living alongside a reintroduced lynx population in Scotland.

Across mainland Europe, the Eurasian lynx is staging a comeback. Freed from the pressures of unsustainable hunting and benefiting from a softening of public attitudes, this enigmatic feline has been successfully reintroduced into several countries and is now growing in numbers and expanding its range.

This special Learning Day will explore what a reintroduction in Scotland might look like, what challenges we might face and how we might manage coexistence.

We will also explore what it would be like to walk in the lynx’s footsteps once again, as we sharpen our senses to forgotten cues and learn how to identify and track pine martens, wildcats, badgers and foxes, comparing their behaviours and signs to those of a lynx. We will learn to think both like a lynx and like the lynx’s prey, experiencing the landscape through their eyes, ears and noses, as we seek to re-imagine how our woodlands would feel in the presence of this apex predator.

Carrie Fertig is delighted to be participating in North East Open Studios at St. Margaret’s Saturday 13th – Sunday 21st September, 2025. Carrie is an interdisciplinary artist working in performance, video, sculpture, and installation and also a metalsmith and maker in flameworked glass, the latter often getting incorporated into her performances and videos.

Join us for a full day of workshops designed to restore balance, improve body awareness and connect with natural movement.

9-10.30am: Restore Foot Function, Play & Balance with Louise of Foot Forte Podiatry and Nathan of Play with Strength. Discover how to build stronger, healthier feet with playful movement and balance drills. Suitable for all abilities and ages.

11-12.20pm: Holistic Approach to Dog Training & Communication with Jalen of Paw Prides. Learn techniques that deepen trust with your dog and build an understanding of how they express themselves. Ideal for both new and experienced dog owners. Dogs welcome to join if they are comfortable in a group environment.

1.30-3pm: Explore Body Awareness, Breath & Movement Flow with Nathan. Experience rope flow for coordination, rhythm and mindful movement. Suitable for all abilities. Ropes provided on the day.

3.30-4pm: Shoes optional stroll. Finish the day with a relaxed walk in nature, connecting with each other & to integrate all that you’ve learned.


Follow booking link & click on group sessions tab to see booking options.

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.

The Learning Day will cover:
– tree planting best practise
– small and large scale planting schemes, from wood pasture to continuous woodland blocks
– planning and planting an orchard
– creating shelterbelts
– tree protection and deer/rabbit management
– existing woodland and decaying wood management
– grazing of herbivores and pigs in woodlands
– creating and establishing hedgerows
– planting and harvesting tree hay for livestock
– firewood processing and making charcoal for domestic use

Are you ready to turn your dream home into a reality? Join us at Scottish Self-Build and Renovation (Highlands) 2025, kindly sponsored by Filpumps, on Saturday, 13 September 2025, from 10am to 4pm at Macdonald Aviemore Resort, Aviemore. Whether you’re planning to build, renovate, or embark on smaller home improvement projects, we’ve got you covered!

Why Attend:
Discover a one-stop hub for all the expertise you need to bring your project to life. From architects to building materials, energy efficiency to bespoke furniture, we’ve got it all under one roof.

Expertise on Hand:
Architects, Cost, Planning and Structural Advice
Building Materials
Energy Efficiency, Grants and Incentives
Ground Works
Heating and Cooling
Insulation
Kitchen, Bathrooms and Interior Design
Private Water Systems
Timber Frame
Windows and Doors … and many more!

Save the Date:
Date: Saturday, 13 September 2025
Open Times: 10 am – 4 pm
Venue: Macdonald Aviemore Resort, Aviemore