Posts for February, 2024

Grantown Society historical talk: The Grants and the Jacobite Rebellions by Chris Grant (…and…. who were the Grants of Shewglie?). A presentation from local family research – with stories of loyalty, betrayal and much more! (Refreshments purchased at the bar may be taken through to the Osprey Room).

For many, standing on top of Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain, is crossing the ultimate frontier, the very edge of human resilience. For Sam, it was more a battle with his own mind, a battle that began years before touching down in Nepal.

Join Sam this April as he shares his journey to conquer Everest, step by gruelling step.

During a soul-searching and inspiring story, he reminds us all that sometimes, the most extraordinary moments in life are found beyond our comfort zone, when we say no to the easy way out.

“Bob Harris is a straight-up legend” Chris Martin / Coldplay

BBC’s Bob Harris and author/music journalist Colin Hall set out upon an intimate speaking tour based around their mutual love and appreciation of The Beatles, including rare archive from Bob Harris’ collection of interviews with Lennon & McCartney.

By 1963 the pair had written so many songs they simply couldn’t all be accommodated on just their own Beatles releases, so it made artistic and economic good sense to be offered to other artists for recording and the Merseybeat boom of 1963 & 1964 gave them a tailor-made outlet in artists such as Cilla Black, Billy J. Kramer and Tommy Quickly.

This is the story behind those songs, the hits, the misses and the demos that the group never released: ‘The Songs The Beatles Gave Away’

This is a two-day workshop, based at Badaguish Outdoor Centre, covering the fundamentals of painting landscapes in oil. We will be learning how to create landscape paintings with depth, strong composition and beautiful colour in oil. The workshop will also cover the fundamentals of painting in oils, including how to use solvents and mediums, as well as techniques and application of paint.

Suitable for beginners or those who have some experience of painting in other mediums.

Our studio for the weekend will be the large and bright conference space at Badaguish Outdoor Centre, near Aviemore. Badaguish is situated in a woodland clearing, with views of the Cairngorm mountains. We will be making the most of our stunning location and will be painting outside in the local area, as well as spending time working in the studio.

This is a two-day workshop covering the fundamentals of painting landscapes in oil. We will be learning how to create landscape paintings with depth, strong composition and beautiful colour in oil. The workshop will also cover the fundamentals of painting in oils, including how to use solvents and mediums, as well as techniques and application of paint.

Suitable for beginners or those who have some experience of painting in other mediums.

Our studio for the weekend will be the large and bright conference space at Badaguish Outdoor Centre, near Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park. Badaguish is situated in a woodland clearing, with views of the Cairngorm mountains. We will be making the most of our stunning location and will be painting outside in the local area, as well as spending time working in the studio.

Accommodation is not provided, but there are several accommodation options on-site at Badaguish, including heated camping pods for individuals and couples and forest lodges for larger groups. These can be booked on their website here or by emailing bookings@badaguish.org.

More information and booking at www.shonacammack.com/workshops

Blythe Duff recently celebrated 40 years in the industry. Her career has spanned award-winning theatre, television, radio and film.

Join us for a one hour class and learn how to use your breath to unwind, de-stress, relax and recharge your body! This class will be a variety of different breathing exercises to improve your biomechanics and physical health, as well as guided breathwork meditations to ground yourself, become fully present in your body and tap into the power of your own breath.

We will be showing the film ‘The Bough Breaks’ which has, at its heart, the work of visionary conservationist and ecologist, Alan Watson Featherstone. His charity, Trees for Life, has been restoring Scotland’s ancient Caledonian forest since the 1980s.

The film also explores the wider ‘Rewilding’ movement and how its model of large-scale forest restoration can mitigate some of the global conservation and climate crises currently threatening life on Earth.

Alan’s personal journey illustrates the urgency for more individual responsibility in the stewardship of our planet and the enormous legacy one man can gift to the future, by staying true to his personal vision.

This award-winning film (75mins) was produced by the small team at Mousehole films and the screening will be followed by a Q & A session with the film makers.

Tea and coffee will be available.

Contributors to the film include those listed below, who each explain how Alan’s approach has inspired them and why it is so important we follow his lead:

– George Monbiot (Orwell prize-winning journalist, activist and author of Feral and Regenesis)
– Roy Dennis MBE (pre-eminent conservationist and author of Restoring the Wild)
– Dr Duncan Halley (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research)
– Shaila Rao (Ecologist, Mar Lodge Estate/BBC Springwatch/Winterwatch)
– Dr David Hetherington (Ecologist and author of the Lynx and Us)
– Dr Louise Ross (University of Aberdeen’s School of Biological Sciences)
– Paul, Sophie and Louise Ramsay (Bamff Wildland)
– Lynn Bowser (Argaty Red Kites)
– Molly Doubleday (RSPB Capercaillie Advisory Officer)

I invite you to join me on a WOMEN’S WELLNESS RETREAT in the wilds of the Cairngorm National Park, voted one of the 20 top places to visit by National Geographic Traveller. You’ll sleep in a cosy mountain lodge nestled in beautiful Glenfeshie.

It’s a weekend designed to support, nourish and empower women who are trying to navigate their way through the Perimenopause/Menopause, who are curious and want to know more and know they will benefit from being around other like-minded people.
Bring a friend, family member or come solo…. pause – breathe – REBALANCE.
For more details go to my website yogacairngorms. com or my Instagram bio or email lindaolds86@gmail.com

Yoga class in our fabulous newly refurbished facility here in Ballater. Suitable for all ages and abilities. Bookings are essential to reserve your space.