When is this event?
The Braemar Literary Festival, curated and staged by the Fife Arms in collaboration with The Queen’s Reading Room was established in 2022 and now returns for its fourth year.
Turn the page on your next big adventure and visit us in our storybook setting from 26th September to 28th September for a weekend celebrating the power and quiet beauty of the written and spoken word and the creative use of text across all artforms.
We have a stellar line up for 2025 and are delighted to be joined by acclaimed author and actor Sir Stephen Fry, prolific and best-loved author Sir Alexander McCall Smith, bestselling writer Monica Ali and the author/screenwriter of global sensation ‘One Day’, David Nicholls. Food writer and critic Tom Parker Bowles also returns alongside restaurant critic and columnist Giles Coren, as part of our fantastic literary line up plus
Join us for a fun, informative and no doubt, eye-opening day. Tayside Mountain Rescue team will be present to demonstrate their specialist equipment, answer questions, and showcase their vehicles, drone, and possibly one of their working dogs. Their much-loved mascot, Hamish, will also be joining us on the day.
Takings from ticket sales into Blair Castle & Gardens on the 6th September 2025 will be donated to Tayside Mountain Rescue. The money will go directly to support the vital work they do across our region.
Charity Day entrance is included with your Gardens and Grounds ticket.
About Tayside Mountain Rescue
Tayside Mountain Rescue is a volunteer run charity that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. No-one gets paid and they rely entirely on funding to procure the tools and equipment necessary to rescue people and animals from our local mountains and hills. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you require rescue, they will be there, giving up their own time and expertise to help save you. We’re proud to support an organisation that plays such a crucial role in keeping people safe in our region.
Image credit Paul Booth
“Glenlivet — it has castles three: Drumin, Blairfindy and Deskie…”
Step back in time and explore the hidden histories of Glenlivet on this easy, guided walk to the recently conserved 16th-century tower house of Blairfindy.
We begin at the world-famous Glenlivet Distillery, where our journey through one of Scotland’s most iconic glens begins — a landscape once shaped by powerful families, illicit distillers, and whisky smugglers.
On the way, enjoy stunning views and discover:
· Tales of smuggling and illicit stills in the hills of Glenlivet
· The strategic role of castles like Blairfindy
· How Glenlivet became a name known around the world for whisky
Blairfindy Castle, completed in 1564 by John Gordon, is a remarkable L-plan tower house — still standing proud after centuries. Thanks to recent conservation efforts by the Tomintoul & Glenlivet Landscape Partnership and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the castle is open to visitors for the first time in decades and now also supports nesting birds and pollinators.
Meeting point: Outside the Glenlivet Distillery Stillhouse
(under the green signpost marked “Blairfindy Castle ½ mile”)
Parking: Available at the Glenlivet Distillery car park
Booking advised: Reserve your spot in advance or email to confirm Heritage Ranger availability.
Suggested donation: £4 (supporting local heritage tourism – free for under-16s)
Family-friendly: Children love castles — and they’re very welcome!
Join us for a history walk through the world-famous glen of Glenlivet.
We would like to express thanks to Foundation Scotland, who help to fund this event through the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.
Pilgrimage Expert David Pott talks at Kincardine Church
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.
This is an opportunity to connect with Scotland’s ancient past, surrounded by the stunning scenery of Speyside.
Practical Information:
Meeting point: Access to Inveravon Church and burial ground is via a single-track road off the A95, about half a mile north of the entrance to Ballindalloch Castle. Follow the brown tourist sign for the Inveravon Pictish Stones.
Parking: Available at the bottom of the drive and in front of the church building.
Family-friendly: Young visitors are often fascinated by the Picts and are warmly encouraged to attend. All children and youth under 16 attend free.
Inveravon Church is currently under threat of closure and sale by the Church of Scotland. The local community is working hard to preserve it as a heritage centre and community hub. Your support helps keep this unique site alive and accessible for future generations.
Please note that toilet facilities are not available on site. Public toilets are available in Cragganmore at Ballindalloch Station on the Speyside Way or in Aberlour.
Well behaved dogs may attend but must be leashed.
This event is generously funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.
Enjoy an afternoon of poetry celebrating the languages of Scotland at Braemar Castle. Joining us will be Miriam Gamble and Peter Mackay for a special walk-through event, combining a reading and tour of the castle.
Miriam Gamble is a Northern Irish poet. She has published three collections with Bloodaxe Books, The Squirrels Are Dead, Pirate Music and What Planet. In 2020 What Planet was awarded the Piggott Poetry Prize, the most valuable poetry prize in Ireland. Miriam lectures in creative writing at the University of Edinburgh.
Peter Mackay is a Gaelic poet originally from the Isle of Lewis. His poetry collections are Gu leòr/Galore and Nàdar de/Some Kind Of. He has also written critical books on the work of Sorley MacLean, Wordsworth and Seamus Heaney. Peter lectures at the University of St Andrews and in 2024 was named the new Scottish Makar.
In association with the University of Aberdeen
Come and enjoy a behind the scenes look at our collection store in Am Fasgadh on one of our Store Tours, every Weds at 11am.
With over 15,000 objects in the collection, there’s plenty to see! Donations welcome, just pay what you can.
Places limited, booking essential – at HFM Reception, on 01349 781650 or highland.folk@highlifehighland.com.
Calling all knitters! We have an exciting new event exploring the art of natural dyeing together and learning about Cairngorms Connect along the way.
Discover Cairngorms Connect events are designed to give you an introduction to Cairngorms Connect while experiencing the landscape in different ways, in collaboration with local businesses and organisations.
Join us for an introduction to local plants, how to harvest them sustainably, and how to use them to dye wool.
Under expert guidance from Julie at Black Isle Yarns, we will learn how to use botanicals to safely and naturally dye yarn.We will then take a walk in local woods to talk about the types of plants we can use and how to identify them.
We will also share a light lunch featuring Cairngorms Connect Venison, prepared for us by a local chef.
All participants should wear sturdy shoes and clothing suitable for splashes and walking/working outdoors.
It is important that all people have equal access to Cairngorms Connect events. We are happy to provide for your requirements, wherever possible eg. BSL interpreters, off-road wheelchairs, adapted bikes etc. If you have any accessibility requirements, please get in touch.
We don’t want finance to be a barrier to people attending and so have made some tickets available for free – please take advantage of this if you need to.
Join us this year for our first retreat – Bag Making!
Our Bag Making Weekend will include:
– 2.5 days of sewing, with all patterns, materials, haberdashery and hardware included
– 2 night stay at The Railway Rooms – boutique group accommodation in Kingussie
– Breakfast, Lunch & one Dinner (leaving one evening to sample local restaurants, grab a takeaway or bring your own meal)
Sewing Projects will include:
– Project Pouch from Country Cow Designs – an opportunity to sew with vinyl & create a great storage bag for your sewing projects
– Caravan Tote from Noodlehead – an amazing tote bag with so many pocket and customisation options
– Kaede from Country Cow Designs OR Haralson from Noodlehead – both lovely crossbody/hip bags with adjustable straps
– Optional: A collaborative evening project, bring fabric scraps to share with the group & create a patchwork pouch as a special keepsake from the event
Check In: 5pm on Friday 31st October
Check Out: 5.30pm on Sunday 2nd November
All initial bookings must be completed on the Learn & Create website. To secure your place you must:
– Complete the online booking
– Agree to the terms and conditions
– Pay the deposit
Once we receive your booking we will ask you to complete a detailed booking form where you can highlight any dietary needs, room preferences, workshop options and any other retreat specific questions. Please complete this & return it promptly so we can confirm your preferences.
All rooms at Railway Rooms are double occupancy so if you would like to bring a non-participating friend or partner you are welcome to for an additional cost of £150 – this covers room and meals but not participation in workshops.
Unless bringing a guest, participants will get their own room, with a choice of double or twin.
Please note – as this is our first retreat images shown are from Country Cow Designs & Noodlehead websites. Further images will be updated soon
Celebrate insect week by signing up to our “meet the experts” skill sharing session!
In this session, which has been specially developed for home educating and flexi-schooling families, you will spend 90 minutes getting to know some of your smallest neighbours. You’ll discover how we’re bringing some very special species back from the brink of extinction and learn what you can do to protect these amazing animals!
This session is targeted for primary age but all are welcome.
Each ticket admits two adults and three children to the session.
Where is this event being held?
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