Posts for June, 2025

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.

Join us for a fascinating evening celebrating some of Scotland’s most intriguing and elusive invertebrates as part of Insect Week!

From Highland Wildlife Park’s Learning Hive, join us for an evening talk brought to life by expert guests:

Tom Prescott from Butterfly Conservation Scotland will open the night with an ode to a Kentish glory moth – expect surprising facts and captivating stories!

Hayley Wiswell of the Cairngorms National Park Authority will delve into the world of ants, with a spotlight on the rare and remarkable narrow-headed ant, a species fighting for survival in the Highlands.

Gen Tompkins, RIC Species Champion, will buzz through the story of the aspen hoverfly, a striking and secretive species whose future is tightly entwined with Scotland’s native woodlands.

Finally, Helen Taylor from RZSS will introduce the visually stunning blood red longhorn beetle who have an important story to tell.

Whether you’re an insect enthusiast or just curious about Scotland’s mini-wildlife wonders, join us for an evening of insight, inspiration and a newfound love for the smaller things in life.

This talk is free to attend but we ask to donate what you can towards facilitation costs.

This summer foraging course is an invitation to learn about the edible and medicinal summer plants found in the grounds of Blair Castle & Gardens. Summer is a special time for foraging and this walk will give us time to celebrate the best of this season, as the plants bring forth the last of their flowers, nutritious seeds and ripening berries.

The course consists of a 2.5 hour foraging walk, in which you will learn lifelong identification techniques, inspiring recipe ideas, and a wealth of ethnobotanical tales.

During the walk we will move through a variety of habitats – woodland, meadow, hedgerow and garden – taking time to connect with each surrounding environment, noticing their changing flora and subtle variations in character.

We will finish up with a wild tea in Hercules Garden, with time to revise the plants learnt and how best to store them for future use.

All participants will also receive a personalised PDF containing information about all the plants met.



This course will give you:

How to safely identify over 20 edible and medicinal summer plants and trees Methods and techniques for how best to work with them as food and medicine A time of mindful walking among beautiful grounds Exciting recipes to regularly include wild plants in your meals
What to bring:

Shoes that are comfortable and waterproof

Wet weather gear in case of rain

A basket or container

Meeting point:

Meet on the green in front of the castle, next to the ‘The Cannon’ coffee cart.

This autumn foraging course is an invitation to learn about the edible and medicinal autumnal plants and fungi found in the grounds of Blair Castle & Gardens. Autumn is a special time for foraging and this walk will give us time to celebrate the best of this season, join us as we discover many different varieties of mushroom, nutritious nuts and seeds and succulent berries.

The course consists of a 2.5 hour foraging walk, in which you will learn lifelong identification techniques, inspiring recipe ideas, and a wealth of ethnobotanical tales.

During the walk we will move through a variety of habitats – woodland, meadow, hedgerow and garden – taking time to connect with each surrounding environment, noticing their changing flora and subtle variations in character.

We will finish up with a wild tea and homemade cake and biscuits in Hercules Garden, with time to revise the plants learnt and how best to store them for future use.

All participants will also receive a personalised PDF containing information about all the plants met.



This course will give you:

How to safely identify over 20 edible and medicinal autumn plants, fungi and trees Methods and techniques for how best to work with them as food and medicine A time of mindful walking among beautiful grounds Exciting recipes to regularly include wild plants in your meals
What to bring:

Shoes that are comfortable and waterproof

Wet weather gear in case of rain

A basket or container

Meeting point:

Meet on the green in front of the castle, next to the ‘The Cannon’ coffee cart.

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.