Posts for February, 2025

Come and join us for this extra special music event – home-grown folk music, local heritage and good company, in the cozy atmosphere of Edinvillie Community Hall, near Aberlour.

Local musicians Hamish Napier (flute, whistles, harmonium, vocals) and Jordan Neil (guitar, Scottish small pipes), a brand new all-Strathspey musical duo, will present a programme of folk music themed on River Spey, surrounding hills and local heritage.

★★★★★ “Napier has the composer’s gift of painting a picture with sound, more evocative that an artist. Superb.” FATEA Magazine

Come and join us for this extra special music event – home-grown folk music, local heritage and good company, in the cozy atmosphere of Laggan Village Hall in Badenoch.

Local musicians Hamish Napier (flute, whistles, harmonium, vocals) and Jordan Neil (guitar, Scottish small pipes), a brand new all-Strathspey musical duo, will present a programme of folk music themed on River Spey, surrounding hills and local heritage.

★★★★★ “Napier has the composer’s gift of painting a picture with sound, more evocative that an artist. Superb.” FATEA Magazine

Annual village gathering of Clubs and groups within Nethy Bridge, promoting ‘what’s on’ throughout the year. Together with village crafts people showcasing their wares there will be a spit roast, food stalls and tea tent with home baking, musicians, children’s events and activities

Family fun day with trade fair, bouncy castle, pony rides and more. Finishes with a duck race at 3pm followed by a pipe band parade through the village.

A family fun day on the village Greens in the centre of Ballater on Royal Deeside involving over 50 trade, craft and food stalls, with entertainment for children including hook-a-duck, merry-go-round, bouncy castle and slide.

The Ballater Pipe Band and a 20-piece brass band will play throughout the afternoon, culminating in a giant inflatable duck race on the River Dee at 3pm and a Tote operates if anyone fancies a ‘flutter’ on one of the ducks

Come and kick your heels up at the Storylands Sessions Ceilidh Concert in the Kincraig Community Hall.

Celebrating the rich culture and connections of our Highland community, this multi-generational event brings together the best of traditional music, dance and storytelling with an upbeat, contemporary twist.

There will be music from Grantown piano player / dance-caller Hamish Napier, Cromdale fiddle player Eric Pirie and the Fèis Spè Junior Ceilidh Band. All the popular folk dances from the Gay Gordons to the Virginia Reel interwoven with performances from Merryn Glover and other writers, storytellers and poets, this is set to be a very special night.

BYOB – Bring your own drinks. Juice, teas and coffees provided.

Image credit Peter Dennis

Following community engagement events in the summer of 2023, RSPB Insh Marshes has been working with consultants on detailed plans for the next stage of the River and Floodplain Restoration Project.

Join our drop-in sessions at the Lookout Hide for a cuppa and some cake, and find out about plans for the River Tromie, prior to us submitting a planning application.

10am-12noon, or 2pm-4pm

Everyone welcome!

Come for a Wildlife Wander with someone from our knowledgeable team to see some of the amazing wildlife that Spring brings to Insh Marshes.

March is a time when we can still see winter migrants like Whooper Swans and Greylag Geese. Wading birds will be returning in increasing numbers after their Winter absence so we may see or hear Oystercatchers, Curlew, Redshank and Snipe.

As we walk along the trail, woodland birds will be singing as they feel the stirrings of Spring. So we will listen and look for Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Chaffinches, Mistle- and Song- Thrushes, whose songs may be joined by the drumming of woodpeckers.

Buzzards are fairly common and we may be lucky enough to see Hen Harrier hunting low over the marshes.

We will meet in the RSPB Insh Marshes Car Park – what3words: ///epic.youth.venturing and grid ref: NN775998

Some areas may be rough underfoot. It is unfortunately not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies, and we recommend sturdy footwear.

Our fully inter-generational themed shows draw out the storytelling, music, poetry and song of the area, and feature an invited guest to share about their work in the arts, heritage, ecology or adventure spheres.

Our young performers will be programmed into the first half, but are welcome to stay the whole time, and our guest will feature in the second half.

Follow the booking link for guidance on how to contribute at a Storylands Sessions event.

We welcome:

– folk who just want to come along and listen. You don’t have to perform to be taking part and thunderous applause is always appreciated!
– all kinds of stories: historical, myth and legend, your own experiences – or a mix!
– poetry: ideally your own, but your faves from other poets are welcome, too
– music: traditional, contemporary, original or borrowed; instrumental or sung; solo or ensemble
– art, photography, video and other multi-media presentations

Ignite your creativity with this series of word and image workshops in this exciting partnership between the Highland Folk Museum and Storylands Sessions. Come and respond to the the lesser-known stories of the Highlands, inspired by unique objects from the Museum’s collection.

Each month, we will gather at the Museum’s Am Fasgadh building to explore intriguing artefacts from the collection store or in the grounds. These objects act as springboards for imaginative journeys – stories, poems, memoirs, or drama – with no limitation on genre or style and no expectation to focus on history or the Highlands. Let the objects spark your creativity and see where it takes you!

The workshops are offered to anyone aged 16+, with no writing experience necessary.

Visual artists are also warmly invited to make responses to the objects in your chosen medium. Please book in the normal way and bring your own materials.

Thunder in the Glens, by Dunedin Chapter Scotland (9083).

The Biggest and best Chapter run Rally in Europe. This event is held in the grounds of the MacDonald Resort and the event is supported by the whole of Aviemiore.

A must-do part of the Harley-Davidson rally scene.

Images credit Andy Martin