WHAT’s ON
You are in an all year round destination with lots going on. Check out what’s happening each day, for further information and details of new events added please visit: www. visitcairngorms.com/whats-on
March 2023 Events
2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th March
Braemar Mountain Festival - Braemar. www.braemarmountainfestival.com
18th & 19th March
UPBATTLE - 10th Annual Splitboarding Championships - Cairngorm Mountain. www.facebook.com/UpBattle
27th February
FREE. Come and Try and Harp/ClarsachTalla nan Ros, King Street, Kingussie. 3pm- 4.45pm. T: 07912 029291. www.highlandharpist.scot
Aviemore Bowling Club - Dalfaber Drive, Aviemore. 6.45pm. T: 07592 031150.
28th February
FREE. Come and Try and Harp/ClarsachAviemore Primary Meeting Room. 2.30-4.30pm.
T: 07912 029291. www.highlandharpist.scot
FREE. Moon in the Square Telescope SessionTomintoul & Glenlivet Discovery Centre. 7pm - 8.30pm.
T: 07946 025981. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/moon-in-thesquare-telescope-session-tickets-47830033818
1st March
FREE. Heritage Ranger Tour: Inveraven Church; Pictish Stones - Inveraven Church and Pictish Stones, Ballindalloch. 2-2.45pm. T: 07946 025981. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heritage-ranger-tour-inveraven-church-pictish-stones-tickets-375247684927
2nd March
FREE. Heritage Ranger Walk: Blairfindy Castle - The Glenlivet DistilleryBallindalloch. 11am. T: 07946 025981. www.eventbrite.com/e/heritageranger-walk-blairfindy-castle-tickets-374291013497
4th March
Snow Running - Glenshee, Blairgowrie. www.snowrunning.uk
5th March
FREE. Evening Talk: One Thousand Shades of Green by Mike Dilger - Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey. 8.30pm. T: 01479 872526. birdwatchingandwildlifeclub.co.uk/talks-other-events
8th March
FREE. Heritage Ranger Tour: Inveraven Church & Pictish Stones - Inveraven Church & Pictish Stones, Ballindalloch. 2pm. T: 07946 025981. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heritage-ranger-tour-inveravenchurch-pictish-stones-tickets-37524768492
9th March
FREE. Heritage Ranger walk: Blairfindy Castle - The Glenlivet Distillery, Ballindalloch. 11am.
T: 07946 025981. www.eventbrite.com/e/heritageranger-walk-blairfindy-castle-tickets-374291013497
10th March
FREE. Galaxies Galore! - Field of Hope, Tomintoul. 7.30pm. T: 07946 025981. www.eventbrite.com/e/ galaxies-galore-tickets-533806528697
11th March
Highland League Football Match - Seafield Park, Heathfield Road, Grantown on Spey. Kick off TBC. www.strathspeythistlefc.com
12th March
FREE. Boat of Garten Repair Cafe - Boat of Garten Community Hall. 2-5pm. T: 01479 831123.
14th March
Storylands Sessions Open Mic NightPtarmigan Dome, Loch Insh Outdoor Centre. 8-10pm. T: 07807 427006. www.badenochstorylands.com/ storylands-sessions
15th March
FREE. Heritage Ranger Tour: Inveraven Church; Pictish Stones - Inveraven Church and Pictish Stones, Ballindalloch. 2pm. T: 07946 025981. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heritage-ranger-tour-inveravenchurch-pictish-stones-tickets-37524768492
17th March
FREE. Curlew Life; Waders Welcome - Loch Insh Outdoor Centre, Kincraig. 6pm. E: insh@rspb.org.uk. Booking Essential. http://bit.ly/waderswelcome. Seonaid Aitken Ensemble - St Margaret’s Braemar, 8pm. www.stmargaretsbraemar.org.uk
18th March
CINEMA. Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers - Grantown YMCA Community Centre. 4pm. T: 01479 872262. .grantowncinema.co.uk/films/chip-n-dale-rescue-rangers CINEMA. Where The Crawdads Sing (15)Grantown YMCA Community Centre. 7pm. T: 01479 872262. www.grantowncinema.co.uk/films/ where-the-crawdads-sing
19th March
Mother’s Day Lunch - The Boat Hotel, Boat of Garten. 12-9pm. T: 01479 831258. www.boathotel.co.uk
TOMS Concert with Sasha Savalone & FriendsBoat of Garten Community Hall, Boat of Garten. 7.30pm. T: 01479 831213.
20th March
ONLINE Storylands Sessions: Folk Music with Hamish Napier - 7pm. T: 07971 561693. www.badenochstorylands.com/storylands-sessions
21st March
Storylands Sessions: Folk Music Workshop with Hamish Napier - The Iona Gallery, Kingussie. 7pm. www.badenochstorylands.com/storylands-sessions FREE. Come and Try and Harp/ClarsachThe Pagoda, Grantown on Spey, 2-4.45pm. T: 07912 029291. www.highlandharpist.scot
22nd March
FREE. Heritage Ranger Tour: Inveraven Church; Pictish Stones - Inveraven Church & Pictish Stones, Ballindalloch. 2pm. T: 07946 025981. www.eventbrite. co.uk/e/heritage-ranger-tour-inveraven-church-pictishstones-tickets-375247684927
23rd March
FREE. Heritage Ranger Walk: Drumin Castle and the Wolf of Badenoch - Drumin Castle Car Park,
4
Ballindalloch. 11am. T: 07946 025981. www.eventbrite. com/e/heritage-ranger-walk-drumin-castle-and-thewolf-of-badenoch-tickets-402386537967
24th March
FREE. Heritage Ranger Walk: Scalan Mills and Hidden Seminary - The Carrachs car park, Chapeltown, Tomintoul. 12pm. T: 07946 025981. www.eventbrite.com/e/heritage-ranger-walk-scalanmills-and-hidden-seminary-tickets-374192930127
25th March
Dark Skies and Wilderness Cairngorms Evening - Cairngorm Ski Centre Car Park, Holgate, Aviemore. 6pm-9pm. E: fabian@afsmountaineering.co.uk www.afsmountaineering.co.uk/guided-mountain-days/ dark-skies-and-wilderness-cairngorms-evening
26th March
Ed Byrne | If I’m Honest - Boat of Garten Community Hall, Boat of Garten. 7pm. T: 01479 831123. www.tickettailor.com/events/huntlyliveevents/837703
28th March
FREE. Moon in the Square Telescope SessionTomintoul & Glenlivet Discovery Centre, Tomintoul. 9pm. T: 07946 025981. www.cairngormsdarkskypark.org/events
29th March
FREE. Heritage Ranger Tour: Inveraven Church; Pictish Stones - Inveraven Church and Pictish Stones, Ballindalloch. 2pm. T: 07946 025981. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heritage-ranger-tour-inveravenchurch-pictish-stones-tickets-375247684927.
FREE. Newtonmore Health Walk - Wildcat Centre, Newtonmore. 10.30am. T: 07816 110549.
30th March
FREE. Heritage Ranger walk: Drumin Castle and the Wolf of Badenoch - Drumin Castle Car Park, Ballindalloch. 11am. T: 07946 025981 www.eventbrite.com/e/heritage-ranger-walk-drumincastle-and-the-wolf-of-badenoch-tickets-402386537967
31st March
FREE. Heritage Ranger walk: Scalan Mills and Hidden Seminary - The Carrachs Car Park, Chapeltown, Tomintoul. 12-2pm. T: 07946 025981. www.eventbrite.com/e/heritage-ranger-walk-scalanmills-and-hidden-seminary-tickets-374192930127
Spring Yoga and Nature Connection: An Evening Retreat - Kinrara House, Aviemore. 5.30pm. E: chiara.alagia@cairngormsconnect.org.uk. www.kinrara-yoga.eventbrite.co.uk
LIVE MUSIC. Rura - St Margaret’s, Braemar. 8pm. www.stmargaretsbraemar.org.uk
Every Monday
FREE. Braemar Health Walk - Under the Mews, Braemar. 10am. www.pathsforall.org.uk/health-walk/ braemar. T: 07816 110549.
Ultra Slow Line Dancing - Grantown British Legion. 10.30. T: 07541 372524.
FREE. Live Music with Graeme MackayCairngorm Hotel, Aviemore. 9pm. T: 01479 810233.
Every Tuesday
FREE. Grantown on Spey Health Walk - Meet at Anagah Wood, curling rink car park, Grantown on Spey. 10.30am. T: 07816 110549.
FREE. Nethy Bridge Health Walk - Meet by Nethy Bridge Community Centre. 1.30pm. T: 07816 110549.
FREE. Ballater Health Walk - Meet at Glenmuick Church Hall, Ballater. 1.30pm. T: 07816 110549.
Quiz Night - Cairngorm Hotel, Aviemore. 8.45pm. T: 01479 810233.
Every Wednesday FREE. Boat of Garten Health Walk - Meet at Boat of Garten Community Garden. 1.30pm. T: 07816 110549.
Every Thursday FREE. Cromdale Health Walk - In front of the Kirk, Cromdale. 11am. T: 07816 110549.
FREE. Carrbridge Health Walk - Meet by the Old Bridge, Carrbridge. 11am. T: 07816 110549.
FREE. Kingussie Health Walk - Badenoch Centre, Kingussie. 10.30am. T: 07816 110549.
FREE. Aviemore Chess Club - Aviemore Community Centre Library. T: 07415 892669.
Every Friday FREE. Glen Tanar Health Walk - Meet Glen Tanar Visitor Centre. 10am. T: 07816 110549.
FREE. Tomintoul Health Walk - Meet at Bowling Club, Tomintoul. 10am. T: 07816 110549.
Pub Night - The Apiary, The Lodge, Dalwhinnie. 6-9pm. T: 01528 522261.
FREE. Live music - The Winky & Bothy Bar, Aviemore. 9pm. T: 01479 812368.
Every Saturday
FREE. Parkrun - Speyside Way, Dalfaber Drive. www.parkrun.org.uk/aviemore
FREE. Live music - The Winky & Bothy Bar, Aviemore. 9pm. T: 01479 812368.
Every Sunday
FREE. Entertainment - Cairngorm Hotel, Aviemore. 6-8pm. T: 01479 810233.
Please go to www.pathsforall.org.uk for further Health Walk information.
Shinty
www.shinty.com
4th March
Newtonmore 2nds v Glengarry - The Eilan, Newtonmore. 2.30pm.
Strathspey v Lewis - Grantown Grammar School. 12.30pm.
11th March
Newtonmore v Glasgow Mid Argyll - The Eilan, Newtonmore. 2.30pm.
Kingussie 2nds v Lovat - The Dell, Kingussie. 2.30pm.
18th March
Kingussie v Caberfeidh - The Dell, Kingussie. 2.30pm.
Newtonmore 2nds v Kinlochshiel - The Eilian, Newtonmore. 2.30pm.
Strathspey v Lochcarron - Grantown Grammar School. 2.30pm.
25th March
Kingussie 2nds v Skye - The Dell, Kinguisse. 2.30pm.
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THE BRITS ARE BACK
Snowsports in Scotland can be unpredictable - and intoxicating. If you love it, you will love it with every infuriated piece of your snow loving soul. It. Is. Magic.
You can see the passion for snowsports throughout winter and into spring - an army of blue jackets swarm at Cairngorm Mountain. From the bairns to the big kids of Cairngorms Ski Club and Cairngorm Snowboard Club, these guys are invested...ski boots are cumbersome, skis and boards clumsy to carry, the weather can be brutal…but the draw of the mountain, the promise of one day nailing the White Lady, of being one of the cool kids who lands a 360…is too much to resist; these kids love it!
The need to slide at speed on Scottish snow isn’t new…skiing was first recorded in Scotland in 1892 but it really took off in the 1960’s, and there are now third or even fourth generation skiers taking to the slopes. It is part of the identity of the Highlands and one that can be embraced across the National Park at The Lecht, Glenshee and Cairngorm Mountain.
The pioneers of Scottish Snowsports were a passionate, hardy and brave bunch - none more so than James McIntosh, or ‘Tosh’ as he was usually called. Tosh was a local lad who grew up on the slopes, he was one of the first true pioneers of Scottish Snowsports and a founding father of The
Lecht in 1977, alongside Pieter Du-pon and co directors Jim Petrie and Ronald Winram. This is a superb spot, especially for beginners, which is exactly what Tosh set out to achieve. Many wee skiers have had their first time on skis at The Lecht; it has a special place in the heart of many a snow loving soul.
Glenshee was born out of the same kind of raw passion as The Lecht - a group of enthusiasts who had caught the bug in Europe came back to Scotland and built a rudimentary but revolutionary tow rope driven by the rear wheels of a tractor. This set more wheels in motion, the Dundee Ski Club built the first T-Bar tow on Meall Odhar in 1957 and an agreement was later made to lease the land from Invercauld Estate; today Glenshee is the largest ski resort in Scotland.
Cairngorm Mountain has been a top spot for skiers since the mid 1950’s with its first ski lift opened in 1961. 2023 is set to be a cracking year for Cairngorm Mountain - the funicular has reopened and THE BRITS, sponsored by one of Aviemore’s original snowsports retailers, Ellis Brigham…IS BACK!
The UK Freestyle Snowboard and Freeski scene was pioneered in the late 1980’s and early 90’s by a crowd who were as enthusiastic as the generation before. The Brits has been a fundamental part of the scene since 1990; it pits professional athletes against professional athletes, whilst retaining an open-door policy for anyone wishing to give-it-a-go. The event is iconic.
The Brits first took place on Cairngorm Mountain in 1991; it's a place that has alway looked after freestyle, creating the first halfpipe that year, seven years before snowboarding debuted at the Olympics.
The roots of the huge successes the GB Park and Pipe team have experienced in the last few Olympics and other huge international events can be traced back to these early events of the 1990’s. Many of the guys who were competing in the early days will enjoy a hefty dose of nostalgia as they get back on the mountain where it all kicked off.
Lesley McKenna is one of the kids who felt inspiration back in the day, inspiration that took her to the top of the game with Olympic and International CompetitionLesley knows the impact seeing and getting stuck into these events has.
‘’The opportunity for the local kids to watch and take part in a national level event with international level riders and skiers will be hugely inspirational; I look forward to sharing their enthusiasm to cheer on everyone who competes.”
UpBattle is the biggest splitboarding event in the UK and celebrates its 10th anniversary at Cairngorm Mountain in March. It’s hosted by Jonny Barr who competed back in 1991. This is a familiar tale…the faces of the 90’s will be well and truly invested into The Brits homecominga celebration of where UK snowsports have been…and where they are going.
This is full circle and we are here for it. A love of snowsports is all encompassing. We live for BlueBird days in the Cairngorms - but we equally live for the windswept days where you learn your craft with your pals.
This is what it's all about.
