Dee n' Do Magazine - Issue 4

January - April 2015

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A magazine for

Royal Deeside & Surrounding Areas

ISSUE FOUR

Outdoor Activities Cultural Events + Art Food + Drink Local Business Spotlight Deeside Discoveries History + Tales

Photograph courtesy of Aboyne Photographics

choose adventure

Photograph courtesy of Roy Starkey

Afternoon Tea from ÂŁ3.60 for tea, coffee and shortbread to ÂŁ21.50 including cakes, sandwiches and a glass of champagne!

Mon - Sat 2.30pm - 4.30pm Sunday 3.00pm - 4.30pm

Extensive range of meals available daily, including breakfast; morning coffee; bar and lounge menu at lunchtime; afternoon teas, supper and dinner.

From corporate meetings to private celebrations, Raemoir can provide it all.

Raemoir House Hotel, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, Scotland AB31 4ED +44 (0)1330 824884

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hotel@raemoir.com

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www.raemoir.com

Photograph courtesy of Amy Muir

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Produced by Burdie Creative Ltd +44 (0)7771 924103 hello@burdiecreative.com www.burdiecreative.com Editor Kirsten Horne +44 (0)7790 129212 Creative Director Mairi MacLeod Gray +44 (0)7771 924103 Design Director Kelly Whyte +44 (0)7837 577338 Advertising Manager Hilda Stewart +44 (0)7738 262198 hilda@deendo.com Contributing Photographers Aboyne Photographics David Mould Keith Fergus James Dyas Davidson Glen McClure Paul Stewart Mr Drew Photography Caroline Selwood Roy Starkey Printers J Thomson Colour Printers Publisher Dee n’ Do is published three times a year by Burdie Creative Ltd. ©Burdie Creative Ltd 2015. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, Burdie Creative Ltd and its editorial contributors accept no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences including and loss or damage arising from reliance on information in this publication.

Copyright All images contained in Dee n’ Do are subject to copyright of the artist, illustrator or photographer as named, but not limited to. Reproduction of any part of this magazine without prior written permission is prohibited.

Disclaimer All rights reserved. The views and comments expressed by the authors are not always that of the editor or publisher.

Advertise with us Contact us to get your business in the next issue of Dee n’ Do. Call +44 (0)7738 262198 or email advertising@deendo. com and request a media pack.

Dee n’ Do published its first issue in January 2014 with the promise of promoting and showcasing the riches and beauty that the Royal Deeside area has to offer. We were devoted to the interests of locals and visitors and this is what continues to drive us as our readership grows, both near and far.

The year has flown by and what an amazing and fulfilling journey it has been. I think we can even allow ourselves to bask in a wee trickle of personal glory thanks to being shortlisted in two categories at the 2014 PPA Scottish Magazine Awards as well as being selected to go on tour with Scotland’s ‘Innovation in Magazines’ exhibition.

But it has to be said that we couldn’t have achieved this without the help of all our contributors who have written, drawn, photographed, researched, distributed, advertised, read, encouraged and supported us along the way. It’s true that their expertise and passion have oozed through the pages from issue to issue.

This issue is certainly no exception and we have some wonderful articles that will leave you feeling a little bit nostalgic, slightly more knowledgeable, hopefully more motivated and definitely more enthusiastic about Deeside!

Enjoy!

Kirsten, Editor

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Issue 4 JAN-APR 2015

Outdoor Skimo Scotland

74

Geocaching: A Modern Day Treasure Hunt

38

REAL Snowboarding

34

Arts + Crafts Thrive: Be Part of the Story

64

History + Folklore Burns Night

22

Jacobites: The First Rebellion

68

The Deeside Way

78

Health + Fitness Winter Workouts: Running in Winter

58

Regulars Historic Castles

6

Dee n’ Doodles

42

Tales from the Drink’s Cupboard

32

Meet Your Hosts

46

Founded in 2013 by Kelly Whyte, Mairi MacLeod Gray & Kirsten Horne

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c

istori

H

Kildrummy (Ruin)

c

astle

Glenbuchat (Ruin)

The Castle Trail For centuries, the inhabitants of Scotland have been building fortifications and strongholds, and it has been estimated that there were once about 3,000 castles in Scotland.

We go in search of the more notable castles that can be seen in Aberdeenshire and Deeside and explore their history, condition and purpose.

Corgarff

A97

Strathdon

Tarland A97 A939

Loch Kinord

Braemar

Balmoral Kindrochit (Ruin)

BRAEMAR

BALLATER Knock (Ruin)

A93

Drum Castle "The castles of Aberdeenshire and Grampian are surrounded by an ambience of awe, a feeling of strength and timelessness"

A97

s

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Drum Castle is near Drumoak and for centuries was the seat of the Chief of Clan Irvine. The castle and its grounds were granted to William de Irwyn in 1325 by Robert the Bruce, and remained in the possession of Clan Irvine until 1975.

Crathes Castle Crathes Castle is a 16th-century castle near Banchory. This harled castle was built by the Burnetts of Leys and was held in that family for almost 400 years. The castle and grounds are presently owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland.

Castle Fraser Castle Fraser is located near Kemnay and is the most elaborate Z-plan castle in Scotland, and one of the grandest 'Castles of Mar'.

There is evidence of an older square tower dating from around 1400/1500 within the current construction.

Dinnet

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Inverurie

A944

S

Alford

River Don

A947

Fraser

A944

A96

Sauchen Dunecht

Craigievar

Loch of Skene

ABERDEEN

Westhill

B9119

Lumphanan

E

A980

Torphins

Kincardine O ’ Neil

A93

Drum Drumoak

Crathes

ee

D er

Riv

Crathes

ABOYNE BANCHORY

Craigievar Castle

Balmoral Castle

Craigievar Castle is a pinkish harled castle six miles south of Alford. It was the seat of Clan Sempill and the Forbes family resided here for 350 years until 1963, when the property was gifted to the National Trust for Scotland.

Balmoral Castle is located near the village of Crathie and has been one of the residences of the British Royal Family since 1852, when it was purchased for Queen Victoria

by Prince Albert. It remains the private property of the monarch, and is not part of the Crown Estate.

Corgarff Castle Corgarff Castle is a four-storey tower house built circa 1550

by John Forbes, and in 1748 was converted into a fort. In the early 20th century, after years of neglect the castle fell into ruin, but in recent years has been wonderfully restored by Historic Scotland.

Castle Ruins:

Kildrummy Castle

Braemar Castle Braemar Castle is a five storey L-plan castle situated near the village of Braemar. It is owned by the Chief of Clan Farquharson and leased to a local charitable foundation but is also open to the public.

Glenbuchat Castle

Kindrochit Castle

Knock Castle

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The castle is closed for the winter and will re-open on Saturday 4th April 2015 For more information please visit www.braemarcastle.co.uk

Spotlight on:

Braemar Castle Queen Victoria gets the credit for putting Deeside on the map, however two centuries earlier, the 2nd Earl of Mar was already taking tourists to Deeside. When he built a holiday house in the heart of his north east estates, courtiers and friends followed.

Braemar Castle was constructed in 1628 to replace the Earl’s previous Hunting Lodge of Kindrochit which had fallen into disrepair while the Earls of Mar were out of favour with the Crown.

The Earls of Mar are descended from the Mormaers who ruled Scotland in the Middle Ages. But in the tussle for control of Scotland, the fortunes of the Earls ebbed and flowed. The title was dissolved and re-created many times. John Erskine was the

2nd Earl in the third creation or the 18th in the first creation! Rich and powerful, he was born at Alloa Tower in Stirlingshire. He also owned Kildrummy Castle and Stirling Castle and had apartments in Holyrood Palace and a town house in the Gallowgate in Aberdeen. But it was Braemar that he came to hunt and make merry.

His father had been guardian to Mary Queen of Scots and to her son King James VI/I. Educated alongside the King, the pair were firm friends. In the 17th century however protection of power was

Braemar Castle Braemar, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5XR E: info@braemarcastle.co.uk T: 01339 741219 W: www.braemarcastle.co.uk

Situated a quarter of a mile east of Braemar on a sweeping bend on the A93.

Aberdeen - 59 miles Perth - 50 miles Dundee – 52 miles Inverness - 78 miles

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extremely important and therefore his holiday house was built with a defensive curtain wall, grilles on the windows and a heavy iron yett [Scottish word for gate]. Clan Farquharson, along with the Gordons and the Forbes were all anxious to see the Earl’s powers diminished.

It is ironic that a century later the Chief of Clan Farquharson bought Braemar Castle after the Earldom was yet again dissolved following the 6th Earl, ‘Bobbin Jock’s, disastrous attempt to overthrow the crown in the 1715 Jacobite Uprising. The earlier uprising of 1689 had also impacted on the Castle. The Jacobite John Farquharson of Inverey, known as the Black Colonel, had attacked and burned the hunting lodge. The Earl of Mar had been all set to lease the Castle to Government troops, however the Black Colonel was determined he would have no castle to hire out!

The Castle’s fortunes recovered following the Battle of Culloden.

Again the owner of the Castle was tempted by a Government rent but this time the landlord was John Farquharson, 9th Laird of Invercauld. He was anxious to patch up his relationship with the Crown after his involvement in ‘Bobbin Jock’s’ uprising.

In 1748, Hanoverian troops, the Redcoats, arrived in Braemar and set about turning the Castle into a modern barracks. The Earl of Mar’s square curtain wall was demolished, replaced by a new star-shaped defence wall, now a familiar feature of the Castle.

The castle is said to be haunted by several ghosts

built in

By

1628 The Earl of Mar Burned by the “Black Colonel of Inverey” in 1689 during the first Jacobite uprising to prevent it being used as a garrison

by Government troops

Garrison for Hanoverian troops after the Battle of Culloden (1746)

Antiques on display within the castle include a

Bronze Age sword s he chief Home to t

quharson of Clan Far years 0 0 2 r fo

Did you know?

Since 2006 the castle has been leased to the local community

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The soldier’s task was to enforce the Act of Proscription enacted after the 1745 uprising to suppress any further attempts at revolution. Kilts, tartans and bagpipes, as well as weapons, were all banned and soldiers patrolled the hills around Braemar keeping order. But the Castle archives shows little happening to engage the troops and much grumbling about the Braemar weather and conditions in the Castle. The soldiers had time enough on their hands to leave their mark and graffiti the window panels with their names, dates and regiment. The Yorkshire regiment was here in 1756, the Cheshire in 1778 and the Black Watch in 1827.

Life was a bit more exciting after 1788 when home whisky distillation was made illegal. By the 1820s, despite 14,000 stills being confiscated each year more than half the whisky drunk in Scotland was being swallowed happily without a penny in duty being paid. The soldiers were in the half who did have to stump up. The Excise Act of 1823 finally ended home distilling and the troops left Braemar in 1831.

Correspondence in the archive shows a prolonged battle between the military and the Laird about the state the soldiers had left the Castle. But the 11th Laird rose to the challenge and renovations began to turn it into a family home. Fashionable turrets and crenellations were added and the open spaces of the barracks were divided up to provide comfortable living accommodation. After a series of disastrous business deals, the 13th Laird, Colonel James Ross Farquharson (‘Piccadilly Jim’) moved into the Castle which was much cheaper to run than

the sprawling Invercauld House across the river.

And a new phase in the Castle’s history began.

Queen Victoria was now resident in Balmoral and in 1849 enjoyed the Braemar Gathering at the Castle followed by tea and highland dancing provided by the Farquharson children in the drawing room. So began a long line of associations with the Royal family with the Queen and the Queen Mother both regular visitors. TRH Prince Charles and Princess Anne came to the Castle to play with the small daughter of Lord and Lady Tweedsmuir who rented the Castle from 1948 to 1954.

The arrival of the 16th Laird and his new wife in 1949 heralded another time of change for the Castle. Stylish ex-editor of Vogue and Harpers Bazaar, American Mrs Frances Farquharson set about updating the Castle’s look, furnishing it in her signature Schiaparelli pink. The Castle was first opened to the public in the 1960s and became an important attraction for the village.

In 2007, with Invercauld Estate in trust, it was decided that the Castle was surplus and the village seized the opportunity to take over the operation.

A fifty year improving lease was agreed with the community responsible for all restoration and repairs. To date £440,000 has been raised. The leaky roof is now fixed, the chimneys rebuilt and lined and the gutters replaced. Fundraising continues to repair the harling, install heating and create better visitor facilities. A Conservation Plan has been commissioned and a Landscape Plan delivered.

Visitor numbers have doubled, a Castle Manager appointed and audio guides are now on offer in addition to guided tours by local volunteers.

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C___ngorm Lodges There’s something missing. What is it? …air. Well, there are bags and bags of the fresh stuff at this beautiful hideaway in the heart of Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms.

Take a moment to think about this…how does the open air make you feel? What is it about the smell of damp trees, the feel of worn paths beneath your feet, the chorus of chirping in the background or an atmospheric landscape that provokes memories or engages senses?

Consider how you would connect these experiences with a sense of comfort, tranquility and pleasure.

At Cairngorm Lodges, you can heighten your senses and get inspired by the rich woodland surroundings.

But it’s the juxtaposition of nature with the exquisite charms and luxury of these forest lodges that creates a destination and not just a sensation.

This resort is a new development of five luxury, self-catering lodges, inspired by its rich environment.

A natural exclusive retreat for families, couples or groups, this is the ultimate escape from your buzzing life and you don’t have to travel far for the privilege!

Located in the heart of Royal Deeside, the lodges are set within the enviable woodland estate of Blelack, near Dinnet. Outdoor enthusiasts can indulge in walking, golfing, fishing or cycling. Indoor types can retreat, relax and reflect in complete luxury. Your dedicated Host can ensure you get the most out of your stay and take advantage of what the lodges and the area have to offer.

Of course, being welcomed by a roaring fire upon your arrival can help set just the right mood and tone. The large, spacious lounge and rooms will undoubtedly encourage you to unwind and relax. The eco friendly sensitivities of the resort will ease any environmental concerns you may have. The attention to detail will convince you that this is probably nothing short of what you deserve!

Just remember…when you arrive, take a deep breath and fill your lungs with that bracing fresh air. You are now ready to embrace your woodland retreat!

Cairngorm Lodges, Logie Coldstone, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, AB34 5PQ www.cairngormlodges.com | sam@cairngormlodges.com | 07583 436040

Photograph by David Mould

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Dee�ide �alKs:

Lochnagar

Distance: 20km (12.5 miles) Time: 7 hours Terrain: Single-track road, hill, moorland and lochside paths and tracks. Short sections of pathless terrain near the summit. Several steep ascents and descents Start & Finish: Spittal of Glenmuick car park GR NO310850 (parking charge) Map: OS Landranger 44 Source: The Dee, K R Fergus (Pocket Mountains)

LOCHNAGAR

Meikle Pap Clais Rathadan i ck

Cac Carn Beag

Rive

Cac Carn Mòr

Spittal of Glenmuick

N W

Monelpie Moss

E

u

TO BALLATER START/FINISH

Boat House

An t-Sròn Little Pap Creag a’ Ghlas-Uillt

rM

Boat House

Loch Muick Waterfall

S Glas-Allt-Shiel 0

1000m

0

Lochnagar is one of the truly great British mountains, whose brooding cliffs never fail to impress.

toilets and a visitor centre, go round a barrier and then turn right onto a signposted road for Lochnagar.

Continue along the road, crossing a bridge over the beautiful, crystal-clear waters of the River Muick towards an old cottage. Just before the cottage bear left onto a path and follow it across a track and past the cottage into pleasant woodland.

Excellent paths line the majority of the route, which begins by the River Muick, a major tributary of the River Dee, climbing high onto Lochnagar's plateau and returning easily along the banks of Loch Muick, one of a few lochs in the River Dee catchment. Part of the route ventures along steep cliffs where real care should be taken.

A gentle climb takes you through the wood, crossing a couple of bridges onto open hillside, where a track rises gradually through great swathes of heather before crossing the Allt-na-giubhsaich - be prepared for wet feet when this burn is in spate. The track carries on through a stunning landscape where red deer, ptarmigan, dotterel and, if you're in luck, golden eagle may be spotted, traversing northwest beneath Conachcraig, where the peak of Meikle Pap comes into view. Once above the Clais Rathadan gorge, the

From Glen Muick car park turn left onto the singletrack road, crossing the bridge over the Allt Darrarie towards the Spittal of Glenmuick. Once past public

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track veers north to reach a large cairn near the top.

Turn left onto a superb path, which descends west and then begins to climb steadily towards the base of Meikle Pap, the path steepening on approaching a col between Lochnagar and Meikle Pap. The col gives the first real look at Lochnagar's spectacular brooding cliffs dropping vertically to the loch below.

Bear right to pick up a steep path which climbs the short distance to the top of Meikle Pap - at 980m it is just under 200m lower than Cac Carn Beag (Lochnagar's highest point), but is a worthy viewpoint not just for Lochnagar but for much of the Cairngorms National Park.

Retrace your steps to the col and then climb steeply southwest up a rocky slope to reach the lip of the magnificent cliffs of Lochnagar, just north of Cuidhe Crom. The gradient eases and a flatter path makes its way west around the cliffs, although in poorer weather good navigational skills will be essential and real care should be taken as the path can be less distinct in places. The path then dips gently to reach a flatter plateau. As the path swings left, bear right and climb steep slopes towards Lochnagar's summit of Cac Carn Mor, an indistinct path leading northwest

along the plateau to reach the large cairn at Cac Carn Mor and then a short distance north to reach Lochnagar's 1155m summit of Cac Carn Beag.

Return past Cac Carn Mor and descend southeast to reach a path. Follow this for a short distance to meet the Glas Allt. The path hugs the line of the burn as it descends gradually southeast towards Loch Muick, with wonderful views towards the twin Angus Munro peaks of Dreish and Mayar. Above the loch, the path crosses the Glas Alit and then steepens and zigzags past the impressive Falls of the Glasallt and passes through a small pocket of woodland to reach Loch Muick at Glas-Alit-Shiel.

Turn left onto a track, pass the Royal Lodge (used in the past by Queen Victoria), cross a bridge and continue through a pocket of woodland. The track is then easily followed above the banks of the loch to reach a boathouse. Keep on the main track here, heading away from Loch Muick. The track climbs gently through heather moorland, with great views along the glen, returning to the outward track beside the old cottage. Turn right onto this to return past the visitor centre to the car park.

Lochnagar is the name given to the mountain and the dark, cold waters of the loch sitting at the base of its cliffs. Cac Carn Mor must have originally been thought of as the true summit, as 'Mor' in Gaelic means big, whilst 'Beag' translates as small, however Cac Carn Beag is actually five metres higher. Whatever summit you stand on, a remarkable panorama extends over the wild Cairngorms and out to Mount Keen, Scotland's most easterly Munro. Yet it is the sweeping views along the lip of Lochnagar's stunning cliffs and corries that really live long in the memory.

They certainly made a lasting impression on Lord Byron who famously wrote of, 'The steep frowning glories of dark Lochnagar'. Queen Victoria also ascended Lochnagar on her pony in 1861, but by all accounts hated it, stating 'it was cold, wet and cheerless'. However, on a good day, a walk over Lochnagar is nearly impossible to beat.

Photograph courtesy of Keith Fergus

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FIDDLE DI DEE

Fiddle traditions of Deeside by PAUL ANDERSON

The valley of the Dee is the cradle of one of the world’s greatest fiddle traditions, and to my mind it’s this tradition which best expresses the landscape, history and distinctive character of this beautiful part of the world. In this modern world of cultural homogenisation and overly produced, auto tuned music in the mass media, having a strong local identity and an authentic musical tradition can only be an asset.

Photograph courtesy of James Dyas Davidson

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Fiddle traditions of Deeside Fiddle music on Strathdee has an un-broken thread back to the Golden Age of Scottish fiddle music and dance in the 18th century; something which unfortunately has been lost in many districts. A fine early example of this tradition is the popular reel “Jenny dang the weaver” by the Rev. Alexander Garden of Birse (1688-1778). Composed in 1746, the story goes that the minister’s handyman, who was an ex-weaver called Jock from Marywell, refused to clean the minister’s boots when asked to do so by Mrs Jenny Garden. The furious minister’s wife then gave Jock such a lashing with the tattie-beetle that he soon did as requested.

(Incidentally Birse was the birthplace of the Rev. John Skinner who wrote the lyrics to “Tullochgorum’s my delight” which was described by Robert Burns in 1787 as “the best Scotch song ever Scotland saw.”)

By the early 19th century, my own hometown of Tarland was well known for its lively fiddle tradition and it’s said that almost every house in the village had a fiddle on the wall at this time. Although this may be an exaggeration, there is a song in the superb eight volume Greig-Duncan collection of song from the north east of Scotland which states that the “fiddler’s of Tarland” performed for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in Aboyne, during their first visit to Deeside, so the fiddle tradition in the Howe o’ Cromar was clearly well known.

Peter Milne One of the musicians who might well have been part of that ensemble was a fiddler called Peter Milne and he would become one of Scotland’s finest fiddlers and composers. His most

famous pupil, James Scott Skinner described Peter as “….in my opinion, one of the grandest Strathspey players that ever graced Scotland, and probably the finest native musician of any country in the world.

He was a genius and a great preserver of the finest of the old Scots melodies.” Peter was born in Kincardine o’ Neil in 1824 but flitted to Tarland with his parents when he was a young boy. He worked as a cattle herd on the Muir of Gellan near Tarland and it was during this period that he learned to play the fiddle. Although it’s impossible to verify, there is some suggestion that he may have had some tuition from a pupil of Niel Gow but regardless of this, in an area famed for fiddle music, he became known as the “Tarland Minstrel.”

Peter played for dances up and down Deeside and Strathdon, was fiddler to the Marquis of Huntly at Aboyne castle, led orchestras in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Leith and Manchester and even received a gold medal from Queen Victoria for his performance of the popular Scots air “Auld

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Robin Gray”. His life was however dogged by misfortune and after a foolish prank went wrong in an Aberdeen bar, Peter was left bed-ridden for the last ten years of his life. Following his death in 1908, Peter was buried in a pauper’s grave in Aberdeen’s Nellfield cemetery.

(On the 11th of March 2007 and before a crowd of 100 people and members of the press and media, Sir Angus Farquharson of Finzean, the then Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire unveiled a memorial stone to Peter Milne, marking the 99th anniversary of Peter’s death.)

James Scott Skinner James Scott Skinner, the north east’s (and possibly Scotland’s) most famous and influential musical son was born in Banchory in 1843 to a humble musical family. James’ fiddle playing father died when he was an infant and he received his first lessons from his elder brother Sandy. Before long, James was accompanying Sandy to barn and bothy dances in the district with Peter Milne, from whom the young Skinner would learn the Scots fiddle player’s art and would look upon as something of a father figure.

At the age of 10, James joined a juvenile orchestra called “Dr Mark’s Little Men” where he would develop his fearsome classical technique under the tutelage of Charles Rougier of the Halle orchestra, a technique with which he would stretch the boundaries of traditional Scottish music.

In a long and successful career, James Scott Skinner would perform in every town and city in Great Britain, and was dancing master to Queen Victoria’s tenant’s at Balmoral. He toured North America, performed at the London Palladium, was the first Scot to commercially record music, and was the most prolific of Scotland’s great traditional composers with over 600 published pieces Skinner’s was a life of great highs, lows, triumphs and tragedies and it would without a doubt make a great subject for a movie.

He died on the 17th of March 1927, a legend and the last of the great fiddle composers; 40,000 people are thought to have lined the streets of Aberdeen as his coffin passed by.

A Golden Age of Scottish fiddling ended with Skinner’s passing but fiddle music remained popular on Deeside and there were many wellknown exponents who kept the art alive all over Deeside throughout the massive social changes of the 20th Century. A short list of notable exponents includes Duncan Strachan of Potarch (a pupil of Skinner), Bob Pithie of Ballater, Sandy Smith of Tarland, Angus Shaw of Banchory, Sandy Milne of Banchory (originally Tarland), Bill Hardie of Aberdeen and Hector MacAndrew to name but a few. The most influential of these players was Hector MacAndrew who was born on the Fyvie Castle estate but lived much of his life in Culter near Aberdeen. Tracing his musical lineage directly back to Niel Gow (regarded as the father of Scottish fiddle music), Hector was the most acclaimed player of the 20th Century and a renowned teacher; one of his notable pupils being the great virtuoso Sir Yehudi Menhuin.

Paul Anderson My own life as a fiddle player began when I discovered an old fiddle under a spare bed at my grandparents’ farmhouse near Tarland and it’s probably fair to say that this discovery led to both my siblings, two cousins and three nieces all taking up music.

I began violin tuition with Andy Linklater at Tarland Primary School when I was nine and then began going along to the Banchory Strathspey and Reel Society’s weekly practice night in the Burnett Arms. Along with the fiddle sessions at

First competition win at the Angus Fiddle Championships, 1980

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the Charleston Hotel in Aboyne, it was an inspiring place to learn about Scottish fiddle music and at an impressionable age I was playing along with superb musicians with a passion for our culture and traditions. Again, there are too many characters to mention but I’m sure many of the readers who’ve spent their whole life in Deeside will remember some of the characters that made an impression on me like Harry Nicol (knew and played with J S Skinner), Jock Kellas and Jimmy MacGillivray of Glen Tanar, Sandy Beattie of Aboyne and Bill Smith, Julia Fyffe, Jimmy Linklater, Sandy Cooper (still very much alive and kicking) of Banchory.

After about a year playing with the junior Strathspey and Reel Society, I began private lessons with noted fiddle teacher Angus Shaw in Banchory before studying for several years with Douglas Lawrence, the most acclaimed pupil of Hector MacAndrew. I’ve now been playing the fiddle for almost 36 years but there’s little doubt in my mind that the environment of Deeside and those early musical experiences have formed the bedrock of my playing style to this day. I was very fortunate that when I was learning to play the fiddle, I learned from and played with great fiddlers who were steeped in the tradition, so I feel I have a duty to pass on this tradition to the next generation.

I’ve currently got a great group of pupils who are doing exceptionally well but I would still be interested to hear from anyone keen to learn.

In 2015 I’ll be performing at concerts, festivals and sessions both here in the north east and at times further afield but there are a few projects which I’m looking forward to working on. Film director Richard Jobson (formerly lead singer with Scottish punk band The Skids) has begun working on a film adaptation of Nan Shepherd’s classic book “The Living Mountain” and I’m delighted to be

Photograph courtesy of Glen McClure

composing and performing the musical score. In 2014, I was commissioned to compose a symphony

by Huntly’s Deveron Arts and I’m working towards a full orchestral premiere of the work this summer, possibly as part of the Deeside Festival. In April we’re hosting a group of Irish musicians and singers in Tarland where we’ll have a musical tour round Aberdeenshire, a couple of fiddle workshops and a performance in the MacRobert Hall on Friday the 10th of April.

Life as a professional tradition musician can certainly have its ups and downs but it’s never what you could call dull. I love Scotland’s national music and regardless of whether I’m performing abroad, at the annual Hogmanay concert in Aberdeen’s music hall or the traditional music sessions at the Coilacriech Inn or Aberdeen Arms in Tarland, I’ll always carry the wonderful music and culture of Deeside and Aberdeenshire with me.

urtesy of Photograph co vidson James Dyas Da

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HOW DOES YOUR

garden grow ?

~ By Chris Wardle, Head Gardener, Crathes Castle ~

Garden – a place where you can lose yourself when you need to find yourself.

A garden is a delight to

the eye and a solace for the soul. ~ Sadi ~

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As the nights start to draw out and get longer and the weather warms towards the spring you may be thinking of venturing out and about again. You may also start to think of your garden as well. Now is a good time to look at what you have and prepare for the year ahead.

Many of us start to think of the garden just as the weather warms up but it is always good to start to plan a little earlier and get ahead before the rush of spring starts.

Top tips 1

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When the winter weather allows, tidy the garden of leaves and winter debris and weeds early.

This will give you a weed free garden for longer once the warmth comes back.

Cover as much ground as possible with plants. If you don’t have many plants, use mulches such as bark or compost. This will keep the weeds down and hence keep the hard work to a minimum.

Don’t be too hasty with the shears or pruning secateurs; take a minute to find out what you have in your garden as trimming something at the wrong time may mean no flowers this year!

The National Trust for Scotland at Crathes Castle can help you brush up your skills or give you ideas to help you create the best with what you have through a series of short 1 day courses.

Pruning Workshop

Herbaceous Plants Workshop

Summer Pruning Workshop

21st February, 10am-3pm

18th April 2015, 1pm-4pm

8th & 11th July, 1pm-4pm

~ £50 per person ~

~ £20 per person ~

~ £20 per person ~

Join our expert Head Gardener for a day workshop about the principles and practicalities of pruning a garden. The programme will cover practical sessions on roses, renovations and removals as well as trees, shrubs and formative pruning.

Includes tea, coffee and a light lunch.

Join our expert Head Gardener for an afternoon workshop about the principles and practicalities of growing a herbaceous border for maximum colour and effect. The programme will cover a practical session on lifting and dividing/ growing of herbaceous plants.

Join our expert Head and First Gardener for an afternoon workshop about the principles and practicalities of summer pruning. The programme will cover practical sessions on the pruning of flowering trees and shrubs to increase flower and improve shape.

Booking essential.

Places limited to 15 per day.

Booking essential.

Places limited to 20 per day.

Booking essential.

Places limited to 15 per day.

Sign up for three garden workshops and receive a 10% discount. Please be aware that days may be cancelled or moved at short notice due to weather conditions. Full refunds will apply.

If oversubscribed extra dates will be added.

For more information and bookings contact: Crathes Castle, Crathes, Aberdeenshire, AB31 5QJ T: 0844 493 2166 | E: crathes@nts.org.uk | W: www.nts.org.uk

19

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Burns Night ~ January 25 ~

A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January, sometimes also known as Robert Burns Day (or Robbie Burns Day or Rabbie Burns Day) or Burns Night (more colloquially known as Burns Nicht), although they may in principle be held at any time of the year.

On the 21st July 1796 the Scottish bard died and his friends organised a supper in 1802 so that they could gather, read out his poems, sing his songs, have a meal of haggis and drink to his memory. This was the first Burns supper though the origins of celebrating it started a year before.

Image from Tam O' Shanter

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~ R o b e r t

B u r n s

Poet and lyricist

~

1759 -1796

Also known as Robbie Burns, Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favourite son, the Ploughman Poet, Robden of Solway Firth, the Bard of Ayrshire, and in Scotland as The Bard. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide.

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Address To a Haggis Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!

Aboon them a' ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye wordy o' a grace As lang's my arm.

~ The Format ~

Piping in the guests

A big Burns Night calls for a piper to welcome guests.

If you don't want all that baggage, some traditional music will do nicely. For more formal events, the audience should stand to welcome arriving guests: the piper plays until the high table is ready to be seated, at which point a round of applause is due. At a more egalitarian gathering - with no high table - the chair can simply bang on the table to draw attention to the start of the evening's proceedings.

Host's welcoming speech

The host welcomes the guests and declares the evening ‘open’. All guests are seated and grace is delivered. The Selkirk Grace, a well-known thanksgiving said before meals, is commonly used.

Although attributed to Burns, the Selkirk Grace was already known in the 17th century, as the "Galloway Grace" or the "Covenanters' Grace". It became the Selkirk Grace because Burns was said to have delivered it at a dinner given by the Earl of Selkirk.

The Selkirk Grace Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it; But we hae meat, and we can eat, And sae let the Lord be thankit.

The supper starts with the soup course. Normally a Scottish soup such as Scotch Broth, Potato Soup or Cock-a-Leekie is served.

Piping of the haggis

Everyone stands as the main course of haggis is ceremoniously brought in on a large dish. It is usually brought in by the cook, while a piper plays bagpipes and leads the way to the host's table, where the haggis is laid down. He/she might play "A Man's A Man for A' That", "Robbie Burns Medley" or "The Star O' Robbie Burns". The host, or perhaps a guest with a talent, then recites the ‘Address to a Haggis’.

The groaning trencher there ye fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill, Your pin wad help to mend a mill In time o' need, While thro' your pores the dews distil Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dicht, An' cut you up wi' ready slicht, Trenching your gushing entrails bricht, Like ony ditch; And then, O what a glorious sicht, Warm-reekin, rich Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive: Deil tak the hindmaist! on they drive, Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve, Are bent like drums; Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, "Bethankit" hums.

Is there that o're his French ragout Or olio that wad staw a sow, Or fricassee wad mak her spew Wi' perfect scunner, Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him ower his trash, As feckless as a wither'd rash, His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash, His nieve a nit; Thro' bloody flood or field to dash, O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis fed, The trembling earth resounds his tread.

Clap in his wallie nieve a blade, He'll mak it whistle; An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned, Like taps o' thristle.

Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care, And dish them out their bill o' fare, Auld Scotland wants nae skinkin ware That jaups in luggies; But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer, Gie her a haggis!

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At the line His knife see rustic Labour dicht the speaker normally draws and sharpens a knife, and at the line An' cut you up wi' ready slicht, plunges it into the haggis and cuts it open from end to end.

When done properly this "ceremony" is a highlight of the evening.

Supper

At the end of the poem, a Scotch whisky toast will be proposed to the haggis, then the company will sit down to the meal. The haggis is traditionally served with mashed potatoes (tatties) and mashed turnips (A Scottish 'turnip' is an English 'swede') (neeps). A dessert course, cheese courses, coffee, etc. may also be part of the meal. The courses normally use traditional Scottish recipes. For instance, dessert may be cranachan or Tipsy Laird (whisky trifle) followed by oatcakes and cheese, all washed down with the "water of life" (uisge beatha) – Scotch whisky.

When the meal reaches the coffee stage various speeches and toasts are given. In order, the core speeches and toasts are as follows.

Immortal memory

One of the guests gives a short speech, remembering some aspect of Burns' life or poetry.

This may be light-hearted or intensely serious. A good speaker always prepares a speech with his audience in mind, since above all the Burns' supper should be entertaining.

Everyone drinks a toast to Robert Burns.

Appreciation

Toast to the Lassies

This was originally a short speech given by a male guest in thanks to the women who had prepared the meal. However, nowadays it is much more wideranging and generally covers the male speaker's view on women. It is normally amusing but not offensive, particularly bearing in mind that it will be followed by a reply from the "lassies" concerned.

The men drink a toast to the women's health.

Reply to the Laddies

This is occasionally (and humorously) called the "Toast to the Laddies" and, like the previous toast, it is generally quite wide-ranging nowadays. A female guest will give her views on men and reply to any specific points raised by the previous speaker. Like the previous speech, this should be amusing, but not offensive. Quite often the speakers giving this toast and the previous one will collaborate so that the two toasts complement each other.

Works by Burns

After the speeches there may be singing of songs

by Burns – Ae Fond Kiss, Parcel o' Rogues, A Man's a Man, etc. – and more poetry – To a Mouse, To a Louse, Tam o' Shanter, The Twa Dugs, Holy Willie's Prayer, etc. This may be done by the individual guests or by invited experts, and it goes on for as long as the guests wish and may include other works by poets influenced by Burns, particularly poets writing in Scots. Foreign guests can also be invited to sing or say works from their land.

Closing

The host will normally say a few words thanking the previous speaker for his speech and may comment on some of the points raised.

Finally the host will call on one of the guests to give the vote of thanks, after which everyone is asked to stand, join hands, and sing Auld Lang Syne bringing the evening to an end.

sonsie = jolly/cheerful aboon = above painch = paunch/stomach thairm = intestine wordy = worthy hurdies = buttocks dicht = wipe, here with the idea of sharpening

auld Guidman = the man of the house olio = stew, from Spanish olla'/ stew pot staw = make sick scunner = disgust nit = nut, i.e. tiny wallie = mighty

slicht = skill reekin = steaming deil = devil swall'd = swollen kytes = bellies belyve = soon bent like = tight as rive = tear, i.e. burst

nieve = fist sned = cut off thristle = thistle skinkin ware = watery soup jaups = slops about luggies = two-handled continental bowls

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CAI RN G ORMS N ATURE

~ PEATLANDS ~

Peatland erosion on the Mar Estate

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The Cairngorms National Park is one of the last wildernesses in the UK, people come from the world over to experience the unique variety of nature, the vast wild landscapes and the rich flora and fauna it has to offer. But I wonder how many of us walk across the moors enjoying the wonderful scenery and animal life, with no clue that there is a precious jewel beneath our feet. This unseen jewel comes in the form of our amazing peatlands. ~ By Stephen Corcoran, Peatland Restoration Officer ~

Peatlands are vital; in the UK they store over 3 billion tonnes of carbon – twenty times that found in all of Britain’s forests – with more than half found in Scotland and they represent Scotland’s single largest carbon store on land. They provide homes to a variety of specialist plants and animals, can reduce flood events, provide clean drinking water and are a valuable asset for sporting managers.

year into the atmosphere. A combination of burning, grazing pressure, trampling, and drainage – in addition to natural erosion by weather – has lead to nearly three-quarters of our peatlands being in a damaged state.

Peat is an organic soil that forms in cold, waterlogged, acidic conditions. This type of environment favours the growth of mosses, especially Sphagnum, which are the key species in peat accumulation. As plants die, they slowly decompose and the organic matter gradually accumulates as peat. The formation of peat is a very slow process with average peat layer growth being 1.0mm per year. Peat depths can exceed 10 metres – 10,000 years of growth – and are important records of our historic environment.

My role as the Peatland Restoration Officer in the National Park is to deliver action to repair peatland across the area. Restoration of nearly every peat bog is possible and the techniques are straightforward: drains can be blocked; peat hags re-profiled; bare peat re-vegetated.

The most common peat-forming habitat in the Cairngorms National Park is Blanket Bog and this bog habitat deposits peat across nearly one-fifth of the National Park. It is dominated by bog mosses and cotton grass along with common heather, cross-leaved heath and deer grass.

These fragile and ancient layers of peat are being degraded through human activity, leading to the release of millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide each

The restoration of these peatlands is now a priority and under a new initiative called Peatland Action, 105 projects are underway across Scotland with £5million of funding from Scottish Natural Heritage.

Working with Mar Estate, a restoration project is taking place in upper Glen Ey on the flanks of Carn Bhac. This is an area of blanket bog and heather moorland with extensive eroded gullies, peat hags and bare peat extending high into the mountains above 800 metres.

All restoration work at this site is taking place using large machines. 8 ton excavators are at work re-profiling and re-vegetating the eroded peat hags and gullies. This involves gently peeling back the vegetation, then flattening the vertical hag sides so that they are at a shallow angle of around 30 degrees. The vegetation is then pulled and stretched back over and pushed into place. The

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PEATLAND x20

Peatland stores twenty times more carbon than all of Britain’s forests

105

GROWTH:

10m 10,000yrs IN

(a peat layer grows 10mm per year)

Peatland Action Initiatives

PEATLANDS ARE VITAL; IN THE UK THEY STORE

OVER 3 BILLION TONNES OF CARBON

75

PERCENTAGE OF DAMAGED PEATLAND

PROVIDES CLEAN DRINKING WATER

MOST COMMON PEAT FORMING HABITAT:

Blanket Bog

MORE THAN HALF FOUND IN SCOTLAND SCOTLAND REST OF THE UK

£5m

Funding from Scottish Natural Heritage

REDUCES FLOOD EVENTS machine then takes some intact vegetation from beyond the hag and places this over the bare peat at the bottom of the re-profiled hag. Vegetation is then stretched over the scrapes creating wet hollows that are great for invertebrates and sphagnum mosses. Once done the restored hags are almost indistinguishable from the surrounding vegetation. In steep gullies the process is the same with the addition of small peat bunds to slow any water.

The restoration of expanses of bare peat is more problematic and on Mar Estate, a technique using moss-rich brash is being trialled. Specialised cutting machines will cut sphagnum rich vegetation adjacent to the site. This is then spread, using machines, as a moss-rich brash to form a living carpet over the bare peat. This prevents further erosion, helps to re-wet the peat, and enables plants to colonise the moss-rich carpet. In one

growing session, this technique can see up to 100 new sphagnum plants per square metre.

The benefits of both the re-profiling and revegetating techniques are that they utilise material on or adjacent to the site ensuring material is suited to that location. No fertilisers are used and it is a one-off technique that does not require future maintenance or action.

Given enough machines and finance, it would be possible to restore nearly all of Scotland’s upland peat habitats within a decade making a significant contribution to reducing Scotland’s CO2 emissions, repairing damaged landscapes and bringing multiple benefits to biodiversity and people.

Particular thanks must go to Mark Nicolson, the owner of Mar Estate, for his willingness and enthusiasm to participate in a peatland restoration project.

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1

Sphagnum moss - mosses are the key species in peat accumulation

2

Restoration work is done using large machines - 8 ton excavators re-profile and re-vegetate the eroded peat hags and gullies

3

Eroded gully on the Mar Estate

4

After restoration

5

Sphagnum moss

1

3

4

5

2

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By Sandy Kenneway Deeside Drinks Emporium, Banchory

When we talk about whisky we immediately think of the rich finery on offer from the Speyside region, the immediately recognisable power of Islay’s whiskies, or maybe even the delicate flavours in the last few remaining Lowland producers.

What about Aberdeenshire?

Well, as usual, the gems on our own doorstep are overlooked in favour of the more famous names.

Did you know we have 8 distilleries currently in production? Four have visitors centres, three offer tours by arrangement and only Macduff remains off limits.

Despite having some amazing experiences whenever I’ve visited other distilleries on Islay, Speyside etc. there is something quite special when visiting these places and being guided around some of these amazing old buildings by the folk involved in making whisky everyday of their lives; no slick, over-produced marketing speak or the usual fluff – just hard facts, opinion and some wonderful stories from those at the coal face.

Many of the folk working at our local distilleries have done so for all of their working life and many have relatives who have done the same with stories being handed down today, and probably re-told for generations to come.

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Flavour-wise, Aberdeenshire is as diverse as any other whisky producing region: Ardmore produce whiskies with a deeply smoky resonance; Glendronnach make best use of some wonderful old sherry barrels that give a depth that outshines the likes of Macallan; Glen Deveron uses generous amounts of fine, Sherry-Oak casks to produce a fuller and fruitier taste; Fettercairn has always been prized by blenders; Glen Gairoch is always elegant and reminds me of ginger biscuits; Royal Lochnagar is one of only two distilleries to get a Royal Warrant (Stonehaven’s sadly closed Glenury Royal being the other); and both Glenglassaugh and Knockdhu make some real crackers that sit side by side (above even IMHO!) the well-known staples that grace the top shelves of many bars, restaurants and good hotels. Macduff too, although a little harder to track down, produces great drams with real grace.

But don’t just take my word for it. Get out there and taste/see for yourself!

For more information on the products discussed in the article please email us at: deesidedrinks@live.co.uk or visit the product links below. www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/visit/SecretMaltsofAberdeenshire-FinalVersion-May2014.pdf

Sample responsibly

Mac daddy

Spor ran br eeze

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

dash whisky bitters 1 strip orange zest 25ml/1fl oz Scotch whisky 25ml/1fl oz ginger liqueur lemon zest, to garnish

1 orange wedge 50ml single-malt whisky 2 tsp passion fruit syrup 25ml1fl oz fresh apple juice 25ml/1fl oz cranberry juice ¼ apple, to garnish

Place all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice and stir to mix. Strain into a whisky tumbler over ice, garnish with lemon zest and serve.

Put the orange wedge, whisky, passion fruit syrup, apple juice and cranberry juice into a cocktail shaker. Add a handful of crushed ice and shake hard. To serve, strain the cocktail into a highball glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with the apple.

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RE AL

Photograph courtesy of Paul Stewart

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Your Passport to the Slopes It’s that time of year when our breath is visible in the crisp air, our cars wake up to a thin frost blanket in the mornings and skiers and snowboarders become obsessed with weather and snow reports. ~ By Barry Parker, Co-founder of REAL Snowboarding ~

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RE AL Photographs courtesy of Paul Stewart

For the uninitiated, skiing and snowboarding offer an unrivalled experience that can get you hooked on the best of what the wintertime brings. Anyone who understands this will agree that nothing beats a blue-sky day on the slopes with 5-10 inches of fresh snow.

Fortunately if you live in or near Aberdeen you won't necessarily have to suffer the wait for sufficient snow cover up in the hills to enjoy snowsport activities. At Aberdeen Snowsports Centre, in Garthdee, there are a variety of slopes to enjoy and they offer ski and snowboard lessons for all ages and abilities. They even have snowboard lessons for children as young as three years old, which has been a great success with over 60 children coming down to try it out on the opening day.

As a testament to what this centre provides, there has been some real snowboard talent emerging in recent times. Much of this is due to the expert coaching and commitment provided by Ben Kinnear, Kris Bell, myself and many others. Several of the youngsters have been selected to train in the UK Park and Pipe Academy, which is the UK’s elite Training Academy for youngsters with a view to making it onto the British team. Ben and I both coach these kids and I can truthfully say it is unbelievable how good they are becoming – good enough to compete on the world stage in the coming years.

Teaching + Coaching Over the past 10 years I have been able to live an extremely fulfilling life, from teaching in Japan to working in the middle of the French Alpine scenery, to teaching the sport I love to hundreds of children in Aberdeen. I never thought that at the age of 4 when I first put on a pair of skis in Aviemore, or even

at 15 when I strapped on my first snowboard, I would still be enjoying the sport so much 15 years later – and I'm now able to guide children along the same pathway I followed.

As rewarding and inspiring as it is to teach people of all ages and abilities in my home town, I always knew I wanted to see the world and fortunately snowboard instructing has allowed me to do this.

Teaching in Japan has to be one of my most mindblowing experiences. The culture in Japan is one that can only be enjoyed through experiencing it and the locals are some of the kindest people I have ever encountered. Japan is home to the resort with the second largest average snowfall of around 6 metres every year – this means some serious fun, many challenges and lots of face shots!

I have now spent my last two winters in the heart of the French Alps in the town of Morzine. Morzine is bustling in winter and summer and is part of the largest adjoined ski area in Europe, encompassing Avoriaz, Les Gets, Chatel, Champery, Les Crosets and many more, known as Les Portes du Soleil (The Doors to the Sun). In my opinion, it boasts some of the best snowboard terrain and the most spectacular views in the whole of the French Alps.

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REAL Snowboarding It was because of the town’s outstanding location, that I started my own snowboard school in Morzine. REAL Snowboarding is a specialised snowboard school providing high quality snowboard lessons and coaching. I am proud to say that all the instructors are qualified to the highest level (which even included competing in World Cup Snowboardcross events!) through the British Association of Snowsports Instructors (BASI), and

RE AL

have gained the French qualification and received their Carte Professionnelle, which, if you are unfamiliar with the French Laws, is not an easy task.

I have been instructing for many years now and I would urge anyone and everyone who hasn’t tried to ski or snowboard to give it a go sometime.

Experience the fun, satisfaction and wellbeing, as well as some amazing locations around the world that these sports can offer.

REAL Snowboarding Barry Parker + David Crozier +44 (0)7595 754652 hello@realsnowboarding.co.uk www.realsnowboarding.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/realsnowboarding Instagram: @realsnowboarding Twitter: @realsnowboard

Photograph courtesy of Paul Stewart

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Modern Day Treasure Hunting

GEOCACH I NG 2000 - 2014

GEO (EARTH) + CACHE (HIDING PLACE)

5

Million Geocachers WORLDWIDE

2.5

Million Current Caches

Created by Dave Ulmer in May 2000 due to new GPS technology that had become available the day before!

IN 180 COUNTRIES

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME GEOCACHE

HUNT

LOG BOOK

TREASURE

Something hidden to be found using GPS coordinates

Type into a GPS device and seek the cache

Find the cache and sign the log book

If you take something put something back

Geocaching

Ridiculously

CREATIVE Geocache Containers

450 GEOCACHES IN ABERDEENSHIRE

One geocacher hid a special cache holding an engagement ring, a week later she found it and said YES! All together now... awwwww

IN A PRE-CUT LOG UNDER A TABLE IN FAKE GUM IN A TENNIS BALL DRIVEN INTO NUTS AND BOLTS

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G EO CA C H I N G

treasu re hunting for

THE DIGITAL GENERATION

Geocaching is an outdoor adventure where players use a mobile app or a GPS device to find cleverly hidden containers, called geocaches or caches, around the world.

For the traditional geocache, a geocacher will place a waterproof container containing a log book (with pen or pencil) and trade items then record the cache's coordinates. These coordinates, along with other details of the location, are posted on a listing site (such as www.geocache.com).

Other geocachers obtain the coordinates from that listing site and seek out the cache using their GPS handheld receivers. The finding geocachers record their exploits in the logbook and online, but then must return the cache to the same coordinates so that other geocachers may find it. Geocachers are free to take objects (except the logbook, pencil, or stamp) from the cache in exchange for leaving something of similar or higher value. Typical cache

"treasures" are not high in monetary value but may hold personal value to the finder.

Geocache listing websites have their own guidelines for acceptable geocache publications. Generally accepted rules are to not endanger others, to minimise the impact on nature, to respect private property, and to avoid public alarm.

Geocachers are united by the spirit of exploration and the joy of discovery. Geocachers live all over the world and include families with children, grandparents, tech­geeks, photographers, hikers anyone with a sense of adventure. Geocaching offers a broad appeal in large part because it’s bound only by a location and someone’s imagination.

The Fa�t� What is the meaning of the word Geocaching?

The word ‘Geocaching’ was written and said for the first time in 2000. The word was created by combining "GEO" for geography and "CACHING" for the process of storing or hiding materials.

Merriam­-Webster added

"Geocaching" to its dictionary as an official new word in 2012 and "Geocache" was added to the official Scrabble dictionary in 2014.

How many people geocache?

There are more than 10 million registered users on Geocaching. com, with more than 800,000 in the U.S., more than 275,000 in

Germany and more than 160,000 in Canada.

How many geocaches are hidden?

There are more than 2.5 million geocaches waiting to be found in over 180 countries... in fact there are probably some near you right now!

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HA R D EA R N E D

Cache

Geocaching – it’s like a massive network of treasure hunts taking place all over the world…all the time!

Treasure hunt may not be the best description if you’re thinking easily spotted prizes hidden in your back garden – but there is an element of fun to it. ~ By Jasmine Woodcraft ~

Two of my friends are keen ‘geocachers’ and they asked my husband and I to join them on a geocache trip a few years ago. I immediately assumed it would be boring – tramping round some woods at the back of Carrbridge looking for something(?) located at a certain set of coordinates!

I got out of the car with a heavy heart, wishing it wasn’t raining and we weren’t doing something so pointless. But we quickly got on with it…we followed some complex clues and used a GPRS app to check our co-ordinates, eventually finding the treasured cache hidden cleverly under a mossy stone. It was a clear plastic tub with an odd assortment of ‘prizes’ – a troll figurine, a key ring, some sweeties – we could either take one or leave some of our own for the next geocacher. There was also the logbook to sign to show we had successfully found the cache.

We soon realised, after some research and digging, that there were caches waiting to be discovered everywhere! We looked up our postcode and

discovered scores of different caches all around us - ingenuously hidden boxes of surprises at specific grid locations – some in the middle of nowhere in the stump of an old tree, others tucked away at wellknown landmarks.

Each cache presented a different challenge, some were right beside a road, others required a walk through the woods or scramble up a hill. The hunts are diverse so you can try ones near your home, plan a whole day trip further afield, look one up on holiday or create and leave your own.

One of the most exciting things we found were the notes and prizes left by people from all over the globe – a German comic strip and a poem from an excitable Australian were some of the best. It’s strangely exciting to think that people are doing this all over the world, from soggy Strathpeffer to sunny Spain. I also like the fact that you can submit your own caches, a great way to earmark a favourite spot you might know about it and make it accessible to all the geocache community!

For more information about Geocaching please visit www.geocaching.com

No-one opens more doors.

Simple.

40 Chapel Street, Aberdeen aspc.co.uk

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of all properties for sale in the North East

85000

property searches per day on aspc.co.uk

91%

of property purchases are made locally

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Dee n’ Do : 4

Why don’t you practise reciting your favourite Burns poem or draw your mum a special picture for mother’s day? This is your page so get doodling!

Windmills

1 Take a piece of paper or card 7cm squared and fold it in half diagonally on both sides to create an ‘x’ on your paper.

Paper windmills are a lovely wee decoration and delight. Use them to brighten up your garden or table top or for simple amusement. Be creative and use patterned paper or old book pages – whatever takes your fancy.

2 Cut down the lines from each corner of the paper, until just before the middle of the ‘x’.

3 Make holes at each corner of the paper and bring them to the centre without folding the paper.

4 Carefully push a brass fastener though the centre of the windmill holding each corner in place.

Top tip - to make a weather proof windmill cover your paper in sticky backed plastic.

Calling all kids!

Got a favourite picture you want published in our next issue? Have the most fantastic idea for a puzzle we can share? Got the funniest joke to split our sides?

If you think so, please send us your pictures or ideas and you might just see your contribution in the next Dee n’ Doodles! Email: hello@deendo.com

Dee n’ Do : 4

to the summit of CàarDn a' Mhàim with my d

43

Ben MacDui

ed 11 1/2 chie Whyte, ag Written by Ar

r hnaga

Loc and I ng in September, my dad One fine Tuesday morni on our the Lui Water, hopped were dropped off beside up led cyc journey together. We bikes and started our the r ove hàim bends before crossing Càrn a' M VIEW FROM the hill and round a few 1,037 m us ore bef Elevation: and left rt ned tur oss, we the inner pa Black Bridge. Once acr situated in . a'Mhaim is dge some 15km rn Lo e, ry Ca ng Der ra to s y the wa gorm ru of the Cairn ar. It guards Lairig Gh was a beautiful view all m is west of Brae ch from Braemar. It led cal s oa and pr i by perhap on the ap ‘lumps’ in the ground Ben Macdu My dad pointed out big d to mighty ction of ridge in the ine jo ed ect exp est se e with After a longer than the narrow able travers end. them the “Faerie Hills”. s - an enjoy the 10.

Cairngorm t Macdui at pas f in hal ga at to re the nt we got a steep asce cycle to Derry Lodge, to cross over Derry nt we and es bik our We got off Derry water had the recent floods the Lodge bridge but after Cairngorm s there wa . The metal was bent, stream to find an caused a lot of damage er side. We walked up oth the ch rea n’t did dge and bri the broken wood and e to take off our socks thought we would hav we as t jus but ss, ing cro new one. Ly alternative way to bridge and given us a ter had taken away one wa the d ice not on track. After a k we es bac sho crossed over and got e W nk! tru e tre nt gia ched an open across the river was a ned right. When we rea up a wee slope and tur nt we we ch a woody area pat s by ard dub little a little bit more tow brilliant. We walked s wa ) ain (ag g over stones w blin vie am space, the ibeg Burn by scr ter. We crossed the Lu wa g nin run r to them hea ked ld tal where we cou ping there. We e couple that were cam nic a t me we ole day. side wh er the and at the oth people we’d met t they where the first tha ng lisi rea on and d s lke for a bit and wa d for apples, banana before noon and stoppe t jus hill the of tom Macdui.

We got to the bot ry Cairngorm and Ben again. We could see Der off set n the ate col cho lise it quite easy – only to rea top, I thought it looked the s ard tow s paths ard two upw had As we climbed one point we ed a couple of times. At pen hap is Th ! side top the the on wasn’t actually r and ended up the right, walked furthe on one the k e too W we Devils Point. to choose from so ws of the River Dee and the most beautiful vie h great views of wit , àim of the mountain with summit of Càrn a' Mh the d che rea and re walked 15 minutes mo Macdui and Cairn Toul.

Derry Cairngorm, Ben off oy the moment. We set e in the views and enj tak ch, lun e on hav e to sor ile bit We rested a wh starting to get a way we came. It was the k bac ps ste to our got ed moving. We again and retrac , but we had to keep d the middle of the hill . Finally at 2.30pm dge Lo my legs when we reache ry oss the river to Der acr k bac d lke wa and y tired dog and the bottom of the hill car park with our ver k a slow cycle to the too and es bik our much – we’ll be so on er we got walk and time togeth our d oye enj I and d . Da got back home at 4pm again soon. one t nex our planning THE END :) ☺

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Dee n’ Do : 4

Alphabet search

Can you work your way through our alphabet and find all the items?

Ants

Butterfly

Centipede

Duck

Eggs

Ferns

Goat

Heart Shape Leaf

Icicles

Jackdaw

Kitten

Lichen

Moss

Nuts

Owl

Pine Cone

Quail

Rabbit

Squirrel

Tadpoles

Ungulate

Vixen

Worm

Yorkshire Terrier

(a sleeping animal)

(hoofed animal)

Xylophagy

(wood eating insect)

Zzzz

Dates to Remember

ICE bubbles You might associate blowing bubbles with summer, but in the winter time it takes on a whole new dimension. Try blowing bubbles on freezing days and watching them turn into ice bubbles, they look amazing!

Valentines Day 14 February Mothering Sunday 15 March

Dee n’ Do : 4

Facts about haggis

Far’s the haggis?

Somewhere hidden in this magazine is oor Amelie’s haggis.

Can you find it?

JOKES

that u call a pigeon Q. What do yo lidays? ho its r fo e or goes to Aviem u A. A skean dh r uirrels give fo Q. What do sq y?

Valentine's Da ts nu e-m A. Forget

YOUR DOODLES >>>>

Haggis is extremely well known and, perhaps, the one food which most represents Scotland.

It's a traditional Scottish dish made from sheep's heart, liver and lungs finely chopped and mixed with oatmeal, suet, onion, spices and salt.

Traditionally the Scottish haggis is cooked in a sheep’s stomach, rather like a very large oval sausage.

The haggis is very well-known internationally as it is traditionally served with the Burns supper (January 25th) and St. Andrews Night meals.

It was the subject of the Robbie Burn's poem, "Address To A Haggis", see p24, which is now one of the highlights of any Burns supper.

The haggis is also commonly brought to life in cartoon form. As an object of fun the haggis is usually portrayed as a little animal with one set of legs longer than the other and, more often than not, pictured playing the bagpipes.

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M EE T YOUR HOS T hand picked by us

Callater Lodge Own ed by Kat y & Julia n Fe n n e m a ~ Braemar ~

What is your establishment?

Callater Lodge has been welcoming visitors to Braemar for over 50 years. Katy and Julian bought this beautiful Victorian shooting lodge in 2014, and recently completed a stunning renovation.

What can your guests expect?

We’re offering our guests a home away from home with a personal welcome, comfortable rooms, and a hearty breakfast. You can look forward to homemade bread, locally-sourced bacon and sausages, eggs from our own hens, and fabulous baking.

Callater Lodge has a loyal clientele – some of our guests have been coming for decades, in fact before either of us were born. We’re also keen to welcome outdoor sports enthusiasts like ourselves – if you enjoy hill-walking, mountain biking, skiing and the breathtaking Cairngorms scenery, you’ll feel right at home. We aim to tailor your visit to your individual needs. Maps, route advice and a drying room for

the outdoors enthusiast. An extensive homemade breakfast selection, weekly dinners and a wide range of wines and whiskies for the gourmet. And everyone appreciates cosy bedrooms and a glowing wood burner in the guest sitting room.

Have you always been in the hospitality industry?

Julian was an academic and Katy a musician, but, independently and together, we’ve always aspired to run a high quality guesthouse. We have been working for several years to gain the knowledge and experience to launch our second careers.

Why Braemar?

Katy’s family have lived in Braemar for at least 300 years, so this has been our own homecoming.

Which 5 words describe you as owners?

Energetic, enthusiastic, proud, attentive, gezellig.

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Dee n’ Do : 4

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The Coo Hoose Own ed by Catriona & R i char d E l so n ~ Aboyne ~

What is your establishment?

The Coo Hoose is an old steading, newly converted into a cosy, beautifully designed self-catering cottage, which sleeps 4, in the heart of Royal Deeside, Aboyne.

Tucked away and quietly sitting in the grounds of our Old Manse, the Coo Hoose has been stylishly designed by a local architect Andrew Keir and built by local builder Bill Littlejohn, Fraser and their team. The interior has a Nordic contemporary theme, styled with the help from my good friend Leonie Bosher who is an interior designer in London. This really is a special place to stay...a hidden gem.

When did you move into the area?

We fell in love with the South Manse, an old minister's house for sale during a weekend holiday to Aboyne 15 years ago. On the Monday morning we put an offer in for the property not knowing how we were going to sell our house in Oxfordshire within the 6 week time frame. Somehow we did and the rest, they say, is history.

What is it about Deeside that you love?

Harris our Jack Russell loves his walks along Deeside and so do we! We all wanted to escape to

the Highlands, get away from the crazy south east of England; too many wasted hours on the M25. I wanted to move back to my Scottish roots. Even though we lived in Henley on Thames just outside London (the Regatta town in the Chilterns), we all loved Scotland…to be able to walk into the hills and not see a soul, to ski within a few miles, to enjoy the best fly fishing in Scotland and have great mountain biking countryside right on our doorstep. We just love Deeside; the folk, the food, the countryside, proper snow and the odd glass of Lochnagar single malt!

What can your guests expect?

Peace, quiet, comfort, roaring log fire, White Company bed linen, fluffy white bathrobes, Cow Shed toiletries, eggs from our ladies, Coco Ooze treats, homemade brownies and shortbread from the Kincardine Castle kitchen and other goodies with a cup of tea on arrival.

A warm welcome and a comfortable stay all in a beautifully designed cottage surrounded by some of the best countryside in Scotland.

Which 5 words describe you as owners?

Humorous, dedicated, professional, thoughtful, helpful and have a great love of Scotland (sorry that’s more than 5!)

Call ate r L od g e

The Coo Ho ose

9 Glenshee Road, Braemar, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5YQ

South Manse, Birse, Aboyne Aberdeenshire, AB34 5BT

T 01339 741275 W www.callaterlodge.co.uk

T 01339 887315 W www.thecoohoose.co.uk

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Scotland's first all female shooting club has launched with a bang in Aberdeenshire with their inaugural event taking place in November at the Raemoir House Hotel, Banchory, Aberdeenshire. Thirty ladies, some whom had never picked up a gun before, gathered in the glorious November sunshine, to take part in what is largely a male dominated sport.

Glad Rags & Cartridge Bags has been set up

by Mhairi Morriss, director of Aberdeenshire based Jomm Events, to provide a social forum for shooting ladies of all levels under the instruction of Scottish Shooting Team member and experienced instructor David Burgess and his fellow coaches.

"Shooting is very much a male dominated sport but there's no real reason why, as it's something that actually ladies tend to be very good at." explained Mhairi. "We wanted to create an unintim idating environment where novices and more experienced guns could get together and enjoy the sport of shooting. It's up to our members what happens from here - some ladies may just like to meet up to bag a few clays and enjoy the social side of the club, others may be keen to shoot game which is something that the Club can help them progress to."

Mhairi was persuaded to set up the shooting club by friends that were keen to try out the sport, many of whom's husbands shoot. "When I did a little bit of research, I was amazed that I simply could not find a ladies' shooting club in the whole of Scotland. Given the fact that we are in fantastic shooting country, it really is quite surprising. Down south, there is The Shooting Society, The Shotgun & Chelsea Bun Club and, more recently, Femmes Fatales but they all

appear to be England based so we are delighted to have launched a similar club in Scotland - shotguns and fun at the ready!"

Lead coach for Glad Rags & Cartridge Bags is David Burgess, a crack shot who has represented Scotland in clay pigeon shooting and is also an expert in gun fitting which he has done for the Great Britain Shooting team. He is excited about the growth of women's shooting and the part that Glad Rags & Cartridge Bags can play.

"Ladies often get a raw deal when it comes to shooting. They have a go with their husband's gun which is heavy and ill fitting and then believe that they don't have an aptitude for the sport but that’s simply not true." he said. "99% of shotguns are made for men, and don’t take into account the differences of the female form with higher cheekbones, narrower shoulders and boobs! We use guns that are more suited to lady shooters. It was really rewarding to see so many women that had never shot before take to it like ducks to water and have a really good time."

So what can ladies attending a Glad Rags & Cartridge Bags event expect from the day? Well, a lot of fun if the first event was anything to go by! The sounds of cheering and clapping resounded around the spectacular grounds of the majestic Raemoir

Dee n’ Do : 4

House Hotel. But among the pink trimmed shotgun slips, fur and tweed, there was also a real quest for learning more about this male dominated sport borne out by the fact that many of the participants had booked for the next event by the time Mhairi had got back to her office.

After some much needed coffee and bacon rolls, the day began with some gun basics from David Burgess focusing on gun safety and also on the importance of gun fit which will be crucial for those ladies that want to persevere with the sport and eventually purchase their own gun.

After that, it was out into the winter sun to split into three groups and start shooting. With the expert and patient tuition from David and his team, Frank and Richard, every attendee managed to hit at least one clay with some novices doing exceptionally well.

The day ended with a fun competition, which was

won by Carol Davidson of Alford, a lady with some previous shooting experience who gets to enjoy a BMW coupe for the weekend as her prize courtesy of one of the very generous sponsors, John Clark Motor Group. The youngest 'Glad Ragger', was Amy Reid from Strichen who, at 17, is already a very keen shot winning The Shot of the Day award.

A beautiful lunch followed the morning's endeavors and a chance for all participants to enjoy some of the freebies that were kindly provided by the Club's sponsors - John Clark Motor Group, Jamieson & Carry, Heavenly Hampers, Cairngorm Sporting Supplies, Orvis and Trend magazine.

Jomm Events are organising more dates for the Deeside area in the coming months. For more information go to the website www.jommevents. com or call 07841 393 155 or email mhairi@ jommevents.com.

Events are bookable via www.jommevents.com

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A l C n

SUPPORT FOR ALL promising you a warm and caring welcome

CLAN Cancer Support is a well-established local charity providing emotional and practical support to people affected by cancer across north-east Scotland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland.

Whether affected personally, as a carer, family member or close friend, its services are freely offered to all from pre-diagnosis and diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.

CLAN offers a relaxed, welcoming and caring environment both at CLAN House , its support and wellbeing centre in Aberdeen, and at its many bases in the community.

who it helps and supports. The charity’s range of social and wellbeing activities provide friendship, peer support and relaxation in a welcoming and supportive environment.

In Deeside, the charity operates in both Ballater and Banchory with each base offering a range of services including information and support, complementary therapies, social and wellbeing activities, as well as access to CLAN’s counselling and children and families support service. The Ballater base also has a busy charity shop selling a wide range of clothing, accessories, household items and books.

New wellbeing services for those affected by cancer have recently been introduced and include lingerie advice and bra fitting, skincare consultations and nutritional advice. Haircutting and wig styling are also part of The Salon services currently offered at CLAN House in Aberdeen.

For those travelling to Aberdeen hospitals for appointments or treatment, CLAN offers affordable B&B accommodation at CLAN Haven alongside assistance with transport to and from hospital.

CLAN aims to help people live with and beyond cancer and improve the quality of life for all those

Workshops are regularly held locally and CLAN’s Banchory base will host a wellbeing event on Thursday 12 February to outline the new services available.

CLAN relies on the generosity of so many individuals, families and companies to ensure the ongoing provision of its free services. Its local fundraising group, Friends of CLAN, and its team of volunteers continue to provide invaluable support.

To find out more about CLAN and how you can get involved please contact Gemma Powell on 01339 756318 or by email at gemma.powell@clanhouse.org. Individuals do not need to be referred to the charity, simply call or drop in to any of its bases.

For opening hours and location of all CLAN bases, please visit www.clanhouse.org

Dee n’ Do : 4

R C E ATIV E I D R E BU Founders:

~ Kelly Whyte, Mairi MacLeod Gray & Kirsten Horne ~

PUBLISHING + GRAPHIC DESIGN + WEBSITES and producers of Dee n’ Do magazine

Unfortunately we were let down at the last minute for a Spotlight on Business feature, and thought that we could jump in to fill the slot and let you know a bit more about this fine young magazine.

Who is Burdie Creative?

Burdie Creative is a small, dynamic, creative media group that was established with the initial intention of producing Dee n’ Do magazine. Over the past year we have seen our portfolio expand to other areas of web design and development, as well as creative and corporate projects.

The three founding members have the benefit of both industry experience as well as working together in a media environment in the past. We feel that our mix of creativity, design and editorial experience compliment each other well.

Where did the idea for Dee n’ Do come from?

Kelly came up with the idea for the publication and we were sold on the idea straight away. She had noted that there was not one single publication that gave visitors and locals information about things to see or do in Deeside. So we did our homework to find out if people wanted such a publication. They did. We talked and typed to friends, neighbours and businesses. We sought advice from industry professionals - who advised it wouldn’t be easy!

Who is the target market?

It was obvious from the start that our marketplace would have a multiplicity of interests and expectations and therefore one of our biggest challenges was to produce a magazine that spoke to our readers, that also gave them a voice and that showcased and represented the beauty of Deeside. Ultimately we wanted to inspire, engage and promote.

What does the magazine offer?

Some of the existing literature for the area was little more than directories or classifieds so our innovation had to be both in design and content. We defined the readership to be a mixture of tourists wanting to find out more about the area and locals wanting to discover (or re-discover) what the area has to offer. In this respect, we had to entice our readers by offering a more innovative, insightful and comprehensive publication.

What are your design ethics?

Creating a design aesthetic to capture and engage our readers was immensely important, particularly when pitching to a marketplace that is rich in culture, tradition, heritage and beauty.

How does the environment directly influence design decisions?

The quality and tactility of the magazine was dictated by the very nature and environment of the content matter. Deeside is a beautiful, wild and natural landscape which we wanted to emulate and therefore it was extremely important to us that it contradict the glossies associated with more urban publications by using uncoated stock.

Dee n’ Do is all about creativity in the likely and unlikely places. Vibrant landscapes and majestic settings often dictate the mood or tone of expression which in turn inspire our designers.

What does the future hold for Burdie Creative?

The magazine will continue to promote Deeside but perhaps we may expand to Donside or beyond.

We are also looking into producing complementary products that visitors, locals and businesses can find useful or beneficial. Watch this space.

+44 (0)7790 129212 | +44 (0)7837 577338 | hello@deendo.com | www.deendo.com

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THE

DE ESI DE I NN

B A L L AT E R An authentic Highland inn with roaring log fires and heartfelt hospitality

High quality accommodation Open all year Wednesday Steak Nights Traditional Sunday Lunches Open Scottish music sessions every other Wednesday with Alistair Johnson and friends Fantastic live music in the bar Log fires burning all day

Victoria Road, Ballater, Aberdeenshire AB35 5RA T:

+44 (0)1339 755413 E: deeside@crerarhotels.com

www.crerarhotels.com

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~ THE ~

LECHT Small, yet perfectly packaged, The Lecht offers some of the most consistent snow in Scotland, especially as there is also a facility for snow-making.

Opening Times (subject to conditions) The ski lifts open at 8.30am every day.

Last run is around 4.15pm.

The Lecht, Strathdon, Corgarff, Aberdeenshire, AB36 8YP 01975 651440 | info@lecht.co.uk | www.lecht.co.uk

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Situated some 2,090ft (637m) above sea level, The Lecht occupies a stunning location in the eastern Cairngorms and is accessed from one of the most scenically beautiful roads in Scotland, the A939.

Winter activities are ideal for all levels of skiers and snowboarders but especially good for beginners and intermediates. A total 12 different lifts, including a threeperson chairlift and a magic carpet travelator which get novices going on day one. There are 18 pisted runs, extending to some 20km. For the improver or intermediate skier, seven blue runs and five red runs provide enough of a thrill for a day's outing. Meanwhile, beginners are most likely to head to a wide area closest to the car park. At the other end of the scale is a black-graded race piste, with timing and slalom poles.

When conditions allow, The Lecht is also able to create a half-pipe and fun park for experienced snowboarders and freestyle skiers. Tubing is also available depending on the conditions.

All equipment and clothing can be hired on site (equipment can be booked online).

There is also a ski school which can help develop your skills from basic to racers and all in a safe environment close to the beautiful purpose built day lodge, which houses cafe, bar, ticket office, shop, ski hire, toilets all under one roof.

Getting There The Lecht is easily reached from Speyside and Aviemore, Donside and Aberdeen as well as Royal Deeside. For your GPS the nearest post code is AB36 8YP.

Ski School The Lecht has one ski school operating on the slopes and has: The highest standard of ski and snowboard instruction Private or class lessons daily Lecht 2090 raceway - coin operated computerised timing Packages to suit every budget and level Generous large group discounts For bookings and arranging packages please call the Lecht Ski School direct on 01975 651412 or email school@lecht.co.uk Please note that the Lecht office cannot take bookings for lessons, direct contact has to be made with the ski school.

Hiring your equipment We recommend pre-booking equipment, especially during the school holidays to avoid disappointment. Online booking of equipment hire must be made before 4pm for the following day. Equipment is only reserved for you until 11am. If you require equipment but haven't pre-booked, you can hire on the day on site, however you may incur slight delays.

Snow Shop The snow shop is on the ground floor of the main building and sells all the necessary items that you might need: gloves, hats, goggles, glasses, helmets etc as well as clothing.

Photograph courtesy of Caroline Selwood

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lots of

Sla.nd .

L .

W .

O oor Wood imited

Outd School L ing Learn

Forest Lessons ~ By Esther Gooch ~

“I don’t like pancakes.” states one of the children I am working with on this dreich November afternoon in the woods. “I’ve had them before and I don’t like them.” I always acknowledge children’s likes and dislikes but then I go on to ask him whether he would be prepared to try my pancakes. After all, by the time we get to our basecamp for the evening, create the fire zone and start cooking it is going to be completely dark and let’s face it, everything always tastes better when you are outside!

For more information about this exciting outdoor activity group, please visit their website www.owls-learn.co.uk

Dee n’ Do : 4

About O.W.L.S

Outdoor Woodland Learning School Ltd was formed by Esther Gooch in January 2012 in response to the need in schools and communities to enable children, young people and adults to engage in a positive, challenging and exciting way with our woodlands in Deeside, in Scotland and throughout the world.

This learning comes through the scope of ‘Forest School’ and also in enabling children to participate in planning and undertaking journeys and other activities such as orienteering, problem solving and quests.

Having travelled cross country in the direction the children have chosen for this particular adventurous woodland exploration, we climb over trees, skirt past deep muddy puddles and through squelchy bogs, which leave me wondering whether each child will manage to retain their wellies, when finally we select a suitable site for our early evening camp.

Most of the children immediately dash off into the darkening undergrowth where they experiment with their torches and start constructing their den by wedging long gnarly branches into the crook of a tree.

Meanwhile I set up the fire bowl with the heat mat underneath to protect the peaty ground and mark out a fire zone in which the children know they need to responsible and respect the fire and the potential danger to both themselves and the environment.

With a small fire burning strongly, I place my heavy pan on the grill and let the fire heat the pan. It looks slightly surreal as the smoke curls around the edges of the pan. I bring out an old blackcurrant squash

Ayr Pancakes This failsafe pancake recipe was passed on to me by my neighbours, the Silcocks, who were given it by their good friends from Ayr.

OWLS aims to fulfil the following: To create a fun and safe learning environment for all activities.

To enable participants to engage in a positive, challenging and exciting way with and through our woodlands.

To initiate sustainable learning of environmental issues affecting our communities, woodlands and our world.

To enable participants to learn skills which will enable them to engage freely and appropriately in our natural environment.

bottle full of pre-made pancake mixture. I pour it onto the non-stick surface in small blobs and watch as the mixture seeps out to form perfect pancake circles. Slowly the mixture starts to bubble and at this point, amid cries of excitement from the children who have re-joined me at the fire to see the pancakes cook, I gently use a silicon fish slice to flip them over.

When the fire is going well, it only takes a few moments to cook the mixture and seconds later I am lifting them off the pan to cool before passing the fresh pancakes to the children. These ones are simple, with just the option of a little drizzle of golden syrup.

You can embellish the pancakes as you wish and experiment with flavours such as cinnamon or ginger or even fresh fruit. My favourite ones are simple, eaten in good company while sitting around a fire in the dark on a late November afternoon, telling stories and listening to chatter.

As for the child who didn’t like pancakes? Well, he must have been hungry as he went on to eat four!

250g self-raising flour 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon of salt 3 tablespoons caster sugar 2 tablespoons powdered milk 2 eggs water to mix (about 250mls)

Mix the dry ingredients together and add the eggs. Beat together well and then gradually add the water a little at a time until you have a sloppy, but not runny mixture. If you use a non-stick pan, you don’t need any oil in which to cook the pancakes. Cook over a medium heat (or flames if you are cooking outside.)

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When the temperature outside drops and it gets dark earlier, lacing up your running shoes might be the last thing you feel like doing. But don’t let the winter weather stop you from being physically active and keeping fit. Try the following tips to help you stay safe and motivated when you’re running in colder weather. ~ Source: NHS.uk/Livewell ~

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Dress sensibly when heading out for a cold weather run.

Thermal Long Sleeved Tops The base layer could be a lightweight top, ideally made from a technical running fabric. Remember, cotton holds onto sweat, so stays wet.

Light Jacket The next layer will depend on the weather. It could be a lightweight fleece or, if it’s windy or raining, a light waterproof jacket. If you get too hot, you can take it off and tie it around your waist.

Tights or Trackies A pair of leggings or running tights underneath a pair of shorts, or some tracksuit bottoms will keep your legs warm.

Running Socks Slip on wicking socks that go up to your knees to keep your calves warm.

Hat + Gloves A pair of gloves and a hat or fleece headband are a good idea in cold weather to stop you losing heat from your head and hands.

Neckwarmer On cold days, wear a neck warmer, it'll keep your neck and chin warm while also helping to prevent burning lungs.

Ice Cleats Ice cleats work like tire chains for your shoes to significantly improve your traction across snow and icy surfaces.

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Deedo Advert_Layout 1 03/01/2014 10:33 Page 1

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creativity is the driving force behind this design and publishing group. we’re all about the design, look and feel. but we’re also sticklers for detail .

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Deeside Drinks Emporium 22 Dee Street, Banchory, Kincardineshire, AB31 5ST t +44(0)1330 822650 e deesidedrinks@live.co.uk

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A LL

great things ARE

wild + free

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thrive Be part of the story

As a child growing up, my front door opened onto a nature reserve teaming with rare birds, flowers and butterflies.

When I wasn’t outside in nature, I was inside drawing and writing about it. Fast forward a few decades and I’m still as passionate about communicating what I see in the world, using film making to capture the moment. ~ By Ruth Gailey ~

Studying Neuroscience and Science Communication at university taught me how the brain processes information and gave me the skills to utilise this. Whilst working in the science media, I honed my skills writing and filming for science magazines and a documentary production company. But after spending several years living in London and the US, I craved the countryside and moved back to Scotland.

Early this year my love of Deeside turned from a Sunday drive into full time living in Kincardine O’Neil. The scenery is breath taking and just when I think I might be taking it for granted, I’m humbled by some fleeting brush with nature… a red kite or a deer. Every turn in the road opens up an incredible view of mountains, trees and the river. Latterly these three companies were incorporated The river has

become a big part of my life since moving literally ‘a stones throw’ from the Dee. My partner, Jonathan Brown and I spent the summer getting into our wild swimming along the Dee from the classic Linn of Dee to a few secret spots further down the river.

We also found time to work too. Jonathan’s TV production company - B4 films (a family business run by the four Browns; mum, dad, Chris and Jonathan) is passionate about sharing Scotland’s beauty and history with the world.

They made a show for PBS America called Great Estates Scotland, one of which looked at Kincardine Castle Estate. The show aired in a primetime slot after Downton Abbey in the states, and has become the number one downloaded show on PBS. Kincardine Castle reported their website crashed due to the enormous amount of people trying to view it!

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Even more excitement was to follow when I was invited to Hawaii to film wild spinner dolphins. Seven days later I was 1.5 miles out to sea with 40 fins circling me! Words cannot describe what it is like when a dolphin approaches you with an invitation to play. Hawaii was an incredible adventure into wildlife and nature with 200ft waterfalls, erupting volcanoes and giant cockroaches! Paradise for certain but I was very happy to come back to Deeside with its equally impressive waterfalls and an infestation of forkytails!

Back in Deeside, I spent the rest of the summer meeting local people and businesses inspired by the beauty of Deeside. A great example being the very talented Dee n’ Do ladies who are up for numerous awards for their incredible magazine. Filming has started on their story which I’m sure you would all love to hear about. Also Martin Simpson owner of Deeside water has offered to take us on a tour of the history of Deeside water and how Ballater sprang up as a spa town. We recently filmed the Mar Lodge bonfire and a local composer has scored a piece of music for the film. Another thriving area I’m looking into is the sustainable culture that’s emerging from women’s small business ventures in vintage trading and upcycling. There are some amazingly creative and enterprising ladies in Deeside juggling work/life and still finding time to get together.

Do you think you’d like to watch these stories? Then visit the website Thrive – Be part of the story at www.thrivevision.wordpress.com. It’s the start of a channel dedicated to interesting people doing interesting things in Deeside and beyond.

Be part of the story One of the latest ways to fund projects is via crowdfunding, which gives you the opportunity to become a producer, bringing stories you’re passionate about to others… and get a credit on the film!

I have a few films in the pipeline but production has stopped due to lack of funding. These stories deserve to be told and shared, they are: The History of Deeside water and how Ballater sprung up as a spa town.

A look at the sustainable culture that’s emerging from women’s small business ventures in vintage trading and upcycling.

Men’s sheds (the secret to a happy marriage) fishing huts of Deeside.

The Dee n’ Do story… creative female entrepreneurs inspired by the beauty of Deeside.

I’d love to hear from any people who swear by Deeside water or swimming in the Dee as the secret to their good health and longevity.

Please get in touch with any of your stories, and we can look at developing them together.

T 07749 840457 E ruthsgailey@gmail.com W www.thrivevision.wordpress.com

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New book reveals the story of Scotland's National Gem The Cairngorms is an area of dramatic and rugged scenery, recognised formally by its designation in September 2003 as the UK’s largest, and most northerly National Park. It is home to five out of six of Britain’s highest mountains and the Queen’s summer residence at Balmoral.

The area has given its name to Scotland’s most famous gemstone, the distinctive, smoky ambercoloured cairngorm quartz, a term recognised globally by the jewellery trade, and which has for centuries adorned traditional Highland dress.

Cairngorm quartz, has been found in very large crystals and crystal groups (up to 20kg in weight) but much of the material is too dark (termed morion) to be used as gem cutting material, and the lapidary trade resorted to heat treatment of dark specimens, in an effort to improve their colour and commercial value. If this was successful, such specimens were commonly sold as citrine.

A new book Crystal Mountains – Minerals of the Cairngorms unravels the story of the cairngorm, exploring the long tradition of hunting for ‘Cairngorm stones’, which saw individuals, and whole families, driven to search the mountains with a zeal akin to the lust for gold.

The book’s author, Roy Starkey has been fascinated by minerals since he was at school and has travelled all over the UK in his search

for worthwhile specimens. He has a particular interest in the minerals of Scotland, and has been exploring the Cairngorms for more than 25 years.

Roy said that his love of the Cairngorms grew from exploring the wilderness areas, and researching the fascinating history of the minerals and the people who sought them in days gone by. He realised that he had gathered together a unique collection of information and decided to compile what he hopes will be the definitive work on the subject.

Demand from the lapidary and jewellery trade in the 1800s was such that the supply of authentic local material could not keep up, and inevitably, imported material began to be passed-off as Scottish. It is now very difficult, if not impossible, to be certain of the provenance of cut stones and those mounted in jewellery.

Roy’s quest has seen him examine specimens in all the major public and private collections, and the book features numerous previously unpublished images of specimens from the Cairngorms. The book traces the history of the cairngorm (and

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The Cairngorms are the most extensive area of high mountain ter rain in Br itain. The area has given its name to Scotland's most famous gemstone - the distinctive smoky cairngorm quartz, and has also p roduced spectacular specimens of beryl and topaz.

In Victor ian times, hunting for crystals was both a popular pastime and a 'cottage industry'.

the associated topaz and beryl crystals which are found in the region, although of much less common occurrence than quartz), and also presents a very readable account of the geology and occurrence of the gem minerals, including an easily understood explanation of the cause of colour in smoky quartz.

The fascination of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert with Scotland’s national gem, and the surviving legacy of their specimens, are explored using the Queen’s personal journals and contemporary newspaper accounts, together with images of specimens from the collection at Balmoral Castle and Osborne House.

A supply chain is traced from ‘The Diggers’ who sought raw material, through mineral dealers, lapidaries, seal engravers and jewellers who all earned a living trading ‘Cairngorm stones’. The principal centres for the Scottish lapidary trade appear to have been Edinburgh and Aberdeen, but with several notable businesses also prospering in Inverness, and others in Dundee, Perth and Stirling.

The story culminates in the Great Exhibition of 1851,

which provided a shop window to the world for Scottish goods, including natural cairngorm crystals, and the jewellery and other artefacts fashioned from them.

The days of the ‘diggers’ and ‘cairngorm miners’ are long gone, but there may still be forgotten treasures scattered in attics and trinket boxes across the area, just awaiting discovery by the next generation.

Queen Victoria’s mountains attract thousands of visitors each year, and the links with Balmoral remain as strong as ever. Scottish pebble jewellery is now a highly collectible commodity, and an authentic Scottish cairngorm brooch would undoubtedly still make a most acceptable gift.

The book, 184 large format pages (276×218 mm) softback, can be ordered online directly from the publisher www. britishmineralogy.com priced at £25 plus p&p, or you can pick up a copy at the local stockist, Deeside Books in Ballater.

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THE

BI TES O C JA 1715

2015

~ THE FIRST JACOBITE REBELLION ~

300 th

Anniversary

- R A IS ING TH E S TA N DA R D -

2015 marks the 300th anniversary of the ‘Fifteen’ Jacobite rebellion. The rebellion of 1715, just eight years after the union of England and Scotland, was a significant threat to the British state. The rebellion might have killed the Act of Union in its infancy. Had it been successful, it would have fundamentally changed the nature of Britain, then and now.

~ By John Broon ~ Main Source: “Royal Valley “ Fenton Wyness

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The Punchbowl at the Linn of Quoich

Rewind 300 years to 1715, and there is widespread unhappiness with the Hanover King George I. The Jacobites, supporters of the deposed Stuart monarchy, are muttering and plotting.

King James VIII of Scotland, and the III of England (father of Bonnie Prince Charlie), in the presence of Scotland’s leading Jacobites and a Highland army of around 2,000 men.

There is the umistakable whiff of discontent and rebellion in the air, not only in the Highlands of Scotland, but all over Britain. There had been previous attempts to restore the Stuart monarchy, several times rebellion had seemed imminent only for each attempt to flounder.

The magnificent standard was “of bright blue colour, on one side the Royal Arms of Scotland richly embroidered in gold and on the other side the thistle of Scotland”. As it was raised the gold tip of the standard fell to the ground, a bad omen to the Highlanders who saw it as a clear sign of prescient disaster.

Enter “Bobbin Jock,” John Erskine, Earl of Mar who earned his nickname by the skill with which he changed sides, he was a great patriot, but only when it suited him. When Bobbin Jock was dismissed from his post as Secretary of State for Scotland it was too much for such an ambitious man and he threw his lot in with the Jacobites.

In autumn 1715 the Earl of Mar held his annual hunt in Glen Quoich with a number of distinguished guests.

There was nothing unusual in that, or so Government informers thought, but had they paid closer attention to the identities of the 800 or so Gentlemen Jacobite sympathisers all - there would have been plenty cause for concern.

On the 5 September 1715 after a days hunting and lavish feasting in Glen Quoich, the Earl of Mar filled the “punchbowl” at the Linn of Quoich (a rock formation on the Quoich water which can still be seen today) with whisky and toasted James Francis Edward Stuart as King of Scotland. There followed a long and raucous night. The next day on a knoll in Braemar’s Castleton, *the standard was raised for

The Earl of Mar as Commander in Chief took the Jacobite army to Perth, there followed the battle of Sherriffmuir with victory claimed by both sides. It proved the beginning of the end for Bobbin Jock – an astute and able politician, but he was no military leader. After great initial success the campaign began to founder under his leadership, or lack of. The renowned warrior John Gordon of Glenbuchat said of him “Oh for one hour of *Dundee!”

The Jacobite campaign slid from one misfortune to another, until eventually the much diminished army crossed the Causey Mounth pass into Deeside in 1716 where they received the order to disband.

The broken men dispersed and many were later executed or sent as slaves to the West Indies.

Thus the 1715 rebellion stuttered to a close, laying the way for the better known, and ultimately disasterous, 1745 rebellion in which Deeside and its people would again play vital roles. *The site is marked by a brass plaque inside the Invercauld Arms Hotel, Braemar. *Bonnie Dundee, John Graham, a Jacobite hero who died in the Jacobite rising of 1689

If you're interested in finding out more about the Jacobites, Braemar Castle will be hosting a Jacobite themed month in July to commemorate the anniversary. They will also have a Jacobite exhibition from Apr-Oct 2015, which examines Braemar's role in the Risings and includes original Jacobite weaponry, as well as some recently discovered letters from John Farquharson to King George I pleading for his life to be spared after the '15.

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learn

Identify res

earch

INTR

Life Cycles

ODEE

The

RIVER DEE

A natural classroom Each year the River Dee Trust welcomes over 300 local children to the banks of the River Dee to learn more about the importance of the river through fun, hands-on activities as part of their IntroDee education programme. ~ By Joanna Dick ~

The Trust is a community charity that works to improve and restore the River Dee by tackling invasive, non-native species, easing or removing manmade obstructions to fish movement and improving habitat for the long list of plants and animals that depend on it. But as the next generation will be the future stewards of the river, the aim is to engage them at an early age and throughout their school education.

Usually IntroDee begins with a classroom visit to introduce the River Dee, and this is followed by an outdoor riverbank visit to allow children to learn more about the river. Activities include identifying invertebrates caught stream dipping and fish caught

by Trust staff while electrofishing. Being able to view trout and salmon at different stages of their lifecycle close up is enjoyed by children of all ages and

catching an eel always causes much excitement!

Part of the education programme is to introduce young people to fly fishing to encourage the next generation of anglers on the River Dee. IntroDee can include a session at Raemoir Trout Fishery, near Banchory, to identify insects, discuss the links between the water and land environment and learn how to fly fish for trout.

IntroDee is free to schools apart from the cost of bus travel if required. The Trust may be able to reimburse 50% of transport costs by prior arrangement. The Cairngorms National Park Authority Travel Grant can cover 75% of transport costs if the group is visiting a site within the National Park.

More information can be found on their website www.cairngorms.co.uk/learn

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Food Cha in

StUDY Wildlife

Topics Covered by IntroDee The River Dee: its use and importance to wildlife and man Water use, the water cycle, impacts of human activities on the river Wildlife that live in and around the river including native and non-native species Ecology and biology of the river such as food chains and life cycles of Atlantic salmon

Why take part in IntroDee? It offers children a chance to learn and gain first hand experience during outdoor riverbank visits Has links to Curriculum for Excellence and can be tailored to suit school’s needs It is free to schools, apart from the cost of bus travel if required It is fun!

have fun!

River Dee Facts

The River Dee flows 88 miles from the heart of the Cairngorm Mountains above Braemar to the North Sea at Aberdeen.

The River Dee and its tributaries provide domestic water supply for the whole of Aberdeen City and over half of Aberdeenshire. Over 300,000 people drink water supplied from the River Dee each day.

The River Dee is an internationally important environment for wildlife and is designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for supporting populations of Atlantic salmon, otter and freshwater pearl mussel.

The River Dee supports one of the healthiest salmon populations in the world and is one of Scotland's most important fisheries.

Funders:

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)

The Trust are currently developing IntroDee with new activities and creating an online educational resource for teachers to use in conjunction with the educational programme. This resource will be developed for 2015.

Pearls in Peril LIFE Project The MacRobert Trust Aberdeenshire Council

For more information please contact Joanna Dick, Dee Catchment Outreach Officer by emailing Joanna@riverdee.org or telephoning 01339 880 411. www.riverdee.org www.facebook.com/TheRiverDee @RiverDeeTeam

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I�fi�it� C��ne�ti�n The world has been described as the ocean with every person and object in it being one wave, the wave rises and falls. If you look closely all you can see is one or maybe two waves at a time, however if you step back you will see that although the individual waves exist they rise and fall out of the same ocean. ~ By Nikita Stewart, The Om Existence ~

Although you can see the point, no matter how disconnected we feel or however distant we keep ourselves we cannot avoid the inevitable truth that we are all connected.

We keep ourselves hidden in our private worlds with the help of social media and ordering online so maintaining privacy and solitude has become the norm. So why then do we feel so happy when we leave our secret lives and step out into the light? We feel this sense of belonging, of community, not just with people but with everything. We step outside our doors and we feel truly part of something.

Ask anyone you meet out in the woods or lounging next to a loch and they will all tell you the same thing; something compels them to be there. It is more than relaxation or getting your vitamin D, you want to be there because that is where you belong.

You are connected to all of it and being connected means you are responsible for it as well, doing your best to lead a wholesome and sympathetic existence. When I say this I don’t just mean doing the recycling but actually being part of it; taking

advantage of the landscape around us and being involved with the people.

Stepping out every morning you have the choice to be the everyman making the daily commute or to really step out and be part of everything. From the brief shared smile with a stranger passing on the street to the feeling of the rain on your skin, it’s the same for everyone.

Putting kindness out there and letting yourself feel connected to the world around you creates a positivity that just keeps generating more, you feel more connected and so you are more connected.

Having the confidence to live life with an awake and openness to people attracts them to you almost like they know you will actually see them and associate; even with nature maintaining this state of mind will find you not just enjoying the silence but actually being part of it (not to get too mystical on you!).

So next time you leave the house, whether you step out into rugged stillness or a bustling town, look around and see everything you are part of and never be alone again.

www.theomexistence.com

Mindful Living Dee n’ Do : 4

OBSERVE

REFLECT

THE PRESENT MOMENT

BEFORE RESPONDING

SEE

THE GOOD

IN PEOPLE

WALK THE PATH AND EXPERIENCE LIFE AUTHENTICITY

OPENNESS

Living from the heart and soul, not from unhealthy coping skills and ego.

Embracing all moments in life for learning, seek personal truth and acceptance.

INTENTIONALITY

GRACE

A responsive and proactive head-space, not reacting or on autopilot.

Accepting the imperfect, unnecessary kindness, love in action, forgiveness.

CONTINUE TO The best

IN

Royal Deeside and The Cairngorms

Scolty Hill

PERSONAL GAINS

Combats anxiety Reduces stress Aids in weight loss Improves sleep Fights chronic pain Lowers blood pressure

FORGIVE GO

#BeMindful

Scolty Hill lies about a mile south of Banchory and is topped by Scolty Tower, which was built as a monument to General Burnett, who fought with the Duke of Wellington in the early 19th century. A spiral staircase leads to the top of the tower from where there are panoramic views over the surrounding countryside.

There is a car park signed off the B976 road and a walk of about two miles through woodland and open hillside to the tower. www.visitroyaldeeside.com

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Ski mountaineering racing, more commonly referred to as skimo, has only recently been introduced to the Scottish winter scene and is making its mark on the seasonal calendar as Skimo Scotland prepares for their third race series.

Finlay Wild on his way to winning the first race of the season © Mr Drew Photography

What is skimo?

British Scene

Ski mountaineering is a timed racing event that follows an established course through challenging winter alpine terrain while passing through a series of checkpoints. Racers climb and descend under their own power using backcountry skiing equipment and techniques. More generally, ski mountaineering is an activity that challenges individuals in both ski and mountaineering techniques.

2012 saw the inaugural British Ski Mountaineering Championships as part of the established “Col et Cimes Haut” race in the Aiguilles Rouges. In total 15 British men and 4 women raced on the 1800m of ascent and descent course. The British Championships continue to run annually on the continent.

Where did it originate?

Skimo originated in continental Europe in the early 1900s as a military training exercise. The patrolling activity required great skill and fitness, which in turn attracted many participants (both military and civilians) to pit their wit and might against this developing sport. Within a couple of decades, the popularity of the sport had grown so much that many races were organised to accommodate the many willing participants.

Formation of Skimo Scotland Scotland does not have the snowsure conditions that are favourable to this sport and therefore convincing industry experts that a race series could be hosted here was always going to be a challenge. All five Scottish resorts were approached with the proposal to host a race series…after many discussions, four agreed and committed to allow racing within their ski patrol boundaries. (Cairngorm Mountain opted out). The combined knowledge and expertise of the resorts and their Ski Patrol teams helped to establish

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2014/15 race season Lecht 2090 Saturday 27th December 2014 2.2 km course with 113m ascent and descent with numerous transitions. All racers have 90 minutes to complete as many laps as possible in the allocated time.

Glenshee Saturday 24th January 2015 5km long with 426m ascent on both sides of the mountain.

Glencoe Saturday 21st February 2015 6km course with over 780m ascent. Includes a boot section (racers put skis on backpacks and put on crampons) and a descent down the Fly Paper.

Nevis Range Vertical Sunday 22nd February 2015 racers ski uphill (attach climbing skins to the bottoms of their skis) for a height gain of 545m.

No descent is timed.

Nevis Range Saturday 28th March 2015 Nearly 7km and an ascent of 763m.

Big three skimo The Italian Mezzalama Trophy (white marathon) The highest alpine ski mountaineering competition of the world. A very prestigious race, the 45km route reaches an altitude of 4,000m.

The Patrouilles des Glaciers This race is organised every two years by the Swiss Army, in which military and civilian teams compete. It attracts the highest number of racers in the world with 4,500 racers competing and up to 75,000 spectators, making it a race famous all over Switzerland and beyond.

a course that was unique to Scotland. In June 2012, Skimo Scotland was founded.

About Skimo Scotland Skimo Scotland is the home of ski mountaineering racing in Scotland - more information can be found at www.skimoscotland.co.uk. A short video can also be seen at www.vimeo.com/110164929 which gives a flavour of what the skimo scene is like in Scotland.

Volunteers Skimo Scotland would not be possible without the support from their volunteers. If you would like to get involved in the Skimo Scotland race series, please contact them through their website www. skimoscotland.co.uk. Due to the nature of the environment that they operate in, they particularly welcome individuals with Scottish winter mountain experience.

The Pierra Menta This annual competition at ArĂŞches-Beaufort has taken place in the region of Beaufort, Savoie since 1985. The athletes have to travel a cumulative altitude difference of around 10,000m, both ascending and skiing down, over four days of racing. The route has to be completed in teams of two and it varies year by year.

In addition to these races, there are hundreds more that are organised annually worldwide.

There are a total of 33 member countries of the International Ski Mountaineering Federation.

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On the banks of the River Dee just 5 miles from central Aberdeen A B E R D E E N S F I N E S T N E W L O C AT I O N !

Blairs Royal Deeside is the prestigious new development.

Choose from 4, 5 and 6 bedroom luxury homes, featuring magniďŹ cent speciďŹ cation and set within acres of ancient woodland and manicured green spaces.

Call 01224 868 570 Sales and Information Centre OPEN Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun 11am-5pm South Deeside Road, AB12 5YQ The interior and exterior images are computer generated images of typical Muir Homes styles at Aberdeen.

Call 01224 868 570 or visit www.blairs.co.uk

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Volunteering with the

barn

As Aberdeenshire’s leading multi-arts venue, the Woodend Barn has long been supported by a large band of volunteers. The support from the community has been invaluable over the years and has enabled the barn to grow into the exciting arts venue that it is today.

For some volunteers it is a fun way to gain some experience or skills to enhance their CV; for others it’s a nice way to pass their retirement years or simply just a good way to make new friends. For Tom Gray and his wife Joan Fleming, becoming a volunteer for the barn seven years ago has been an enriching experience and one they continue to enjoy today.

Joan had been “a friend of the barn” for many years, but rarely attended events. After retirement she came to a meeting and listened to all the potential positions she could get involved in such as publicity and marketing “all the things I knew I would be useless at!” That was until the word “gardening” came up. This was something she thought she could do and would like to do. Seven years on, Joan and Tom (along with the other volunteers), are still helping maintain the wild garden. Tom works as a projectionist on the various screenings held throughout the year and is responsible for maintaining the garden’s blog. Both also help with front of house on a regular basis. The hours vary from week to week, but often they are there for 4-5 hours at a time. “It’s really up to you as to how

many hours you do – that’s what’s good about volunteering - you are in control” said Joan. “I just like being outside that’s why I do it. It’s a nice way to spend the day. We feel like part of a little family. I’ve ended up coming to shows I would never have gone to and have thoroughly enjoyed them”.

Rhi Turner, Woodend Barn, states “There are many opportunities available to volunteers, ranging from stewarding front of house, to working in the grounds and car park or acting as a local ambassador distributing promotional material. We are particularly looking for people to join our ‘handling team’ to help set up the numerous events throughout the year.

This work can be heavy so a reasonable level of fitness is required. We are also looking for additional projectionists to assist with the new film season.

This is a responsible role requiring good technology skills and an interest in film. Training will be provided along with free tickets to some events. All you need is some spare time and enthusiasm”.

If you think this might be of interest or would like to talk about other opportunities at the barn please contact Rhi Turner on 01330 826520, rhi@woodendbarn.co.uk

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THE DEESIDE WAY Milton of Crathes

Deeside Railway

~ Source: Royal Valley by Fenton Wyness ~

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If you live in and around Deeside, or have journeyed through the area for work or pleasure, the chances are you will have heard of the Milton of Crathes and perhaps the restoration of part of the old historic Deeside Railway. But how many of us have made the time to visit or find out more about the history of this once thriving community service and picturesque tourist link from the city of Aberdeen to the heart of Deeside? ~ By Shirley Macdonald ~

Before 1866, the Deeside Railway was operated by two companies, servicing two sections. The Aberdeen to Banchory route was opened in 1853 and the Banchory to Aboyne section was opened in 1859. The Aboyne to Ballater extension was then later added by a third party which led to the servicing of the completed line by three independent companies.

Latterly these three companies were incorporated into one and ‘The Great North of Scotland Railway Company’ was founded to service the Deeside section. The roadway was then laid for the extension from Ballater to Braemar in 1866 but this was abandoned due to the objection of Queen Victoria who wished that the upper part of the Dee valley be preserved as a natural Highland region, but this was not before work on part of the track had been prepared as far as the River Gairn.

From Aberdeen to Banchory, the Deeside Railway more or less followed the line of the river along the north bank. However, on proposals being made to extend the line beyond Banchory, several proprietors objected to the railway passing through their estates and in consequence the Deeside line had to take a wide sweep to the north west. Stations were provided in Glassel, Torphins, Lumphanan, Dess and Aboyne - which was the terminus of the second stage in the railway’s progress up the valley. With the diversion, Kincardine o’ Neil was by-passed and suffered accordingly while Torphins and Lumphanan became ‘boom towns’.

The stretch between Aboyne and Ballater was considered one of the most attractive and colourful of the Dee valley. Ballater became the terminus of the Deeside railway in 1866 and concurrently the “Royal” station and village for Balmoral Castle. The purchase of Balmoral Castle

by Prince Albert in 1852 and the arrival of the railway brought it to the forefront as one of the valley’s most popular holiday resorts.

Crathes Crathes Castle station, located a quarter of a mile east of Milton of Crathes, was originally opened

by Deeside Railway in 1853 for the private use of the Laird of Crathes. In 1863, Crathes Castle station was renamed Crathes and became a public railway station, a role it retained until the closure of the railway in 1966 as a result of the infamous Beeching Report (which led to thousands of railway station closures throughout Britain).

In 2003, the Royal Deeside Preservation Society began restoring part of the line. At Crathes station, the rebuilt track commences running due west towards Banchory. The station itself consists of a single platform and two tracks which forms a locomotive run-round loop and headshunts. The original Crathes station building, which features a replica of the original signal box, is now privately owned and the original trackbed is owned by the local estate. Due to the location of the original station,

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Ballater Station

the Society deemed it logistically unsuitable and with no plans to re-use it, opted instead to restore an old Victorian Station which was to be relocated from Oldmeldrum.

The restoration is now virtually complete and the Station can be found sitting on the platform at Milton. Once fully operational it will house toilets, a shop, a ticket office, refreshment preparation area and exhibition room. Planning permission has been granted for extension of the line to the outskirts of Banchory, about another 1.5 miles beyond the current 1 mile of track. Planned steam and diesel services will be running in 2015 with special event weekends such as the very popular Victorian costume weekends and possibly Murder Mystery evenings.

The current restoration project however only covers a very small part of the old rail line. The majority of the old line, not already being utilised by the Royal Deeside Railway, has been developed and turned into a pedestrian/cycleway, known as the

‘The Deeside Way’, running from near the centre of Aberdeen at Duthie Park all the way to Ballater, in the Cairngorms National Park.

The path is suitable for both walkers and cyclists with many sections suitable for horses as well. The route follows the line of the Old Royal Deeside Railway from Aberdeen to Banchory, then through woodland and farmland to Kincardine O’Neil and then re-joins the old line from Aboyne to Ballater, for a total distance 41 miles. Along the way there are many opportunities to see remains of the old railway infrastructure as well as stunning views over the River Dee with the Cairngorm Mountains as a backdrop. There are also opportunities to link to other paths including historic drove roads like The Fungle and Firmounth and various local path networks. The Deeside Way offers the opportunity to explore a beautiful area of Aberdeenshire with its changing landscape from sea to mountain and is ideal for a walking or cycling excursion or indeed both.

For the latest published information and further details of special events, please browse their website www.deeside-railway.co.uk

MA K I NG A B E R DE E N HOU S E P ROUD S I N C E 1 8 75 COME TO C A L A The Waverley at Hayfield Grange

From its beginnings in 1875, City of Aberdeen Land Association has built an unrivalled reputation for homes of exceptional design and quality in stunning locations. We continue to build on our success with homes you can be truly proud of, wherever you live.

DEVELOPMENTS THROUGHOUT NORTH EAST SCOTLAND. CALL NOW ON 01224 947 329. CALA.CO.UK. 5 star customer service 5 years running

CALA H O ME S

D&D_01JAN Photography has been enhanced in post production. 5 stars awarded for customers’ willingness to ‘Recommend to a Friend’ in findings of the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 surveys, undertaken by the Home Builders Federation (HBF).

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Shared Lives SCHEME

Day support • Short breaks • Long Term Placements Shared Lives match adults (over 16 years old) with support needs (mental health, disabilities, older people) with carers who work from their own homes.

What support would I provide as a Shared Lives Carer?

Our Shared Lives Carers provide day support, short breaks and long term placements throughout Aberdeenshire.

This support takes place in the Shared Lives Carer’s own home as part of the family. Shared Lives provides joint flexibility to suit the needs of both family and Shared Lives Carers as well as the person they support.

Do Shared Lives Carers get paid?

Yes. The amount Shared Lives Carers receive varies according to the care and support needs of each individual.

How will I be matched with someone?

Shared Lives Carers and the adults they support are matched based on their mutual interests and hobbies. This helps to support a positive partnership from the very start.

What kind of people are Shared Lives Carers?

Shared Lives Carers can be married or single; have a large family or live alone; have experience in care or not.

As long as you have the time, energy and commitment to provide a homely, safe, enjoyable and supportive place to stay or live you have the skills needed to be a Shared Lives Carer.

Everyone has something different to offer.

What is the recruitment process like?

You will firstly meet with someone from our team who will explain more about Shared Lives. If you decide to become a Shared Lives Carer you will be supported every step of the way by one of our team. You can then be approved to work with up to two individuals in your home.

What support will I be given?

You will be given training specific to the individuals you are matched with and Shared Lives Carers are supported by the Shared Lives Team throughout all placements.

What kind of things will I do to support the person I am matched with?

Shared Lives Carers support individuals to develop their independent living skills, become part of the local community, develop new interests and skills.

This includes things like support with budgeting, shopping, cooking, using the bus, visiting the local library, walking the dog etc. The possibilities are endless and centred around what you can provide and what the individual needs.

Is there anything else Shared Lives does?

Throughout the year we hold a variety of events such as cooking, bowling, sponsored walk, lunches out etc.

We also have weekends away.

The activities to choose from on these weekends include shiatsu, archery, crafts and canoeing.

These events are for family carers, Shared Lives Carers, the people they support and anyone interested in finding out more about Shared Lives.

Find out more about becoming a Shared Lives Carer, by contacting Sue Mahony suzanne.mahony@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or 07824837791 or by visiting our website www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/sharedlives

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What do Shared Lives Carers say about the scheme?

What do family carers say about Shared Lives?

What do those who need support say about Shared Lives?

“It is so rewarding to see people enjoy being here, grow in confidence… and do things together.”

“Shared Lives allows parents to share the responsibility with others who provide family - type support”

“Shared Lives helps you be independent and it's a good way of meeting people.”

“Shared Lives is a change of mindset.”

“We are now like one big family unit which has provided all round support”

“I have found being a Shared Lives Carer a very rewarding experience…life is more colourful with Shared Lives”

“Shared Lives is top class.”

“I like it when my carer says she will see me again soon”

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“WANTING TO EXPLORE ROYAL DEESIDE?”

SKI + SNOWBOARD

are you ready for the WHITE STUFF?

Come to Glen Tanar Estate and enjoy the great outdoors with some of our bookable activities!

Guided Land Rover Safaris Hill Walking & Mountain Biking on way marked routes Trout Fishing on our privately stocked loch or Salmon Fishing on the famous River Dee Wildlife photography hides including Golden Eagles, Black Grouse and Ospreys For more information please contact Robyn on (013398) 86451 or robyn.mcpherson@glentanar.co.uk

www.glentanar.co.uk

creative design + communication

We have the insight, knowledge and experience across a wide variety of disciplines and markets to help you stand out in your chosen field.

Take a closer look at www.grayandwhyte.com T E E

+44 (0) 7771 924103 mairi@grayandwhyte.com kelly@grayandwhyte.com

Glenshee's impressive 22 lifts and 36 runs offer an amazing diversity of natural terrain for all standards of skiers and snowboarders - come and join us!

Glenshee Ski Centre, Braemar, Aberdeenshire AB35 5XU T: 013397 41320 E: info@ski-glenshee.co.uk

Would you like to advertise in the next issue of Dee n’ Do? Get in touch and see how we can help you promote your business, event, venture or Deeside discovery. Email advertising@ deendo.com or call us on 07738 262198 or 07837 577338 for more information.

People at Inchmarlo Retirement Village aren’t really the retiring type.

Where is it written that a retired life has to be a dull life? Certainly not in our book.

At Inchmarlo you can go from a gentle stroll to a social whirl in the space of a day.

Here in the heart of Royal Deeside you can roam round acres of woodland, home to red squirrels and deer. And everywhere you’ll see the handiwork of our green-fingered gardeners.

The croquet lawn and putting green should test your competitive spirit, while just a short pitch away is a top-class nine hole golf course.

At Inchmarlo House, Home Owners gather for private events, drinks in the bar and dine on Michelin-starred inspired dishes in the restaurant. Equally you can dine in, thanks to our home delivery service.

Homes at Inchmarlo range from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom houses, all well proportioned, spacious and carefully designed for totally secure retirement living.

And with the care home at Inchmarlo House, as your needs change, help and support is right on your doorstep.

Call +44 (1330) 824981.

Or simply email info@inchmarlo-retirement.co.uk and discover how Inchmarlo might be just your type of place.

RETIREMENT VILLAGE

W

Where Gracious Living Comes Naturally

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SOUND OF THE PIPER Want to keep up with the local news but have trouble reading a newspaper?

The Sound of the Piper may be for you!

For nearly 20 years Banchory and District Talking Newspaper has been producing a free weekly audio version of the Deeside Piper newspaper for use by the residents of Deeside. It is called “The Sound of the Piper”. We are a registered charity affiliated to the Talking News Federation.

We are supported by the generosity of the Deeside people, plus occasional grants from various bodies.

As examples we recently received a grant from The Royal Warrant Holders Association, and amongst our regular donors are the Banchory Golf Club EGGS. The Deeside Piper is an ideal choice for a Talking Newspaper being a weekly publication, and allows us to offer an alternative for anyone who wants to keep abreast of the local news but for whatever reason finds reading problematic.

Every Thursday - bar a short break over Christmas and New Year - a group of volunteers meets in St Columba’s Church Hall in Banchory. The Church kindly makes the hall available to us. They read and record as much of the Deeside Piper as is possible in about an hour and a half. There are about 35 volunteers divided into 5 teams.

Each team comprises a team leader, editor, and several readers, and records once every five weeks. Other team members include a coordinator, treasurer and technical support. New volunteers are always welcome to come along and give it a try simply contact the co-ordinator.

The newspaper is digitally recorded onto memory sticks as a series of tracks, similar to a CD in format, covering various items of news under different headings. Example tracks are General News, Farming, the Jane Malloy nature column, Church News and Round the Rurals. There are a total of 18 tracks which cover the bulk of the newspaper excluding advertising.

The “end product” which is posted to the listener every week (excluding any disasters!) is a distinctive red plastic wallet containing the memory stick which is attached to a high visibility lanyard. When the listener has finished with the memory stick it is replaced in the wallet, a pre-addressed label is reversed, and the wallet is popped in the post. All postage is free.

The USB memory sticks may be played on a listener’s computer, suitable television or audio system or on a special speaker which is supplied free of charge when required.

We offer a friendly and informal service, and would normally try to visit new listeners to make sure they are at home with the equipment, which is designed to be simple to use.

If you would like to try the Sound of the Piper, or know someone who would benefit from it, simply contact the co-ordinator, Gray Pratt on 01330 823183 or email soundofthepiper@hotmail.co.uk.

We are always keen to attract new listeners, and look forward to hearing from you!

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E D F A A W RM L E B

RESIDENTS World Horse Welfare’s Belwade Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Aboyne, is set within a stunning landscape of breathtaking scenery and nature trails alongside the River Dee.

capture the imaginations of people of all ages. The restaurant serves mouth-watering dishes which you can enjoy whilst watching the horses in our indoor school through the gallery.

It is home to 65 horses on site, which you are welcome to come and meet – but that’s not all they have to offer. With free admission, it is the perfect place to walk your dog or stop for a picnic with family and friends. The magnificent stone circle is a stunning piece of Scottish culture and is sure to

Our team at the visitor centre invites you to learn more about the farm and horses and will answer your questions in person and introduce you to some of the horses, like Digger our 19hh Clydesdale and Whisky our 10hh donkey. Belwade is sure to be a fun and educational day out for all the family.

For a great day out in Aberdeenshire, visit Belwade Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre

l Meet our friendly horses and ponies, including

Digger the famous Clydesdale! l Explore the farm, our beautiful nature walks

and stone circle. l Treat yourself to refreshments or a delicious

meal in our restaurant with stunning views. l Fun for all ages. l

Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am-4pm (except Christmas Day-3rd Jan).

Signposted off the A93 between Kincardine O’Neil and Aboyne e: info@worldhorsewelfare.org t: 013398 85398 w: worldhorsewelfare.org/BelwadeFarm Registered charity no: 206658 and SC038384

FREE ENTRY!

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s ABOUT

THE VET

Woodside Veterinary Group

Woodside Veterinary Group is a truly mixed veterinarian dealing with everything from your horse, cow or sheep, your cat or dog, right down to your smallest furry or feathered friend! From humble beginnings big oak trees grow…or so the saying goes! The surgery was founded by David Williamson in 1981 and was run from his house and garage, ably assisted by his wife!

In 1983, David was joined by Ramsay Duncan who remains with the practice today. In 1987 they opened a purpose built surgery on Woodside Road in Torphins. As the practice expanded, so too did the building with an extension added in 1995.

The practice now has three partners - David Miskelly, Bill McCance and Leanne Dawson, and three assistant vets – Ramsay Duncan, Rachael Robertson and Sam Smith. There are also four registered veterinary nurses, one veterinary nurse trainee and seven veterinary assistants/receptionists. Together they successfully coordinate consulting and surgery at all their branches (one in Torphins, two in Aboyne and the newly opened branch in Banchory).

There is no use of external emergency out of hours services; instead they provide a complete

service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Woodside Veterinary Group offer help and advice, provide routine healthcare and check ups, perform surgical procedures and digital radiography, and operate inhouse lab facilities from within their well-maintained practices.

Your equine family members are in good hands with dental healthcare and lameness work-ups commonplace, as well as an x-ray machine that comes to you! Farm Health Plans can be organised, as well as routine and preventative care, ultrasound scanning and any surgical procedures that may be required.

Woodside Veterinary Group work as a caring, enthusiastic team ensuring that you and your animals get the best of care - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Torphins: Woodside Road, Tel 01339 882556 | Aboyne: 6 Station Square, Tel 01339 887474 Banchory: 17 Kinneskie Road, Tel 01330 820452

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~ A DAY ~ e in th life ...

“What happens when I leave my pet at the vets for an operation?”

This is a very common question asked to our vets at Woodside Veterinary Group by, very understandably, concerned owners. Here we present a ‘dog’s-eye view’ of a day visit to our Torphins practice!

Hi, my name is Megan and I’m a Border Terrier.

Today my mum took me to Woodside Veterinary Group in Torphins because I need an operation.

I was feeling a bit nervous going in but when I arrived I was given lots of cuddles by a very nice nurse, which of course made me feel better. I was told I was a very good girl when I sat on the scales so the nurse could weigh me. The vets needed an accurate weight to allow accurate dosing of anaesthetics and medicines.

The nurse made sure there was no cheating – all four feet on the scales!

The vet spoke to my mum about what he had seen with the scanner and they confirmed I needed an operation. By this time I was feeling very woozy from my injection so didn’t mind at all!

Then I had to meet the [whisper] V.E.T.!

I snoozed all afternoon, but I think there were frequent checks to make sure I was warm and comfortable. When mum came back, I was very pleased to see her! The nurse told my mum about the operation and about the medicines I would need to take. Yuck!

He was actually a very nice man who gave me more cuddles while he gave me an injection so I would feel nice and relaxed before I got my operation and would give pain relief so I would be comfy when I went home. The lovely nurse put me into a warm soft bed so I could have a wee sleep.

Then, after a short while I think, the friendly vet let me up on the furniture! I had to stand on the table while the vet scanned my belly. He had to clip off some of my hair and put on some gel so he could get a good picture. It was cold! But it didn’t hurt.

I had to lie on the table and the nurse held me tight while the vet gave me an injection into my leg so I would sleep all the way through the operation. I didn’t feel a thing!

When I woke up I had a sticky plaster on my belly and the nice nurse was there to make sure I was ok.

She gave me plenty of blankets to keep me warm.

When I was fully awake I finally got my breakfast and a drink!

I have to go back in three day’s time for a postoperative check up so the vet can see if I’m healing ok…oh and to make sure I haven’t had any ill effects from the anaesthetic. But I don’t mind – now that I know they keep dog sweeties especially for me behind the reception desk!

Woodside Veterinary Group “Your Vets, for Your Animals, 7 days a week!” www.woodsideveterinarygroup.co.uk. Find us and like us on Facebook at Woodside Veterinary Group.

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Having spent the last 20 years travelling up and down from Aberdeen to our second home in Braemar with my husband, and often with my grandchildren, I feel that I have tried and tested a fair few coffee shops and eateries that allow me to share my finds with you! *** Please make sure you check opening times before you go as they often vary during holiday periods ***

Dee n’ Do : 4

Riverside Cottage ~ C amb u s O ’ M ay ~

Conveniently situated near the main road, the Riverside Cottage at Cambus O’ May has adequate parking and is a good place to stop. There has been a tearoom here for many years, but with a new name and owners we thought we would give it a try.

My husband and I visited one glorious late October morning for our usual coffee and scone. I have to admit the coffee was exactly as I like it, and the scone was freshly made on the premises.

A welcoming wood burning stove gave the surroundings a very comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

The girl who served us was friendly and told us that all the cakes and bread were made fresh on the

premises and that they use only the best of locally sourced produce.

For the early birds they open at 8am and offer a variety of breakfast options from porridge to a full breakfast. On the lunch menu, they have a selection of sandwiches and toasties all made with the famous Crannoch artisan bread, homemade soup, as well as coffees, teas and cake.

An interesting addition is Equi’s ice cream, which is an award winning Italian ice cream from the Glasgow area. We enjoyed our visit and will make a return visit to enjoy the delicious coffee, and perhaps bring our bikes to try out the forest trails close by.

~ Open 7 days, 8am – 5pm ~ (but always best to check in advance)

The Keiller Lounge, Craigendarroch ~ B allater ~

The Keiller Lounge at the Craigendarroch is, admittedly, not somewhere I usually go to have morning coffee, but a friend asked me to meet her there and I was pleasantly surprised about how comfortable and cosy it was. The spacious lounge was refurbished last year with plenty of daylight coming from the large windows. Tastefully furnished with large sofas and chairs gives this area a luxurious feel.

drinks. On the menu, there is plenty to choose from; snacks, lunches and teas with an extensive children’s menu. We had a soup and sandwich combo (homemade minestrone soup and a chicken and mayo sandwich), which was very nicely presented and reasonably priced. Next time I would like to try the haddock and chips as I had a bit of plate envy when I saw it being served to the neighbouring table - it looked delicious!

They serve Costa coffee in different sizes of cups, the largest being like a soup bowl with double handles, enough to satisfy any coffee lover! They also offer a selection of teas, milkshakes and other

Surprisingly, the Keiller Lounge is no more expensive than any of the coffee shops on Deeside.

Set in beautiful surroundings, this touch of luxury definitely makes it well worth a visit.

~ Open 7 days, 9.30am–11.00pm ~

Tearooms featured: Riverside Cottage Cambus O’ May, Ballater, AB35 5SD 01339 755126 www.riversidecottagecafe.co.uk

The Keiller Lounge, Craigendarroch Braemar Road, Ballater, AB35 5XA 01339 755858 www.higvc.co.uk/resorts/scotland/craigendarroch

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Ca�eNda� �f E�e�t� January - April

�ANUARY JAN

16

Launch of new Stuart MacBride novel Banff

Award-winning author Stuart MacBride is launching his latest novel - "The Missing and the Dead" - at Banff Academy. The event at 6.30pm will include a talk and a book signing. Tickets (free) are available at Macduff Library, or by calling the Library on 01261 833289

JAN

16-17

18

World Snow Day at Glenshee Glenshee Ski Centre

Lots of fun activities throughout the day including snow sculpture making, races and freebies for the kids. info@ski-glenshee. co.uk and www.ski-glenshee.co.uk JAN

23

Burns Supper at Kincardine Castle Kincardine O’Neil

Featuring the music and wit of Tich and Brenda Frier, 7.30pm-11.30pm. 013398 84225

JAN

25

JAN

29

24

Skimo Scotland Glenshee Glenshee Ski Centre

A 5km course with 426m ascent and descent. The competitor with the fastest time for completing the route wins. www.skimoscotland.co.uk

The Bolshoi Ballet: Swan Lake Woodend Barn

Live from the Royal Opera House: Andrea Chenier Woodend Barn

�EBRUARY FEB

6-7

Banchory Beer Festival presents Beer @ the Barn Woodend Barn

The wonderful Banchory Beer Festival team aim to provide a unique selection of Beers, Ciders and Gins, supporting local and national producers where quality products are the priority. Sample exclusive products in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, featuring live local music and great local food. All tickets £10, available only online. www.banchorybeerfestival.com Times: Session 1 - Friday 6 February 17:00 til midnight; Session 2 - Saturday 7 February 12:00 til 18:00; Session 3- Saturday 7 February 18:30 til midnight

FEB

14 JAN

The Lecht Ski Centre

gordonskiers.blogspot.co.uk/

Butterworth Gallery, Ballogie

013398 86104

Gordon Skiers Open

Gordon Skiers Open - BASS Saturday 24th - Slalom races for U10s through to Masters Sunday 25th - U10/U12 - Combi races U14 through to Masters - Slalom races

Winter Exhibition

Winter Exhibition of Fine art images by Howard & Mary Louise Butterworth.

Viewing arranged by appointment on

JAN

JAN

24-25

Mountain Film Night Mar Lodge Estate, Braemar

Featuring three films. Four mountaineers visit unexplored areas of Greenland, an extreme Scottish skiing film and four kayakers on a month long self-supported kayaking trip in the Himalayas.

7.30pm – 10pm 013397 41433

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FEB

21

Skimo Scotland Glencoe Glencoe

6km course with over 780m ascent.

Includes a boot section (racers put skis on backpacks and put on crampons) and a descent down the Fly Paper.

FEB

22

Glad Rags & Cartridge Bags Scotland's Ladies Shooting Club

22

13

Skimo Scotland Nevis Range Vertical

MAR

28

Skimo Scotland Nevis Range Nevis Range

Nearly 7km and an ascent of 763m.

Nevis Range

FEB

Monthly Quiz Night, 7.30pm

26

The Deeside Inn, Ballater

26

Woodend Barn

Kicking off the weekend, multi-award winning band Mabon will fill Woodend Barn with their driving sounds of jigs and reels. With past performances from Cambridge Folk Festival to Celtic Connections these five musicians will effortlessly explore the forms and styles of Celtic traditions and work them anew.

Racers ski uphill (attach climbing skins to the bottoms of their skis) for a height gain of 545m. No descent is timed.

FEB

Mabon

Banchory

For details visit www.jommevents.com/ glad-rags-cartridge-bags, also see p48 for more information.

FEB

MAR

APRIL APR

1

Isla's 'Send me to Honduras' Fundraising Ceilidh Aboyne Victory Hall

Come along and dance to great local ceilidh band 'Clachan Yell' to support a good cause. BYOB. Prices: Ticket Prices: Under 18 - £8, Adult - £10, Family ticket - £25 To book tickets please call Isla on 013398 85342 or email isla.kitching@btinternet.com

APR

18

Glad Rags & Cartridge Bags Scotland's Ladies Shooting Club Banchory

Ballater Mountain Bike Demo Weekend Ballater

A great chance to try some of the worlds best mountain bikes with top brands like Santa Cruz and Cannondale visiting for the weekend Free event. www.cyclehighlands.com

7-11pm APR

25-26

MARCH MAR

8

Glad Rags & Cartridge Bags Scotland's Ladies Shooting Club Gordon Castle, Fochabers

Run Balmoral Balmoral

A series of running events for all age groups held over two days within the spectacular grounds of Balmoral Castle. Also duathlon.

Family activities and access to the Royal estate. Prices: Entry prices available on the event website. www.runbalmoral.com

If you have an event you would like listed on these pages - drop us a line at hello@deendo.com

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Music & Melody

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Strange Skies Upcoming Dates 14 February Fudge Music Awards 2015, Moorings Bar 19:00, nominated Best Rock Band 15 February Korova (Sunday Sessions 22:30 – 02:00.

Strange Skies are on at midnight).

20 February The Moorings, Supporting Juicy Juicy Juice.

March/April (Date TBC) EP release and release gig Members: Billy Bilsland (Bass) James Wilson (Drums) Nicky Aiken (Guitar / Vocals) Genre: Blues Rock

Strange Skies are a three piece alternative blues rock band from Aberdeen, Scotland, formed in late 2012. The band plays good old fashioned rock music but also branches into blues rock and heavy riffs. They released their debut live self-titled EP in 2013 and released a single called “Invisible Woman” in 2014, both were a download only release. Their new EP Better Games will be released in 2015.

Strange Skies started out as a side project which was originally named Kids in Sunglasses. The name never really struck a chord and was quickly mothballed in favour of the current name. Their music is influenced by early 70's blues rock and modern bands like The White Stripes and The Black Keys. Since their formation, the music has grown from strength to strength and the band continue to build their fan base.

In May 2013 the band recorded their first selftitled EP and released it as a download only.

The EP was recorded at the Mill and they tried to capture the live sound rather than overproducing things. No strangers to the local music scene, Strange Skies secured more and more gigs in Aberdeen, getting some great support acts including The Hazy Janes, Fridge Magnets, Mickey 9’s and performed their single “Invisible Woman” Live on Captain Toms live stream.

Their new release “Better Games” was self recorded and produced. The EP will initially be a download only release however once the Tour starts later in the year they will look to release a hard copy CD which will be available at the shows.

Band Members Billy, from Aberdeen, has played in a few bands in Aberdeen, from the 'Nicky Powel Band’ to 'Five Fifteen'. He played mostly for Five Fifteen and toured all over the UK and released an EP on iTunes.

James Wilson, heavy handed drummer (which we love) played in a few hard rock bands and also played in the Myke Black Band.

Nicky, from Aberdeen, played in 'Hurricanebutterfly' in Glasgow and was in the 'Nicky Powel Band' and 'View From The Top Floor' in Aberdeen, both bands toured around the UK and released an EP on iTunes.

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Mel Shand

Place Name Discoveries: Upper Deeside and the far Highlands Adam Watson & Ian Murray

To celebrate 150 years of the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board, local artist Mel Shand was commissioned to produce a beautiful book cataloguing and showcasing the people who work on and around the River Dee, including all of the fishing ghillies.

Mel spent a year travelling the length of the River Dee, from the source at the Linn of Dee, to to the sea at Aberdeen Harbour. This book celebrates not just the river but some of the people who help make it a special place.

On every fishing beat the ghillie, or riparian owner was interviewed and photographed and in addition, includes other folk whose lives have a bearing on the river. the book contains interesting and entertaining anecdotes, as well as stunning photography The book is beautifully bound and designed and costs £25 and makes an ideal gift for anyone interested in local culture and rural life.

Signed copies can be ordered by emailing melshand.artist@ gmail.com. £25

312 pages 208mm x 140mm

In this wonderful book the authors present many unpublished place names from Upper Deeside and from counties in the Highlands beyond.

These were heard from indigenous folk back to 1941. Names are given with phonetic spellings, so that readers can pronounce them accurately, and in most cases with translations from Gaelic, Norse, Scots or Pictish into English.

The book is richly illustrated with photographs of places and informants. Of interest to residents and visitors, it should help preserve for the future an important aspect of local identity and language. £20-25

213 pages 210mm x 297mm

Bike Scotland: Book three: 40 of the Best Cycle Rides in the North East

By Fergal MacErlean

To follow "Bike Scotland: Books One and Two", there's a wide range of routes here which will appeal to tourers, families, day-trippers and mountain bikers.

The easiest are the totally flat routes around Loch of Lintrathen nature reserve in Angus and a trip through the extraordinarily sandy Culbin Forest by Nairn.

Harder, longer, trips include a challenging road run to Pennan, a 60km tour through Moray, from Elgin to Keith, and a similar length ride through Aberdeenshire from Ellon. There are plenty of off-road routes too with trips into remote wilderness like the circuit from Cock Bridge to the edge of the Cairngorms. Others visit remote spots where whisky stills were once carefully tended like the Braes of Glen Livet circuit.

Bike Scotland: Book Four, which covers south west Scotland is due out in Spring 2015.

£8-11

96 pages 106mm x 147mm

On The Bookshelf

A Portrait of the River Dee

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our feedback yon issue three It’s great to see Dee n’ Do getting around – home and abroad. If you have any photos of the magazine you’d like to share, just send your pic to us at hello@deendo.com, or via www.facebook.com/deendomagazine or www.twitter.com/Dee_n_Do.

Just wanted to offer my congratulations to you on an excellent publication - the 3rd is the first edition I have read - if that doesn't sound too confusing!! - It is a very high standard and an excellent mix of articles with great art work and photography.

Informative and fun!

Marian Reid

Just wanted to say, we love your magazine and always have a couple of copies knocking around in our studio; it’s been our favourite publication since issue one - well done!

Martin Parker Studio Manager/Photographer

I'm from Australia, currently on a road trip through the UK and picked up your Dee N' Do magazine at an information booth. I just wanted to let you know how helpful it was and complement you on the beautiful design. It's refreshing to see something so pretty and nice to browse through, in amongst all the usual tourism flyers :).

Anya Lange

I picked up a copy of Dee n' Do at my local library and have enjoyed reading through it. It is very interesting and well put together.

Mrs Jenny Coutts

I finally got my hands on issue 3.

Congratulations - it is fantastic.

They are understandably like gold dust. I now have all 3 beautiful copies. Thank so much for including my work in the makers section - that was wonderful to see.

Naomi Mcintosh, Designer Maker

Just a wee note to say that I just had a photo shoot with a singer / songwriter and I asked him how he had heard about me, he had seen my article in the Dee n' Do in a hotel! Also I had a lovely Aussie lady in the other week who loved the magazine then she made me autograph the cover!!!

Amy Muir, Photographer

What a great magazine you produced! (and it smells good too!)

J-marc

I picked up your magazine yesterday at the Boat Inn, in Aboyne, I just wanted to say congratulations on such a beautiful publication, really enjoyed it, so tastefully done, and please pass on my compliments to your fantastic photographers! Stunning photos!.

Anne-Christine Henderson

A gorgeous little mag about this special part of the world #Deeside. A pleasure to flick through and read.

Ivana Petrovich, Twitter

@Dee_n_Do Just got the latest Dee n' Do magazine today. I absolutely love the design from the cover to the whole way through! Beautiful!

Shannon Napier, Twitter

Yaay finally picked up a copy of @Dee_n_Do from lovely Hammerton Store ! Looking forward to good read post nights xx Rose.Bud.Annie, Twitter

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