FGD - Issue 19 - October 2021

Fit’s gan Doune

Issue 19 of Strathdon Area’s Local Newsletter, October 2021

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Playpark fundraising reaches dizzy heights

Community-minded 11-year-old Connor Davidson and his mum Kerry reached the
top of Ben Nevis in August, despite really tough weather conditions, as part of
Connor’s fundraising efforts for improvements to Bellabeg’s playpark. Through online
crowdfunding and local donations, and with the support of Strathdon Community
Development Trust, which recently applied for and obtained match funding from
Marr Area Partnership to the tune of £4100, Connor’s total to date has reached the
dizzy height of £8200. Connor would like to thank everyone for their support.

The playpark is owned by the Lonach Society, and leased to
and managed by Aberdeenshire Council. Discussion with the
council’s landscaping department has focused on what might
be possible in such a restricted area. Connor’s main objective
is to install two large swings for older children. Everyone
would like to see the project move forward swiftly, but as
supply and installation are currently difficult, it may be more
realistic to plan for fruition in the spring of next year. Connor
has made an amazing effort to achieve this: go Connor!
(www.justgiving/crowdfunding/connordavidson)

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The next issue of Fit’s Gan Doune will come out in spring 2022. Please send your
news, stories and comments by mid-February to [email protected]

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Strathdon Community Development Towie & District Senior
Trust is hoping to hold its annual Citizens Club
general meeting in late November or
early December, and to combine the Hi to all the Towie & District Senior
meeting with a meal and the Citizens Club members. I do hope
discussion of future projects. you are all well and I’m sorry that
we’re still not sure how we’re going
It is now felt that the Strathdon to get back to some kind of normal.
Community Action Plan of 2016 What we really need is some nice
might be reviewed in light of the young person or people to volunteer
changing ‘landscape’ and that to run our club and keep us up to
community consultation will be date with all the various rules to
needed. Please look out for the date keep everyone safe. My old brain is
advertised or contact John Morris letting me down, I’m afraid.
([email protected]) for
details. We did have a super surprise a little
while ago when Towie School gave
Consultation on the Cairngorms all our members Harvest
National Park Partnership Plan Thanksgiving presents crammed full
(CNPPP) will remain live until Friday with lots of goodies. It was very
17 December 2021. much appreciated by one and all,
and it was very kind of the pupils,
You are invited to give feedback on parents and teachers to remember
this plan, which is based on their old folk.
responses already given by the
public since June and which sets out I wish everyone a very merry
objectives for those responsible for Christmas and a better 2022.
the Park.
Eileen Davies
To find out more about the plan and [email protected]
give your views, please visit the
Nature, People and Place sections of
the consultation website at
cairngormsviews.co.uk.

2

Climate Ready Strathdon its engagement with different groups
within the area to help Strathdon
On Friday 1 October 2021, Climate create a local climate change
Ready Strathdon (CRS) hosted its adaptation plan and toolkit.
first in-person event at Strathdon Keep an eye on this newsletter, on
Primary School. It was a fantastic http://climatereadyaberdeenshire.org
day! It gave the CRS project team a and @abshireclimate updates. If
chance to meet residents from the you’d like to be involved in Climate
area to discuss what it’s like to live Ready Strathdon, please contact
and work here, how these factors [email protected].
have been impacted by climate uk.
change and extreme weather events,
and how they think these challenges Superfast Broadband and
should be addressed and how CRS Voucher Scheme
might support them.
This is a useful link for the Superfast
We were joined by Aberdeenshire Broadband and Voucher Scheme:
Council Greenspace Officers, www.scotlandsuperfast.com/the-
Rangers Service and elected r100-superfast-access-for-all.
members from the area, as well as
by representatives of the Cairngorms 3
National Park Authority, Strathdon
Community Trust and staff from
Strathdon Primary School, which
kindly hosted the event.

The event was attended by school
pupils, parents, residents and non-
residents, who shared ideas and
contact details, took part in fun
activities for all the family to raise
awareness of sustainability, climate
change and biodiversity, and raised a
whopping £70 for Strathdon Primary
School’s Flower Meadow fund!

So what's next? CRS has organised a
follow-up in-person event to take
place in the Strathdon area after the
October holidays and will continue

Art in the Buchat The Art in the Buchat group
intends to host regular and one-day
The doors of Glenbuchat Hall art and crafts workshops during the
opened with a breezy bang on 11 coming year.
September for its first major event
since the Covid-19 pandemic hove Contact Frances Crawford
into view last year, with a happening (07974 246118 or
that could not have been more [email protected]) if
fitting: the always joyful and you are interested in art classes.
exuberant exhibition of arts and These are planned to start in late
crafts mounted for a North East October at Glenbuchat Hall.
Open Studios (NEOS) programme,
this year in its ninth incarnation. The Donside Enamelling Group now
meets fortnightly on Mondays at
The turnout was superb, with folks Glenbuchat Bothy and Hall from
arriving from far and near to be 11 am until 3 pm.
welcomed by a week of Donside’s
finest Indian summer weather. The No experience needed. Kilns,
exhibition ran for a week, and was enamels, copper and equipment are
hugely successful for both artists and available.
visitors, doubly so as it provided
opportunities to catch up and renew Come and experiment with a low-
friendships. Members of Art in the cost hobby, and share your ideas and
Buchat were delighted with the imagination, or just come and visit
support they received from all for tea or coffee. Contact Helen
attending and those helping out Murray 07971 098182 or
behind the scenes. [email protected].

Now it’s time to buckle down and
create a whole new exhibition for
2022!

Carol Hutton
4

Towie’s coffee morning In memory of Dr Fiona Baxter

Towie Hall would like to thank As all in the community will know by
everyone who came along to the now, the health centre was dealt a
Hall’s Coffee Morning in support of severe blow in September by the
MacMillan Cancer Research as part unexpected and untimely death of
of the ‘biggest coffee morning in the Dr Fiona Baxter.
world’ on 2 October. The event
raised £210 for the charity. Fiona was much more than a
colleague to us; she was a true friend
Microgrants for clubs who will be dearly missed. We know
that, likewise, for some members of
Need help to get your club up and the community, Fiona was a friend
running? A Donside Community who also became their GP. Together
Council/Foundation Scotland we share many lovely memories of a
microgrant of up to £500 is available quite extraordinary person who left
for initiatives based in Glenkindie, us far, far too soon.
Towie, Kildrummy and Lumsden.
We have been overwhelmed by the
You can find out more by emailing number of kind messages we have
[email protected] received and by the contributions
g.uk. made to the collection in Fiona’s
memory in favour of the Sandpiper
Community projects in AB36 Trust, a charity that funds the
provision of emergency equipment
Do you have a community project in for pre-hospital doctors, nurses and
mind and live within the AB36 paramedics, especially in rural areas
postcode? Grant application of Scotland, a cause Fiona was
submissions to the Upper Donside passionate about. In due course we
Charitable Trust are open now until will pass on all messages to Fiona’s
31 October 2021. family – thank you.

For further information, contact Poul Ipsen
secretary Ashley Anderson
(019756 51320 or www.sandpipertrust.org
[email protected]).

5

Strathdon Medical days, we will provide all urgent
Practice news services, but not repeat prescription
ordering or collection and other
Vaccinations aspects of care that can reasonably
Vaccinations are never far from the wait until the next day. Protecting
headlines at present and, trust us, this time allows us to stay on top of
they are never far from our attention administrative tasks that can be
either. As always, the situation with difficult to carry out at other times.
the pandemic and vaccinations Please note that much of our
remains fluid and is constantly vaccination programme will take
evolving. Please expect this to place during these afternoons in the
continue in the months ahead. coming weeks. By helping to protect
this time, you will contribute to this
This autumn/winter vaccination effort.
season, Strathdon will be delivering
influenza and Covid-19 booster New process for collecting
vaccinations to everyone aged over
65 and to those aged 16 and over in medications from the centre
‘at-risk groups’. The remainder of From Monday 18 October you will be
our patients will in due course be able to collect your prescription from
sent an invitation to attend a the waiting room rather than the
vaccination or drop-in centre carpark.
operated by NHS Grampian.
In order to maintain social distancing
For people in the groups for whom and keep everyone safe, we will
vaccinations will be administered allow only one person at a time to
here at the health centre, we enter the waiting room
currently expect to start the booster
programme during the week When you arrive at the health
commencing 11 October. centre, you should enter the building
wearing a face covering. If the
Please note there is NO need to waiting room is empty, please enter
phone the health centre. We will it. If not, please wait outside it until
contact you to offer the vaccination the previous person has left.
to you as soon as possible.
Please note this service is for
Tuesday and Thursday half-days collection of medication only and is
available during normal opening
We continue to operate a ‘half-day’ hours:
service on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
This means that from 1 pm on those Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
9 am to 6 pm
6

Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 am to patient and the team member will
1 pm. agree the best way forward.

Phone triage and face-to-face This may be to arrange for tests, the
collection of a prescription or, when
consultations required, a face-to-face consultation.
We do not wish to needlessly restrict
The topic of face-to-face the provision of face-to-face
consultations is currently garnering consultations, but we do want to
considerable attention in both the ensure that the care we provide is
mainstream and social media. In delivered in the most appropriate,
light of this, we feel it is appropriate safe and effective way possible for
to explain our current approach. the mutual benefit of the patient
However, please note that this may and the team at the health centre.
change should it become necessary.
We hope that the community have
The physical layout and size of the experienced our approach as
health centre make it difficult to working well for them, and that it
maintain social distancing and has helped to ensure that we have
infection-safe flows of people not had to significantly restrict the
through the building. In order to do services we offer. However, we
our best within these constraints, we always value your feedback, so
will not use the waiting room in that please let us have your suggestions
capacity for the foreseeable future. for any ways in which we might
We are very grateful for your improve the services we provide.
understanding and patience with the
continued use of the carpark as our Dispensary deliveries
waiting area.
Due to factors outwith our control,
Serving a small community such as we now generally receive deliveries
ours has certain advantages, one of to the dispensary twice a week. This
which is the ability to remain flexible often results in a wait of several days
and respond to the needs of for a delivery, although our order for
individual patients on a daily basis. your medication is made either
To facilitate this and maintain online or by phone within minutes of
services that are as pandemic- your request. Therefore, in order to
resilient as they can be, we will avoid disappointment, it is more
continue to base initial patient important than ever that patients
contact on phone triage in many, but order their medication in good time.
not all, cases. Once this initial phone
consultation has taken place, the The Team at
Strathdon Medical Practice

7

Strathdon School news All stages together: P1–7

The Strathdon School community This year the school roll has dropped
would like to extend a warm to 16 pupils, who make up one class
welcome to Mr Redmond, who has that spans all stages from P1 to P7.
moved from Aboyne Primary School This has been a big change for the
to teach at Strathdon. Mr Redmond school and the children, but they
joins us as our new principal teacher have settled into their new routines
of Primary 1–7. He has been a and are working well together. We
teacher in Aberdeenshire for around welcomed one new P1, two P5 and
10 years and worked at Aboyne and one P7 pupil at the start of term. We
Banchory prior to joining Strathdon hope that new pupils will join the
Primary School. school in the near future so that we
can return to having two classes.
Mr Redmond lives in Aboyne with his
wife Becki and their two children, A woodland Lonach Highlander
Ben and Finlay. He brings a wealth of
experience and expertise in The children made their own
teaching, and has a keen interest in woodland Lonach Highlander on the
outdoor education and physical Friday before the traditional games
education. Mr Redmond is looking weekend. Here is ‘Big Ed’:
forward to becoming more involved
in the wider life of the school.

8

Forest School Friday You can keep in touch with what’s
happening in the school by following
As part of our Forest School Friday, our Twitter page: @StrathdonSch.
the children recently took part in
path maintenance activities on the __________________________________________________________________
community path from the Doune,
past the school and on to Monday 8 November, 7.30 pm
Roughpark. The children worked Glenbuchat Hall,
together to clear sections of the www.glenbuchathall.com
path, clean out drainage channels
and repair damaged sections of path. Adam Ross, with support from
This involved problem-solving
challenges, such as working out how Man of the Minch
to put the drainage channels back
together. Saturday 13 November, 7.30 pm
Glenbuchat Hall, £13 (under-16s
The children were engaged in free). For tickets, call 019756 41303
assessing the risks involved in the or [email protected]
activity and took pride in taking
responsibility for improving their Saturday 27 November, from
local environment. People are 6.30 pm, Lonach Hall; free entry
welcome to take a walk past the
school sometime to check out their
handiwork.

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What’s on hereabouts

Cahalen Morrison

Friday 29 October, 7.30 pm
Glenbuchat Hall, £13 (under-16s
free). For tickets, call 019756 41303
or [email protected]

Harvest Thanksgiving Service
Sunday 31 October, 10.30 am
Rhynie Church

Corgarff Hall and Picnic meeting

Wednesday 3 November, 7 pm
Corgarff Hall; all welcome

9

We are delighted that we can now We mentioned in the last issue of
gather at the Lonach Hall again! It is Fit’s gan Doune that Towie School
so nice to be able to meet up on a had planted sunflower seeds. This
face-to-face basis and we can see project raised £131 through
how much it means to those donations to the school and the
members who have been able to Silver Circle. The primary school
come along. For now, the format of children decided to donate to a
the day is slightly different: we have children’s mental health charity and
reduced hours and are limiting the so the sum raised was donated to
number of people in the hall, but it is NHS Grampian Fund for CAMHS
all a step in the right direction. (Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Services).
Over four Wednesdays in August to
the start of September, we met in Our community shopping bus runs
Glenbuchat Hall – these were our every Friday morning. It goes
‘summer outings’! Our small get- fortnightly to Huntly, and in other
togethers were embellished by weeks to Alford, Aboyne and
scrumptious strawberry tarts and Ballater, and is open to non-
shortbread made by the wonderful members. The bus can make pick-
Anne-Marie. We are thrilled that she ups in Corgarff, Roughpark, Bellabeg
has been able to return to cook for and Glenkindie or from people’s
us and is now providing us with homes. Each trip costs £3.00.
delicious lunches at Lonach Hall. Concession and over-60s tickets are
free. To book, please contact Gavin
We will continue to put out monthly before Thursday at the latest, on
newsletters until at least Christmas. 07801 553144 or 019756 51798.
In addition, the current format of
meetings at Lonach Hall will be To arrange transport to medical
reviewed continually. appointments or the delivery of
prescriptions, please contact Irene
We now have over 40 members and on 07707 624657.
welcome new people at any time.
The group is intended for anyone For any information on the Silver
aged 60 or over or in need of Circle and the support we can
company. We cover the Upper currently offer, please contact Nancy
Donside Area, extending from either by phone (07771 749849) or
Lumsden to the Lecht. If you’d like to email ([email protected]).
find out more, please contact Nancy
on 07771 749849.

10

After an 18-month break from live Euphemia Jane Grant of Corgarff
music, Glenbuchat Hall was given an was reunited with her daughter
emotional return to live gigs with an Carol, normally a yearly visitor
outstanding performance by Adam from Western Australia, after an
Holmes with support by Stuart absence of two years, just in time
Forester. The evening was well for her 99th birthday.
supported by local residents and
music lovers from further afield. It Jane was born in 1922 at Smiddy
was fantastic to see so many familiar Cottage, Corgarff, where her
faces back in a much-loved social father, Alexander, and grandfather,
setting. Charles, were blacksmiths. As a
young woman, she left to join the
Glenbuchat Live Music is a not-for- Wrens during World War 2.
profit organisation run by individuals Although Jane remained in the
within the local community and south for many years, she always
therefore riding out the pandemic wanted to return to Corgarff and
was easy for us financially. What we finally did so after her retirement.
perhaps didn’t realise was the
importance of these events to our Jane enormously enjoyed her
emotional and social well-being. birthday celebrations, which
Walking into the hall to hear the included visits to the Boat Inn and
soundcheck brought home how Goodbrand & Ross, and received
much life had changed during the dozens of birthday cards from
pandemic. We’d like to extend huge friends and family around the globe!
thanks to all who continue to
support live music in the glen. Happy birthday and best wishes!

11

I would like to extend a warm Traditionally, we celebrate harvest
welcome from Church of Scotland during October with various
Upper Donside Parish to you all. thanksgiving services, in the
These are unprecedented times churches and schools up and down
during which I hope and pray that the parish. In these, we give thanks
you are keeping safe and well. for the rich variety of food that we
enjoy, from both this country and
Autumn is well and truly with us, and overseas, and also to everyone
I suppose that there are mixed involved in growing and cultivating
feelings about this time of year. our food, processing it, packaging it
Many of us will mourn the passing of and delivering it to our doors.
summer, the shortening days and
falling temperatures, and will look Not only should we be grateful to
wearily at the hastening approach of our Father God for all that he
another winter. provides, but we should also give a
huge thank you to the farmers
What is it about autumn? Of course, across our various communities and
some people love this time of year, those who work tirelessly in the
with its abundance of rich colours. fields to harvest the crops on which
‘Season of mists and mellow we rely.
fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of
the maturing sun,’ begins the The current restrictions mean I am
romantic poet John Keats in his idyll not able to hold thanksgiving
To Autumn, written in 1819. services in many of our local schools.
Instead, I am making a series of
This almost ethereal vision of assemblies and short video messages
autumn is punctuated by the that can be played out in school.
realisation of harvest. Says Keats:
The current focus on climate change,
‘With fruit the vines that round the particularly with the approach of the
thatch-eves run; COP26 Climate Conference, to be
To bend with apples the moss'd held in Glasgow in November,
cottage-trees, highlights the links between harvest
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the and the protection of the
core; environment. We read of many
To swell the gourd, and plump the millions of people around the world
hazel shells whose food supplies have become
With a sweet kernel; to set budding unreliable due to the effects of
more.’ climate change.

12

In the church, our call to action is to So many shades of gold – Autumn
pray for successful outcomes to the Another miracle we take for granted
discussions among world leaders. Another expression of the artist’s vision
Through September, we took part in The blending of the autumn hues
Creation Time, a worldwide initiative with the setting sun
aimed at making our voices heard. Warm, Comforting, Perfect –
Thank you for Autumn, Lord.
We have all experienced changing
weather patterns attributed to Social distancing and the wearing of
global warming. If current face masks are likely to remain ‘the
predictions are accurate, we will be norm’ for the foreseeable future.
subject to increased extreme Congregational singing is now
weather events in coming years. I permitted, but face coverings should
would encourage everyone to take be worn at all times.
the situation very seriously and do
whatever they can to reduce All our weekly services are recorded
consumption and wastage. and available to watch, usually from
6 pm on the Sunday evening, if you
As far as the Church is concerned, are not able to attend the church
Strathdon Church, Strathdon Church service in person. They are available
Hall and Lumsden Church are now on the Upper Donside Parish
open for regular Sunday worship. It Facebook page and also on YouTube.
has been lovely to welcome many of
you back into our church buildings. We are very grateful for your
continued support during these
As the parish strengthens its links difficult times. I am now able, with
with Noth Parish (Rhynie), the social distancing, to make home
minister there, Reverend Regine visits. If you would like me to call
Cheyne, and I are developing plans round, please get in touch.
to hold regular weekly worship in
one venue or another. Please look With God’s blessings to you all,
out for posters in local shops and
garages and outside churches to find Simon
details of forthcoming services. Rev Simon Crouch, Locum Minister

019756 51779, 07713 101358
[email protected]

Parish Grouping Harvest
Thanksgiving Service

Sunday 31 October, 10.30 am at
Rhynie Church
13

Becky and Ian Stuart have run the Christmas turkeys are dry-plucked
Stuart family farm for 6 years. They and game-hung for a minimum of 10
are the third generation of Stuarts to days. This allows the meat to relax
work this hill farm on Nochtyside, on and gives it a gamey flavour.
which they manage 90 cows and 700 Customers are offered an oven-
ewes. Because their land is limited ready, freshly dressed turkey, a sprig
and as the need to diversify has of rosemary, cooking instructions
grown, Becky and Ian built two and a pop-up timer.
polytunnels 5 years ago to help them
manage lambing more easily. They Ledmacoy Farm also works in
then launched a turkey business that cooperation with other local
brings on birds from day-old poults producers to provide a complete
to full maturity. Christmas package of jam, fresh
vegetables and meats to comprise a
Their flock started at 200 birds and delicious festive main course.
has since increased to 280. As a
member of the Golden Turkey This year has seen Becky fulfil her
Farmers’ Association, the farm’s dream of designing a shepherd’s hut
priority is the welfare of its turkeys. as holiday accommodation. Built by
Becky says, ‘Our turkeys express John Anderson of Waterside, this
natural behaviours and move larch-clad, wood-lined luxury family
between the polytunnel and outside accommodation overlooking the
foraging. The first 2 weeks of life are River Nochty is now ready to
crucial to turkey poults as they are welcome guests. Visitors can also
very sensitive to heat and cold. We participate in a tour of the farm.
keep four breeds of bronze turkey
because different breeds make for a [email protected].
variety of “endweight” sizes. They
are reared to full maturity at around To order online, use:
6 months of age and are fed cereal www.ledmacoyturkeys.co.uk.
pellets, green vegetables and
windfall fruit. Facebook/Instagram:

‘Our turkeys have won Great Taste Ledmacoy Turkeys or Ledmacoy
Awards for two consecutive years. Shepherds Huts
It’s brilliant that our hard work is
recognized by the top tastebuds in
the country.’

14

Cairngorms Glamping Robert and Pamela love working at
home and welcoming guests from
‘Riverview’ in Glencarvie couldn’t be near and far. What’s more, they
a better setting from which to show appreciate a good quality of life and
off our beautiful glen! Three years enjoy a postcard view!
ago, Robert Taylor, who had always
dreamt of building a campsite on the For details, contact
farm on which he grew up, fashioned [email protected].
a wooden glamping pod and
Cairngorms Glamping was born. A __________________________________________________________________
third pod was completed last year.
It is fantastic to see some
In April this year, both Robert and diversification in our area in these
his wife Pamela left their jobs in challenging times. These are just two
order to throw themselves into of a number of local enterprises.
developing the campsite. They have
been delighted by the response: by The rise of the ‘staycation’ has
September they had amassed over resulted in a marked increase in
550 bookings, with an average of 70 tourism in Scotland, including in our
guests per night during July and quiet corner of the Cairngorms.
August. Despite the mixed views on this,
there can be little doubt of its
Robert carries out all the building positive impacts. It has been a very
work himself, using wood to create a successful season for both self-
natural look. He is planning to make caterers and local businesses, which
improvements to existing hot tubs has resulted in increased
by adding more environment- employment. Let us hope that the
friendly biofuel boilers. rise in visitor numbers helps to
ensure the longevity and
A fun wooden children’s climbing sustainability of our local services.
frame and an animal petting area ______________________________
add to the family appeal. The latter Babs’ Comfy Knits
is managed by the Taylors’ daughter Fit like, teuchters and toonsers?
Lauren, and boasts a donkey, pygmy It’s getting dreich and caul…
goats, alpacas and more. Never folk Stay cosy wi’ a comfy knit!
to let the grass grow under their Barbara Johnstone on Facebook and
feet, the Taylors will spend the 07415 305951
winter working on a new project
designated ‘Cairngorms Food 2 Go’, __________________________________________________________________
which will include an outdoor eating
area for visitors. Plan A Electrical. All types of
electrical installation work,
inspection and testing (including PAT
and EICR), cabling. 07535 312759,
[email protected]

__________________________________________________________________

15

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Napier, Fraser Fifield, Iona Fyfe,
Dee and Don Ceilidh Collective Jenny Sturgeon and Shona
(DDCC), a charity created in 2016 to Donaldson, were tasked with
promote traditional music, organised responding to the content within the
several weekend events each year, map by composing new music.
consisting of workshops and
concerts led by principal local You can now download or stream
musicians. the wonderful music produced in the
course of the project free, at:
‘Our Living Rivers and Glens’ is an https://deedonceilidhcollective.com
adventurous creative collaboration /new-music.
involving artists, musicians and
members of the public which has This is a link to the map, which is in
been run online throughout the itself a work of art:
various lockdowns of the last https://bit.ly/DDCCmediamap.
18 months. Local people were asked
to participate and to respond in The DDCC is now entering the final
sound, words and images in ways phase of the project, which consists
that conveyed their connection to a of teaching workshops. Ten free
specific place in their local online workshops will run from mid-
environment. Contributions ranged October to mid-November, and will
from the buzzing of honey bees in include beginners, intermediate and
Glenkindie, to stories of the Ringing advanced sessions. All instruments
Stone in Glengairn, to the imagined are welcome. Singing workshops for
cracking of ice on the Cairngorms all ages and abilities are also
plateau. These contributions and available. You can sign up here
many more were downloaded on to https://bit.ly/2YZMzbM and attend
a living online Google Earth map. The as many workshops as you like,
online map is still open for new absolutely FREE!
additions, and the results so far are
fabulous. Meanwhile, the free online ‘Our
Living Rivers and Glens Ceilidh’ will
Meanwhile, a group of well-known celebrate the project from 7 pm to
northeast musicians and 9 pm on 30 October. Tickets are
songwriters, including Paul available at: https://bit.ly/3asQ7FM.
Anderson, Charlie McKerron, Arthur
Coates, Adam Sutherland, Hamish

16

Paul Gibb, Councillor for Aboyne, In September, the Lonach field
Upper Deeside and Donside (Ward hosted a massive marquee to
15), writes: welcome riders on the Deloitte ‘Ride
Across Britain’ annual cycle event
I have received concerns from from Land’s End to John o’Groats.
residents regarding the withdrawal This attracts over 1000 entrants each
of the mobile library service. I did year and has raised £5.5 million for
not think it was the intent of the charity over a 10-year period.
Service to withdraw the mobile
library service. However, I was 7 November – Green Brow Hill,
wrong; I had been provided with Lumsden, 3 hours. Meet at Littlemill,
information but had not seen it; this Lumsden (ref. 452224) at 11 am
oversight was my fault. Contact: Drennan (019755 62538)

In the scheme of things, the saving 21 November – Pressendye 3+ hours
was small; however, the service was Details later.
important. I apologise to residents in Contact David (019755 71708)
Upper Donside.
5 December – Glen Tanar 3 hours
Live Life Aberdeenshire advises that Meet at carpark on left near
click and collect and home delivery entrance (ref. 503971) at 11 am
services for Strathdon will be Contact Roger (019756 51278)
provided from Alford Library, which
will also serve as a hub for the 19 December – Breagach Hill 3 hours
delivery of pop-up and outreach Meet at Bellabeg Bottle Bank at
services that will bring resources and 10.30 am
events directly to those living in Contact Gavin (019756 51798)
Upper Donside, such as at Strathdon
Primary School. 17

I will support both these options to
help ensure they provide a good
service and make recommendations
for improvements where they can be
identified.

Contact me at:
[email protected] or
by phone (07388 956148).

Clachcurr Hill walk This leads in a few metres to the
Dunanford Cottage access track. This
Roughly halfway between crosses a bridge over the River Don
Glenbuchat Castle and the Buchaam and comes to a junction at which
Farm entrance on the A97 there is a one turns right and follows a slowly
large forestry entry on the northwest rising track, heading roughly
side of the road. This leads to an southeast, gradually leaving the river
unsigned carpark serving walks on to the right. The track leads in about
the east side of Ben Newe. a kilometre to the Glac of Barnes, a
Start at the carpark; walk back down small stony bealach between the
to the main road and cross it to join Don and Deskry rivers. The change of
a small path through a thicket of aspect is sudden, leaving views of
small trees and willowherb. the Don to be replaced by a
18 panoramic scene of the Deskry glen
with its river winding below.

The path now heads east and leads
in approx. 500 metres to a point at
which an obvious path strikes up
steeply to the left, away from the
track. This new path winds through
attractive open stands of elderly,
twisted Scots pines. After some
zigzagging, the path (now mown in
appearance) strikes off northwest
along the crest of the hill to the
rounded summit of Clachcurr Hill
(approx. 2.5 km from the start).

Surprisingly varied views include It’s easy to put off tidying the garden
Tam Beith, the open woodland and doing what’s necessary at this
above Glenkindie, the Buck, Creag an time of year. However, as growth
Sgor, Glenbuchat, Ben Newe, the slows, it’s best to get ahead with
River Don towards Bellabeg and a cutting back and pruning. This will let
sweep of the Deskry up to Rippachie, you get straight into springtime
topped by Morven to the south- planting next year, without having to
southwest. This is one of the very wade through the undergrowth.
few viewpoints from which the
striking, large, white quartzite cone Lift and divide perennials as they die
of the memorial cairn on Dalrossach back if they are becoming too
Hill can still be seen above its ever- vigorous or if you would like to see
growing screen of trees. them elsewhere in the garden.

For those who wish to explore a little Garlic and overwintering onion sets
further, the path continues (Radar or Senshyu Yellow) can be
northwest, downhill towards Green planted now and do especially well
Wood, where it ends. With a bit of in a greenhouse, polytunnel or even
dodging between the trees, it is a cold frame. Plant hard neck
possible to get an unusual view (Doocot or Caulk Wight) varieties for
down towards Glenbuchat Castle. early usage and soft neck garlic
Return by the same route. (Early Purple Wight and Solent
Wight) for storage to spread the
Many years ago the ruins of an season. Plant out spring greens for
upright piano on the top of Clachcurr early crops; it’s too late to sow from
Hill led it to be known popularly as seed but you may find young plants
‘Piano Hill’. In those days there was in garden centres. They do well
hardly a trail worthy of a sheep, so under cover, but if you plant them
how it got there, so far beyond the outside, protect them from pigeons
reach of a tuner, remains a mystery. and adventurous pheasants. It’s also
Someone knows… don’t they? the time to divide rhubarb crowns.

As you make the final cuts of your
lawn, mix the cuttings with dieback
from herbaceous borders to make an
ideal mix to heat your compost heap
before winter, and remember to
keep the heat in and water out.

Steve Campbell
19

Glenkindie Central Garage & Shop
Vehicle servicing, MOTs, grocery store, PO inc road tax, fuel (019756 41230)

Mon–Fri: 8 am to 5 pm; Sat: 8 am to 2 pm; Sun: 10 am to 12.30 pm

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Goodbrand & Ross Corgarff, tearoom, gift shop, outdoor seating
Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri: 10 am to 4 pm; Thurs, Sat, Sun: 10 am to 5 pm

Christmas Shopping Evenings with a Christmas Grotto and 10% reduction:

Tues 9 and Mon 15 November, 5–8.30 pm. Mulled wine and mince pies until

8 pm. Prebook on 019756 51433. (www.goodbrandandross.co.uk)

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Spar Bellabeg Licensed grocery and post office (019756 51211)
Mon–Sat: 8 am to 6 pm; Sun: 10 am to 2 pm

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Steading Bar Opening hours: Fri 4 pm to 12 midnight; Sat 12 noon to
12 midnight; Sun 12 noon to 8 pm. (019756 51497)

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Strathdon Medical Centre Surgery opening hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9 am to
6 pm; Tues and Thurs 9 am to 1 pm. (019756 51209)

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Fish'n' Chips 2 Go 4–6.30 pm on third Monday of the month at Bellabeg

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George’s Fresh Fish Wednesdays at 2–2.45 pm at Glenkindie and 3–3.30 pm
at Bellabeg. (07732 118885, [email protected])