FGD - Issue 10 - Summer 2019

Fit’s Gan Doune?!

Welcome to Issue 10 of Strathdon Area’s Local Newsletter

_________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________

July 2019

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

Steading Bar now open!

The Steading Bar at the Lonach Hotel is open for business!! Special thanks to Marc
and Lynne Lino for their vision and to Nick and Kyle Edgar and the tradesmen who
completed this sympathetic renovation.

The bar is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 4 pm to 11 pm and on
Fridays and Saturdays from 4 pm to midnight. It carries a broad selection of beer,
wine, whisky and gins, together with good-quality tea and coffee, and is in the
process of introducing a food menu.

You can keep up to date with progress via the Lonach Hotel Facebook page
(www.facebook.com/LonachHotel/).

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Check out www.fitsgandoune.co.uk for news, events and local businesses

____________________________________________________________________________________________

The next issue of Fit’s Gan Doune will cover October–December. Please share your
news, stories and comments. We would appreciate any copy by mid-September.

fitsgandoune@gmail.com

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Silver Circle news Strathdon Paths Group

Thank you to everyone who came Look out for our new benches! Two
along and joined in the fun at our have been sited on the Bellabeg–
spring coffee morning in April and Lonach Path and at the Doune and
quiz night in May. Both were very another two will be positioned
well supported and successful across the bridge after Doune Court
events. Also, thank you for your and on the Bluefold Path.
support at the ‘Corgarff indoor picnic
and games’ held in the Lonach Hall. The recent (May) lecture by
mountaineer Doug Scott at Alford
Our Wednesdays continue to be Community Campus raised over
busy with a variety of activities – the £1500 for Paths Group projects and
Day Centre meets every Wednesday an equivalent amount for
(10 am–3 pm) in the upstairs Lonach Community Action Nepal. Some of
Hall. Anyone over 60 or in need of this revenue has been spent on final
company is welcome to come along fencing of a section of the Bellabeg–
– it is a place to meet and enjoy Lonach Path, as well as on the new
companionship with a variety of benches.
activities on the go. There’s always
plenty of tea/coffee available and a A Walking Festival is being planned
delicious lunch is on offer too. by the Strathdon Paths Group on the
Please get in touch if you would like weekend of 31 August/1 September.
to come along – we are always in Guided walks will explore the
need of volunteers so if you can landscape, heritage and geology of
spare any time or would like more our lovely area. All are welcome to
information, please contact Nancy join in any of the walks (all abilities
on 07771 749849 or will be catered for), and if you would
DCO@silvercircle.org.uk like to offer your services to help
make the weekend a success, please
We are planning our summer get in touch. Base Camp will be at
activities and will be going on some Glenbuchat Hall, where
outings – let’s hope the weather refreshments and camping will be
improves! provided, as well as a Saturday night
meal and ceilidh.
In addition to the day centre, The
Silver Circle operates a shopping bus Look out for further updates on the
on Friday mornings (019756 51798 group’s Facebook page and local
or 019756 51272) and can arrange posters.
transport to medical appointments
(07707 624657).

Towie Hall news interests. This partnership is flexible
and can range from a few hours
Towie Hall held a very successful during the day or evenings, at
Tractor Run and Pop-up Bar on 1 weekends or weekdays, to taking
June which raised £3280.00. The 72 short breaks.
tractors on the 20-mile route round
the glen made a fantastic spectacle. The Shared Lives scheme can offer
The committee would like to give a support to older people from the
huge thanks to everyone who Marr area, where it has been
supported the event. £720.00 from granted new funding from Shared
the tractor fees have been donated Lives Plus via the Princes of Wales
to Aberdeen Mental Health Charity, Charitable Foundation.
ACIS. The rest has gone towards
ongoing hall improvements for our Shared Lives is currently recruiting
current users: the school, toddler carers in all areas of Aberdeenshire.
group, senior citizens, pipe band and Carers are trained and supported by
winter bowls etc. The hall toilets Aberdeenshire Council. Carers are
have now been painted and the next self-employed and can work flexible
big push is to refurbish the kitchen. hours to fit in with their family lives.
Look out for our next fundraiser on 7 If you could offer a person with a
December. disability or an older person a few
hours respite or more, please
Community opportunity contact the Shared Lives team on

Shared Lives offers people the 07824 837791,
chance to contribute to real sharedlives@aberdeenshire.gov.uk,
friendships and gain confidence in www.aberdeenshire.gov/sharedlives
themselves as valued citizens.
Shared Lives matches people over 16 Upper Donside Bowling
years of age with a disability, mental Club - Glenkindie
health issue or dementia with
someone who shares the same Drop in and try your hand this
summer ! All welcome to this sociable
club set by the river Don in Glenkindie.
Tuesdays and Fridays evenings 7pm
onwards 'hat nights'
Thursday afternoon from 1.30pm
onwards - open afternoon with
refreshments
Finishes in October for the winter

Strathdon Church news Special services include a Family
Service at 11.30 am on Sunday 7 July
Hi everyone. I hope you are enjoying in Towie Church, to introduce the
the start of summer, so far. themes of the Guardians of Ancora
Remember the long hot days of last and set up the Holiday Club.
summer – wouldn’t it be lovely if this
year was similar? In August, we have the Annual
Service at Glenkindie Bowling Club
I would like to extend a warm on Sunday 4 August at 11.30 am and
welcome from Church of Scotland the Glenbuchat Auld Kirk Annual
Upper Donside Parish to you all and Service & Picnic on Sunday 18
a special greeting to any visitors in August at 3 pm.
the area. We would love to welcome
you to one of our regular Sunday Saturday 24 August sees the world-
services: famous Lonach Highland Gathering
in Bellabeg. The Lonach Weekend
1st Sunday of the month always concludes with a Celebration
11.30 am Towie Church Service, this year to be held at
6.30 pm in Strathdon Church on
All other Sundays Sunday 25 August. The service
10 am Strathdon Church Hall and features contributions from local
11.30 am Lumsden Church musicians and Highland dancers. The
Lonach Pipe Band will lead the
Our very popular ‘Guardians Of Lonach Highlanders to the church
Ancora’ Holiday Club will run from from Bellabeg.
10 am to 12.15 pm from Monday 8
to Friday 12 July, followed by a On Sunday 1 September, we hold
Gathering in Strathdon Church at our very popular ‘Songs Of Praise’
6.30 pm on the Friday evening. service at 11.30 am in Towie Church.
Why not come along and sing some
The Holiday Club will appeal to of your most favourite hymns? This
children of all ages. It takes place in is a request service, so if you wish to
and around Strathdon Church Hall. sing a particular favourite, then why
Transport is provided from Lumsden not get in touch with me and put in
with various pick-up points along the your request?
way. Transport may also be available
from the Corgarff area – please ask. God bless,

Registration forms will be available Simon Crouch, Locum Minister
in all our churches and local schools 019756 51779, 07713 101358
from early June. The club is not scassents@aol.com
limited to children within the parish
– if you have visitors that week, then
bring them along!

Dee and Don Ceilidh September at 2 pm in Towie Hall,
Collective Glenbuchat Weekend with music from Hugh Tatton.

The Glenkindie and Towie
Dee and Don Ceilidh Collective was formed in the Community Action Plan

The DDCC’s fourth Glenbuchat A local crowd gathered on the last
weekend, held on 22 and 23 June, Saturday in June at the Upper
benefitted from kindly weather, the Donside Bowling Club in Glenkindie
baking skills and hospitality of to launch the Glenkindie and Towie
Glenbuchat residents, and the Community Action Plan. All enjoyed
musicianship of workshop the sunshine, a barbecue and a go at
participants. Around 40 people bowling (with whisky for the
attended workshops in fiddle, winner!). The Action Plan, supported
singing, guitar, clarsach and mixed by Marr Area Partnership, has
instruments and numbers more than highlighted three main themes:
doubled for a rambunctious ceilidh Getting Around; Getting Connected,
in Glenbuchat Hall in the evening. and Activities and Facilities. The
Action Plan helps to identify and
The DDCC was formed in 2015 as an document areas of improvement for
initiative to celebrate traditional the community. Action Plan
music. It holds four weekends of brochures are available at Glenkindie
workshops and music each year Garage and Shop. Anyone who
across Deeside and Donside. The would like to help move any project
next two weekends planned will take forward or has any ideas should
place in Rhynie and Tarland later this contact
year. nicola.sedgwick@btinternet.com
or message via Facebook.
Towie and District Senior
Citizens Club

The Towie & District Senior Citizens
Club had a great lunch at the Spotty
Bag Shop on 6 June, which they
visited for their summer outing. The
next meeting will be on Thursday 5

‘Eco cabins set to boost amongst Scotland’s nature and
tourism in the Cairngorms’ wildlife. They will be as off-grid as
possible with electric car charging
Extracted from a press release from Blackbyre points for vehicles. We expect to
Developments Ltd welcome our first guests in 2020.’

The Cairngorms National Park The Regional Director for Visit
Planning Committee has granted Scotland said: ‘I am encouraged to
planning permission to Blackbyre see businesses investing in new
Developments Ltd for the product at a time when tourism is
construction of 12 contemporary central to Aberdeenshire’s economic
holiday cabins in Donside. strategy and a key sector for growth.
The Cairngorms National Park
Based in Corgarff and situated on the welcomes a wide range of visitors
Snow Roads scenic driving route, the each year to the area, and visitor
cabins will be located in a tourist numbers look set to rise with the
hotspot only a few miles from the launch last year of the Snow Roads
Lecht Ski Centre and the historic Scenic Route and the North East 250
Corgarff Castle. The cabins will sit touring route.
amongst a Scots pine forest and will
be constructed using sustainable It is essential that visitors to the
materials with power provided from National Park, as well as travellers on
renewable energy sources. the touring routes and the many
skiers, wildlife-watchers and
Rachel Gray of Blackbyre adventure seekers already visiting
Developments said: ‘We are pleased the area, are well served by quality
to be given the go-ahead for this accommodation. This development
innovative project in Corgarff. Over is the kind of high quality asset
recent years Donside has seen many advocated within the national
local businesses close despite the tourism strategy – Tourism Scotland
high number of tourists passing 2020 – as part of Scotland’s
through the area. Corgarff and collective ambition to be recognised
Strathdon have just as much to offer as a destination of first choice.’
the domestic and international
traveller as some of the best For further information, contact
performing tourism destinations in Rachel Gray: 01330 850781, 07931
Scotland. This development will 802133, rachel@blackbyre.com
enable more visitors to stay
overnight and increase spend in local
businesses and visitor attractions.
The cabins are unique and will offer
guests the experience of eco living

Corgarff Picnic and Games For information and booking:
www.rideinpeaceadventures.co.uk
…was sadly cancelled for only the Chris@rideinpeaceadventures.co.uk or
second time in its history due to poor 07399 564842
weather conditions and a flooded field.
A last-minute alternative was found in Art in the Buchat
the Lonach Hall. A hearty crowd enjoyed
the event, which included indoor …seeks clothed and unclothed
children’s games, stalls, teas and a models for drawing sessions. The
barbecue and a fantastic show by the only qualification you need is an
Pipe Band and Highland Dancers. ability to sit still! If you have some
free time and could use some spare
Glenbuchat Bothy Birds cash, please contact Frances
Crawford on 07974 246118.
A drop-in for busy fingers, a cuppa and a
blether! And it’s free!

Come and join us. 10.30 am to 12.30 pm
on Tuesdays at Glenbuchat Bothy.

Ride In Peace Adventures Wimblebeg.

Mountain bike coaching, guiding and Strathdon Community Tennis
riding!!! Court is now renovated, repainted
and relined, it looks tremendous.
Based in Aberdeenshire, RIPA offers The painters confirmed that we
mountain bike 1:1 and group caught it just in time, another
coaching sessions, a variety of summer and winter would have
guided rides ranging from the family- meant a complete relay. With the
friendly, to the local hot spot and to generous support of Richard Marsh
bagging a munro. Look out too for combined with grant aid of £2000
Little RIPAs kids’ sessions and awarded to the Strathdon
holiday camps at Tarland Trails. Community Development Trust from
the Marr Area Committee small
grants scheme. Thanks to Kerry
Much and other volunteers for their
enthusiastic support.

What’s On… Regular Stuff

Mondays Fish’n’Chips 2 Go – fish and chip van – Bellabeg 4–6.30 pm
Tuesdays (every third Monday in the month)

Bothy Birds – 1030 am to 12.30 pm – Glenbuchat Bothy

Wednesdays Silver Circle Day Centre – Upper Room, Lonach Hall 10 am to 3 pm
Nancy Strachan, coordinator (07771 749849 and
DCO@silvercircle.org.uk)

Fridays Art Class – Glenbuchat Bothy 10 am to 1 pm – £10 per class
New members at all levels welcome – Frances Crawford
(019756 51741)

Silver Circle Friday morning bus – book: 019756 51798/51272

Enamelling Group – Glenbuchat Bothy, fortnightly from 12
July, 12 noon to 4 pm – helen@icmurray.f9.co.uk

______________________________________________________________________________________

Church Services

First Sunday of the month, 11.30 am at Towie Church

Second, third, fourth Sundays, 10 am at Strathdon Church Hall and 11.30 am at
Lumsden Church

Contact Simon Crouch: 019756 51779, 07713 101358, scassents@aol.com

______________________________________________________________________________________

Agricultural Shows Highland Gatherings and Games

13 July Echt Show 13 July Braemar Junior Highland Games
20/21 July New Deer Show 20 July Tomintoul Highland Games
27 July Banchory Show 20 July Inverness Highland Games
27 July Nairn Show 21 July Stonehaven Highland Games
27 July Dufftown Highland Games

1 August Black Isle Show 3 August Aboyne Highland Games

4/5 August Turriff Show 8 August Ballater Highland Games

10 August Tarland Show 24 August Lonach Highland Games

11/12 August Keith Show

7 September Braemar Highland Games

25 September Granton on Spey Games

______________________________________________________________________________________

What’s On… Special Stuff

July Gerard Murphy Summer Exhibition, Corgarff Hall, every
day, 10 am to 5 pm to end of September

Saturday 6, Strathdon 7-a-Side Football Tournament,
Newe Pitch 1 -5.30 pm, auction raffle, BBQ crossbar challenge,
primary school match; in support of the Archie Foundation
Evening entertainment with Shamrackle and DJ Eddie. Lonach Hall,
8 pm to 1 am, licensed bar, £10

Wednesday 10, Glenkindie House Plant Sale, Glenkindie
House, 12 noon to 3 pm, £8.00 includes soup lunch, children free,
proceeds to charity

Saturday 13, Pop-Up Café, Glenbuchat Bothy, 10 am to 1 pm

______________________________________________________________________________________

August Friday 23, The Jeremiahs, 7.30 pm, Glenbuchat Hall, BYOB,
BBQ from 6 pm (Glenbuchat Music)

Saturday 24, Lonach Highland Gathering and Games
Bellabeg, 8 am to 6 pm, tickets from lonach.org

Saturday 24, Lonach Gathering Dance 2019
Lonach Hall, 8 pm to 1 pm, with The Fundamentals, tickets from
lonach.org, adults £10, children £6, licensed bar, fish’n’chips

Friday 30, Lonach Highland Ball, Lonach Hall, 7 pm to 1 am,
dinner and dance, tickets £40.00 from lonach.org

Saturday 31, Strathdon Walking Weekend, base camp at
Glenbuchat Hall, local accommodation and camping available;
more info to follow

______________________________________________________________________________________

Sept Saturday 7, ‘Nae Plans’, Adam Sutherland & Hamish
Napier, 7.30 pm, Glenbuchat Hall, BYOB, (Eclectic Events)

Saturday 14 to Sunday 22, Northeast Open Studios (NEOS)
10 am to 5 pm, Glenbuchat Hall

Saturday 21, Lonesome Ace String Band, 7.30 pm,
Glenbuchat Hall, BYOB (Glenbuchat Music)

______________________________________________________________________________________

To book: Glenbuchat Music: events@glenbuchatlivemusic.co.uk

Eclectic Events: eclecticglen@yahoo.co.uk, www.eclecticglen.co.uk

______________________________________________________________________________________

Living and working in gardening, outdoor living skills, but
the hills: Willow Lohr more in the niche side of things: the
unexplored stuff you have to
Willow lives in Corgarff with her practise for a long time in order to
partner Paul (Highland Yurts), be good... and be brave and strong
daughter (when not travelling), son, in order to do well.’
two collies and lots of chickens. She
is a beemaster, an expert in Willow has been beekeeping for
bushcraft, survival skills and tracking, more than 20 years. Before moving
and a successful businesswoman. to Corgarff, she lived near Ballater,
Ever resourceful, Willow the which is a great environment for
craftswoman supplements her foraging bees. Heather honey is
income by creating felted sculptures Willow’s main crop, but it is difficult
from the wool of her own rare-breed for bees to make – it requires a
sheep. She also has a degree in strong colony able to manage the
philosophy. wind and cold of higher altitudes.
Even in a good year, only about half
Willow grew up in Holland and first of her colonies produce enough
came to Scotland on a holiday with honey for her to take surplus and
friends, loved it immediately and sell.
never went home to stay. Bushcraft,
she says, is about being outdoors, For the past couple of years, Willow
and Willow was raised outdoors on a has been teaching bushcraft in the
farm. ‘It is what I like best and so I Netherlands for part of each month
developed arts and crafts and skills on a year-long course in 'hunter
that had to do with farming, gathering' culminating in an
expedition in Sweden on which
everything used for survival – from
shelter to clothing to bows, arrows,
spears and cordage to food, cooking
implements and utensils – has been
handmade by participants using
ancient techniques. The same course
will start in the UK next year
(livingbynature.co.uk). Willow also
delivers workshops in Scotland in
which she teaches survival skills,
tracking, ancient technologies and
handcrafts to schools and
community groups.

Always looking to hone her own
skills, Willow joined a winter

expedition this year with 'Lure of the -38°C and decreased to −50°C with
North' in Canada, testing her skills wind chill. Says Willow: ‘You could
using traditional handmade tip out a mug of coffee and it would
garments, boots, mittens and snow freeze and fall like dirty snow.’
shoes (the only exception being a
merino wool underlayer!). The highlight of the trip was walking
on wolf trails; the lowest point was
Temperatures ranged from −18 to frostbite!

In Summertime fin days are lang

(written for the Corgarff Rural Exhibition)

In Summertime fin days are lang For Winter’s early Spring is late
An birdies burstin’ fu’ o’ sang maet An acht lang months yev beasts tae

The lambies runnin’ hither, tither So get up early feed the coos
Amang the hither withir mither Set off fur the Black Faced ewes

In toun folk are on holiday Because fur them we’ve files to ca’
Into the country come to stay Buried deep in drifs o’ snaw

They sometimes lend a helping hand Dig fur neeps, muck the byre
Amang the folk that work the land Tak’ in peat tae stoke the fire

Because it’s noo the fairmers reap Feed the hens, milk the cows
The fodder for their winters keep Sort the feet o’ crippling ewes

The work is hard the day is lang Nae much time to tak’ yer grub
An’ late at night the tractors gang But slip off sometime tae the pub

It’s fine for you the tounsfolk says Files a neebour chance tae meet
Yer rested in the Winter days Folk in the glen ye canna beat

Of course they’re nivver there tae see So if you are aboot the Lecht
Fit fairmers in the Winter dae An o’ the past ye’d like a sight

For in Corgarff that’s far I bide O’ glen life as it used tae go
Ye maun take a’thing in yer stride Ye’ll find us in the Bungalow

RIP Wullie Gray

Fit’s fer denner? Melt butter in a pan, add the flour
and stir. Add the reserved fennel
Usually when I’m away cooking, I liquid and hot milk stirring
prep all my menus in advance, but continuously. Season and add the
sometimes I throw in a few recipes salmon and cook for a few more
ripped out of The Guardian. I'm a minutes. Stir in the fennel and dill
terror with cookbooks, usually and spoon into a baking dish. Top
dismantling them and discarding all with the hard-boiled eggs and spread
but a few pages. Here’s a couple of the potato mixture over and finally
my favourites that never seem to go the grated parmesan.
wrong. Bake about 30–35 min until
browned, crisp and piping hot.
Salmon & Fennel Fish Pie (serves 6):
Easy Lemon & Lime Meringue Pie
350 g fresh fennel bulbs
150 ml dry white wine For the base, melt 75 g butter and
400 ml hot milk stir in 175 g crushed digestive
50 g butter biscuits (I often add ground almonds
50 g flour and oats and keep a bag of this basic
750 g salmon fillet, skinned and cut mix in the fridge for bases). Press
into small pieces into the tin using the back of a spoon
1 tbsp fresh dill to bring it up the sides a good couple
4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped of cm.
For the topping: For the filling, beat a 394 g tin of
800 g King Edward potatoes, peeled sweetened condensed milk with 3
and cut into large chunks egg yolks and the finely grated zest
250 g ricotta cheese and juice of 2 limes and 2 large
4-5 tbsp milk or cream lemons. Pour this mix over the base.
50 g grated parmesan
For the topping, whip 3 egg whites
Cook potatoes in boiling salted water until stiff and then gradually whip in
until tender. Drain. Mash until the sugar and a few drops of vanilla.
smooth (a potato ricer is a wonderful Spoon this over the top.
gadget). Stir in the ricotta, enough
milk to give a creamy texture, a good Bake about 20–25 minutes at 190°C.
knob of butter, and salt and pepper. Leave aside for at least 30 minutes
and serve. It's fine cold, but it's
Cut fennel bulbs into quarters and awesome warm...
discard the core, then slice. Put in a
small pan with the wine and simmer Sally, greatscotts@waitrose.com
until tender. Drain, reserving the
wine.

Steve’s gardening tips ensure a fragrant rather than a
smelly compost. Empty the bin in
So much for summer! If the cold autumn and turn and replace the
weather persists, use fleece to warm contents, incorporating a nitrogen
as well as protect your crops. Blue source such as seaweed meal or
Alkathene 20- or 25-mm pipe, cut another fertiliser. Cover with an old
into 1.5-m lengths and pushed into rug for insulation to allow the
the ground, can be used to make nitrogen to heat it up, kill weed
supporting hoops. Earthing along the seeds and produce a much better
fleece edges will hold it down tight. quality compost.
A little love in a cold climate goes a
long way! Given the huge number of
bumblebees in our garden, the
Sow spring green varieties such as Cotoneaster horizontalis (which,
‘Offenham’ in July/August for greens surprisingly, likes nothing better
in the ‘hungry gap’ next year. If you than climbing a vertical wall) was
have a polytunnel or greenhouse, heaving with bees. However, for
they do even better and can go sheer volume of buzz nothing has
nicely back to back with the summer surpassed the unfurling purple
tomato crop. flowers on the patch of green
Look out for autumn onion sets in manure ‘Phacelia’. (Seeds available
August/September: even the green from the Organic Gardening
parts are sweet and delicious in early Catalogue.)
spring. They’ll do outside but even
better again in a polytunnel or Likewise, the heads of alliums have
greenhouse. been covered with pollinators.
Alliums are a great stalwart in the
Remove the lower leaves of tomato upland garden: they not only look
plants as summer progresses as this impressive but they are reliable and
not only lets in light to aid the resistant to wind, rain, rabbits and
ripening process, but also reduces deer.
the risk of blight.
And thinking of pollinators, please
It’s not too late for late summer help out with a pollinator survey…
salads and even a tiny patch of just spend 10 minutes recording the
ground will produce lots of cut-and- number of insects you see in a
come-again lettuce and rocket. 50 x 50-cm square. All the
information can be found here:
This is a great time of year to build a
compost bin out of old pallets. https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-
However, it’s also a good idea to science/projects/pollinator-monitoring
supply a covering, maybe a couple of
tin sheets, to keep out the rain and

Local businesses

Anne Marchant Dip. NLP. Psychotherapist for body, mind and spirit. Gentle and
effective therapies for physical and emotional problems. 07854 251714.

Belle Ame Beauty Room. Amanda McKnight, beauty therapist, Strathdon,
07786 805083.

Bruce Mackie. Vehicle servicing and repairs. MOT testing. Roughpark.
019756 51735, 07703 520349.

Campbell & Macintosh Ltd. Building contractors, all trades supplied. New builds,
extensions, renovations and greener building solutions.
www.campbellandmacintosh.co.uk, 019756 51458, 07766 758202.

Candysclan Dilly Dally round the Cairngorms. Pack pony strolls around Strathdon.
A stroll with a difference! A picnic! A romantic proposal! Leanne Smith
07946 631171, candysclan@yahoo.com.

Catz Cattery. Milton Farm, Glenbuchat. info@catzcattery.com,
www.catzcattery.com, 07879 240264.

Christine Phelp. Creative designer, painter and enameller. Speciality: bespoke
commissions. 07501 335142.

Craigievar Gardeners. Garden maintenance, landscaping and design.
019756 41778, wendysimpson@hotmail.co.uk. Find us on Facebook.

Derek Gray’s Horse and Carriage. www.oddsocksenterprises.co.uk.

Donside Slating and Plant. Brian Mackie, slater and roofer. 019756 51257,
07711 488658, brianmackie121@btinternet.com, www.donsideslating.co.uk.

Easterton Garden & Property Services. Gardening, household repairs, decorating,
house checks. 019756 51277

Flame Boiler Services Ltd. Service and repair of oil and biomass heating systems
and oil Agas, oil storage tank replacements, system powerflushes. Charles
McGeachie: flameboilerservices@gmail.com.

Frances Crawford. Artist/tutor. Tuition in all mediums for all levels of ability.
Painting workshops for small groups. Curating/hanging for homes.
francescrawford@yahoo.co.uk, 07974 246118, 019756 51741.

Gavin Smith. Woodcarver. Commissions taken. Contact to discuss subject,
materials, scale etc. 019756 51798.

Gerard Murphy. Photographer. Summer Exhibition, Corgarff Hall, every day to end
September, 10 am to 5 pm. info@gerardmurphy.co.uk.

Heather Smith, architect. heather@heathersmitharchitecture.com,
www.heathersmitharchitecture.com, 07552 128784.

#hensoftheglen. Eggs for sale! £1.50/6, £2.50/12, £1.00/6 bantam eggs. Can deliver
locally (07931 741369) or honesty box outside Eastburn, Glenbuchat.

House of Newe. B&B and events. Airbnb Strathdon, AB368TG. 07833 102055.

Jack’s Bothy and Lonach Lodge. Airbnb Strathdon.

Keystroke Virtual Secretary Services Ltd. Virtual administration support.
Websites. Graphic design. Proofing. 07808 084038, letty@keystrokevss.co.uk.

Ledmacoy Turkeys of Strathdon. 019756 51743, 07745 682232.

Liam Eddie, DJ. Mobile disco. 07547 713793.

Melanie Baldwin. Remedial massage therapist, practises 2 days per month in
Glenbuchat. 01651 851072, melbaldwin@weledaadviser.co.uk.

Mossat Plant Nursery, Craiglogie Cottage, Mossat. 07837 659225,
deeross354@btinternet.com.

PLAN A ELECTRICAL. All your current needs. All types of electrical installation work,
fault-finding, inspection and testing (including PAT testing and EICR), cabling, etc.
07535 312759, contact@planaelectrical.com.

Old Semeil: soft fruit from the garden: 3-lb bags of frozen redcurrants @ £3.
019756 51343.

Rona Insch, clinical hypnotherapist, specialist in psychological trauma, PTSD,
anxiety, stress. 07745 770516, info@ronainsch.com, www.ronainsch.com.

Small Prints Photography. Donna Gray. www.smallprintsphotography.co.uk.

Stewart Hunter. Furniture from oak whisky barrels. Commissions taken.
hunter258@btinternet.com.

The Garden House, Old Semeil, Strathdon AB36 8XJ. Self-catering accommodation,
sleeps six. May–October, £65 per night. 019756 51343, https://thegardenhouse.info,
philandgill.cook@btinternet.com.

Waterside Computer Services. Computer support and advice with slow PCs, email
and internet issues. 019756 51354, max_input@hotmail.com.

Weaver's Cottage, Belnacraig, Glenbuchat. Cosy self-catering cottage for let with
beautiful south-facing views. Sleeps four. Well-behaved dogs welcome. 019756 41341
www.weavers-cottage.org, Airbnb Weaver's Cottage Strathdon.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact fitsgandoune@gmail.com for continued free inclusion. Advertisements
are always available on the Fit’s Gan Doune webpage for £25.00/year.

Contacts

Glenkindie Central Garage & Shop
Vehicle servicing, MOTs, convenience store, post office, fuel (019756 41230)
Mon–Fri: 8 am to 6 pm; Sat: 8 am to 2 pm; Sun: 10 am to 2 pm

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Goodbrand & Ross, Corgarff, tearoom, gift shop, ski and board hire
Daily 9 am to 5 pm (019756 51433, www.goodbrandandross.co.uk)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Spar Bellabeg Licensed Grocer and Post Office (019756 51211)
Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri: 8 am to 8 pm; Tues, Sat: 8 am to 6 pm; Sun: 10 am to 2 pm

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Strathdon Medical Centre
Surgery opening hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9–11.15 am and 3–5.15 pm
Tues and Thurs 9–11.15 am (019756 51209)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Corgarff Hall –019756 51474
Glenbuchat Hall –019756 41713
Lonach Hall –07719 846304
Towie Hall –019755 71737

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dustbin pick-ups: alternating Wednesdays (landfill from 10 July; recycling
from 3 July)
(https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/Apps/Waste-Collections/)

Ewan and Steph offer a warm welcome at the Steading Bar

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________