What’s On at Bennachie
Bennachie is host to many fun events throughout the year, from hill races to family holiday fun, there’s always something going on!
If you would like to book the centre for your own event get in touch.
Keep an eye on our Facebook page for up to date information on events. You can download our events privacy notice here.
Bennachie Ultra Marathon
Details will be released here - Bennachie Ultra Marathon (bennachie-ultra-marathon.co.uk)
Art and Craft Fair
Following the disappointment of having to cancel last year due to the storm....we're trying again.
Come along and support your local artists and makers at our autumn / early Christmas craft day.
If you're looking for something fabulous and inspired by Bennachie, nature or our local landscape, then this is the Craft Fair for you! This year we have the following stalls attending (subject to change):
Pottery from The Sheep Shed Studio
Wildlife art, prints, cards and unique pieces from Jane Milloy Wildlife Art and Illustration
Photographic prints and cards from Richard Salway Photographic
Polymer jewellery and gifts from weebonniewonkies
Ceramic bowls and Christmas decorations from Natalie Naylor Ceramics
Cards, prints and gifts from Cerulean Trees
Textile creations from Tickled Collie
Handmade soap from the Linden Soap Co
Handmade wax melts, woodwick candles and more from Ku:ri Home fragrance
Wildlife fine art, hand painted whiskey barrel staves from Colourworx Art
Earthy, artisan, natural jewellery from Rag N Bone Jewellery
Homemade jams, chutneys, toffee and puddings from Homemade Handmade
Original artwork, prints and cards from Roselyne O’neill Art
Books from Fairley Taylor
Luxury dog collars, bow ties and leads from Mopp’s Mum Makes
Doors Open Days Aberdeenshire 2024
Doors Open Days is Scotland’s largest free festival celebrating the built environment. Through providing free unique viewing opportunities to sites of historic, cultural, architectural and community interest, it aims to increase public appreciation and enjoyment of Scotland’s built heritage and promote inclusion in Scotland’s civic spaces and activities.
Come and join in at the Bennachie Visitor Centre!
NEOS 2024
Come and explore our Open Studios at Bennachie
Joining us at the Bennachie Visitor Centre for NEOS are:
No 135 Jenny Evans Artist
No 279 Tickled Collie
No 232 Richard Salway Photographic
No 57 Colourworx Art by Cally Smith
Admission is free. Refreshments available
Come and explore our open studios, make the most of this unique opportunity to visit artists in their creative spaces, chat about their work and find out about their artistic processes.
You will find Open Studios in almost every type of location from custom built studios to private homes, garden sheds, cafes, galleries and more besides, some on high streets and industrial estates and others with staggering views of coast and countryside. Not all our members have accessible studios and will set up in other spaces or get together at group venues. The art and craft is just as varied and interesting, created by artists with a wide variety of experience and inspiration. Part of the fun of North East Open Studios is uncovering artwork you’ll fall in love with in unexpected places.
What all will have in common is the wonderful welcome.
Our yellow signs are a familiar sight across the North East every September, guiding visitors to our artists’ doors. The NEOS book, App and this website shows the opening dates and times for each venue during NEOS and are a great resource to find local artists and makers all year round
Hillgoers - Hill Skills Workshop
Designed to build your confidence and keep you safe in the hills, these workshops are ideal for beginners or for those needing to refresh and keep updated with the latest techniques. The course starts either inside the Bennachie Centre Classroom or in the carpark area for 1.5hr, after which you will be walking on trails, and possibly up the hill too, for the remainder of the day.
Course Content:
Know the code
Understanding maps
An intro to the compass
Navigation Strategies
Use of mobile phone apps, trackers and GPS
Before you go procedures (weather, who to tell, planning your day, etc)
What to take on the hill
Emergency on the hill
Book your place and full details here
Lichens of Birch and Pine Woodlands
This beginner-intermediate course will focus on lichens as they are found in birch and pine woodland.
You will be introduced to some of the characteristic lichen species and their identification characteristics as can be seen with a hand lens in the field, as well as investigate the range of substrata present in these habitats and the specific lichen communities these attract, and aspects of their ecology.
This course will cover:
Characteristic lichen species of birch and pine woodland
Identification of lichens
Lichen substrata and the lichen communities they attract
The contribution of lichens to the ecology of birch and pine woodland
For more details and to book click here.
Woodland Wednesday
Come along to the Bennachie Visitor Centre, join the Garioch Ranger and have some fun doing various activities such as pond dipping and minibeast hunting All equipment will be supplied by the Ranger
Dogs under proper control welcome
Please wear appropriate outdoor clothing and bring wellies
Please bring sunhat and sun protection cream
Woodland Wednesday
Come along to the Bennachie Visitor Centre, join the Garioch Ranger and have some fun doing various activities such as pond dipping and minibeast hunting All equipment will be supplied by the Ranger
Dogs under proper control welcome
Please wear appropriate outdoor clothing and bring wellies
Please bring sunhat and sun protection cream
Hillgoers - Hill Skills Workshop
Designed to build your confidence and keep you safe in the hills, these workshops are ideal for beginners or for those needing to refresh and keep updated with the latest techniques. The course starts either inside the Bennachie Centre Classroom or in the carpark area for 1.5hr, after which you will be walking on trails, and possibly up the hill too, for the remainder of the day.
Course Content:
Know the code
Understanding maps
An intro to the compass
Navigation Strategies
Use of mobile phone apps, trackers and GPS
Before you go procedures (weather, who to tell, planning your day, etc)
What to take on the hill
Emergency on the hill
Book your place and full details here
Needle Felt Workshop
Join local artist and tutor Zoe Robson from Fleece4Ewe to learn the art of needle felting.
Create your own card and picture inspired by nature and the local environment.
COST: £35 (payable in advance & non-refundable) which includes all tuition and materials
Our Privacy Notice can be viewed at www.bennachievisitorcentre.org.uk/whats-on
Booking essential as places are limited email: bennachie.warden@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Talk and Poetry Reading: Homecoming – Ingrid Fraser and Rachel Ferguson
Join us for a morning of poetry and reflection as we delve into the creative process and the journey
behind our current exhibition. Come and listen to the first reading of some of Rachel Ferguson’s
latest poems. In accompaniment Ingrid Fraser will share how the desire to open up a dialogue led to
a very unexpected and invigorating project. “we have stumbled headlong into a dynamic way of
sharing our creativity, finding unexpected connections and friendship along the way.”
Contact the Bennachie Visitor Centre for details/to book a place.
Admission: free
Find Your Voice - A Spring Creative Writing Session
Find your voice this spring through creative writing with Ian Grosz.
We’ll spend some time outside observing nature and the environment, and then we’ll focus on finding our own unique voice through some simple creative writing exercises.
No prior experience required. All you need is a pen, notebook and an interest in creative writing. Suitable for age 16+ and all levels of mobility
COST: Thanks to funding from the Scottish Book Trust the cost is just £5 per person which includes tea and coffee. Payable in advance preferred to save time on the day.
Our Privacy Notice can be viewed www.bennachievisitorcentre.org.uk/whats-on
BOOKING: is essential as places are limited.
email: bennachie.warden@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
MEET: in the Community Room at the Bennachie Visitor Centre
Wildlife Tracks and Signs: An Introduction
This beginner course will introduce you to the ancient art of wildlife tracking. Tracking involves a range of skills. This course will teach you to follow clues, work out what the animal was doing and when, and maybe even find the animal itself.
Tracking is a great way for nature enthusiasts and early conservationists to hone their ability to observe details around them and to build their knowledge of wildlife, specifically their movement and feeding ecology.
What will be covered during this course?
Introduction to mammal and bird foot morphology, how that relates to the tracks we find in the field and helps us identify the trackmaker.
Introduction to commonly found wildlife signs, how to identify these and what they tell us about the animals that left them.
An overview of some of the key techniques for identifying and interpreting tracks and signs including master listing.
This course is eligible for a student discount. If you are a current student, please use discount code BioStudent20 at checkout for 20% off.
Please refer to our website for further information, prices, and to book.
Needle Felt Workshop
Join local artist and tutor Zoe Robson from Fleece4Ewe to learn the art of needle felting.
Create your own card and picture inspired by nature and the local environment.
COST: £35 (payable in advance & non-refundable) which includes all tuition and materials
Our Privacy Notice can be viewed at www.bennachievisitorcentre.org.uk/whats-on
Booking essential as places are limited email: bennachie.warden@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Bird Songs and Calls
Explore the fascinating world of bird songs and calls in this beginner-intermediate course. Learn to identify and interpret the sounds of the birds around you!
This course will cover:
Identifying a range of birds by their songs and other calls
Visual identification using field signs, behaviour, and habitat
Learning to distinguish between alarms, contact calls, territorial calls and other vocalisations
Learning a variety of techniques for memorising bird calls
Applying bird call recognition for surveys and bird conservation
Learning how interpreting bird calls can enable us to see more wildlife
For more information and to book click here.
Bryophytes: An Introduction
This beginner bryophytes course is a great place to start for those taking their first steps into the world of mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.
During this course, you will gain a better understanding of this diverse group, all under the guidance of an engaging and knowledgeable expert in the field. You will learn about their biology and ecology, with the chance to see different types of mosses and liverworts, collect specimens and learn basic field identification tips. With over half of all European moss, liverwort, and hornwort species present in the UK, there is so much to explore!
What will be covered during this course?
An introduction to bryophyte biology
An introduction to bryophyte ecology
An overview of the species diversity within the UK
This course is eligible for a student discount. If you are a current student, please use discount code BioStudent20 at checkout for 20% off.
Please refer to our website for further information and to book.
Hillgoers - Hill Skills Workshop
Designed to build your confidence and keep you safe in the hills, these workshops are ideal for beginners or for those needing to refresh and keep updated with the latest techniques. The course starts either inside the Bennachie Centre Classroom or in the carpark area for 1.5hr, after which you will be walking on trails, and possibly up the hill too, for the remainder of the day.
Course Content:
Know the code
Understanding maps
An intro to the compass
Navigation Strategies
Use of mobile phone apps, trackers and GPS
Before you go procedures (weather, who to tell, planning your day, etc)
What to take on the hill
Emergency on the hill
Book your place and full details here
Pond Life Painting
Join local artists and tutor Jane Milloy for this family art class.
Explore the life of a pond through art and fun games.
Be a hunting creature living deep in the water or discover how to escape from a predator. Learn how to paint wildlife like frogs and dragonflies.
Suitable for accompanied children aged 5 - 8 years old.
COST: £10 per child (payable in advance & non-refundable) which includes all tuition and materials
Our Privacy Notice can be viewed at here.
Booking essential as places are limited Tel: 01467 681470, email: bennachie.warden@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
MEET: Community Room, Bennachie Visitor Centre
Craft Fayre
Everyone is welcome at our autumn/early Christmas Craft Fayre! Supporting our local artists and the Bennachie Centre Trust (SCIO).
From jewellery to books, pottery to paintings...there'll be lots of fabulous Christmas gifts and beautiful items for yourself and your home.
We'll be joined by....
Lorna Purvis Jewellery
Local author Fairley Taylor
Colourworx Art
Glass and more by Judith Glennie
Leather goods from Bennacairn
The Sheep Shed Pottery
Richard Salway Photographic
Natalie Naylor Ceramics
Textiles from Tickled Collie
Jane Milloy Wildlife Art
Entry is free. Refreshments available
Autumn Words - Family
Join local writer Ian Grosz at the Bennachie Visitor Centre for a fun and interactive creative writing session.
We’ll be engaging our senses and bringing our imaginations to life with some fun writing exercises, culminating in a group poem.
Suitable for 8-11 Year Olds accompanied by one parent or guardian. No prior experience required. Pens and paper will be provided. All you need is suitable clothing and some imagination!
Please note: if the weather isn’t suitable we’ll work inside.
COST: Thanks to funding from the Scottish Book Trust the cost is just £5 per child
Payable in advance preferred to save time on the day.
Our Privacy Notice can be viewed on our website
BOOKING: is essential as places are limited. Tel: 01467 681470, email: bennachie.warden@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
MEET: in the Community Room at the Bennachie Visitor Centre
Bennachie Ultra Marathon
Entries open from 1st April, 2023
The Bennachie Ultra Marathon is run in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of Scotish Hill Runners. Photo Id will be required on collection of race number.
Closing date for entries : 1st September, 2023
Race Time: 8.00am, Saturday 14th October 2023
Registration from 6.30am, at the Bennachie Visitors Centre.
If you require any further information do not hesitate to contact the organisers
Call, Push, Rescue
Sign up for FREE CPR training and make sure that you know how to step in and save a life.
Join us in the Community Room for this beginners session on Call Push Rescue and how to use a defibrillator. We'll watch the British Heart Foundation video then practise our skills on CPR manikins.
BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL - deadline is 28th August.
NB: CPR will take place on the floor so please be prepared for this. Loose comfortable clothing advised.
Contact the Bennachie Visitor Centre on 01467 681470 or email bennachie.warden@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Privacy notice can be viewed here.
Straw Working Workshop
Join local artisan Elaine Lindsay from “Something Corny” for this straw working workshop.
Discover this ancient craft, and using a variety of techniques make at least two items to take home.
COST: £25 per person (payable in advance & non-refundable) which includes all tuition, materials, tea and coffee. Please bring your lunch.
Our privacy notice can be viewed here.
BOOKING: is essential as places are limited. Tel: 01467 681470, email: bennachie.warden@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
MEET: in the Community Room at the Bennachie Visitor Centre
Autumn Words - Adults
Join local writer Ian Grosz to try creative writing in a relaxed and informal setting.
We’ll be engaging our senses in the outdoors and bringing our experience to life with some fun writing exercises.
No prior experience required. All you need is suitable clothing, a pen, and a notebook or some paper.
COST: Thanks to funding from the Scottish Book Trust the cost is just £5 per person which includes all tuition and tea and coffee. Payable in advance preferred to save time on the day.
BOOKING: is essential as places are limited. Tel: 01467 681470,
email: bennachie.warden@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
MEET: in the Community Room at the Bennachie Visitor Centre
Our Privacy Notice can be viewed here.
Doors Open Days 2023
Aberdeenshire DoorsOpenDays2023
Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th September
find out more online at www.doorsopendays.org.uk\aberdeenshire
NEOS 2023
We're delighted to have six fabulous artists with us this year.
Colourworx Art by Cally Smith
Richard Salway Photographic
Natalie Naylor Ceramics
Tickled Collie Textiles
Judith Glennie Glass
Phoebe Sleath Painting
Visit the NEOS website for full details https://www.northeastopenstudios.co.uk/
Guided Walk Exploring Bennachie - Aircraft Crashes Memorial Cairn
An anniversary walk to the memorial cairn close to Oxen Craig to commemorate the 3 RAF aircrew who died in 2 aircraft crashes on Bennachie.
Call, Push, Rescue
Sign up for FREE CPR training and make sure that you know how to step in and save a life.
Join us in the Community Room for this beginners session on Call Push Rescue and how to use a defibrillator. We'll watch the British Heart Foundation video then practise our skills on CPR manikins.
BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL - deadline is 28th August.
NB: CPR will take place on the floor so please be prepared for this. Loose comfortable clothing advised.
Contact the Bennachie Visitor Centre on 01467 681470 or email bennachie.warden@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Privacy notice can be viewed here.