Braemar Mountain Festival 2023
All skill sessions will meet at Castleton Hall unless otherwise indicated. All illustrated talks will take place in Braemar Village Hall.
Thursday 2nd March
6.30pm Mulled drinks at The Mews to celebrate the opening of the fourth festival.
7.00pm Opening Night Procession with Braemar Pipers from the Fife Mews to the Highland Games Pavilion. Flaming torches, skirl of the pipes and a night procession to the iconic Games Pavilion.
7.30pm Mountain Food and Music at the Highland Games Pavilion. Let’s celebrate the start of the Festival weekend with good food, drink and music!
Friday 3rd March
9.00am Introduction to Winter Walking. Join mountain leader Bill Dallas for a full day winter walk with opportunities taken to develop winter skills along the route. Meet at Castleton Hall. Full Day Kit List 10.00am Wildlife Walk with our local guide, Emma O’Shea. Meet at the Keiloch car park near Braemar. 4 hours Kit List & Info
10.30am “Regeneration” an illustrated talk with ecologist and author Andrew Painting. Braemar Village Hall.
2.00pm Braemar History Walk. Join a local expert for a walking tour around the village. Meet outside Invercauld Arms Hotel 1 hour
7.30pm Ceilidh in the village hall with music from The Blaeberries. Bar and stovies. A perennial favourite. Who doesn’t love a good ceilidh?
Saturday 4th March
9.00am Introduction to Ski Touring with Di Gilbert. An ideal opportunity for skiers new to mountain ski touring to develop their skills and confidence. Full day. Kit List Participants should be confident piste skiers and have a good level of general hill fitness.
9.00am Introduction to Navigation Skills with Derek Edge. For those with little or no map and compass skills. Meet at Castleton Hall. Half day. Kit List
9.30am Introduction to Winter Skills with Mountaineering Scotland. Join Ben Gibson who will guide you through all the essential skills for the Scottish winter conditions. Meet at Castleton Hall. Full day. Kit List & Info
10.00am Glen Ey Walk with The Cairngorm Club’s Ken Thomson and Judy Middleton, followed by tea and cake. Perfect! Meet at Inverey car park (Grid Ref NO 089 892) 5 hours Kit List
10.00am Intro to Cross Country Skiing. Nordic Huntly Ski Club will be offering taster sessions in cross country skiing at Braemar Golf Club. All equipment is provided. Weather dependent! Full refund provided if there is insufficient snow.
10.30am “Montane Woodlands“, a talk by Shaila Rao, head ecologist at NTS Mar Lodge featuring the film “Keystone” with Dave MacLeod. Braemar Village Hall.
11.30am Intro to Cross Country Skiing. Nordic Huntly Ski Club will be offering taster sessions in cross country skiing at Braemar Golf Club. All equipment is provided. Weather dependent! Full refund provided if there is insufficient snow.
1.00pm Intro to Cross Country Skiing. Nordic Huntly Ski Club will be offering taster sessions in cross country skiing at Braemar Golf Club. All equipment is provided. Weather dependent! Full refund provided if there is insufficient snow.
1.30pm Sabrina Verjee – ‘Where There’s a Hill‘ talk and Q&A, followed by book signing. Ultra runner Sabrina took the Wainwright Round record to below 6 days on her fourth attempt. Braemar Village Hall.
1.30pm Mountain First Aid with Phil Glennie Phil returns to the Festival to instruct mountain orientated first aid skills. Meet at Braemar Mountain Rescue Centre. Please come prepared for part of the session being outside. Half day.
2.00pm Braemar History Walks. Join a local guide for a walking tour around the village. Meet outside Invercauld Arms Hotel 1 hour
2.30pm Intro to Cross Country Skiing. Nordic Huntly Ski Club will be offering taster sessions in cross country skiing at Braemar Golf Club. All equipment is provided. Weather dependent! Full refund provided if there is insufficient snow.
5.00pm Snow Running Race at Glenshee Ski Centre – see their website for details https://www.snowrunning.uk/
7.30pm Scottish Climbing Night. An evening with Guy Robertson, Greg Boswell and Hamish Frost – including Tall Cliffs and Lost Pigeons, St Kilda Adventures Aboard the Half Light. Prepare to be blown away by Hamish’s stunning photography and Guy’s climbing. Plus Greg Boswell’s Winter Climbing Presentation. Greg often pairs up with Guy to push the boundaries of Scottish winter climbing. Licensed bar. Braemar Village Hall.
Sunday 5th March
9.00am Guided Ski Tour with Di Gilbert. As with all our ski sessions this comes with a no-snow-refund-guarantee. Book with confidence for your day out with Di. Full day. Kit List Participants should be confident piste skiers and have a good level of general hill fitness.
9.00am Intermediate Navigation Skills with Derek Edge. For those wishing to develop and enhance their navigation skills and confidence. Meet at Castleton Hall. Half day. Kit List
9.00am Hill run with Sabrina Verjee. Join Sabrina and Deeside Runners for a sociable run from Castleton Hall. It will be tailored to all hill running abilities 1 -2 hours Kit List
9.30am Winter Mountaineering 1:4 with Mountaineering Scotland. A session on more advanced winter skills for those looking to develop their abilities. Meet at Castleton Hall. Full day Kit List & Info
10.00am Ecology Walk with Andrew Painting. A walk through the naturally regenerating pine woods of Glen Quoich. Meet at Linn of Quoich car park. (Grid Ref: NO 117 910) Bring a packed lunch. 4 hours Kit List
10.00am Visit the Braemar Mountain Rescue Centre. Team members will show you round their centre – see the vehicles, equipment and learn more about their voluntary work. Info
1.30pm The Jacobites – Talk with Braemar History Group – We all know a little about the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite Rebellions, but we do not know so much about what it was like to live as a Jacobite. Join us to hear and see the fascinating facts on life as a Jacobite. Braemar Village Hall.
3.30pm Iain Cameron – The Vanishing Ice, a talk about Scotland’s disappearing patches of snow. Braemar Village Hall.
7.30pm Brit Rock Film Tour visits Braemar Mountain Festival. We wrap up the Festival with three cracking films as the Brit Rock Film Tour rolls into town. Braemar Village Hall. Licensed bar. Licensed to thrill…