Winter Programme

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Photo: Patrick Mueller

There’s a lot of fun to be had in the great outdoors in winter! Crunching across frosty grass, smelling the crisp cold air, admiring the patterns on fallen leaves, spying sleepy ladybirds tucked under trees’ bark, jumping around in snow, and seeing how far your shadows stretch in the low winter sun...

If you have any questions or suggestions, then please Contact Us.

Winter Programme Topics

General Topics

All About Winter

Jock o' Bennachie has lots to tell you about what’s going on in winter! Find out about when Winter begins and just what is the Winter Solstice and the Winter changes on Bennachie.

Winter Wildllife

Learn more about the Winter Wildlife on Bennachie and the surrounding areas.

Becoming A Winter Nature Detective

Although wintery forests and woodland can seem quiet, in fact lots of animal activity will be going on all around you.

Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team

Many people are surprised to discover that there is a Mountain Rescue Team based in Aberdeen.

Winter Activities

Jock o' Bennachie has loads of fun winter activities for you to enjoy so start exploring!

Feeding Birds in Autumn

Give your birds a helping hand by feeding them in Autumn is important.

Jock o' Bennachie

Folklore has it that long long ago, Bennachie was guarded by a huge giant called Jock o' Bennachie. Learn more about Jock in this section.

Watch

These are collection of interesting videos that we have collected for you, including some that the Bailies have recorded on Bennachie ourselves.

Activities

These are a collection of exciting activities primarily aimed at Primary School, however, which can be enjoyed by everyone.

Resources

Our resource library (primarily aimed at Primary School children) has grown rapidly and we welcome new suggestions.

Spring Programme

Learn more about our various topic programmes in this section.

Autumn Programme

Autumn starts in September. Browser on online information about Autumn and how animals cope with the colder conditions.

Summer Programme

The Bailies have created some fun nature activities that you can participate in over the summer holidays.

Peter Stock

Trustee & Office Bearer

I have lived in Kemnay since 1985. I have the joy of seeing Bennachie and Millstone Hill from the end of my driveway every day, so the range has been a part of my life these past 40 years. I am a chartered civil engineer, with my work experience being in the oil industry. I have developed my interest in classical guitar and am a founding member of the Northeast Scotland Classical Guitar Society, which is now in its 20th year.

I retired in 2016 which was the starting pistol for me to pursue my personal interests, including volunteering at Castle Fraser, attending undergraduate modules at Aberdeen University in music, Scottish history and mathematics. I am interested in hill walking but not at the Munro bagging level. I became a Hill Warden in January 2020 and was elected a Trustee in July 2020.

During my tenure as Chair (appointed Spring 2022), I have participated in many aspects of the Bailies including establishing governance and planning and implementing the 50th anniversary celebrations. However, my proudest achievement was participating in developing and communicating our new motto, A Voice for the Hill, which I still find inspiring and thought provoking.

Allan Will

Trustee & Office Bearer

I was brought up on a farm in Midmar where Bennachie was always in sight, then moved to the Inverurie area in 1991 and have lived and worked here since then.

I enjoy getting out on my road bike and also chapping my way round the golf course.

I wanted to be an Archaeologist when I was a wee boy and by chance, a few years back I spotted a Bailies advertisement looking for volunteers on an archaeology dig on the slopes of Bennachie. I got in touch and since then have enjoyed getting involved with the various archaeological projects and learning about the stories the hill has to tell.

I joined the Bennachie Landscapes Project in 2018 and became a Trustee in April 2023.

Alan Henderson

Trustee & Office Bearer

I have enjoyed hillwalking on Bennachie for over 35 years since moving to Aberdeen to go to university. I am very lucky to have a view of Bennachie from our front door.

After working in Nigeria and the United States for almost 15 years, I have now retired and moved back to the area permanently and am delighted to have been appointed a trustee.

David Bale

Trustee

I have a lifelong interest in all aspects of nature and land use, with particular emphasis on plants and birds. I have a degree in Botany/Zoology with ecology and a PhD in peatland ecology. I have had the privilege of working in statutory nature conservation bodies, the Nature Conservancy Council and its Scottish successor body, Scottish Natural Heritage for 30 years dealing with land management, outdoor recreation and planning issues related to statutory nature conservation sites and protected species. Since then, I have been active with the Bailies as a member of the Bennachie Wildlife Group. When this was established in 2016, I led a 6-session plant identification programme helping people to understand how to look for the features that distinguish various species growing in the area, so that they gain confidence in plant identification for themselves. Using the same approach in principle, I also lead walks looking at the plants of the moorland, woodlands, blanket bogs and fen habitats of Bennachie, and their relationship with past and present land uses on the hill. I also lead week long wildflower holidays for the Aigas field centre in the Highlands, focusing on how to identify plants, their habitats and ecology. Listening out for birds and drawing attention to them always features as part of my walks.

I am actively involved with a steering group on behalf of the Bailies developing plans to promote management of the habitats and species of the Bennachie area. When finalised, after consultation with the various interested parties, including landowners, these will be used to promote and undertake practical management to enhance the wildlife and habitat value of the hill and make them more resilient to climate change.

Lorna Bell

Trustee

I spent my childhood in Blairdaff with Bennachie as my back drop. My first memories of walking on the hill are from the 1970s when I took part in the annual Christian Aid Walks as well as hillwalking with the Guides whilst on camp near the Donview Centre – getting slightly lost if I remember!

I now live near Dunecht so not moved far and still enjoy the outdoors – hillwalking as well as wildlife and birdwatching, gardening and charity volunteering.

I am a member of the Bennachie Wildlife Group and became a Trustee in April 2021.

David Caney

Trustee

I moved to Kemnay with my family in 1999 and since then Bennachie has been a wonderful playground for family walks and cycles.

The area is very ‘user friendly’ with a fantastic network of paths that show off all the grand views, forestry, archeology and wildlife.

Being retired, I have now joined the Bailie Work Parties that help maintain access and as a new trustee I’d like to see Bennachie more accessible to those less able to reach it.

Alex Doig

Trustee

The outdoors, in particular hills and mountains have always drawn me to them as special places. From the Angus Glens to the Himalayas and mountains in between, they’ve provided many challenges and given me so many happy memories. I moved to Inverurie with my wife nearly 30 years ago and Bennachie has impressed itself upon us ever since.

Rising above the Garioch, Bennachie is so accessible and has so much character, it is difficult to stay away. My best friend Margo (the Irish Setter) and I love exploring the paths and crags of Bennachie and Millstone two, three, sometimes more, times a week, all year round. It can be a busy place, so we often head up early morning or late at night to make the most of the quiet that can be found a short drive from our front door.

I’m passionate about keeping Bennachie as litter-free as possible and take great satisfaction in seeing how much the bins that the Bailies have installed are used by responsible members of the public. I have a terrible memory, so love taking photos to look back on and reminisce over, skills which I enjoy using as Publications Trustee.

Emma Forsyth

Trustee

Growing up in the shire meant Bennachie was part of my childhood. It has become a place I greatly enjoy for walking, running and spending time in nature, both with my children and as an important way for me to unwind after work and travel. Over time, this has given me a deeper appreciation for the landscape, history and sense of community connected to the hill.

I am also a parent to two children, and much of my free time is spent outdoors with my family, learning about and enjoying our beautiful and unique Scottish countryside.

Alongside my professional experience in organisational safety and sustainability improvement, I am passionate about supporting community-focused initiatives that help preserve local heritage, wildlife and safe access to the outdoors for future generations.

Ken Gillan

Trustee

Being born and bred in Aberdeen and moving to Burnhervie in 1995, Bennachie has been a hill which my family and I have enjoyed walking, running and cycling on and around for many years. I had been a member of the Bailies of Bennachie since 2001, but having retired in 2022 decided to participate in some of the volunteer activities of path repair, wildlife camera surveys, stone dyke repair and archaeological digs at Pittodrie Long House. These provided a far deeper understanding of the history and significance of this hill to the local community.

As Projects Trustee, I aim to bring my engineering and project management experience within the oil industry, to support the continued efforts of the Bailies of Bennachie to preserve the wildlife and environment whilst allowing safe access to ensure future generations can enjoy the hill and learn its story.

Anne Watson

Trustee

Born in Aberdeen, but brought up and educated in Inverurie, Bennachie and the Bailies have been a major part of my life. I became a Bailie in 1987, but even before that, I remember moonlit treks through snow, sponsored walks, tree planting, path repairs and (my favourite) the annual Bailies’ picnic at the Back o’ Bennachie.

Having just moved back to Aberdeenshire, after almost 40 years in Fife, I am looking forward to spending more time on and around Bennachie. My two daughters, now grown up, found a love of the outdoors by spending time on the Hill during trips “home”, and I know there are so many opportunities to foster appreciation of the outdoors, awareness and respect for the natural world and care for the environment. I’m now able to revisit the Bailies and became a Trustee in March 2026.

The future Voice for the Hill will come from today’s young people; we can help them find that voice through capturing their interest and helping them enjoy all that Bennachie has to offer.

Stella Gauld

Trustee & Office Bearer

I was brought up on a farm in Monymusk, with Bennachie visible as our weather barometer every day.

I was heavily involved in motorsport as a hobby and even rallied on the slopes of Bennachie using the road from Woodend to Tillyfour on the Granite City Rally. I left the area in 1994 to take up my hobby professionally before returning in 2006 with a wee boy. He went up Bennachie on my back before managing to walk it himself.

Now living in Kemnay, I luckily get a fabulous view of Bennachie from my window, still using it as a weather barometer! (When the Mither Tap has got a cap, the Garioch lads will get a drap!)

I supported the Bailies with their admin, using skills from my years of co-ordination, press & PR, IT and accounting but from August 2026 have taken a bigger step to become a Trustee, and have the role of Secretary. I am very privileged to help with the Bailies.

Karen Noble

Support Team

Bennachie means home to me. It’s the view of the hill whether you are flying into Aberdeen airport, the drive home after being in Aberdeen or having been north visiting family, when the hill comes into sight, there is that undeniable feeling of being in the right place again. I moved to the area when I was 7 and have lived here, on and off, for most of my life. When we were building our house 20 years ago, I was hopping over the joists in the soon-to-be living room and remember the excitement I felt when I saw how amazing our view of Mither Tap was going to be.

As one of the Bailies of Bennachie admin contractors, I carry out tasks for the hardworking, dedicated Trustees. My role covers the likes of adding posts to the website and social media, submitting articles to local newsletters and recently I was part of the membership update team. Since supporting the Bailies, I have learned so much about the things that happen on the hill, many people will have no idea but there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes and I am very happy to be part of it.

Hugh Fraser

Support Team

Having spent several years in operations within the oil and gas sector, I bring a strong safety-first focus to delivering the Bailies of Bennachie’s goals. My experience in starting and leading community initiatives—including receiving the Aberdeenshire Volunteer Award—has given me a deep appreciation for collaboration and engagement within a community setting.

As Outdoor Coordinator, I am committed to fostering cohesion, supporting volunteers in achieving their goals, and promoting personal development in my supervisory role. Whether through arranging external training, teamwork during events, or offering volunteers hands-on conservation experiences, I strive to ensure that everyone involved feels a sense of belonging while helping to preserve Bennachie’s forest paths and historical sites.

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Winter Programme

Winter Programme Topics

General Topics

Peter Stock

Trustee & Office Bearer

Allan Will

Trustee & Office Bearer

Alan Henderson

Trustee & Office Bearer

David Bale

Trustee

Lorna Bell

Trustee

David Caney

Trustee

Alex Doig

Trustee

Emma Forsyth

Trustee

Ken Gillan

Trustee

Anne Watson

Trustee

Stella Gauld

Trustee & Office Bearer

Karen Noble

Support Team

Hugh Fraser

Support Team