Nature walks
Campfire Tales Friday 9th October 2026 at 7pm.
Warning
Laikenbuie is a wild place. Paths are rough, stoney and wet in places. We plan to improve them but you must be aware to avoid tripping. If you prefer wide level tracks for your walk we suggest you visit Laiken Forest, Cawdor Woods or Culbin Forest which are all nearby. Laikenbuie is about letting nature do it’s own thing.
From everywhere we are being bombarded with bad news about our natural environment. It is easy to lose heart and stop believing that the little we can each do to help is too little, too late. The more we care about these things, the harder it is not to fall into despondency and the more we need to be reminded of our need for courage and creativity.
This woodland walk will help relieve this despondency and reveal that we should act in belief and hope as it shows the natural beauty and potential when nature is intentionally left undisturbed. It will help us understand how this is not a short-lived undertaking but one that will outlive us all. The Laikenbuie Ecology Trust is just that- the clue is in the name – Trust that what you commit to and do is worthwhile, and Trust that the huge wealth of flora and fauna now inhabiting this lovely glen will be here for generations to come. Adapted from The Riches at Our Feet by Kate Ashton June 2023.
Future events - dates to be confirmed.
Past Events.
20. Dusk Chorus.
17th Apr 2025
This was originally organised for the Inverness Feminine Bird Club but extra places were taken up by local people with a total of 25 attending. It was a successful evening with the Woodcock displaying on cue.
Donations £40
19. Northwoods Partners.
20th Mar 2025
5 of our Partners attended from Grantown, Poolewe and Beauly on a fine sunny day. Much information was shared from Holly Leaf Mites to an Ichneumonid Wasp found on a Birch tree trunk and we certainly enjoyed their visit and inputs.
18. Secret Lives.
22nd Feb 2025
14 attended this walk for Fornighty Wildlife Group led by Dan Puplett. A successful event about which one of the guests said, ‘Loads of very useful information, very informative. Inclusive for everybody from kids to adults. Lovely setting.’
Donations £72
17. Solstice Walk.
21st Dec 2024
9 attended despite the walk being almost cancelled due to a bad weather forecast. Luckily it remained dry for the two hours from 10am and everyone had a calm walk before Christmas. It could just as easily been a wash out!
Donations £4
16. Fungal Foray.
10th Oct 2024
16 attended this event led by local fungi enthusiast Paul Hibberd. His wide knowledge of the subject made it a most interesting walk.
Donations £74
15. Butterflies of Meadow & Wood
24th Aug 2024
Not the best day for seeing butterflies, but we had a fun group of 9 attending. There were many other plants and animals about, but we did see Peacock, Small Copper and Green-veined White butterflies.
Donations £39
14. Dragonflies & Damselflies.
20th July 2024
A great dragonfly afternoon was had with lots of species showing up. Highlight was definitely this Golden-ringed Dragonfly, a new species for the site! 10 species of D&Ds have now been recorded here this summer. Thanks to everyone who came along 😊
Donations £40
13. Fornighty Wildlife Group.
13th July 2024
The Group used Laikenbuie as a venue and were joined by a few of our regulars making up the numbers to 10. It was a great dragonfly walk, many great species were seen despite poor weather. We even had a bonus Emperor Moth caterpillar!
Donations £26
12. Moray Walking & Outdoor Festival – Dawn Chorus.
15th June 2024
10 participants bought tickets for this event which two days prior was forecast to be a washout. However it was a beautiful morning with full sunshine from the 6am start. Much singing was heard including reed bunting, blackcap, sedge warbler, linnet, chiffchaff, yellowhammer and greylag goose.
Ticket sales £80
11. Bluebells and Spring flowers.
25th May 2024
4 came on this Saturday walk on a warm sunny morning. Being an early spring the bluebells were just past their best, but the first orchids were out.
Donations £35
10. Introduction to Laikenbuie.
5th May 2024
12 local conservation volunteers came on this walk offered as a thank you for help elsewhere and a chance to see the woodland and wetland here.
Donations £0
9. Dusk Chorus.
27th Apr. 2024
18 attended this walk which started just after the rain stopped. A pair of woodcock performed well, but the snipe was elusive. Song thrushes, robins, wrens and willow warblers made up for this.
Donations £53
8. Lawns, to cut or not to cut.
30th Mar. & 3rd Apr. 2024
4 people attended these two events, less than hoped for, but there were 37 Likes on Nairn Rocks!! so hopefully we have started some conversations.
Donations £10
7. Drumduan Steiner School
4th September 2023
7 pupils from Year 1 handled hens and sheep, learnt about egg and wool production, and the importance of woodland to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.
6. Fungal Foray
27th August 2023 at 2.30-4.30pm.
Local fungi enthusiast Paul Hibberd gave a guided walk to discover more about the ecology, identification, edibility and folklore of fungi. We look forward to his return next year. 6 visitors plus 2 helpers.
Donations £45.
5. Woodland walk
20th August 2023 at 2.30-4.30pm.
A sunny afternoon and a photo of Grass of Parnassus. 20 visitors plus 2 helpers.
Donations £75.
4. Woodland walk
6th August 2023 at 2.30-4.30pm.
A sunny afternoon with Butterwort catching flies and Grass of Parnassus starting to flower. 21 visitors plus 3 helpers.
Donations £72.
3. Woodland walk
23rd July 2023 at 2.30-4.30pm.
A dry afternoon with red clover and meadow sweet particularly noticeable. 14 visitors plus 3 helpers.
Donations £105.
2. Woodland walk
9th July 2023 at 2.30-4.30pm.
A sunny afternoon with dragon and damselflies over the ponds. 17 visitors plus 3 helpers.
Donations £115.
1. Woodland walk
25th June 2023 at 2.30-4.30pm.
A wet afternoon in a period of dry weather, but enjoyed by all. Many orchids were flowering. 17 visitors plus 5 helpers.
Donations £75.
Laikenbuie Ecology Trust is Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation [SCIO] No. SC051617. Registered on 01.03.2022.
Address: Laikenbuie, Grantown Road, NAIRN IV12 5QN. Email: info@LaikenbuieEcologyTrust.org.uk