The Cairngorms Nature Festival is this weekend and there is something for everyone from Watery Winged Wonders to gaelic hill walking !

With dozens of events planned, the Festival will be a Park-Wide weekend of celebration where people can get first-hand experience of some of the outstanding wildlife that lives and grows here in the Cairngorms National Park.

There will be something for all the family, children will delight in pond dipping and searching for wee beasties with a ranger at Cambus O’ May in Deeside, or joining the  ‘Nest Quest’ with experienced ecologists and discovering amazing wood ants in Badenoch and Strathspey.  The more adventurous can go on an all-day hill walk and find out how gaelic names reveal the hidden secrets of the past, or spend a night with the ranger on the rumbling river Nethy.

TV’s Nick Baker is speaking in Aboyne on Saturday night, he will be talking about some of the more unusual beasties in the Cairngorms and also judging the finalists of the Cairngorms Nature Schools Art Competition.

On Sunday evening there is a special event at Boat Village Hall,  BBC Scotland’s new series Highlands – Scotland’s Wild Heart starts this week on BBC1 and you can join broadcaster Pennie Latin in conversation with award-winning filmmaker Nigel Pope and discover the stories behind the stunning scenes captured for the show.  Tickets are free but do need to be booked.

There are photography activities to enjoy with special sessions on Glen Tanar and Rothiemurchus and of course the Cairngorms Photo Post Challenge – can you get around all 14 in a weekend?  Whatever you choose you’ll be guaranteed a weekend of fun and the chance to get up close and personal with nature.

The Cairngorms Nature Festival promises to be a weekend of fun for all the family, most events are totally free of charge, but some require booking in advance. There are four main ‘hubs’ at Ballater, Blair Atholl, Aviemore and Tomintoul, head to the Visitor Information Centres for more details.

You can book your place, get more information and find a list of all the events happening throughout the weekend at  www.cairngorms.co.uk