Trees For Life Ticket Portal

20 September 10 - 4pm 

A journey through time as we explore the wild and historic estate of Dundreggan to hear seasonal stories, mythology and lore of the Highland folk throughout the ages.

Monday 3rd November 2025

6:30pm to 8pm & 8:30 to 10:00pm 

Enjoy a nights stay at Dundreggan by booking a room directly using code GLOW20 for 20% off. 

As seen in BBC news! After the last event's popularity, we're pleased to welcome back nature guide David Atthowe for an extraordinary adventure into the fascinating world of biofluorescence! Biofluorescence is a unique phenomenon where certain organisms emit light in different colors than the ones they absorb, and we will embark on a guided walk to discover this captivating natural phenomenon up close.

With UV torches provided, we will venture into the darkness to witness a stunning display of biofluorescent organisms in their natural habitat. From fungi to insects and plants, we will encounter a diverse array of species that come alive with vibrant hues of green, blue, red, purple, orange, and more, revealing Nature’s hidden spectacles.

This guided walk is suitable for anyone aged 8 years and above, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Please come prepared with warm clothing as the pace of the walk is slow. We recommend sturdy shoes as the terrain is uneven (walking boots ideal, but trainers adequate) and wearing trousers to avoid stinging nettles. Safety glasses will be provided and must be worn throughout the walk for your protection.

Don’t miss this opportunity to delve into the enchanting world of biofluorescence and uncover the wonders that await in the darkness. Join us for an unforgettable experience that will open your eyes to the breathtaking beauty of nature’s hidden secrets. Book your spot now and get ready for an awe-inspiring adventure!

Maximum distance 2 miles.

Sunday 17th August, 1pm-3pm

This workshop is for nature lovers of all ages. Join naturalist Dan Puplett of Dan Puplett Nature Awareness and discover fun and memorable ways to explore the wild world. You will learn:

• Top tips for spotting wildlife

• How to be a nature detective

• Recognising bird calls (and what they mean)

• Using your senses fully

• How to become (almost) invisible!

• How to move quietly like a nature ninja

• How to start a nature journal

• Ways your observations can help wildlife

• Tips on choosing and using binoculars

• And more!

We will take a walk around part of the estate honing our skills and getting to know the fantastic biodiversity around us. This walk will be inspiring for young naturalists while adults will also find it valuable for getting to know the nature in more depth.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

24th May 10-4pm and 10 August 10-4pm

Explore the ancient woodlands of Dundreggan to learn more about our relationships with plants and the connections between Scotland’s people and the land. Trace the footsteps of generations past to uncover the secrets of native plants and their historical significance, traditions and uses deeply rooted in Highland lore.

From the delicate crafting of herbal sachets infused with the essence of the land to the exploration of ancient medicinal practices, our hands-on activities promise a day brimming with discovery and learning.

Please bring a notebook and pen and a packed lunch.
Suitable for ages 18+

Sunday 25 May & 21 September 10 - 4pm 

Experience an immersive and embodied Wild and Wellbeing Day Retreat at the majestic Rewilding estate of Dundreggan located in the heart of the Highlands. A place of profound beauty, surrounded by wild rivers and ancient trees. This retreat is located in a landscape saturated with myth and magic. Arrive and take a deep breath in of the pure forest air, relax into the stillness of the surrounding ancient woodland.

We will explore and ground into our bodies with a warming yoga class in our bright open movement space, followed by a nourishing lunch in our cafe. After lunch we will venture into the woods and explore the power of forest bathing and breathwork.

Coming together by the fire to relax and hear ancient ancestral stories of the land with a warm cuppa in our hands.

Experience a day of rejuvenation, reconnecting and rewilding yourself through mindfulness, movement and nature immersion.

Suitable for ages 18+. Lunch is included in the ticket price (two savoury items, one hot or cold drink and a cake/traybake. Savoury items include soup, salads, tarts and pastries). Please let us know of any dietary requirements by emailing info@visitdundreggan.co.uk or calling 01320 340 380 after booking.

Sunday 19th October

9:30 to 12:30pm and 1:30 to 4:30pm 

Unlock your creativity with a fun wand-carving workshop!

This great introduction to carving involves learning different techniques using a carving knife to make your very own wand. Carve a hollow spiral handle, add fine details then cast your own spells!

Minimum age is 12 years old. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Saturday 10th May 1pm-3pm

What would an oak tree, a badger, or a damselfly say to you about what’s happening in the natural environment?  In this Creative Writing Poetry Session, you will be guided to explore such conversations between Nature and Humanity in relation to the Climate Crisis.  By the end of the session, you will have these calls and responses shaped into a poetic form to take away with you.

No previous poetry writing experience is required as you will be guided through each step.  Please bring your own pens.

Suitable for ages 14 and over.  Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.

About Caroline

Caroline Burrows’s first full poetry collection Verse Cycles was published by indie-press The Jawbone Collective in 2024.  Her most recent performance was at this year’s Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival. Caroline’s poetry has appeared on BBC Radio 4, BBC Sky at Night Magazine, and Kendal Adventure Film Festival.  She’s been Poet in Residence at Cromarty Arts Trust, shortlisted for best show in the Saboteur Awards for her one-woman poetry tour ‘Turning Pedals into Poems’, and named one of Cycling UK’s #100WomenInCycling.  She’s written poetry commissions for Glenside Hospital Museum, Bristol Ideas, and Triodos: The Ethical Bank.  Her short stories have been published in The National Flash Fiction Anthology, and The Charles Causley Trust.  Articles about her literary cycling adventures have appeared in Cycle, and Adventure Cyclist Magazines.

IG/Twitter:X/Facebook/YouTube/Linktree: @VerseCycle 

Join professional photographer and filmmaker Will Hall and explore the wonder of the Highlands in glorious summer. Learn the basics of photography and wildlife photography before advancing onto more complex skills which will allow you to get the most out of your camera.

Dundreggan offers the perfect backdrop for this one-day course with its abundance of wildlife. You'll learn how to compose an image and how to capture the moment every time.

This is the perfect course for beginner and intermediate photographers and you're guaranteed to learn something new while immersing yourself in the iconic Scottish landscape.

Equipment required: digital camera, ideally DSLR. You may wish to bring a tripod and flash, although these aren't essential. Suitable clothing and footwear to be out in the elements on sometimes rough terrain.

There will be a short break for a snack. Lunch and snacks are available for purchase in our cafe, An Nead.

Minimum age 16 years. 16 and 17 year olds must be accompanied by an adult.

October 18th -  9:30am to 5pm

Come along to Dundreggan to carve your very own spoon with our experienced wood carver, Chris. This is a great all round introduction to the principles, tools and techniques of green wood working as well as an opportunity to hone your skills and go deeper. The course will involve axing out the rough spoon shape and then refining it with different knives. An immersive experience with the opportunity to explore what wood is as well as how to carve it. Take away your own spoon at the end of the day to use and admire.

Please be aware that this course involves some repetitive axe work and whittling which can be hard work on your arms and hands. Your tutor Chris can help you with some of the work but be prepared that this is a physical course and please wear suitable warm work clothing as we'll be in the tipi at Dundreggan.

Minimum age 12. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Feel free to bring your own packed lunch or you can buy lunch at our cafe.

Jenny Sturgeon is a Scottish singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist. Her music combines field recordings with sonic and lyrical imagery which is bound together by common threads of nature, folklore and the connection people have with the landscape

Patsy Reid has become one of the most admired fiddle players in the UK. She is a one-woman string quartet, contributing violin, viola and cello and combines skills and techniques from both traditional and classical backgrounds.

Saturday 9 August 10 - 4pm

A journey through time as we explore the wild and historical estate of Dundreggan to hear the stories, mythology and lore of the highland folk throughout the ages.

Following the sell-out premiere at The Hidden Gardens in Glasgow in 2023, Glisk are delighted to present the music from Stories of People and Trees on tour in Scotland. Cellist Jessica Kerr began Stories of People and Trees in 2022 by collecting stories of much loved trees from people around Scotland. A beautiful collection of stories gradually grew; a lone Scots Pine that inspired a tree photographer, a steadfast Rowan, a tiny Cherry, a Glasgow Ginkgo that offers shade to a diverse local community - stories of love and memory, resilience and beauty. Commissioned by Glisk, seven composers drew on these stories to inspire new music written for the quartet which, like the trees, ranges across a variety of styles and genres, and celebrates in musical form the trees themselves and the people behind the stories. Interwoven in performance with collected stories and reflections on our connection to nature, Stories of People and Trees is a joyful celebration of our relationships with the arboreal wonders around us.

www.storiesofpeopleandtrees.com

Glisk are a contemporary string quartet based in Glasgow, made up of violinists Helen Zambrano Quispe and Kirsty Orton, violist Sheila McKail and cellist Jessica Kerr. The composers for Stories of People and Trees are: Lisa Robertson - inspired by A Requiem or Celebration for Ash; James Ross - inspired by The Apricot Tree; Emily Scott - inspired by A Winter Solstice; Rylan Gleave - inspired by The Scots Pine, as seen by the tree photographer; Paul Towndrow - inspired by The Fossil Grove; Thomas Djønne - inspired by The Climbing Tree; and Gráinne Brady - inspired by The Family Lilac.

Floral Wool Wreath Workshop 29 June

10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm

Create Your Own Stunning Summer Floral Wreath with Forest and Dot!Join us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn to craft a beautiful, handmade summer wreath—the perfect addition to your home!

Beginner-friendly—no experience needed!

Learn a new skill while working with natural materials.

Personalise your wreath with a selection of dried flowers.

You’ll start by creating a wreath base using gorgeous Shetland wool, then decorate it in your own unique style with a variety of locally sourced dried flowers. All materials provided.

Meet Your Tutor:
Sophie from Forest and Dot is a fibre arts expert with over 8 years of teaching experience, from Glastonbury Festival to the School of Arts. Passionate about nature, her work is inspired by the breathtaking landscapes of the Scottish Highlands.
Come and get creative in this relaxing, nature-inspired workshop!

Notes: ages 8 and older, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Saturday 27th September 10am-2pm
£50 per ticket (price includes lunch in An Nead Cafe)

The natural world around us offers so many beautiful colours and tones! Join Helen Woolston from Studio Kompost for this workshop where you'll learn how to create water-based inks from foraged berry and plant material, and have a look at different approaches to take depending on the type of material used. You’ll try a variety of mark-making techniques to test out the possibilities of these colours, and build up a series of colour swatches which can be used for reference for future art projects.

Natural ink making is an ongoing process of experimentation, discovery and wonder. You will notice that your living inks change over time, and can be quite wonderfully unpredictable!

About Helen (Studio Kompost):
I primarily work in the media of stop-motion, hand-drawn and experimental animation, though my work also involves drawing, printmaking, puppetry and photography.I am a keen advocate of finding creative inspiration from the outdoors and I like to consider how artwork can relate to the natural environment, via material use or themes. I also work and volunteer for habitat restoration organisations, and find this is a beneficial way to directly link my creative work to the natural world.

In 2022, Studio Kompost was commissioned to make an animation for Trees for Life, using natural inks made from native Highland plants. The resulting film is shown daily at the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre.

Sunday 11 May

We are delighted to be welcoming Rody Gorman to give a talk on and reading from his book Sweeney: an Intertonguing, copies of which will be available to purchase on the day. This event is part of a series celebrating the 2024 Highland Book Prize Longlist, supported by the William Grant Foundation. 

Rody Gorman was born in Dublin and lives on the Isle of Skye. He has published numerous collections of poetry in Irish, English and Scottish Gaelic. His most recent collection Sweeney: An Intertonguing (Francis Boutle, 2024) has been longlisted for The Highland Book Prize.

Sweeney: An Intertonguing is an ambitious multilingual work that recasts the medieval text The Frenzy of Sweeney into English, Irish and Scottish Gaelic

This event is presented in partnership with The Highland Book Prize. The Highland Book Prize celebrates books written in or about the Scottish Highlands & Islands and is facilitated Moniack Mhor, Scotland’s Creative Writing Centre, and presented by the Highland Society of London.

Please ensure you bring cash if you wish to purchase a copy of the book.

Saturday 31 May

Join us for a lively Highland Cèilidh at the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre! Enjoy an unforgettable evening of cèilidh dancing and songs in Scottish Gaelic and English, led by acclaimed musicians Brian Ó hEadhra (guitar & vocals) and Melanie Simpson (accordion). Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or a complete beginner, everyone is welcome - bring your friends and family for a true taste of Highland hospitality and culture!

You are welcome to BYOB. Soft drinks and snacks will be available to purchase on arrival (please note that we are cashless: we accept all card types).

Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.