Ballater Walking Festival
Ballater Walking Festival takes place on the third week of May every year and welcomes over 100 walkers to Ballater. There are up to 4 walks offered every day ranging from easy, medium, strong and special interest. Transport is either provided by mini bus or car share. Walkers often come to Ballater for the whole week and walk most days.
Ballater Walking Festival 2024 will take place from 18th-24th May. Click below for our schedule of walks.
BOOKING – Please do not send your bookings or any cheques by post. Each walk has a limited number of places, so please only book walks that you feel you would be able to do.
WHERE TO MEET – Walkers will meet at the Hut on the Green which is opposite Glenmuick Church in the centre of the village.
TRANSPORT – If the walk is circular, you may be required to take your own or share transport. If you are willing to take others in your car, the walk leader or helper will allocate some walkers, and we would encourage them to pay for any parking and/or contribute to fuel expenses.
START TIMES – In general, the Strong walks will meet at 7am or 8am, the Medium walks will meet at 9am and the Easy walks will meet at 10am but please check the time on each individual walk.
DEFIB – Thanks to the raffle held in 2021, we are delighted to say that we will have mobile defibrillators on most of the walks. Obviously, we hope that these will not be required, but it is good to know that they are there in case of emergency.
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED – Please bring a small first aid kit for self-treatment of minor injuries and it would be useful to have hand sanitiser and disposable gloves. Ensure that you bring your downloaded “In Case of Emergency” ICE Card. The ICE card should be put in the top of your rucksack, in a see-through plastic folder. If you have any specific medical conditional that the leader needs to know about PLEASE make these known. Any medical conditions will be treated in confidence. You can download your ICE card form Here.
Do not forget that our climate in May can be changeable, from surprisingly cold to roasting and anything in between! Please dress accordingly and pack your rucksack with extra gear as required. Please remember to bring water, hot drinks, snacks/lunch, gloves, woolly hats, spare socks, sun hats, sunglasses, sun-cream, walking poles. Be sure to have some cash on you to pay for gratuities and raffle. Have £5 in coins for car parking.
EVENING ENTERTAINMENT – There will be a programme of evening entertainment starting on Saturday with a Welcome Reception, a Quiz Night on Monday, a Festival Dinner on Wednesday, and concluding with the final fling ceilidh on Friday evening (Scottish dancing). Please note that you do not need a partner at a ceilidh. We hope that on the other evenings you will go out and meet some of your new acquaintances in Ballater.
PLEASE NOTE –
The leader has the authority to shorten, change or abandon any walk in the case of bad weather or dangerous terrain such as high rivers or waterlogged bogland.
Please read the full description of the walk, and ensure that you only book walks that are within your capabilities.
