OUR
WALKS, TALKS
& GATHERINGS
bring people and place together
Walks & talks
We believe landscapes really come alive when you engage with them. We offer a varied programme of guided walks, talks and workshops throughout the spring, summer and autumn, giving people a chance to delve deeper into the sights and sounds of Dùn Coillich.
For some, it’s a canvas for creativity; we offer dedicated workshops where you can write, draw or develop photography skills.
Others want to reap the rewards that being surrounded by nature can bring, mindfulness walks or joining a guided tour walk to learn about the wealth of flora and fauna that call Dùn Coillich home.
Walks, talks and workshops are booked through our Eventbrite page where you will find full details of timings, where to meet, what to wear/bring and what to expect.
Numbers are strictly limited and booking is essential for all events, so make sure you get in early!
Events
Ecosystem restoration, regeneration and rewilding at Dùn Coillich – is it working?
Saturday 16 August 2025
Your Host
Willie McGhee, Forest Manager and native woodland expert
Join us for a guided walk to discuss the positive changes at Dùn Coillich over the last 20 years where we will consider what future habitats could look like, including native woodland and ponder what role human interference could play in managing change.
Where there is rock there are lichens!
Saturday 19 July 2025
Your Host
Petra Vergunst, Moss and Lichen enthusiast
Come and join us for an exploration of the rock-dwelling lichens that have made the rock outcrops, drystone dykes and boulders in water courses of Dùn Coillich their home. It’s a whole new world!
The struggle for existence
Saturday 7 June 2025
Your Host
Richard Paul, Trustee and Volunteer
Evolution and adaption! Using the plants and animals that happen to be encountered on a walk as triggers for discussing the more important specific survival techniques that have evolved in each species. Darwin will get the credit!
Meet the Badgers – Act two
Friday 30 May 2025
Your Host
Fred Cochrane, Assistant Project Officer
Another special chance to meet our resident badgers in a dusk badger watch.
Meet the Badgers – Act one
Thursday 15 May 2025
Your Host
Fred Cochrane, Assistant Project Officer
A rare opportunity to see our resident badgers emerging at dusk to forage.
Black Grouse at the lek! Part two
Tuesday 15th April 2025
Your Host
Fred Cochrane, our Assistant Project Officer, wildlife photographer and nature enthusiast!
Another chance to join us at dawn for a chance to see Black Grouse in all their glory at the Dùn Coillich lek. With the stunning backdrop of Schiehallion at sunrise why stay in bed any longer?
Black Grouse strut their stuff! Part one
Saturday 5th April 2025
Your Host
Fred Cochrane, our Assistant Project Officer, wildlife photographer and nature enthusiast!
Join us on a dawn walk for a chance to see these impressive birds strut their stuff at the Dùn Coillich lek against the stunning backdrop of Schiehallion. Well worth getting out of bed for!
Sunday volunteering back for 2025!
Sunday 26 January 2025
We’re coming up to the last Sunday of the month so it must be time for Sunday volunteering sessions to restart at Dùn Coillich!
Our monthly volunteer sessions are ideal for those who can’t make it to the weekly sessions on Tuesdays.
Run alongside the Heart of Scotland Forest Partnership, they can also be chance to visit and support other locations in Highland Perthshire.
Wherever we meet, it’s an opportunity to make new friends, enjoy stunning landscapes and do something positive for your local environment.
It’s easy to sign up and get involved. You’ll be given all the equipment and training you need, just bring warm layers, sturdy footwear, your lunch – and be prepared for whatever the Scottish weather might throw at you!
The first session of 2025 takes place on Sunday 26th January – meet at 10am at the Dùn Coillich car park, anyone welcome.
See you then!
2025 Volunteering season underway
Tuesday 14 January 2025
If one of your new year’s resolutions is to get out more, then why not give our weekly or monthly volunteer sessions a go?
As of Tuesday 14th January the 2025 volunteering season is now fully underway!
We don’t let the weather get in the way unless it’s blowin’ a hoolie or we’re beaten back by snow, and we carry on looking after the hill right through the winter months.
Volunteering at Dùn Coillich is a brilliant way to connect with nature, make new friends and get fit along the way. We love welcoming new volunteers of all ages, so why not give it a go?
We meet every Tuesday and the last Sunday of the month, all equipment provided – just come prepared for the Scottish weather, bring some lunch and a sense of humour!
Take a look at our volunteering page to find out more, register your interest, and make 2025 your year to volunteer.
Capture the Scene: Landscape Photography Workshop
Monday 23 September 2024
Your Host
Ian Biggs, local landscape photographer and hillwalker
Learn and develop your landscape photography skills in a small group setting from one of the best in the business.
GATHERINGS
Getting together is a vital part of connecting with the community, raising awareness of our work, celebrating successes and thanking our volunteers and supporters. Our gatherings play a central part in that.
Events include our twice-yearly community barbeques held at Dùn Coillich. They are held come rain or shine, and the more musical among us might even strike up a tune or two!
Our Annual General Meetings (AGM) provide a great opportunity to meet our trustees, volunteers, representatives of partner organisations as well as our project officers.
Come along to find out more about what we do, and hear about the latest projects. You can also become a member, sign up as a volunteer and find out more about key projects such as our rural skills training scheme.
We also invite inspiring speakers so the local community can hear from key individuals working in landscape regeneration, ecological restoration or wildlife monitoring.
GATHERINGS
Mid-summer gathering, bioblitz and barbeque!
Saturday 21 June 2025
Dùn Coillich main car park
10.00 – 5.00pm
A morning’s bioblitz to identify as many species as we can in one day! Followed by our annual midsummer barbecue – chance to meet up with old friends and make new ones…
Annual General Meeting
Saturday 26 April 2025
The Tryst, Church Road, Pitlochry
2.00 – 4.00pm
Including talk from Jean Oudney, Trustee of the Scottish Wild Beaver Group, on ‘Beavers: Nature’s Engineers”.
Mid-summer gathering and barbeque
Saturday 22 June 2024
Dùn Coillich main car park
2.00 – 5.00pm
Preceded by guided walk from Forest Manager and native tree expert Willie McGhee.
Annual General Meeting
Saturday 27 April 2024
Kynachan Hall, Bridge of Tummel
2.00 – 4.00pm
Including talk on pine martens from natural historian, ecologist and forester, Rob Coope.
