A huge thank you to everyone who took part in our recent call for name suggestions for the new community housing. We were blown away by your creativity and enthusiasm—and yes, there was a clear winner!
🥁 Drumroll, please…
We’re excited to share that the most popular choice was Viaduct View 🏡✨
Before we get into why, here’s a quick behind-the-scenes: To officially name a development, there are specific rules from The Highland Council we must follow. It’s vital for emergency services, postal deliveries (and let’s be honest—Amazon packages too!) that every property has a proper, recognised address. Naming also requires consultation with Community Councils and a nod to the site’s history. Fun fact—the Council generally avoids naming locations after people who are still living.
Now, about that winning name…
Viaduct View stood out not only for the number of votes it received, but for the story it carries. It beautifully honours the historic Tomatin Viaduct—a striking nine-arched masonry bridge soaring 89 ft. above the village and original main road. Built in 1897 by Murdoch Paterson, Chief Engineer of the Highland Railway, it’s an iconic part of our landscape.
One resident summed it up perfectly: 🗣 “This would be a fitting memory to all of the men who probably built this by pulleys and brute force in all weathers’
Following on from our announcement to the Community Council meeting last week, please see the attached poster for our first public workshops with our appointed artist Robyn Woolston.
Robyn is an internationally established environmental artist who will be supporting the design and creation of new art installations at the new Tomatin Grade Junction, and at the proposed enhanced laybys at the Aultnaslanach Viaduct and Allt na Slanaich.
You are kindly invited to either workshop where you can share your thoughts, feelings, drawings and stories about the local area and what it means to you. Refreshments will be provided.
An artist has been appointed to create art installations at key locations along the A9 as part of the A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project. The pieces will draw on inspiration from the local area through a series of community workshops being held this Summer.
Local artist, Robyn Woolston, has been appointed as the artist working on the A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project and will support the design and creation of the art installations which are expected to be installed at the new Tomatin Grade Junction, and at the proposed enhanced laybys at the Aultnaslanach Viaduct and Allt na Slanaich Burn. An internationally established environmental artist, Robyn has previously collaborated with the Cairngorm National Park, Historic Environment Scotland and NHS Forth Valley.
“I work in a person-centred way so that the workshops focus on local relevance & cultural accuracy. Drawing directly from the lived-experiences, stories, values and knowledge of community members. This ensures the design reflects real, grounded aspects of place — not assumptions made from outside. In the case of Strathdearn, local voices can illuminate unique ecological features, historical events or sensory experiences that might otherwise be overlooked.”
As part of the creative process for designing the artwork, over the coming months, Robyn and the wider project team will hold collaborative workshops in and around the local area to gather ideas, collaborate with stakeholders and to engage with the community on the design of these art installations.
Here are our Community Council’s final Representations to the Energy Consents Unit of the Scottish Government for Balnespick, Clune, Highland and Lynemore wind farms. Click the links below to view or download them.
We have been informed by Scottish Water that the water supply will be temporarily turned off during the above time frame to allow essential work on the Water Main. This work is necessary to support the connection of the new community housing development.
Approximately 19 households south of the Viaduct will be affected.
Each affected household will be contacted directly.
We understand that this interruption falls during a period of high household water usage, and we apologise for the inconvenience. The timing has been selected specifically to avoid disruption to the local school.
We recommend that households store enough water in advance to cover the 4-hour period.
The Board of Strathdearn Community Developments (SCD) is delighted to announce the appointment of Ian McGhie as the new General Manager, effective Monday, 23rd June 2025.
Ian brings a wealth of experience and leadership to this key role, which will support and guide the operations of both Strathdearn Community Developments and White River Trading (WRT). His appointment marks an exciting new chapter for our community.
With over 33 years of distinguished service in the Royal Navy, Ian rose to the rank of Commodore, holding senior leadership positions including Captain of the Faslane Flotilla and Commanding Officer. His military career was defined by strategic thinking, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to public service.
Following his military service, Ian transitioned into the commercial sector, founding Highfield Consultants Ltd and serving as a Director with the Global Risk Advisors Group. He has also contributed his expertise to the charitable sector through pro-bono roles with Calpe House Ltd and The Mungo Foundation, focusing on financial management and strategic development.
Ian holds an MA in International Strategy and Security from King’s College London, and a Financial Times Non-Executive Director Diploma, equipping him with strong governance and oversight capabilities.
His career has also included contributions to national policy, including the UK’s first Cyber Security Strategy, and he is well-versed in stakeholder engagement, media relations, and high-level communications.
The Board is confident that Ian’s diverse experience, ethical leadership, and collaborative approach will be a tremendous asset to our community. We warmly welcome him to Strathdearn and look forward to the positive impact he will bring.
For any questions or further information, please contact us at info@strathdearn.org.
The construction phase of the community-led housing project is progressing well. Some groundworks are still to be completed, after which work on the house structures will begin. We expect this next phase to start in late June or early July.
To help you plan travel in and around the area, please see some key dates regarding traffic management. Some of these may be subject to change and are outwith our control.
Suspension of Housing Project Traffic Lights The 2-way traffic lights related to the housing project will be suspended from Monday, 2nd June. We will provide an update as soon as we know when they are due to be reinstated.
Openreach Sub-Contractor Traffic Lights We have been notified that a separate set of traffic lights—not connected to the housing project and outside our control—will be in place from 16th to 21st June. These works are being carried out by a sub-contractor of Openreach. While we do not have the exact location, we understand the lights will likely be near the BT Exchange.
Hazelbank Woods
Community Ownership Celebration – Saturday 21st June
Join us at The Strathdearn from 10:00 AM on Saturday, 21st June as we celebrate Community Ownership!
Check the Events section for full details — we would love to see you there to help cut the ribbon and mark this exciting milestone!
Welcome to Our New Community Woodland Co-ordinator
Following a competitive external recruitment process, we are delighted to welcome Louise Ramsay as our new Community Woodland Co-ordinator.
Louise will officially begin her role on 1st July 2025, and we look forward to the valuable contribution she will bring to the community.
Solar Panel Savings – One Year On
We are delighted to report that from April 2024 to April 2025, the Strathdearn Hub has saved an impressive £23,918.71 on energy bills thanks to our solar panels and battery storage.
As the shop and café were privately leased until May 2024 and we are unable to directly calculate the financial savings from energy bills, however meter readings show a reduction of 22,415 kWh over the year—equating to a 34% decrease in electricity usage.
Although the system was officially active and live from May 2024, the benefits have already been substantial. The total investment cost to SCD was £11,250, made possible through generous funding from the Scottish Government CARES scheme and additional support from SSEN. This initiative has played a key role in future-proofing the building and reducing our environmental impact. We look forward to continuing to reap the benefits of this investment in the years to come.
Youth, Health & Wellbeing
Youth, Health & Wellbeing Funding
Following our recent application to renew partial funding from the Strathdearn Community Charitable Trust (SCCT)—which was presented at the last Community Council meeting and approved—we have now moved on to the next stage of approval with SCCT. We look forward to collaborating closely to continue delivering a wide range of activities for the residents of Strathdearn.
Strathdearn Summer Camp 2025
Looking for local Summer Holiday Activities for Kids?
Highlife Highland is offering summer holiday activities for children in P1–P7 at The Strathdearn Hub!
🗓️ Dates: 21st – 25th July 🕘 Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm 📍 Location: The Strathdearn
🌳 Special Event – 23rd July: We are thrilled to welcome the Highlife Countryside Rangers, who will be leading outdoor nature activities in Hazelbank Woods—an adventure not to be missed!
💰 Subsidised Pricing for Strathdearn Families: SCD are delighted to support local families with a subsidy of 50%
£9.60/day for Highlife members (discounted from £19.20)
£19.20/day for non-members (discounted from £38.40)
🗓️ Book a single day or the full week!
📧 To book or find out more, contact: matthew.allan@highlifehighland.com
High Life Highland School’s out! Full Summer Programme
☀️ School’s Out – Let the Fun Begin! ☀️
High Life Highland’s full summer holiday programme is now live — start planning and saving favourite activities today!
⏰ 12:00 PM – Early access for All Inclusive & Budget Members
⏰ 3:00 PM – Access for Pay As You Go High Life card holders
Do not miss out — spots fill fast!
Kidz Club Update – New Location from 4th June
Starting from Tuesday 4th June, Kidz Club will be moving to the school to make the most of the outdoor sports pitch during the warmer weather!
This change also means there is no longer a need for walking transport to the Hub.
Pick-up will be from the school at 6pm.
Thanks for your support, and we are looking forward to some fun, active sessions ahead!
Snug paused for summer
As with last summer, we will be pausing The Snug throughout July and August due to a significant drop in attendance during these months.
We will look forward to welcoming everyone back in September!
Bookbug at Toddler Group
Bringing the magic of songs, rhymes, puppets, and stories, Bookbug is a fantastic scheme funded by the Scottish Book Trust and promotes sharing stories to help nurture children’s language, social skills, and overall development.
Upcoming Bookbug date:
June 19th 10.30am – 11am
Kidz Club
We continue to offer the after-school club free to all Strathdearn primary school children! The club runs every Wednesday 3.15pm – 6pm (term-time). Children are free to join in as long as they (or parents) wish!
These sessions are free and run Friday evenings 7.30pm – 10pm (term-time).
Available for all 11 – 19 years olds in Strathdearn.
Activities include:
Pool table
Badminton
Table Tennis
Bluetooth speaker
Netflix / YouTube
Snacks & Refreshments – enjoy hot and cold drinks, plus tasty snacks, all included!
Strathdearn Baby & Toddler Group
Our community Baby & Toddler Group is on Thursday mornings from 9.30am to 11.30am (term-time) at the Hub. Drop in with the little ones at any time to enjoy a free, fun-filled session featuring toys, books, playdough, crafts, and more!
Tea, coffee, and biscuits available.
Additionally, we have set up a library account for the group. Books that have been finished can be brought in and swapped for new ones. If there is a specific book that is not available in the library, it can be reserved online and be sent from other libraries across the Highlands.
The SCD Snug at The Strathdearn Hub
Pop into The Snug for a cuppa and a catch-up with friends and neighbours! Enjoy tea, coffee, biscuits, and a browse through the day’s newspapers in a relaxed and friendly space.
🕙 Open every Tuesday and Friday, 10am – 3.45pm 📍 The Strathdearn Hub
If you – or someone you know – would like to come along but need help with transport, please get in touch at enquiries@strathdearn.org and we will do our best to assist.
Pilates at The Strathdearn
Pilates with Marina continues to be a hit! Come along to build core strength, improve flexibility, and enhance overall body conditioning – suitable for all ages and abilities.
📅 Every Monday 🕚 11.15am – 12.15pm 📍 The Strathdearn Hub
SCD Gym & Health Club Subsidy
High Life Highland Memberships
Strathdearn Community Developments continues our collaboration with Highlife Highland and be part of the charity’s Wellbeing membership scheme, highlife.
As a Wellbeing member, High Life Highland provides a 10% discount off the standard membership price as they support and contribute to Strathdearn residents’ health and wellness.
Further to this, Strathdearn Community Developments have committed to fund 50% of the cost of the membership for all residents residing in the postcode area of IV13.
This reduces the price of a family membership to £19.35 per month and £13.05 for an individual membership per month. The highlife membership offers you and your family access to range of health and fitness opportunities in 25 leisure centres throughout the Highlands. The membership includes the following access/use:
Swimming pools
Leisure waters
Fitness suites
Strength and conditioning areas
Fitness room/Strength and Conditioning area Inductions
Term time swimming lessons for adults and children
Extensive range of group fitness classes for all abilities and interests
Running track
Climbing walls
Saunas, spa pools and steam rooms
Dynamic wellbeing activities and classes in partnershipwith NHS Highland
Children’s activities
Single court activities – badminton, squash, table tennis etc
Discounts on personal training, private swimming lessons and small group fitness
Early entry to our popular School’s Out Activity programme
7-day advance booking for all our activities and classes
Membership Prices:
Family Membership: £19.35 /month (discounted from £42.99)
Individual Membership: £13.05 /month (discounted from £28.99)
To sign up or for more information, please email projects@strathdearn.org or call 07703 328333.
Please Note: All membership addresses must be verified as IV13 postcodes (e.g., using a driving licence or recent mail with your name and address) to benefit from the SCD subsidy.
Bannatyne Health Club membership subsidy
IV13 residents can enjoy over 50% off for Bannatyne Health Club all-inclusive membership!
An all-inclusive membership with Bannatyne provides the opportunity for you to take advantage of their extensive health club facilities including swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi. There are several personalised services, including access to expert personal trainers and complimentary fitness evaluations when you join.
Further discounts include:
• 10% discount in the spa (Spa Days, Products, and Treatments)
• 10%discount in the café
• 10% discount on retail products
• 50% off the first spa treatment
Price: £20 / month (discounted from £46.99 / month + no joining fee)
For more information on all that Bannatyne can offer, visit the website: https://www.bannatyne.co.uk/health-club/inverness
To sign up or for more information, email projects@strathdearn.org or call 07703 328333.
Please note: All membership addresses will need to be verified as IV13 postcodes (i.e., with driving licence, recent mail with name and address) to benefit from SCD subsidy.
Free eBike hire for residents of IV13 for up to 2 weeks
Make the most of this fantastic spring weather and explore the area on one of the community’s eBikes – for free!
Thanks to our partnership with The Strathdearn, SCD is continuing to fund a 2-week free trial for all local residents. Just pop into the Hub and take an eBike out for a spin!
Already used up your free trial days? No problem – locals can still enjoy discounted rates at just £15 per day.
We now have handy route cards available, showcasing some of the best local day trips – perfect for a bit of adventure.
And for families, we have got Kids Ride Shotgun attachments (suitable for ages 2–5), so your little ones can come along for the ride too!
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the SCD Community Fun Run at The Strathdearn! Whether you sprinted, jogged, or walked, your energy and enthusiasm made this event truly special.
Final Amount Raised: Together, we raised an incredible £1,673.32 for Gamekeepers Welfare Trust, supporting those who dedicate their lives to countryside stewardship.
A Huge Thank You to Our Local Businesses & Landowners! Our raffle and online auction wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible generosity of our local businesses and landowners. Your donations helped make this event even more special, and we are truly grateful for your support!
A massive shoutout to all the volunteers, supporters, and participants who made this event possible. You are the heart of our community!
HAZELBANK WOODLAND CELEBRATION – Saturday 21st June 2025
Come and celebrate this special milestone with us on Saturday 21st June!
📍 Meet: Strathdearn Hall car park at 10:00am 🚶♂️ Walk to the woods for the ribbon-cutting ceremony & photos 🦔 Children’s Hairy Haggis Hunt – with a prize for the winning group! ☕ Walk back to Strathdearn Hall at 11:30am for tea, coffee & traybakes 💬 A chance to chat with our newly appointed woodland coordinator.
Let’s mark this moment together and celebrate this occasion.
COMEDY NIGHT WITH RUDE AND GOOD COMEDY – Saturday 28th June 2025
🎭 Get ready for a night of laughter and surprises as we bring you rude and good comedy at The Strathdearn, Tomatin! Expect bold, unapologetic humour alongside some truly top-notch comedic talent.
Tickets: Just £5 – an absolute bargain for a night of belly laughs!
Come prepared for sharp wit, hilarious stories, and comedy that doesn’t hold back. Grab your tickets now and brace yourself for an unforgettable evening
BOUNCE AT THE MUGA – Thursday 3rd July 2025
Can you hear the school bells ring for the summer holidays? That means one thing—time for some inflatable fun!
🏰 Join us on Thursday, 3rd July at The Strathdearn for an afternoon of bouncing excitement at the MUGA. Kids can enjoy a variety of inflatables from 12pm – 3pm, burning off energy and celebrating the summer in style!
🍦 McCones Ice Cream Van will also be stopping by with delicious treats to cool down in between the fun.
💰 Entry: £3 per child
Bring the family, soak up the summer vibes, and let the kids bounce to their hearts’ content. We can’t wait to see you there!
SUMMER FUN DAY – Saturday 9th August 2025
Join us on Saturday 9th August 2025, from 4:00 PM to 10:30 PM for an unforgettable day packed with fun for all ages!
Bring your family, bring your friends—let’s make some summer memories together!
We can’t wait to see you there!
FLOWER SHOW – Saturday 6th September 2025:
It’s time to get planting, growing, and unleashing your creativity for this year’s Tomatin Flower Show! Whether you’re a budding gardener, a baking enthusiast, or a creative soul, there’s a category for everyone.
🌼 Categories: 🌺 Flowers 🍰 Baking & Produce 🥕 Vegetables 📷 Photography 🌻 Children’s Section (Grow Your Own Sunflower & Create Your Own Garden Tray)
⏰ Key Times: 📜 Entries Open: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 🚪 Open to Public: 2:30 PM 🏆 Trophy Presentation & Raffle: 3:00 PM
Join us for a celebration of gardening, creativity, and community spirit. Whether you’re entering or simply admiring, it’s a day not to be missed!
🌸 See you there! 🌸
AN EVENING WITH RHYTHMNREEL – Friday 3rd October 2025
🕢 Doors Open: 7:30 PM 🎤 Show Starts: 8:30 PM
Get ready for a night of fantastic live music as RhythmNReel bring their high-energy performance to The Strathdearn! With their signature blend of traditional Scottish folk and rock influences, this is a gig not to be missed.
🎟 Tickets:
£15 per adult
£5 per child
Tickets on sale soon – keep an eye on social media for updates!
🍽 Food & Drinks:
Hot filled rolls available
Licensed bar serving a selection of drinks
Come along for a night of great entertainment, delicious food, and lively atmosphere! Gather your friends, grab your tickets, and let’s make it a night to remember.
At the last Community Council meeting, concerns were raised that the number of councillors has fallen to four, the minimum number required by law. If one of them can’t attend for any reason, no meeting can take place. If one of them retires for any reason, the council cannot continue and decisions on Strathdearn’s are deferred to the Highland Council. Losing our council would have severe consequences.
Please consider the following points and think about becoming a councillor:
Strathdearn Community Council seeks new members to ensure it can continue to function and represent your views on local and national matters. The Community Council is the statutory body on many consultations of local significance and liaises with local councillors, MSP’s and MP’s.
We are all aware of the activities undertaken by the Strathdearn Community Developments (SCD) and the Strathdearn Community Charitable Trust (SCCT), but without Strathdearn Community Council (SCC), these other bodies cannot function on your behalf – for example this means that the community would not have a voice in deciding matters such as community benefit use.
This is especially important at a time when planning applications for e.g. windfarms and road construction are coming in thick & fast, and when Local Place Plans are being developed to protect the interests and document the wishes of our community.
The Community Council currently has just 4 members, the minimum required to be operational – a few more would ensure its safe running into the future. Ideally a quota of 7 is required – members can be co-opted in the short term until elections can be held.
Can you spare a few hours a month to become a Councillor, representing your community and providing direction to the way forward into the future?
Strathdearn Community Council has responded to the first of the new batch of wind farm applications. A letter has been sent to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit, outlining our concerns about the Balnespick application. The letter was prepared by the Community Council with the help of William Gilfillan, consultant, and is based on the recent Windfarm Survey results
The full 16-page letter can be downloaded from a link below this short extract summarising our objections:
1. Significant adverse effects on landscape and visual impact both alone and in combination with the other twelve existing wind farms and five proposed wind farms associated with Strathdearn Community Council area.
2. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) does not contain the necessary information to allow full assessment of direct, indirect, long-term and permanent cumulative impacts.
3. Contrary to Highland Council’s spatial planning guidance on the basis that it would be inappropriate and have significant negative effects on scale, the built environment, landscape context, perceptual aspects, visual amenity, and landscape value.
4. The developer has failed to carry out a sufficiently robust assessment of the proposed development’s impact on Golden Eagle and Golden Plover. This assessment must include a comprehensive cumulative impact analysis, considering all existing, consented, and proposed developments within Natural Heritage Zone 10 that could affect these protected species. Without such an analysis, the EIA falls short of the requirements under relevant environmental legislation and guidance.
5. The developer has failed to comply with Scottish Government policies on Biodiversity Net Gain.
6. The developer has significantly underplayed the level of visitor numbers currently accessing Strathdearn and taken no account of future visitor numbers associated with two nationally significant visitor attraction developments in the area.
Visit Document Library if you are looking for any of the following: Newsletters; Minutes of meetings; Application forms; Accounts, projects and other info on SCD and SCCT.
We are excited to screen our 2-minute film showcasing our local attractions and The Strathdearn Complex. Journey from the wild high glens and their wonderful nature, along the River Findhorn, to the Tomatin Distillery on to Loch Moy and the excitement of the Moy Games.
Walk-through and aerial footage of The Strathdearn Hub
