Want to walk but not too far?! Join these wildlife and Special Interest Walks, all themed to help you forget you’re walking. You can sketch, photograph, bat hunt, listen to tales, look for wildlife and be spooked; all for nothing!

11 - Walking the Artistic Way, Hopeman Coast - Friday 24th August
Bring your art materials and cameras with you and enjoy a day sketching and photographing the beautiful scenery around this picturesque coastal village. An artist will accompany you and offer suggestions if required. Bring a packed lunch.
Meet: 10am, Hopeman East Beach Car Park.
Duration: 4 hours.
Grading: Easy.
For further information and booking contact the Assistant Leisure Officer, Tel: 01343 557146.

12 - Bat Walk, Wellhill - Friday 24th August
Join the Forestry Commission Ranger with the bat detector and hear the bats as they home in on insects above your heads. Remember to bring a torch! This walk is very suitable for children.
Meet: 8.30pm, Wellhill Car Park, by Kintessack, Forres.
Duration: 1 1/2 hours.
Grading: Easy.
For further information and booking contact the Forestry Commission, Tel: 01343 820223

13 - Duck and Hide, Spynie Loch at Dusk - Friday 24th August
Come to the Spynie Loch Bird Hide to admire the birds on the water, squirrels scampering through the trees and clouds of bats emerging in the gathering gloom. Numbers limited for this wonderful experience, so book your place with the Ranger on 01343 557048.
Meet: 17.45pm, from Lesmurdie road in Elgin take the Pitgaveny Road. Look for Scarffbank Farm sign about three miles from town, and follow a gravel track to a parking space in the farmyard. Spynie Loch and the hide is through a field gate to a forest track.
Duration: 1 1/4 hours.
Grading: Easy.

14 - Speybuilt, Garmouth & Kingston - Saturday 25th August
Jim Skelton, author of “Speybuilt” will lead this circular walk around the picturesque villages of Garmouth & Kingston telling tales of the ship-building industry in Kingston using timber floated down the Spey from Rothiemurchus. This is easy walking and suitable for children.
Meet: 10am, Garmouth Hotel Car Park.
Duration: 2 hours.
Grading: Easy.
For further information and booking contact the Assistant Leisure Officer, Tel: 01343 557146.

15 - Salmon Walk, Aberlour - Satuday 25th August
A gentle stroll along the banks of the River Spey at Aberlour, listening to the tales about the fish that did and didn’t get away. Family friendly walk.
Meet: 6pm, Alice Littler Park, Aberlour.
Duration: 1 hour.
Grading: Easy.

16 - Osprey, Otters and Dolphins at Spey Bay - Sunday 26th August
Spend the day at the Moray Firth Wildlife Centre, Spey Bay, home of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society in Scotland. Wildlife Walks, face painting, arts activities and more are all on offer. Great for families.
Meet: from 10am, Wildlife Centre, Spey Bay.
Duration: 10am - 2pm.
Booking: Advisable but not essential.

17 - Ghost Walk at Spynie Palace - Sunday 26th August
Join us in an evening stroll around the ruins of Spynie Palace. Hear the stirring tales of heroic and dastardly deeds from times gone by. Bring a lantern!
Meet: 8.30pm, Spynie Palace Car Park.
Duration: 1 1/2 hours.
Booking: Essential.

Always thought about starting to walk but never got round to it? Too ill, too intimidated or too difficult to get to? Health Walks are ideal for you. They are led by trained volunteer leaders, and are 20-40 mins long, on mostly flat ground, right on your doorstep. Find parts of your town you never knew existed or visit others to see what they have to offer in the company of a small group!

18 - Elgin, Cooper Park - Thursday 23rd August
19 - Buckie - Friday 24th August
20 - Forres - Saturday 25th August
21 - Fochabers, Through the Green Door - Sunday 26th August
22 - Keith - Monday 27th August

All Health Walks must be booked either by calling in at Healthpoint (239, High St, Elgin) or by calling 01343 562707 and speaking to the Health Walk Co-ordinator.