The Bennachie Centre Trust (SCIO)

The Bennachie Visitor Centre is managed and maintained by the Bennachie Centre Trust (SCIO), a registered Scottish charity (SC025431)

Our aims are:

  • to raise awareness and appreciation of Bennachie and the surrounding area; its natural and social history, and its conservation

  • to provide environmental education and interpretive materials for all ages

  • to promote responsible recreational use

  • to provide facilities for visitors

  • to operate and promote sustainability

  • and support both local and wider community initiatives.

How can I help?

  • Visit our Gift and Coffee Shop – whether you buy a coffee or a greetings card – all proceeds go to the Bennachie Centre Trust

  • Make a donation – online or at the Centre

  • Come along to our events, activities and exhibitions – you can find details on the ‘What’s On’ page and follow us on Facebook for all the latest

  • Support our Heart Fund which maintains the Public Access Defibrillator(PAD)

  • Why not hire the Community Room for your event, workshop or meeting – private, community or corporate activities welcome

  • Sponsorship opportunities – interpretation materials and equipment, merchandise, publications

  • Donations in kind are always welcome too, including plain paper for children’s educational activities, crayons, wild bird food

Please get in touch if you’d like more information….we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Or why not become a trustee yourself…

What do Trustees do?

Trustees are ordinary people who volunteer their time to help the Trust. They attend Trust meetings, where we discuss practical actions and vote on proposals that affect the running and maintenance of the Bennachie Visitor Centre.

Trustees may also volunteer to help with projects, depending on their interest/expertise… for example, awareness raising events, tidying outdoor areas around the Centre, grant applications, attending special events, producing educational materials and displays.

No expertise is required; only a desire to do something to help the Bennachie Visitor Centre and the surrounding environment.

How do I become a Trustee?

Simply contact us through the contact page. The Trust will ask for some details about your background and experience and will give you more information on what is involved in being a Trustee. Trustee numbers are limited, but if we have a vacancy for a Trustee, we will contact you to discuss how you can help the Trust.

Working together

We work closely in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, who own the building and staff the Centre. The Centre Warden, Seasonal staff and cleaner manage the day to day operation of the Centre on behalf of the Trust.

The Bennachie Visitor Centre is the base for the Aberdeenshire Council Garioch Ranger. Visit the schools and groups pages for information on how to arrange an activity or visit their website to discover more.

FLS own and maintain much of the Bennachie range, the car parks and trails.

The Bailies of Bennachie is a charity which shares many of the aims of the Bennachie Centre Trust, particularly education and conservation of the Bennachie hill and surrounding area. Historically there have been close links between the two groups, as founding members of the Trust, James Mackay and Algy Watson, were also senior members of the Bailies of Bennachie. The Bailies run many public and educational events at the Centre, frequently use the Centre for their meetings, and have donated funds to the Bennachie Centre Trust for particular projects, including contributions to the initial construction of the Centre in 1994 and a major refurbishment of the Centre in 2006.

Volunteering at Bennachie

If you’d like to get involved as a volunteer, then please visit the Aberdeenshire Council Ranger Service or Bailies website.