Aviemore
Aviemore lies about 10 miles north of Kingussie, on the A9. It is mainly renowned as Scotland's main ski resort servicing the Cairngorm ski area 9 miles to the east in Glen More where there is a funicular railway up the mountains. Although the village itself has few attractions, it is a convenient base for fishing, walking, climbing, pony trekking and mountain biking. There is also quad-biking at the Alvie & Dalraddy Estate 3 miles south of Aviemore and go-karting at the Aviemore Centre. The Strathspey Steam Railway operates trains from Aviemore through Boat of Garten to Broomhill, 10 miles north-east.
Around Aviemore
Maps of local walks (50 miles of trails) can be obtained from the Rothiemurchus Estate Visitor Centre and include a nature trail around the picturesque Loch an Eilan where there are ruins of a castle on a small island. A more strenuous walk is the 25-mile hike through the Lairig Ghru which leads to Braemar (which takes about 10 hours). A three-hour walk to the 809-metre Meall a' Bhuachallie starts at the Glenmore Forest Park Visitor Centre.
Loch Morlich lies about 6 miles east of Aviemore, en route to the ski slopes, where there is a watersports centre and visitor centre. Nearby is the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, where you can feed the tame reindeer, Glenmore Lodge, the famous adventure sports training centre and the Cairngorm Sleddog Adventure Centre.
Kincraig, several miles south of Aviemore on the B9152, lies at the northern tip of Loch Insh where there is a watersports centre and small dry ski slope. The nearby Highland Wildlife Park (to the west of the A9) is a drive-through safari park where you can see herds of wolves, bison and boars etc. and a wide range of birds (such as eagles, pine martens and capercaillie) and animals (such as wildcats and otters) in enclosures.
Boat of Garten, 7 miles north-east of Aviemore on the A95, is best known for the RSPB Loch Garten Osprey Centre where you can view the ospreys in the Spring and summer from the observation centre. The Landmark Forest Heritage Park in Carrbridge (7 miles north-east of Aviemore on the A938) provides an interesting day out for the family, with a Treetop Trail through the forest canopy, nature trails through the forest, a steam-powered sawmill and a maze. Grantown-on-Spey is about 15 miles north-east of Aviemore, off the A95 and is popular with anglers.
Information
There is a tourist office in Aviemore (Grampian Road) and in Grantown-on-Spey (High Street). Trains run from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness to Aviemore. There are many hotels in the area including MacKenzies Hotel, Cairngorm Hotel and Corrour House Hotel (all in Aviemore), the Hilton Coylumbridge, the Struan House Hotel and Cairn Hotel (both in Carrbridge) and the Garth Hotel, Auchendean Lodge Hotel, Culdearn House Hotel and Tyree House Hotel (all in Grantown-on-Spey). There is a variety of restaurants in Aviemore including the Old Bridge Inn, Hamblett's, the Ski-ing Doo, Café Mambo and the Winking Owl.
List of cottages in this area:
Sleeps: 2,
Bedrooms: 1
- No Smoking
- Short Breaks available
- Pet Friendly
is a charming cottage on the edge of the Highland village of Tomatin, 16 miles south of Inverness 'Capital of Highlands' and 14 miles north of the Cairngorm Mountains Conservation/ Ski-area around Aviemore. Extremely well furnished and equipped it makes a comfortable 'home from home' for any season of the year.
Sleeps: 2,
Bedrooms: 1
This traditional Highland cottage stands in its own large garden beside a quiet country road, near Aberlour in beautiful Strathspey. Inside, it has been completely renovated and with its beamed ceiling and wood burning stove it is a cosy and comfortable retreat for two people.
Sleeps: 4,
Bedrooms: 2
- Short Breaks available
- Pet Friendly
is a small, simply-furnished, detached stone Victorian croft-cottage standing in its own fenced garden, at the entrance to Kiilliehuntly Farm 3 miles from the attractive small town of Kingussie - roughly halfway between Pitlochry and Inverness - with marvellous views out across miles of countryside to the distant hills.
Sleeps: 5,
Bedrooms: 3
- No Smoking
- Short Breaks available
- Pet Friendly
Lagganvoulin is a charming and well appointed traditional, detached Highland cottage on the Glenlivet Estate, and in the Cairngorm National Park, 45 miles from Inverness and only 1.5 miles from Tomintoul, at 1170ft the highest village in the Highlands. This is indeed Big Country, ideal for walkers, climbers, ski-ers and everyone who loves space, peace and glorious scenery.
Sleeps: 6,
Bedrooms: 3
- Short Breaks available
- Pet Friendly
stands amidst the hills and moorlands of the Cairngorm foothills just two miles out in the country from the small Highland town of Kingussie roughly midway between Pitlochry and Inverness - a detached, comfortably furnished, comparatively modern bungalow which stands on its own, in its own grass garden.
Sleeps: 6,
Bedrooms: 3
- No Pets
- No Smoking
- Short Breaks available
This charming, newly built cottage on the outskirts of the popular holiday centre of Aviemore, an hour south of Inverness in the heart of the Highlands. There is so much to see and do in the area that a week will never be enough, and it is therefore the ideal choice for a holiday which will please all ages and interests.