Visit Grantown on Spey

Archive for the ‘Cairngorm Mountains’ Category

Scotland has an ancient and fascinating history with its own distinctive culture, factors that make it an exhilarating holiday destination. With so much to discover, this small country attracts tourists in their droves keen to explore its dramatic landscape, snow covered mountains, beautiful lochs and intriguing cities. Whenever you choose to visit Scotland there are a wide range of entertainment and activities available and the choice of places to stay, including self catering accommodation, means you can bring the family.

Situated between Perth and Inverness are the charming areas of Grantown on Spey and Cairngorm, their location in the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands of Scotland provide them with spectacular views. With the extensive variety of activities and attractions offered in the area, they have become a trendy destination for tourists and residents to spend some time.

Reasonably simple to get to by road and coach, the rail network extends to Grantown, via Aviemore from Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh and there is a direct link from London. If you don’t have a lot of time to spend then the local airport is Inverness.

Grantown on Spey and the surrounding area have a lot to offer and winter sports are one of the main attractions for many visitors. The Cairngorm Mountains offer a range of snowboarding, sledging and skiing opportunities. The ski-lift will take you to the top of the mountain and slopes have been designed for beginners or skilled skiers. The restaurant at the top of the mountain is a great place to stay awhile and admire the scenery. The mountain is mainly covered in snow from December until April or May.

Aviemore offers the ideal destination for a weekend away with a loved one, to spend some time with friends, or as a treat for the family as there are lots of activities and attractions to keep everyone happy.

If visiting CairnGorm Mountain, there is a small train that runs you up to the top, an impressive 1097m above sea level it is a safe manner tin which to reach the summit and an ideal way to experience the effects of altitude. Ensure you visit the mountain exhibition and wild garden and the self guided trails are fascinating places for exploring. For younger children the substitute is to take a ride on the Strathspey Steam Railway. It makes a round trip from Aviemore, passing through Boat of Garten to Broomhill and takes just over an hour. Sit back and see the stunning Cairngorm Mountains pass by whilst experiencing the pleasure of riding a steam engine.

Not far from Grantown is Rothiemurchus, a Highland estate and fascinating place for all ages, there are various wildlife to see such as Pine Martens, Badgers and Red and Roe Deer as well as many species of birds, amongst them Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Tawny Owls and Woodcocks. There are heaps of activities on offer in the estate many of them geared towards families and children. The Rothiemurchus Ranger will show you around the trail and teach you about the local wildlife and countryside. Rafting is specially arranged so families can join in too, with calm waters and expert guides on the rafts, and you can even visit the farm and meet the Highland Cows and Red Deer Stags.

There is a broad variety of accommodation on offer in Grantown and the nearby area, whatever your taste, bed and breakfast, guest houses, hotels and resorts are all an option or experience a log cabin or holiday cottage Aviemore. Self catering is a good option for those with families as it provides a lot more space. A 2 or 3 bedroom lodge or cottage can effortlessly contain a family and with all the mod cons and comforts of home can keep everyone happy.

Whatever type of holiday you are preparing for, a quiet weekend break, a week full of activities and entertainment, or a family holiday, you are sure to find it in Grantown and the Scottish Highlands. Check online for a choice of lodgings, including self catering accommodation in Grantown.

Sandy abseils into, then skis Jacobs Ladder in Coire an t-Sneachda Cairngorm

I always wanted to try skiing on Cairngorm Mountain, in the Cairngorms National Park, but was concerned by all the additional costs, such as ski passes, ski hire and all the clothes – not to mention going all the way to somewhere cold enough to try it. But this time it was different.

I had a friend from the United Kingdom, and, so we decided that the next time we would go together, it would be somewhere cold enough for snow! Scotland looked good in January, we  booked everything – and I was quite surprised at how little it costs us ….I found a ski resort, and spoke to a  very helpful person at the other end of the line. He told me that the tuition price includes all the essentials including free travel on the cable car, ski passes and of course a full day teaching and all the extras you could need if you hire them.He also advised that due to the temperamental weather, and on the booked date and there is no chance to ski, they move freely to lesson the next day. I do not know why I was so worried about all the extra costs – as so far, it does not seem to be all!

The property we chose was as close to the Cairngorm Mountains as we could get, and it turned out – the best place to be if you are an outdoor type. It was a center for all organizations would you expect up here, including Avalanche Research, mountain rescue and training. It was also a learning center for all interested in rock climbing, ice hiking, canoeing, river and sea, to name a few – and only by staying at the lodge, you had free access to their climbing wall, gym and pool during your stay.Anyway, on the first day we read the weather and avalanche information (!) For the mountain, had a hot breakfast and everything looked like it would be a good day for skiing. There was no snow on the lower parts of the mountains, but as we drove into the parking lot we could see heavy snow to the side! More and more excited we drove up to the equipment area.

The staff could not have more patient and helpful, as we were sent to collect on our boots, and were with some adjustments, fitted them, and then walk in them. Well, they take all the movement away from your lower leg, ankle and foot, so that we were limping alongon our heels.  We must have looked like real newbies to all the regulars – I can imagine they have a word for us when we look like a train, in a large group on the mountain.In the morning there was nice and slow, on a flat piece of snow, not too far up the mountain, with only 5 other beginners in our group. It was very strange to see no control over our own feet and not in a position to step out of them at any time, but it was not long before I stopped falling down. The boots completely support your body – I mean, you could sit right down, or right lean forward and touch the fronts of your skis, without tipping over. This increased my confidence no end, and I was really on the ski slope after about 20 minutes!It was then that I found I could not quite stop! I understood what the teacher told me to do, but my feet were not quite in control. It was very strange trying to tell my feet what to do, when they were doing something else.

We broke for lunch, with me having not yet mastered turning and stopping, and headed up the mountain, where we ate apparently in the highest restaurant in Scotland (). The afternoon session was right at the top of the mountain, and when we got there, you could not see beyond the end of your ski’s – it was a storm! We were all wrapped up safe and dry in all our clothes, with only our nose exposed to the weather. The fresh snow skis so much easier, we had our ski slalom poles and were all between 10-times better than this morning, and I finally mastered stopping. Phew!!  (I found it easier without the poles in my hands). All in all it was a great day. Now I can ski with confidence, I was not cold at all at any time, I did not get wet from all the falling down, I was not injured all, and saw a lot of snow!!

Video of the upbound journey of the Cairn Gorm Mountain Funicular Railway, which opened in 2001. The railway climbs about 1500 feet to a visitor station and restaurant. A one-way trip takes about 8 minutes.

we’ve just booked to go skiing in scotland at cairngorm mountain in february 10th-15th, i just wanted to know whether the skiing there is good? is the snow good, is there plenty of it? were all the slopes open when you went? thanks.

Image taken on 2008-04-12 15:58:39 by Simple Fox.

Winterhighland followers Alan, Jim and Helen skiing and exploring the snowholes on the remaining snow in Ciste Mhearaid ,Cairngorm, on the 20th June 2009

we’ve just booked to go skiing in scotland at cairngorm mountain in february 10th-15th, i just wanted to know whether the skiing there is good? is the snow good, is there plenty of it? were all the slopes open when you went? thanks.

Image taken on 2005-09-25 13:28:28 by ccgd.

The journey down the mountain at double speed. filmed Sat 8th December 2007