Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CARRBRIDGE
POP 540
Carrbridge, 7 miles northeast of Aviemore, is a good alternative base for exploring the re-
gion. It takes its name from the graceful old bridge (spotlit at night), built in 1717, over
the thundering rapids of the Dulnain.
The
Landmark Forest Adventure Park
(
01479-841613;
www.landmarkpark.co.uk
;
adult/child £12.95/10.80; 10am-7pm mid-Jul-Aug, to 6pm
Apr-mid-Jul, to 5pm or 6pm Sep-Mar)
, set in a forest of Scots pines, is a theme park with
a difference; the theme is timber. The main attractions are the Ropeworx highwire adven-
ture course, the Treetops Trail (a raised walkway through the forest canopy that allows
you to view red squirrels, crossbills and crested tits), and the steam-powered sawmill.
Bus 34 runs from Inverness to Carrbridge (45 minutes, six daily Monday to Friday,
three on Saturday) and onwards to Grantown-on-Spey (20 minutes) and Aviemore.
BOAT OF GARTEN
Boat of Garten is known as the Osprey Village because these rare and beautiful birds of
prey nest nearby at the
RSPB Loch Garten Osprey Centre
(
01479-831694;
www.rspb.org.uk/lochgarten
;
Tulloch; adult/child £4/2.50; 10am-6pm Apr-Aug)
. The
ospreys migrate here each spring from Africa and nest in a tall pine tree - you can watch
from a hide as the birds feed their young. The centre is signposted about 2 miles east of
the village.
There is good-quality hostel accommodation at
Fraoch Lodge
(
01479-831331;
www.scotmountain.co.uk/hostel
;
Deshar Rd; per person £21-23; )
, while the
Boat
Hotel
(
01479-831258;
www.boathotel.co.uk
; s/d from £77/147;
)
offers luxurious
accommodation and a superb restaurant.
Boat of Garten is 6 miles northeast of Aviemore. The most interesting way to get here is
on the Strathspey Steam Railway (
Click here
)
.
Grantown-on-Spey
POP 2170
Grantown (
gran
-ton) is an elegant Georgian town on the banks of the Spey, a favoured
haunt of anglers and the tweed-cap-and-green-wellies brigade. Thronged with tourists in
summer, it reverts to a quiet backwater in winter. Most hotels can kit you out for a day of
fly-fishing or put you in touch with someone who can.
