Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WALKS AROUND AVIEMORE
Ordnance Survey Explorer maps 402 & 403
Walking
of all grades is a highlight of the Aviemore area, though you should heed the usual
safety guidelines (see p.43). These are particularly important if you want to venture into the
subarctic climatic zone of the
Cairngorms
. However, as well as the high mountain trails, there
are some lovely and well-signposted low-level walks in the area.
LOCH AN EILEAN
It takes an hour or so to complete the gentle circular walk around pretty Loch an Eilean (with its
ruined castle) in the
Rothiemurchus Estate
, beginning at the end of the back road that turns
east off the B970 a mile south of Inverdruie. The helpful estate visitor centres
at the loch-side
and by the roadside at Inverdruie provide more information on other woodland trails.
RYVOAN PASS
Another good, shortish (half-day) walk leads along a well-surfaced forestry track from
Glenmore
Lodge
(see opposite) up towards the
Ryvoan Pass
, taking in An Lochan Uaine, known as the
“Green Loch” and living up to its name, with amazing colours that range from turquoise to slate
grey depending on the weather.
MEALL A' BHUACHALLIE
The
Glenmore Forest Park Visitor Centre
(daily 9am-5pm;
T
01479 861220,
W
www.forestry
.gov.uk) by the roadside at the turn-off to
Glenmore Lodge
is the starting point for the three-hour
return climb of Meall a' Bhuachallie (2654ft), which offers excellent views and is usually accessible
year-round. The centre has information on other trails in this section of the forest too.
11
interpretation area and a café/restaurant from which spectacular views can be had on
clear days. Note, there is no access beyond the confines of the top station and its
open-air viewing terrace, so unless you're embarking on a winter skiing trip or a guided
walk, you'll have to trudge up from the car park at the bottom.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
AVIEMORE AND AROUND
By train
Aviemore's train station is on Grampian Road, just
south of the tourist o
ce.
Destinations
Edinburgh (Mon-Sat 12 daily, Sun 6 daily;
3hr); Glasgow (11 daily, Sun 6 daily; 2hr 50min); Inverness
(Mon-Sat 11 daily, Sun 7 daily; 40min).
By bus
Buses depart from outside the train station.
Destinations
Cairngorm ski area (hourly; 30min);
Edinburgh (6 daily; 3-4hr); Glasgow (5 daily; 2hr 40min-
3hr 20min); Grantown-on-Spey (Mon-Sat 1-2/hr, Sun 4
daily; 30min); Inverness (at least 11 daily; 45min).
GETTING AROUND
By bus
The most useful local bus route is the #31, which
runs hourly from Aviemore to the Cairn Gorm Mountain
Railway (see p.422) via Rothiemurchus and Loch Morlich.
The #34 service is also handy, running regularly (roughly
hourly) to Grantown via Boat of Garten.
INFORMATION
Tourist o
ce
7 The Parade, Grampian Rd
(April & May Mon-
Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm; June Mon-Sat 9am-6pm,
Sun 9.30am-5pm; July & Aug Mon-Sat 9.30am-6.30pm, Sun
9.30am-6pm; Sept-March 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm;
T
01479 810930). Offers an accommodation booking service
and reams of leaflets on local attractions.
ACTIVITES
FISHING
Rothiemurchus Estate
Inverdruie
T
01479 810703,
W
rothiemurchus.com.
Has a stocked rainbow trout-fishing
loch, where success is virtually guaranteed. A one-hour
lesson followed by an hour's fishing costs £45.
July-Aug
9.30am-9pm, Sept-June 9.30am-5.30pm.
HORSE RIDING
Alvie Stables
Five miles south of Aviemore, near
Kincraig
T
07831 495397,
W
alvie-estate.co.uk.
Family-
friendly riding centre set in superb countryside a short
drive from Aviemore, offering 30min lessons and longer
guided rides (£25/hr).
