The Central Highlands - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 162

Inverness Forres

0 4

miles

ACCOMMODATION
Glenmore Lodge
& Cairngorm SAYA 1

N Broomhill

2

1

Cairngorm
Ski Area

Cairn Gorm
(4084ft)

T A I N S

Cairn Toul
(4235ft)

STRATHSPEY AND
THE CAIRNGORMS

Dalwhinnie, Pitlochry & Perth

activities, which are likely to seem very enticing after a glimpse of the stunning mountain
scenery provided by the 4000ft-summit plateau of the Cairngorms. South of Aviemore,
the sedate villages of Newtonmore and Kingussie are older established holiday centres,
more popular with anglers and grouse hunters than canoeists and climbers.
The planned Georgian town of Grantown-on-Spey is an attractive alternative base for
outdoor activities, with solid Victorian mansions but fewer facilities for visitors than
Aviemore, while smaller settlements such as Boat of Garten and Kincraig are quieter,
well-kept villages. The whole area boasts a wide choice of good-quality accommo-
dation, particularly in the budget market, with various easy-going hostels run by and
for outdoor enthusiasts.

Aviemore and around
The once-sleepy village of AVIEMORE was first developed as a ski and tourism resort in
the mid-1960s and, over the years, fell victim to profiteering developers with scant
regard for the needs of the local community. Despite recent attempts to turn things
around, it remains a soulless hotchpotch of retail outlets, café-bars and characterless
housing developments. That said, Aviemore is undeniably well equipped with services
and facilities and is the most convenient base for the Cairngorms.