The Central Highlands - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 164

2hr 30min) involves riding the funicular partway up the mountain, joining a guided
walk to the summit, and then taking the funicular back down to the base station.
Guided mountain-bike descents of the mountain can also be arranged (from £22.50).

Cairn Gorm Mountain Railway
Leaves from the base station • Daily: May-Oct 10.20am-4.30pm; Nov-April 9am-4.30pm; last train up 4pm; every 20min • £10.30
The Cairngorm Ski Area base station is the departure point for the Cairn Gorm Mountain
Railway , a two-car funicular system that runs to the top of the ski area. A highly
controversial £15 million scheme that was bitterly opposed by conservationists, the
railway whisks skiers in winter, and tourists throughout the year, along a mile and a half
of track to the top station at an altitude of 3600ft, not far from the summit of Cairn
Gorm mountain (4085ft). The top station incorporates an exhibition/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

2

AVIEMORE AND AROUND

By train Aviemore's train station is on Grampian Rd, just
south of the tourist of ce.
Destinations Edinburgh (Mon-Sat 12 daily, 6 on Sun;
3hr); Glasgow (11 daily, 6 on Sun; 2hr 50min); Inverness
(Mon-Sat 11 daily, 7 on Sun; 40min).
By bus Buses arrive and depart from a stop 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; 4 on
Sun; 30min); Inverness (at least 11 daily; 45min).

INFORMATION AND GETTING AROUND
Tourist of 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). Aviemore's business-
like tourist of ce is in the heart of things. It offers an

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.42). 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 lochside
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 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 forestry.gov
.uk) by the roadside at the turn-off to Glenmore Lodge is the starting point for the three-hour
round-trip 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.