Gillian's Guidebook
Favourite cafes and pubs
The wonderful village local, just 5 minutes walk away! Very friendly pub serving great food. Can get busy, get there early! Dogs welcome.
9 locals recommend
Cairn Hotel
Main RoadThe wonderful village local, just 5 minutes walk away! Very friendly pub serving great food. Can get busy, get there early! Dogs welcome.
Fabulous for lunch, coffee and cake, and the most amazing sundaes! Gluten free options.
20 locals recommend
Nethy House Cafe & Rooms
Fabulous for lunch, coffee and cake, and the most amazing sundaes! Gluten free options.
Super tasty food in Kincraig, close to Loch Insh and the Speyside Way. Lovely local art work too.
18 locals recommend
Old post office café
1 Braeriach RdSuper tasty food in Kincraig, close to Loch Insh and the Speyside Way. Lovely local art work too.
What was once the well known Mountain Cafe has become the wonderful take-away bakery KJ's Bothy Bakery, in the Achnagonalin Industrial Estate by Grantown on Spey. Lots of tasty breads and cakes.
35 locals recommend
Mountain Cafe
What was once the well known Mountain Cafe has become the wonderful take-away bakery KJ's Bothy Bakery, in the Achnagonalin Industrial Estate by Grantown on Spey. Lots of tasty breads and cakes.
Bright and family friendly, with excellent breakfasts, in Aviemore. Gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options. Dine in or take away.
15 locals recommend
Route 7 Cafe
Bright and family friendly, with excellent breakfasts, in Aviemore. Gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options. Dine in or take away.
Our favourite Aviemore pub - atmosphere, decor and food are all excellent. Booking ahead often advisable.
60 locals recommend
Old Bridge Inn
23 Dalfaber RdOur favourite Aviemore pub - atmosphere, decor and food are all excellent. Booking ahead often advisable.
Friendly bar and cafe on the shores of Loch Morlich. Friendly staff, tasty food. Ski hire available too.
Pine Marten Bar and Scran
Friendly bar and cafe on the shores of Loch Morlich. Friendly staff, tasty food. Ski hire available too.
Family run garden centre and gift shop with restaurant in nearby Skye of Curr. Great for a browse and lunch out.
15 locals recommend
Speyside Centre
Skye of Curr RoadFamily run garden centre and gift shop with restaurant in nearby Skye of Curr. Great for a browse and lunch out.
Excellent farm shop, lots of local produce. Will even deliver to the house.
9 locals recommend
Balliefurth Farm Shop
Excellent farm shop, lots of local produce. Will even deliver to the house.
Lovely evening meals available to non-residents. Special diets catered for.
13 locals recommend
Rowan Tree Country Hotel & Restaurant
Lovely evening meals available to non-residents. Special diets catered for.
Ryvoan Cafe
Lovely cheery decor and tasty food in the centre of Aviemore.
3 Bridges Cafe
Cafe in nearby Tomatin, tasty food, friendly service.
The photos don't do this place justice! Amazing food - seasonal ingredients foraged, grown and reared locally.
Alvie Forest Food
The photos don't do this place justice! Amazing food - seasonal ingredients foraged, grown and reared locally.
Tasty homemade food with a good vegan menu. Family run hotel in Newtonmore with a swimming pool available to non residents.
Balavil Hotel
Main StreetTasty homemade food with a good vegan menu. Family run hotel in Newtonmore with a swimming pool available to non residents.
Rustic and relaxing sit in or takeaway breakfast, lunch and cakes. Dogs welcome. Check out the farm shop next door for local produce and gifts.
The Barn at Rothiemurchus
Rustic and relaxing sit in or takeaway breakfast, lunch and cakes. Dogs welcome. Check out the farm shop next door for local produce and gifts.
Not just awesome ice cream, cannoli and dough nuts too. Definitely worth a visit.
Miele's Gelateria Aviemore
98 Grampian RoadNot just awesome ice cream, cannoli and dough nuts too. Definitely worth a visit.
Sightseeing
Our iconic 300 year old bridge right here in the village. You might be lucky enough to see a piper playing the bagpipes on the bridge of an evening.
Old Pack Horse Bridge
Our iconic 300 year old bridge right here in the village. You might be lucky enough to see a piper playing the bagpipes on the bridge of an evening.
Very scenic circular walk round beautiful Loch an Eilein, complete with its own ruined castle in the middle.
41 locals recommend
Loch an Eilein
Very scenic circular walk round beautiful Loch an Eilein, complete with its own ruined castle in the middle.
Britain's highest beach. Stunning scenery, walks, water sports and lochside cafe.
81 locals recommend
Loch Morlich
Britain's highest beach. Stunning scenery, walks, water sports and lochside cafe.
Scottish history from the 1700s through to the 1900s really comes alive in this open air museum. We keep going back. Closed over the winter.
90 locals recommend
Highland Folk Museum
Kingussie RdScottish history from the 1700s through to the 1900s really comes alive in this open air museum. We keep going back. Closed over the winter.
Nothing quite like the sights and sounds of the steam train. Take a journey through the local countryside.
51 locals recommend
Strathspey Railway
Dalfaber RoadNothing quite like the sights and sounds of the steam train. Take a journey through the local countryside.
Fascinating insight into Scottish history. Just over half an hour away by car.
259 locals recommend
Culloden Battlefield station
Fascinating insight into Scottish history. Just over half an hour away by car.
Summer visitors will be treated to the ospreys. Lots of bird life all year round and the loch is one of our favourite places to walk.
22 locals recommend
RSPB Loch Garten Osprey Centre
Summer visitors will be treated to the ospreys. Lots of bird life all year round and the loch is one of our favourite places to walk.
Barracks dating back to the time of the Jacobites in the 1700s. The barracks even featured in the TV programme, Monarch of the Glen. Worth a visit.
28 locals recommend
Ruthven Barracks
Barracks dating back to the time of the Jacobites in the 1700s. The barracks even featured in the TV programme, Monarch of the Glen. Worth a visit.
Award winning craft beer brewed in the middle of Aviemore. Tours and tastings are available.
16 locals recommend
Cairngorm Brewery
Dalfaber DriveAward winning craft beer brewed in the middle of Aviemore. Tours and tastings are available.
Cawdor Castle
B9090Beautiful gardens and castle. Great family day out.
Activities
Literally a 5 minute walk from the house. The kids will love it and plenty fun for the adults too!
161 locals recommend
Landmark Forest Adventure Park
B9153Literally a 5 minute walk from the house. The kids will love it and plenty fun for the adults too!
Carrbridge Golf Club
Inverness RdLocal 9 hole course right here in the village.
Good day out for all the family. Look out for the polar bears!
123 locals recommend
RZSS Highland Wildlife Park
Good day out for all the family. Look out for the polar bears!
Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
See the reindeer roaming free in the hills.
Beautiful loch on the River Spey with watersports, dry ski slope and a restaurant serving tasty food. Even has a temporary ice rink in the winter.
47 locals recommend
Loch Insh Outdoor Centre
Beautiful loch on the River Spey with watersports, dry ski slope and a restaurant serving tasty food. Even has a temporary ice rink in the winter.
Boat trips on the Moray Firth to see dolphins, otters and other wildlife. Whales when occasionally put in an appearance!
28 locals recommend
Dolphin Spirit Inverness
Stadium RoadBoat trips on the Moray Firth to see dolphins, otters and other wildlife. Whales when occasionally put in an appearance!
Cruise Loch Ness to see some amazing scenery, castles and monuments. You might even spot Nessie!
57 locals recommend
Jacobite Cruises
Margaret StreetCruise Loch Ness to see some amazing scenery, castles and monuments. You might even spot Nessie!
Thrilling day out for ages 8 and over. Really great fun. And recently added Night Zip in the winter. Are you brave enough?!
17 locals recommend
Zip Trek Park Aviemore
Thrilling day out for ages 8 and over. Really great fun. And recently added Night Zip in the winter. Are you brave enough?!
Skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer, not to mention the spectacular views. And only 45 minutes by car.
18 locals recommend
Lecht Ski Centre
Skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer, not to mention the spectacular views. And only 45 minutes by car.
Over 20 miles of excellent mountain biking trails, from easy-going green to rather scary black! Walking trails and cafe too.
35 locals recommend
Laggan Wolftrax Mountain Biking Trail Centre
7 Forestry HousesOver 20 miles of excellent mountain biking trails, from easy-going green to rather scary black! Walking trails and cafe too.
Great fun zipping about in the go karts and getting a little competitive!
18 locals recommend
Aviemore Kart Raceway
Great fun zipping about in the go karts and getting a little competitive!
TreeZone Aviemore
Good family fun high up in the trees!
Many activities on offer : white water rafting, canyoning, gorge walking and tubing. Adrenaline filled fun!
15 locals recommend
G2 Outdoor
Many activities on offer : white water rafting, canyoning, gorge walking and tubing. Adrenaline filled fun!
Aviemore Bikes
MyrtlefieldBike hire and sales. Great local route advice from friendly staff.