101 THINGS TO DO IN AVIEMORE 2 WELCOME 1 SPLASH & SWIM TAKE IN A MOVIE All our guests can enjoy free, Watch the latest releases at Spey unlimited use of our indoor pool Valley Cinema in Macdonald with flume & wave machine. Aviemore Resort. You’ll never be bored in Aviemore and the Cairngorms! There are 101 things to do that we’ve pulled together for you to make the most of your break. We think the Cairngorms is pretty 3 4 5 6 amazing so please share with your family and friends and let’s spread the word.
THE FAMILY PANTO THUNDER IN THE GLENS HERITAGE STEAM TRAIN LUXURY SHOPPING During school holidays and Christmas A must see event in August when The Strathspey Steam Railway is on Visit Spey Valley Shopping, Aviemore’s 7 watch a live panto at Spey Valley Aviemore is taken over by the largest our doorstep. Enjoy a ride through large department store with designer Cinema. motorbike rally in Europe. the Cairngorms. brands.
8 CHILDREN’S 9 ACTIVITY ROOMS INDOOR SOFT PLAY Our resort guests can enjoy free Let the kids have a ball in the use throughout their stay. From 4-storey soft play in the resort. EAT ICE-CREAM toddlers to teens there’s fun for Free for all our guests. Visit Aviemore’s Italian ice-cream store everyone. just a wee walk away.
2 www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/aviemore CYCLE THROUGH 10 THE FOREST 11 12 13 There’s lots of wonderful cycle routes all around Aviemore and something for everyone. We thoroughly recommend a cycle trip through the forest trails to Loch Morlich beach or Loch PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP FAMILY GOLF DANCE IN A NIGHTCLUB GOLF an Eilein (once voted Britain’s Have a go on the 9-Hole Academy Enjoy a pub crawl and end your best picnic spot). These gentle Experience the award winning course perfect for beginners and evening in Aviemore’s nightclub, routes are perfect for families. 18-Hole course in Aviemore with families. The Vault. beautiful views. 14 15 16
TASTE SOME BEER SPEYSIDE WHISKY TRAIL INFLATABLE FUN Tour and taste local beer at Take a tour of ‘Malt Whisky County’ If it’s a rainy day this is perfect for Cairngorm Brewery. It’s just a 5 during your stay in Aviemore. Visit kids. Running indoors at the resort minute drive away. Glenfiddich and many more. during the school holidays. 17 18 19
PADDLE BOARDING WHITE WATER RAFTING HAIRY COO SAFARI What a unique way to explore the Experience a big exciting Scottish river Let you little ones get up close to River Spey! Book a lesson. with loads of awesome rapids. some hairy heilan coos!
www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/aviemore 3 PET FRIENDLY 20 21 22 29 ADVENTURES Bring your furry friend to Macdonald Aviemore Resort for some great walks to nearby lochs. Ask about pet friendly FEED THE FISH FAMILY DINING FINE DINING rooms and lodges. Visit Rothiemurchus Fishery for this Check out Giovanni’s Italian or Pirate’s Enjoy great food at Aspects, our family friendly fun activity. Cove and Kids Eat Free too. signature restaurant with lovely views. 23 24 25
THE PLAY PARK CAMERA OBSCURA PLAY SNOOKER Get the kids outdoors in the playpark Visit this at 635 metres above sea level Got a spare hour? Have a game at in the resort. There are also great views. at Cairngorm Mountain. Macdonald Spey Valley Resort. 26 27 28
WEE WOMBLE WATCH A SLED DOG BUILD A SNOWMAN PONY RIDES RALLY Perfect for children 3–8 years with This annual event in January will let The lawns of Macdonald Aviemore little or no experience. you watch over 1,000 sled dogs! Resort make the perfect spot.
4 www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/aviemore 30 GATEWAY TO THE 31 NORTH COAST 500 SEGWAY TREKS Aviemore is a great base to start Have a go and tour around the and finish your North Coast resort. Just watch your balance! adventure.
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GRASS SLEDGING FOREST THEME PARK SEE A POLAR BEAR FEED REINDEER CLIMB A MOUNTAIN Our summer equivalent of snow. Waterslides, a rollercoaster and more Spot tigers and monkeys too at Visit the UK’s only free-ranging Walk to the top of Cairngorm Great fun for all the family. all at Landmark Forest Adventure Highland Wildlife Park. reindeer at Cairngorm Reindeer. Mountain for a bird’s eye view. Park. 37 38 GO BACK IN TIME GO CANOEING Visit Britain’s first open air Canoe on Loch Morlich and feel a museum, the Highland Folk million miles away surrounded by Museum. mountains.
www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/aviemore 5 39 40 RIVER TUBING QUAD TREKKING Descend a clear mountain stream Experience an incredible trek with stunning views. through forests, hills and streams.
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SERIOUS CYCLING OFF ROAD ADVENTURES SNOWSPORTS SLEDGING VISIT AN ART MUSEUM Not for the faint hearted. Have a go at See the Cairngorms in an exhilarating Visit Aviemore in the winter for Enjoy sledging on the resort’s hill or Visit The Laundry Gallery or Loch an The Burma Road, a 26-mile route with 4x4 ride. snowsports on Cairngorm The Hayfield during winter. Eilein pottery. stunning views. Mountain. 46 47 PLAY TABLE TENNIS ARCHERY Another great activity for a rainy Have a go this fun sport in the day. Head over to Macdonald Spey resort grounds. Valley Resort.
6 www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/aviemore 48 ZIP THROUGH TREES 49 50 51 Experience the UK’s first Zip Trek Adventure Park.
BEAUTY TREATMENTS CERAMIC PAINTING HORSE RIDING Treat yourself to a massage or facial Visit Smarty Art in Grantown, a ce- Trek through miles of beautiful at Macdonald Highlands Hotel. ramic painting studio for families. countryside on horseback. 52 53 54
PHOTOGRAPH OSPREYS GORGE WALKING PLAY TENNIS Aviemore is reckoned to be the best This is the little brother of canyoning Have a game at our sister resort in location in the UK to photograph wild and great for adventurous families. Aviemore – Macdonald Spey Valley. ospreys! 55 56 57
RIDE WITH SLED DOGS FISHING CLAY SHOOTING Ride with the only daily working Rothiemurchus Fishery nearby is a All abilities welcome including sled-dog centre in the UK. tranquil setting to go fishing. beginners at nearby Rothiemurchus.
www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/aviemore 7 58 59 60 67 WALK THROUGH A NATURE RESERVE We’re just next door to Craigellachie National Nature Reserve, perfect for walks for WILDLIFE WATCHING SELF GUIDED WALKS PEDALO ON A LOCH all abilities. Keep your eyes peeled at the hide at Explore a 50km network of stunning It really is the simplest way to enjoy Rothiemurchus for pine marten and walks at Rothiemurchus. the beautiful lochs around Aviemore. more. 61 62 63
BODY ZORBING FISHING FOR CHILDREN TEA FOR TWO Jump inside a Zorb ball and bash, Give the kids a go at fly casting and Try our signature afternoon tea in bump and roll into one another. bait fishing on smaller lochs with the Laggan Whisky & Cocktail Bar. rainbow trout. 64 65 66
HAVE A WORKOUT VISIT A WHISKY FESTIVAL THE NATURE WALK You don’t need to skip your sessions. The famous Speyside Whisky Festival Join the weekly walk that departs Enjoy full use of the gym at the resort. is held annually in Speyside. from Macdonald Spey Valley Resort.
8 www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/aviemore 68 69 GO KART RACING PAINTBALLING Speed around a 500 metre circuit Have a go at this natural, purpose right here in Aviemore. built battlefield in the forest.
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RSPB LOCH GARTEN VISIT THE GREEN LOCH GRANTOWN EAST SCOTTISH STEAKHOUSE PLAY SQUASH Visit the nearby nature reserve next Visit this hidden gem with its mystical Learn about the history of the Enjoy prime Scotch beef matured for Enjoy a game of squash at Macdonald to a freshwater loch. green waters. Speyside rail line and more. a minimum of 21 days. Spey Valley Resort in Aviemore.
75 76 PONY RIDES GORGE SWIMMING Great for children 8 or over, Fight your way upstream and jump learning the basics and getting to into deep pools. know a Highland pony.
www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/aviemore 9 77 78 SAILING PLAY BADMINTON Get some exercise with a game at Head to Loch Morlich for a spot of Macdonald Spey Valley Resort in sailing and incredible views. Aviemore.
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WIND SURFING RANGER EXPERIENCE WILDCAT EXPERIENCE GRANTOWN ON SPEY RIVER KAYAKING BIKE TRAILS Loch Insh is a beautiful spot to wind This land rover tour includes getting This outdoor treasure hunt has Paddle as slow or fast as you like and surf. Lessons available too. close to wildlife, a stop at Loch an over 130 painted models of the Great fun for mountain bikers, take in the abundant wildlife in the Eilein and more. endangered Scottish wildcat. including kids. river.
84 85 BALLINDALLOCH GIN DISTILLERY CASTLE Visit Caorunn, a small batch Scottish gin who offer tours, just a Visit the ‘pearl of the north’ a short drive away. historic castle with beautiful gardens, a play area and café.
10 www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/aviemore 86 TAKE A BOAT TOUR 87 88 89 Enjoy a relaxing cruise on the tranquil Loch Insh.
LITTLE ONES ARCHERY VISIT SHEEPDOGS WHITE WATER TUBING Perfect for kids aged 5 or over using Watch working sheepdogs in action The ultimate river sport. Shoot geo-soft target archery. and even shear a sheep. through powerful gorges on tubes. 90 91 92
WALK ABOVE THE FOREST FAMILY RAFTING RUTHVEN BARRACKS Enjoy an adventure suspended from Enjoy a relaxing journey down a Open all year, visit these four wires high up in the forest. beautiful stretch of the River Spey. barracks built after the Jacobite rising.
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CLIMBING & WINTER GUIDED MUNRO BAGGING MOUNTAINEERING WALKS If this is your thing, bag another Try taster climbing sessions or full on Explore snow capped mountains in all munro in the Cairngorms. mountaineering. it’s Cairngorm winter glory.
www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/aviemore 11 96 97 SWIM IN A LOCH EXPERIENCE A SANTA WEEKEND You’ll find lots of very safe and breath-taking lochs, great for a dip Forget Lapland. Discover Santa in the summer. Weekends in Aviemore.
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BUILD A RAFT Design and build your own raft and test it out on Loch Insh!
WHISKY & CHOCOLATE VISIT A FAMOUS BRIDGE 5-A-SIDE Visit the highest distillery in Scotland Visit the 18th century packhorse Grab a bunch of family members Dalwhinnie and enjoy a tasting of bridge in the picturesque village of or friends and book a game at whisky and chocolate. Carrbridge. Macdonald Spey Valley Resort.
MACDONALD AVIEMORE RESORT Aviemore, Inverness-shire PH22 1PN
T: 0344 879 9152 www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/aviemore