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Visitor Centres & Attractions

Cairngorm Mountain

It has to be one of the most memorable experiences in anyone’s life when they first set their eyes on this majestic and beautiful mountain standing guard over the Spey Valley.  Cairngorm provides the ideal conditions for some of the most popular winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding and snow holing.  There are walks to be enjoyed, ice climbing not to mention mountaineering – the choice is endless with a challenge for all from novice to expert.  All the pursuits offered by Cairngorm need careful and serious preparation so it is good to know that there are a great number of extremely qualified and dedicated people close at hand to advise - so enjoy!t www.cairngormmountain.com

Cairngorm Mountain Railway

No head for heights! No problem! This is a Natural High! - A Railway that hugs the grass clad, rocky surface of the 6th highest mountain in Britain. From the Base Station this high speed funicular takes visitors up to the Ptarmigan Restaurant and mountain exhibition.  Facts and figures and audio-visual are displayed in the exhibition, as is the story of the mountain and the fight to retain, nurture and regenerate the rare plant life peculiar to this conservation area.   

Cairngorm Sleddog Adventure Centre, Ski Road, Aviemore

The only centre of its kind in the UK with Museum, Kennel tours and daytime and evening Sleddog trips.  Meet the dogs – talk with the musher.  Open all year.

Cairngorm Brewery

Located within walking distance of Aviemore town centre, the brewery produces some of the finest Highland beers.  As with whisky, only the finest ingredients and purest Highland water are used to create a range of premium cask conditioned ales and bottled beer.  Enjoy a tour and tasting – no preservatives are used.  Training is also offered in cask ale handling.

Cairngorm Reindeer Centre

Riding the funicuar Railway – can’t believe your eyes – yes those really are reindeer you can see grazing the slopes of the mountain.  Visit the centre and watch Britain’s only reindeer herd roaming freely against the stunning background of Glenmore.  Learn the history of the Cairngorm reindeer herd and meet the reindeer themselves.  Perhaps you would like to adopt one?  There are Christmas events with the reindeer too

Craggan Outdoors Ltd (Grantown-on-Spey)

Located in nearby Grantown-on-Spey offering Fun Activities for everybody. Try your hand at Archery, raft building or Clay Pigeon shooting, against an awesome backdrop.  There is a BBQ and Picnic area for your enjoyment or a Café open daily.www.cragganforleisure.co.uk

The Fun House, Hilton Coylumbridge/Aviemore

Activities include a family games area with Air Hockey, Adventure Mini-Golf, 10-pin bowling not to mention soft play in Cyril’s tree house!  There is also a crèche and day care centre.  Last, but not least, there is the novelty of an American Diner where you can relax while the children are safely let loose!

Glenmore Visitor Centre, Near Aviemore

This is a Visitor Centre with a difference offering recreation in a Forest park.  A beautiful native pinewood forest close to Loch Morlich, this promises to be the ideal place in which to relax for the day.  The Centre was extensively upgraded in 1996 and now offers a forest shop, café, toilets and an audio-visual presentation and displays about the pinewoods and the restoration work being carried out. Ranger service, forest walks, cycle trails and cross-country ski routes in Glenmore Forest – the recreation staff will be most happy to give you details.  Open every day (except for Christmas and New Year).

Highland Folk Museum (Newtonmore/Kingussie)

This museum is located over 2 complimentary areas, exhibiting different aspects of the life of a Highlander over the past 300 years.  You can wander through houses, crofts and even amongst animals.  To the true lover of Scotland and its heritage or the ‘first time’ visitors this is an experience that will enrich your life.

Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig, Kingussie

A fantastic chance to see everything from bison herds to wolves, capercaille to Highland cattle – all up very close and personal with Animal encounter sessions as part of the programme. A part ride, part walk attraction – there is a raised walkway that takes you right into the heart of the wolf’s enclosure.

Landmark Forest Theme Park, Carrbridge

Voted THE number one attraction by local school children, there is great fun to be enjoyed in this awesome adventure park that has something for everyone, from waterslides to Clydesdale horses.  There is a Wildlife trail, climbing wall, the tallest wooden fire tower in the country, a wild forest Maze…one could go on – but it needs to be experienced personally.  There is a Shop in which to browse together with a Restaurant and Snack Bar for your convenience.  Open all year.

The Lecht Ski & Activity Centre, Strathdon

A resort high in the mountains (2090ft) outdoor fun takes on a new meaning, with summer skiing and snowboarding, hillside karting, tubing and quad bikes (for the over eights). Chair lift rides give a new meaning to the word ‘views’ as the magnificent panorama opens up before your eyes.  Sustain yourself in the Licensed Café.  Open daily.

Loch-an-Eilein Pottery

This is a rural pottery located on the road to Loch-an-Eilan, Rothiemurchus, with a relaxed, informal air about it, nurtured by the lovely surroundings of the Spey Valley.  Browse at your leisure and watch the pots being thrown by Penny Weir.  Her enjoyment in handling the clay is evident in the variety of wonderful pots on display. You can ‘Throw your own’ on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and weekend courses are also available.

Rothiemhurcus Estate

Inverdruie, a mile from Aviemore, is the point at which visitors are first welcomed and informed about what this wonderful family Estate – aptly advertised as ‘ one of the 100 Most Amazing places in the UK’ – has to offer.  Nurtured by the Grant family, together with its employees and supporters, over a period of 450 years it has become a family activity centre of considerable note. There are pursuits too numerous to list individually but this is a well organised, well loved haven in a stunning setting that you cannot fail to enjoy.

Ruthven Barracks

1 mile from Kingussie, via the A86 and B970  this awe inspiring ruin still sits and guards a main Spey crossing.  There has been a castle on this grassy mound since the 13th century – the barracks being built in 1719 only to be blown up in 1746 by the Jacobites!  It was here that the Wolf of Badenoch died in 1405 (yes, the very same who burnt down Elgin Cathedral).  This is a monument to the past – steeped in history – if only stones could talk.

Speyside Cooperage, Craigellache

Multi award-winning working cooperage. Skilled coopers with their apprentices practice their ancient craft. Around 100,000 oak casks are repaired each year.  Gift shop, tastings and refreshments available. Accessible by bus from Elgin: request stop.

Speyside Heather Centre

This is a fascinating Visitor Centre with a wonderful, colourful audio and visual exhibition telling the Heather Story. This family owned, multi-award winning attraction also offers a Gift shop, Boutique and mouth-watering food served all day in the famous Clootie Dumpling Restaurant (licensed).  Wander round the Garden centre and buy some heather plants and/or visit the Gift shop for a bottle of the exclusive Heather Cream liqueur.

Spey Valley Smokehouse, (Near Grantown-on-Spey)

Visiting a Smokehouse is quite an experience and Spey Valley Smokehouse 1 mile south of Grantown-on-Spey is no exception. There is a viewing gallery with audio and visual displays and shop - you can also taste the world famous, traditionally smoked, salmon.  Free entry.

Speyside Wildlife Rothiemurchus, by Aviemore 

This is the place with ‘something for everyone’.  Bird & Mammal Watching, Evening Wildlife Watching, Wildlife Tours, Short breaks & Holidays all with professional guides with a passionate love for their subjects. Private Day Guiding is also available.  Share real wildlife encounters in the Cairngorm National Park with dedicated people – something special you are interested in seeing then ask - this doubles everyone’s enjoyment. What could be more rewarding than watching badgers at play (they really are the cleanest of creatures and quite house proud!) as your eyes become accustomed to the dark?

Tomintoul Museum

This beautiful village, one of the highest in Britain, set in an awesome landscape, has its own very special museum in the village square. This is a museum given over entirely to ‘Life at the Edge of the Cairngorm Mountains’ and is quite unique. 

Waltzing Waters, Newtonmore

Situated in Main Street, Newtonmore, this aqua display is a truly amazing spectacle. The unusual attraction makes water jump and dance in time to a variety of lights, colours and music.  There is a 40 minutes show every hour on the hour and seating for 180 people.

To Book phone: 01479 821613