PLACES TO EAT
Grantown-on-Spey
The Craig Bar (Speciality Pies served with chips)
Grantown East Railway Station – Highland Heritage & Culture Centre
Out of town (Max 15 mins drive)
Andersons Restaurant, Deshar Road, Boat of Garten
The Boat Hotel, Boat of Garten
Mountview Hotel, Nethy Bridge
Tigh Na Sgiath, Skye Of Curr Road, Dulnain Bridge
Muckrach Country House Hotel, Dulnain Bridge
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Grantown Museum has an exhibition which explains the history of Grantown which is considered to be one of the first planned towns in Scotland.
Craggan Outdoors has a range of outdoor activities such as archery, fishing, canoeing and golf
The Speyside Centre is a plant nursery specialising in heathers. It has a shop and a cafe
Landmark Forest Adventure Park provides fun, discovery and adventure for all ages
Highland Wildlife Park is a 105 hectare safari park and zoo
Loch Garten is a breeding site for Ospreys and they can be watched nesting and raising their chicks every summer from the RSPB visitor centre
Cairngorm Reindeer Centre is home to Britain’s only herd of reindeer found free ranging in the Cairngorm hills. Daily visits leave Reindeer House at Glenmore at 11am (weather permitting).
Strathspey Steam Railway operates historic trains on the line between Aviemore and Broomhill Station
Cairngorm Mountain Funicular Railway is the only one of its kind in Scotland. The Ptarmigan Station at the top contains mountain exhibitions, a shop and the UK’s highest restaurant.
Ballindalloch Castle is just 15 minutes drive from Grantown on Spey. A much loved family home, Ballindalloch is one of the few privately owned castles to have been lived in continuously by its original family. The Macpherson-Grants have resided here since 1546.
Further Afield
Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre
GOLF COURSES
There are over 20 golf courses within a 40 minute drive of Grantown including the Championship Courses at Castle Stuart, (home to the Scottish Open), Nairn and Spey Valley (Aviemore). The local 18 hole courses at Grantown on Spey and Boat of Garten are excellent standard with stunning scenery while the 9 hole courses at Ballindalloch Castle, Carrbridge and Abernethy are not to be missed. Craggan Outdoors has a fairly unique 14 hole par 3 course which is great fun to play.
Golf in The Scottish Highlands
DISTILLERIES
There are more than 50 Speyside Distilleries. Full details can be found at The Whiskey Trail website.
Our bedrooms at Ardconnel are named after;
The annual Speyside Whisky Festival
SPORTING & OTHER ACTIVITIES
For local mountain, hill and forest walks, visit Walk Highlands
For self guided hikes, check out hillwalking tours.
To enquire about salmon fishing on the Spey, visit the River Spey Anglers Association (Mortimers shop in the High Street will also provide information and fishing permits).
For a host of specialist adventures such as canoeing, kayaking, sailing, mountain biking and hillwalking have a look at Wilderness Scotland
To check on skiing conditions at Cairngorm and The Lecht visit Ski Scotland
To hire mountain bikes, visit Base Camp Bikes
There are many wildlife tour companies and the Grant Arms Hotel, see link above in Places to Eat, may be able to help, particularly birdwatching. A couple of options are to visit the site of Speyside Wildlife. or A9 Birds (Birdwatching and Wildlife Photography)
Paint your own pottery at Smarty Art Ceramic Painting Studio.
SHOPPING
Scotland offers some of the best produce in the world from the finest Cashmere, Malt Whisky, designer clothing, local food products and speciality gifts. If you are looking for something different as well as a good day out for all the family below are some of the best shopping experiences in the area.
Spey Valley shopping, Aviemore
EVENING ENTERTAINMENT
Spey Valley Cinema – Aviemore Highland Resort
Eden Court Theatre – Inverness
TRANSPORT
Local Bus information can be provided by Stagecoach
If arring into Inverness by air, you can hire a car or book a taxi at Inverness Airport
If you are adventurous and want to travel overnight on the London to Inverness Caledonian Sleeper you can book at this site. (Don’t forget to get off at Aviemore Station).
For all other rail enquiries, visit Scotrail
Lindsay Jack Private Hire Taxi Services – Grantown on Spey phone 01479 873094
Aviemore Taxi Services – 01479 811111