Winter
sports on the snow-covered slopes of the Cairngorm Mountains
have made this part of the Highlands a popular tourist area
for Scots. In summer, tranquil lochs, woodlands and glens
teeming with wildlife attract another group of visitors
-- those who wish to visit the historic castles - or simply
wander through the idyllic scenery and perhaps glimpse an
osprey or a golden eagle.
Aviemore
Resort
catering predominantly for skiing, though there are facilities
for golf, squash, riding, curling, and water sports. Cinema,
ice rink, saunas, artificial ski slope, go-carts and discos.
Also a good summer base for touring in the Spey Valley.
Ballater
A
small resort town in the Royal Deeside parish of Glenmuick,
Tullich and Glengairn, W Aberdeenshire, situated on the
River Dee 43 miles (69 km) west of Aberdeen. Ballater
developed as a spa resort, first in the 1770s to accommodate
visitors to the Pananich Mineral Wells and later after
the arrival of the railway in 1866 (closed 1966).
Largely
built of reddish granite, its houses are laid out in a regular
pattern around a central church green. The town lies amidst
dramatic mountain and forest scenery at an altitude of 213m
(700 feet) above sea-level and is today a centre for wayfaring
and orienteering with tourist and sporting facilities that
include an 18-hole golf course. The Pass of Ballater to
the north of the town is an ice-worn ravine linking Milton
of Tullich in the east to Bridge of Gairn.
Balmoral
Castle
Scottish
Baronial summer home of Royal Family, rebuilt by Prince
Albert from earlier castle in 1859. The 70ft ballroom
houses changing exhibits from royal collection. Gardens
have rare conifers, Queen Victoria's garden cottage and
Queen Mary's sunken garden. Opposite bridge leading to
castle's main gate is Crathie Church, built 1895, place
of worship for the Royal Family.
Boat
of Garten
Museum
at Boat of Garten station is former waiting room, and has
signs, signals and other memorabilia on display. Village
name comes from ferry which once crossed River Spey where
bridge now stands.
Braemar
Village,
set among heather-covered hills and where the Clunie Water
joins River Dee, famous for Highland Games. Robert Louis
Stevenson wrote Treasure Island in cottage here.
Braemar
Castle
Built
1628 and largely rebuilt as residence in 18th century, castle
has barrel-vaulted ceilings, underground prison, star-shaped
curtain wall and central tower with spiral staircase. Interiors
fully furnished and containing items of historical interest,
including a 52lb cairngorm -- a semi-precious stone found
in the Cairngorm Mountains.
Cairngorm
Mountains
Chair
lifts lead to observation point, short distance from top
of Cairn Gorm -- mountain from which range gets its name.
Paths along range take energetic walkers through moss, campions
and creeping rhododendrons. Golden eagles, capercaillies,
deer, ptarmi-gan and wildcats. Awe-inspiring Ben Macdui
is highest mountain in range, rising 4294ft.
Cairngorm
Whisky Centre
Whisky-making
presentation, the tasting room offering more than 100 brands.
Carrbridge
Landmark
Visitor Centre, popular attraction of this apres-ski resort,
has audio show of Highland history. Landmark Highland Heritage
and Adventure Park has treetop trail, nature trail and sculpture
trail with works by Anthony Caro and Eduardo Paolozzi; also
steam-powered saw-mill. Early 18th-century bridge spans
River Dulnain.
Colyumbridge
Sports
complex and hotel attract visitors to this convenient
stop-over between Aviemore and Cairngorm chair lifts.
Corgarff
Castle
A
14th-century tower house, remodelled as fortified military
barracks with star-shaped wall in 1748. Restored interior
of 200 years ago has musket recesses, wide wooden bunks
and large stone fireplaces.
Craigellachie
Nature
reserve to north-west of Aviemore is mainly birch forest
on lower slopes. Plants and wildlife include rowans, wych
elms, bog myrtles, red grouse, spotted fly-catchers. Among
rare moths is Kentish Glory (flies March-May). Breeding
peregrine falcons nest on imposing granite cliff above
Aviemore; kestrels and jackdaws also favour cliffs for
nesting.
Gleann
Einich
Loch
lies at foot of glacial hollow. Reached by good hike from
Glen-more Forest Park along tracks once used by cattle
thieves.
Glenlivet
Distillery
Guided
tours of distillery include free dram. Exhibits of ancient
tools and artefacts used in making whisky, and video programme.
Glenlivet
Estate
Working
Highland estate seen from guided tours in Land Rover,
focusing on history, landscape, wildlife and land use.
Glenmore
Forest Park
Walking
routes lead through pine, spruce and Douglas fir, but
one-fifth of park is mountainside above tree line. Wildlife
includes roe deer, red squirrels, wildcats, foxes, badgers,
golden eagles, whooper swans, ducks, grouse, woodpeckers
and Britain's only herd of reindeer.
Glenmuick
and Lochnagar Wildlife Reserve
Walks
and trails -- some easy, others needing proper equipment
-- lead through azaleas, red campions, and cranberry and
bilberry bushes. Wildlife includes red deer, mountain
hares and adders.
Glenshee
Chairlift
Ascends
Cairnwell mountain from summit of Britain's highest main-road
pass, 3,061ft.
Grantown-on-Spey
Popular
ski resort, also famous for trout and salmon fishing in
Spey and Dulnain rivers. Old Spey bridge built in 1750.
Kindrochit
Castle
Grassy
embankments, walls of 11th-century fort. Picnic site.
Loch
an Eilein
Remains
of 15th-century castle on island in loch surrounded by deep
pine and juniper forests. Wildlife includes roe deer, red
squirrels, wildcats, whooper swans, herons and crossbills.
Remains of stone dam at Milton Burn and site of 18th-century
mill, where pine trunks were hollowed out to make water
pipes -- reminders of time when area had flourishing timber
industry. Visitor centre in cottage by loch has small exhibition
with displays on the management and conservation of forest.
Loch
Garten
Hide
and closed-circuit TV allow viewings of pair of nesting
ospreys, for a long time extinct in Scotland. Reserve, much
of which is Caledonian pine forest, home to roe deer, red
deer, wildcats, red squirrels and crossbills.
Lochindorb
Shell of 14th-century castle, stronghold of Alexander Stewart,
'Wolf of Badenoch', who terrorised Moray lowlands, stands
on island in middle of loch. Area has rolling heather landscape
with peat stacks and boggy grassland.
Loch
Morlich
Inland
loch at foot of Cairn Gorm, surrounded by pine, birch,
alder, willow and rowan trees. Lies mainly within Glenmore
Forest Park. Waymarked walks lead along the shoreline.
Wildfowl hides. Osprey sometimes fish here. From Loch
Morlich, the River Luineag rushes through banks of tall
pines to Spey Valley.
Morrone
Many
walks up this hill; lower slopes clothed with gnarled birch
trees. One walk leads to view indicator which identifies
view to Cairngorms taking in three of Britain's highest
peaks -- Ben Macdui, Braeriach and Cairn Toul, all over
4000ft. Tomintoul farm nearby reckoned to be highest in
Britain.
Nethy
Bridge
Village,
hub of timber trade during 18th century, has Victorian hotel,
remains of Norman castle, old stone cottages and bridge
built in 1809. Now centre for skiing, fishing, walking and
climbing.
Rothiemurchus
Variety
of walks, some ranger guided, lead through farmland, woods,
forestry plantations, lochs and heath-clad hills that
lie within boundaries of this estate. Two-hour tractor
and trailer ride to see red deer, Highland cattle and
other animals. Bird watching with experienced ornithologist.
Royal
Lochnagar Distillery
Distillery
granted royal warrant by Queen Victoria in 1848. It is
set amid beautiful scenery, close to Balmoral Castle.
Speyside
Garden Heather Centre
Heather
Heritage Centre has exhibition on the historical uses
of heather, including thatching, wool dyeing and medicine.
Impressive ornamental landscaped gardens display more
than 300 heather varieties.
Strathspey
Railway
Steam
trains travel along line between Aviemore and Boat of Garten,
allowing views of woods and cultivated fields in Spey valley.
The railway's locomotives and carriages date from Victorian
and Edwardian times.
Tamnavulin-Glenlivet
Distillery
Visitor
centre is in converted old carding mill. Picnic area,
walks along River Livet.
Tomintoul
Tomintoul
Museum has displays on local history, including reconstructed
farm kitchen and smithy, wildlife and environment. Picturesque
village of limestone houses, built 1776, is highest in
Highlands, at 1,160ft. Now centre for skiing, shooting
and fishing.
Well
of Lecht
Carved
stone monument to General George Wade and team of soldier-builders
who opened up Highlands with military roads, intended to
pacify the local population. Good views of the surrounding
area. Picnic spot.
