O N T O U R: South From Inverness
Last summer ABTN visited Inverness, nearly 600 miles by road north of London and requiring night stops outbound at Glasgow and on the return in Edinburgh. From the capital of the Highlands it was on to John O”Groats and the raw glens in the far north.
In an attempt to escape the heat, Inverness, a most buoyant of cities, was chosen again for 2003, but this time by air on easyJet from Luton in a little over an hour with Hertz at the airport able to offer the type of small car needed for some of the Scottish lanes. easyJet also fly from Gatwick, as do British Airways. Eastern Airways has four daily flights from Manchester and there are both bus and train services from the major Scottish cities. In spite of the booming air services Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, operator of the airport, still demands a route into Heathrow for both business and leisure travellers. Americans don't like the M25 transfer to and from Gatwick and persuading prospective investors to come from the south London airport is not easy! At least they like the many and varied hotels in the area typically the Marriott, on the outskirts of the city, reporting 50% occupancy from the United States even when visitors from that part of the world are distinct by their lack of visibility elsewhere in the UK.
There are a great variety of places to visit within an easy day's tour from Inverness, many historic featuring the wars between the clans, between highlanders and lowlanders, and of course against the English. There are boat rides down Loch Ness and trips on the Moray Forth. You can walk and cycle and learn about nature. ABTN centred on Aviemore, less than one hour's drive south down the A9 and perhaps best known as Britain's major ski resort. (An alternative, and very pretty route from the airport, is to turn east to Nairn on A96 Aberdeen road and then take the A939 to Grantown on Spey). It has much to offer in the summer too, including a steam railway, distilleries by the score, water sports, a wildlife park, and even a go-kart track. But best of all you have the mountains, the Cairngorms National Park, 52 summits over 900m high, wonderful vistas and invigorating high passes.
On 23 December 2001, exactly 40 years to the day that the original White Lady chairlift began operations, the Cairngorm Mountain Railway started its working life, a cable driven funicular operation, built at a cost of ”15m. From the base station at Coire Cas, 2,100 ft above sea level, to the Ptarmigan Station at 3,600 ft, it takes just eight minutes. In the summer, in order not to disturb the eco systems, visitors are contained within the confines of Ptarmigan and its integrated exhibition area and restaurant. Most weekend nights during the tourist season the Cairngorm Mountain Railway offers sunset dining. The views are tremendous and by all accounts the food is not bad either. It is a popular evening out just ten miles from the centre of Aviemore.
The base station is also the centre of a footpath network on the mountain, the home of the ever helpful ranger service and in the winter the hub of a network of ski lifts. It's a bleak and windy environment but that has not stopped the introduction of a mountain garden. Here shrubs and plants known to exist in these parts have been planted. Despite the short growing season the garden, in less than two years, is well on its way and is bound to be award winning in the years to come. The Mountain Railway return journey costs ”8 whilst a full day pass for the ski lifts and funicular is ”24.
On the way to Coire Cas and just a mile or so outside Aviemore, is the Rothiemurchus Estate, 25,000 acres of lakes, forests, moor land and highland farming, owned by the Grant family for 400 years, and now open to the public and much in demand for corporate activities. Whether as an individual, a family or part of a company pursuit, you can learn clay pigeon shooting (and clay rabbit shooting too), the art of fishing and how to properly drive a four-by-four over really rough and boggy terrain (parents more used to the school run in their Range Rover might find it a trifle challenging). If walking is your scene, no problem. There are marked hikes to suit all tastes over relatively easy moor land and wooded areas, but for the more adventurous (or fitter) the mountain trails need care and planning. The quietness of the place is just unbelievable and the views out of this world. The TV series Monarch of the Glen was filmed in this area.
The ruined island castle on Loch an Eilein is estimated to be at least 600 years old and was used as a refuge in troubled times. It was attacked by Jacobite MacDonalds after the Battle of Cromdale in 1690, but the Grant defenders successfully beat off the assault. The castle was used in the 1700's to hold Jacobite prisoners, but later fell into disuse as Scotland became a more peaceful country.
The walks, trails and for the most parking, are free on the Rothiemurchus Estate. Revenue is generated from the excellent farm shop in the visitors centre, by the top grade cattle, fishing rights and country pursuits such as the clay pigeon shooting. Another, and important source of income, is corporate hospitality. Impress your clients or go in for some company bonding. Drumintoul Lodge, the home of King Olaf of Norway during WWII, can play host to up to 100 participants. Indulge in some teamwork preparation and build a raft to cross one of the lakes. Don”t worry too much, expert help is at hand.
If you want to stay in the Aviemore area there is no shortage of hotels, dominated by Hilton who have two of the largest properties in the area, in Aviemore itself, and at Coylumbridge, just past Rothiemurchus on the way to Coire Cas. Bed and breakfast”s abound as do a number of three star properties, quality hotels often with superb restaurants in delightful settings. http://www.cairngormmountain.com http://www.rothiemurchus.net http://www.highlandfreedom.com top