Red Alerts

Red Alert! Nevis Range now open for red route riders! Nevis Red, The UK’s only red graded cross country mountain bike trail accessed by mountain gondola, was officially opened today (Tuesday 25 August) by BBC Sport presenter and avid mountain bike rider Dougie Vipond at Nevis Range, Fort William, in the heart of the Outdoor Capital of the UK. Home to the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup the challenging terrain of Aonach Mor, in the shadows of Ben Nevis, was previously only accessible to expert and professional downhill riders tackling the Off Beat downhill track, one of the toughest physical and technical tracks in the world. Now with the addition of the ‘Nevis Red’ route experienced trail centre riders and competent weekend enthusiasts can now enjoy the thrill of a downhill challenge. Following a 5.5km singletrack route that undulates and weaves its way 543m down from top to bottom, combining a mixture of infamous Fort William natural bedrock, metre wide wooden boardwalk and gravel paths, the new Nevis Red route (graded red by the Forestry Commission) provides a fun rollercoaster ride for every mountain bike enthusiast. With the Nevis Range mountain gondola providing the perfect access the new route provides the longest downhill ride of a cross country mountain bike trail in the UK. Even the fastest riders will take around 20 minutes to complete the descent. Accessed by riders and their bikes on specially adapted carriers fitted to the UK’s only mountain gondola the trip up is almost as exciting as the descent. Over 200,000 sight seers, skiers, downhill riders; and now cross country mountain bikers, share gondola access.

The trip takes riders from the Nevis Range car park at 100m to 650m up the mountain. On exiting the gondola riders follow a track to the Snowgoose chair, which in the winter transports skiers and boarders further up the snowy slopes, marks the start of the new track. UK's first red graded downhill mountain bike trail that can only be accessed by a gondola has been opened check out www.nevisrange.co.uk

Take a short break or a long holiday

Take a short break or a holiday in one of the super Cairngorms Holiday Cottages in the Cairngorms National Park. There are lots of different types of selfcatering cottages and houses for you to choose from that have excellent facilities for both the adults and the children. Holiday Selfcatering breaks have become even more popular than ever before and National park is a great option for anyone who likes to spend time in a great environment with excellent self catering accommodation.
Cairngroms National Park has a variety of accommodation that will sleep anywhere from 2 to 50 people, so any type of break you like you can have. If you are interested in Cycling, Walking or Relaxing then a break in the UK's largest National Park is more than ideal. Many of the properties on Cairngorms Holiday Cottages are set in beautifully landscaped woodland areas and you can even enjoy the indoor swimming pools or a saunas in may of the luxury properties.

There are many other options for you to enjoy and these include the likes of climbing, canoeing, mountain bike hire, and so much more. There are hundreds of Self-catering properties and cottages throughout the Cairngorms National Park and you could be enjoying your time away, take a look at available from the links in this blog post.

http://www.cairngormsholidaycottages.com/

Mercedes Ploar Bear at Kincraig

Plans to move the only polar bear in a UK zoo to a new home in the Highlands could be completed by the autumn. Mercedes has been at Edinburgh Zoo since 1984 after being rescued from Canada where she was due to be shot.

In June, a campaign was launched to raise £75,000 to create a new enclosure for her at the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig. The appeal has so far raised £48,000, including an individual donation of £10,000. Mercedes has been preparing for her move to the Highlands by familiarising herself with a new transport crate that will be used to take her on the journey.
Since the crate was placed at her enclosure a couple of months ago, keepers have been working to make her feel comfortable in it.

Alison Maclean, head keeper of carnivores at the zoo, said: "It is quite risky to sedate a large mammal so we have been training Mercedes to walk into the transport crate.
"We've been doing this using positive reinforcement - she has learned that when she walks into the crate she gets a reward, such as a piece of cooked chicken.
"She responded to the training extremely quickly and has been walking in and out of her crate for a few weeks now.

"We are confident that the move will go well and we're looking forward to helping her settle into her new home."
Campaigners are now hoping to raise the final £27,000 required to complete the project.
Rescued from Churchill in Canada, Mercedes was due to be shot after repeatedly wandering into towns in search of food.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland arranged for her to be brought to Scotland.
Original estimates for the the cost of moving the bear to Kincraig were in the region of £300,000, however, a team of soldiers helped build her a new enclosure, which reduced the cost to £75,000

Looking for self-catering accommodation to see the Polar Bear or current animals at the wild life park? Why not check out

www.cairngormsholidaycottages.com

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Self-catering Holidays

One of the inventions of modern times that is gaining huge acceptance across UK are self catering cottages. Perfect holiday destinations, they are cut out for people with average income. These cottages have ensured that even such people who till now could not realise their dream of going on holidays can now fulfil their dreams. Indeed, self catering cottages have ensured that going on vacations does not remain confined to rich and affluent. Now, the question that arises is that what is it that makes these cottages so well liked. Well, answer to this is very simple. These cottages are laced with so many outstanding features that there is nothing that anyone can do other than falling for them.

For starters, the biggest attraction of these Cairngroms Holiday Cottages is the low price at which they can be availed. This is one of their specialties that spread their popularity across all the sections of society. Then the setting of these cottages is another big attraction. Set amidst the calm Highland country side, these cottages allow people a perfect runaway from the noise and pollution of their cities and expose them to a few days of complete bliss. The freedom that people enjoy at these places is another attraction that tilts the scale firmly in their favour. People are allowed to enjoy their vacations in any which way they want here. So much so that they are even allowed cooking their own food here!

Self catering cottages are also on top of the popularity list of business units. They find the place to be just perfect for organising their team building exercises and official get togethers. A brief stay here is also used by these companies to honour their most deserving employees.The way life is becoming hectic it would not be wrong to say that the popularity of these cottages is bound to increase big time in days to come. Looking for the best self-catering accommodation in Scotland? Why not check out http://www.cairngormsholidaycottages.com/

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Boat of Garten - What a great golf course

Scotland is the Home of Golf - the location of some of the most celebrated and recognisable courses in the world, like St Andrews, Carnoustie, Turnberry, Gleneagles, and Royal Troon. But there is much more to golf in Scotland than these famous championship courses. Scotland has more golf courses per capita than any other nation and the quality of many of these "lesser" courses is simply breathtaking. Across the length and breadth of the country are great courses often overlooked by foreign visitors, which is a pity for playing on these hidden gems can be some of the most rewarding and memorable experiences of your golfing tour of Scotland.

Boat of Garten Golf Club is often described as the most beautiful course in Britain and is one of the most delightful courses you could ever hope to play. Nestled amid forests of silver birch, bounded by the River Spey and surrounded by the dramatic and breathtaking scenery of the Monadhliath and Cairngorm Mountains, this historic course was laid out by one of the true grand-masters of golf course architecture.

How to get there
Boat of Garten (located in the village of the same name) is set in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. It lies just off the A9, 30 miles south of Inverness (the nearest airport) and 9 miles north of the busy tourist resort of Aviemore. For accommodation options in the area, please click www.CairngormsHolidayCottages.com

Course details
Length - 5876 yards, Par/SSS – 70/69, Type - Inland

History
The Boat of Garten Golf Club, known locally as “The Boat,” was first laid out in 1898. The original 6-hole course was expanded and redesigned by the celebrated Scottish course architect, James Braid, in 1930. The course remains a lasting testament to his talent – maximizing the stunning natural landscape and producing a challenging and incredibly beautiful course.

Highlights

Boat of Garten may well be the prettiest course you ever play a round on. It wends its way through heather and whin, fairways and greens tightly fringed with silver birch and pine, surrounded by a breathtaking panorama of snow-capped peaks. It's a short, fun course but don't let that fool you - it can also be extremely challenging.

The course’s signature hole, and designer James Braid’s personal favorite, is the par-4 6th, “Avenue.” A dogleg hewn through a forest of silver birch and pine, requiring a drive to the bend in the fairway, leaving you with a long iron or even a fairway wood to reach the hogback green.
The 13th, “Tulloch,” is rated the most difficult on the course and with good reason. A par-5, but only 473 yards, it's severely uphill and the double dogleg requires a well placed drive avoiding the extreme right hand side of the fairway followed by an accurate shot up a narrow gully to give a 100 yard pitch to a tricky green surrounded by trouble.

Visitor information
Boat of Garten Golf Club welcomes visitors but asks that you pre-book. Green fees are 44 GBP per day on weekdays and 49 GBP at weekends. For more information, please click www.CairngormsHolidayCottages.com

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