Girls weekend in Aviemore, Cairngorms Natinal Park

Women mountaineers are invited to a social weekend in the New Year in a get together with others with a passion for the hills.

The event, organised by Rosie Goolden of Chicks Unleashed, will also include lectures and a series of clinics on winter navigation, understanding snow, and competence and confidence in using crampons and ice axe.

The social meet, at the Badaguish Lodges near Glenmore, Aviemore, takes place from 7 to 10 January and there are still places available, according to Ms Goolden, a mountain instructor.

She said: “The aim of the social meet is just that: to have a great social, enabling networking of women who share a passion for the mountains. It also helps them to get their skills up to scratch ready for the season ahead.

“In the past it’s proved an excellent way of women meeting up and going on to do many adventures together.”

The meet is being run on a non-profit basis and the cost of £62 includes accommodation at the lodge on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

A Granite welcome to new parts of the Cairngorms-Park.

The first granite markers showing that Highland Perthshire and Glenshee are now indeed part of the UK's largest National Park are in place.

Four granite boulders displaying the 'osprey' image have been installed on smaller roads into the Cairngorms National Park in Perthshire including on the B8079 road at the National Trust for Scotland Visitor Centre at Killiecrankie -  more than 2,000 cars pass this spot per day during the summer. Work is well underway to install the large granite markers on the A9 and on the A93 but this work has been delayed due to the very festive weather conditions! Signage at Blair Atholl railway station should be in place early in the New Year.

To find out more about Glenshee, Killiecrankie, Bruar, Calvine, Struan and Blair Atholl villages in Highland Perthshire check the Cairngorms-Park.com villages info page.

The East Highland Way - Fort William to Aviemore

The East Highland Way is a new long distance walk that connects Fort William, outdoor capital of the UK, with the ski and mountain resort of Aviemore. In doing so, it also connects Scotland's existing long distance walks: the West Highland Way & Great Glen Way, to the Speyside Way in the north east. The contrast in natural habitats along the route imbues the East Highland Way with a distinctive character. The journey passes seamlessly through enchanting broadleaf forests, loch-side trails and quiet mountain wilderness. It skirts unspoilt marshlands and also explores the last remnants of the ancient Caledonian forests of Inshriach. The route has been optimised to engage with accommodation wherever possible, making it more accessible for walkers of all abilities.

For more info check -

www.easthighlandway.com

For Accommodation on route in the Cairngorms Park check -

www.Cairngorms-Park.com

Last Minute - Christmas Breaks and Scottish Snow Sports Getaways, Save £££.

Last Minute - Christmas Breaks and Snow Sports Getaways, Save £££.

 

Highland Holiday Cottages www.HighlandHolidayCottages.com

 

Luxury 4 Star Cottages, voted No1 on Trip Advisor for Specialist Accommodation in the Cairngorms National Park.

 

All have wood burning stoves, Free WIFI, Satellite TV / DVD, Christmas Trees...real snow!

 

·         Ash Cottage (1 bedroom) Christmas Week – 21^st-28^th  December was £500 now only £400.

·         Birch Cottage (1 bedroom) Christmas Week – 21^st-28^th  December was £500 now £400.

·         Elm Cottage (2 bedroom) Christmas Week – 22^nd-29^th December was £550 now only £500

·         Fernlea Luxury Cottage (4 bedrooms, under floor heating) Christmas Week. – 21^st-28^th was £1150 now only £850

 

Book now to save £££ on your Scottish Ski or Festive Winter Break.

 

Here at Highland Holiday Cottages near Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland, we offer amazing 4-star luxury holiday cottages. We are only fifteen minutes drive to Aviemore and we have all the luxuries that you would expect on your holiday in the Highlands. We are pet friendly, self catering accommodation located in the Cairngorms National Park, in the Scottish Highlands. Being only fifteen minutes from Aviemore you can visit the ski slopes, go walking in the mountains, of the Cairngorms National Park or simply put your feet up in front or the wood burning stove in your cottage. The Aviemore area has attractions aplenty for all different types of holidays. We are a small family owned business providing luxury four star accommodation and facilities. The romantic Scottish Cairngorms are the perfect destination for a self catering holiday in the Aviemore area. Aviemore Holiday Cottages, self catering holiday cottage set amongst some of the most spectacular Cairngorms mountains of Aviemore, Scotland,  Highland Holiday Cottages are for you.

Highland Wild Life Park

 

 

Credit: Aaron Sneddon                            Walker's Highland Winter The Highland Wildlife Park's newest resident, Walker the polar bear, enjoyed his first taste of a Scottish winter this week. Our playful polar bear has been spotted tearing around his enclosure, and rolling around in the snow. As Walker is still just a young bear he is extremely energetic and is enjoying exploring his new wintry surroundings. Since arriving at the Highland Wildlife Park at the start of November, Walker has settled in well and he is now sharing the large polar bear enclosure with Mercedes. Initial introductions seemed to go relatively smoothly although Mercedes appears to be a little irritated by the youngster's boisterous nature.

 

I don't Ski, I don't Board I don't like Snow!...

I don’t Ski, I don’t Board I don’t like Snow!...what to do in the Cairngorms Park if you like the warmth !

 

While you are stuck in the valley, your finds or kids are up on one of the three ski resorts, with nothing to do, why not take the opportunity to visit one of the many attractions in the Cairngorms Park.

 

Cinema - Since the closure of the cinema at the Old Aviemore Centre, movie-goers from the Cairngorms have had to head to Inverness to see the biggest blockbusters. That's now changed, with the latest films - including those in 3D - screened at the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort. The new facility has a 650-seat auditorium where you can enjoy popcorn, hot dogs, confectionery and pick n' mix.

 

Balmoral Castle Tour - The Balmoral Estate is the Scottish home of the Royal Family. The magnificent castle, Queen Victoria's 'Dear paradise in the Highlands', lies in the shadow of Lochnagar, an area rich in history. It is said that Macbeth was defeated by Duncan Canmore on Royal Deeside. Canmore initiated the Highland Games, which have now evolved into the world-famous Braemar Gathering. Or try the Blair Atholl castle in the south of the Cairngorms National Park. The Blair Atholl castle is open all year round.

 

Steam Railway - Travel in style through Monarch-of-the-Glen country on the original Highland Railway  for the 20-mile round trip from Aviemore and Boat of Garten to 'Glenbogle Station' in Broomhill. For something that little bit special, book the Strathspey Highlander and dine as the sun dips behind the mountains.

 

Pubs and Bars - Hanging around in the bar all day drinking was once the preserve of the lucky few skiers and boarders who had managed to break a leg early in the week, but  if you don’t like snow the towns and villages dotting the Cairngorms National Park offer the non snow lover a great selection of pubs, bars and clubs, from Blair Atholl, north to the nightlife hub in Aviemore, over to Grantown-on-Spey, Braemar and beyond.

 

 

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www.Cairngorms-Park.com

 

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