Local Attractions
Speyside Wildlife International
Real wildlife encounters in the Cairngorm National Park. See elusive mammals and birds that are the envy of a David Attenborough programme! Our viewing hide is state-of-the-art - more like a forest cabin, where the wildlife come to the windows - often eye-to-eye! You may see Pine Marten, Badgers, Red or Roe Deer or you could spend a day with an expert guide to see more wildlife.
Opening times:
Viewing hide
Any evening, all year, start time varies with daylight hours. Experience lasts approximately three hours.
Day guide
Standard day 09.00 - 17.00
Extended day 05.00 - 16.00
Dress code:
Warm, non-rustle, subdued outdoor clothing and walking shoes or boots.
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Cairngorm Mountain Railway
The Cairngorm Funicular is the country's highest mountain railway. It hosts spectacular panoramic views from the Ptarmigan Restaurant, which is nestled just under the summit of Cairn Gorm. Together with the mountain exhibition and shop, it offers an excellent all weather experience that is both memorable and unique.
Opening times:
Open all year round, except Christmas Day. Summer trains (May to October) run from 10.00 until 16.00. And in the winter (November to April), the first train up at 09.00, and last train up at 15.30.
Dress code:
The weather at top of Cairngorm is changeable at all times of the year, so make sure you go prepared.
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Landmark Forest Theme Park
Situated in Carrbridge village, seven miles north of Aviemore, Landmark offers a family-friendly environment full of fun. Where else can you rock climb, flume ride, meet Red Squirrels face-to-face, walk through the tops of tall pine trees, watch a stream-powered sawmill, explore a hidden microscopic universe and learn the secrets of a pine forest.......easily a whole day's entertainment - and educational too!
Open daily from 10.00 until late.
Dress code:
Comfortable, and waterproof when appropriate.
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Highland Wildlife Park
Experience Scotland's wildlife, past and present, at this unique attraction in the spectacular setting of the Cairngorms National Park- Drive through the main reserve past European Bison, Mouflon, Red Deer, Highland Cattle and one of the world's rarest mammals, the Przewalski Horse. Explore the rest of the Park on foot and encounter wolves, otters, wildcats, lynx, reindeer and Scotland's largest grouse, the Capercaillie.
Opening times:
April to October 10.00 - 18.00
(June to August extended opening until 19.00)
November to March 10.00 - 16.00 (weather permitting)
Last entry is always two hours before closing time.
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Highland Folk Museum
The Highland Folk Museum is split over two sites in two villages that lie next to each other. At the museum in Kingussie, visitors can spend time looking at artefacts from the past few hundred years covering domestic life; agriculture; crafts and buildings. At the Newtonmore site visitors can spend 3-5 hours experiencing life in the 1700's at the township, through to the early 1900's at the school and croft. Period buses run the length of the one-mile site.
Opening times:
April to August 09.30 - 17.30 (Mon - Sat)
Sept to October 09.30 - 16.30 (Mon - Fri)
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Strathspey Steam Railway
Relax, away from the bustle of everyday life, while this lovely old steam train chugs happily through some of the most gorgeous scenery, with stops along the way. It may be a trip down memory lane or a new experience for a young one, who needs an excuse. If you are lucky it may even be Thomas The Tank Engine on a ‘themed’ day or Santa Claus at Christmas.
It is hard to realise that, before it was axed, this was originally part of the Great North of Scotland railway route from Aviemore to Aberdeen and the Highland Railway’s original main line to Inverness, via Grantown-on-Spey, Dava Moor and Forres. The infamous Mr Beeching has a lot to answer for! Happily the Strathspey Railway Company resurrected the line that now runs from Boat of Garten to Aviemore or vice versa depending on your location. The line was extended to Broomhill in 2002 and will eventually go as far as Grantown-On-Spey another encouraging ‘out reach’ sign.
You can enjoy a traditional Sunday Lunch and perhaps a wee dram, on the Strathspey Steam Railway. You can even enjoy walking back to Aviemore along the Speyside Way through woodland and moorland, a distance of approximately 6 miles.
Cyclists are also allowed on the train!
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