There’s a unique energy in the Aviemore area in winter. The excitement when the snow arrives is palpable, as residents and visitors layer up and get out to enjoy their preferred winter activity. The highest ski resort in Scotland, usefully surrounded by gentler slopes, low-level paths and acres of forest, provides opportunities for everyone to find their niche. You might want to try cross-country skiing through snow-dampened woods, snowboarding down the slopes at Cairngorm or the Lecht, or wandering around a loch with the whole family and a flask of hot chocolate.
And while you can undoubtedly get an adrenaline fix here in winter, it’s not all thrills and spills. Winter is a time for going a little slower than usual, for lazy mornings spent over long breakfasts waiting for daylight to break, or heading to the pub before dinner for a drink around an open fire. It’s the perfect season for board game lovers, bookworms and foodies, for whom slow cooking an aromatic curry or comforting stew is the ideal way to spend an afternoon.
There’s no need to set an alarm to catch the stunning sunrises that the Cairngorms National Park regularly enjoys in winter: in the depths of December, the sun doesn’t rise here until nearly 9am, and it sets again before 4pm, creating the perfect conditions for an evening soak in the hot tub. Stargazers will enjoy the dark skies of the National Park: grab your loved ones, your warmest coat and a hot water bottle, and head out of your lodge after dinner to lie on your back and wonder at the vastness above.
Planning to holiday in one of our lodges over winter? We’ve collated our top tips on what to do in the area during your stay.
Every January, the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain hold their prestigious sled dog racing rally on the trails around Loch Morlich. In all the surrounding towns and villages you’ll see Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Samoyeds, Greenland Dogs and Canadian Eskimo Dogs with their owners, and spectators are welcome at the races.
If you’re staying in the National Park in the run-up to Christmas, there are many festive events to enjoy, from outdoor carol services to torchlit parades.
No holiday is complete without sampling some local food and drink. There is a multitude of fantastic places to refuel and restock in and around Aviemore – here we list our wintery top picks.
The old adage about there not being bad weather, just the wrong clothing, rings true in the Cairngorms National Park. Bring your boots, hats, gloves, scarves, warm layers and waterproofs, and you’ll be ready to get out and enjoy the views for miles, no matter what the weather throws at you. Plus, being out in the elements makes returning to your cosy lodge and hot tub all the sweeter.
For low-level winter strolls, head to the majestic pine woodlands of Anagach Woods in Grantown-on-Spey and choose between the green, blue and red waymarked trails. Or, enjoy the relative quiet of beautiful Loch an Eilein in winter, whose 5km circuit rewards the hiker with mountain views. And for fans of Wim Hof, there’s the option to briefly remove all those layers and join the locals smashing through the ice at Loch Vaa to experience a cold water dip.
Find out more of our favourite walks in and around Aviemore.
If there’s snow on the ground during your visit, make the most of it! The Lecht and Cairngorm Mountain are both brilliant places to perfect your turns, and both have cafes for warming up in between runs. If sledging is more your style, you’ll find that each village has well-loved spots, often on local golf courses. Follow the sledge, ski and snowboard-carrying local kids in Carrbridge, Nethy Bridge, Boat of Garten and Grantown-on-Spey and you’ll not go far wrong. The Hayfield, located between Loch Morlich and Cairngorm Mountain, is another local sledging mecca.
For outdoor adventures of a different flavour, try booking a winter walking or climbing day with the excellent Cairngorm Adventure Guides, or heading to Alvie Estate near Aviemore for a zipline adventure at Zip Trek Park. From November to January you can try the special Night Zip surrounded by a fully floodlit forest of lights: a unique experience you’ll never forget.
If all this activity has you yearning for some downtime – or you and your fellow guests enjoy getting creative – Smarty Art in Grantown-on-Spey is worth a visit. Choose from their extensive ceramics and settle down to paint your masterpiece. Another lovely way to spend a couple of hours is to take a trip on the steam railway that runs from Aviemore to Broomhill and back.
There’s nowhere else like Aviemore and the Cairngorms in winter, and what makes it so special is there really is something for everyone. Whether you want to slow down and escape busy modern life, or you’re raring to get into the outdoors, you’ll not be disappointed.