Visiting the Highlands in Scotland
From the Cairngorm Mountain to Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands
May 21, 2009
Britain's highest restaurant is the Ptarmigan (named after a type of grouse) just below the summit of the Cairngorm mountain, 3600 feet above sea level in the Scottish Highlands. Access to it is by road from Aviemore for 9 miles through pine forests and then the funicular railway that climbs the last 1¼ miles. On a clear day, the views from the Cairngorm Mountain across the rocky moorland, lochs and snowcapped mountains of the Cairngorms National Park are marvellous.
Red Squirrels at the Landmark Forest Theme Park in the Scottish Highlands
The red squirrels are can be seen at the Landmark Forest Theme Park at Carrbridge. Now almost extinct in Britain, they are quite small. The Park also has exciting water rides, a tree-top trail and aerial rope course so is a great place for families.
Loch Ness Monster
At Loch Ness, people peer hopefully across it trying to see Nessie - but in vain. In fact the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre explains that the water is too cold, too dark because of the peaty soil and too sparse in fish and plants to support any big creature.
The Loch Ness Exhibition Centre also has a fascinating display about the various ‘monster’ photos. This shows that they are actually of things like driftwood, a swooping bird or the shadow of a wave. Very disappointing!
Urquhart Castle and Strathspey Railway
Beside the Loch, the ruins of Urquhart Castle stand dramatically beside the water on a headland. It too has an excellent visitor centre and looks particularly impressive after dark when the floodlit stone silhouette contrasts dramatically with the grey waters behind it.
The Strathspey Railway, a preserved 10-mile line operated by volunteers, offers steam train rides through superb scenery between Aviemore and Broomhill (which featured as Glenbogle station in the BBC television series, "Monarch of the Glen").
Culloden
At Culloden, visitors can walk over the bleak fields where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobites were slain by the government army in 1746 in the last battle fought on Britain soil.
A smart new visitor centre there run by the National Trust for Scotland vividly explains the historical background to the conflict.
Aviemore
Aviemore itself, originally just a village with a station on the Glasgow/Edinburgh-Inverness line, was developed into a ski resort in the 1960s when the Highlands could be sure of snow from October to April. Four large hotels were built to serve the nearby Cairngorm ski slopes. But over the years the snowfall declined.
Now a new consortium has completely refurbished the hotels and added holiday lodges, a glossy leisure complex, smart shopping centre and 18-hole golf course. So Aviemore is back in business as a resort, particularly for activities like walking, bird-watching, riding and fishing.
Inverness the capital of the Highlands
Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, has excellent shopping, ranging from the glossy Eastgate indoor mall to Leakey’s, a huge secondhand book shop which fills a former church. Eden Court, its big theatre/cinema/arts complex beside the river, stages a year-round programme of shows and events.
Other attractions in the area include the 14th-century Cawdor Castle which is said to be haunted by a lady in a blue velvet dress, the Tomatin whisky distillery, dolphin watching cruises and the sandy beach at Nairn.
So with so much to see and do, the Highlands is a great place for visitors of all ages.
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