You can have a busy week at Tigh na Sgiath for there are lots of things to do for adults and for children. For full details check out our links page which will take you through to a variety of local web sites or just have a chat with Iain and Elaine who will be delighted to advise you on trips to make your stay memorable.
The Highlands of Scotland are renowned for the stunning scenery, impressive mountain ranges, abundance of flora and fauna and a genuine welcome. To get some idea of the variety of the local birdlife simply take a stroll around the gardens and identify the different birds from their distinctive songs. We also have a family of six red squirrels that have taken up residence in our grounds, so do keep an eye out for them.
To assist you to plan your stay we have prepared a small sample of the things you can do and places you can go.
Grantown-on-Spey
Grantown-
Grantown has an excellent golf course, the angling club provides access to some terrific fishing and the town has just acquired Anagach Woods which abounds in wild life including capercaillie and our own Ospreys which you can observe while they fish the Spey or scoop fish from Craggan fishery.
The Osprey Reserve
The Loch Garten Osprey Centre near Nethybridge has an Osprey viewing hide overlooking nesting birds. Between April and August you can watch these magnificent birds swooping for fish in the tranquil surroundings of the Scottish Highlands before they head south to their winter home in South Africa. Whether you're an avid ornithologist or just enjoy the splendour of our raptors, the Osprey Centre is certainly worth a visit.
Cairngorm Reindeer Centre
Established as Reindeer House in Glenmore, as a meeting place for interested parties
waiting to join guided tours into the hill, the Glenmore Reindeer Centre has since
evolved into an information point and Reindeer Shop. Wall displays tell visitors
about the reindeer, their natural history, world distribution and of their association
with Santa Claus. To find out more visit: http://www.reindeer-
Loch Ness
Like the "Sasquatch" in North America, Nessie is surrounded in mystery. Is it real? What exactly is it? With the Tigh na Sgiath Country House Hotel just 40 minutes away from the world famous loch you can easily give Nessie a visit, take a cruise on the loch or just park and wait, who knows, you might spot the monster.
Even Nessie has joined the Internet age! The Loch Ness Website is a mine of information concerning Nessie. Visit http://www.lochness.co.uk
Strathspey Steam Railway
Glenbogle Station, of Monarch of the Glen fame, is the former Dulnain Bridge station at Broomhill which is the terminus for the Aviemore Steam Railway train service. The station is a pleasant walk away for the hotel.
Sample a freshly baked scone and tea in the dining car or simply relax and enjoy the leisurely journey alongside the river Spey with the Cairngorm never out of sight as you puff along in a moment from the past. For full details go to: www.strathspeyrailway.co.uk
Skiing in The Cairngorms
Cairngorm mountain is the premier skiing location in Scotland and is just 30 minutes drive from the hotel. The new Funicular railway takes you to the summit of the mountain where you can ski or enjoy a meal in the Ptarmigan Restaurant.
The Lecht Ski Centre near Tomintoul is only an hour drive away.
Between the two centres there are nine ski schools and every type of facility to
make your skiing trip an experience to remember: snowboarding, telemarking, ski mountaineering,
Nordic skiing -
Landmark Forest Theme Park
Wooded walks, audio visual theatre, the childrens adventure play area and lots of
other activities, for more information visit www.landmark-
Glenmore Visitor Centre
Guided walks through the beautiful Glenmore Forest Park in Rothiemurchus Estate.
Outstanding scenery, wildlife and activities for all the family , including clay pigeon shooting, off road vehicles, shopping, fishing and much more.
The Castle Trail
The history of Scotland up to the mid 18th century was turbulent to say the least, whether it was war with the Vikings or the English or just a jolly good spatt amongst ourselves. Under such conditions it is no surprise to find that there was a need for a good strong castle for defence, to conduct forays from or to suppress the area.
In the Highlands and in neighbouring Aberdeenshire there are so many examples of castles and keeps, towers and stately homes, each steeped in the history of our passionate past.
Cawdor Castle, home to Macbeth. Lochindorb and the smaller, but very beautiful Lochan Eilein Castle, the lair of the Wolf of Badenoch. Our nearby Muckrach Castle, upon which estate the last wolf in Scotland was hunted and killed, are all within easy reach of Tigh na Sgiath Country House Hotel.
The Redcoat forts and castles of Fort Augustus, Corgarff and Ruthven built to house the troops that would suppress the Clans and latterly would, with the Excisemen, hunt for the many illicit stills of Speyside.
There are dozens of castles to visit, Kildrummy, Craigievar, Huntly, Dunrobin, Castle Grant, some are in ruin some occupied from time to time, like Balmoral on Royal Deeside. There is Ballindalloch Castle with its own 18 hole golf course set in the splendour of the Spey valley.
A week is not enough to explore all of the castles and keeps of the clans and glens in the North of Scotland.
