The Coach House. A quick guide to local walks and amenities in and around Aviemore

Transcription

1 The Coach House A quick guide to local walks and amenities in and around Aviemore Contents History 2 Some Walks from the Coach House 3 Food and Drink 6 Places to See and Visit 12 Birds and Animals that You may See 14 Main House: Kat (Owner): Mark (Housekeeper):

2 History History of the Coach House The Coach House was built in 1892 at the same time as Corrour House. Corrour House having been built as the dower house for the Grant s of Rothiemurchus. When the Coach House was converted across 2015/16, it still had wooden double doors to allow the pony trap to be stored in the building and the original floor which was a pebble mortar floor was still in place. 2015/16 Conversion When Kat and Iain bought the main house, one of the real treasures for them was the Coach House, particularly as it had not been notably altered or converted in its 120 years of existence. The first thing that caught their eye was that the Coach House was constructed of the same Cairngorm rose granite as used for the main house. So across the 2015/16 conversion, they tried to keep faithful to the existing lines, while creating a modern cosy house inside. The house was further insulated by the provision of two sheets of solid insulation (140 mm) in the newly created cavity on each wall and below the floorboards, before the underfloor heating and radiators were installed. All of the heating water is pumped across from the biomass boiler system connected to the main house, ensuring the most efficient energy supply for the Coach House on even the coldest of nights that the highlands can throw at you. 2

3 Some Walks from the Coach House 1. Black Park This is the most straighforward walk from the Coach House and gives you a taste of what is around you in the Rothiemurchus Estate. On leaving the Coach House, walk out past Treezone and Mikes Bikes and as you cross the road signposted Insh, you will see The Druie on your left hand side. The Druie is the estate shop and has a deli and a cafe in addition to staff who will be able to help you with booking of any of the activities that the estate has to offer from Quad biking, clay shooting, pony trekking to feeding the deer or a 4x4 tour. Following the road up Tullochgrue Black Park, you will come to a gate on your right with a good path, follow that along until you reach a turn off to the right that will bring you back down to Inverduie and the Coach House. This is a favourite 40 minute walk with the dog or just to wake up in the morning, or to work up an appetite late afternoon. 3

4 2. Tullochgrue This walk is a natural extension of the walk from the Coach House up towards Tullochgrue Black park. Of particular note on this walk are the views that you will get from Tullochgrue looking back in to Aviemore or at the extremity of the walk will give you a much better view of the Lairig Gru. If you follow this walk in an anti-clockwise direction, it gives you the opportunity after about one hour to pop in to the Wood Shed (see No. 7) or The Colyumbridge Hotel (see No. 8) for some refreshments, before the final 20 minutes back down the road to the Coach House. 4

5 3. Loch an Eilean Without a doubt, the walk around Loch an Eilean is one of the nicest in Scotland. The car park for the loch is about 10 minutes drive away, following the road to Insh and the signs for Loch an Eilean. On arrival you will have to pay 5 for car parking and there is ample parking on site. The walk around the loch is simply spectacular, with many places to stop off with a picnic in the summer months and may paths that lead to and from the loch. 5

6 Food and Drink 4. The Druie, Rothiemurchus Visitor Centre The Druie is only a few minutes walk away, offering a lovely cafe with many handmade cakes freshly made on-site and a deli that sells the local produce from the estate such as venison. The food in your welcome hamper all comes from the Druie. Rothiemurchus Visitor Centre Quad bike tours Clay Pigeon Shooting Pony Trekking Estate Tours As the Coach House is in the Rothiemurchus estate, all the activities that are available on your door step are all available to book in the visitor centre. Look at for the full listing or take a walk over to The Druie. 6

7 5. The Old Bridge Inn The Old Bridge Inn, on the banks of the Spey, and on the road to the ski slopes, offers a roaring log fire and great atmosphere, along with excellent food and a fine selection of cask ales, premium lagers and malt whiskies. It has always been a favourite haunt for those who enjoy the outdoors, while friendly staff and locals always make you welcome (and that includes your dog)! 7

8 6. La Taverna At La Taverna, you can be sure of a warm and friendly welcome, a relaxed atmosphere and a truly continental eating-out experience! La Taverna offers an authentic, continental atmosphere, enhanced by the delightful alpine-style oil painted illustrations by Ann Vastano, which decorate the wooden beams and pillars throughout. The Pizzeria offers a truly Italian experience for you, your family, and friends, whether you choose to relax over an informal pizza and beer, or celebrate with a romantic meal. Restaurant, Pizzeria and Bar Direct Line:

9 7. The Wood Shed Set in the grounds of Hilton Coylumbridge Hotel, the Woodshed Bar is lodged in a traditional log cabin, where you can relax on the outside decking or in front of the open fire. Enjoy lunches and snacks until 7pm, catch all the latest sporting action and enjoy live music every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights from 9.30pm. Children are not permitted after 8pm. 8. The Colyumbridge Hotel Hilton Colyumbridge For kids: exploring the Fun House, swimming in the indoor pool, and playing games at our arcade. Adults will love: the number of dining options in their restaurants and bars, spa and beauty treatments at The Thai Lodge Spa. There s something for everyone at our outdoor discovery area, from climbing walls to dry ski slopes and beyond. 9

10 9. Glenmore Glenmore is only 10 minutes up The Snow Road. Located adjacent to Loch Morlich, which is an attraction in itself for watersports across the summer months and is where the local beach is! Glenmore is home to: The Reindeer Centre, where you can learn about and feed the reindeer. The Pine Martin Bar, another local venue that offers great music, particularly if Riverman Rod is playing on a saturday night. The bar man will typically be Bill or Jimmy and will give you a warm highland welcome. Dianes Cafe that is built in to the Pine Martin Bar offers a hearty cooked breakfast! The Scottish Forestry Centre has information for all ages and is also home to Cobbs Restaurant. If you go a little further on and follow the signs to Glenmore Mountain Rescue, there is another small cafe restaurant that does early evening meals. Of course Glenmore is a great starting point for walks that can take you in every direction of the compass. 10

11 10. The Mountain CairnGorm Mountain is in the heart of the Scottish Highlands and only 8 miles from The Coach House. Even if you don t ski, it makes for a great drive up to take in the spectacular views, though its not until you come back down that you realise how high up you have come. If you don t have a car, its well connected by the bus, which you can catch at the bus stop by The Druie. CairnGorm Mountain, CairnGorm Ski Area, Aviemore, PH22 1RB CairnGorm Mountain is home to Scotland s only funicular railway. This is a unique visitor experience that allows people of all abilities to reach the Top Station where the Ptarmigan Restaurant is located with panoramic views from over 3,500ft. There is also a viewing terrace, exhibition, shop and the highest post box in the British isles. CairnGorm Mountain is the most popular snowsports destination in Scotland and has been offering snowsports for over 50 years. It has 30km of ski runs, 11 lifts, a fully maintained freestyle park and an onsite Snow School that caters for everyone, from beginners to experts. The snowsports season typically runs from December through until April, but this varies from year to year depending on weather. You don t have to have your own ski or snowboard equipment either, because you can hire everything you need on the mountain itself including outer clothing. 11

12 Places to See and Visit 11. Carrbridge Carrbridge is only 7 miles north of Aviemore and offers many activities similar to Aviemore (see but importantly for kids is where Landmark Adventure Centre is (see: Carrbridge, is home to another great attraction in the Cairngorms, the old pack horse bridge across the River Dulnain that was built in The bridge was built to allow funeral processions to access Duthil Church when the river was in spate. Because of this, the bridge was known locally as the coffin bridge. The bridge was funded by Brigadier-General Alexander Grant of Grant, who paid stonemason John Niccelsone (Nicholson) to create what is the oldest known stone bridge in the Highlands. All that remains of the bridge is a single span, arcing high into the air across the swiftly rushing river below. The parapets were washed away by floods in There is a viewing area at street level above the bridge, and steps down the bank of the river to a lower viewing platform almost at water level. Carrbridge 12

13 12. The Osprey Centre, Boat of Garten When ospreys returned to breed in Scotland, this ancient Caledonian pineforest is where they chose to come. The Loch Garten Osprey Centre provides fantastic views of these magnificent birds on the nest and you can enjoy the intimacy of osprey family life close up. There are family activities on offer, events throughout the year and friendly staff on hand to tell you more about the array of wildlife in the Abernethy forest. The Osprey Centre is open daily, 10 am 6 pm from April until the end of August. Last entry is 5pm. Admission: Adults 5, concession 3, under 16s 2, family (up to two adults and four children) 10. RSPB and Wildlife Explorer members: free. Address: Boat of Garten PH24 3BY 13

14 Looking for that extra something to make your stay special? If you are looking for something a little different, why not try a flight on a light aircraft over the Cairngorms or charter a flight for lunch somewhere remote? Highland Aviation based at Inverness Airport, which is 40 minutes drive from the Coach House, offers both lessons and charter flights. It is best to check with Highland Aviation on pricing (as the website can differ), but in February 2017 a 4 seat aircraft was available for 155 per hour and 40 when waiting on the ground for you. You may want to take a tour around the highlands to view them from the air, or for that special day out, you can fly to a remote runway on the Isle of Mull or Skye or the picturesque town of Plockton for lunch, before flying back in the afternoon. There are many locations to choose from and its best to speak with the staff at Highland Aviation for their thoughts on what would meet your needs. Highland Aviation are open Monday - Saturday and while with many things, booking in advance is recommended, when you get up in the morning and you think this would be a great thing to do, why not give them a call to check on availability. Highland Aviation Unit 98 Dalcross Inverness Airport INVERNESS IV2 7JB Contact us by Telephone Tel Alt info@highlandaviation.com This picture was taken by Iain & Kat on a flight over the Cairngorms, looking in to the Lairig Gru in February

15 Useful links: The website for the estate. Good advice on many of the local activities. Good site with listings of where to eat and walks on offer locally. The website for Natural Retreats who operate the Cairngorm mountain.