Short Break - Inverness & Aviemore

JanetG

Hi

We (myself, husband and son, 9) are having a short break in Scotland at the end of May. We've got 2 days in Aviemore followed by 2 days in Inverness.

We'd like a bit of advice about what to see & do, places to visit etc. We're travelling up there by train, so will have to mainly rely on public transport, although we may hire a car for one of the days in Inverness.

We're particularly interested in trying to see the Moray Firth dolphins when we are in Inverness. Does anyone have any advice as to how to maximise our chances of seeing them? Where are the best places, times etc. As I say, we may hire a car for a day if that'll help.

I've found a Dolphin Visitor Centre at North Kessock, but it says on the website that it doesn't open until June, which means that it'll be closed whilst we are there. Does anyone know if this is true - seems a bit daft to wait until the bank holiday / school holidays are over to open it

Thanks in advance
Janet

kabie

Yep, the visitor centre only opens in the high peak season, so your dates are probably correct.
The best place to see dolphins around here is Chanonry point, map:

http://www.cowphotos.com/dolphins.html

your best bet is probably when the tide's coming in but it's very hit and miss.
I've managed to take visiting family and see them quite a few times but it's really down to luck more than anything.
That site also mentions Cromarty, I've also seen dolphins there and maybe you're more likely to get a sighting but at chanonry point they come pretty close to the shore so I'd try there first.
What sort of thing are you interested in seeing? I could have a better think about local attractions if you could tell me what you like doing.

Eels100

Aviemore is packed with things for a family to do. It all depends what you enjoy, but Rothiemurchus Estate has some lovely low level walks, guided tours, a fishery and a riding centre. There's also nearby Landmark in Carrbridge, which has loads of trails/adventure playgrounds/waterslides etc, an absolute must for kids both large and small (IYKWIM!), and there's a steam railway which runs regularly from Aviemore towards Boat of Garten, where you can visit an osprey centre. It's possible to get right up Cairngorm on the funicular railway, definitely worth a trip on a clear day - the views are fantastic. Loch Morlich and Loch Insh are both good for watersports, and there's a reindeer herd at Glenmore which you can visit.

Local shops will have a copy of the latest 'What's On', a guide to events in the Strath. Head for the Tourist Information Centre for info on bus and train times, but there's a huge amount you could do even by hiring bicycles (Bothy Bikes).

I hope the weather's kind to you - it's a spectacular area to visit, particularly when the sun's shining!

JanetG

Thanks for the information guys! There's so much to do up there, and too little time!

:beer:

Janet

littlereddevil

We don't have a bank holiday the end of May it is an english holiday

denise38

Being a local of the area now living elsewhere I would agree with EEls100's choices of what to do in Aviemore area. Landmark is excellent ( mum work's there) but I don't know how easy it will be to get there on public transport.
Strathspey railway is the steam train which runs from Aviemore to Broomhill which is past Boat of Garten. If I were you I would get off at Boat of Garten (biased as I was brought up here) as there isn't much at Broomhill apart from the little station. Station at Boat of Garten is much bigger. This where the train used to stop until they extended the track to Broomhill. There is a little garden next to the station which was down along with Beechgrove garden as a community project.
Again without transport you would be hard pushed to get to Loch Garten to see the Ospreys hide as it is a few miles outside Boat of Garten. Quite easy however if you had bikes.
You will get a bus which will take you up the Cairngorms to the funicular railway. Views are fantastic on a clear day. Same bus will drop you off at the reindeer centre at glenmore and at Loch Morlich. Nice sandy beach area there which is great for kids. Plenty of watersports.
If you had a car there is also Highland wildlife park . Highland folk museum in Kingussie and Newtonmore where you would see the old Black houses and how people lived in the "olden days". Waltzing waters in Kigussie is good . Just as name suggests water moving to music.
You have loads of choice of things to do in this area and most are easly accessible by bus.
Where are you staying in Aviemore?
Inverness I am not so familiar with . We always have a car so can go to Loch Ness visitor centre and wildlife park on the Black Isle. You could also go on a trip on the canal and Loch ness can't remember the name but Jacobite something runs in my mind.
Have a look on the internet I am sure there are loads of other things to do.

JanetG

Thanks a lot for all the useful information Denise. We are staying at the Youth Hostel in Aviemore. We're arriving on the train late on the Saturday afternoon, then getting the train north to Inverness on the Tuesday morning, so we have 2 full days in Aviemore.

Hubby and I went to Landmark once before, at least 10 years ago, when we were staying in Dunkeld. We went by train and walked there from Carrbridge station, so that is definately an option this time. Son would probably love it there.

I believe that we can get a bus from Aviemore to somewhere near the Osprey hide, so we may try and get there if we have time. We did see the osprey's in the Lake District a couple of weeks ago though, so maybe we'll try and do something different instead.

I fancy seeing the reindeer and getting the funicular railway up Cairngorm. Good to know that there is a bus which will allow us to do that. We'll definately have a trip on the Strathspey railway. Son loves trains!

Regarding Inverness, our main aim there is to try and see the dolphin's, so we'll probably spend most of our time mooching around the coastline, although we are planning to take one of the dolphin boat trips as well. We saw them on Coast on BBC and decided there and then that we would head north to try and see them. We keep having to remind son that they're wild animals, so we may not see them. Hopefully he won't be too devastated if they don't come out to play!

Janet

moonrakerz

Hire a car and drive across to the gardens at Inverewe.

denise38

When you arrrive go to the tourist info centre which is on the main Road through Aviemore next to the Police station (just up from Tesco) You should be able to pick up timetables for the buses and also for the Steam railway. My nephew helps there in the summer and sometimes at weekends as he is a steam nut!!
I am sure you will get a bus from Aviemore that goes to Boat of Garten and then onto Grantown On Spey via Nethybridge. If so the bus will drop off at the road end leading to loch Garten. Have a look on the website and you will get all the latest news regarding the 3 eggs, they are supposed to hatch around the 21st May.
The Funicular runs every 15 or 30 mins so that isn't a problem. We have a season ticket and love to watch the change in the seasons. You can't get out at the top other than within the building so you won't be able to walk around on the mountain.
You might be able to get a bus for Landmark. If you haven't been for a while you should notice a big difference!! Have a look on their website and also on visitaviemore.com for some more ideas.
We had a ball last year stayed at parents for a week with the kids and did all the tourist things for the first time. They see Landmark all the time but hadn't done Loch Garten or Highland Folk Museum / Waltzing waters , Loch Ness , wildlife parks. Even Inverness was new to them as we go there to visit friends and nothing else!
Have fun hope the weather is kind to you and watch out for the flesh eating MIDGES!!!

kabie

If you do hire a car and go anywhere near the airport there's a great new aviation museum. (Only open at weekends though).
It's got lots of cockpits that you can climb into and play about with, they let you touch anything and they're so friendnly. It's pretty small but if you're passing worth stopping at, the aircraft are outside though so it's have to be a fine day really.

JanetG

Thanks Kabie. Sounds great, but we're in Inverness midweek so we won't be able to go there. That's something to put on the list for our next trip up north!

Janet