Here is just a selection of places which will interest you and your family, and no long car journeys for youngsters. The Cairngorms National Park is not just scenery! It is a beautiful place to enjoy your holiday with many interesting things to see and do.Walking distance from Thistle Dhu:
Eat, drink and shop in Newtonmore: Main Street is 100 metres away with a good range of establishments for you to try.
See the Highland Folk Museum: free admission, outdoor, family friendly, award winning, living history, scenery with swings and ice cream. Excellent website at www.highlandfolk.com
Highland Folk Museum
Play at Newtonmore Golf Club: on the doorstep of Thistle Dhu : golf, family friendly bar, check for availability of food. Tel 01540 673878. www.newtonmoregolf.com
Newtonmore Golf Course – 50 metres from Thistle Dhu
Walk with Wildcats: There is an orbital foot path taking you down beautiful Glen Banchor. Around the village there are over 100 individually decorated wild cats to spot. Call in at the Wild Cat centre next to Newtonmore village hall. www.cometonewtonmore.com
Fish the River Spey: one of Scotland’s finest rivers. In Scotland you have the right to roam, provided you behave responsibly. You can reach the river by a number of paths. Details in the Wildcat Centre. For fishing contact Badenoch Angling Society www.kingussie.co.uk
Visit the Clan Macpherson Museum: developed by the Clan Association over 60 years. History, relics, tales of famous Clansmen and women.www.clan-macpherson.org/museum
Ride at Newtonmore Riding Centre: Family friendly in a great setting. The owner’s grandfather started pony trekking in Scotland, sixty years ago. www.newtonmoreridingcentre.com
Public transport: Bus stop for North and South in Main Street. Newtonmore Railway station is 200 metres. Taxi telephone 01540 661343.
Ruthven Barracks: Kingussie. Built by General Wade after the 1745 uprising to subdue the revolting highlanders. They burnt it down 9 years later. Best website is Highland Council’s Gaelic/English site: www.ambaile.org.uk. a good site to enthuse you about Gaidhealtachd, the Highlands.
Ruthven Barracks
Walks around Kingussie: orbital path includes site of last burning of a witch in Scotland: www.kingussie.co.uk