Autumn in the Scottish Highlands...
The Nationalist, October 2010
I was not designed for strenuous activity holidays, unlike the others onboard the train.
At Stirling – the Gateway to the Scottish Highlands – I began to notice them. Instead of the garish, orange suitcase in my possession they carried complicated rucksacks, pneumatic walking poles, ominous bundles that looked suspiciously like weaponry. One finely-tuned couple even boarded the train bearing what I can only assume was a portable canoe – or possibly a body.
Even their footwear seemed more superior to mine. Theirs looked hi-tech, as if they demanded to be plugged in and charged for several hours before use. Mine were mere toys.
As a guest of Visit Scotland I had been invited to sample a taster of what the Highlands have to offer. Two days spent amongst the spectacularly changing autumn colours of one of the World’s natural wonders; exploring the scenery, wildlife, culture and activities which the area boasts in prodigious quantities. Two days to explore the habitat of the endangered Red Squirrel who counts the Highlands of Scotland as his last refuge against the invading army of Grey Squirrels intent on calling the forests of Europe their own.
From the quaintly twee station at Aviemore I was whisked through the chill evening air to my hotel - the Hilton Coylumbridge. Set in 65 acres of wooded parkland, the hotel is secreted tastefully amongst the high pines; hidden but strategically placed to explore the network of mountain paths, tracks, lake-shore walks and cycle trails.
The hotel is most definitely a child-friendly space, emphasised by the presence of a balloon-bending clown who made a mockery of my registration. Children will not get bored easily here. The presence of climbing walls, a dry ski slope, trampolines and a ‘Fun House’ will ensure your little angels will sleep like cats before a warm fire, leaving you to enjoy the fine dining, music, lounges, swimming pool, spa treatments and other delicacies which the hotel holds in spades.
But, it is wild nature at its purest that makes Aviemore and
its surroundings so appealing, and it is The Rothiemurchus Estate which has
become the environmental hub that acts like a giant green magnet to all lovers
of the great outdoors. Philippa Grant, wife of the Laird of Rothiemurchus,
enthused as she explained the core values of the place. “The people who come
here” she said, “are giving us the most precious thing they have – their time –
and we respect that”.
Time is respected so much that the estate proudly lists over 30 activities in which to use it; quad-biking, bush crafts, 4x4 safaris, hill walking and wildlife viewing, archery, clay shooting, pony-trekking, kayaking, fishing - the list goes on and on but never tires.
I experienced a Land Rover safari in the company of Ray Sefton, a highly knowledgeable and affable guide. He explained the land and its capacity for all things wild: the Grant family who have for fourteen generations nurtured and respected the earth, the people and the wildlife who call it home. He explained the importance of the hairy Highland cattle, the deer, red squirrels, capercaillie, otters, eagles and osprey, all relying on Rothiemurchus for their continuing existence. Simply put, Rothiemurchus with its plethora of activities is more than a fun park in the countryside; it is the future of the countryside.
If you (unlike me) have a head for heights then Tree Zone is the place to visit. Set among towering pines Tree Zone is an aerial assault course of nerve-jangling ropeways, obstacles and zip lines designed to give the fearless a ‘squirrel’s eye view of the earth below and the tree-tops above. I, unlike my colleagues, made my feeble excuses and kept my feet planted solidly on terra-firma. I could only admire their agility until a family of red squirrels turned up and put their human counterparts to shame as they leapt effortlessly from branch to branch.
More to my liking was the nature walk taken in the company of Simon Eaves a guide from Speyside Wildlife. Simon explained the biodiversity of the area and the importance of all living things for its survival. Using a mobile phone, complete with bird calls, he managed to trick his feathered friends closer for our viewing pleasure. In the company of such an enthusiastic guide the countryside takes on a whole new perspective. The inter-dependency of every species becomes apparent as we watch a buzzard roosting on the branch of a long-dead tree; its death having ensured that many others species will survive.
Aviemore has one more secret – skiing. As Ireland’s closest ski destination the mountains of the Cairngorms offer all the facilities usually considered as the preserve of the European Alps. I however, will return for another reason. The reason is this; if the people who own and maintain these lands with the care and wisdom of the Laird of Rothiemurchus then I’m safe in the knowledge that it will always be just what it is now: a place of tranquil beauty for the enjoyment of every living person and every living thing.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more information and to plan a break in Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com/autumngold
For information on Red Squirrels in the highlands visit www.visitscotland.com/redsquirrels
Accommodation:
Hilton Coylumbridge, Aviemore, Inverness-shire, www.hilton.co.uk/coylumbridge
Activities:
Rothiemurchus Estate, Rothiemurchus by Aviemore, Inverness-shire, www.rothiemurchus.net
TreeZone Aerial Adventure Course, Rothiemurchus by Aviemore, Inverness-shire, www.treezone.co.uk
Speyside Wildlife, Inverdrurie, Aviemore, Inverness-shire, www.speysidewildlife.co.uk
Lunch Venues:
Inshriach Nursery and Potting Shed Tearoom, Aviemore, Inverness-shire www.drakesalpines.com