Aviemore
Founded in the 1600s Aviemore is a wonderful town in which to visit and experience the old feel of Scotland while providing the overall feel of a mountain resort since the Cairngorm ski areas were built in 1961. The Cairngorm ski area on Cairn Gorm Mountain has recently built the Cairngorm Mountain Railway which replaced the old chairlifts to bring people up and down the mountain all year round.
The town itself has everything to offer from amazing eateries, theatre, a dry ski slope and plenty of shopping. One of the top attractions is the Strathspey Steam Rail which starts in Aviemore, and takes you through Boat of Garten to Broomhill for an hour and a half tour of the beautiful scenery. Since Aviemore is set in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, it is also perfect for any kind of outdoor sports and recreation. You can take hikes through the forest but there are a lot of choices for cycling routes as well.
Just a few miles from Aviemore, still in the Cairngorms National Park, is Rothiemurchus Estate. As one of the finest outdoor recreation centres it offers you some of the rarest animals in Scotland and stunning wildlife where you can revel in the picture taking opportunities of ospreys, roe deer, woodpeckers, various songbirds and more. At the Highland Safari Park you can get your fill of even more magnificent creatures such as rare Siberian tigers. There is even the famed Cairngorm Sleddog Adventure Centre with kennel tours and evening sleddog trips located nearby. If you take a trip up the Funicular Railway you can see Cairngorm Reindeer Centre which offers a view of reindeer roaming freely on the mountain.
After working up a thirst you can head to Cairngorm Brewery located within walking distance of Aviemore town centre which offers the finest Highland beers. For more information about the Highlands, a trip to the Highland Folk Museum is in order. Exhibiting different aspects of a Highlander you can see the homes, crofts and animals of the area.
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