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Focus Scotland: Highland High

If you're tempted to try Scotland for a holiday but aren't sure where to start then the Badenoch and Strathspey region of the Highlands, close to Aviemore, certainly comes highly recommended. The Scottish Highlands are a Mecca for the outdoor enthusiast, whether your passion is for walking, skiing, mountaineering, watching the wildlife or mountain biking, you'll find it here.

Mountain bikers should head for the Strathmashie Forest and the Laggan Wolf Trax Centre, an area set up by the Forestry Commission with a variety of graded trails all starting at Basecamp MTB near Loch Laggan.

If it's walking that appeals then you'll be hard pushed to decide which trails to walk and mountains to tackle on your visit. The Wild Cat Trail around and up into the hills above the village of Newtonmore is definitely worth a place on your "To Do" list. The circuit can be completed in one long walk or divided up into six shorter (approximately one hour) walks but either way the scenery is 360 degrees of stunning mountaintops and blissful solitude. There are several walks which inter-connect with the Wild Cat Trail so you can pick and choose as you wish depending on how energetic you feel and how kind the weather is to you.

The Forestry Commission's Glenmore Forest Park with its shop, café, visitor centre and a wide range of trails to suit all ages and abilities sits at the foot of Cairn Gorm Mountain itself and is a paradise for walkers.

Instead of taking the easy route (i.e. driving) up to the base station ski area on Cairn Gorm you can opt to walk, following the Allt Mor Trail up to where the ski lifts start, the funicular railway ferries people to the mountain top and the serious walkers and climbers begin the big ascent to the 1245 metre summit. The Allt Mor Trail is well worth the steady climb, upon reaching the ski area perched hundreds of metres up in the Cairngorm Mountains there are impressive views all-round, including one downhill to the nearby Loch Morlich.

In the Scottish Highlands the mountains, forests and lochs open up endless possibilities for hiking and outdoor pursuits. The fact that it feels as though you've escaped to another world and a more laidback pace of life is simply a bonus and the changeable weather, well - that's just part of the charm.


Find Out More…
Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board www.visithighlands.com
Cairngorm Mountain Tel: 01479 861261 or visit: www.cairngormmountain.org

For cottages in Scotland click here
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