Aviemore/Inverness top things to do.

[Jumpingintomenopause]

DH and I have just booked a last minute weekend away to Aviemore leaving in 36hrs.
We are staying in the McDonald hotel but only booked dinner for one night with the deal.

Looking for ideas on what to do and places to eat for 3.5 days with four DC aged 10-17. We don’t ski. Happy to drive.

So far we have swimming, visit Loch Ness and nothing else . A prime example of not drinking and booking!

Landmark adventure, Highland Wildlife park, Go Ape (treetop rope walk), There's a great high aerial slide nearby (can't remember the name), and lots of activities at Rothiemurchus.
Highland folk museum is lovely too.

Agree with all of the above, especially the Highland Folk Museum, the wildlife park and Rothiemurchus. Not sure if the Cairngorm mountain railway is open anymore but that’s great too if it is.

The Cairngorm reindeer centre is worth a visit but you'd need to check their opening as I think they do close for a while around this time of year.

There's an awesome 4x4 driving experience place near Inverness which is good fun. And a boat trip on Loch Ness or the river Ness is essential!

Culloden? The visitor centre is pretty good.

Landmark definitely. Check their FB page for deals. Some of it is closed though. The dinosaurs are open. It's half term here from Friday. Not sure where you are coming from but incase you hadn't realised. Also if coming from England we still have masks indoors.

Boat trip on Loch Ness.

Thank you all, we now have the highland wildlife park booked and will check through the other suggestions this afternoon.

Don’t worry @Peasandcabbage we are on the west coast so February weekend here too. We hadn’t booked anything as it’s prelim time but DC have finished theirs so after a few glasses of wine we went with Aviemore then thought bugger what will we do when we get there .

Visit Loch an Eilean at Rothiemurchus beside Aviemore. Winner of Britains Best Picnic spot 2010. It’s lovely and atmospheric when quiet. A small charge for parking. If you visit Culloden there are some great standing stones and prehistoric constructions at Clava Cairns nearby Culloden. Another free place and again very atmospheric. If you are travelling the A9 north to Aviemore it’s worth stopping off for some food and a look in the food hall at House of Bruar - there are some pretty woodland walks at the Falls of Bruar in the woods behind the shops and restaurant. Loads to do at Aviemore and Inverness.

Go to see the Green Loch - its stunning with a nice gentle walk to get there. Also feed the reindeer if they are open - kids and adults like that.

Inverness has Eden court so you could always see if there is a show on in the evening. Also the mustard seed is really good for food (Inverness), the old bridge Inn in Aviemore has really good food too (although a wee bit pricey).

Also there is quad bike treks in Aviemore on all year round (I just went in November) was really good!

Re places to eat, the mibbe clan loves the Italian restaurant at the roundabout as you enter Aviemore from the south. Their buffet is perfect for hungry teens.

DH and I did a fun zip wire thing in Aviemore a few years ago

We did 4 days there in august. The hotel also has a great pool and soft play for young kids. Second the green lake, it’s breathtaking. Enjoy the drive up, the views are worth the long drive.

Fort George is amazing!

Walk round Loch Morlich, there's a zip line, Landmark and a Go Ape.

Get to the wildlife park earlyish- it's still getting dark pretty early here, the lovely man on the desk once turned us away at 3 'cos it'll be dark in half an hour pal and the animals go to sleep then.'

I think the Highland Folk Museum burned down, for pps.

We love the Highland Wildlife Park. Glad you are going there.

Definitely Landmark.

Go to the pizza place above the outdoor shop it’s FABULOUS.

We love Aviemore. Shame it’s not the weather for water sports at Loch Morlich

The Landmark Park has this odd little museum in it just for perspective. So tilted mirrors, optical illusions etc. V fun.

The Old Post Office in Kincraig is great for lunch, it is near Aviemore. Also near there is the zipline park which is great (at Alvie) you need to book but it’s a good all age activity. I think most of your kids are a bit old for Landmark and its not fully open in the winter anyway. But there is a good high rope course at Rothiemurchus.

As well as all the other suggestions, there is a great Zip trek park at Alvie. You will pass it on the way to the wildlife park. Loch Insh has all sorts of watersports activities and The Old Post Office cafe in Kincraig is great for cake and lunches. If there isn’t too much snow, there are lots of good bike hire places to explore the trails around Rothiemurchus.