Christmas in Aviemore

[CecilyBlue]

I'm just looking for a bit of advice if possible please 🙏

I've always wanted to go to a cosy cottage for Christmas and after reading a few threads recently that recommended Aviemore I thought I'd have a look to see if anything was available this Christmas.

I've found a lovely cottage in Grantown on on Spey that has availability from the 23rd to 27th December and I'm really tempted to book it for me DH and DS(4) as I've never been to Scotland but I'm just a bit worried about a few things.

We live in Manchester so it would be a 5-6 hour drive each way, would we be crazy to drive all that way there and back and just have three full days there?

Will there be things to do or will everywhere be closed on the 24th/26th/27th?

Will it be absolutely freezing cold? As in too cold to go out for a nice walk.

I really really want to book it but I'm just a bit nervous as I've never spent a Christmas away from my large extended family and I want to make sure we're making the right decision.

Thank you in advance 😊

most things will only be closed Christmas Day but I guess it depends what you want to do.
I don't think a 5/6 hour drive is that bad for three days but again that depends what you want to do. For me a break like that would be doing as little as possible. Eating too much drinking wine by the fire, walks and maybe dinner out.
It will be cold but honestly it won't be much colder than the rest of the uk. You'll probably find a bit of snow on the hills and mountains but it was 14 degrees in some places in the Highlands last Christmas Day during the day.

If you're not sure why not try a winter long weekend outside the Christmas period and explore the area a bit as a tester for future.

Thank you very much 😊

I'm definitely of the same frame of mind and wouldn't want an 'action packed' three days. I was a little worried that there won't be anywhere open to eat out or to buy essentials from, sorry if that sounds a bit daft . The cottage looks absolutely beautiful but I've just got this image of arriving and nowhere being open and us being stuck in the middle of nowhere with no chocolate or wine (after I consumed what we take with us).

I'm already getting so excited thinking about spending the whole of Christmas Day in my PJs, sitting round the fire drinking and playing games rather than the mad rush of being with my mahoosive (but lovely) family.

I've spent the last few Christmases really near there with the in-laws and think it's a lovely place. Scenery is amazing and there's loads of walks you can go on (from woodland strolls to proper stomps up a hill, depending on your preferences!) if you've never been to Scotland before it's a pretty good place to start.
Granton is a fairly large village/small town, so there's a few local shops (including a decent co-op for essentials which has standard opening times) and some nice pubs etc. And you'll be close to Aviemore which has a big Tesco and a range of places to eat out (a shame you can't be there over New Years, as that's always a big party!)
I can't comment on the drive, as we've always got the train or flown (from London) Would the train be an option for you?

If you want a cosy, laid back Christmas, but with easy access to wine and chocolate, then I can personally guarantee this will be very possible in Granton!

We had winters there as a child, not Christmas. We stayed in a lovely hotel, maybe an old hunting lodge. I can still remember the hot chocolates and dogs by the fire. If you were in walking distance of a decent hotel you could cover a lot of bases.

I'd love to have a Christmas in Scotland.

I used to have holidays there, mainly summer, and loved the reindeer, but think it's a long drive for such a short time, and much prefer the lake district, northumberland and borders for scenery.

Have also self catered for christmas a number of times and found it a PITA!

I live not far from Manchester (clitheroe) so takes about the same time to get to Aviemore. We go up a lot for long weekends and when the boys were small for February half term for skiing
I have stayed at Grantown and it's nice. Aviemore is a very small town and I usually stop at the McDonald hotel.
Of course it'll be cold but you just wear warm clothes! The bar at the bottom of the furnicular do a nice brandy hot chocolate!

Holidays are what you make them whatever time of year! Go and enjoy yourself.

I'm swithering to be honest. Love that part of the world and we had an amazing new year break near there last year but it's only a three/four hour drive for us and we were there for 7 nights. I do think 6 hours each way is a long drive for 3 nights and would say that whatever distance it was in, iyswim.

The big hotel in Aviemore is open all the way through so you'll be able to get a pass for the pool, etc. It won't be too cold and the shops will open on Boxing Day, albeit briefly. Or you might get a snow dump and be able to do some proper skiing.

Thank you all so much, I really appreciate it.

We'd be staying four nights/five days but obviously traveling there and back on two of the days. DH is a field engineer and drives all over the country every day so a six hour drive is nothing to him but I'm not sure DS will enjoy the drive too much although he'd probably not even notice if we put his portable DVD player on.

I'm so very excited at the prospect of wrapping up and going for a long walk on xmas eve and then having a chilled Christmas Day, listening to crap Christmas songs whilst cooking dinner for 3 instead of 25! And not having to get dressed the whole day.
I've always wanted to go to Scotland and I think after reading your posts it definitely sounds like it will be the ideal place to go for our first visit.

Thanks again.

I don't want to sound rude but if you want Christmas in Aviemore, why are you staying in Grantown? The days are very short, it's only daylight from about 9-3.30 and Grantown is a half hour drive, add on another 20 minutes to get up to Glenmore or Cairngorm. The roads might be difficult with snow and you'll spend half your time driving IMO. Is there nothing available in Aviemore or have you not found anything suitable?

Sorry Piff the title was meant to say 'near' Aviemore not 'in'. I couldn't find anything suitable in Aviemore itself but I really like the look of the cottage in Grantown on speye and we only plan to go to Aviemore on Christmas Eve to watch the parade, then spend Christmas Day in the cottage and then go out and about on Boxing Day and travel home on the 27th. I was adamant last night that I was going to book it but I'm not sure again now 🙈

I just really want somewhere beautiful, cosy and very Christmassy.

We've stayed in Aviemore at New Year and it's lovely but the daylight (lack of) and weather means I think you really want to be right on top of the places you want to go so that you are not wasting time and daylight driving. We were snowed in in our street for a couple of days but we could walk to the steam train for a trip (highly recommended!) and also local walks, restaurants, cafes etc. Although they are v efficient at keeping the main roads open.

Nethybridge is a lovely wee village with walks from the door and a good convenience store and fantastic new farm shop. Boat of Garten is nice too, good post office/shop, steam train to Aviemore, couple of good restaurants and a lovely cafe/gallery. Both are closer to Aviemore.

Thank you Piff that's really helpful I'm off to google Nethybridge and Boat of Garten now!

OP also try Carrbridge. It's just up the road from Aviemore. Don't let piff put you off Grantown completely though, it's lovely in its own right. Aviemore, whilst perhaps having a bit more going on with shops and restaurants, is not the most picturesque of villages! It all depends on what you want.

Oh dear. That post sounded really negative about Aviemore and it wasn't meant that way. We holiday in Aviemore a lot and love it but recognise its lack of 'chocolate box' looks.

I much prefer Grantown to Aviemore, Grantown is prettier and has more of a country town feel. There is a back road from Grantown through Nethybridge and the back of Boat of Garten which leads to Loch Morlich and the funicular. Loch Garten is lovely too. We go during the summer though so not sure about winter weather.

My oft-made statement about Aviemore is that it's not at all scenic to stay in but that is completely offset by everything that's on the doorstep - Rothiemurchus forest and Loch an Eilean for walks, the steam train, Cairngorm for the funicular, cafes and restaurants etc etc.

Does it have to be that area? There are other villages down the A9 that would be less of a drive and just as nice. Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Blair Atholl, Birnam? Or Braemar is lovely too, but it's probably a longer drive.

Don't think I'd fancy chancing getting in and out of Braemar at Christmas. You could be really lucky and the roads are clear but if it snows you're stuck.
Something a bit more accessible off the A9 even in bad weather is going to be easier to get in and out of. I think daylight only being 9-3:30 is a slight exaggeration (although admittedly not much) I live in he area and I definitely take the dc to school and pick them up in daylight but it will be dark before dinner time.

I live about 45 mins from Aveimore. It will get dark about 330/4pm but I'd imagine that would add to the experience if your not used to it. The shops will only be closed on Christmas Day, and the leisure facilities will be available.

Also I'm sure that there is a Santa parade in Aveimore on Christmas Eve with fireworks which sounds lovely!!

Sounds fab!

I recently drove from central Scotland to Chershire oaks for a few days and its an easy drive, it will be slower the further north you get as only A roads (a bit like driving up east cost towards Scotch corner).

Most places will be closed christmas day but you might find a nice restaurant or hotel open. Why dont you have a look online to see which supermarkets deliver to the postcode? Then that takes away a lot if hassle, wish i had done that went we went to Dornoch.

Lots to do, nice walks, cold but just bring lots of layers, good walking shoes and decent jacket. Im actually quite jealous 😁

www.landmarkpark.co.uk/planning-your-day/opening-times/ Your son might enjoy this place which is in Carrbridge, not far from aviemore. Most of the bigger attractions will be closed for the winter but still lots to do. Can't see if it will be open on the the days you are up but worth a look.

We love Aviemore. Brings back memories of New Year as a child :) Your Christmas sounds wonderful. Tempted to do the same for a few days in November or January next year now :)