Crieff or Aviemore?

[Romtiddlypom]

Going away for a couple of nights in October with an 11yo and 3yo. Swithering between Crieff Hydro and one of the Aviemore ones. Any insights?

Hydro. There’s more around Crieff to do, and the Hydro is always lovely.

I'd go Aviemore definitely, there's the Highland Wildlife Park nearby to visit (with Hamish the baby polar bear) and Landmark Centre, expensive but v good.

Definitely Aviemore. Love Landmark Park!

I know it’s popular on here but I didn’t like Crieff Hydro at all. The pool is tiny with one inflatable slide in the corner for an hour a day so when it’s up the pool feels dangerously crowded. Our accommodation was filthy (and I don’t have particularly high standards). On the face of it lots of (expensive) activities but very limited capacity and time slots for the number of people staying. And just an odd atmosphere.

Aviemore! There's absolutely loads to do in the area and it's beautiful up there. Wish I was going too 😊

Hamish is adorable!! Def Aviemore!!

Aviemore
Way more to do up there.

I'm a huge Crieff Hydro fan, but do feel it's deteriorated over the past few years. Takes an age to talk to anyone in the phone, we stayed in a Self-catering lodge over the summer which had a whiff of wet dog. Not getting into accommodation until 4pm is annoying and the 10am departure too. The self catering app that they have is written in the least welcoming manner with a list to dos and donts. They really need to get their act together. Having said that we are having a break there over the holidays as the children love it.

Looks like Aviemore is getting the best rep. Where to stay though? The Hilton Coylumbridge or the McDonald Resort?

coylumbridge for me

I would opt for the Hydro. My two had a similar age gap and there was always lots of age appropriate stuff on site and not weather dependent. Also pretty much included in the room rate.

Aviemore, the McDonald resort. It’s in Aviemore itself so you can walk to restaurants etc.
The Cairngorm Hotel has a great atmosphere. Landmark is fab, you can usually find half price tickets somewhere.
The funicular railway’s worth a shot and the reindeer walk is great. Grass sledging also a winner for us.
Wish we were going again this year, have a lovely time!😃

I thought the railway was out of order at the moment, I'm sure it was on the Cairngorms Facebook page.

Definitely aviemore. Crieff hydro is lovely if you're planning on mostly relaxing and using the hotel facilities but there is so much more to do in the aviemore area.
I would recommend landmark, wildlife Park, Highland folk museum, Loch morlich, Loch an eilan, grass sledges at Glenmore, Reindeer herd, funicular.

We always preferred the coylumbridge. And would also say Aviemore although the crieff hydro is lovely.

We always did the folk museum in the way up and either the wildlife park or active kids in Perth on The way back down and that gives your days in aviemore free for landmark etc.