Ideas for holiday things to do in and around Newtonmore/Inverness/Aviemore

[Finbar]

NOw we've finally booked our holiday I am throwing myself upon the mercy of anyone who knows good stuff to do up in the Scottish Highlands!!
(Susanmt - where are you? - you were top help with the Perth hols!!)

We know the highlands pretty well - but I am very interested in any Must See places or experiences you can think of ..oh yes and anywhere yummy to eat! we have a DD of 5 and and Ds of almost 2.
Cheers

Hi There,

Landmark visitor centre is fantastic, lots of things to do there,which is in Carrbridge, also there is a fun house at Colyumbridge Hotel, just outside Aviemore which is good on a rainy day. We were there today with playgroup outing and all the kids enjoyed it.

There is the aquadome in Inverness for swimming, it is very good. Whin Park is nice too which isn't far from the swimming pool.My ds who is 3.10 loves the little steam train there.

There is Black Isle Wildlife Park which is just outside Inverness, it is quite good.Can't think of anything else just now. Will post agin if I remember anything.

Have a great time

Finbar - Boys great grandfather (now 92)from Carrbridge - will ask Mil this w/e

Coddy - are you a fri night loner like me tonight?

yes dh on way home and me to bed.

Hope you have an Ok night - will leave this now as I don't want to spoil what I need to be an informative thread!

There's a good swimming pool in Inverness (called the Aquadome I think) and one of our favourites is the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig, just North of Kingussie. If you like walking a good walk (which a 5 year old would find OK, all on the flat) is a Loch an Eilean on the Rothiemurchus estate, just outside Aviemore. Aviemore itself is pretty tacky, though. If 5 year old is into casltes etc there are the Ruthven Barracks at Kingussie too (my Grandparents lived in Kingussie when I was small - I once fell in a cowpat there and my Granpa walked me 3 miles home laughing all the way - I was only about 4!).
There are some nice beaches North and East of Inverness, Dornoch and Nairn, but havent been myself for years. There is a big softplay in Inverness just off the A9 but cant remember where. (most of my time inInverness is taken up shopping and visiting friends as we have come to the 'big city' from the Islands). We haven't eaten out much there I have to say - usually just fast food as we are busy.
Culloden Battlefield is good for grownups and children interested in that kind of thing. There's also a Highland Folk Museum in Kingussie. There used to be a tacky amusement park in Aviemore called Santa Claus Land, which we loved when we were little, but I dont know if it is still there. I would second the Landmark Centre. There's also the Chairlift up to Cairn Gorm but I dont know how suitable that is for kids.
Where are you staying? I love the Highlands and if we didn't live where we do we would almost certainly be around Inverness somewhere.
I'll try and think of some other things. When are you going??

There's a lovely farm park in Drumnadrochit that we went to a few years back. I remember hearing that they'd had to close because of foot and mouth, but with luck they'll have survived. Ther's contact details here . We were really impressed, there's a pretty courtyard with a cafe and all sorts of stuff for the children- really big safe trampolines, little tractors to ride, loads of animals, nice atmosphere generally.

What about taking them to the Moray Firth at Inverness to see the wild dolphins and whales?? Totally spectacular. I believe they do boat trips out to see them and the dolphins come right up to the boat. Your 5 year old should certainly love that!

I take it you holiday in Scotland quite a lot?

I just don't know what to say at the moment ....we booked this fab converted Coach House place and that's when I started this thread....they came back to us yesterday and said Ooops sorry we don't allow children there - so now we are back to square one and I am v.v.angry and v.v. frustrated.

Thank you all for your suggestions - hopefully we'll find somewhere else up in the Highlands and I'll be able to ake use of them all.

Try Silverglades - we've stayed there a lot, and it's fab - self catering, you can get membership to a leisure club, with lovely pool, soft play room.

Things to do - definitely Black Isle Wildlife park, there's a Highland wildlife park south of Aviemore with wolves, deer, bison etc. The train up Cairngorm is child friendly, though you can't get out on to the mountain. There is a restaurant at the top with amazing views. Water sports at Loch Morlich, Steam train from Aviemore to beyond Boat of Garten, Dalwhinnie distillery.

Hope you get something sorted! I'll think a bit more,and post again if I think of anything else.

Musica - have rung Silverglades and they have one cabin left (!) will ring tomorrow to try and book - fingers crossed and Thank You

Santa Claus Land - ah the memories! I thought it was great, but then I was 7 at the time.
Aviemore has had a bit of a revamp in recent years and is looking reasonable. They've demolished most of the 70s tack and it's now fairly snowboardingy and trendy.
Loch an Eilean is lovely and the Landmark centre is fab too, having taken 40 10 year old girls there for the day - fun fun fun.
Hope you find somewhere nearish Finbar.

I hvae v.fond memories of Loch an Eilean as that is where DH proposed!