Help with Aviemore Feb half term

[Pyjamatimenow]

Hoping some people knowledgeable about the area could advise. We have booked a cottage near Aviemore for 5 days in Feb half term (2 adults, 3dc 5,11 and 12) half. We’re hoping for some snow so kids can do some sledging but know it’s not a given. We don’t ski but wouldn’t be adverse to paying for kids to have a try. We’re going to get the train up Cairngorm and probably go to Landmark one day. Is there anything that others would recommend in the area to do and places to eat? Thanks

The Highland Wildlife park is good. Also Loch Morlich is beautiful for a walk.

Cairngorm reindeer centre at Glenmore!

Take the older kids to Glenmore Lodge for one of their two day winter mountaineering courses (and a parent does the same). You’ll get so much more out of Highland trips once you can look after yourselves in the mountains rather than just get the train up and down. Maybe you could hire a private instructor for a day or two. They can lend you the necessary kit. Probably not one for the five year old though.

Mountain biking through the forests is fun, and surprisingly gentle and child-friendly. There are bike rental places in Aviemore.

Lots of good walking in the pine forests too. Loch an Eilein is a great circular walk, with a castle on the island. Second the recommendation of Loch Morlich walk too, although it’s probably a car or taxi ride away.

Will you have a car? If so Braemar is very pretty. Afternoon tea at the Fife Arms there would be fun. Linn of Dee has some lovely short walks that will be magical in the snow. I think you can probably get to the Balmoral Estate too, although the car parks might be closed.

My too tip is to get up and out of the house early. It gets dark quickly there in winter.

Check out activities at Rothiemurchus Estate as well.

Steam train
Go karting just outside Aviemore

Not sure if these are seasonal

I’d recommend checking what’s open at Landmark. I think it’s only part open in the winter and fully opens at Easter. You may already know this of course, apologies if so.

Look to book dinner in advance if you’re eating in Aviemore.

We had a lovely ski 🎿 holiday there a few years ago! There's a bus that takes you directly from Aviemore train station up to the ski slopes and back. If it's not windy, the ski slopes will be open. When you're in the mountains, take the lovely ski train lift up to the very top. It's very scenic and beautiful. There is a cafe at the top of the mountain (where the lift takes you) and there is snow there (at least there was when we were there. You can rent skis right by Aviemore station or at the top from the ski school⛷️ If lessons with the ski school are fully booked, we have found a freelance ski instructor who gives lessons and he was very good.

We’re in Aviemore a lot..here are my recommendations…

Bike hire from In Your Element at Inverdruie, there’s a big car park there, you can go off and explore Rothiemurchus Forest on well marked trails there.

Walk round Loch an Eilean.

Amazing takeaway pizza from Anderson’s in Boat of Garten

Nethy House cafe in Nethybridge is amazing - great walks in the woods there if it’s a less than lovely weather day

Highland wildlife park is great

La taverna as you come into town is a nice Italian

There are lots of activities at Rothiemurchus estate - rope course, pony trekking, quad bikes, mini land rovers

There is so much to do, it’s excellent

(and our terrible weather option is usually train to Inverness for lunch and a mooch round the shops)

Would you be able to pass on his details? I’d love for the kids to try a bit of skiing

His name was Nigel and I think if you search "Nigel Aviemore ski instructor" his facebook profile should appear. I will pm his phone number. He was very good 👍 and he was recommended by the ski school there as they were fully booked when I called.

Sorry I hadn’t realised there had been responses on this thread. Does anyone know if tickets for landmark sell out? I’m not sure which day we’re going to go but don’t want to miss out

Usually fine to book the day before, even in the summer holidays.

@cornflourblue thank you