Aviemore

[olivethegreat]

Thinking of travelling from London to Aviemore next Easter , by sleeper train. Just me and DD.

From what I can work out, we would need to go to Inverness then to the airport to hire a car - which would cost about £300 for 5 days.

This makes it an expensive uk holiday - self catering with activities I think it would come in at £1500 (just me and dd). That's for 5 nights self catering.

I'm guessing we do need a car. But I'm wondering if it's worth the cost . We're not beach people, we like walks and activities. Sleeper train quite fun too.

It does look gorgeous but £1500 for self catering and driving everywhere is making me question it a bit. I'm not mad keen on car hire either as I worry about getting a tiny scratch and then being charged £££££

Wondered what people thought about this holiday and if it will be glorious and entirely worth it? It would be our only holiday next year. I can't think of anywhere else I want to go and I don't want to go abroad while testing is required.

Where are you looking at accommodation that comes in at £1500 for 2 people for 5 nights? That's crazy prices even by Aviemore standards! If you're looking to save some money there's 3 person private en suite rooms in the youth hostel for £58 per room per night.
Accommodation might also be cheaper in your May half term break as Scottish schools don't have that holiday.

Thank you, the flight times to Edinburgh and Glasgow are a bit awkward and would need at least one night maybe two at airport hotel that would bump up price and hassle. They are cheaper though.

I was looking at silver glades for accommodation. It is pricey though. Maybe I should look into accommodation more instead of worrying about car hire. Also I'd gone for more luxury option there. Will take another look.

My vague plan over 4 full days (including arrival day if in Aviemore by lunchtime)
Segways, quad bikes.
Rothiemurchus and loch,
Glenmore Forest park, reindeer, loch morlich paddleboarding,
highland safari park ,
highland folk museum.

Culloch battlefield looks interesting as well!

The £1500 is estimated cost for everything excluding food

I've just looked on Airbnb and can see lovely places half the price. I think as there's only two of us perhaps it makes sense to go for smaller accommodation.

Paddle boarding on Loch Morlich is amazing. If it's been warm for a few days the water heats right up which is nice. It's certainly not Spain temperature buts not unpleasant to get in and out of the water. It's were I normally paddle board. If it's a nice day get to the beach at Loch Morlich by 9.30 am as it gets crazy busy and parking is really difficult. Paddle boarding is really popular in Scotland so lochs are often busy at the weekends. April can be a bit hit or miss weather wise though. May is normally better if that's an option plus Scottish schools are still in so much quieter.

Aviemore can be pricey to eat out as it's a tourist destination so self catering might be a better option even if it's just so you can have breakfast and pack picnics for Loch Morlich and Rothiemurchus days as food options are limited in that area.

It's maybe an idea to take a light beach tent as it's really handy when your paddle boarding because they zip up.

Glenmore forest park is gorgeous but the midges are rife in certain weather conditions. They don't like Avon skin so soft original spray so try get that before you come along with some midge repellent and bite cream. We camped at Glen More campsite recently in ideal midge conditions but only got 2 bites between 4 of us due to covering our selves in skin so soft spray.

You need to pre book Highland Folk museam due to COVID.

Forgot to say watch Itison as they sometimes have deals in Aviemore on watersports etc.

I lived outside Inverness and used the old sleeper a fair bit to travel home. If its good weather and a light morning coming up through the highlands at dawn is great. Except in the height of summer the return journey is mainly dark. If you wanted the sleeper experience I would take it north and fly or take a day train home, unless you wanted to maximise your time there.
If you wanted to hire a car in Inverness there are a good number of depots on the Longman industrial estate a short taxi ride from the station without paying airport loading. There used to be Budget at the entrance to the rear of the station but it now appears to be another brand.

@Scautish how easy a walk is it to the reindeers? We went to Aviemore last year and are going again in a couple of weeks and are planning on going to feed the reindeer but I have dodgy hips and struggle with hills / too many inclines though am fine on the flat!

@tattiepants - in normal times, you can see some of the reindeer at the centre down at Glenmore which is easily accessible from the road. If you are going to feed them up the hill, it’s a reasonable walk from the parking spot at the Sugarbowl car park up the ski road and I’m afraid it’s not flat. If memory serves me correct (because it’s been a while since I’ve been up there) you have to drop down to a river then back up to the ridgey bit (technical term😉) where they do the feeding.

This is great, lots to think about, thank you !

Have you seen the sleeper trains? I thought this sounded lovely (had a bit of an Agatha Christie romantic image) but when I saw the actual accommodation, well, you couldn’t pay me to stay in it.