Your perfect year-round holiday retreat whatever the season

By silverglades on January 1, 2023

Whatever the season the Cairngorms National Park and the Spey valley offer a wide selection of things to do, places to see and activities to try. This amazing area is not just a winter a ski resort, there is something for everyone regardless of your age or interests, it’s a truly  perfect year-round retreat for a holiday stay. With the start of a New Year, we thought we would give you some ideas on just a few of the many things you can do in each season for you to plan your 2023 holiday.

Winter season

The winter is the main season everyone associates with Aviemore and the Cairngorms, and this is a magical time to visit the area for both skiers and non-skiers.

• Ski and Snowboard 

Cairngorm Mountain is just a 15-minute drive from your Silverglades property and is Scotland's favourite Snowsports destination! Cairngorm Ski Area is not only home to over 30 km of pisted runs, and 35 different runs with something for every ability of skier and boarder. Even if you are a non-skier a drive up the mountain will offer you  phenomenal panoramic views from over 3,500 ft. More Snowsports info

• Sledging

Sledging is fun for everyone, both big and little kids. The Hayfield, at Glenmore Forest Park near Aviemore, is just a 15-minute drive from Silverglades and is the most popular place to sledge in the Cairngorms as it has a great slope which runs out to the flat, lots of parking and a beautiful backdrop of the Cairngorm Mountain. Another handy spot to try some sledging is the lawn at the front of the Macdonald hotel, this is just a 10-minute walk into town from Silverglades.

• Walking

Whether you are looking for an easy short stroll or something more challenging like hiking, cycling, trail running, or explore other outdoor pursuits. There is a walk in this area for every ability. Loch an Eilein with its water-locked Castle, the Uath Lochans with its breath taking ‘boulder’ viewpoints and An Lochan Uaine, otherwise known as the ‘Green Loch’, where the fairies allegedly do their washing… if the snow is not too deep a walk round the magical Loch Muick near Ballater is a firm favourite to mention just a few.

• Skating
  Get your skates on and get yourselves along to the brand new Aviemore Ice Rink situated at Macdonald Aviemore Resort. Open every day this is a great all-weather activity for all the family. Open throughout the year. You can also enjoy skating outdoors overlooking beautiful Loch Insh on their ice rink.

Spring Season

A stay in the spring after the snow has melted away will  reveal the beauty of spring flowers and lambs in the fields . This is also an ideal season for birdwatchers as you may have seen on BBC Springwatch. Ospreys return to Loch Garten along with the beginning of the Spring migrations for most of our summer visitors. The start of the longer days will give you more time to enjoy long walks and mountain bike rides on the many routes close to Silverglades.

• Highland Wildlife Park. Visit one of Aviemore's top local attractions, where you will have the chance to see a range of native animals like the Scottish wildcat, as well as species from around the world including snow leopards, Amur tigers, Japanese macaques and Scotland’s only polar bears. You can also drive around the reserve, where you will see many hoofed animals, including deer, elk, vicuna and bison. The spring is a great time to visit as you will see many young baby animals, which are so cute. Open throughout the year.
  
• Rothiemurchus Estate has so much to offer, from quad biking, pony trekking or archery? Booking is essential so click here to take a look at all the activities and book online. Open throughout the year.

• Landmark Forest Adventure Park
  Fun for all the family and voted by TripAdvisor as one of the Top 10 Adventure Parks in the UK! Where else can you walk amongst real-life sized dinosaurs, take the plunge down one of three water coasters, challenge yourself on one of three ropes-courses and get the chance to walk through an amazing tropical hot-house with hundreds of stunningly beautiful butterflies!? Be intrigued at the world’s first Bamboozeleum right here in the Cairngorms, Open throughout the year.

Summer season

The Summer is one of the most popular seasons and with long warm days and lochs with sandy beaches and loads of water sports to choose from, you could think you were on a beach holiday abroad. With mid-summer’s day on 21st of June, this means the sun hardly sets in the Highlands and you can pack a load of activities into even a short holiday stay. It is also when the many Highland Games take place as well as the Thunder in the Glens event in August.

• G2 Outdoor  If you are looking for full on, adrenaline filled activities the in Kincraig is  G2 Outdoor where you need to go. They offer canyoning, white water rafting, gorge walking and river float rafting . Open throughout the year.

• Zip Park in Alvie Estate. Booking is essential.

• Thunder in the Glens
  Every year around the last weekend in August Aviemore hosts the biggest Harley Davison  rally of its kind in Europe and one of the major events in the Cairngorms. Non motorbike fans will even enjoy the spectacle and trademark “thunder” as the bikes cruise around the Cairngorms with the Saturday rideout at 12pm from Aviemore to Grantown being just one of the highlights. Just wandering around Grantown on Saturday and Aviemore throughout the weekend and enjoying the live music and soaking up the atmosphere.

• Loch Insh Water sports  As well as the fabulous water sports you can take part in, activity days including archery, tubing, bushcraft and more. They also have the ‘Jungle Float’ which is a floating raft that has a  trampoline to project you into the water, a slide, climbing rope & climbing wall for you to slid and jump into the water from the deep end of the Loch. Great fun. Open throughout the year.

Autumn season

The Autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons to visit the area with the trees  turning reds and golds and reflecting on the still lochs. There are many events on including the Aviemore Half Marathon a spectacularly scenic race and also a 10K race.

• Strathspey Steam Railway. This unique family day out which takes you along ten miles of the restored section of the original Highland Railway line from Aviemore to Boat of Garten and Broomhill. Silverglades guests will get a 10% off a return full price ticket and runs throughout the year.
  
• Aviemore Kart Raceway is a supercharged race around the track which can be enjoyed by all ages. Tandem and various sizes of karts can be used depending on age. Arrive and drive available as well as advance bookings. Open throughout the year.
  
• Loch an Eilein Hidden in the forest of Rothiemurchus, this beautiful place is one of the most loved in the UK. A must do on any visit, but especially in the autumn with the amazing colours of the trees.
  
• Aviemore Paintball
  Like to challenge yourself by running about in the forest shooting paint at each other? Then  is your next call. Located on the outskirts of the village this is suitable for ages 13 and above. Using biodegradable paintballs that are water-soluble to protect the surrounding environment you can spend your energy paintballing safe in the knowledge that you have left no trace. Open throughout the year.
  
  Many of the above activities mentioned can be enjoyed throughout the year and in all seasons. We have only listed a few of the wide range of things to do and see during your stay. If you would like to chat with us about planning which season to book your stay, just give us a call and we will be happy to help.