Proof of life apres-ski

Aviemore was looking tired and outdated. But as Mark Nicholls discovers, the Cairngorms region and the town at the heart of them are being regenerated

Across a short, dark expanse of water, the ruins of a crumbling castle stand out on an island.

It was once a safe retreat, a refuge for women in troubled times, seeking shelter from danger while their menfolk were embroiled in distant conflicts.

Now, as one of the most photographed views in the Aviemore and Cairngorm area, it sits at the heart of the Rothiemurchus estate, which in many ways symbolises the very essence of this region.

This is where the adventure of the great outdoors meets the natural environment, where the historic landscape nurtures flora and fauna yet offers a gigantic playground for a diverse range of pursuits in the stunning Cairngorms National Park.

No wonder the revamped, regenerated and revived region sits collectively under the banner of Aviemore and the Cairngorms: The Natural Adventure. This sums up how the area's beautiful landscape, traditional culture and varied wildlife work as a backdrop for the range of outdoor activities, tourist attractions and picturesque villages.

Afew miles beyond this scene at Loch an Eilean is Cairngorm Mountain, a ski resort that is enjoying something of a renaissance.

A central focus of this regeneration, perhaps even its catalyst, is the re-birth of the Aviemore Highland Resort under Macdonald Hotels.

Refurbished, in part re-built, this now offers excellent accommodation.

Aviemore had been in the doldrums for some time as the former resort declined and the attraction of the ski mountain waned.

Aviemore and t...

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• By : Mark Nicholls
• In : Destinations
• Issue : 23
• Page : 58
• Words : 1,802