NEWTONMORE

Nestling above the flood plain of the River Spey, in Britain's largest National Park - The Cairngorms, with a backdrop of the Monadhliath Mountains, Newtonmore is surrounded by woodland. Larch, Pine, Birch and Alder predominate, creating a glorious tapestry of colour as the leaves turn in Autumn. Newtonmore's 'Wildcat Trail' is a 10km orbital walk around the edge of the village, taking in the River Spey and its tributary, the Calder - rivers of very different character - woodland and moorland, together with wonderful views across the strath to the Cairngorms and behind the village to the Monadhliath mountains - a fitting introduction to the delights of the National Park. As you wander around and about the village, you may find that some sights are strangely familiar - for anyone who has watched the hit BBC TV series Monarch of the Glen on a Sunday evening, many locations in Newtonmore have been seen as part of Glen Bogle - and the castle itself is actually at Ardverikie, on Loch Laggan side, just sixteen miles away.