WALKING

With such a vast area of high plateau in the Cairngorms, and the vast tract of wild land that is the Monadhliath Mountains on the other side of the strath, the area is a mecca for climbers and ramblers - but there is much more to walking in the area than just the high tops - there are forest trails in the ancient Caledonian Pine Forests or Rothiemurchus and Abernethy,

A superb circular trail - The Wildcat Trail, right around the periphery of the village of Newtonmore, mixing forest, moor, glen and river and local walks around Boat of Garten, the Osprey Village, all with information on the web.

Carrbridge is an excellent base for walking, from short river and forest walks to multi-day expeditions in the Cairngorms. The Speyside Way is one of four official Long Distance Routes in Scotland And if you are new to the mountains, nearby Boat of Garten is the home of several providers of courses for hillwalking, summer mountaineering and rock climbing and also private guiding.