Aviemore & Cairngorms
Rothiemurchus Highland Estate (Aviemore) - Rothiemurchus has a variety of outdoor activities - hiking, pony trekking, fishing, rope course in the trees. Go with a guide to learn about "Hairy Heilan Coo" highland cattle, or feed the red deer. Pony rides for younger kids, and horseback rides through the forest for kids 8 and up. Lovely self-guided walks around the estate for everyone in the family.
At the Rothiemurchus Fishery, rent a rod and go fishing for rainbow trout in the Wee Loch.
Family rafting (ages 5 and up) on the River Spey, older kids will enjoy river tubing and white water rafting.
Stroll through the pinewoods around Loch an Eilein. Along the way you'll catch glimpses of the ruined castle on an island in the middle of the lake.
Strathspey Steam Railway - Take a ride on this stream train between Aviemore and Boat of Garten. In Boat of Garten, visit the railway museum or wander around the Abernethy Forest Nature Reserve, home to endangered ospreys and other rare bird species. Visit the Osprey Centre and take the nature trail around Loch Garten and Loch Mallachie.
Landmark Heritage Centre (Carrbridge) - In Carrbridge, visit the Landmark Heritage Centre, a 30 acre pine wood with working steam-powered sawmill, Clydesdale horse demonstration, huge tree-top lookout and in the summer, water slides for big and little kids.
Loch Morlich -
There's a nice sandy beach at the Loch for toddlers to wade and play. Sailboats and canoes are available for rent. Glenmore Forest Park has easy one mile trail along Loch Morlich, and easy hikes through the old-growth pines.Take a short, speedy trip the top of Cairngorm Mountain with the CairnGorm Funicular Railway. Great views and exhibits about the mountain (and you can find out what "cairn gorm" means ...).Highland Wildlife Park (Kincraig) - The Highland Wildlife Park is an opportunity to see animals that used to roam around the Highlands, but are now extinct, such as wild horses, wolves, and reindeer. Other animals in the park are red deer, brown bear, Arctic foxes, otters, badgers, Highland cattle. Every afternoon, except Saturday, kids can watch the wardens feeding the wolves, lynxes, Arctic foxes and otters.
Leault Farm (Kincraig) - Lassie, a famous collie in fiction, made it home from the north coast of Scotland all the way back to Yorkshire. See real collies, sheep dog demonstrations, sheep shearing, and feed the lambs at Leault Farm.
