Tourist Attractions
Few areas in Scotland provide the year round tourist attractions and sporting
opportunities that can be found in Grantown-on-Spey, the Spey Valley and Cairngorm area.
Most of the attractions mentioned below are in the immediate area of Grantown-on-Spey but
don't forget that we are perfectly situated to visit the Moray Coast, The Black Isle and
Royal Deeside.
War Memorial above and Grantown Show
below
Grantown-on-Spey has a golf club, heritage centre, swimming pool,
tennis courts ( 8 clay courts of the Grantown-on-Spey Lawn Tennis Club that are open to
visitors ), curling rinks, and a fine selection of shops for both the tourist and sports
person alike. There is also the award winning Craggan Mill Restaurant, Craft shop and Art
Gallery. The extensive woods behind Kinross House were once part of the Old Caledonian
Pine Woods. Sadly these beautiful natural woodlands are a fraction of their original size
as they covered most of the Highlands several hundred years ago. Within these woods,
however, you can still find a variety of pines, as well as indigenous juniper, willow,
rowan and also aspen, hazel, birch, alder and gean. This rich variety of plant life
accommodates an equally wide variety of birds and animals. Just outside Grantown is
Nethybridge Pottery, where Rob Lawson
throws his highland stoneware. Well worth a visit for everything from souvenirs to a full
dinner service.
The
Strathspey Steam Railway operates from the beginning of April to the end of
October and also in December and January. It will soon be running from Aviemore to
Grantown-on-Spey. Luncheon, a full bar service and Morning Coffee or Afternoon
Tea with pancakes, honey and cakes is available in summer, while in winter there are
"Mince Pie Specials" and "The Hogmanay Special" which straddles
midnight and therefore is the very first train to run in the new year. There is also an
"Enthusiast Day" where Steam, Diesel and Diesel Multiple-Unit trains run for the
standard fare and the "Saturday Service by Diesel Railcar" where you can sit
behind the driver and see the track ahead.
The River Spey has a reputation for superb salmon, sea and brown trout fishing but also
boasts an excellent Smokehouse, found on the outskirts of Grantown-on-Spey. Here
visitors can not only watch and learn the traditional methods of curing and smoking fish
but also purchase some.
The award winning
Speyside Heather Centre is only a few miles from
Grantown-on-Spey. 300 varieties of heather can be seen growing in the Garden Information
Trail, the Heather Garden or in the Plant Sales section. There is also Scotland's only
Heather Heritage Visitors Centre where translations are available together with a craft
shop, designer knitwear boutique, produce shop, and don't forget the Clootie Dumpling
Restaurant or to take a bottle or two of heather wine away with you. The centre is open
all year.
Musically there is the
Strathspey
in May festival, which is held in Grantown and
Speyfest which is held in Fochabers. Both are Celtic and folk music
festivals.
The first Sunday in September sees the Grantown Triathlon and Motor Mania day being
held. The triathlon is a mini Tri in which you can enter individually or as a team of 3.
Please contact Rebecca at
Ardenbeg
Outdoor Centre for more details. The Motor Mania day is a vintage car and motorbike
parade and display with lots of stalls, games etc for all the family in the town square.
