HIGHLAND HOLIDAY - DAY 4 - CAIRNGORMS

It always seems that at least one day of a holiday doesn't go as well as one would have hoped, and today was one of those days. My husband and son wanted to visit a mountain range and decided on the Cairngorms. The drive there was beautiful, and we passed through the town of Aviemore. A lovely, almost picturesque town situated in the Cairngorm National Park. It caters largely for winter sports and walking within the Park. 

The Cairngorms from Loch Morlich

We gradually ascended up towards the Cairngorm Ski Resort, passing through the Glenmore forest with pretty rivers running through it. We parked up when we reached the resort and went to the ticket office. Here, we purchased tickets for the funicular railway, that takes people to the Ptarmigan station up the mountain. We were advised once we had bought the tickets that if we wished to walk on the mountain we would have to pay for a guide. Otherwise, we would have to stay within the confines of the station. This was the first disappointment, as it was a beautiful, clear day, with no forecast for poor weather. Our ride up the mountain on the railway was interesting and as we got higher the views were stunning, and our ears popped as we climbed higher. The Ptarmigan consists of a shop, restaurant and viewing terrace. The shop was over commercialized and over priced, as was the restaurant. The viewing terrace was the only place which would not have caused us added expense. The platform gave expansive views of the surrounding mountains, though the area was covered by fences and ski lifts which spoiled the views somewhat. We all felt a little bit disappointed, and our son was unable to take the sort of photographs that he wanted, and after only a short time up there we decided to get on the railway and descend down the mountain. The resort is very much a tourist trap, which claims to be taking care of a fragile environment, but at the same time building railways and ski stations. Something of a contradiction. 

Once we we back at the base station, my son, being a little more adventurous, went off for a walk down a path, and reported that he had found a quite spot with mountainous scenery, nothing in the way that blighted the landscape such as pylons for ski lifts and fences for catching the snow for the resort. A real piece of the Cairngorms as it should be.

Cairngorm Scenery

We wished later that we had researched our visit more thoroughly and gone to the Nevis Range. There on the slopes on Aonach Mor is a gondola which goes to a station, which might not be as high as the Ptarmigan at the Cairngorm Range, but one has more freedom and space when you arrive there. 

We drove back towards Fort Augustus and had a leisurely, if cold, climb up Carn a t-Suidhe. Once again surrounded by the sound of deer rutting in the Glens around us.

The View west from Carn a t-Suidhe

I suppose that allowances must be made for different peoples needs and expectations. Away from the resort, the Cairngorms are beautiful and spectacular. Though with hindsight and better research, I would recommend the Nevis range or the Glencoe range, which are both just as spectacular, but more visitor friendly.

Photos courtesy of Sean D. Hattersley Photography. Please like his page by following the link for more excellent photos of Scotland and other places.