Skiing: The Cairngorm mountain provides a sking area that is about 20 minutes away. Further away is Glenshee and Lecht.

Golfing: For golfers, there are many courses in the area, such as Boat of Garten, Grantown, Kingussie, Nethy Bridge (9) and Carrbridge (9).

Walking: There are numerous and varied walks around the Cairngorms. There will be details of our favourites in both properties. OS maps 35 and 36 are recommended and to get a taste of what you can do, please take a look at Walking Scotland.

Cycling: There is a cycle track which passes by the house which can take you Loch an Eilean and the Rothiemurchus Forest, as well as Boat of Garten, without going on a main road. We recommend Bothy Bikes which we have used numerous times for hiring bikes and child seats. There is also some new purpose-built mountain biking trails near Kingussie, operated by Laggan Wolftrax

Bird Watching: For bird watchers, there is the RSPB centre at Loch Garten where the Ospreys have been returning since 1954. This was the part of the Rothiemurchus estate featured on Springwatch.

Watersports: There are two large Lochs nearby - Morlich and Insh - which provide opportunities to sail, canoe, and windsurf.

Aviemore is also a good centre for exploring other parts of Scotland. Inverness is within 30 miles, Royal Deeside is within an hour's drive, and a full day's trip could include the round of Spean Bridge, the Great Glen and Loch Ness. There is an attractive and family-friendly beach at Nairn, also an hour away.