Local Area - self catering cottage Scottish Highlands

Dalwhinnie. "The meeting place"

Nestled in the Monadhliath Mountain range in the dramatic Drummocther Pass and at the head of Loch Ericht where it meets Glen Truim, Dalwhinnie boast the highest village in the Scottish Highlands at 358m or 1160ft above sea level.

On a single day in August 1723 over 1200 head of cattle passed through this area. Dalwhinnie originated around an Inn in early 1700s that served the needs of Highland cattle drovers en route to the market at Crieff, a market town to the south west.  Then in 1729, military road construction teams working south from Inverness via Ruthven Barracks and north from Dunkeld met in Dalwhinnie, completing the predecessor to today's A9 road.

In 1863, the Inverness and Perth Junction Railway arrived in Dalwhinnie. 

Scottish self catering accommodation near Aviemore - Truim Cottage

We are a 5 to 10 minute walk from the Dalwhinnie Inn which has a great pub, lounge and beer garden.  The bar/restaurant is very comfortable with an excellent menu and there is a relaxing beer garden where there are tables overlooking the river Truim. An ideal place to grab a bite to eat and unwind. They have a good selection of real ales and single malt whisky to keep your thirst at bay.  

 

 

Whisky

 

The Dalwhinnie Distillery is Scotland's highest distillery and produces a single malt whisky that is classified amongst the Highland Single Malts and United Distillers Classic Malts. The distillery itself is housed in beautifully kept white-painted buildings that stand out for miles around. There is a visitor centre with guided tours and tasting.

 

 

Laggan Wolftrax Mountain Bike Center.

People from all over the U.K. are coming to this first class mountain bike experience in the Cairngorm National Park near Dalwhinnie and Laggan.

Some of the best mountain bike trails in Scotland are found just 8 miles from Truim Cottage.

Run with the pack at Laggan Wolftrax and enjoy nearly 35km of the most up-to-date, year-round singletrack available in the country. 

Set in the outstanding natural highland beauty of Strathmashie Forest, Wolftrax provides a green-graded beginners' trail, the thrills of a big-and-bermy Bike Park, a fast red-graded route packed with features and a black-graded trail that's possibly the most technical of its type in Scotland.

For novices and young children, the 4.8km green trail, featuring real singletrack, is a perfect introduction to mountain biking.
The Bike Park has 3.6km of trail.  Novices can trundle or freewheel from top to bottom, but more skilled riders will rip up this route and find 'big air' opportunities all the way down!  Not recommended for very young children.
Designed to be fast and flowing, the 15km red route is a fantastic experience in two sections, enjoyably testing and rideable.
The Black route is 6.4km of tight, singletrack trail with multiple features!  Watch out for serious drop offs, boulder fields and rock slabs aplenty!

Truim Cottage for mountain biking accommodation near Wolftrax Trails in Laggan.

 

Castles

Blair castle - 25 miles.

It is the home of the Murray family, who hold the title of Duke of Atholl. It said to have been started in 1269. The Castle, one of Scotland's major stately homes, is open for visitors on a daily basis.

Inverlochy Castle, Fort William - 50miles

It is a ruined, 13th-century castle on the site of two major battles. The castle is unusual as it has remained largely unchanged since it was built in 1270-1280. Inverlochy Castle Hotel is a 19th-century baronial mansion which offers afternoon tea and lunch.

Urquhart Castle, Drumnadrochit - 70 miles

Though extensively ruined, it was in its day one of the largest strongholds of medieval Scotland, and remains an impressive structure, splendidly situated on a headland overlooking Loch Ness. It is also near the castle where the majority of Nessie (Loch Ness Monster) sightings occur. 

 

Hillwalking and local walks

Walk Highlands offers a selection of good walks, directions and distances whilst Munro Magic gives you guidance and inspiration for the Munros in the area:

• Meall Chaich
• Meallach Mhor
• Carn na Caim
• An Dun
• A’Mharchaoirnich
• Geal Charn ( Drummochter Pass)
• Ben Alder
• Beinn Bheoil
• Beinn Udlamain
• Sgairneach Mhor
• Loch a´bhealaich bheithe
• Culra bothy is a 4 hrs walk.

Quote from “Robin Howie - Leave the car and head for Geal-Charn”  Published Date: 04 October 2008

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

“Sandwiched between the S9 and the more formidable barrier of Loch Ericht to the west, this Geal-charn (there is quite a cluster of them nearby, albeit with slightly different spellings) lies four-and-a-half miles SSW of Dalwhinnie and north-west of the Pass of Drumochter. A modest hill at 917m/3,008ft, Geal-Charn is rather too close to road and railway. Nevertheless, with a high start, it is ideal for a short day, perhaps an evening journey-breaker if driving past, or if the weather is adverse. And, with the convenience of the railway, it is also a hill that can be reached without having to get into the car.

That was the situation I found myself in a few weeks ago. My car was in the garage and the expected collection on Friday had been deferred to Monday. The Sunday weather forecast was good, but alas Margaret wanted her car to go bird watching and my hillwalking friends were committed to other exploits, so I needed a last-minute plan.

Mindful of the time I was taken to task by a reader for being over-reliant on cars to go hillwalking, I established that a train from Edinburgh could get me to Dalwhinnie by lunchtime, with a return at 7:39pm – more than enough time to climb Geal-Charn, and cheaper to boot. I would have preferred to take a bicycle to head towards Ben Alder but, a common complaint of cyclists, all space available for bikes on the train had already been taken up.”

Full Article from Robin Howie

Walk on the Wild Side

 

Truim Falls or the Falls of Truim as it is more commonly known is very close to Truim Cottage in Dalwhinnie. For more information, photographs and maps of the Falls of Truim and Truim Woods Walk please go to Walk Highlands

Park at the Falls of Truim car park, just off the A9 signed for Crubenmore and Dalwhinnie. From the car park backtrack a short way along the road towards the A9 and take the turning on the left for Crubenbeg. After a very short way turn right through a kissing gate onto a path signed for the Falls of Truim. The path goes to the right with nice views of the falls through the trees. As you approach the falls you can take a short path down to the water, although there are better views from the other side of the river later on.

Ben Alder

 

The best route to one of the most remote peaks in the Scottish Highlands which is Ben Alder is from Dalwhinnie via Culra Bothy. Cycling from Truim Cottage to Culra Bothy can save your legs a little for the hill!

 

 

 

 

Fishing

Loch Ericht - Dalwhinnie

The Northern end of Loch Ericht is situated at Dalwhinnie. The fishing is by way of bank and boat for brown trout. The season is from the 15th of March till the 6th of October.
For further information and permits contact:
Loch Ericht Hotel, Dalwhinnie. Telephone :  01528-522257  01528-522257

Loch Laggan - 20miles

Loch Laggan is situated 7 miles west of Dalwhinnie. The fishing is by way of bank and boat for brown trout. The season is from the 15th of March till the 6th of October.
For further information and permits contact :
The local tackle shops in Newtonmore and Kingussie.

Loch Alvie -25 miles

Loch Alvie is situated 2 miles south of Aviemore. The fishing is by way of bank and boat for brown trout. The season is from the 15th of March till the 6th of October.
For further information and permits contact:
Alvie Estate Office. also at Dalraddy Caravan Park.  Telephone :  01479-810330  01479-810330

Bird Watching in the Cairngorm National Park

Insh Marshes: (NN770990 )A free to enter RSPB reserve with visitor facilities including hides. A huge flood marsh on the River Spey just to the north of Kingussie. Many pairs of breeding wildfowl and waders use these wet meadows, marshes and pools. The birch woods hold a typical selection of Highland woodland species. Insh Marshes National Nature Reserve is one of the most important wetlands in Europe. Enjoy a springtime stroll and look out for nesting lapwings, redshanks and curlews, or visit in the wintertime when the marsh floods.

Loch Garten Osprey Centre, Abernethy, near Nethybridge and Aviemore

When ospreys returned to breed in Scotland, this is where they chose to come. Now you can watch them close-up, thanks to non-invasive CCTV. The reserve also has some excellent walks, with the chance to see red squirrels, dragonflies and crested tits.
Opening times
Open daily 10 am-6 pm from April to the end of August. Last entry to the reserve is at 5 pm. The centre is also open daily for 'caper-watch' (to see capercaillies) from 5.30 am to 8 am. This year it runs daily from 1 April to 21 May.
Entrance charges
Adults £3, concessions £2, under 16s 50p. Family ticket £6 (up to two adults and two children). RSPB and Wildlife Explorer members - free. Caper-watch: adults - non-members £3, members £1, children free.

Cairngorm: (NJ005041) The highest plateau in Britain. Rapid changes in weather can cause problems for the under-prepared, please take precautions. This is also a very sensitive area for wildlife so take care. Montane species can be found during the summer with time, although they are not straightforward, this is not a quick stop site and plenty of time should be allowed. Dotterel, Snow Bunting and Ptarmigan are the star species and in recent years lucky observers have seen Snowy Owl.

 Glen More: (NH930080) This extensive area of forest holds an impressive mix of exotic plantations and ancient pinewood. All the pinewood specialities occur here and is a good place to compare Common and Scottish Crossbills. Loch Morlich is always worth spending a bit of time as it is often used by fishing Black and Red-throated Divers.

Loch Ruthven: (NH630280) This beautiful, tranquil loch is fringed by sedges and birch woods. Visit us in early spring, when our must-see bird, the rare Slavonian grebe, looks its best in gorgeous red and golden plumage, the jewel of the Highland Lochs. Loch Ruthven is a RSPB reserve with visitor facilities. To see possibly the most beautiful Highland species, the Slavonian Grebe, this site is a must. Regular scanning of the loch will not only produce the grebes in breeding plumage but also Red-throated Diver which use the loch for fishing.

 Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

 

Other Attractions

Loch Insh Water Sports - 20miles

Loch Insh is the ideal holiday destination or simply a great place for a family day out.
A range of watersports are on offer including: sail sports, paddle sports, raft building, fishing, rowing and pedalo’s on the loch. Off the water we have archery, play parks, and a dry ski slope, great team building apparatus. Not forgetting stunning walks and mountain biking.
The Boathouse Restaurant boasts a most spectacular view, looking south west and enjoys amazing sunsets most evenings.

 

Highland Wildlife Park

 

 

Situated a very short drive away near Kingussie is the Highland Wildlife park at Kincraig.
There are free kennels for your dogs while you walk around the enclosures but most of the park is driven around.

Thanks to Lil for this picture.

 

 

Golf courses and golfing in the Cairngorm National Park and near Aviemore.

Newtonmore Golf Club - 13 miles 

Kingussie Golf Club - 17 miles 

 Newtonmore Golf Club.

Newtonmore golf club and course, which mostly lies along the banks of the River Spey in the heart of Monarch of the Glen country is surrounded by some of the most dramatic and beautiful highland scenery, a definite hazard for those trying to concentrate on their golf. The golf course plays to 6041 yds, with a premium on keeping the ball in play. Only one par five is complemented by a clutch of tight par fours and challenging par threes. Play to your handicap and you will have played well.

 

 

 

 

Kingussie Golf Club.

Kingussie Golf Club 19th hole. The perfect way to end a fine round of golf in the Highlands.

The Kingussie golf course offers moderately easy walking on upland terrain, with a few short climbs at the 4th and 8th holes. In general the fairways are of a generous nature, but the course is deceptive and position off the tee is an important consideration, a factor often the key to low scoring. The course is kept in immaculate order and offers excellent greens and fairways. Overall, the course provides an excellent test of shot making, and is suited to all levels of ability.

 

 

 

 Ruthven Barracks

 

They are the smallest but best preserved of  four barracks built in 1719 after the 1715 Jacobite rising. If it's really quiet, and getting dark, watch out for ghostly chess-players. It is said that one evening in July 1394 a visitor dressed all in black arrived at Ruthven Castle and challenged Alexander Stewart, the Wolf of Badenoch to a game of chess. By morning, no-one was left alive in the castle: for such are the perils of playing chess with the Devil.

 

 

 Highland folk museum

This award winning visitor attraction is well worth a visit. It takes you through how the highlanders lived from the 1700s. How they built their houses, how they dressed and how they farmed. Take the opportunity to visit the farm animals or go back to school in the reconstructed class room complete with teacher
It is split into 2 sites one at Kingussie and one at Newtonmore. Please visit their website for information on special events throughout the year. 

 

Monarch of the Glen Country

Strathspey Steam Railway  

Alvie Estate Fishing, stalking, 4x4, Quad bikes

  Thanks also to Rob Lawson, Alasdair Cairns and Peter Watts for photographs used in this website.