The Notts Family Aviemore Time

The next day started slowly (phew!) with a leisurely morning swim and breakfast.  Then off we set for the Highland Folk Museum.  This (we have to admit) is a favourite haunt of ours and going there is a bit of a tradition in our family. We love it! On our best visits we have taken Granny and Granda with us and they feel the way we do about it.

All aboard for the Highland Folk Museum

Another warm welcome at the entrance –can you believe that entry is – incredibly – free –neither can we! We stepped back in time, with a wide variety of homes and other buildings to choose to explore : a thatched croft, a cottage with outdoor toilet, an old church, plenty of farm buildings – the list goes on and they are all wonderfully laid out in the Highland countryside and in keeping with the period.

Exploring the houses and rolling back the years

The children loved the “1930s school lesson” especially when Daddy got the strap for talking in class… Whoops! The enthusiasm of the volunteers who work there is tangible and gives the whole place life.

All studying hard....except for Daddy!!

A walk down the track to the sweetie shop, farm and railway station is a must and somehow you find yourself moving and thinking at a slower pace – it’s magical!

ABC's easy as 1,2,3's

If you walk the other way, down past the old tailor’s shop and workshops you will once more find yourself in another world. This time it’s one of thatched croft houses, with peat fires burning and spinning wheels in action as well as a large supply of dressing up clothes. You really do live the experience fully  (and of course, our lot always do!)

Right back to where it all began in the early Highland settlements

A cup of tea in the café with pancakes and jam – yum – and a browse in the gift shop and that was us. Oh, apart from a re-visit to the excellent play park of course…

Hopscotch at the Highland Folk Museum

Another lovely day out – thankyou Highland Folk Museum – and very sadly, the end of our adventure.

A very warm welcome awaited us this morning at Landmark Forest Adventure Park, with staff greeting the children and asking how their holiday was going, goody bags for the three of them and a very generous voucher towards lunch and snacks while we were there. Not for the first time this week we felt very spoiled.

The ultimate photograph - a Red Squirrel at Landmark!

Arriving just at opening time, we took the opportunity to take an early morning walk around the tree top nature trail where we finally got the otherwise illusive Red Squirrel picture! Hooray! We even had a very special treat when one of the baby squirrels put in an appearance at the bird feeding tables. It was lovely to watch the wildlife in it’s own habitat at such a close range and we would recommend heading over to Landmark as early as possible in the day before the park gets busier so that you too can keep an eye out for the wildlife.

Pippi makes friends with Lex the Clydesdale horse

We then went for the first of not one, but three visits over the course of the day to the Bamboozeleum.

It's all an illusion at The Bamboozeleum

It really is a treat not to be missed: both fun and educational, a series of optical illusions and interactive displays that engage children and adults alike, causing much hilarity and amazement. Our three couldn’t take it all in at one visit so we had to go back to see what we had missed.  Then we had to go back again…

Pippi and Daddy on Ropeworx

Back out in the sunshine, the boys headed straight for the slides and Pippi took Dad to Ropeworx, a high rope walk in the trees. Nothing could take the grin off Pippi’s face as we traversed the obstacles and of course, once was not enough so the second time round we were joined by the other two monkeys desperate to climb and dangle!

The Wild Water Coaster is great fun!

With roller coasters and our favourite log flume amongst other attractions there was no chance to rest.  We did manage to drag all the children off to the café for a great lunch, however, then we all headed to the Timber Trail.

heave ho! Finn and Hamish try out wood cutting

A quick walk through the trees took us to see the wood cutting demonstration (and have a wee go ourselves!) and a climb right to the top of the fire tower – what a view!

We can see for miles...and miles...and miles...

Needless to say everyone was absolutely shattered when we got back to the hotel, however somehow we struggled on and managed to consume the 3 course dinner awaiting us. Thankyou to everyone at Landmark who gave us such a lovely welcome and a really fantastic day out!

Whatever the weather - Aviemore is beautiful!

Start of another day in this wonderful part of the world and what better than waffles and bacon to set us up for the day ahead.  The weather forecast was rain all day so a family conference was called to decide on a plan.  A host of ideas from the children ensuring that the Trespass waterproofs may be in for a good test! A short play on the outdoor activity centre at the hotel whilst mum packed the wet weather kit for the day then off to Loch Morlich  on a red squirrel hunt.  Mum is an avid fan of wildlife photography and we were keen to capture a red squirrel in full flight.  We did see two but managed to distract mum enough to stop her getting the magic photo.  Just have to come back and try again!  Nobody will be sad and Daddy would love to head off in a Canadian canoe and explore further afield.

Moudy the Search and Rescue Dog joins the Notts on their day out

We then headed up to the ranger base at Cairngorm Mountain to meet Moudy the rescue dog and his translator (handler) Dave at the Search and Rescue Dog Demonstration. Dave explained all about the work they do as part of the mountain rescue mission; invaluable and to think they are volunteers funded entirely by donations.

Moudy and Dave at Cairngorm Mountain

Following a fascinating talk on how they work and lots of questions Moudy took Dave off onto the hill to search for a volunteer, John, who had been hiding quietly in the heather throughout the talk.  The reaction when Moudy picked up John’s scent was amazing to watch, what a team! Pippi has now added Moudy to her adoption list, looks like we need a small holding!

Pippi makes a new friend - Moudy the rescue dog

With the rain in full force we headed back down the mountain to “The Fun House” at the Hilton Coylumbridge hotel to run off some energy and have lunch. Always a winner with the kids and a chance for the adults to down a whole cappuccino without interruption, the Fun House is undoubtedly a good thing.

Flying through the countryside on the Strathspey Steam Railway

With the children now suitably exhausted we set off to another of the Cairngorm National Park gems, the Strathspey Steam Railway.  A step back in time as we walked through the ticket gate to be met by a steam train and guard in period costume, Thomas the tank engine fans will feel quite at home whilst fans of Harry Potter should definitely book first class to get your own compartment.  Even better to book afternoon tea to remember the days when you could drink tea in a proper cup! The plates brimming with sandwiches and scones looked mouth watering to say the least and next time we will definitely ensure we are booked in.  The views were lovely from the carriage windows and reminded us once again that life is not simply about the destination but enjoying the journey!

Hamish and Finn enjoy the train journey with the Strathspey Steam Railway

Well, now we know what lies at the end of the rainbow – the Highland Wildlife Park, where dreams really do come true! Just ask Finn, our resident tiger fan/expert of four years. At the age of 7 he must have read every children’s book on tigers, spent hours studying pictures and drawing them and even hours dreaming of being up close and personal with one. And today….IT HAPPENED!!

The "lesser spotted Pippi" checks out the animals at the Highland Wildlife Park

But wait! – First there were the snow monkeys! Having received a lovely welcome, and goody bags (happy children) and refreshments (happy grown ups) we were taken to the snow monkey enclosure in time for feeding at 11:30am. While everyone gathered to view the little monkeys (not ours!) we, rather guiltily, but excitedly, were led in front of the watching public to do the feeding. Our aims were not the best, but miraculously we managed to lob a bucketful of apples and tomatoes over the fence (OK, maybe not the first time around!) to the very appreciative little creatures. Despite being told they can be quite fierce, Pippi is adamant that she would like the baby snow monkey as a pet and has plans to move it in with the guinea pig! Thank goodness for the ten-foot fences!

Finn and Hamish feeding the snow monkeys

Then IT HAPPENED! (Saint) Una suggested we go and see the Amur tigers and as we approached the tiger enclosure, suggested – OH JOY- maybe we would all like to go into the keepers area and se them up close. Smelling salts for Finn!

Feeding time!

While we stood as quietly as it is possible for tiger-daft 7 year olds to stand in a tiger enclosure (OK, well not quite in it, but al-most-t) the amazing animals approached. Dominike and Natalia, 2-year-old cubs of Sasha whose parents had been caught in Siberia and who had been born in Moscow Zoo, eyed us silently and with all the intensity of Master Chef judges considering desserts. Being this close to such incredibly beautiful animals was quite unnerving, as was the way Natalia spotted Pippi and sprang towards her, focused intently and ears pricked, for the entire world like a domestic cat spying a mouse. Pippi was, understandably, a little reticent when Saint Una, our wonderful keeper and guide, asked if anyone would like to feed the tigers. The boys, however, were right there, meat on sticks, poking them through the cages just inches from those teeth!

Time for Lunch!

An emotional moment when Finn, having fed the tiger, turned and announced with sparkling eyes – “This is the best thing in my whole life!” Strangely, we all felt quite emotional after this – the moments with the tigers were quite surreal – and we are indebted to Una for her time and kindness in making our day so special and giving one little boy in particular, his dream come true.

Walker the Polar Bear takes a snooze

The Highland Wildlife Park had so much more to offer and we spent a fantastic day in the company of wildcat kittens, wolves, the UK’s only resident polar bear – Walker,  red pandas (Hamish’s favourite) and a wide variety of beautiful creatures.

Wildcat and kitten

Ice cream, the gift shop and the discovery centre concluded a wonderful and memorable day, and we left with a leaflet about seasonal passes as we definitely plan to visit again as soon as possible. Thank you so much to Helen for her organisation and again to Una for waving her magic wand (if that’s what Saint’s have…!)

All smiles at the Highland Wildlife Park

Editor - feeding the tigers is not a usual activity at the Highland Wildlife Park and was an activity put on especially for the family. If you would like to experience this VIP treatment then enter next year’s competition!

…we are back in Aviemore at every family’s favourite hotel – The Hilton Coylumbridge. Waffles for breakfast by the lovely Tracey, a pool with a slide and civilized family dining all add up to a happy experience for all. Throw in a seasoning of what the area has to offer and you have a perfect family escape!

Delighted to be returning for our second visit, but a little suspicious of the weather forecast, we planned our itinerary accordingly – come rain or shine the Aviemore area has plenty to offer so our main problem was till choice! Having explored the facilities on offer at the hotel (children’s entertainment, cinema, gym, pool, giant trampoline thingies with harnesses that propel you seemingly over the funicular railway, ski lessons – dry slope- the list goes on) and made our plans as we headed to meet friends at the beautiful Loch An Eilein. It’s a place, which is magical in every season, and all weathers, being so atmospheric and beautiful. While the children explored the woods and the shoreline we all caught up and, as always, felt better having spent time there.

Loch An Eilein

The lovely Chris, our waiter, was on hand to guide us through the dinner menu (his ability to comment from personal experience on each dish is most helpful, if a little concerning, however he clearly works out rigorously between shifts – unlike the rest of us!!) Once again it was great to see freshly cooked healthy options for the children – the fish goujons are a real hit – and it’s lovely to be able to sit down together in a family friendly restaurant, which doesn’t compromise on quality and good service.