Set in the heart of Cairngorm National Park (Britain's largest, by the way), Aviemore, Scotland is a hub of outdoor fun surrounded by rolling hills, rushing rivers, and, um, well, a wild herd of reindeer. A fantastic place to visit any time of year, Aviemore truly shines bright at Christmas time, and you're definitely right if you guessed that those reindeer are one of main reasons why.
Hang With The Herd
Back in the 1950s, the re-introduction of reindeer to the Scottish Highlands was given the go-ahead and a small group of reindeer was brought to Scotland from Sweden by a man named Mikel Utsi and his wife Dr. Ethel Lindgren. The rest, as they say, is herd history, as the reindeer now number well over 150, and are free to roam over 10,000 acres of the parkland near Aviemore. Most importantly for us though, the staff undertakes daily trips to see and feed these beautiful beasts. And with visitors being encouraged to tag along, there honestly couldn't be anything more Christmassy to do in all of Britain.
A trip to see the reindeer is a real treat as everyone on the tour gets the opportunity to get up close and personal with them. After a short drive from the main offices and a 30-minute stroll across a scenic Scottish landscape, you will be face-to-face with dozens of soft nuzzling noses gently nudging you for treats. You'll also get the chance to learn a great deal about reindeer from the staff in the process and will leave with a new appreciation for these special animals. In December, the ground is likely to be sprinkled with a fresh dusting of snow, adding even more holiday charm to the scene.
Website: Cairngorm Reindeer
Ski The Slopes
While you may not necessarily associate Britain with skiing, this area of Scotland gets a significant amount of snow in the winter, and is subsequently home to several ski resorts. Cairngorm Mountain resort is located just outside of Aviemore, and provides several fun runs throughout the winter in addition to a scenic funicular railway open all year round. Snow typically starts falling by December, but it can be sporadic, so you are urged to check conditions before actually booking your trip to the lifts.
Website: Cairngorm Mountain
Winter Warm-Up
After all that outdoor activity, you're going to need a little bit of a warm-up, and Aviemore is home to both a local craft brewery and a nearby whisky distillery to get you through those cold Highland nights. Cairngorm Brewery is famous for their cask brews made with sparkling mountain water and their cheeky (as they say in these parts) attitude, with their wheat, citrus and elderflower-tinged Tradewinds beer and Black Gold Scottish Stout having collected numerous awards in recent years. A visit to the brewery features samples of the liquid gold is a must when in Aviemore. A short trip from town is the Dalwhinnie Distillery, purveyors of fine whisky and chocolate. They pair their fine Dalwhinnie 15 whisky with luxurious Highland chocolate on the tasting tours, a combination you'll be thinking about long after you leave.
Websites:Cairngorm Brewery, Dalwhinnie Distillery
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