Things to do in Speyside, Scotland

Local information sites:

Bow Cottage and Ben Rinnes View are two detached Scottish holiday cottages, ideally located in the heart of Speyside. From here, you can relax amongst stunning mountains, lochs, glens and forests, walk along miles of beautiful Moray Firth coastline, see an incredible array of wildlife, immerse yourself in thousands of years of history and indulge your senses within the whisky capital of the world.

Only a few miles away from the holiday cottages are the Cairngorm Mountains where you can ride Scotland’s highest mountain railway and walk amongst beautiful Caledonian pine forests. In winter the Cairngorms, along with the close by Lecht ski centre, have attracted some of Britain’s best snowboarders and skiers. A walk around the stunning Loch an Eilein is highly recommended, so is a trip on the Strathspey Steam Railway, where you can take afternoon tea as you travel through the wonderful Scottish scenery and beside the wonderful River Spey.

For outdoor enthusiasts Speyside Scotland offers everything from water sports to walking, cycling to fishing, golfing to surfing. The holiday cottages owner is a qualified mountain bike instructor and offers guided rides or tuition around the myriad mountain bike trails or just suggest Scottish Highland rides that will suit your style of riding.

From the holiday cottages, you can directly access the Speyside Way to enjoy riverside and forest walks and if you are feeling adventurous, why not climb Ben Rinnes which you can see from your holiday cottage. At 840m, this distinctive and beautiful landmark provides a good climb which rewards you handsomely at the top with the most spectacular views of eight counties, the Cairngorms and the Moray Firth coastline.

For lovers of wildlife, look out for Pine Marten, Red Squirrel, Red and Roe Deer, Otters and up above, Ospreys and even Golden Eagle. A trip to the Scottish Highlands Wildlife Park is a real treat where you can see the UK’s only

Polar Bear and a range of both native and exotic animals ranging from Amur Tigers to beautiful Red Pandas. Why not visit the RSPB Osprey Centre at Loch Garten to see fantastic views of these magnificent birds on the nest.

For art lovers, explore the Scottish Highland’s many galleries and if you want to try your hand at something new, the owner can arrange for you to throw a pot, explore the wonders of watercolour painting, create textural embroidery, learn to spin, dye wool, felt, knit and even make your own designer buttons!

Both holiday cottages are located on the Whisky Trail of Speyside - the only malt whisky trail in the world! From here you can follow the trail through the Scottish countryside to seven working distilleries.

Finally, don’t forget a trip to the Moray Firth Coastline, rated one of the best coastal destinations in the world by National Geographic. Offering windswept cliffs, rocky shores, wide sandy bays, fishing villages and long sheltered inner firths, here you can follow in the footsteps of Kings, Romans, Vikings and even Dinosaurs. You may even see some of the biggest Bottlenose Dolphins in the world that live in these waters.

Exciting activities for your holiday in Speyside