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mse



Member Since: 06 Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 5024

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Scotia Grey
Aviemore at Christmas
Anyone know what its like their at christmas?

Tempted to go away there this year, whats open (especially food wise christmas day) and whats the weather likely to be like? Mike
Post #467432 28th Oct 2015 11:47pm
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keith



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 2164

Scotland 
HO , HO , HO
Awesome at Xmas . Definitely snow and skiing . Hilton at Coylumbridge has events schedule and always good .
Aviemore is great at anytime of yr .
Post #467434 29th Oct 2015 12:02am
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MartinK



Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2664

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
I'll be there either Christmas or New Year (Hogmanay)

Christmas can be very family-oriented, and sometimes fairly quiet (read: not mad and full). There's usually a raindeer parade in town (worth watching) and the Rotary Club organize mulled wine and a choir in the square between Tesco & the Cairngorm Hotel. Can be very nice. As Keith says, should be skiing at the resort.

Hogmanay is very busy. Real party atmosphere. The town comes alive after 11:00 in the evening, with a great firework display at the Cairngorm Hotel. As soon as the one at the "Cairn" is finished, walk sharp-ish to the Macdonald Highland Resort and they do another one! Take a rucksack with plastic glasses and fizzy stuff to toast "the Bells" of midnight - everyone's shaking hands and wishing Happy New Year to everyone around. Great atmosphere. Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)
Post #467474 29th Oct 2015 10:25am
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mse



Member Since: 06 Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 5024

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Scotia Grey
Thanks, i think we are convinced its either take the motorhome...in which case we will probably want a Christmas lunch somewhere or stay in the hotel...but given the £ the motorhome will probably win!

The Hilton does food, whats that like v the Macdonald resort? Mike
Post #467479 29th Oct 2015 10:54am
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keith



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 2164

Scotland 
I'd be staying away from the McD resort . Not the best .
Post #467485 29th Oct 2015 11:11am
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mse



Member Since: 06 Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 5024

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Scotia Grey
Good to know, thanks Thumbs Up - is that all aspects of it? just the hotel or food?

We most likely will use the motorhome, ignoring the campsite fee, its then effectively free...but that will mean we will want to eat somewhere "proper" which probably leaves the Hilton is that ok, we heard some bad reviews on google...its been about 6 years since we were last that way so its all changed. Mike
Post #467488 29th Oct 2015 11:19am
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keith



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 2164

Scotland 
The resort looks lovely but is very poorly run and operated . Food isn't the best .
Make sure you stop on the way past HOUSE OF BRUAR . There you will get outstanding food , service , shopping and highlands experience. Visit the falls and have a wee look at this


Click image to enlarge
Post #467500 29th Oct 2015 12:00pm
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fathaggis



Member Since: 31 May 2015
Location: taynuilt
Posts: 385

Scotland 
stay in oban for new years great parties some of the hotels hold .... and you can take your defender on day trips or longer tho the islands ....mull and such . another great place for the christmas new year break //////
Post #467515 29th Oct 2015 12:59pm
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rleslie



Member Since: 10 May 2012
Location: Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Posts: 128

Scotland 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Epsom Green
I'm sure the camp site at Loch Morlich is open all year round. Give them a phone. Nice and close to the ski-ing. Toilet block is good. You would be walking distance to GlenMore Lodge, which has a small pub and serves food, nothing fancy but was good when i went. There are a few restrauts in Aviemore which are good, unless you are after michelin star stuff. Plenty of places to see and things to do while you are there...walking biking, skiing canoeing..the list goes on.

cheers
Post #467518 29th Oct 2015 1:12pm
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Browny90



Member Since: 20 Jul 2015
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 183

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 90 200 Tdi SW Stornoway Grey
Me and the family spent 2 years ago Hogmaney in Fort Willaim so we could ski the Nevis Range, was a great place to spend that time of year, weather was fine there, no snow in FW but plent up on Nevis so perfect really, although I was looking for a few snowy lanes to test my diff locks Wink My 1986 90 is currently on a full rebuild, with new chassis, Paint etc.. Very much a hybrid, TD5 Chassis, tub & bulkhead with a 200TDI and LT77 GB Painted in Stornoway Grey Smile 2 years off the road, but getting close to completion now
Post #467526 29th Oct 2015 1:42pm
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MartinK



Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2664

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
For eating out:

Cairngorm Hotel - fair pub grub, large portions at good prices
Bridge Inn - slightly more upmarket - often has lovely craft ales
Winking Owl - now run by the local "Cairngorm Brewery" - great ale, decent grub
The Boat (hotel in Boat of Garten) also great food slightly up market
Andersons Restaurant in Boat of Garten - good - very good, small portions tho

Then there's all the fast food places, like the Taverna, Roo's Leap, Skiing Doo etc - all fair if you fancy that type of thing. Skiing Doo has new owners I believe - not been recently.

We usually use the Cairgorm Hotel or the Bridge Inn, and go to Boat of Garten when we want an extra treat or change of scenery... Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)
Post #467597 29th Oct 2015 5:55pm
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mse



Member Since: 06 Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 5024

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Scotia Grey
Thanks guys

Martin, ill check those out, i think some where around when we were last there...need to find out if they do chrimbo food!

Keith thats good to know and we will aim to avoid it then Thumbs Up

We have stayed in Fort William, Glencoe and Inverness - all great, there is a but to fort william for another time!! we wanted something a little closer (considering we started off with going to the lakes, then look for a little snow and then aviemore is nice and we havent been there for ages...you know how it goes!)

Back to aviemore
We looked at Braemar as its a Caravan Club site - but we wanted to stay somewhere a little closer to civilisation (this time), somewhere likely to have a pub/restaurant open on Christmas Day and close to main roads etc as we will be in the motorhome not defender/disco with a few options of what to do

Seems like i have some places to email/ring tonight Thumbs Up

Keep the recommendations coming too choice is good Mike
Post #467599 29th Oct 2015 6:02pm
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MartinK



Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2664

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
You won't find a campsite more central than this
http://www.highrange.co.uk/caravans

If you can "rough camp" there's a large car park over from the Bridge Inn...Seen motorhomes & camper vans in there before... Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)
Post #467607 29th Oct 2015 6:35pm
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mse



Member Since: 06 Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 5024

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Scotia Grey
Thats the one we are thinking of staying at Mike
Post #467611 29th Oct 2015 6:40pm
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