Page 146 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

144  SC O TLAND REGION B Y REGION THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS  145

s The Cairngorms Loch Garten
Osprey Centre VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Rising to a height of 1,309 m (4,296 ft), Ospreys now thrive in Practical Information
this reserve, which was
the Cairngorm mountains form the highest established in 1959 to The Highlands. n Grampian Rd,
landmass in Britain. Cairn Gorm itself is the site pro tect the first pair seen Aviemore (01479) 810930.
Cairngorm Reindeer Centre: Loch
of one of Britain’s first ski centres. A weather NairnNairn in Britain for 50 years. Morlich. Tel (01479) 861228.
station at the summit provides regular reports, Inverness Grantown-On-Spey Open daily. & 8 ∑ cairn
essential in an area known for sudden changes Carrbridge Broomhill gormreindeer.co.uk; Highland
Wildlife Park: Tel (01540) 651270.
of weather. Walkers should be sure to follow the Open daily (weather permitting).
mountain code without fail. During the summer ∑ highlandwildlifepark.org
a funicular railway climbs Cairn Gorm affording Rothie murchus Visitor Centre:
superb views over the Spey Valley. Many estates Nethy Bridge near Aviemore. Tel (01479) 812345.
Open daily. ∑ rothiemurchus.net
Boat of
in the valley have centres which introduce the Boat of Loch Garten Osprey Centre:
Garten
Garten
visitor to Highland land use. 0 kilometres 5 Tel (01479) 831476. Open daily.
Strathspey Steam LochLoch & ∑ rspb.org.uk
Railway GartenGarten 0 miles 5 Skiing & Funicular Railway:
This track between Tel (01479) 861261.
Aviemore and Broomhill ∑ cairngormmountain.org
dates from1863. Strathspey Steam Railway:
Tel (01479) 810725. &
∑ strathspeyrailway.co.uk
Aviemore Transport
3 @ Aviemore.
CoylumbridgeCoylumbridge
Skiing & Funicular Railway
LochLoch Nethy During the winter, chair lifts and
MorlichMorlich tows provide access to more than
Bean aidh
Spey Loch An 28 ski runs on Cairn Gorm’s
Highland Wildlife Park Eilein northern flanks. Scotland’s only
Driving through this park, the visitor funicular railway also operates here.
can see bison alongside bears, Kincraig
wolves and wild boar. All of these Loch
animals were once common Insh CAIRN GORM Flora of the Cairngorms
in the Highlands.
1,245 m With mixed woodland at their base and the summits form ing a sub-
(4,084 ft)
polar plateau, the Cairngorms present a huge variety of flora. Ancient
Kingussie Feshie BRAERIACH Caledonian pines (once common in the area) survive in Abernethy
Newtonmore Forest, while arctic flowers flourish in the heights. 1,200 m
Tolvah 1,295 m BEN MACDHUI (3,950 ft)
(4,248 ft)
1,309 m
Loch (4,296 ft) The Cairngorm plateau holds little life
Perth Einich except lichen (Britain’s oldest plant), wood rush
and cushions of moss campion, which is often 1,000 m
Key completely covered with pink flowers. (3,300 ft)
Major road Cairngorm Shady corries are important areas for
Minor road Mountains alpine plants such as arctic mouse-ear, 800 m
hare’s foot sedge, mountain rock-cress and (2,650 ft)
Narrow lane alpine speedwell.
Footpath
Pinewoods occupy the higher 600 m
slopes, revealing purple heather (2,000 ft)
as they become sparser.
KEY
Mixed woodland
1 Aviemore, the commercial covers the lower 400 m
centre of the Cairngorms, provides ground which is (1,300 ft)
carpeted with heather
buses to the main ski area 13 km and deegrass.
(8 miles) away.
200 m
2 The Cairngorm Reindeer (650 ft)
Centre provides walks in the hills
among Britain’s only herd of reindeer. Rothiemurchus Estate
3 Ben MacDhui is Britain’s second- Highland cattle can be seen among many other 0 m
highest peak, after Ben Nevis. creatures at Rothiemurchus. A visitor centre provides An idealized section of the Cairngorm plateau (0 ft)
guided walks and illustrates life on a Highland estate. The Cairngorms by Aviemore
For hotels and restaurants see pp176–7 and pp187–9 For additional map symbols see back flap
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