On February 14, 2019
By Noah Williams
Suggestions of things to do in the Cairngorms for the winter half-term
There is always plenty going on in the Cairngorms and February winter half-term is no exception.
Skiing options
You might have heard about the closure of the funicular railway at Cairngorm, Scotland’s most famous ski area which is only a 20-minute drive from the Lodge. This doesn’t mean that there isn’t any skiing to be done!
At Cairngorm there are currently three lifts open accessing the beginners area. Best to book on the website before heading there as there are limited spaces at the moment: https://www.cairngormmountain.co.uk.
Heading out to ski at the Lecht
The Lecht is another ski area just 40 minutes drive from Boat of Garten. It’s the best in Scotland for beginners as the learners area has two ‘magic carpet’ lifts making trying out for a first time on skis or a snowboard very easy. Thanks to snowmaking facilities it stays open all through the season so you won’t have to worry about a lack of snow around. It’s located on the A939 between Cockbridge and Tomintoul, one of the most frequently closed roads in the UK so do check their website for the status.
Aside from skiing there are plenty of other things to do in the Cairngorms this half-term:
Alternative activities for all the family this winter half-term
Zip Trek Park in Aviemore is open all year round and is very popular for people of all ages: from 5 to 95! There are 14 different zip wires through the trees adding up to over 2km in total, all suspended over a stunning gorge. Since it can get busy it’s best to book in advanc:.
Continuing on the theme of activities in the forest tops, TreeZone Aviemore is an aerial adventure course suitable for everyone over the age of 7 .
Check out the polar bears having a dip
The Highland Wildlife Park is just 7 miles south of Aviemore in Kingussie. It is perfect for families wanting to discover the wildlife of Scotland. You can also see endangered species from mountain areas around the world. See Capercaillie and wildcats to Polar Bears and snow leopards
A visit to the Highland Wildlife park when the puddles were more interesting than the tigers
Low/No budget options for all the family
A low-budget, fun and easy option for an activity right outside the door of the Lodge is geocaching. If you haven’t heard of it before it involves searching for a container using GPS through the geocaching app. The containers vary in size and ease of access. Essentially a modern-day treasure hunt! This can be done either on foot or using mountain bikes.
Of course the plethora of mountain biking trails in the area are just as enjoyable in the winter as the summer. Come and see for yourself!
Riding through the Caledonian forests of the Cairngorms National park in November
And of course there are always plenty of walking and hiking options all over the Park from our front door and further afield.
Additional information if you’re coming to the Cairngorms for the winter half-term
10 free things to do in the snow
