Have a look at this video if you need a little help imagining the beauty of and fun to be had in the Cairngorms National Park or just if you need a wee reminder!
Just click on the Cairngorms National Park link below:
Cairngorms National Park Video
For more information visit the Cairngorms National Park website
The first open water swim in the Cairngorms National Park will take place on Saturday 25th September on the Balmoral Estate.
The arduous two-mile swim on Loch Muick has been organised by Outdoor Action Scotland Ltd’s Chic Grant and outdoor swimmer and personal trainer Ian Hadden, following the cancellation of two high profile open water events this year.
The Great Scottish Swim and The Great North Swim were cancelled due to unusually high levels of blue-green algae currently still above the acceptable limits in the water.
The Loch Muick Swim has been granted special permission by Her Majesty The Queen and Buckingham Palace to take place whilst the Royal Family are in residence at Balmoral.
Due to this, the unique event is limited to 100 yet it has already attracted interest and sign up from swimmers and triathletes throughout the UK.
Chic Grant explains: “We are delighted to be able to launch the very first Loch Muick Open Water Swim this year. It is a first for the Cairngorms National Park and an event on which we hope to build on in the coming years. We must thank Gary Marsden – Visitor Experience Manager at Balmoral Castle – who was instrumental in gaining the Royal approval for this event. We hope all the swimmers will have a fantastic day in what promises to be a very special and unique event.”
Alan Rankin, Chief Executive of Visit Cairngorms, said: “The Loch Muick Swim promises to be a great event for all involved. Chic and Ian have worked hard to bring this event to fruition and interest has quickly gathered pace – and rightly so. I can’t imagine a more beautiful place to take part in an open water swim than the Cairngorms National Park – even in September – so we are sure everyone will have a great time.”
The inaugural Loch Muick Swim will take place on Saturday 25th September. Participants are asked to register at 11am at the Loch Muick Visitor Centre. However, please ensure you have pre-booked your place by phoning Chic Grant at Outdoor Action Scotland Ltd on 01241 430400.
For further information on the Loch Muick Swim or Visit Cairngorms, please contact Charlotte Kissack at Rock Solid PR on 01479 810695/07834871707 or email charlotte@rocksolidpr.co.uk
The Big Splash, Aviemore
The big splash is a mad extreme sports event for people with a screw loose! The main event consists of a large ramp on the side of the river Spey from which you can launch off in a variety of contraptions from wheelie bins and shopping trolleys to bikes skis and snowboards.
See videos of the madness at the Big Splash Channel www.bigsplashaviemore.co.uk
This is the fourth year of the big splash which started in 2005 and having a rest in 2008 and back by popular demand this is Aviemore’s true community event bringing together all the outdoor disciplines in and around Aviemore such as mtn. biking, skiing, snowboarding, skate boarding, kayaking and climbing.
There are prizes for the best contraption, the stupidest jump and there are prizes for quality jumps on skis, boards, bikes etc. The judges are all top quality extreme riders themselves and will not be bribed under any circumstances unless you buy them a pint!
We are also running the extreme dream deep water soloing climbing competition again which consists of a climbing wall hanging above the river. Competitors have to swim from the river bank to the wall racing a fellow climber and the first to the bell at the top of the wall wins, however the bell is just out of reach of the last holds so in true big splash fashion they have to jump for it and end up in the drink!
Competitions usually finish around five and everyone chills out for an hour until the bands and a very messy night do!! We usually have prize giving about 8 and after that it gets a bit blurry but we usually wrap it up about 11.
Aviemore is Scotland’s true extreme adventure playground and is full of like minded idiots and crazy people apart from a few crusty beurocrats who want to whinge about anybody doing anything more extreme than farting!! It was a few of the like minded idiots that came up with the idea of building a ramp at the side of the river and launching themselves off on bikes, skis etc, and thought we might as well make an event out of it and thus the big splash was born.
Little did we know that during the planning of the big splash 05 we were informed that the crazy fools in the 70’s had done exactly what we were planning to do (see the big splash you tube video of 1974).
www.bigsplashaviemore.co.uk Make sure your there at Dalfaber Road on Friday night from 6 and all day Saturday from 12. Opposite the Old Bridge Inn where you can get food and drink all day!
Loch Morlich
A fresh water loch has become the first to be recognised as having one of the best beaches in the country.
Loch Morlich, at the foot of the Cairngorms, was one of 60 beaches to be awarded the Seaside Award by the Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) campaign.
It is the first time a fresh water loch has received the accolade.
Seven beaches – one more than last year – and a marina were also awarded the internationally-recognised Blue Flag for their cleanliness.
The Seaside Award programme has been recognising Scotland’s beaches for their litter management, information provision, risk assessment and safety procedures, and water quality for the past 17 years.
John Summers, chief executive of KSB, said: “The beach awards are becoming increasingly difficult to hold on to, particularly following two such wet summers which have caused water quality problems for a number of beaches.
“So I am particularly delighted to see more beaches joining the award schemes, especially Loch Morlich which is not only our first fresh water Seaside Award winner, it will also be the highest award beach in the country at 300m above sea level.
“I would like to pay tribute to all the hard work that goes in to achieving these awards by local authorities and communities and urge people, particularly in this economic climate, to get out this summer to visit – because we really do have fantastic beaches to be proud of.”
‘International standards’
Tourism Minister Jim Mather said the country’s beaches and coastline made an “enormous contribution” to the distinctive Scottish experience for visitors and residents alike.
“It is encouraging to see more and more of our beaches surpassing international standards for quality and cleanliness and as more and more visitors from home and abroad take part in our Homecoming celebrations, there is no better time to enjoy Scotland’s seaside for themselves,” he added.
“From our wonderful scenery to our compelling history and with a diverse range of over 300 events taking place throughout the year, there will be something for everyone during Homecoming 2009.”