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Cairngorms Christmas Treats

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

 

With Christmas on the horizon, thoughts at What’s On HQ invariably turn to food! Namely what locally grown produce we will be piling on our plates this festive season and the abundance of restaurants and hotels that will be serving up a host of treats on their menus.

So, to satisfy ourselves we caught up with three chefs around the Cairngorms National Park to discuss all things food and ask them how they will be celebrating the 2011 festive season. Prepare to abandon the diet until New Year!

Rebecca Ferrand is head chef at Muckrach Lodge

Chris McCall is head chef at The Old Bridge Inn

Neil Keevill is head chef at Loch Kinord Hotel

  1. How did you become a chef?

NK - I was meant to go to Abertay Uni to study chemical engineering, but spent the summer working as a KP in a hotel and when the commis chef failed to appear one day I stepped in – that was 17 years ago and I have still to go to uni!

RF - Muckrach was my first experience of running a hotel with a restaurant, and a very steep learning curve indeed.  I delight in discovering new tastes, new food experiences, and I wanted to impart some of this joy in the food we served.

  1. What’s your perfect Christmas day meal ?

CM -  For me, it’s breast of wild Gunknowe Loch grouse with all the traditional trimmings.

RF – With the great company of friends and family I much prefer goose to turkey. Goose is harder to cook and takes time and patience but it is really worth the effort as the meat is rich, dark, gamy and warming. Goose fat roasted potatoes with thyme and a sprinkling of sea salt makes a perfect partner with this wonderful bird. And of course finished with a Christmas pudding. I try and make mine in late August, so it has months for the flavours to meld together.

NK – Roast goose, bread sauce and all the trimmings

 

 

3. What food or smell puts you in a festive frame of mind?

NK – nice aromatic flavours like cinnamon and cloves

RF – The delightful smell of mince pies cooking in the oven with slightly puffed pasty and the wonderful tangy taste of the mince meat.  The sweet bonfire smell of cinnamon and rum and the dark alluring scent of molasses sugar. The bouquet of pine cones and mulled wine with its lovely aroma of stewed plums and of course the tangy, zesty fragrance oranges.

CM - The warm aroma of mulled wine and chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

 

 

4.What local produce is always on your shopping list?

NK – at the hotel we get our meat from small local independent suppliers – our pork and lamb come from Wark Farm in Cushnie and pure Aberdeen Angus beef comes from Cairnton Farm near Lumphanan.

CM - White mountain hare, Sikka deer – especially the haunch for smoking on our in-house smoker and the loin for searing – and Clava Brie.

RF – The venison is outstanding, so it’s always on the menu when it is available – it’s wild off the hills around Tomintoul and has dark rich meat that goes so well with Juniper, a local plant.  We serve it with the truly remarkable and very special venison haggis, which is the king of Scotland’s famous pudding. I also love the local Speyside smoked salmon with rich oaky flavours that just comes alive with a little lemon juice and a sprinkle of cracked black pepper.

 

5. Best Christmas Eve or Boxing Day dish?

RF- Cold goose with baked potatoes loaded with softly melting Stilton, buttery and creamy, soft velvety brie and hard pungent cheddar. Crisp crunchy homemade coleslaw; tart, vinegary pickled onions that crunch when you bite into them, soft and yummy warm bread, pickles and homemade chutney. All washed down with a good glass of red wine. Then fried Christmas pudding and mince pies with a glass of port.

NK – I love having cold turkey or goose on Boxing Day with bubble and squeak made from the left over vegetables

 

6. Who cooks at Christmas in your household?

CM – I normally cook but I tend to leave the mess for everyone else to clean up!

RF – Since we’ve been here and I’ve been cooking I tend to. Last year the family came up and we all had a great time!

 

  1. Any Christmas foods you wouldn’t touch with a barge pole?

RF - Cheap, nasty mince pies – you know, 48 pies for 20p. Intensively reared deep frozen turkey that dries to dust as soon as you put it in the oven.  Tinned Christmas pudding – eugh!

 

8.  And lastly, what’s the best thing about Christmas in the Cairngorms?

NK – The fact that you are almost guaranteed a white Christmas!

RF – The snow, the reindeer, the scenery, the whisky, the wonderful crisp cold weather, warm fires and the smell of pine and finally the great people.

CM - The stunning scenery and being with my good friends at the Old Bridge Inn!

 

 

 

Posted in aviemore, ballater, Balmoral, Boat of Garten, braemar, cairngorms, cairngorms national park, Carr Bridge, crathes, Cromdale, Dulnain Bridge, festivals, food, grantown on spey, Kingussie, laggan, music, Nethy Bridge, Newtonmore, picnic aviemore, restaurants, royal deeside, Strathspey Steam Train, whisky | No Responses »
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Things that go Bump in the Park!

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

I must admit I love a good scary story – from myths to the macabre, ghostly to ghouly there is still something rather exciting about terrifying ourselves over the unknown!

So this Halloween, sit yourself down in front of a roaring campfire with some toasted marshmallows and your copy of this month’s What’s On, as we prepare to lift the lid on some of the Cairngorms National Park’s most mysterious myths and legends…..

The Spectre of the Bloody Hand

Even the famous Sir Walter Scott wrote about the old man with the bloody hand at Loch Morlich. Despite the golden sands, and stunning views up to the Cairngorm Mountains a seemingly gigantic figure, clad in full Highland warrior dress, one hand always dripping with blood used to guard the east end of the loch. According to legend, anyone unfortunate to meet the spectre would be challenged by him to an instant contest of mortal combat. Should the challenge be accepted no bodily harm would follow, yet those too timid to stand up to the fight would face dire consequences.  Despite his gruesome appearance and hostile manner it seems that the Old Man had a kind streak when it came to animals of Rothiemurchus and stories tell of him assuming the role of guardian of deer and other wild creatures.

 Lass o’ the Lecht

The wind, rain snow and freezing winter weather of the braes of Glenlivet creates some hardy characters in the north of the Park. However, a sudden change in weather can surprise and endanger even the most prepared of walkers. One famous story involved a young 19 year old girl, Margaret Cruikshank or the ‘Lass o’ the Lecht’ as she became known. Margaret set off from Tomintoul one day in February 1860 to cross the Lecht Pass over the Ladder Hills, however a gale sprung up and with it a violent blizzard. Becoming quickly lost, Margaret decided to follow a burn she thought would lead to safety, but this mistake ended up leading her deeper into the hills where she perished. 500 men turned out to help in the attempt at rescue, but it was not until 3 months later that her frozen body was discovered in Strathdon, on the banks of the river Earnan, many miles from the Lecht. No subsequent sights of Margaret’s ghost have been reported, but she is immortalised in the famous poem ‘Lass o’ the Lecht’.

The Old Man Of Garten

Am Bodach Ghoirtean is spoken about with fear and dread in Boat of Garten and it’s surrounding areas. The Bodach was said to be a spirit that dwelt in the woods around Loch Garten and Loch Mallachy and roamed the countryside at night giving anyone he met a warning of impending death of a family member or friend. The Bodach would sometimes appear to his victims as a huge white object – faintly luminous – but always his trademark warning was a terrifying high-pitched scream.

The story of Donald Macpherson of Tulloch is famous in the area as he is the last person said to have encountered the Bodach. Soon after his meeting with the phantom, the tenant of the farm in which Donald played cards was found dead. Even more curious was the fact that at the tenant’s funeral – on passing the spot on the road where Donald encountered the apparition – the stallions pulling the funeral wagon reared up, biting and kicking and eventually upturning the hearse whilst admitting the same blood curdling scream heard by Donald a few nights before!

 French Kate

The lonely ghost of Kittie Rankie is said to walk through the halls and stairs and the surrounding lands of Abergeldie Castle in Ballater. Also known as French Kate (according to legend she was a woman of French origin who was at one time employed in the castle) it is said that she once was accused of practicing black magic and arrested soon after to be charged with witchcraft. After confinement in the castle she was eventually found guilty and thereafter taken to a local hill where she was tied to a stake and burnt for her supposed crimes. Over the years, there have been various encounters with Kittie, most notably in the mid-nineteenth century when the daughter of a local doctor, Patricia Lindsay, was happy to play in the castle cellars during the day.  However, she would never do so after dark as she recounted hearing several terrifying noises and ringing of bells clattering through the stone walls. 

The White Lady of the Rowan Tree

At a bridge in Glentruim near a sharp bend on the glen road an old rotten rowan tree used to stand. On a full moon, local people would refuse to pass the spot, horses would refuse to cross the bridge and dogs would howl in discomfort. Tradition has it that one night a local by the name of John Barleycorn agreed to go, on horseback, to the spot and attempt to cross the river. However, his horse refused to budge, so John dismounted and stumbled over the bridge, past the rowan tree where he came face to face with a white lady. What happens next nobody knows, but the next day John was found a quarter of a mile along the road, in a ditch, his face in a pool of water. His horse was grazing quietly nearby.

 Happy Halloween!

see www.visitcairngorms.com for more infor on the spooky park!

Posted in aviemore, aviemore activities, ballater, Balmoral, Boat of Garten, braemar, cairngorms, cairngorms national park, Carr Bridge, crathes, Cromdale, Dulnain Bridge, grantown on spey, halloween, Kingussie, laggan, loch morlich, mar lodge, Nethy Bridge, Newtonmore, royal deeside, skiing lecht, Uncategorized | No Responses »
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Walking back to happiness…

Friday, September 16th, 2011

 I remember them well from my childhood days – wrapped up in a scratchy scarf, welly boots tugged onto my feet and a Cadbury’s chocolate éclair stuffed into my pocket for the journey – whatever the weather I loved heading out on walks to explore the countryside. The only problem with those walks was that- living in the Midlands – the space, views and abundance of nature I craved (thanks to Terry Nutkins and his pals) was not there. So when I was old enough I moved here – to the Cairngorms National Park. How’s that for space, views and as much wildlife as you can shake a stick at (only a phrase, please don’t literally do this kids!)?

So, with my comfy walking boots on my feet and my obligatory Cadbury’s chocolate éclair in my pocket (ok maybe a family size bag!) What’s On set out in search of some of the best family walks around the Cairngorms National Park. Get out there and explore this Autumn!

 

Bellabeg Forest Walk, Strathdon 1.75 miles/3km – 1 hour

This is a really pretty walk with a gentle climb through the trees, which allows you to access a host of stunning views across Donside and the picturesque village of Bellabeg.  As you start out on the walk you follow the sign for “Lost” (don’t worry – it’s not a forewarning!) It is a rather steep initial climb, but the ground underfoot in not challenging.

This walk could be combined with a visit to The Lost Gallery or an exploration of the Doune of Invernochty, the large mound where a castle once stood.

Loch Brandy, Glen Clova 3.25 miles/5.5km – 2.5 hours

Loch Brandy is a superb example of a mountain Corrie. Backed by craggy slopes and cradling a perfect loch it is a great place to spend a few hours. The walk has the benefit of a very well constructed path making this a good short, and relatively easy, hill walk.

Once again you get excellent views, but this time they stretch across Glen Clova and the Eastern Grampians to Lochnagar and Mount Keen. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for mountain hare, red deer, peregrine falcon, raven, buzzard and golden eagle as wildlife is in abundance.

Uath Lochans, Feshiebridge 3 miles/5km – 3 hours

This is one of my favourite family walks as what’s great is that you don’t need any special footwear to enjoy it. The Uath Lochans are real gems – like a diamond necklace amongst the pine trees – and a great place to take in the wonder of the Cairngorms National Park.

You can break this walk into three mini walks depending on the time you have available, taking in views of Glen Feshie, the Cairngorm Mountains and exploring the lochans themselves. Lily pads burst into life during July, but the lochans look stunning throughout the year. 

Battle of Glenlivet Path, Tomintoul 4 miles/6.5km – 2 hours

A perfect walk for anyone wanting a bit of history on a hike! The Battle of Glenlivet Path is a well-sheltered route, which gives some wonderful views of the Glenlivet area and provides access to the site of the Battle of Glenlivet, which took place in 1594. You can wander along the path where a force of about 2000 local men routed 10,000 highlanders in a dramatic victory.

In addition, you may even be fortunate enough to hear the piping call of a well disguised golden plover in the lichen rich heather and see herds of red deer browsing on the steep slopes of the local hills.

Wildcat Trail, Newtonmore 6.75 miles/10km – 3.5 hours

This wonderful way-marked trail, which encircles the village, takes in the banks of the River Spey, open heather moorland, wooded glens and burbling streams.

Easy and clear way marked trails take you through a site of a Pictish stone circle and along the side of Allt Laraidh falls. It’s very rare that you will come across a real wildcat, but keep your eyes peeled for some of the 50 Scottish wildcat models that have been placed on the trails and around the village. You can even get a Wildcat Experience Trackpack which allows you to mark you ‘found cats” on a map and receive a certificate or prize if you find 25 or more. A great fun activity for all the family and kids love it!

Glen Banvie Trail – 9miles/14km – 4.5 hours

This is a tad longer than the other featured walks, but the good thing is there are no hills just a gentle rise from Blair Atholl village. From birds, to butterflies, ruined villages, red deer rubbings on trees and more, the walk has it all as you pass through the farm and moor land of Atholl Estate.

You will also see the ruins of Bail an t’Sepail (Chapel Town) leading into Baluain Wood and if you take a slight detour you will find the Falls of Bruar, immortalized in a poem by Robert Burns in 1787, ‘The Humble Petition of Bruar Water to the Noble Duke of Atholl’.

There are so many more walks to chose from that we haven’t had the chance to cover in this feature – Loch An Eilein, Seven Bridge and Knock Tower and Glenmulliach Forest the list goes on! So check out www.visitcairngorms.com for more ideas and full descriptions of each walk featured in this article.

The Tomintoul and Glenlivet Walking Festival runs 8th-12th September and Blairgowrie and East Perthshire Walking Festival the 15th-18th September featuring some great walks in the Cairngorms National Park.

See www.tgwf.co.uk and www.walkingfestival.org

Posted in aviemore, aviemore activities, ballater, Balmoral, Boat of Garten, braemar, cairngorms, cairngorms national park, Carr Bridge, crathes, Cromdale, Dulnain Bridge, grantown on spey, Kingussie, laggan, loch morlich, mar lodge, Nethy Bridge, Newtonmore, walking aviemore, Weather | No Responses »
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What’s On in the Cairngorms National Park

Friday, June 24th, 2011

There is loads going on this weekend in the Cairngorms National Park including the Aviemore, Blair Atholl, Deeside and Angus areas.(see below) A brilliant coup for the area is the Scottish Hydro Challenge being held this weekend at the Spey Valley Course at Aviemore with Scot, Chris Doak currently in the lead. A full list can be found at www.visitcairngorms.com/whatson but a selection of events are listed below.

Scopttish Hydro Challenge

Saturday 25th
• Charity Day in aid of Scotland’s Garden Scheme and Tay Valley Mountain Rescue – Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, 9.30am-5.30pm.   www.blair-castle.co.uk
• Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team Sponsored Walk – Glen Feshie, £15/£10.   www.cmrtwalk.org.uk
• Spey Art Group Painting Workshop – Inverallan Church Hall, 10am-4pm, £15. To Book T: 01479 872085/873101.
• Live Music with Alfie McQuade – Glen Hotel, Newtonmore, 9.30pm. 
 

Sunday 26th
• Cairngorms Farmers Market – The Square, Grantown on Spey. 10am-4pm.
• Abernethy Open Gardens – Discover the treasures of private gardens in and around Nethy Bridge.  Tickets & location map from local shops, £5.  10am-5pm. T: 01479 851347.
• Lairig Ghru Race – Braemar to Aviemore, 10am www.deesiderunners.com
• Hilton Around the World in a Day 5km Fun Run – Hilton Coylumbridge Hotel, Aviemore, 2pm.  In aid of Hilton in the Community Foundation www.hilton-foundation.org.uk
• Live Music with ‘Blind & Deaf’ – The Club Bar, Hilton Craigendarroch Hotel, Ballater, 3-5pm.

11th June – 24th July
• Rachel Everitt Exhibition – The Iona Gallery, Kingussie.  Illustration, printmaking and animation. Mon, Thurs, Fri 1-5pm.  Sat-Sun 11am-5pm, FREE.
23rd-26th June
• Scottish Hydro Challenge – Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Course, Aviemore.   www.teamscottishhydro.com

Saturday 25th June
The Eilan, Newtonmore – Newtonmore 1sts v Lovat.  2.30pm.
The Dell, Kingussie. Kingussie 2nds v Kilmallie. 2.30pm.

There are also some local open golf comps on this weekend see http://visitcairngorms.com/opengolf

Whatever you choose to do have a great weekend in the Cairngorms National Park…kick back and enjoy the scenery!

Posted in Accommodation Aviemore, aviemore, aviemore activities, aviemore hotels, ballater, Balmoral, Boat of Garten, braemar, cairngorms, cairngorms national park, Carr Bridge, Cromdale, Dulnain Bridge, Golf, grantown on spey, Kingussie, laggan, loch morlich, mountain biking, music, Nethy Bridge, Newtonmore, royal deeside, Shinty, Uncategorized, walking aviemore, Weather | No Responses »
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Cairngorms National Park Listed in National Geographic Top 20

Monday, January 17th, 2011

The Cairngorms National Park has been listed in the National Geographic Traveller magazine’s top 20 places to visit in 2011.

The UK’s largest National Park ranks alongside the Caribbean island of Dominica and Alaska’s Kodiak Island, on the prestigious list, which was put together by Norie Quintos, senior editor at the world’s most influential travel magazine.

Alan Rankin, chief Executive of Visit Cairngorms, said: “We are delighted to be listed amongst the ‘must see’ places to visit in the world this year. To see the Cairngorms National Park and named local businesses rubbing shoulders with some of the most iconic international destinations is fantastic, but not a it is by no means a chance listing, it is well deserved. We have a host of great local businesses working in one of the most special areas of the world and our aim is to continually deliver the best experience for the visitor throughout the year – no matter what they what to see or do and no matter what the weather throws at us!”

The magazine’s endorsement, which urges readers to enjoy “recreation at every speed, from hiking in Leanachan forest to kayaking in Loch Insh and the Insh Marshes Nature Reserve” as well as experiencing a traditional Highland Games, comes after Norie visited the region with the Adventure Travel World Summit.

Mr Rankin continues: “The Adventure Travel World Summit really put the area on the world map. We will continue to strive to maintain a consistent and high level of customer experience for our visitors, while continuing to ensure that UK and international visitors understand that our National Park is incredibly accessible whilst being an area that we all need to care for so that generations to come can enjoy adventures and trips to the area in years to come.“

ENDS

For more information on Visit Cairngorms, please contact Charlotte Kissack at Rock Solid PR on 01479 810695 or 07834871707 or email charlotte@rocksolidpr.co.uk

Posted in cairngorms, Uncategorized | No Responses »
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Week commencing Friday 7th January 2011 at CairnGorm Mountain

Friday, January 7th, 2011

FANTASTIC SNOW CONDITIONS AT CAIRNGORM THIS WEEKEND

SNOWSPORTS
CairnGorm Mountain will be open for snowsports every day weather permitting. All uplift should be operating except for the West Wall Poma and all areas of the mountain should be open except for the West Wall and Gullies. It is however possible to ski down Coire Laogh Mor. The forecast for the next couple of days is for some more snow showers with a mixture of cloud and sunshine and some excellent visibility but it will be quite windy at times. Pisted runs are skiing really well with fresh pisted powder on a firm base.

TICKETS AND PRICES
Our day skiing ticket prices are £30.80 for adults, £22.50 for seniors and students and £18.50 for juniors. 4-day vouchers for £102.40 (juniors £61.60) are also on sale online or at the Ticket Office. They can be used on any day throughout the season until the end of April 2011 but only one voucher per day from each book can be used.

If you don’t have a season ticket and you do not need to hire equipment, the quickest ways to get onto the slopes are:
1. Buy tickets at Aviemore Ski & Board Hire in Aviemore (01479 811711)
2. Bring cash (we don’t have an ATM machine on site) and pay at the cash only desk which can be found on the left hand corner of the Day Lodge as you look up the hill. This desk handles adult, junior, senior, student, family (2+2) day tickets only. It does not handle ski hire, 2 day tickets, discounts, credit cards, afternoon tickets or vouchers.
3. Buy online and take your booking reference to the Ranger Base to exchange it for a day ticket or present your voucher book there and exchange a voucher from it for a day ticket.

Please be ready to show your ticket to the lift operator at all lifts. Snowboarders must use a safety leash at all times on CairnGorm Mountain.

SEASON TICKETS
If you have already purchased, but not yet uplifted a season ticket you may collect your pass from the Ticket Office but you may have to queue to collect it at busy times – be prepared.

HIRE
Ski Hire will be open every day from 8.30am at CairnGorm, so you can hire any kit you need but there are also several places in Aviemore where you can hire. We can sell out of hire by mid morning when we are very busy so please bear this in mind.

PARKING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Get here early if you want to be sure of getting into the Cas car parks.
The enhanced public bus service – see timetable attached will run 3 times hourly (with the first bus up at 0630 and the last bus down at 1810) between Aviemore and CairnGorm Mountain Car Park until 9 Jan inclusive. Normal fares apply to this service. Look out for no. 34 on the front of the buses. Thereafter the public buses will revert back to their usual timetables. We are always keen to encourage customers to use the public buses as they will drop them right at the entrance to the ticket office next to the Base Station. Shuttle buses which are free will be running between the Ciste and Cas car parks throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday.

AVALANCHE RISK
Off-piste skiers please beware there is still a considerable avalanche risk.

OPENING TIMES The ticket office will open at 8.30am with the first train up at 9.00am, possibly later depending on weather conditions. Last train up 3.30pm. Last train down 4.00pm. Lower lifts will open from 8.30am and lifts will start closing from 3.30pm.

Cas Bar and Mountain Shop will open daily from 8.30am until 4.30pm
Ptarmigan open daily from 9.00am until 4.00pm.

INSTRUCTION
The Ski School still has availability for group and private lessons. To book a lesson please call 08455 191191. Please only leave one message on this line. The Ski School will get back to you as soon as they can. Please also try to give a few days‘notice if you are phoning to book a lesson as they are extremely busy, or call in person a day or two beforehand.

DISIBILITY SNOWSPORTS UK
DSUK help people with disabilities to take part in snowsports by providing lessons for anyone with a disability. Their Adaptive Snowsports School is now beginning 7 days a week at CairnGorm from January until April. Prior booking is essential. To book one on-one instruction call 01479 861272 or email skischool@disibilitysnowsport.org.uk.

SKI AMBASSADORS
Our volunteer ski ambassadors are running free guided tours of the hill daily at 11.30 and 2.00pm. Meet them on the top platform at these times if you want join one of these tours. They wear bright yellow jackets.

SLEDGE PARK
The Sledge Park will open whenever conditions permit. Please check at the ticket office if the sledge park is open before buying your funicular ticket to get there. Only CairnGorm Mountain sledges may be used and they can be hired in the Shop at the Top for £5 per half hour session.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER OUTLOOK
Saturday 8th January: Wind N or NW 20mph although in morning possibly 30mph gusting 45mph. A few snow showers, cloud may be widespread above 900m but will become patchy with some sunshine. Poor visibility in snow but otherwise very clear air with superb visibility. Temp at 900m -3C to -5C. Freezing level mainly at sea level.
Sunday 9th January: Wind NW 35mph gusting 55mph and easing toward 25mph. One or two snow showers possible. Intermittent cloud at 1000m, intermittent sunshine and very clear air. Temp at 900m -5C. Freezing level at glen level.
Outlook: Cold with some snow showers for a few days, but becoming milder and windier with a thaw of lying snow.

Every day
Great shopping in the Mountain Shop and the Shop at the Top. Look out for clothing, skiing essentials, fabulous gifts and accessories. Open daily 10.00am to 4.30pm.
Exhibitions 10.00am – 4.30pm
The Big Freeze exhibition of photographs taken by staff from last winter is on display in the T Bar and on the stairs up to it and in various other locations. Many of the pictures are for sale.

Eating and drinking: Hot rolls are back being served in the mornings in both the Cas Bar and the Ptarmigan Restaurant to get you warmed up ready for skiing. Delicious home-baking can be found every day in our restaurant and cafe bar, and hot meals featuring locally-sourced ingredients in the mountain-top restaurant. ‘The Chocolate Mountain’, a huge concoction of hot chocolate, marshmallows and cream beckons in both locations. Or enjoy a mulled wine at the end of the day to help soothe the aching bones.

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Week commencing Friday 31st December 2010 at CairnGorm Mountain

Monday, January 3rd, 2011

CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR ON THE SLOPES OF CAIRNGORM

SNOWSPORTS
CairnGorm Mountain will be open for snowsports on New Year’s Day and every day thereafter weather permitting. All uplift has been operating today and all runs have been open except the Ciste gullies. The forecast for the next couple of days is for moderate winds but largely dry and cloud-free with excellent visibility so we will open everything we can weather-permitting. Pisted runs are skiing really well but off-piste is still pretty hard and the avalanche risk there is considerable.

TICKETS AND PRICES
Our day skiing ticket prices are £30.80 for adults, £22.50 for seniors and students and £18.50 for juniors. 4-day vouchers for £102.40 (juniors £61.60) are also on sale online or at the Ticket Office. They can be used on any day throughout the season until the end of April 2011 but only one voucher per day from each book can be used.

If you don’t have a season ticket and you do not need to hire equipment, there are quicker ways onto the slopes:
1. Buy tickets at Aviemore Ski & Board Hire in Aviemore (01479 811711)
2. Bring cash (we don’t have an ATM machine on site) and pay at the cash only desk which can be found on the left hand corner of the Day Lodge as you look up the hill. This desk handles adult, junior, senior, student, family (2+2) day tickets only. It does not handle ski hire, 2 day tickets, discounts, credit cards, afternoon tickets or vouchers.
3. Buy online and take your booking reference to the Ranger Base to exchange it for a day ticket or present your voucher book there and exchange a voucher from it for a day ticket.

Please be ready to show your ticket to the lift operator at all lifts. Snowboarders must use a safety leash at all times on CairnGorm Mountain.

SEASON TICKETS
Please note that we have suspended the sale of season tickets and will review the situation at the end of next week to consider whether we put any more tickets on sale. If you have already purchased, but not yet uplifted a season ticket you may collect your pass from the Ticket Office. However please be prepared to queue if you come to collect it over the holiday period.

HIRE
Ski Hire will be open every day from 8.30am at CairnGorm, so you can hire any kit you need but there are also several places in Aviemore where you can hire. We can sell out of hire by mid morning when we are very busy which we expect to be over the course of the next ten days.

PARKING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Get here early if you want to be sure of getting into the Cas car parks.
There has been a modification to the timetable for the enhanced public bus service it will run 3 times hourly (with the first bus up at 0630 and the last bus down at 1810) between Aviemore and CairnGorm Mountain Car Park. This service will run until 9 Jan inclusive. Look out for service no. 34 on the front of the buses. We would encourage customers to use this as it will drop them right at the entrance to the ticket office next to the Base Station. Normal fares apply to this service. Shuttle buses which are free will be running between the Ciste and Cas car parks throughout the day until 9 Jan.

AVALANCHE RISK
Off-piste skiers please beware there is still a moderate to considerable avalanche risk.

OPENING TIMES Throughout the holiday period the ticket office will open at 8.30am with the first train up at 9.00am, possibly later depending on weather conditions. Last train up 3.30pm. Last train down 4.00pm. Lower lifts will open from 8.30am and lifts will start closing from 3.30pm.

Cas Bar and Mountain Shop will open daily from 8.30am until 4.30pm
Ptarmigan open daily from 9.00am until 4.00pm.

INSTRUCTION
The Ski School is busy but still has availability for group and private lessons. To book a lesson call 08455 191191. Please only leave one message on this line. The Ski School will get back to you as soon as they can. Please also try to give a few days‘ notice if you are phoning to book a lesson as they are extremely busy or call in person a day or two beforehand.

SKI AMBASSADORS
Our volunteer ski ambassadors are running free guided tours of the hill daily at 11.30 and 2.00pm. Meet them on the top platform at these times if you want join one of these tours. They wear bright yellow jackets.

SLEDGE PARK
The Sledge Park will open whenever conditions permit. Please check at the ticket office if the sledge park is open before buying your funicular ticket to get there. Only CairnGorm Mountain sledges may be used and they can be hired in the Shop at the Top for £5 per half hour session.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER OUTLOOK
Saturday 1st January: Wind N 20-25mph. A few scattered snow flurries but largely dry with sunshine and excellent visibility. Temp at 900m -3C. Freezing level 300m.
Sunday 2nd January: Wind N 15-20mph. Isolated snow flurries. Little cloud, extensive sunshine and excellent visibility. Temp at 900m -5C. Freezing level at sea level.
Outlook: Milder conditions and westerly winds with rain spreading southwards followed later in the week by the return of cold conditions and fresh snow showers.
Every day
Great shopping in the Mountain Shop and the Shop at the Top. Look out for clothing, skiing essentials, fabulous gifts and accessories. Open daily 10.00am to 4.30pm.
Exhibitions 10.00am – 4.30pm
The Big Freeze exhibition of photographs taken by staff from last winter is on display in the T Bar and on the stairs up to it and in various other locations. Many of the pictures are for sale.
Euan Baxter, local photographer and snowsports enthusiast is displaying his collection of winter photographs Vanishing Tracks in the Ptarmigan Restaurant (closes 4.00pm) until the end of December. Inspired by 30 winters spent in Strathspey, Euan is transfixed by the beauty of these months and the ever-changing conditions. Mounted and framed prints are on sale.

Eating and drinking: Hot rolls are back being served in the mornings in both the Cas Bar and the Ptarmigan Restaurant to get you warmed up ready for skiing. Delicious home-baking can be found every day in our restaurant and cafe bar, and hot meals featuring locally-sourced ingredients in the mountain-top restaurant. ‘The Chocolate Mountain’, a huge concoction of hot chocolate, marshmallows and cream beckons in both locations. Or enjoy a mulled wine at the end of the day to help soothe the aching bones.

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HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM EVERYONE AT CAIRNGORM MOUNTAIN

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

SNOWSPORTS
CairnGorm Mountain will be closed on Christmas day but open for snowsports on Boxing Day and every day thereafter weather permitting. The forecast for 26th however is for strong winds on tops which may limit what it is possible to open but we will open everything we can weather-permitting

TICKETS AND PRICES
Our day skiing ticket prices are £30.80 for adults, £22.50 for seniors and students and £18.50 for juniors. 4-day vouchers for £102.40 (juniors £61.60) are also on sale online or at the Ticket Office. They can be used on any day throughout the season until the end of April 2011 but only one voucher per day from each book can be used.

If you don’t have a season ticket and you do not need to hire equipment, there are quicker ways onto the slopes:
1. Buy tickets at Aviemore Ski & Board Hire in Aviemore(01479 811711)
2. Bring cash (we don’t have an ATM machine on site) and pay at the cash only desk at the Disability Snowsports UK office which can be found on the right hand side of the Day Lodge as you look up the hill. This desk handles adult, junior, senior, student, family (2+2) day tickets only. It does not handle ski hire, 2 day tickets, discounts, credit cards, afternoon tickets or vouchers.
3. Buy online and take your booking reference to the Ranger Base to exchange it for a day ticket or voucher book.

Please be ready to show your ticket to the lift operator at all lifts. Snowboarders must use a safety leash at all times on CairnGorm Mountain.

SEASON TICKETS
Please note that we have suspended the sale of season tickets until the end of December. We will review the situation then and consider whether we put any more tickets on sale. If you have already purchased, but not yet uplifted a season ticket you may collect your pass from the Ticket Office. However please be prepared to queue if you come to collect it over the holiday period.

HIRE
Ski Hire will be open every day from 8.30am at CairnGorm, so you can hire any kit you need but there are also several places in Aviemore where you can hire. We can sell out of hire by mid morning when we are very busy which we expect to be over the next two weeks.

PARKING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Get here early if you want to be sure of getting into the Cas car parks. We have also arranged for a greatly enhanced public bus service to run 3 times hourly (from 6.35am up to 18.10 down) from Aviemore to CairnGorm Mountain Car Park. This service will run from 26 Dec -9 Jan inclusive and the timetable for it is attached. We would encourgage customers to use this as it will drop them right at the entrance to the ticket office next to the Base Station. Normal fares apply to this service. Shuttle buses which are free will be running between the Ciste and Cas car parks throughout the day until 9 Jan.

AVALANCHE RISK
Off-piste skiers please beware there is still a moderate to considerable avalanche risk.

OPENING TIMES
Throughout the holday period the ticket office will open at 8.30am with the first train up at 9.00am, possibly later depending on weather conditions. Last train up 3.30pm. Last train down 4.00pm. Lower lifts will open from 8.30am and lifts will start closing from 3.30pm.

Cas Bar and Mountain Shop will open daily from 8.30am until 4.30pm
Ptarmigan open daily from 9.00am until 4.00pm.

INSTRUCTION
The Ski School is busy but still has availability for group and private lessons. To book a lesson call 08455 191191. They will also be running ‘Rudolf’s Revenge ’2-day courses for children aged 5 and under 27-28 and 30-31 Dec.

SKI AMBASSADORS
Our volunteer ski ambassadors are running free guided tours of the hill daily at 11.30 and 2.00pm. Meet them on the top platform at these times if you want join one of these tours. They wear bright yellow jackets.

SLEDGE PARK
At the moment it is too icy to open the Sledge Park, however we hope to have it open over the holiday if conditions permit. Please check at the ticket office if the sledge park is open before buying your funicular ticket to get there. Only CairnGorm Mountain sledges may be used and they can be hired in the Shop at the Top for £5 per half hour session.

SEARCH DOG DEMOS
For non-skiers we will be running search dog demos by the lovable lurcher Moudy and his handler David Benson on Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th Dec at 11.00am. Meet in the T bar upstairs from the Cas Bar. Demonstrations last approx 40 mins and are free but donations to the Scottish Search and Rescue Dog Assosiaction are welcome. Wrap up warm for these outside demos.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER OUTLOOK
Saturday 25th December: Wind NW 20mph. Dry, cloud free with patchy sun and good visibility. Temp at 900m -3C. Freezing level sea level, all terrain frozen.
Sunday 26th December: Wind 30-50mph gusting 90mph on tops and ridges. Snow developing later. Cloud increasing and lowering as day progresses. Weak sunshine and some good visibility turning hazy. Temp at 900m -4 to -2C. Freezing level at sea level, all terrain frozen.
Outlook: Upland gales, pockets of freezing rain. Cloud confined to higher summits. Little sun but good visibility. Dry weather with overnight frost returning later in the week.

Every day
Visit the Christmas shop in the Mountain Shop next to the Base Station for lots of gift ideas. Open daily 10.00am to 4.30pm. Great shopping in the Shop at the Top in the Ptarmigan as well. Look out for clothing, skiing essentials, fabulous gifts and accessories.

Exhibitions 10.00am – 4.30pm
The Big Freeze exhibition of photographs taken by staff from last winter is on display in the T Bar and on the stairs up to it and in various other locations. Many of the pictures are for sale.
Euan Baxter, local photographer and snowsports enthusiast is displaying his collection of winter photographs Vanishing Tracks in the Ptarmigan Restaurant (closes 4.00pm) until the end of December. Inspired by 30 winters spent in Strathspey, Euan is transfixed by the beauty of these months and the ever-changing conditions. Mounted and framed prints are on sale.

Eating and drinking: Hot rolls are back being served in the mornings in both the Cas Bar and the Ptarmigan Restaurant to get you warmed up ready for skiing. Delicious home-baking can be found every day in our restaurant and cafe bar, and hot meals featuring locally-sourced ingredients in the mountain-top restaurant. ‘The Chocolate Mountain’, a huge concoction of hot chocolate, marshmallows and cream beckons in both locations. Or enjoy a mulled wine at the end of the day to help soothe the aching bones.

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Week commencing Friday 17th December 2010 at CairnGorm Mountain

Friday, December 17th, 2010

SNOWSPORTS CairnGorm Mountain will be open for snowsports this weekend. The forecast is looking good (good overhead conditions but cold) and there is now good snow cover over the entire hill with skiing available from top to bottom. We expect to run all uplift other than the Polar Express.

TICKETS AND PRICES
Full price tickets apply; £30.80 for adults, £22.50 for seniors and students and £18.50 for juniors. 4-day vouchers for £102.40 (juniors £61.60) are also on sale online or at the Ticket Office. They can be used on any day throughout the season until the end of April 2011 but only one voucher per day from each book can be used.

If you don’t have a season ticket and you do not need to hire equipment, there are quicker ways onto the slopes:
1. Buy tickets at Aviemore Ski & Board Hire in Aviemore (01479 811711) 2. Bring cash (we don’t have an ATM machine on site) and pay at the cash only desk at the Disability Snowsports UK office which can be found on the right hand side of the Day Lodge as you look up the hill. This desk handles adult, junior, senior, student, family (2+2) day tickets only. It does not handle ski hire, 2 day tickets, discounts, credit cards, afternoon tickets or vouchers. 3. Buy online and take your booking reference to the Ranger Base to exchange it for a day ticket or voucher book.

Please be ready to show your ticket to the lift operator at all lifts

SEASON TICKETS
Please note that we have suspended the sale of season tickets until the end of December. We will review the situation then and consider whether we put any more tickets on sale. If you have already purchased, but not yet uplifted a season ticket you may collect your pass from the Ticket Office. However please be prepared to queue if you come to collect it at the weekend and over the holiday period.

HIRE
Ski Hire will be open every day from 8.30am at CairnGorm, so you can hire any kit you need but there are also several places in Aviemore where you can hire. We can sell out of hire by mid morning when we are very busy.

PARKING AND TRANSPORT
Get here early if you want to be sure of getting into the Cas car parks. 2 shuttle buses will be running between the Ciste and Cas car parks throughout the day at the weekend and then from Friday 24th December and throughout the holidays.

AVALANCHE RISK
Off-piste skiers please beware there is still a moderate to considerable avalanche risk.

OPENING TIMES The ticket office will open at 8.30am with the first train up at 9.00am, possibly later depending on weather conditions. Last train up 3.30pm. Last train down 4.00pm. Lower lifts will open from 8.30am and lifts will start closing from 3.30pm. These hours will apply from now and every day throughout the Christmas holidays, including Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. We are closed on Christmas day.

Cas Bar and Mountain Shop will open daily from 8.30am until 4.30pm
Ptarmigan open daily from 9.00am until 4.00pm.

INSTRUCTION
Ski School will be running group and private lessons every day from Saturday. They have also added an additional ‘Rudolf’s Revenge’ course on the 30th and 31st December. To book a lesson call 08455 191191.

SKI AMBASSADORS
Our volunteer ski ambassadors are running free guided tours of the hill daily at 11.30 and 2.00pm. Meet them on the top platform at these times if you want join one of these tours. They wear bright yellow jackets.

SLEDGE PARK
At the moment it is too icy to open the Sledge Park, however we hope to have it open for Christmas. Only CairnGorm Mountain sledges may be used and they can be hired in the Shop at the Top for £5 per half hour session.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER OUTLOOK
Saturday 18th December: Wind E 20mph. Snow showers, mainly eastern Cairngorms. Extensively cloud free summits except in snow. Bright sunshine at times. Visibility ranging from superb to zero in snow. Temp at 900m -8C. Freezing level sea level, all terrain frozen.
Sunday 19th December: Wind E 10-20mph. Snow showers mainly east. Intermittently cloud free but cloud base 750, occasionally 500m if snowing. Bright sunshine at times, visibility often superb but very poor in snow. Temp at 900m -7C. Freezing level at sea level, all terrain frozen.
Outlook: Terrain across all mountain areas frozen until at least Boxing Day. Substantially dry with frequently light winds. Much milder air will approach western Britain, and probably penetrate into or across Britain just after Christmas, bringing a thaw.

Every day
Visit the Christmas shop in the Mountain Shop next to the Base Station for lots of decorations, cards and gift ideas. More stock arriving each day. Open daily 10.00am to 4.30pm. Great shopping in the Shop at the Top in the Ptarmigan as well. Look out for clothing, skiing essentials, fabulous gifts and accessories.

Exhibitions 10.00am – 4.30pm
The Big Freeze exhibition of photographs taken by staff from last winter is on display in the T Bar and on the stairs up to it and in various other locations. Many of the pictures are for sale.
Euan Baxter, local photographer and snowsports enthusiast is displaying his collection of winter photographs Vanishing Tracks in the Ptarmigan Restaurant (closes 4.00pm) until the end of December. Inspired by 30 winters spent in Strathspey, Euan is transfixed by the beauty of these months and the ever-changing conditions. Mounted and framed prints are on sale.

Eating and drinking: Hot rolls are back being served in the mornings in both the Cas Bar and the Ptarmigan Restaurant to get you warmed up ready for skiing. Delicious home-baking can be found every day in our restaurant and cafe bar, and hot meals featuring locally-sourced ingredients in the mountain-top restaurant. ‘The Chocolate Mountain’, a huge concoction of hot chocolate, marshmallows and cream beckons in both locations. Or enjoy a mulled wine at the end of the day to help soothe the aching bones.

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Week commencing Friday 10th December 2010 at CairnGorm Mountain

Friday, December 10th, 2010

SNOWSPORTS
CairnGorm Mountain will be open for snowsports this weekend. There is now good snow cover over most of the hill and skiing is available from top to bottom although a few bare patches are appearing on the lower slopes. The uplift we expect to run this weekend is: Funicular, Ciste, Ptarmigan, M1, Cas, Sheiling, Car Park and if possible the West Wall Poma.

TICKETS AND PRICES
Full price tickets apply this weekend, £30.80 for adults, £22.50 for seniors and students and £18.50 for juniors. 4-day vouchers will also be on sale. There will be a cash only window available at the Disability Snowsports UK office which can be found on the right hand side of the Day Lodge as you look up the hill. This will be selling full price adult, senior, junior and student day tickets only. It will not be handling two day tickets, discounted tickets, vouchers or hire. Students need current ID. Please have your cash ready as we expect to be busy. 4-day vouchers and internet booking vouchers can be exchanged for day tickets in the Ranger Base.

SEASON TICKETS
Please note that we have suspended the sale of season tickets until the end of December. We will review the situation then and consider whether we put any more tickets on sale. If you have already purchased but not yet uplifted a season ticket you may do so from window 4 in the ticket office but if you are doing this on Saturday or Sunday be prepared to queue for some time to collect it.

HIRE
Ski Hire will be open from 8.30am at CairnGorm this weekend, so you can hire any kit you need.

PARKING AND TRANSPORT
Get here early if you want to be sure of getting into the Cas car parks. 2 shuttle buses will be running between the Ciste and Cas car parks throughout the day at the weekend. Off-piste skiers please beware there is still an avalanche risk on the Coronation and Head Walls.

OPENING TIMES
The ticket office will open at 8.30am on Saturday and Sunday. First train up will be 9.00am possibly earlier depending on weather conditions. Last train up 3.30pm. Last train down 4.00pm. Lower lifts will open from 8.30am and lifts will start closing from 3.30pm.
Cas Bar and Mountain Shop will open daily from 8.30am until 4.30pm
Ptarmigan open daily from 9.00am until 4.00pm.

4 Day Snowsports Vouchers
We are now selling snowsports vouchers. A book of 4 adult vouchers costs £102.40 (juniors £61.60) and can be used on any day throughout the season until the end of April 2011 but only one voucher per day from each book can be used. An ideal Christmas present or stocking filler!

INSTRUCTION
The Ski School have availability for beginners ski lessons only on Saturday. There is no lesson availability on Sunday. Private lessons only will be available Monday-Friday this week. From 18th December both private and group lessons will be available. To book a lesson call 08455 191191.

SKI AMBASSADORS
Our volunteer ski ambassadors have now taken up their duties which include running free guided tours of the hill daily at 11.30 and 2.00pm. Meet them on the top platform at these times if you want join one of these tours. They wear bright yellow jackets.

SLEDGE PARK
Weather-permitting we hope to open this on Sunday but please check with ticket office first if you are planning to go up on the funicular to sledge. Only CairnGorm Mountain sledges may be used and they can be hired in the Shop at the Top for £5 per half hour session.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER OUTLOOK
Saturday 11th December: Wind NW 45mph gusting 60-70, easing to 35-55 later. Some cloud lifting and clearing to give good visibility and bright sunshine. Rain unlikely. Temp at 900m
1 to -2C. Freezing level mostly above summits.
Sunday 12th December: Wind N 10-20mph. Rain unlikely. Cloud from 1000 -1200m. Some sunshine breaking through. Temp at 900m -1C. Freezing level 750m.
Outlook: Light winds, some snow flurries, sunshine and fine dry weather until Wednesday before colder air brings severe frosts and substantial snowfalls.

Every day
Visit the Christmas shop in the Mountain Shop next to the Base Station for lots of decorations, cards and gift ideas. More stock arriving each day. Open daily 10.00am to 4.30pm. Great shopping in the Shop at the Top in the Ptarmigan as well. Look out for clothing, skiing essentials, fabulous gifts and accessories.

Exhibitions 10.00am – 4.30pm
The Big Freeze exhibition of photographs taken by staff from last winter is on display in the T Bar and on the stairs up to it and in various other locations. Many of the pictures are for sale.
Euan Baxter, local photographer and snowsports enthusiast is displaying his collection of winter photographs Vanishing Tracks in the Ptarmigan Restaurant (closes 4.00pm) until the end of December. Inspired by 30 winters spent in Strathspey, Euan is transfixed by the beauty of these months and the ever-changing conditions. Mounted and framed prints are on sale.

Eating and drinking
 Hot rolls are back being served in the mornings in both the Cas Bar and the Ptarmigan Restaurant to get you warmed up ready for skiing. Delicious home-baking can be found every day in our restaurant and cafe bar, and hot meals featuring locally-sourced ingredients in the mountain-top restaurant. ‘The Chocolate Mountain’, a huge concoction of hot chocolate, marshmallows and cream beckons in both locations. Or enjoy a mulled wine at the end of the day to help soothe the aching bones.

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