8-Nights Hiking Wild Scotland

Aviemore

Today's Aviemore has all the services expected of the main town serving a large area: plus the unexpected theater, swimming pool, dry ski slope, and go-karting track. The town has a railway station on the main Perth to Inverness line, and for enthusiasts and visitors, steam trains of the Strathspey Railway run a regular service on a restored branch line from Aviemore and Broomhill to Boat of Garten. The main reason for Aviemore's toureism lies in the Cairn Gorm Ski Area, eight miles into the mountains that form the south east skyline for the town. The Cairn Gorm ski area has recently seen major developments with the building of the Cairn Gorm Mountain Railway, a replacement for the old chairlifts that promises over time to bring about improvements to the mountain's environment to parallel those taking place in Aviemore itself. Aviemore also offers plenty of shopping opportunities, many in recently facelifted and refreshed shops.

Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye in northwestern Scotland, the largest of the Inner Hebrides, separated from the mainland by a narrow channel. The capital of the island is Portree. A popular tourist resort, Skye is also home to the Dunvegan Castle, which was erected during the 9th century. Dunvegan Castle is said to be the oldest inhabited castle in Northern Scotland, having been occupied by the Chiefs of MacLeod continuously, for over seven centuries and still today remaining the Ancestral home of the present chief, John MacLeod of MacLeod, the 29th of the line, and his family. Breathtaking in every respect, the Castle should not be missed. Maybe while at the Castle you’ll learn the secret of the precious Fairy Flag.