Our Facebook page has been updated with some photos I took when I managed to spend a few days at the house last week. The light and the colours in Autumn in the Cairngorms National Park are really quite breathtaking at this time of year. For most of the day the sun stays very low in the sky and as a consequence provides the ideal conditions for photographs with long shadows and soft colours.

Aviemore and The Cairngorms National Park is an amazing destination if you are looking for a winter self catering break. If you decide to venture up to Strathspey after autumn begins to fade you get such a real and tangible feeling of being 'away from it all', perhaps even more so than in the summer months. Days are certainly shorter but there's something wonderfully evocative about the light in the winter months, particularly on a crisp sunny day when the frost barely gets a chance to melt away.

And if you are looking for a base for your winter break then look no further than Granite Cottage, we offer last minute weekend and midweek breaks in low season with prices reduced by up to 25% - click here to see our special offers page. Granite Cottage can accommodate up to 14 people so it's ideal for large family or holidays...and with a 6 person outdoor hot tub there's no reason for you not to enjoy the great outdoors!

Just because there's less daylight hours it doesn't mean there's less to see or do - below are just a few activities to keep you busy in the Aviemore and Cairngorms area.

• CairnGorm Mountain - the CairnGorm Mountain Resort is the most popular ski centre in Scotland and for the last couple of seasons (2009 -2011) has had perfect conditions.  Ski runs range from novice to expert. 
• Landmark Adventure Park - Landmark in Carrbridge is very much an all year yound attraction with some truly exciting activities for the kids including the Highlands only Rollercoaster The Runaway Timber Train, puzzles, illusions, a tree top trail, climbing walls and wildlife feeding.  The Forester Restaurant and The Pinewood Grill are perfect for a food stop in between all these activities. Set in the pinewoods of Carrbridge, Landmark is around 20 mins drive from Granite Cottage in Nethy Bridge.
• Pony Trekking at Rothiemurchus - Rothiemurchus Estate offers a riding experience for all the family with a range of sessions to fit all ages and levels of experience in varied moorland and forest terrain. 
• Kincraig Highland Wildlife Park - this is something that everyone will love, see incredible animals including Red Deer, Pinemartins, Red Squirrel, Wolves, Tigers, Owls and even a Polar Bear. Kincraig is around 30 minutes drive from Nethy Bridge.
• Highland Folk Museum - Learn how the inhabitants of the Highlands of Scotland used to live. With plenty of hands on activities this place does its best to shake off any notion that museums aren't fun places to visit. 
• Cairngorm Reindeer Centre  - The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd is Britain's only herd of reindeer, found free ranging in the Cairngorm mountains in Scotland. These tame and friendly animals are a joy to all who come and see them. There's daily visits to the herds and even sleigh pulls in the months leading up to Christmas

The Cairngorms National Park is very much an all rounder when it comes to choosing a holiday destination in the Highlands that's got something for all the family. Below are just a selection of activities that are family friendly, all are within driving distance of Granite Cottage, Nethy Bridge.

• McDonald Aviemore Resort - Aviemore has undergone something of a tranformation in recent years and Aviemore Adventure Club is great for the kids on a rainy day. Inflatable Fun Factory - a giant room full of inflatable slides, tunnels and bouncy castles!
• Landmark Adventure Park - Landmark in Carrbridge has been around for a while now but it keeps going from strength to strength with some truly exciting activities for the kids including the Highlands only Rollercoaster The Runaway Timber Train, puzzles, illusions, a tree top trail, climbing walls and wildlife feeding.  The Forester Restaurant and The Pinewood Grill are perfect for a food stop in between all these activities. Set in the pinewoods of Carrbridge, Landmark is around 20 mins drive from Granite Cottage in Nethy Bridge.
• Pony Trekking at Rothiemurchus - Rothiemurchus Estate offers a riding experience for all the family with a range of sessions to fit all ages and levels of experience in varied moorland and forest terrain. 
• Kincraig Highland Wildlife Park - this is something that everyone will love, see incredible animals including Red Deer, Pinemartins, Red Squirrel, Wolves, Tigers, Owls and even a Polar Bear. Kincraig is around 30 minutes drive from Nethy Bridge.
• Highland Folk Museum - Learn how the inhabitants of the Highlands of Scotland used to live. With plenty of hands on activities this place does its best to shake off any notion that museums aren't fun places to visit. 

Yes we know it's only September but if you're looking to get that festive holiday booked then there's no time to waste. This year our Christmas week starts Friday 23rd December and New Year week starts 30th December, costs outlined below. Guests staying at the house will be welcomed with decorations, a Christmas tree and champagne!

We are now fully booked for Christmas and New Year.

If previous years are to go by, Nethy Bridge is something of a winter wonderland at this time of year. So if you feel like taking a break from the usual festive routine and heading up to Speyside just drop us an email!

We are now fully booked for Christmas and New Year.

Christmas & New Year holidays near Aviemore

•  In nearby Aviemore there's usually loads going on with fireworks and pipers.....the Cairngorm Hotel New Year party is certainly worth considering.
• Nethy Bridge normally has a superb torchlight procession at New Year.
• The Strathspey Steam Railway runs mince pie specials with mulled wine
• With a good chance of snow at this time of year why not take a trip up to the CairnGorm Mountain Resort and try your hand at skiing or snowboarding?
• There's also a ski centre at The Lecht, around 40 minutes drive from Granite Cottage
• Christmas wouldn't be the same without reindeer and at The Cairngorm Reindeer Centre there's special Christmas activities and the kids can visit Santa's Bothy and the Elves' House

Large holiday house

In this blog post I thought it might be useful to describe why Granite Cottage in Nethy Bridge near Aviemore is a little bit different from you average holiday home in the Highlands of Scotland and also why its unique features make it great for family holidays. 

The great outdoors

Of the questions I'm often asked, 'does the house have a garden?' crops up time and time again. Naturally people who visit the Cairngorms National Park come here to enjoy the peace, serenity and beauty of the landscape and having a holiday house that has a decent garden is very important, especially in summer months. Thankfully Granite Cottage has outdoor space in abundance and since it's a detached house there are large enclosed gardens at the front and back of the house. The extensive lawn at the rear may justify our gardener using a sit on mower but it also means it's the perfect spot for the kids to play. The garden isn't just for kids though as we've got a large picnic bench for lazy lunches in the sun and a table and chairs at the front of the house for enjoying the sunset in the evening.

Guests in the upper part of the house are not deprived of fantastic outdoor space either as there are two large outdoor terraces with patio furniture.

Accommodation for large groups and families in Nethy Bridge near Aviemore

What makes Granite Cottage particularly unique though is the flexibility of the accommodation. The upper part of the house is separate from the lower part since it's accessed by an external staircase at the rear of the house. This means that renting the whole house is ideal for occasions when friends or families holiday together but each family wants their own space and privacy. If both parts of the house are rented then the total of six bedrooms plus a double sofa bed provide accommodation for 14 people. If however you only need accommodation for 8 or less people then you can simply rent the lower part of the house. Comfortable, spacious and flexible self catering in the heart of the Cairngorms.

There are kitchens in both Upper and Lower Granite Cottage so families can cook and enjoy meals together or separately. We tend to find the large dining room and table downstairs is great for that special meal/occasion in your holiday - in fact sometimes it's nice to get a caterer in and do all the hard work.

Great for kids

I've mentioned that Granite Cottage has a large enclosed garden but the kiddie friendly amenities in the area don't end there. The village has a play park, tennis court and playing field just a few minutes walk from the house.  Nethy Bridge also has a large network of paths and the local ranger frequently runs guided walks in the beautiful Abernethy Forest.

Luxury hot tub in the Cairngorms National Park

In our opinion the icing on the cake is our fabulous 6 person outdoor hot tub. Installed in September 2011 we're immensely excited by this latest development and truly believe it gives our holiday home that touch of luxury that holidaymakers love.

So if you're thinking of a holiday in the Cairngorms National Park then drop us an email.....we're sure you'll love the place as much as we do!

Self-catering holiday home with hot tub near Aviemore

To say we are excited about the latest addition to Granite Cottage near Aviemore is something of an understatement but the moment has at last arrived when we can announce that a new 6 person outdoor hot tub has been added to the growing list of features that make our luxury holiday home in the Highlands such a wonderful place to stay.

So picture the following scene if you will, having spent a day perhaps tramping the hills or an afternoon strolling through the pine forests of Nethy Bridge you arrive back to the comfort of Granite Cottage to soak your suitably weary limbs in our hot tub surrounded by gently foaming waters with a glass of something medicinal whilst gazing heavenwards to the clear, starry sky. If you have never witnessed a clear night-time sky in the Cairngorms National Park then believe us they don't come much starrier. 

Our hot tub was expertly installed and is maintained on a regular basis by
Cairngorm Spas in Aviemore.