THINGS TO DO

Rymore Lodge is surrounded by an abundance of activities on its doorstep. Whatever your interests, read on to plan your perfect Scottish break

Wildlife watching

Abernethy forest and the surrounding Cairngorms National Park provide a stunning land scape and a wealth of wildlife watching opportunities. Depending on which season you choose, there is always something to interest the wildlife or land scape photographer. Ospreys, crested tits, capercaillie or red squirrels at RSPB Loch Garten or eagles, ptarmigan, dotterel and mountain hares on the high Cairngorms are just some of the local specialities. Just sitting at the Rymore Wood Lodge kitchen window you will almost certainly see Red Squirrels, Great Spotted Woodpeckers along with a selection of other woodland birds. Depending on the season and timing you might also see crested tits, jay, redstart, pine martens and badgers. One lucky guest saw and photographed an otter crossing the front lawn although this is very much a one off! Other species may need careful planning or local knowledge to help you view these.

If you wish any advice on local species or special places to visit, or perhaps you wish to have a guide for the day, then one of the RSPB wardens lives a stone throw from Rymore and would be willing to give you advice or provide a guiding service. If you are interested please get in touch and we will pass your message on to Desmond Dugan. Here's a link to his Flicker images for a taste of what is possible. Many of his photos are taken in the Cairngorm area and one or two are even from the Rymore Wood Lodge kitchen!

View Desmond's Flickr Photo Stream

Walks

There are literally hundreds of walks within Cairngorms National Park, suitable for all levels and many within easy access of the lodge. Visit the Cairngorms National Park site for more information. There are also many stunning local walks that fall just outside the park. Read more about these here.

Cycling

The National Cycle Network covers almost all of the Cairngorms National Park providing 64 km of off road cycle tracks with varying degrees of difficulty. Visit this section in the Cairngorms National Park site for more information.

Golf

With eleven golf courses you can experience some of the most picturesque golfing Scoltand has to offer in the Cairngorms National Park. And with access to all of them for £20 there’s no excuse not to get your clubs out. Visit this section in the Cairngorms National Park site for more information.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Home to Cairngorm Moutnain, Glenshee and The Lecht, Cairngorms National Park is Scoltand’s skiing and snowboarding home. Visit this section in the Cairngorms National Park site for more information.

Climbing

For adventurous climbers the mountains offer one of a kind opportunities and challenges. Visit this section in the Cairngorms National Park site for more information.

Watersports

From sailing to whitewater rafting, the lochs and rivers of the Cairngorms National Park provide endless opportunities for messing about in boats. Visit this section in the Cairngorms National Park site for more information.

Spa

If all that outdoor activity has tired you out why not visit one of the local spas for a relaxing treatment, trip to the sauna and relaxing dip in the pool. Visit this section in the Cairngorms National Park site for more information.

Castles

The area is steeped in Scottish history and visiting some of the many castle nearby is the best way to step back in time and relive the magical past of this amazing country. Visit this section in the Cairngorms National Park site for more information.

Distilleries

A visit to Scotland without trying our national drink isn’t allowed, so visit one of the six distilleries in the park that have visitor centres and find out how our ‘water of life’ comes to fruition. Visit this section in the Cairngorms National Park site for more information.

Gardens

There are many beautiful gardens nearby that are well worth a walk round. Visit this section in the Cairngorms National Park site for more information.

Pubs and Restaurants

From award winning restaurants to historic pubs, if you don’t fancy cooking there are plenty of options to eat out nearby. Visit this section and this section in the Cairngorms National Park site for more information. Visit this page of the Cairngorms National Park site for more information on restaurants and this page for pubs.