Aviemore Highland Resort

The Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort lies at the heart of the Aviemore and the Cairngorms National Park. Stay in one of four distinctive hotels or a luxury woodland lodge and dine at a choice of onsite restaurants.

The Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort is home to 4 distinctive hotels and 18 luxury woodland lodges, each offering the consistently high standard of accommodation, quality restaurants and personal service that have made Macdonald Hotels 'AA Hotel Group of the Year 2007-8.'

Relax in style and complete comfort at the 4-star Macdonald Highlands Hotel. With 151 luxury rooms-with-a-view and its own signature restaurant, Aspects, boasting spectacular views of the Cairngorm Mountains, the Highlands Hotel is ideal for discerning business and leisure travellers.

The 3-star Macdonald Four Seasons Hotel's 88 classic rooms and suites offer the finest views of the Cairngorm Mountain and the Craigellachie Nature Reserve. Ideal for families and large groups, having a spacious lounge with pool table and table football for entertainment.

The 3-star Academy Hotel's relaxed, practical environment makes it an ideal base for adventure holidays in the Highlands and for corporate social events and family gatherings. Its 102 family rooms sleep up to 4 people, with extra storage for skis. With two bars, table football, table tennis, entertainment arcade, and a small children's playground, there's plenty to keep everyone entertained.

The 3 star Aviemore Inn is a bright and airy hotel offering 62 rooms. Enjoy Mediterranean food and drink onsite with friends, family or colleagues in Giovanni's Italian Restaurant or relax in the hotel bar.

Nestled amongst the resort's ancient Caledonian pine forests, our 18 deluxe Highland Lodges combine luxury with outdoor living.

Enjoy long summer evenings with a drink on your private deck.

After a full day's adventure in the surrounding mountains, store your bike or skis in the woodshed, order a pizza delivery from Giovanni's and settle into your woodland home-from-home.

Stay snug indoors with a film from our selection of the latest movies.

Nestled in the heart of Scotland, Aviemore and the Cairngorms are one of Europe's last remaining beautiful wild places. Enjoy an exhilarating adventure holiday or a totally relaxing break in one of our Aviemore Highland Lodges. There is something for everyone at the Macdonald Aviemore Highland resort.

It’s almost inevitable that you’ll want to go walking while staying in Aviemore and the Cairngorms, and with over 280km of footpaths covering moorland, woodland, farmland, loch and riverside terrain, there’s plenty of opportunity for you to explore from one of our Aviemore Highland Lodges!

Easily accessible by road, rail and air, you can travel to our Aviemore Highland Lodges from Edinburgh and Glasgow in under 3 hours. And the minute you step out of the car and breathe the clean mountain air, you'll know you made the right choice...

If you can think of a reason to celebrate, we can help you host it. Commemorate an occasion our luxury Highland Lodges.

With five quality restaurants, five bars and a café onsite you can choose where you want to eat. Whether that's a relaxed meal with the family, a healthy poolside snack, a sophisticated dinner for two, a juicy steak or even a pizza in front of the TV, all our food is prepared to strict quality standards, using the freshest local and organic produce available.

Open daily for breakfast and dinner, Aspects is the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort's signature restaurant. Delicious menus comprising the best Scottish produce and fine wines are offset by the elegant warm décor, crisp table linen and views over the terrace and resort. Perfect for a romantic meal or civilised breakfast.

Just off the resort's Reception area and next to the luxury shopping complex, the country-kitchen style Highland Food Court is open daily for breakfast and lunch. Serving homemade soups, snacks, salads, hot meals and drinks, it excels at relaxed family dining and makes an ideal refuelling stop after a shopping spree.

Set in the Macdonald Four Seasons Hotel, this bright comfortable restaurant with adjoining bar serves a full buffet breakfast and a mouth-watering carvery and table d'hote menu into the evening, making it ideal for families and large groups. Admire the majestic mountain views or enjoy a chilled white wine while our friendly staff take your order.

For luxury goods and designer brands, visit our split-level Highland Shopping complex. Floor to ceiling windows, tempting displays and the aroma of fresh coffee make browsing a delight.

Pick a gift for a loved one or snap up ladies, mens and childrenswear from your favourite designers.

Savour the selection of gourmet cheeses, local smoked venison slices, olives and fine Scottish delicacies at the deli counter, or discover specialist wines, beers and whiskies!

Your health and wellbeing are a top priority at the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort. Leave the world behind and let our expert spa therapists soothe away tension with a hot stone massage, exfoliating body scrub or rejuvenating facial.

Work up a sweat in our well equipped techno gym

Landlubber or salty old sea dog? Everyone can have fun on the water in Aviemore! Bring your wetsuit and jump right in, sign up for some expert sailing tuition or roll up your trousers and paddle on the beach...

For the more adventurous action seekers take part in a range of exciting outdoor activities such as quad biking through forests, and rivers, white water rafting, Gorge walking and for real adrenalin junkies, gorge swimming – battling your way upstream through deep pools, and waterfalls. Then when you reach the top, turn round and negotiate your way back down. All activities include full instructor supervision, and safety equipment.

The Cairngorms National Park is a walkers paradise. Characterised by remnant pinewoods, with more than 50 summits over 900m, and 4 of Scotland’s highest peaks.

Venture off-road for an exciting driving experience, in a 4x4 vehicle. The session commences with an introduction to off-road driving techniques and a demonstration drive with a fully qualified guide. Then take the wheel, and progress from easy terrain to something a little more testing; climb, descend and tackle side slopes.

Set in breathtaking scenery, the well established Rothiemurchus Outdoor Activity Centre offers one of the best clay shooting facilities in the UK, with exceptional facilities and top class tuition ensuring you have a sensational time.

View the Cairngorms up close. As the UK's leading mountain resort, Aviemore and the Cairngorms is ideal for out door activities.

There can't be many more peaceful pursuits than fishing the clear mountain waters. The powerful River Spey is renowned around the world for its fast-flowing Highland water and its rich stocks of salmon and trout.

With varied hill, moorland, river and pine forest riding, much of it off track, there is the potential to see wildlife and enjoy the peace, space and magnificent scenery, providing a riding experience for all the family, at a pace that suits your mood and level of experience, from a relaxing amble to an exhilarating canter.

Visit one of Scotland’s newest mountain bike centres, Laggan WorlfTrax, based in Strathmashie Forest. Offering 18km of tracks, ranging from the 3.2km blue-grade fun track to the experts only black route. Or explore the area at your own pace with the many off road tracks available in the area.

Relaxing Cycles

Fancy something a little more laid back? With cycle routes spanning over 64km there are plenty of reasons to get on your bike. Pack a picnic, rent a bike and head off into the hills.

Take a more relaxed route to discovering the beauty of the Cairngorms, by Canoe on the tranquil Loch an Eilean and Loch Insh. Situated at the heart of the Caledonian forest in Rothiemurchus, with both closed top or open Canadian Canoes available for hire. We can arrange tailored introductory sessions to canoeing with information on the wildlife to look out for and local history. The more experienced can enjoy a more challenging journey down the River Spey.

The Strathspey Steam Railway is a fantastic experience for all! Enjoy a train journey with a difference in spectacular Strathspey.

Take the Funicular Railway to the top of Cairngorm Mountain for some of the finest views and best snow sports in Scotland.

Learn about the Living Mountain, where you are invited make the link between your life and that of the mountain community of life.

Learn to ski and snowboard with fully qualified instructors, or simply go sledging! Then visit the UK's highest restaurant and bar sits at the top, serving wholesome, warming food and drink.

Hire equipment on the mountain (bring your own gloves, hats and goggles) and learn to ski or snowboard at the ski school then head to the nursery slopes at the top of the mountain.
Bad weather doesn't have to stop play. You can learn to ski all year round at the Insh Hall dry ski slope.

Want a unique and exhilarating experience? Enjoy an exceptional experience at the only Sleddog centre in the UK, and one of only six in Europe. This is a superb opportunity to learn and experience the thrill and power of a top-class Sleddog team in training. You will gain a unique insight into the daily working, training and life of the Sleddogs and also the family who have spent the last 19 years training these amazing canine athletes.

It’s almost inevitable that you’ll want to go walking while staying in Aviemore and the Cairngorms, and with over 280km of footpaths covering moorland, woodland, farmland, loch and riverside terrain, there’s plenty of opportunity!

Perfect for wildlife enthusiasts or anyone interested in making an acquaintance with the animals and birds who share our environment, organised wildlife watching is a very relaxing way to enjoy the Highlands...

Thrill the kids with a forest adventure, see endangered species in the wildlife park, take a trip to 'Glenbogle' on the steam train or visit the UK's only herds of reindeer. There's plenty to keep the whole family entertained around Aviemore...

This natural Caledonian woodland adventure park is full of red squirrels... and surprises. You can go rock-climbing, skydiving, ropewalking, flume riding and drive a mini car... all before lunch! Stop for a bite to eat and choose whether to spend the afternoon studying the world under a microscope at Microworld, walking through the treetop trails, climbing the fire tower, getting lost in the maze or just enjoying the adventure playground. Meet Lex the resident Clydesdale horse, see a working steam-powered sawmill and visit the pine seed factory in a day packed with fun and learning.

Let the kids run wild in out onsite adventure playground. Specially designed with your little ones in mind!

Families will love the child-friendly leisure arena with indoor pool, flumes and wave machine!

Try out our great new attraction - the Inflatable Fun Factory - a whole room full of inflatable slides, tunnels and bouncy castles available every Friday in the Osprey Arena.

Try out our great new attraction - the Inflatable Fun Factory - a whole room full of inflatable slides, tunnels and bouncy castles available every Friday in the Osprey Arena.

If by the end of the week the kids aren’t exhausted, send them for a work out in our onsite Inflatable Fun Factory!

With cycle routes spanning over 64km there are plenty of reasons to get on your bike. Pack a picnic, rent a bike and head off into the hills with the family.

Experience the UK’s only free roaming reindeer herd at the Reindeer Centre in Glenmore Forest Park. Enjoy the opportunity to see them up-close and read about their history, then take a short walk up the hills and have the opportunity to hand feed the herd where they graze.

Throughout December you can come and meet Santa in his very own log cabin! By appointment only, of course as he is a very busy man at this time of year. Meet and spend time with Santa on an individual or family basis – no queuing!

We usually have Santa’s dedicated attention every weekend and Christmas Eve throughout December, with special gifts for all children according to age.

Golfers are in for a treat at the new Spey Valley Championship Golf Course, destined to become one of the best golf courses in Scotland, with some of the most breathtaking views in the world. Course designer, Dave Thomas, refers to Spey Valley as the potential jewel in his crown.

Sandy Lyle, former Masters Champion, Open Champion, and World no1, and currently a non-executive director of Macdonald Golf Ltd.

As well as taking an active role in the development of Macdonald’s impressive golf portfolio, Sandy is also getting involved on a more practical level, such as mentoring the company’s Golf Pros to ensure a consistently high standard of service and product is provided.

The 18-hole par 72 Spey Valley Golf Course is really 4 golf courses in one. Meandering through the trees along the banks of the sparkling River Spey, it covers 7,153 yards of heathland, woodland, links and inland terrain. The signature hole is the 5th, officially the longest hole in Scotland at 635 yards (par 5), however several others deserve a mention for their natural beauty.

With 126 holes of golf on offer, Aviemore and the Cairngorms are a golfer's paradise. Perfect your short game with one of two 9-hole courses, or play one of six local 18-hole courses with some of the best scenic backdrops in the world!

The 6th offers a challenge as it spans a lake. To offer a distraction, this lake has been adopted as a nesting site by a bird colony!

Take advantage of our special golf breaks and start your game rested and refreshed after a good night's sleep in luxurious accommodation.

Whatever the occasion, the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort offers the capacity and professional event management expertise needed to put your event firmly on the map. Make an impression with your meeting, conference or exhibition, and follow in the footsteps of the SNP and Scottish Labour Party and reserve the world-class conference centre. Book Now

Exhibitions, trade fairs, concerts, product and vehicle launches can be comfortably accommodated in the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort's 1,000m² Osprey Arena. Natural daylight and blackout drapes, sophisticated staging and lighting, bespoke menus designed by our executive chef plus easy access for trucks and vehicles make this an informed choice for any large event.

The Garten Boardroom comfortably seats up to 15, and benefit from wireless internet access and natural daylight. It is inter-connected for added flexibility, plus offers a restful breakout area, and live link-up conference facilities.

Tailored catering services and the latest audio-visual equipment will make business a pleasure for you at the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Conference Centre.

The Aviemore resort's 650-seat auditorium is directly accessible from our meeting rooms and breakout areas. Tiered leather seating, a fixed stage, portable lectern, large retractable screen, production room and cinema technology make the soundproofed auditorium ideal for presentations, talks, film premieres, lectures and seminars.

Conference organisers can rest assured that, whatever the event, the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Conference Centre has the function room, meeting space or exhibition hall to match. Whether you're arranging a conference for a political party, a product launch, an exhibition or a press conference, our conference specialists are on hand to give you the best advice and will happily help you configure rooms to suit your requirements. Make an enquiry

The Macdonald Aviemore Highland Conference Centre's luxury accommodation, first-class facilities and high quality equipment will all help you stage a memorable event, but it's the in-depth knowledge and dedicated service of our conference specialists which will give you the professional edge. For more information, please send us an enquiry form