The famous Pack-Horse Bridge has become the symbol of Carrbridge, an 18th century village in the beautiful Strathspey Valley, in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. This largely unspoiled uplands boasts four of Britain’s five highest mountains and is home to a quarter of the UK’s threatened wildlife. It is also the source of a high percentage of Scotland’s most famous malt whiskys - a sign near one of the distilleries says a lot about the area - “Caution, free range children”!
The Carrbridge Hotel, just opposite the Pack Horse Bridge, has a well-earned reputation for fine food and great Highland Ceilidhs. It now provides us with a superb base for a new series of Highland holidays - Scenic Tours, to admire the autumn colours in September and October, Turkey and Tinsel programmes in the weeks leading up to Christmas, Winter Warmers in the early new year and a tour every month, as spring turns into summer through April, May, June and July.
Day 1 Monday
We leave Belfast for Scotland on the early morning HSS and travel from Stranraer to the Highlands, where we check into our hotel in Carrbridge.
We have a relaxing morning with time to explore the village. In the afternoon we call at Speyside Heather - antiques, art gallery, information centre, restaurant and, of course, garden centre, specializing in 300 different varieties of heather.
We spend a little time in Aviemore before returning to the hotel in time for dinner and entertainment.
Day
3 - Wednesday
We follow the Whisky Trail today, calling at a distillery, the fascinating cooperage (where they make the barrels), and finally the famous Baxters Foods Visitor Centre.
We can enjoy another night’s entertainment in the bar or just relax in the quiet surroundings of the lounge.
Day
4 - Thursday
A full day in the Highland capital, Inverness, just an hour’s drive from the hotel. Tonight, on our last night in the Highlands, we experience the famous Carrbridge Ceilidh.
Day 5 Friday
It’s goodbye to the Cairngorm Highlands this morning after a final full Scottish breakfast.
We break our journey en-route before catching the evening HSS back to Belfast, arriving at the Europa Buscentre at 10.00pm.
