Aviemore – A Great Skiing Destination
Aviemore, pronounced ‘An Aghaidh Mhor’ in the local Scottish Gaelic dialect, is nestled in the Cairngorms Mountain Range that can be found within the picturesque Cairngorms National Park. Its population of 2 397 makes it the largest town within a national park. Aviemore became famous in the early 1970s as the first established ski resort in the whole United Kingdom. Today visitors continue to enjoy the Cairn Gorm Ski Area.
Aviemore’s existence during the 1600’s was one of isolation in an exclave in the Moray region. From the late 1890’s till just after 1975 it lay in the domain of the county of Inverness-shire. Growth in the late part of the 1800’s saw the arrival of the railway. The town’s first line was established in 1862 thus opening the way for it to become home to an important interchange of lines running between Perth, Forres and Inverness. Aviemore in Scotland still has a railway station though now only the Perth to Inverness line still functions.
The Aviemore Center came into being in 1964, providing visitors with an array of services. Unfortunately the center was built at a time when concrete was the most common building material. This influenced the architecture of the building significantly and even left the town with an unforgiving reputation. Fortunately recent years has seen the building receive a ‘face-lift’ that has improved its look and feel for the better. There are a number of breath-taking walks to be enjoyed around the town of Aviemore in Scotland. One particular trail is over 24 miles long and it takes you to some of the most remote parts of the country. Of course a trail of this length should not be undertaken by someone who is unfit or inexperienced. The trail starts in Aviemore and finishes in Braemar and, should you decide to do it, you’ll find that it’s a once-in-a-life-time experience.
Both visitors and locals have recognized that the Cairn Gorm Ski Resort is a great place to go. The mountains rise up behind the little town of Aviemore to create a striking skyline. The resort itself has been renovated recently, with the old chairlifts being replaced by the new Cairngorm Mountain Railway. It is hoped that this change, as well as other changes made to the town, will help improve the beauty of the already magnificent environment. These developments have also brought about a change in accommodation and now visitors can choose from hotels, bed and breakfasts, caravan sites and camping facilities.
Other services in the town include a variety of shops, ski stores and souvenir shops. There is also a theatre, a swimming pool, a go-carting track and dry ski slope. Clearly the Aviemore is anything but ordinary. So come and truly refreshing stay in this great little town.
