What's happening in the Cairngorms National Park December 2022

It’s set to be a fantastic festive month and kicks off in style with the Winter Launch at Aviemore Ice Rink on Friday 2nd December…music, Gluhwein, mince pies, a fire pit & marshmallows - what a way to start December!

And excitingly our mountain resorts are set to open just before Christmas - check out Glenshee Ski Centre, The Lecht Ski Centre and Cairngorm Mountain and let the snowsports commence!

This is a magical place all year but especially so during the festive season - whether you are after family entertainment, solo adventure or a romantic escape, the Cairngorms will envelope you in Christmas magic and leave you with memories to treasure. Have a fabulous Christmas, a merry Hogmanay and a wonderful start to 2023!

If you’re looking for inspiration while you’re here or even planning your next visit, make sure you check out www.visitcairngorms.com

Santa Run : DSUK

Glenshee Ski Resort

WHAT’s ON

You are in an all year round destination with lots going on. Check out what’s happening each day, for further information and details of new events added please visit: www. visitcairngorms.com/whats-on

DECEMBER 2022

Events

“Cocktails on the Brain” Charity EveningThe Wee Puffin, Grantown on Spey. 6pm. T: 01479 873377.

The Stories of Ardverikie presented by Clan Macpherson Museum - ONLINE via Zoom. 7-8.30pm. www.eventbrite.com/e/the-stories-ofardverikie-tickets-438996027937

FREE. Live Music with Mother’s Ruin - The Winky & Bothy Bar, Aviemore. 9pm. T: 01479 812368.

Sunday 4th December

FREE. Glen Tanar Christmas Fayre - 10am-4pm. www.glentanar.co.uk/events/christmas-fair.

FREE. Badaguish Christmas Fayre and Santa’s Grotto - Badaguish, Glenmore. 10.30am-3.30pm. T: 01479 861285. www.badaguishoutdoorcentre.org

FREE. Repair Cafe Cairngorms - Boat of Garten Community Hall. 2-5pm. T: 01479 831123. www.facebook.com/repaircafecairngorms

Wednesday 7th December

Monday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday

until

22nd December

FREE. Christmas exhibition - Chapel House Arts, Kingussie. 1-5pm. T: 01540 662438. www.fusedandlight.co.uk/section611011.html.

4th & 5th December

FREE. Grantown Does Christmas 2022The Square, Grantown on Spey. 11am-3pm. grantownbusiness@gmail.com

5th December to 9th December

Aviemore Folk Festival - Macdonald Resort, Aviemore. costadelfolk.co.uk/aviemore-folk-festival

9th to 11th December Festival de Noel - St Margaret’s Braemar. www.stmargaretsbraemar.org.uk/events-calendar/ festival-de-nol. 27th-31st December

Festive Mince Pie Service - Strathspey Steam Railway, Aviemore. 11am. www.strathspeyrailway. co.uk/mince-pie

Thursday 1st December

FREE. Grantown Library Book GroupGrantown Library, Grantown on Spey. 10.15-11.15am. T: 01349 781360.

FREE. Aviemore Chess Club - Aviemore Community Centre Library, Aviemore. 7pm. T: 07415 892669.

FREE. Evening Talk: Shetland - Britain’s Northern Edge by Jack Perks - The Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey. 8.30pm. T: 01479 872526. www.birdwatchingandwildlifeclub.co.uk/talks-otherevents

Friday 2nd December

FREE. Annual Winter Launch 2022 - Aviemore Ice Rink, Macdonald Aviemore Resort. 4-9pm. www.facebook.com/events/5764876873574208

FREE. Anne Dickson Band - The Winky & Bothy Bar, Aviemore. 9pm. T: 01479 8123.

Saturday 3rd December

Braemar Christmas Fayre - Braemar Village Hall. 12-4pm. T: 01339 741600.

FREE. Exoplanets! - Richmond Memorial Hall, Tomintoul. 8-10pm. T: 07946 02598. www.eventbrite. com/e/exoplanets-at-the-richmond-hall-tomintoultickets-439025215237

Thursday 8th December

FREE. Aviemore Chess Club - Aviemore Community Centre Library. 7pm. T: 07415 892669. Friday 9th December

TOMS Concert with Alba Challah - Boat of Garten Community Hall, Boat of Garten. 7.30-10pm. T: 01479 831213.

FREE. Live music with Rant - The Winky & Bothy Bar, Aviemore. 9pm. T: 01479 812368.

Saturday 10th December

Disability Snowsport UK Aviemore Santa RunMacdonald Resort North Street Car Park. 10.30am1.30pm. T: 01479 788770. www.disabilitysnowsport. org.uk/events/aviemore-santa-run-2022

FREE. Folklore for the Fireside - Clan Macpherson Museum, Newtonmore. 1-2pm. www.clanmacphersonmuseum.org.uk/news.html

FREE. Christmas Ceilidh; A Highland Christmas with Clan Macpherson Museum - ONLINE via Zoom. 7-9pm.

Party Night, Dinner with Disco - Nethybridge Hotel. 6.15pm. T: 01479 821203.

Christmas Party - Macdonalds Hotel, Aviemore. Booking essential. 7pm. T: 01479 815195.

FREE. Live music with Gilly’s Gypsies - The Winky & Bothy Bar, Aviemore. 9pm. T: 01479 812368.

Tuesday 13th December

FREE. Geminids Meteor Shower Stargazing Event - Field of Hope, Tomintoul. 7-8.30pm. T: 07946 025981.

Storylands Sessions Open Mic Night - Ptarmigan Dome, Loch Insh Outdoor Centre. 7-10pm. T: 07807 427006. www.badenochstorylands.com/ storylands-sessions

Wednesday 14th December

FREE. Stories Round the Fire with Countryside

Ranger Saranne - Grantown Library, Grantown on Spey. 4-5pm. T: 01349 781630.

Thursday 15th December

FREE. Aviemore Chess Club - Aviemore Community Centre Library. 7pm. T: 07415 892669.

Friday 16th December

Par-Tea with Santa - The Pagoda, Grantown on Spey. 2-6pm. T: 01479 873877.

FREE. Gordie Peters Karaoke - The Winky & Bothy Bar, Aviemore. 9pm. T: 01479 812368.

Saturday 17th December

FREE. Is there a kelpie in that pool? Making a Storymap of Newtonmore - Clan Macpherson Museum, Newtonmore. 9.30am-12pm. www.eventbrite.com/e/is-there-a-kelpie-inthat-pool-making-a-storymap-of-newtonmoretickets-438561478187

Par-Tea with Santa - The Pagoda, Grantown on Spey. 2-6pm. T: 01479 873877.

The Nightmare Before ChristmasGrantown YMCA Community Centre. 4-5.25pm. T: 01479 872262. www.grantowncinema.co.uk/films/ the-nightmare-before-christmas

Party night, dinner with disco - Nethybridge Hotel, Nethy Bridge. 6.15pm. T: 01479 821203. It’s A Wonderful Life - Grantown YMCA Community Centre. 7-9.50pm. www.grantowncinema.co.uk/films/ its-a-wonderful-life

Christmas Party at Macdonald Aviemore Resort - Aviemore. Booking essential. 7.00pm. T: 01479 815195.

FREE. Live music with Gilly’s Gypsies - The Winky & Bothy Bar, Aviemore. 9pm. T: 01479 812368.

Sunday 18th December

FREE. Christmas Market - Clan Macpherson Museum, Newtonmore. 11am-6pm. www.clanmacphersonmuseum.org.uk/news.html.

FREE. Sgian Dhub Carving WorkshopClan Macpherson Museum, Newtonmore. 2-5pm. T: 01540 673332. www.clanmacphersonmuseum.org. uk/news.html

Thursday 22nd December

FREE. Christmas Family Stargazing - Tomintoul & Glenlivet Discovery Centre, Tomintoul. 6-8pm. T: 07946 025981.

Friday 23rd December

FREE. Christmas Family Stargazing - Tomintoul & Glenlivet Discovery Centre, Tomintoul. 6-8pm. T: 07946 025981.

FREE. Evening Talk: All Bustards Great & Small by Alan Davies and Ruth Miller - The Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey. 6.30-10pm. T: 01479 872526. www.birdwatchingandwildlifeclub.co.uk/talks-otherevents

FREE. Live Music with Gilly’s Gypsies - The Winky & Bothy Bar, Aviemore. 9pm. T: 01479 812368.

Saturday 24th December

FREE. Christmas Procession - leaving from the Fire station, Aviemore. 6pm. aviemorecommunity.org

FREE. Evening Talk: Unravelling the mysteries of migration by Dawn Balmer - The Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey. 8.30-10pm. T: 01479 872526. birdwatchingandwildlifeclub.co.uk/talks-other-events

FREE. Live Music with Anne Dickson Band - The Winky & Bothy Bar, Aviemore. 9pm. T: 01479 812368.

Sunday 25th December

Christmas Day Lunch - The Boat Country Inn, Boat of Garten. 12.30-3pm.T: 01479 831258. www.boathotel.co.uk/christmas-hogmanay

FREE. Evening Talk: Best of the Scottish Isles by Steve Lovell - The Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey. 8.30-10pm. T: 01479 872526. birdwatchingandwildlifeclub.co.uk/talks-other-events

Monday 26th December

FREE. Evening Talk: Birdwatching, Not just a man’s world! by Ruth Miller - The Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey. 8.30-10pm. T: 01479 872526. birdwatchingandwildlifeclub.co.uk/talks-other-events

Tuesday 27th December

FREE. Evening Talk: The A-Z of British Birds by Dawn Balmer - The Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey. 8.30-10pm. T: 01479 872526. birdwatchingandwildlifeclub.co.uk/talks-other-events

Wednesday 28th December

FREE. Evening Talk: How to Spend £300,000 in Argentina by Mike Dilger - The Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey. 8.30-10pm. T: 01479 872526. birdwatchingandwildlifeclub.co.uk/talks-other-events

Thursday 29th December

FREE. Evening Talk: Somerset Levels by Steve Lovell - The Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey. 8.30-10pm. T: 01479 872526. birdwatchingandwildlifeclub.co.uk/talks-other-events

Christmas

THE Cairngorms

IN

A Magical Winter Wonderland - Where Winter Comes to Life

We will transport you back to the Decembers of your childhood: twinkling lights, frosty days, meet Santa & his reindeer, browse the Christmas markets or pay a visit to the Panto (oh yes you can!).

Aviemore Ice Rink, Landmark Forest Park, The Highland Wildlife Park are all fabulous family days out, not to mention the possibility of snowy adventure at Glenshee Ski Centre, The Lecht Ski Centre and Cairngorm Mountain. Two wheeled adventures are also a great option, check out Bike Station Ballater who can kit you out with your hire bike and some awesome gravel biking routes. Or you can take a more sedate step back in time on the Strathspey Steam Train. Whatever you fancy - here are some more of our top picks for making Cairngorm Christmas memories - let’s make December 2022 one of the best!

Rudolph & the Gang

The Cairngorms Reindeer Herd embodies captivating Christmas magic, and you can take an adventure up the Cairngorm Mountain to meet them. A five minute idyllic drive up the mountain and a 20 minute guided walk will take you to these beautiful, mischievous and charismatic locals! It is an unforgettable experience.

Seeing Santa

Before the big day there are plenty of chances to pay Santa a visit - what could be more captivating than a snowy Highland day and a chat with the big man?! Santa will be making stop offs throughout the Cairngorms, so get your wish list at the ready…he will be calling in at Macdonald Resort Aviemore, Badaguish Christmas Fayre and Santa’s Grotto at The Reindeer Centre to name but a few.

Being Santa

On Saturday 10th December you get the chance to BE the big man, along with loads of other enthusiastic wannabes! The Annual Santa Run in aid of Disability Snowsport UK is crazy festive fun bringing the folk of Aviemore and the surrounding areas together - rosy cheeks, steaming santa suits and loads of laughter - you can’t beat it.

Markets, Music & Deliciousness

The communities of the National Park are a talented bunch and they have some wonderful weekends planned that will showcase our crafters and produc ers. There will be plenty of gifts, food, music and festive frolics - check out Grantown Does Christmas, Festival De Noel in Braemar, Glen Tanar’s Christmas Fair and the wonderful Christmas Market at Clan Macpherson Museum in Newtonmore - your festive factor will sky rocket!

The list goes on and on - The Cairngorms and each of its villages & towns is brimming with festive & fun things to do, there truly is something for everyone to make sure you have a super special Christmas which will leave you with everlasting memories. The Cairngorms really are Where Winter Comes To Life.

Friday 30th December

FREE. Evening Talk: Wildlife Watchin; Fun for ALL the Family by Mike Dilger - The Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey. 8.30-10pm. T: 01479 872526. birdwatchingandwildlifeclub.co.uk/talks-other-events

An Evening of Scottish Music - Royal British Legion (Scotland), Grantown on Spey (tickets from The Legion, Grantown on Spey). 7.30-10.30pm.

T: 01479 873690.

FREE. Live Music with Rant - The Winky & Bothy Bar, Aviemore. 9pm. T: 01479 812368.

Saturday 31st December

FREE. Hogmanay Street Party - The Square, Grantown on Spey. 10pm-1am. T: 07859 911950.

FREE. New Years Eve Live Music with Mother’s Ruin - The Winky & Bothy Bar, Aviemore. 9pm-3am. T: 01479 812368.

Hogmanay Eight Course Tasting Menu - Rowan Tree Country Hotel, Loch Alvie. Aviemore. 7pm-12am. T: 01479 810207.

Hogmanay Gala Dinner - The Boat Country Inn, Boat of Garten. 7pm-1am. T: 01479 831258. www.boathotel.co.uk/christmas-hogmanay

FREE. Hogmanay Fireworks - Cairngorm Hotel, Aviemore. 12am. T: 01479 810233.

Every Monday

FREE. Braemar Health Walk - Under the Mews, Braemar. 10am. T: 07816 110549. www.pathsforall.org.uk/health-walk/braemar

Every Tuesday

FREE. Grantown on Spey Health Walk - Meet at Anagah Wood, curling rink car park, Grantown on Spey. 10.30am. T: 07816 110549. www.pathsforall.org. uk/health-walk/grantown-on-spey.

FREE. Ballater Health Walk - Meet at Glenmuick Church, Ballater. 1.30pm. T: 07816 110549. www.pathsforall.org.uk/health-walk/ballater

FREE. Nethy Bridge Health Walk - Meet by Nethy Bridge Community Centre, Nethy Bridge. 1.30pm. T: 07816 110549.

Every Wednesday

FREE. Newtonmore Health Walk - Meet at Wildcat Centre, Newtonmore. 10.30am. T: 07816 110549. www.pathsforall.org.uk/walking-for-health/healthwalks/health-walk/newtonmore

FREE. Boat of Garten Health Walk - Meet at Boat of Garten Community Hall. 1.30pm. T: 07816 110549.

Every Thursday

FREE. Cromdale Health Walk - In front of the Kirk, Cromdale. 11am. T: 07816 110549.

FREE. Carrbridge Health Walk - Meet by the Old Bridge, Carrbridge. 11am. T: 07816 110549.

FREE. Kingussie Health Walk - Badenoch Centre, Kingussie. 10am. T: 07816 110549. www.pathsforall. org.uk/walking-for-health/health-walks/health-walk/ kingussie

Every Friday

FREE. Glen Tanar Health Walk - Meet outside the Boat Inn, Abyone. 9.40am. T: 07816 110549.

FREE. Ballater Health Walk - Meet at the green hut on the green at the corner of bridge street and Netherly Place, Ballater. 10.30am. T: 07816 110549. www.pathsforall.org.uk/health-walk/ballater.

FREE. Tomintoul Health Walk - Meet at Bowling Club, Tomintoul. 10am. T: 07816 110549.

Every Saturday

FREE. Live music - The Winky & Bothy Bar, Aviemore. 9pm. T: 01479 812368.

Seeing the Cairngorms by campervan is a wonderful way to experience the many different sights, sounds and landscapes here, while also enjoying our local communities and their amazing hospitality. So we created...

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