Howe of Torbeg

Stride forth into the Cairngorms straight from the site, get on your bike, go skiing, go climbing, have a driving day around this stunning setting… all are easily available. Hiking tracks are all around the area immediately surrounding the site, and further trails are easily accessed around the Muir of Dinnet nature reserve 15 minutes' drive away and Invercauld House within half an hour. For those seeking even more exertion, regional munros to climb include Brown Cow Hill (20 minutes' drive), Lochnagar (40 minutes) and Corbetts Morven (50 minutes). Cyclists can tackle the paths from Bike Glenlivet trail centre 40 minutes away, or stay closer to home to access the Etape Royale road cycling route from Howe of Torbeg's local road the A939. Mountain bikers should make for Ballochbuie Forest, 35 minutes' drive away, where there are single- and double-track paths through the woodland to Loch Muick. For family cycling, Ballater is surrounded by routes of about one to four hours. Nature spotters will be chuffed to hear that, as the biggest national park in the UK, the Cairngorms is a haven teeming with wildlife: a quarter of Britain's endangered species are here, some of them only to be found in the Cairngorms. The Lecht and Glenshee ski centres are within 30 to 40 minutes.