Kingussie Garden Cabins

It's the fresh-air activities that draw most folk to this area. To get started, look to Loch Morlich (half an hour's drive ) for a cycle, a paddle in a kayak, sailing or windsurfing, or to Loch Insh (15 minutes) for sailing, kayaking, archery, raft building and other activities. Up higher, the Cairngorm Mountain (35 minutes) has skiing and snowboarding runs along with a funicular railway. Those who prefer two boots to two skis can stick to hikes in the Uath Lochans (20 minutes) or Tay Forest Park (from 40 minutes). You might have a long list of animals you’ve spotted on your wanders out and around those parts. That list will be even longer after visiting the Highland Wildlife Park (10 minutes), a 105-hectare safari park and zoo. And to fill in any gaps in your knowledge of local history? Try a visit to the Highland Folk Museum (five minutes), an open-air museum all about Highland life from the 1700s to the 1950s.