Towns & Activities › Boat of Garten
Strathspey Steam Railway
You might like to embark upon a scenic journey by steam train to Boat of Garten and then on to Broomhill (the station used as Glenbogle in the TV series “Monarch of the Glen”. The Srathspey Railway Company operates nostaligic trips between the two villages from March to October and through the festive season. The Company is housed in the recently-refurbished Aviemore mainline railway station, a charming Victorian building typical of its epoch. Individuals, couples, families or indeed larger groups will enjoy the experience and whether you require a light snack or lunch, their new catering service is there to serve your needs. The Strathspey Steam Railway line is currently being extended to Grantown-on-Spey.
Golf
Designed by one of the grand-masters of golf course architecture, James Braid, 'The Boat' is set alongside the River Spey in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, only 10 minutes drive from the bustling village of Aviemore. The course is not only renowned as a demanding test of sporting skill but also as a magnificent setting for the game. Braid’s design features 18 completely individual holes, cleverly and sensitively shaped fairways lined by birch trees, heather and broom, maximising the natural landscape and producing a beautiful and challenging course.
Fishing
The River Spey runs along the edge of the village and there is a choice of beats available. The Abernethy Angling Improvement Association offer over six miles on both banks of fishing on this famous river. Just up stream from the village is Kinchurdy Salmon fishings who offer their waters as double bank fishings in two beats. Each beat will allow up to five people to fish and the Strathspey Estate provides a full time Ghillie.
Bird watching
Boat of Garten is known as the Osprey Village - it was here that these magnificent birds were reintroduced in the fifties. Ospreys can now be seen nesting at the RSPB Osprey centre at Loch Garten, hunting over the local lochs and along the River Spey. A wide variety of other birds live on the water, including grey heron, golden eye, kingfisher, oyster catcher, slavonian grebe, tufted duck, merganser, dipper, divers, geese, swans and many more - all to be found within a kilometre of the village. There is a hide at Milton Loch on the northern edge of the village from which many of these birds can be seen. The local pine forests are home to many other species. For more information on local bird watching see the Boat of Garten community website
