Over the years I’ve noticed two types of holiday maker – the kind that like to chill by the pool all day and then people like me, who can’t sit still for longer than ten minutes.
So when my boyfriend suggested a weekend away, a mini-break in the mountains seemed like an obvious choice.
We arrived at the Macdonald Aviemore resort on a crisp spring evening, ready for two days of walking in the stunning Cairngorms and hoping to catch the tail end of the ski season.
We’d heard that the resort has recently had a £5 million upgrade and were looking forward to checking it out, especially all the activities on offer.
As it turned out, we didn’t have to wait long – having misread the signs, we managed to get lost within the resort on our way to the hotel and explored the place quite a bit before actually checking in.
The complex boasts three four-star hotels, luxury woodland lodges, an activity centre including a swimming pool, 3D cinema, various restaurants, high-end brand shops and for the golfers, there’s the Spey Valley championship course.
We stayed at the upgraded Highlands Hotel, which we eventually found with directions from a helpful member of staff.
Don’t let the unassuming facade fool you – inside there is a real sense of luxury as soon as you step into the spacious foyer.
An understated, traditional country décor is complemented by modern touches with the fiery red landscape paintings being a favourite of mine.
We were shown to our room, the classic double, where we were pleasantly surprised to a find a bottle of wine and artisan chocolates on the table.
The upgraded rooms are bright and cosy, with a traditionally elegant decor similar to the rest of the hotel and beds so comfortable it was difficult to get up in the morning.
For dinner on our first night we headed to the Scottish Steakhouse, a convenient option as it’s located inside the hotel.
My boyfriend ordered a medium-rare rump steak with garlic and pepper, which he said was cooked just right, with chunky chips on the side that he found to be a bit too, er, chunky.
I decided to go for a lighter option and ordered the seabass on a bed of risotto, followed by vanilla ice cream, none of which I could fault.
Afterwards we let the food settle by relaxing in the snug armchairs beside the fireplace in the hotel’s Laggan bar, which offers a variety of whiskies and cocktails.
On the second night we booked a table at the resort’s Giovanni Italian restaurant, which is just a stone throw away from the hotel.
This was by far my favourite, a traditional Italian eatery with a relaxed vibe and the best pasta I’ve had in a long time.
I ordered the bruschetta to start, followed by rigatoni with roasted tomato, red onions and spinach with lashings of Parmesan and ice cream for dessert.
My boyfriend went for the steak again, this time a sirloin that he tells me was very filling and cooked perfectly.
To work off all those calories, we took advantage of some of the activities on offer.
There really is something for everyone – wild, unspoilt scenery to explore by walking or mountain biking, sailing, or kayaking; skiing and snowboarding on the stunning slopes, archery, clay pigeon shooting, white-water rafting, or taking a trip to the reindeer centre, just to name a few.
We couldn’t possibly do it all in two days, so on the Saturday we took a stroll through the Cairngorms National Park, whose lochs and rivers are said to be among the purest in the world.
Many of them have sandy beaches, excellent for sunbathing and picnics during the summer.
We walked up a forestry track with towering mountains on either side, ending up at the “green loch”, which is exactly what it sounds like – a loch that is permanently green, or turquoise in colour depending on the light.
With an almost-white sandy beach, it looks like something out of an exotic holiday brochure.
Back at the resort we tried out the pool, which is big enough to do some serious swimming, with a shallower section for kids and a spa tub, steam room and sauna nearby.
Feeling truly relaxed after it all, we got a good night’s sleep before hitting the slopes early the next morning.
There’s nothing quite like the scenery of the Cairngorms.
A word of warning for beginners – the easiest runs are on the top of the mountain, meaning they’re sometimes shut depending on the weather. Make sure you check before heading off.
The weather can vary drastically between different parts of the mountain, so we started off in blizzard-like conditions higher up and ended up enjoying sweltering sunshine near the bottom.
The piste quality was excellent, even in spring when conditions can be a bit hit and miss – although in hindsight, being battered by high winds probably wasn’t the best introduction to skiing for my boyfriend, who was trying it out for the first time.
Nevertheless, we plan to visit again, perhaps during the summer so that we can enjoy the “beaches” in warmer weather.
Our stay at the Macdonald Aviemore resort was pleasant and comfortable, we really felt spoilt by all the delicious food, beautiful surroundings and friendly staff who really pay attention to detail.
And, I discovered that sitting still can have its benefits, especially if it’s inside a lovely warm Jacuzzi!
Info
Prices at the Macdonald Aviemore resort vary depending on dates and availabiltiy but a night’s stay at the Highlands Hotel ranges from around £120 to £170 throughout the summer months.
A family of four can stay for one night from £159 for B&B.
For more details and to book, see www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk