Things To Do
Eat Out…
Mount View Hotel
In the centre of Nethy Bridge, (15 mins walk) you’ll find 2-3 course Sunday lunches and fine evening dining at the Mountview Hotel
Andersons
Another local favourite is Andersons Restaurant in nearby Boat-of-Garten (10mins drive) where local produce and creative flair combine to great effect.
Old Bridge Inn
The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore offers a roaring log fire and cheerful atmosphere along with excellent food, malts, ales and live music.
Cairn Hotel
‘The Cairn’, Carrbridge
Our favourite family-run ‘local’ – a log fire, malt whiskies, real ales and excellent affordable food.
Mountain Cafe
For excellent soup, frothy coffee and much more, plus a great view of the hills from the balcony, try the Mountain Cafe in the centre of Aviemore.
Nethy Bridge Hotel
A 1 mile walk has a village bar with next door ‘lounge bar’ offering home prepared bar food for hungry walkers.
01479 821203
‘Nethy Games
Nethy Bridge in August, always the 2nd Saturday, is all about The Abernethy Highland Games. It’s our big event of the year, with a spectacular march of 100 pipes and drums, top class piping and dancing competitions, plus traditional sports including the world-famous heavy events and a funfair to keep the kids amused.
Old Bridge Inn
The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore offers a roaring log fire and cheerful atmosphere along with excellent food, malts, ales and possibly the liveliest and most traditional live music venue for miles.
The Insider Festival
Inshriach by Aviemore June.
This annual bonanza and fun filled musical event just has to be on your calendar
Hootananny
Up in Inverness is the best live music outside the Old Bridge Inn. Hootananny in Church Street is a real institution with an eclectic menu – food as well.
Bogbain Farm
All year.
Stunningly vibrant fiddler Bruce McGregor heads up this great traditional Scottish music venue near Inverness. Lots of events you should know about.
World Porridge Making Championship
World Porridge Making Championship, Carrbridge in October. A world class event in a pint size village. Brilliant.
Carve Carrbridge
Scottish Open Chainsaw Carving Competition – August
Best known event of its type attracting competitors from all over the globe.
MotorMania
Grantown on Spey – September
Grantown hosts around 400 vintage, and other elderly unusual motors from yesteryear occupying the whole of the town square and beyond
Hogmanay and a Half
Hogmanay and a Half, The Square, Grantown on Spey – New Year
With footstomping band ‘Smuid’, fiddles, pipes, mulled wine and the longest Strip the Willow in the country
Highland Games
Traditional Highland Games in Tomintoul and Newtonmore.
The Lonach Games and, the best of all, Abernethy Highland Games Nethy Bridge – but then we’re biassed.
Eden Court Theatre
Eden Court Theatre & Cinema, Inverness
The hub of many different cultural performances in the North.
Walking & Wildlife
Explore Abernethy
From Nethy Bridge follow waymarked trails through the famous Scots Pine forest, and along the River Nethy. Guided walks will also give you extra local information on wildlife and help you discover how people have lived and worked in this forest over the centuries.
Speyside Way
This long distance walking route, from the Cairngorms to the Moray Coast, passes through Nethy Bridge mostly following the course of early rail routes beside the River Spey. Any section can provide a beautiful day’s walk through world famous whisky making countryside.
Cairngorm Ranger
For a guided introduction to mountain walking in the Cairngorms or for advice relating to climbing or high level walking at any time of the year, including weather/snow conditions, we recommend the Cairngorm Ranger Service.
RSPB
In spring witness ospreys nesting from the hide at nearby Loch Garten Reserve or rise early to observe a capercailllie lek with the experts.
Pinewoods
Abernethy pinewoods remain a stronghold for native scottish red squirrels and these plentiful residents are an everyday sight. Visit the feeding stations located on the Explore Abernethy trails and report your sightings to the ranger.
Endangered Animals
Experience international endangered animals of mountains and tundra as well as our native wildlife in the spectacular setting of the Highland Wildlife Park.
Distilleries
Aberlour
Visit the Aberlour distillery website.
Distance from the Lazy Duck :
25 miles
Quick info :
Set tour times. Entrance fee payable at distillery.
Balvenie
Visit the Balvenie distillery website.
Distance from the Lazy Duck :
31 miles
Quick info :
Set tour times. Entrance fee payable at distillery.
Benromach
Visit the Benromach distillery website.
Distance from the Lazy Duck :
27 miles
Quick info :
Entrance fee payable at distillery.
Cardow (Cardhu)
Information about the Cardhu distillery.
Distance from the Lazy Duck :
21 miles
Quick info :
Entrance fee payable at distillery.
Cragganmore
Cragganmore whisky distillery information.
Distance from the Lazy Duck :
18 miles
Quick info :
By appointment only. Entrance fee payable at distillery.
Dallas Dhu
Information on the Dallas Dhu whisky distillery.
Distance from the Lazy Duck :
24 miles
Quick info :
Entrance fee payable at distillery.
Glenfarclas
Visit the Glenfarclas distillery website.
Distance from the Lazy Duck :
20 miles
Quick info :
Entrance fee payable at distillery.
Glenfiddich
Visit the Glenfiddich distillery website.
Distance from the Lazy Duck :
31 miles
Quick info :
Entrance FREE.
Glen Grant
Glen Grant distillery information via the maltwhiskeytrail.com.
Distance from the Lazy Duck :
30 miles
Quick info :
Entrance fee payable at distillery.
Glen Moray
Visit the Glen Moray distillery website.
Distance from the Lazy Duck :
40 miles
Quick info :
Entrance fee payable at distillery.
The Glenlivet
Glenlivet distillery information via Maltwhiskytrail.com.
Distance from the Lazy Duck :
24 miles
Quick info :
Entrance FREE.
Speyside Cooperage
Shinty
Shinty is mad – one of the fastest, most physically demanding and skilful sports in the world. Here we’ve got Kingussie vs Newtonmore, the big contenders. Matches are played locally through the summer months.
Snow
Skiing at Cairngorm Mountain and at the Lecht Ski Centre. Both centres are about equi-distant from Nethy Bridge so look up the snow conditions and make a choice.
Huskies
For a real arctic adventure join the Stewart family for a Husky sled trip or kennel tour. The people who spend their lives with these remarkable dogs are no less amazing we think and thanks to the Stewarts we are able to get close to what is, for most of us, another world.
Bikes & Quads
Bikes & Quads at Wolftrax and Rothiemurchus. This growing sporting activity brings us lots of visitors never mind the large number of locals who use the mountain bike trails.
For the nearest and possibly wisest old timer in the specialist bike hire business we recommend Adam at Cairngorm Bike & Hike
Fishing
Fishing and angling for those who know what they are doing with the Abernethy Angling Association. FishSpey will take you further up and down the River Spey. If you are a first timer then try one of the three ponds at Craggan.
Sailing & Kayaking
The Freshwater family built their first lodge from redundant telegraph poles. The sailing and kayaking experience now to be found on Loch Insch combines first class tuition with sound equipment in an environment you will love.
Curling
Open-air curling at the Aviemore ponds if you’re lucky with a cold snap. Otherwise you can try this distinctive sport in Elgin or Inverness
Pony Trekking
Pony trekking and hacking can be found at Rothiemurchus and Alvie Stables these horse folk will give you very good value for time.
Golf
Abernethy Golf Club is one of the loveliest small traditional Highland courses in Strathspey, with its small and fast greens the most undulating and tricky in the valley, and there are 4 others to try within a 6- mile radius.
Shopping
Speyside Heather
Family run, friendly and focussing on our most iconic highland plant, this is much more than a gift shop and garden centre. There’s a great collectables emporium and restaurant as well!
Whisky ‘Usquebaugh’
The Whisky Castle in the village of Tomintoul is where you will find Mike and Cathy Drury offering a mindboggling range of malts and blends from throughout Speyside and the whole of Scotland. Very much worth a visit; often there are special offers and you’ll learn a lot too!
Libre & Lunch
Leakeys Bookshop in Church Street, Inverness, is a one off for character. Here, Charles Leakey, bookseller and gallery cafe owner surrounds himself with his second hand volumes and old prints while inviting you to join him in the woodstove warmed former church building.
The Bookmark
The Bookmark Grantown on Spey 34, High Street
Visit Marjory for great new books and her unforgettable take on them
01479 873433
Post Office & Store
Nethy Bridge Post Office & Store by the bridge, closes at 6.00pm
Andy, Kate and their loyal team will look after you
01479 821217
Mustard’s Butchers
Mustard’s Butchers just down from the bridge
Michael’s legendary lamb, beef, venison as well as his sausages & pies leave a queue out the door.
01479 821245
Kids
Landmark
Landmark has developed its range of attractions over the years to provide entertainment, recreation and education in just about equal measure. It is a firm favourite providing you like company and the squeals of delighted children.
Smarty Art
Smarty Art, an enthusiast run caper for Kids four miles down the road in Grantown. Discover how mildly messily creative very young people can be.
Leisure Pool
The Leisure Pool at Aviemore Centre is a recently built replacement for the original we had in the village. This one has all the trimmings of steam room, sauna, exercise rooms and towels, if you need them. Not cheap but good for a wet day and early in the day before the crowds arrive.
