‘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 Old Bridge Inn

Black Isle Bar

The Black Isle brewery produces world class organic beers. The bar, located centrally in Inverness, sells over 100 craft beers and delivers delicious wood-fired pizzas. A great spot for a lunch or evening meal. The Black Isle Bar

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. Hootananny

World Porridge Making Championship

World Porridge Making Championship, Carrbridge in October. A world class event in a pint size village. Brilliant. World Porridge Making Championship

Carve Carrbridge

Scottish Open Chainsaw Carving Competition – August The best known event of its type attracting competitors from all over the globe. Carve Carrbridge

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 MotorMania

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 biased.

Eden Court Theatre

Eden Court Theatre & Cinema, Inverness The hub of many different cultural performances in the North. Eden Court Theatre

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. Explore Abernethy

Walking

The Speyside Way, extending 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.  Otherwise, try the Walk Scotland website for local options, or use OS explorer maps available locally and check with us for help planning a route on the day.

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. Cairngorm Ranger

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. Loch Garten Reserve

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.

Highland Wildlife Park

Experience international endangered animals of mountains and tundra as well as our native wildlife in the spectacular setting of the Highland Wildlife Park. Highland Wildlife Park

Highland Nature

Day or half day fully guided bespoke wildlife and Birdwatching Tours around the Cairngorms National Park. Local specialities include Golden & White-tailed Eagles, Crested Tits, Slavonian Grebes, Red and Black Throated Divers, Red Grouse and Crossbills amongst many more species. From £55pp for half day including transport. Group Bookings on request.

To book call John Poyner on 07875 094666 or email info@highlandnature.co.uk.

Highland Nature

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

Speyside Cooperage website Distance from the Lazy Duck : 28 miles

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.

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!

Scotland’s largest secondhand bookshop

In his converted Inverness church warmed by a gigantic woodstove Charles Leakey, discerning and knowledgeable bookseller, will guide you through his mammoth number of shelves to find the book you could be looking for. Complimentary therapies centre and vege cafe almost next door.

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

Balliefurth Farm Shop

Mike Mustard’s legendary butchers shop has now been transformed into an equally wonderful farm shop, and its just down stream from the bridge. Local organic lamb and beef, plus venison as well as superb sausages & pies leave a queue out the door, – and there’s now an enticing deli range there as well.

01479 821245

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.