4 August 2014
Accommodation – Alvie Estate
Weather – bright day and mostly sunshine
Temperature – mid teens
Today we got our bearings of the estate with a three hour
tour of Alvie. Nine of us took up the
offer of exploring this vast holding owned by the Williamson family now in its
third generation. Alvie Estate is one of
the large land holdings that were divided in the 1800’s into strips of land
hence this block is 13 thousand acres but measures nine miles by three miles.
Alvie House
Firstly we visited the lovely and still used mansion. The home has 44 bedrooms and rents out rooms
for stalking (deer hunts) and grouse shooting.
Apparently the owner's wife heads out on a Sunday to clean the bathrooms
and they see her again on a Tuesday….have to love highland humour!
I had the rather romantic notion I would see myself amongst
the heather, gun cocked and pretending to shoot my first grouse. Unfortunately, my budget does not extend to
this as it costs 750 pounds per person per day and accommodation is 200 pounds
per person per night….not sure if it includes breakfast!
The estate is into diversification for its continual
survival and David the Factor (Scottish for estate manager) showed us through
the fields of sheep, the quarry, the holiday homes, self sufficient home
heating, bull sheds and much more. They
offer adventure packages, kayaking, clay pigeon shooting and trout fishing. It also has large forestry and agricultural
interests.
The extensive logging ready for chipping.
Traffic on the estate!
Our cottage is on the left over the field of bulls.
The Druid's circle looking back from the quarry.
In the afternoon we were on the hunt for the information
office to find out where traditional music was being played this week. Aviemore, the closest town to the estate is
very busy but we eventually found the tourist office after eating our way
through highland fudge and Subway sandwiches.
We wandered down to the pub to book for tomorrow night and enjoyed more
drinks…..detox when I get back!
Walking the streets of Aviemore which is very busy this time of year.
In the evening we had a great time at the Cairngorm Hotel –
it has a wild conglomeration of tartan carpets and a great choice of food. I think I’ve ticked all the boxes now as I
had venison meatballs (haggis, kippers, neeps all done and dusted!)
At the Cairngorm Hotel.
As we dined a piper walked in front of the hotel outside our
window – it makes it all so special.
Afterwards we had a great time in the public bar watching a
piano accordionist playing Scottish jigs and tunes. Everyone had a lot of fun watching the
dancing organised by a Russian dancing instructor …of all thing. She was a very good teacher and soon had her
band of six whooping it up for us to all enjoy with many a Gay Gordon and Strip
the Willow among others. One of our
party bravely nominated himself and we had a good laugh It was a wonderful day in the highlands.
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