Rainy Day Activities
Just because it is raining doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors.
Rain or shine there is plenty of fun to be had at Rothiemurchus!
Get your wetsuit on!
If you are going to get wet anyway, why not really embrace it? Try out River Tubing and drift through ancient Rothiemurchus Pine forests with stunning mountain views of the Cairngorms. Perhaps, catch a glimpse of some wildlife before running the fun natural water shoots and rapids. Fun for all the family, loved by young and old alike!
Or for the more adventurous there is White Water Tubing where you will shoot through powerful gorges on our specially designed river tubes. Expert guides and all the best safety gear keep you safe as you hang onto the handles running the rapids, jumping into deep pools and shoot at high speed through the river sculpted rock features on this steep highland river.
How about jumping into a Highland stream and following it uphill as it cascades down rocky slabs, over small waterfalls and through pools? Gorge Walking is suitable for all the family. If at any point you decide you’ve had enough, you can simply walk up the side of the burn and watch the excitement from the sidelines.
Go for a paddle…
If you fancy a slightly more mellow activity on the water then how about canoeing, paddleboarding or family rafting? Canoeing on Loch an Eilein runs most Tuesdays and Thursdays in July and August. The canoes are light (around 30kg), stable and carry two adults, or two adults plus two small children. The Loch is very sheltered and is the perfect place to relax, explore some wonderful highland scenery and to chat with your guide and new-found friends. Look out for wildlife, paddle around the ruined castle and hear tales of Jacobite plots and the notorious Wolf of Badenoch.
River Spey Paddle Boarding provides a unique way to explore this beautiful area. Suitable for ages 8+ and easy to learn, the river is sheltered from the wind so makes a great learning environment and the river’s flow makes it extra fun.
Family Rafting is a relaxed way to explore. Take a gentle, guided paddle in an inflatable raft down a beautiful stretch of the River Spey, keep an eye out for wonderful wildlife and stunning scenery or enjoy watery fun and games.
Splash through puddles
Quad Bike Trekking is great in any weather, just make sure you bring appropriate clothing and footwear. If you do get caught out then not to worry, waterproofs are available to purchase from the Quad ground. Your experienced guide will take you on a fun-filled adventure along a network of trails, through streams and maybe even past our famous ‘Hairy Coos’.
Photograph by David Lintern and HIE
Discover Rothiemurchus by Land Rover
You will be cosy and in the back of a Land Rover driven by one of our entertaining and knowledgable Rangers. Although, there are some opportunities to get out the vehicle and we are sure that a bit of rain won’t dissuade you from feeding the deer! Your Ranger will take you on a tour of Rothiemurchus and give you a behind the scenes look at the estate, as well as telling you a little about the history. You will also be introduced to our fold of Highland cattle and given a pair of binoculars so you can look out for other Rothiemurchus wildlife.
Practice your backswing
Rothiemurchus Tennis Club recently unveiled a new all-weather tennis court, perfect for when the Scottish Summer isn’t playing ball!
Dry off in the Druie Cafe
The Druie Cafe, situated inside the Rothiemurchus Centre, is the perfect place to shelter from a shower or treat yourself to post-activity refreshments. Open daily from 9:30am to 4:30pm, the Druie serves breakfast and lunch as well as a fantastic range of delicious home baking, locally roasted coffee, indulgent hot chocolate and high-quality teas. During the summer, the BBQ will run most lunchtimes and on wetter days a small marquee is erected over our outdoor seating area.
Whatever the weather there is plenty to do at Rothiemurchus and you know what they say:
In Scotland, if you don’t like the weather just wait 5 minutes!