Best Things to Do this October
The October Holidays are nearly here and at Rothiemurchus in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, there are lots of great activities to keep the family entertained.
Crafts for Kids
Rothiemurchus Fishery will be running special Crafts for Kids sessions every morning from 11:15am to 12pm from the 14th to the 27th of October. Accompanied by an adult and with help from our friendly staff, children can paint and decorate their very own mini birdbox or bug hotel to take home and house their garden residents. This activity can also be combined with the ‘I Caught My First Fish At Rothiemurchus’ sessions which run at 10am daily for a fun-filled morning.
Leaves and Lochs
Autumn is a spectacular time to visit Rothiemurchus as the leaves are turning gold and Red Squirrels are busy building up their Winter stores. There are a variety of family-friendly routes to walk or cycle and you can pick up a map from the Rothiemurchus Centre. Bikes for children and adults as well as trailers and tag-alongs are available to rent from the In Your Element pavilion opposite Treezone. Loch an Eilein is a very special place that many of our visitors love returning to again and again, a route of approximately 3 miles (5 kilometres). The loop starts and finishes at the Loch an Eilein carpark, the path is fairly flat all the way around but can get muddy, so sturdy footwear is advised. The Castle on the island in the middle of the Loch dates from the late 14th Century and has featured in films and tv programmes. As you make your way around the pine-clad shores of the loch keep an eye out for wildlife, like red squirrels.
Photograph courtesy of David Lintern
Hooves and Wheels
There are lots of ways to explore Rothiemurchus. Quad bike treks, suitable for ages 12+, are a great way to see more of this magical place. You will follow a network of off-road trails across a stunning landscape, past our long-horn Highland cattle and through small streams. Your experienced guide will be happy to stop for photos, so don’t forget to bring a camera! There are also a variety of Highland pony treks, with various rides suitable for beginners, intermediate and experienced riders and Wee Womble rides specially designed for young children.
Photograph – ® David Lintern & HIE
Targets and TreeZone
Test your aim with Archery, min age 8, or Clay Target Shooting, ages 12+. The Silver Clay Shooting Experience will provide you with the ideal introduction to clay shooting. Our instructors provide expert one-to-one tuition giving you the confidence to really enjoy this exciting sport. Or test your balance at TreeZone, ages 7+, navigate obstacles like the Fortress Gangplank, Postman’s Walk and Indiana Jones Bridge before flying down the zip wire to complete the course.
Tubing
Tubing finishes for the season at the end of October so make the most of it while you can! It’s a great fun activity in any weather, you are going to get wet anyway so what does a little rain matter? River Tubing is suitable for ages 6+ and full wetsuit is provided so you don’t need to worry about getting too cold as you drift along a Highland mountain stream past ancient forests before running the fun natural shoots and rapids. White Water Tubing is for the more adventurous, ages 12+, 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.
And Relax!
After all that adventuring you will be ready for a cup of tea and a bit of cake, or perhaps a nice hot bowl of soup! So head over to the Druie Cafe, open 9:30-16:30 daily, for a choice of excellent home baking, lunches and high-quality tea and coffee.
For a full list of our activities please click here.