2macstracks

Aviemore

It seemed like a good day to go roaming around the area, a time for reminiscing. Rain had replaced sunshine and there were long sections of roadworks as we drove south from Inverness but it was an interesting drive. We checked out some of the new developments which have completely changed the look of Aviemore village and stopped at a familiar cafe for hot drinks.

The part of Aviemore which used to be called, “The Aviemore Centre” has changed so much we had trouble recognizing the hotels we’d worked in or even their locations since new owners have modified buildings and built new ones.

A big shock was seeing the “Ice Rink” because it used to be in a big building along with shops and a swimming pool but now looks like something that’s been put up for a Sunday market.

The Strathspey Hotel was 5 star rated when we worked there in 1971. For a while I stayed in the staff quarters, a two story building, and sometimes watched Red Squirrels running up and down the Pine Trees. There’s no sign of that building now and we still haven’t spotted a Red Squirrel. These days the hotel is run down and houses Ukrainian refugees. The big front grassed area looks the same. In Winter if it was snow covered we sometimes had fun sliding down the banks on serving trays from the hotel or on bin liners. When we came back for a holiday in 1986 the kids had fun there in the snow until their hands were frozen and we walked across the road to the Station Tearooms to warm up. It’s now called, Macdui’s.

The Cairngorm Hotel still looks the same and I hope it never changes.