Highland Council is to shut 14 public toilets and restrict opening times at others to help it save more than £320,000 over the next two years. Boat of Garten in the Cairngorms National Park will shut.
Saturday
Boat of Garten Loo to close!
Friday
Fire damages Blair Castle clock tower
Fire crews are investigating the cause of a blaze which damaged part of a 13th Century Scottish castle in the Cairngorms National Park. The fire, which broke out at about 2035 GMT on Thursday evening, ripped through the clock tower at Blair Castle near Blair Atholl, Cairngorms National Park. Firefighters contained the blaze and prevented it from spreading to the rest of the building. Blair Castle is the ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl and dates back about 740 years. Seven fire crews battled to extinguish the blaze at the height of the blaze and three fire engines are still at the scene. A Tayside Police spokesman said there was a "significant amount of damage" to the clock tower. He said no-one was injured and the cause of the fire had not yet been determined. A spokeswoman for Tayside Fire and Rescue Service said the roof and second floor of the clock tower had collapsed into the first floor. www.blair-castle.co.uk
Wednesday
Self-build in the park just got more expensive!
Guidance on the amount of affordable housing developers will be expected to contribute when building in the Cairngorms National Park has been officially adopted.
Meeting in Nethy Bridge on Friday 4 March 2011, the Planning Committee of the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) welcomed this as a step to getting more housing in the Park that is affordable for people on modest incomes.
CNPA Strategic Policy Officer, Alison Lax, said: "Research shows there is a lack of affordable housing in the Park. We highlighted this as a priority in the National Park Plan 2007-2012 and it led to a specific policy in the Local Plan to address it. This guidance is for developers to use and for Local Authorities and us as planning authority to deliver so we can work towards addressing the problem."
It means that for every house built within the Park that can be sold on the open market, a contribution must be made towards the provision of affordable housing:
Developments of three or more dwellings will be required to incorporate a proportion of the total number of units as affordable housing.
Development solely for affordable housing will be favourably considered.
Where public funding is available to help provide affordable housing, between 25% and 40% of all units will be expected to be affordable.
Where less than one third of the total cost of the development is available through public funding, the developer will be required to provide 25% affordable housing on a site.
If it can be demonstrated that an off-site contribution would better meet a community's housing needs, then an alternative solution will be negotiated with the developer. This may include a cash payment towards the provision of affordable housing at another location. The guide for this financial contribution is currently £25,000 per unit for developments of three or more houses.
Proposals for one and two open market dwellings will also be required to make a contribution towards affordable housing. This will be a cash payment towards the meeting of housing need in the local area and the guide is £1,250 for one house and £2,500 for two houses.
Proposals for off-site contributions will be considered where community needs assessments, or similar assessments, support this as a better way of meeting the housing needs of the community.
Planning Committee Chairman, Duncan Bryden, added: "Planning is about community building. High house prices and developer activity in new build and renovations over past years reflect that for many people from across the UK, the Cairngorms National Park is a very desirable place to live and visit. But, we have a responsibility to people who want to work and raise families in Park communities. We must do what we can to enable affordable housing to be provided in the right places.
"240 affordable houses have been built in the Park since it was established and until quite recently housing developers and trades benefited from a growing market. For the sake of local employment and the Park economy it is important that they can continue to operate with reasonable profit margins. Equally, as the economic climate has now put the squeeze on access to mortgages and finance, the need for affordable housing in the Park is even more pressing. Developer contributions from 'open market projects' will help towards building essential levels of quality, affordable housing for local people working in important services and helping our communities thrive."
The Planning Committee has also approved draft Supplementary Planning Guidance to support the Cairngorms National Park Local Plan on:
* Wildness
* Carbon Emissions
* Developer Contributions
These will be available for public consultation from 21 March to 29 April 2011 during which copies and details of how to comment will be available on our website or by contacting the CNPA office in Grantown-on-Spey or Ballater.
Friday
Vladimir, the Amur Tiger departs the Kincraig Wild life Park. Cairngorms
On 24th Feb, Vladimir, Amur tiger, was transferred to a new tiger facility at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park. This move was recommended by the European breeding programme coordinator for Amur tigers, who is based at London Zoo. At almost 2 years old, Vlad was at the right age to be moved to another zoo as he was becoming more independent and a move at this time mirrors what would happen in the wild. His new companion will be a female from a Bulgarian zoo who will be arriving in Yorkshire shortly. Vlad’s move leaves us with his mother, Sasha, and two sisters, all of whom seem very relaxed about his departure. There is no intention to bring in another potential breeding male just yet as Sasha is past breeding age, and her daughters are not old enough....more info
Western Saab Challenge, Scottish Snowcross Championships
Olympians Ben Kilner from Banchory and Aviemore’s Alain Baxter will both be attending the Western Saab Challenge, Scottish Snowcross Championships, which returns to Scotland on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th March 2011. The Olympians will be attending the event to support the riders and award prizes at the two day event. It is organised by Aberdeen Snowsports Club and heads to Glenshee Ski Centre for what is sure to be an action packed, adrenaline fuelled event.
The event is the only one of its kind to be held in the United Kingdom. At last year’s event nearly 100 competitors from all over Scotland raced head to head in an adrenalin and action packed knockout race along a course consisting of man-made and natural rollers, jumps, kickers and banked turns, all at high speed. Banchory’s Olympic Snowboard Super-pipe finalist in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Ben Kilner said: “Snowcross is a great event and I’m stoked that Aberdeen Snowsports Club have brought this to Glenshee where I learned to ride all those years ago! “It’s really exciting for spectators and competitors alike, bringing together alpine and freestyle skiers and boarders in the same event.”
Former Olympic Skier and BBC wintersports pundit Alain Baxter added: “Last year’s Championships were a great addition to the Scottish and British snow sports scene and it is fantastic to see such a prestigious sport coming to the UK. It is also great to see the continued support from Saab. “I can’t wait to see the action at Glenshee for myself and absolutely delighted to support Aberdeen Snowsports Club with the Western Saab Scottish Snowcross Championships.”
For more info on Skiing and Snowboarding the Cairngorms check www.cairngorms-park.com/activities/Winter-Sports/
Calling all Bed & Breakfast owners
| Great opportunity for B&B owners to promote their business and the Cairngorms National Park area: Channel 4 is back to make a second series of Four In a Bed and you could be a part of it.
They would like to talk to passionate and out-going Bed and Breakfast owners for the second series of Channel Four's popular Four In a Bed. They are looking for B&B owners who feel they have something special to offer their customers – and are willing to put their businesses to the test. They're looking for a wide range of B&Bs, but they'll all be run by proud B&B owners. For more information please contact Studio Lambert ASAP on fourinabed@studiolambert.com Please state the name of the B&B that you run, your contact details and tell us why you are so proud of your business. |
Thursday
Royal Deeside £100 million golf and leisure development get backing
Plans for a £100 million golf and leisure development on Royal Deeside have secured the backing of local councillors who rejected the recommendations of senior planners that the scheme should be refused.
Members of the Marr area committee of Aberdeenshire Council voted five to three in favour of the development of the major complex, including a luxury hotel, which would be centred on the existing championship course at Inchmarlo Golf Club on the outskirts of Banchory.
Although the plans by developers Frank Burnett Ltd had been backed by both Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland as a key development in boosting tourism in the area, planning officials recommended refusing permission as the application was “significantly contrary” to the wider strategy of the local development plan.
The full council will meet on 10 March to make a final decision.
Saturday
Royal Deeside Golfing Complex
Plans for a £100 million golf, housing and leisure development in Royal Deeside just outside the Cairngorms National Park, including a new cookery school run by celebrity chef Nick Nairn, are set to be rejected. Developers unveiled proposals last August for the massive complex, including a luxury hotel, which would be centred on the existing championship course at Inchmarlo Golf Club on the outskirts of Banchory in Aberdeenshire. Planning officials are recommending that permission for the scheme should be refused. The application is due to be discussed by members of the Marr area committee next Tuesday before a decision at a full meeting of Aberdeenshire Council. The development includes plans for 90 exclusive houses - with a top price of £900,000 - and 35 affordable homes.
Thursday
It ain't your grannies trifle!
FOOD ON FILM 2011 KINGUSSIE 3RD-6TH OF FEB
The Annual Cairngorms Food Festival held in and organised by the village of Kingussie and local high school kick off today.
A feast of local food, celebrity chefs, short films, documentaries and feature films to make you laugh, make you think and make you hungry!

Kingussie’s annual winter festival – FOOD ON FILM – brings the big screen to the beautiful Highlands of Scotland in a unique way, to celebrate and explore the world of food. With filmmakers and food producers gathering to share their passions and skills, a Food Hall showcasing the best of Highland produce and a red carpet Film Award – it’s a recipe for a fabulous weekend!
A new film starring Scots actor Dougray Scott and chef Gordon Ramsay will debut at Kingussie's Food on Film Festival.
No Ordinary Trifle's director and writer James Hacking will also be among the guests at the annual celebration of movies and cuisine.
He will be joined by actor Lee Boardman, who also stars in the film which will not be released at UK cinemas until later this year.
The Food on Film Festival will open on Thursday. More info on the Festival and other celebrations of food in the Cairngorms National Park check - http://www.cairngorms-park.com/Cairngorms-Farmers-Market/
Wednesday
Time for UK Tourism businesses to get real
Despite encouraging talk in the early days of the new Coalition Government about the importance of Tourism to the economy, the reality is that the Government Spending Review has impacted on most UK tourism support structures including areas such as quality, training, sustainability and research.
The Regional Development Agencies who often led on Tourism are going and are being replaced by more localised Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). Now Tourism finds itself pitching along with every other sector for representation and funding and however that pans out area by area, one thing is for certain, at best budgets will be cut.
Lower down the chain the recently introduced Destination Management Organisations, which took over from traditional Tourists Boards seem to be also fighting for survival and/or working on much reduced budgets. But is this a such a bad thing for Tourism? Or simply time for businesses in this sector to get real?
In reality a well run business, as many are, should already been on top of issues such as quality, training, sustainability, research; they are after all the core issues any service led business must manage in order to be competitive in a free market. In any event much assistance has been on offer in all these areas for those looking for support over the past 10 years!
Government intervention should only be required or be warranted where there is a clear market failure, not as a matter of course. Indeed, under the previous government, a market failure in tourism was addressed in terms of providing affordable online booking and therefore a route to online consumers for small business via the creation of Englandnet.
Englandnet is a destination management system which drives the publically funded Visit Britain, Enjoy England websites and many locally council funded DMO websites and enables all graded accommodation providers to make their property available online and thus compete on equal terms with larger scale businesses. Additional software was also made available for free or highly subsidized rates to accommodation providers that enabled them to push their availability to major online booking sites.
Given it now exists and small businesses and sole traders can push their offer out to various booking portals such as lastminute.com, means it really is up to businesses to employ this tool. That they choose not to is now a business choice, not a mandate as many would argue for further intervention or support. Indeed even this intervention has been subject to challenge by some within the tourism industry as being anti-competetive; and viewed as state aid by those businesses who invested their own money and time developing their own systems to reach online consumers. So it seems the Government is damned if it does or damned if it doesn't!
Equally, if a business chooses not to invest in quality and training that surely is a business decision. Most in business normally complain about government interference, however tourism has become rather dependent on government intervention, some would say too dependent. As such well run business are seemingly at a disadvantage as market forces are being skewed the other way and intervention and state aid is enabling less well run ones to keep going and where intervention has been well meant such as with online booking it has been met by both apathy and anger in many quarters. For those that believe in a free market and business self-determination, should the government be propping up failing businesses or leaving the market to decide which ones offer value for money? Especially when some within the industry challenge such interventions; this alone must lead many who look after such interventions to question their merit!
So the cuts may be a blessing in disguise!
If nothing else it will show which aspects of the tourism services traditionally offered by LA's are truly valued by local businesses.
Tourist Information Centres are an interesting point in case as they seem to divide trade opinion and go to the heart of the problem with public funding. There are many well supported private TIC's up and down the country that manage to survive through trade subs and smart retailing, no doubt established because of an identified need by local businesses to enhance the visitor experience. However and interestingly, in those areas where there have been publically funded TICs, which are now under threat of closure because of budget cuts, it seems they are less valued. Whilst many in those areas are up in arms about the loss of such a 'vital service' and actively lobby to keep them publically funded; there is little actual appetite from local businesses to take on the overheads to retain the service.
Perhaps one reason is those TIC’s are not cost effective due to never having to trade on commercial lines.
It seems that where a service has been funded, rather than developed through an identified local need, they have less value to businesses and public funding may actually inhibit co-operative local working.
So perhaps the cuts will mean that more tourism businesses work together, identify real needs, see each other as potential allies rather than competitors and take charge of their destinations future, building it from the bottom up together.
By David Rutherford
Tuesday
Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) has been looking for park residents to register their interest in growing produce in allotments.
It said Highland Council had looked at the potential of also using care homes and hospital gardens in the area.
The efforts form part of the Cairngorms Food for Life project.
It was launched in September 2010 to reduce food miles and increase consumption of locally-grown and made produce.
Earlier this month, the project secured £58,300 of European funding.
Wednesday
One lucky winner will get....
3 night stay at Crubenbeg 4Star Luxury
£75 of Vouchers for ExtremePie.com
Free Snowboard or Ski Hire for 3 days, Supplied by Active Outdoor Pursuits
Days Ski / Board Pass at Glenshee
Days Ski / Board Pass at Lecht
Days Ski / Board Pass at CairnGorm
Girl and Mens Nixon Watch
I Love Cairngorms Park Tee shirt
Cairngorms Brewery Tee-shirt
686 Tool Belt & Quicksilver Belt
and the famous...
Cairngorms-Park.com Goodie Bag
Prize Fund over £750.00 !
www.cairngorms-park.com/competition/
Tuesday
Last Minute - Christmas Breaks and Scottish Snow Sports Getaways, Save £££.
Last Minute - Christmas Breaks and Snow Sports Getaways, Save £££.
Highland Holiday Cottages www.HighlandHolidayCottages.com
Luxury 4 Star Cottages, voted No1 on Trip Advisor for Specialist Accommodation in the Cairngorms National Park.
All have wood burning stoves, Free WIFI, Satellite TV / DVD, Christmas Trees...real snow!
· Ash Cottage (1 bedroom) Christmas Week – 21st-28th December was £500 now only £400.
· Birch Cottage (1 bedroom) Christmas Week – 21st-28th December was £500 now £400.
· Elm Cottage (2 bedroom) Christmas Week – 22nd-29th December was £550 now only £500
· Fernlea Luxury Cottage (4 bedrooms, under floor heating) Christmas Week. – 21st-28th was £1150 now only £850
Book now to save £££ on your Scottish Ski or Festive Winter Break.
Here at Highland Holiday Cottages near Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland, we offer amazing 4-star luxury holiday cottages. We are only fifteen minutes drive to Aviemore and we have all the luxuries that you would expect on your holiday in the Highlands. We are pet friendly, self catering accommodation located in the Cairngorms National Park, in the Scottish Highlands. Being only fifteen minutes from Aviemore you can visit the ski slopes, go walking in the mountains, of the Cairngorms National Park or simply put your feet up in front or the wood burning stove in your cottage. The Aviemore area has attractions aplenty for all different types of holidays. We are a small family owned business providing luxury four star accommodation and facilities. The romantic Scottish Cairngorms are the perfect destination for a self catering holiday in the Aviemore area. Aviemore Holiday Cottages, self catering holiday cottage set amongst some of the most spectacular Cairngorms mountains of Aviemore, Scotland, Highland Holiday Cottages are for you.
Monday
Highland Wild Life Park
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Wednesday
I don't Ski, I don't Board I don't like Snow!...
I don’t Ski, I don’t Board I don’t like Snow!...what to do in the Cairngorms Park if you like the warmth !
While you are stuck in the valley, your finds or kids are up on one of the three ski resorts, with nothing to do, why not take the opportunity to visit one of the many attractions in the Cairngorms Park.
Cinema - Since the closure of the cinema at the Old Aviemore Centre, movie-goers from the Cairngorms have had to head to Inverness to see the biggest blockbusters. That's now changed, with the latest films - including those in 3D - screened at the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort. The new facility has a 650-seat auditorium where you can enjoy popcorn, hot dogs, confectionery and pick n' mix.
Balmoral Castle Tour - The Balmoral Estate is the Scottish home of the Royal Family. The magnificent castle, Queen Victoria's 'Dear paradise in the Highlands', lies in the shadow of Lochnagar, an area rich in history. It is said that Macbeth was defeated by Duncan Canmore on Royal Deeside. Canmore initiated the Highland Games, which have now evolved into the world-famous Braemar Gathering. Or try the Blair Atholl castle in the south of the Cairngorms National Park. The Blair Atholl castle is open all year round.
Steam Railway - Travel in style through Monarch-of-the-Glen country on the original Highland Railway for the 20-mile round trip from Aviemore and Boat of Garten to 'Glenbogle Station' in Broomhill. For something that little bit special, book the Strathspey Highlander and dine as the sun dips behind the mountains.
Pubs and Bars - Hanging around in the bar all day drinking was once the preserve of the lucky few skiers and boarders who had managed to break a leg early in the week, but if you don’t like snow the towns and villages dotting the Cairngorms National Park offer the non snow lover a great selection of pubs, bars and clubs, from Blair Atholl, north to the nightlife hub in Aviemore, over to Grantown-on-Spey, Braemar and beyond.
Cairngorms-Park.com
Scotland
Cairngorms-Park Facebook page
Cairngorms-Park Twitter page
Cairngorms-Park Blogger page
Friday
More New Year and Christmas Deals in the Cairngorms National Park
We have more Cairngorms-Park festive deal for you. Below are some more of the deals and offers till to be had in the Cairngorms National Park over the Christmas and New-year holidays. For more information check our deals widget on our home page www.Cairngorms-Park.com.
Short breaks are available for min 4 nights, 2 person from £300 and £400 respectively, and 4 person from £350 and £450.
5 day break at Christmas now just £865 !!!"
The Shelter Stone, Aviemore Village
Christmas at The Shelter Stone......must depart Dec 30th so can offer 7 nights accommodation between the 19th - 30th Dec for £1500 or short breaks at £350 per night..min 3 nights over Christmas period.
This price is for 12 people and includes all heating, electricity, bedlinen and towels.
Inshriach House near Aviemore luxury house
Christmas or New Year, up to 17 people, one week £3500
Relax, unwind and get away from the hustle and bustle - enjoy the peace, tranquility and beauty of Royal Deeside at Loch Kinord Hotel,
Christmas Breaks 2010
3 nights dinner bed and breakfast including Christmas Lunch
and light evening buffet on the 25th.
Standard room £255 per person ● Superior Room £275 per person
2 night package £175 standard ● 2 night superior £195
4th night free B&B if taking 4 course dinner in restaurant.
New Year Breaks 2010-11
nights dinner bed and breakfast including a Champagne
dinner, Piper and Scottish music featuring the fantastic voice
of Pandy Arthur and fireworks at midnight on the 31st.
Standard room £295 per person ● Superior Room £325 per person
2 night standard room £200 ● 2 night superior £225
4th night free B&B if taking 4 course dinner in restaurant
Applegrove Cottage, Boat Of Garten.
Sleeps 4. Centre of village. Large garden. Available 21st to 28th December. £400.
Broomieknowe Cottage, Dulnain bridge.
Sleeps 4. Edge of village. Available 31st December on. £400.
Glencanisp, 190 Grampian Road, Aviemore.
Available over the Christmas period, Wednesday 22nd to Tuesday 28th.
Deals starting from £550 for 3 night stay within these dates. Extra nights at £150 per night.
Thursday
Festive Deals in the Cairngorms National Park
Wednesday
Monday
THE Cairngorm ski centre is being urged to use profits from a record season to pay back a £1 million loan from taxpayers.
The resort announced last week that a prolonged and lucrative winter helped it return a profit of £736,031 for the year ending 31 March, 2010, compared with a loss of £42,728 in the previous financial year.
The company said it now plans to invest in year-round facilities to help it counter the threat climate change poses to the industry.
But a conservation group believes it should put the money towards the loan given by Highland Council to help CairnGorm Mountain Ltd (CML), the resort operators, overcome previous financial difficulties.
Friday
The ski season kicks off in Scotland
The Cairngorm Mountain Ski resort plan to open this weekend for snow sports. Check www.cairngormmountain.co.uk for more info. The other two resorts in the Park the Lecht and Glenshee will remain closed for now.






