Your comfort & security are our primary concern whilst you swop your home for ours. We wish you to be fully informed regarding the hotel and its unique Highland surroundings so you can arrive feeling you already know us.
Welcome to the Highlands of Scotland, to The Cairngorm National Park and to The Rowan Tree Country Hotel.
We are incredibly pleased that you have chosen to stay with us, and we hope that you enjoy your time here.
This folder contains information about our hotel, the facilities that we have to offer, with tips and hints to help you enjoy your stay with us.
We have included some information on local activities and services that may be of use if you are stuck for something to do and want to see more of the beautiful surroundings.
Read through and see what you think, we’d be more than happy to offer a helping hand if you have any questions or queries, or if you’d like any suggestions with what to do in the local area.
We hope you enjoy your stay,
Jonny & Tamasina
The Rowan Tree Country Hotel
Information about the Rowan Tree Hotel
Wi-Fi
There is 4G Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, just click on Rowantree_Public on your device and then register to be connected. Unfortunately, in the highlands the WIFI can be a little sporadic, so the system isn’t suitable for streaming services.
No – Smoking
The whole hotel is no-smoking by law. There is a smoking bin situated on the front of the building to the left of the main door, and plenty of ashtrays on the tables outside the front of the hotel. If you are found smoking in your room, there will be a £50 charge.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome in the hotel; all we ask that you keep your dog under control, preferably on a lead, in the public areas. Please do not leave them in your room when you are not with them. We request that you provide a dog bed and food bowls and that they don’t sleep on your bed. If you would like dog towels, please let us know and a member of staff can help.
Check out
Check out time is 10.30am. We ask you to vacate your room by then to allow us time to prepare the room for our next guest. You are more than welcome to leave luggage with us to collect later in the day, just speak to one of our team. Late check out may be available for a small charge.
Room Key
If you head out of the hotel for any reason, we ask that you leave your room key with us, this makes one less thing for you to worry about whilst you enjoy your day. Just hand it in at reception and we shall hold it for you. If you have plans that go past 10:30pm please take your key with you as it has a front door key attached to it, we’d hate for you to be locked out!
Coffee, tea, hot chocolate
Your hot drink supplies are refreshed daily, if you need anything extra or if you prefer fresh milk, ask our staff who are more than happy to help.
Heating
All the radiators in your room are fitted with individual temperature controls, allowing you to adjust the warmth of your room. Please note that our heating is on between the hours of 6.30am & 10.00pm.
Bedding
All your bed linen is filled with natural duck feathers; duvet and pillows, if you prefer cotton filled linen, we can easily change this for you. Our bed quilts are a lovely warm 13.5 tog but if you’d like to be even warmer there are additional blankets in the wardrobes and plenty more available if you love to wrap up!
Towels
We like to keep our energy usage as low as we can for the environment, if you are staying for another night and are happy to use your towels again, please leave them on your towel rail for us to fold for you. If you’d prefer fresh towels, please leave them in your bath or shower tray.
Showers
Some of our showers are electric, so if you do find that they aren’t working, please switch them on either at the wall or by pulling the power cord from the ceiling. The temperature guage is sensitive too, if you put the shower on the maximum heat it will not work.
Windows
The windows open by pushing the button on the handle and turn, there are two settings, one that tilts from the top and one that opens from the side. They also have a child safety catch on them. If you need help opening the window, please do ask.
Toilets and Drains
Our drainage system is via a septic tank & soakaway. The system is only designed for natural waste & toilet paper. Please do not put anything else down your toilet, please use the disposal hygiene bags and bin provided.
Drying Room
We have a drying room where you can put your boots, wet clothing etc. When you need to get anything dry, we can put it in there for you.
Storage
Generally, it is very safe to leave items, for example, skis, locked in your car. However, we do have ample storage facilities if you prefer. We can also provide secure storage for bicycles.
Ironing
We have an iron & ironing board if you require them, a member of staff can deliver these to your room. We ask that you return these after use so that no irons are left on by accident, and they are available for other guests to use.
Luggage
If you would like assistance to carry your luggage downstairs on the day of your departure, please ask. We can store your luggage for you on the day of your departure should your plans require it.
Post
Our Postie still collects as well as delivers. If you have any letters or postcards that you’d like to post, just hand them in to reception.
Activities
We are more than happy to help you make bookings for Horse riding, Watersports, Clay Pigeon Shooting, 4×4 off road driving, Quad Biking, Hairdressing, Beauty Treatments, the Dry Ski slope, Archery, Cycling, Fishing, Skiing (lessons & ski hire). Simply let us know what you need.
Taxis
If you require a taxi to Aviemore (or, indeed, to anywhere else), we’re happy to arrange it for you. The number for Aviemore Taxis is 01479811111
Ticks
There are small beasties in the Scottish Highlands. Please check yourself for ticks after being outside as they can latch onto you and may carry Lyme’s disease.
Lost Property
We’d ask you to carefully check your room before you leave us. If, however, you leave something with us, we are happy to return it to you and simply ask that you pay towards administration and postage. We do not accept any responsibility for any lost property left in the rooms or posted to you.
Problems
If you have a problem with anything during your stay, please let us know so that we can do what we can to put it right on the spot.
Eating and Drinking at the Rowan Tree Country Hotel
We are more than happy to discuss any specific needs that you may have, for example, low fat, vegetarian, vegan, wheat or gluten free & lactose intolerant. Simply let us know what you need.
With a bit of notice, we are sure you’ll enjoy what we prepare for you!
Breakfast
Breakfast is served between 8.00am & 9.30am
Packed Lunches
If you’d like us to prepare a packed lunch, flask of soup etc for you, please just let us know. These will be made ready for you to collect in the morning.
Evening Meals
All our food is individually prepared for you and is freshly cooked using only the best local ingredients. We offer an A ‘la Carte Menu with a variety of choices, allowing you to sample some interesting dishes based on traditional Scottish fare.
If you would like to dine with us, please let us know before you go out in the morning – we would not want you to be disappointed.
Supper and Lunch
If your plans mean that you are going to either return to the hotel later than dinner time or be around at lunch time, we’ll be pleased to prepare a light supper or lunch for you, for example home-made soup, sandwiches, cheese platter etc.
Local Activities
In summer or winter, the Aviemore area offers a variety of activities, with something to suit all tastes. The Rowan Tree is ideally situated, with our central location allowing easy access to everything that is going on.
In reception, we have a good selection of leaflets giving details on individual attractions, please feel free to browse, to help yourself to any leaflets that you want and, of course, to ask our advice.
Our aim is that you enjoy your stay with us to the full and we’re only pleased to help.
Walking, Climbing & Mountaineering
There are several walks and cycle rides directly from the hotel. The easiest stroll is to Loch Alvie, however you can also walk up Torr Alvie to the Duke of Gordon Monument, which takes about 1 1/2 hours.
The Speyside Way can be accessed from the hotel and you can walk all the way to the coast or take the Badenoch Way to Kingussie. You can choose the length of your walk; however, the path is easy terrain and also suitable for cycling. Also, from the hotel you can access the East Highland Way and walk all the way to Fort William!
For a more strenuous walk from the hotel try Geal-charn Mor, which passes through Lynwilg. The walk from the hotel will take you around 3 1/2-5 hours and will give you stunning views of Glen Feshie, Braeriach and Caringorm, plus Rothiemurcus forest.
In the area there are a good selection of Munros, Corbetts & Donalds, achievable in a day’s outing from the hotel such as Ben Mcdui and Braerich, which are the second and third highest mountains in Britain.
For those guests with less time, there is a whole host of very fine, lower level walks and forest trails taking you through some of the most marvellous scenery in Scotland.
There is a selection of walks, with impressive views accessible from the Cairngorm ski area car park with a café and shop open year-round.
Feel free to ask us for more information. Walkhighlands.co.uk is also a great source of walking information.
Skiing and Snowboarding
Just 20 minutes’ drive away, Cairngorm Mountain is Scotland’s premier ski area, with lift accessed riding. It’s also a great base for all winter activities.
Our location also means that you can easily get over to The Lecht Ski Area or down to The Nevis Range. Great options for a change of scenery.
Cairngorm Mountain and The Plateau
The Cairngorm Plateau is one of the UK’s finest wild places. It is our only Arctic Wilderness and is home to many rare plants & flowers. Cairngorm itself is the 5th highest mountain in the UK and the views from the top, on a clear day, are simply stunning.
The landscapes & habitats of the Mountain Range are unique and very fragile. As such they are, quite rightly, protected under European Law. If you are looking to get to the summit of Cairngorm Mountain or, perhaps, further afield, you’ll need to walk up the access path from the Base Station Car Park.
Watersports
Watersports are close at hand with Loch Insh Watersports just 10 minutes away, offering equipment hire and tuition for sailing, canoeing & windsurfing, together with kayak safaris on the River Spey.
Loch Morlich is a similar distance in the other direction, offering similar facilities, again in stunning surroundings.
Fishing
Some of Scotland’s renowned fishing, for Salmon, Trout & Pike is available locally on the River Spey and on various Lochs nearby. You can also have a great deal of fun at the Rothiemurchus Fishery just a few minutes away and you get to keep the trout that you catch – if you wish!!
Golf
Macdonald Aviemore Resort is home of the spectacular Spey Valley Championship Golf Course. It has been voted one of the best golf courses in Scotland, Spey Valley features some breathtaking views. There are also courses nearby in the Boat of Garten and Nethy Bridge.
Horse Riding
Alvie Stables just 10 minutes down the road or Rothiemurchus can arrange riding of all standards, from pony trekking for the relative novice to more challenging adventures for the more experienced rider.
Wildlife
We are surrounded by thousands of acres of moorland and forest, teeming with wildlife. You can see all sorts of animals, birds, plants & flowers, simply by going for walks in and around the area. Additionally, you can also see & learn a lot more by visiting one of the following operations.
Just down the road, south of Kincraig, is The Highland Wildlife Park. Here you can see a wonderful selection of Scottish wildlife, both the wildlife of the present and creatures that roamed the hills & glens hundreds, even thousands, of years ago and now extinct in the wild in Britain.
The Cairngorm National Park, home of the world-famous Ospreys, ask us for the best places to see these impressive birds. 10 minutes south of us is the Insh Marshes Nature Reserve, owned by the RSPB, one of the most important areas of flood plain wetland in Britain and is the wintering and breeding ground of large numbers of wetland birds.
The Reindeer Centre is just 10 minutes away, offering guided walks to see these wonderful animals.
History
The Highlands of Scotland and this area in particular are steeped in History, Myths & Legends. Within a short distance of the hotel there are lots of things you can experience for yourself.
For example: how Scottish people lived & worked in this area in the past, how great battles were fought – and won or lost, how the great Lairds lived, back then and how they live now and much, much more. Here is a small selection of the historic sites not so very far away.
The Highland Folk Museum at Newtonmore – Open in Spring, Summer and Autumn, discover the world of the Highlander, through the windows of time. Whole buildings have been reconstructed to allow you to really see how things were. There’s an interesting collection of artefacts & domestic objects and costumed interpreters bring the whole thing to life.
At Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last battle fought on British soil in 1746, the excellent exhibits give you a real insight into war as it was fought back then. It is a really special place.
Just up the road from Culloden is Cawdor Castle, which claims to be the “most romantic castle in Scotland”. Linked by Shakespeare to Macbeth, Cawdor lets you experience wealthy medieval living at first hand. Beautiful gardens surround the Castle, ideal for a gentle stroll.
For a taste of how the Lairds live today, visit Ballindalloch Castle, the family home of the MacPherson-Grants since 1546 and the home of the only Lady Laird in Scotland.
Important safety notice
If you discover a fire:
Immediately raise the alarm using the nearest fire alarm point.
Close the door of your room and any windows nearby.
Only tackle the fire if it is safe to do so.
Leave the building immediately, notifying people of the fire on your way out
If you hear the fire alarm:
Immediately leave the building using the nearest available exit routes.
Close any doors that you use, do not stop to collect your belongings and do not run as this may cause panic.
There is a muster point on the far side of the front car park.
Please read the notice on the back of your door and make sure you are aware of your nearest fire exit.
Other problems or emergencies
Aviemore Health Centre has a walk-in service between 8am-6pm Monday to Friday and the phone number is 01479 810 258. Out of hours, you can get an appointment there by calling 111.
If you have any problems or in the event of an emergency, please contact us. We live in room 1, on the first floor on the left hand side.
If you see something you like in the hotel, please let us know and we can help you to purchase one.