Sleeps 8 +1 infant in 4 bedrooms (3 bathrooms), up to 2 dogs welcome. Three night minimum stay
Amazing location
Surrounded by the pine and birch woodland of Rothiemurcus Forest, just around the corner from the Farm Shop and Cafe, the cottage is well set back from the ski road that leads to Loch Morlich. The renowned Old Logging Way (the start of some truly epic walks and rides) goes past the front door, and the beach at beautiful Loch an Eilein - featured in the film The Outlaw King - is a gentle 20 minute bike ride through the woods.
For Active Families and Luxury-loving Adventurers
The Green Lodge Aviemore has been furnished to the highest standard to appeal to families and friends who love being out in nature during the day, and enjoy coming back to a fabulously comfortable home at night.
Sip your morning coffee watching the cheeky activity at the bird feeders outside the kitchen window: the woods are home to adorable red squirrels, and woodpeckers nest nearby, and both are daily visitors to the garden. Step out into the covered Sitooterie with your cup of tea to smell the sweet forest air and watch the sunlight wash over distant Craigellachie mountain to the west.
Plan your day's activities and your routes with the help of our map wall and local guidebooks - there is so much to do you'll find something for everyone in the party. Rafting, gorge walking, stand up paddle boarding or kayaking? Biking on the flat or up technically challenging mountain trails? Hiking, picnics, or - for the little ones - the nearby play park and the indoor adventure area? Pony trekking, tennis or zip wires? Photography, bird watching? Or maybe lounging on the comfortable seats in the back garden watching the antics of the birds and squirrels. It's up to you.
We have a lockable shed where you can store your bikes and golf clubs - or skis - and an outside tap for hosing down anything - or anyone - that needs it. The utility room with washing machine and tumble dryer has ample drying racks for wet clothes, and there is plenty of storage for all the sporting kit you might bring.
You'll find a great choice of cafes and restaurants within an easy walk, but our cook's kitchen is so great you'll want to eat in as well. Along with everything you'd expect, we've got an amazing wood burning pizza oven outside, and a Heston Blumenthal coffee machine that makes arguably the best coffee in Aviemore - visit the website for a video tutorial!
After dinner, move through to the living room and snuggle down into the sheepskin throws on the comfy sofas. Gaze into the flames of the wood burning stove, put your music on our bluetooth speaker and choose one of the many board games on offer. If you'd like to watch a film, our smart TV has a choice of 700 movies, and - if you have one - you can log into your own Netflix or Amazon prime account.
Bedrooms
There are four bedrooms, three upstairs and one downstairs. Upstairs, bedroom 1 has a super kingsize bed and an ensuite shower room, and there is ample space for a cot, if requested. Bedroom 2 has a kingsize bed and bedroom 3 has two single beds. Bedrooms 2 and 3 share a family bathroom with a bathtub. Downstairs, bedroom 4 has two single beds, and it has the downstairs shower room. There are grab rails by the WC and in the shower.
The beds are exceptionally comfortable: Hypnos Orthocare 8 mattresses, with memory foam toppers and coolmax protectors. You have a choice of pillows, and crisp Egyptian cotton sheets to give you a restoring night's sleep ready for all the adventures the next day will bring.
Kid Friendly
This area is great for kids, and there are masses of opportunities to get them out into nature. Our son first learnt to ride a bike on the miles of nearby forest tracks, starting by wobbling his balance bike around Loch an Eilein. After a few years and a couple of training sessions with some of the local experts, he has now picked up enough MBT skillz to race down the stunt runs at Laggan Wolftrax.
There are two fantastic forest zipwire sites within 5 miles, riding lessons, pony trekking, tennis, a climbing wall, trampoline acrobatics and all manner of watersports at Loch Insh and Loch Morlich, as well as attractions such as the Reindeer Centre, Landmark Adventure Park and Adventure Zone, not to mention Hamish the polar bear at the Highland Wildlife Park.
After all this, by the time you get them home to The Green Lodge at the end of the day they should be fair wabbit*, but if they can stay awake long enough after tea, there's a kids station on the landing with bean bags and lots of charging points - and wifi.
We have retractable stair gates at the foot and top of the stairs, and a cot and high chair can be provided on request.
*Scots for 'exhausted'
Dog Friendly
Dogs are part of the family, and your well-behaved pet is welcome in all of the living areas at the Green Lodge (we welcome a maximum of two dogs, there is a charge of £25 per dog). There is an abundance of stunning dog walks in the surrounding woods - expect your dog to spend the evenings snoozing happily in front of the wood burning stove!
We have kitted out the utility room off the kitchen with a spot for your dog's bed and water bowl. A door leads out to the back garden which is enclosed by a 90cm high wooden fence. There is a tap on the outside wall for rinsing off the worst of the mud after a walk, and there is a supply of dog towels in the utility room.
House rules are strictly no dogs in the bedrooms, and we ask you to keep your dog off the furniture in all rooms. No dog may be left alone in the house, unless securely crated.
Your host
My name is Helen and I would love to hear from you - I really want to help you get the most out of your visit. Our property manager is in the village and you will have their number to ring for anything that might crop up. If you have any questions beforehand I would love to hear from you. I love this this very special part of the world and it is my ambition to help you enjoy it as much as my family does, giving you a holiday you will look back on with affection for years to come.
Do contact me and I will email you our wonderful digital guidebook full of special things to do and insider tips for the area.
Other things to note
If you are looking for late nights in the bars of central Aviemore, or lively evenings listening to music outside in the hot tub, our place is not ideal for you (and not just because we don't have a hot tub). The locality is very peaceful and family oriented, and we therefore do not accept bookings for stag or hen parties, nor do we allow parties to be held in the house. No smoking or vaping is allowed inside. Thank you for understanding.
Three night minimum stay
15% discount for 4 nights; 25% discount for 5 nights and 35% discount for 7 nights.
