Jan Patience
LIKE many holiday spots in the Highlands, Aviemore has a railway station – and Queen Victoria – to thank for putting it on the map. Queen Victoria was a regular visitor to the Cairngorms and trotted up nearby Ben Macdui (Britain's second highest peak) in October 1859 on a pony led by faithful Highland manservant John Brown.
On Brown's advice, this monarch of the glen partook of a dram with water at the summit. Pure water on its own, he told her, would be "too chilling".
Queen Victoria would barely recognise the modern-day Aviemore, since in her day it consisted of a train station and not a lot else. But she reputedly liked a sweet treat, a dram and a jig, so she would probably have been drawn to forthcoming food and drink hoolie, North Hop, at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort.
This travelling food and drink festival gives lovers of craft beer, artisan gins, whisky cocktails and fine street food the chance to taste and test new products – all made in Scotland.
Split into two sessions over the course Saturday February 25, there's a cast of talented musicians waiting to entertain festival-goers.
Reflecting the great outdoors on the doorstep, there's an apres-ski theme. On the bill at North Hop Aviemore is a line up of up-and-coming Scottish talent in the shape of Dr Wook & The Voltaic Disorder, Hollie Atkinson, Josephine Sillars, Carma, Footerin’ Aboot, Nicky Aiken, Michael Cassidy and Moteh and Friends. Spud the Piper, who played for Madonna and Guy Ritchie when they got married in Dornoch, will also be making an appearance.
If you're heading to Aviemore for North Hop, here's a run-down of unmissable things to do.
Breakfast at The Mountain Cafe, Aviemore. Recently named of the top places to have breakfast in the UK, this Kiwi-run cafe offers wholesome and healthy food with panache. It's worth waiting in the inevitable queue as the pancakes and coffee will kick any hangover into touch. mountaincafe-aviemore.co.uk
A tasting tour of Cairngorm Brewery. This local craft brewery is taking part in North Hop but if you want to see what their beers are all about tours are held twice a day from Monday-Friday. Weekend tours can be arranged by prior arrangement. cairngormbrewery.com
The Rothiemurcus Estate, outside Aviemore, with its woodland and stunning mountain vistas, has a host of activities. If you're with a bunch of friends nothing beats a winter trek with Quad Bikes Aviemore. Book in advance as it's perennially popular. quadtreksaviemore.com
A walk to the Green Loch (An Lochan Uaine) in Glemore Forest Park will burn off excess calories. The start of this one-hour stroll is seven miles outside Aviemore on the road to CairnGorm Mountain ski resort. The loch in question IS actually green, and some say pixies once washed their clothes in it… makeitsnow.co.uk/the-mysterious-green-loch
Fall in love with a train journey by hopping on board the vintage railcar service from Aviemore to Boat of Garten and back. Run by the not-for-profit Strathspey Railway Company, this charming train journey, which featured on hit TV series Monarch of the Glen, will appeal to train-lovers of all ages. Sit back and drink in old world charm as the train chugs through stunning scenery. strathspeyrailway.cloudvenue.co.uk
There's more than one way to improve your swing in Aviemore… TreeZone at Rothiemurcus will bring out your inner monkey by letting you swing through the trees with the greatest of ease. More sedately, there are three golf courses: Macdonald Aviemore Resort, Carrbridge and Boat of Garten. All with stunning backdrops. www.treezone.co.uk/aviemore
North Hop tickets are £17.50 + booking fee per session.
See northhop.co.uk for details and facebook.com/northhop for daily updates
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