Are you nuts about afternoon tea in the Cairngorms National Park? The birds and red squirrels who live there certainly are. From castle to carriage and mountain to moorland, the settings are every bit as irresistible as the indulgent home bakes served with afternoon tea across the Cairngorms.
With the area being renowned for its abundance of wildlife, it’s no surprise that birds and squirrels dine well too.
The Potting Shed and Tea Room at Inschriach take care of all creatures great and small – visitors can choose from the most fantastic selection of home-made cakes while birds and squirrels tuck into their treats at a feeding platform just outside. The bustling feeding station is a sight to behold and attracts a whole array of birds, and the occasional red squirrel, who munch their way through an astonishing tonne of bird food every year.
Fancy going up in the world in your pursuit of an afternoon refreshment? The Ptarmigan Restaurant on CairnGorm Mountain is the highest restaurant in the UK, offering great panoramic views down to Loch Morlich and across to Ben Nevis and Ben Hope. Not only is the outlook refreshing, this informal restaurant has a selection of delicious freshly made cakes and pastries from its in-house bakery to accompany its hot and cold drinks.
More than 200 years ago, the wild, rugged landscape of the Braes of Glenlivet made it a centre for illicit whisky making. Nowadays it’s strictly above board and its malt is renowned all over the world. As well as a tour and dram at the Glenlivet Distillery Visitor Centre, you can enjoy tea, coffee and food at its Old Maltings Coffee Shop, in particular its far-famed whisky cake. The coffee shop has achieved Visit Scotland’s ‘Taste our Best’ Award.
The Cairngorms National Park is an area not only of spectacular landscapes and rich heritage but also a place where excellent food and drink is grown, reared and produced. Local produce is the signature of Taste Braemar, which strives to use local ingredients wherever possible. That, combined with friendly service, relaxed surroundings and the option to order and take away its home-made sponges, means you can repeat – or share – a real flavour of the area.
Take to the rails and watch the stunning scenery pass by while taking tea on board a stream train. The Strathspey Steam Railway afternoon tea in its carriages is just one of the many special dining experiences it offers, or indulge yourself at Rocksalt and Snails in Ballater which offers all the favourite coffees, teas and cakes, and a warm and friendly welcome is guaranteed. Its selection is likely to prove irresistible.
The Cairngorms is landlocked, so it may come as a surprise that it has sandy beaches – and at The Boathouse Café, on the shores of Loch Morlich, you can treat yourself to a tempting selection of refreshments and homebakes. The café is situated on the beach at the foot of Cairngorm Mountain, offering splendid views over the water.
With 2015 being Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink, it’s a real chance to celebrate the Cairngorm’s fantastic natural larder and exceptional landscapes, people and culture that make it so unique.
The Cairngorm National Park is in the heart of Scotland and is easy to reach. It has been listed as one of the top 20 places to visit in the world by the National Geographic Traveller Magazine.
For further information about all there is to see and do in Cairngorms National Park, visit www.visitcairngorms.com