Normal Day in Beautiful Strathspey

Picturesque Glen Banchor just to the west of Newtonmore, was at the beginning of the 19th Century heavily populated by crofting families ~ sadly forced from their homes when sheep were introduced. (http://www.newtonmore.com/things-to-do/immediate-vicinity/historic-attractions/the-glen-banchor-townships.html).

This lovely glen, dissected by the lively River Calder ~ a tributary of the Spey, is now popular with runners and hillwalkers enthralled by their surroundings. Also historians visit, fascinated by the clear evidence of old settlements such as Easterton, Westerton, Dalvalloch & Dalchurn ~ small villages that existed before Newtonmore grew up by the railway ~ which brought to Badenoch and Strathspey its first 'outdoor tourism' ~ Victorian gentry from the south coming to the Highlands for the hunting and shooting, made fashionable and popularlised as 'the thing to do' by Queen Victoria and her love of the Highlands and Balmoral in particular. http://www.balmoralcastle.com/

Almost any day of the week, but especially at weekends, the wee car-park in Glen Banchor by Shepherd's Bridge will have several cars parked but no evidence of their occupants. They have disappeared off to the various corners of the now quiet Glen to enjoy their chosen pastime in the peace and tranquility of this location. Descending back towards Newtonmore ~ behind us Glen Banchor and the Monadhliath (grey mountains) ~ but still on the high ground just above the village, the vista is stunning ~ to the south to snow capped Drumochter hills and to east, across the majestic Spey are the mighty Grampian Mountains or  Monadh Ruadh (red mountains) which includes, of course, Cairngorm ~ Strathspeys winter playground for skiers and snowboarders.http: http://www.cairngormmountain.org/

Once into the village being a mild weekend day we pass some golfers, bags of clubs slung over the shoulder as they head off for a few holes at Newtonmore's lovely golf course situated on the flood-plain of the Spey.  http://www.newtonmoregolf.com/ Then along the village Main Street comes two young men, one sporting very dashing 'tartan' patterned shorts, 'walking' their canoes on trolleys towards to the River Spey for a leisurely afternoon's paddle. This is just another normal day in Newtonmore ~ a typical Strathspey village. http://visitcairngorms.com/

Small but Beautiful ~ Best Country for Varied/Accessible Outdoor Activities

It is now almost 18 months since the Cairngorms Development Partnership ~ then Aviemore & Cairngorms DMO ~ ( http://www.visitcairngorms.com/ ) brought the highly prestigious Adventure Travel Trade World Summit to Aviemore. Many people in the industry ~ both from abroad and many within Scotland, including some of the Scottish activity providers considered Scotland to be just a wee country, with not a lot to offer compared to all the big, exotic sounding countries attending the ATWS incl. Mexico, Brazil, India, Africa. However, delegates were amazed by just how much Scotland has to offer ~ a great morale booster for the Scots. The ATWS was truly a showcase for the wide diversity of high quality, easily accessed Adventure Activity Tourism available here in Scotland. I believe many involved in Scottish Tourism may still be unaware of the influence and positive effects the event has had upon Scottish tourism.

Apart from just the simple factor of not having to travel for hours in terms of accessing contrasting activities, delegates at the ATWS were amazed by Scotland's well considered outdoor access legislation ~ which allows reasonable, responsible access to all who have a desire to be active in the outdoors ~ whatever their chosen activity/level of expertise/comfort-zone.

I was reminded once again of the easy access to multi-actives in Scotland when, in Spring 2011, I was asked to work with a Canadian film crew 'Ski TV' ( skitv.com ). This great team of producer, camera/soundman and presenter basically travel the world filming to provide their multi-national viewers action shots and reviews of ski-resorts spotlighted. The programme producers had been forewarned that skiing was 'not always a certainty in Scotland'. However, if for whatever reason skiing was not possible, then alternative outdoor activities could be easily sourced. On Sunday April 3rd the Canadian film crew, including their presenter, former Canadian World Cup skier Edith Rosza Wright, were truly impressed to first have a  full morning skiing on Cairngorm Mountain ( www.cairngormmountain.org ) in the morning. Then through the afternoon into the dusk they were with me paddling canoes on the majestic Spey ~ a session which culminated with a full malt-whisky tasting experience in a cosy tipi situated on the river back.  

Scots journalist Robin McKelvie in autumn of 2011 once again highlighted the diversity of the Scottish outdoors in the VisitScotland diaries ~ http://www.visitscotland.com/grabaglen

The ATWS provided for me a wonderful sounding/spring-board, for Spirit of the Spey ~ blending open canoe Spey journeys with unique Speyside malt-whisky experiences. Since that World Summit, the past eighteen months has been an exciting time for me ~ leading Canoe Journeys on the historic Spey and providing whisky experiences but also in further developing my Spirit of the Spey business. This has included setting up lines of social media ~ new website, Twitter, Facebook accounts and building connections (now over 500) on Linked-In ~ the equivalent of Facebook for businesses ~ without any trivial chat or holiday snaps.  ( http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/dave-craig/2b/678/362 )

Although very ably aided by my wonderful VPA (Virtual Personal Assistant) Louise,(http://approachthecoach.co.uk/ ) setting up all my social media framework has meant long periods of my sitting at my desk, with the only view being my computer! I sometimes consider social-media to be a multi-piece jigsaw with an ever-changing picture. However, for me now, many of the pieces are in place and, as well as getting out paddling on my beloved Spey, I am now looking to getting back into the local hills, be bathed in their tranquility, appreciate their beauty and revitalise my flagging fitness levels.

From my home here at The Beeches in Newtonmore ( www.thebeechesnewtonmore.com ) within a matter of moments I can be walking with ease through picturesque countryside or on mountainside; biking on-road or in a forest/hill-track, scaling a crag, painting a stunning landscape or playing golf on an immaculate course. This week as a start to my new fitness regime, my wife and I have been running up Glen Banchor towards A' Chailleach (The Old Woman), the impressive Munro 930m behind Newtonmore ~ visible from the A9 ~ frequently in winter adorned with a very marked cornice along the lip of its long east facing corrie.

I am constantly reminded about how privileged we are to live and work in Scotland ~ and Strathspey in particular. This is indeed a stunning part of the world with, literally on our doorsteps, endless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, in whatever way we might choose and to feel at one with nature. Scotland may be a relatively small country but for her size, greater than anywhere else in the world in terms of her a natural beauty and a wide-range of outdoor opportunities ~ welcoming and easily accessible to all ~ residents and tourists.

Happy Burns Night!!