2011/12 Why not learn to Ski or Snowboard in Scotland

Cairngorms National Park snow sport resorts (Lecht, Glenshee and CairnGorm) will be open soon, a cold hard period over the festive holidays will hopefully give us a deep snowpack.   Welcome to the Big Three cairngorms ski resorts: Lecht, CairnGorm and Glenshee.  We're proud of our hardy highland snow sports tradition. Whether youre interested in group snowboard / ski lessons or private lessons, our experienced instructors at each resort can help you hone your skills and have a great day on the mountains. To find the product and location thats best for you, just choose from the three resort categories on our cairngorms snowsport, skiing and snowboarding page.  www.cairngorms-park.com/activities/Winter-Sports/.

We work with the local accommodation community to make Cairngorms-Park.com a one-stop shop for Cairngorms hotels, holiday rentals, B&Bs, Hostels and more. Learn about our wide array of accommodations, across diverse and distinctive parts of our National Park, all short drives  from the three best Scottish Ski and Mountain Resorts. Search properties based on dates, type of rental, or amenties available!

The House of Bruar up for sale

The House of Bruar  the Highlands retailer dubbed the Harrods of the North is up for sale with a price tag in the region of £50m. The Scottish companys owners, husband and wife Mark and Linda Birkbeck, have begun a strategic review of their options following a number of approaches over the years.

The pair, both in their 60s, believe that the time has come to exit the business. Their son, Patrick, hopes to maintain his role as managing director.

The clothes, food and homewares retailer, which occupies an 11-acre site on the edge of the A9 at the gateway to the Highlands in rural Perthshire, is expected to receive interest from trade and luxury goods companies interested in developing the Bruar brand, as well as private equity buyers..

WORLD ORIENTEERING IN THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK

British Orienteering awarded the 2015 World Orienteering Championships

At a press conference today the International Orienteering Federation announced that British Orienteering will host the 2015 World Orienteering Championships. There was competition to stage the event with Sweden submitting a strong bid; however the strength of the British Orienteering bid won favour with the IOF. The Championships will be based in Inverness during August 2015 and will utilise the world class terrain along the Moray coast and in the Cairngorms National Park. The Scottish 6 Days will run in parallel to the Championships and will bring 5000 competitors to the area boosting the local economy by an estimated £2 million. The foundation of the British bid is the strong partnership which has developed between orienteering organisations, government agencies and the local community who all have a shared vision for the event. The partners are: British Orienteering, the Scottish Orienteering Association, EventScotland, the Scottish 6 Days Event Company, and the Highland Council.

Shona Robison, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport said, Congratulations to the bid team and I am delighted we will be welcoming the World Orienteering Championships to Scotland in 2015. It is a wonderful legacy from 2014 that we will continue to have world class sporting events in Scotland beyond this milestone year. It further demonstrates our capability at staging such major events and further enhances our active messaging across the country. Lyn West, British Orienteering Chair said We are delighted to have been awarded the 2015 Championships and look forward to working with the IOF and our other partners in delivering an exciting and memorable event

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said It is great for British Orienteering and Scotland to have successfully won the bid to host the World Championships in 2015. I am sure that with the continued hard work of the partnerships established, Scotland will prove to be the perfect stage for this event. Colin Matheson, Professional Officer Scottish Orienteering Association said Scotland has been recognised by the international orienteering community as having world-class areas for staging major events. In the run up to 2015 we look forward to hosting the JK2012 International Orienteering Festival as well as the Scottish Orienteering 6Day Event Company in Moray 2013. We look forward to meeting orienteers from across the world at these and other competitions before the main event in 2015.

Lynne Walker, Chairman Scottish Orienteering 6-Day Event Company said We are honoured to be involved with the partnership formed to stage the prestigious WOC 2015 event and associated public races. We will do our utmost to deliver an unforgettable experience for everyone. Councillor Bill Fernie, Chair of The Highland Council s Education Culture and Sport committee said we are absolutely delighted to be welcoming the World Championships back to the Highlands. We saw a lasting sporting and economic benefit the last time the championships were in the area and I m sure it will be bigger and better this time round. We will prepare our best Highland welcome foreveryone involved

Grow your own - Grow Cairngorms

Residents in the Cairngorms National Park are being offered the chance to take part in a new gardening course. "Grow Cairngorms" will teach people how to grow, harvest and store their home grown produce.

"Grow Cairngorms" is a pilot project which is being delivered through the Cairngorms Land Based Business Training Project (LBBTP) with funding from LEADER.

Grow Cairngorms Project Manager, Sheila Wickens, said: "People are often daunted by the prospect of growing their own because they don't know where to start. This training will equip them with the skills they need to start growing plus the confidence in their end produce."

The project will involve six practical half day sessions, looking at seasonal gardening tasks. These will cover; planning a garden, sowing, planting, protecting against pests and diseases, and harvesting your crops. In addition, there will be a series of five complimentary lectures, covering topics such as composting, growing in polytunnels, pests and diseases, preserving your produce and growing fruit.

The course is an important way of developing Food for Life in the Cairngorms, providing practical support to local residents interested in growing their own food. CNPA Board Member, Jaci Douglas, said: "Growing your own is a really fun activity the whole family can get involved in and I have long been pushing for a course like this as it is a great opportunity to find out what you need to know, especially about growing things in the area. There are so many benefits to being able to grow your own fruit and vegetables: it's convenient, provides a healthy diet and is better for the environment because the food is not being transported to the shops."

The course is open to residents in the Cairngorms National Park only. For the half day practical sessions places are limited to 15 and cost £50 per person for the full course or £7 per session. The lectures are not restricted to just those signed up for the practical course. Both practical sessions and Lectures will be taking place from May 2011 to October 2011 at a venue to be confirmed.

To register for the course or to find out more information contact Sheila Wickens on Tel: 01463 870223

CairnGorm Mountain reports second good season in a row

For the second season in a row a ski resort has reported having more than 120,000 skiers and snowboarders.

CairnGorm Mountain said it had been more than 15 years since it had two successive seasons with that number of visitors.

The centre, near Aviemore, said the season had started early on 13 November 2010 and closed on 25 April 2011.

It said the period had seen 142 days of skiing involving 121,420 snow sports enthusiasts.

Marketing executive Colin Kirkwood said the resort had seen twice as many skiers in November and December as the previous year.

He added: "And although we have had an identical number of days lost to bad weather this year as last, many of the days we lost this season were in February and March when we might have expected to have had very large numbers of skiers.

April 2011 - Celebrate Nature - the trees and forests of the Cairngorms National Park

A fun day for all the family to "Celebrate Nature - Trees, Forests and Us!" is taking place next month, organised by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) and the Ranger Services of the Cairngorms National Park.

The free event takes place on Saturday 21 May 2011 from 10am - 4pm at the Four Seasons Lawn, Aviemore Highland Resort, and will focus on the theme of trees and forests to coincide with the United Nations International Year of Forests 2011.

Throughout the day there will be a wide variety of activities, demonstrations and advice from the CNPA and the ranger services on all aspects of woodland and forest management - where people can get involved in and learn more about wildlife and nature, recreation opportunities and forest products.

CNPA Local Biodiversity Action Plan Officer Stephen Corcoran said: "Funding from the Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage have made this event possible. Our aim is to highlight the fantastic benefits of the woodland and forests in the Cairngorms National Park.

"Forests provide an amazing habitat for animals but also benefit us in so many ways, helping reduce the impact of climate change, provide fuel and building materials for our homes and places to get out and have fun. Whether you're interested in finding out about mountain biking in the forests or seeing wood sculpted with a chainsaw, there's something for everyone at this event."

CNPA Convener David Green added: "Celebrating Nature follows on from the 24 hour Biobuzz Day we hosted last year which was a great success It was a fun day out for youngsters attracting hundreds of people to record wildlife sightings in the Cairngorms National Park. This event aims to build on that success - bringing people and nature closer and developing a greater understanding of how good forest management benefits the people of Scotland in so many practical, fun and exciting ways."

Keep an eye on our website and local press for further information or contact the CNPA's Local Biodiversity Action Plan Officers Stephen Corcoran and Justin Prigmore on 01479 873535 or by email.

Scotlands best attractions

Scotland is one of those perfect places for a holiday  it is relatively easy to get to and there is plenty for the tourist to see and do. No matter what the personal tastes of the traveller  countryside, city sights, beaches  Scotland has something that will suit any visitor.

The Scottish Highlands bring in thousands of tourists every year, many of whom spend their time hiking through the area, which is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful parts of the country. However, exploring does not necessarily mean pulling on a pair of boots and spending the days wandering the hiking trails. Why not take a trip on the Strathspey Railway? Step back in time to the post-war period and enjoy a trip from Aviemore right through to the Boat of Garten. The journey takes visitors right through the Cairngorm Mountains and provides an opportunity to see the heather-covered hills at close quarters while travelling in comfort and style.

The cities

Edinburgh and Glasgow are the main places to head for in Scotland for those who want a city break. Glasgow has many attractions for visitors of all ages and there are some that cost nothing to see. The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is one of the countrys most popular visitor attractions and offers free entry to all. The exhibits include a Spitfire from World War Two and a room that focuses on the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the famous Arts and Crafts movement designer. There are some attractions that are interactive and it is a particular favourite with children. The city is also home to the Glasgow Science Centre where visitors can make rockets and hot air balloons among other things. The centre is filled with interactive exhibits that kids will be able to spend hours exploring.

Edinburgh  Scotlands capital

A quick chat with Co-op travel agents will help with a trip to Scotlands capital city of Edinburgh. This is one of the most popular destinations in Scotland and a trip there would not be complete without a visit to the Edinburgh Dungeons. This attraction has been designed to show children the history of the area rather than tell them - although some of it may be too scary for very little ones. Alternatively enjoy the fresh air in Princes Street Gardens. This area of the city is usually a hive of activity, no matter what the time of year, and it is a great place to enjoy a picnic when the weather is good. For those who want to see the city without being right in the heart of it, the Castle and Arthurs Seat is a must. The views from there are amazing and those who prefer not to walk can drive almost to the top.

Beach holidays

Looking for a beach holiday? Scotland has plenty of choices. Tentsmuir Beach in Fife includes a nature reserve as well as a forest leading down to the beach;it is a great place for kids who love to ride their bikes. With play and barbecue areas, the whole family can settle down here for the day when the weather is good.