Overlooking the River Spey on the northern edge of the Cairngorm Mountains, Grantown-on-Spey was founded as a planned settlement in 1765. It was named after Sir James Grant and is home to several impressive examples of Scottish Baronial architecture. Once a market town, it emerged as a tourism destination in the late Victorian era and serves as a gateway to the forested trails and lochs of Cairngorms National Park.
Things to do in Grantown-on-Spey
Occupying Burnfield House (which once served as a female school) is the Grantown Museum, which explores the establishment and history of the town. In addition to old photographs and Victoria-era costumes, the collection includes changing exhibitions of artwork and traditional crafts. Local tartans and history books are available for purchase in the museum store.
A short stroll from the Grantown Museum is the Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club, which was established in 1890 on a design by Willie Park. Its 18-hole parkland course offers superb views of the Cairngorm Mountains and there’s a fully stocked PGA pro shop on site. After your game, you can enjoy a meal or drink at the traditional clubhouse.
On the eastern edge of Grantown-on-Spey is the Anagach Woods, a beautiful tract of Scots pines that provides habitat for capercaillies. An eight-kilometre-long circular trail traverses the woods while offering sightings of native red squirrels, herons and woodpeckers. The Anagach Woods forms part of Cairngorms National Park, which is the largest national park in the United Kingdom.
Getting around Grantown-on-Spey
Grantown-on-Spey is around 45 minutes’ drive from Inverness and Inverness Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Buses connect from towns and villages across Moray to Grantown-on-Spey and the town is small enough to explore on foot.