What should I bring?

Food & drink: Bring your own food. Tea, sugar, salt, and pepper are useful to have. Tap water is drinkable.

Cooking & dining: Cookware, cutlery, plates, mugs, glasses, and a coffee machine are provided (bring coffee filters).

Bedding & towels: Bring your own if not opting for the linen package.

Clothing & footwear: Warm clothing, spare boots, and slippers or indoor shoes (floors can be cold).

Logs: Can also be easily purchased in Aviemore for the log fire.

What facilities are available?

Fridge/Freezer is available to store your food. Industrial sized gas hobs and oven are installed in all communal kitchens. Coffee machine, microwave, kettle, toaster and all cookware and cutlery are available.

WiFi available throughout all lodges, password is provided in each lounge. TV is available in the lounge and some ensuite rooms.

All ensuite rooms in the Nuffield lodge have a shower. New Nuffield bunkhouse and Union Jack lodges have communal washing facilities.

Laundry facilities are available in Aviemore.

Drying room/storage is available for wet boots and clothing.

Is there a log fire?

Yes! Each lodge has a log burner in the lounge, perfect for cozy evenings. Logs aren’t provided, so please bring plenty (about one bag for two nights), along with kindling, firelighters, and matches.

Is the lodge accessible in the snow?

In snowy and icy conditions, the track can become impassable. We recommend visitors bring snow chains from late November until March, if snow or extreme cold is forecast. If in doubt, vehicles need to be left inside the gate, and it is a 2km walk in from this point.

Can I have visitors at the lodge?

All visitors must be booked in if staying overnight. Day visitors are welcome, no need to book in.

Is there somewhere to get groceries?

Yes! Aviemore is just 20 minutes away and has a well-stocked Tesco and Aldi, as well as B&M for logs, and Costa. If you’d rather not cook, there are also plenty of excellent restaurants and pubs to enjoy nearby.

Is the lodge suitable for small children?

Yes, absolutely! All rooms have beds suitable for children, though we do not recommend young children use the top bunks. While we don’t provide cots, there is space for a travel cot in the Nuffield En-suite rooms.

For safety, all children must be supervised when outside. The surrounding terrain includes rocky areas, small lochs, and bogs, and weather conditions in the Cairngorms can change rapidly. Children should never be left to explore alone, and we ask parents and guardians to keep a close watch to ensure a safe and enjoyable stay.

Are there ticks and midges?

Yes, if you’re exploring wooded areas, ticks can be present, so we recommend wearing long sleeves and trousers. Midges can also be an issue in calm conditions, so it’s a good idea to keep windows and doors closed and use a midge repellent, especially between May and September. On windy days, midges are generally not a problem.