The village of Spittal of Glenshee, in the Cairngorms National Park

At two thousand feet above sea level, the villag lies at the head of Glenshee in the Cairngorms National Park at the confluence of several small tributaries flowing south from the Grampian Mountains. There have been hostels and inns on the site for centuries but more recently a tourist industry based on the nearby Glenshee ski area has sprung up.

This is truly ancient country. There is a megalithic standing stone behind the old kirk hinting at Neolithic inhabitation, and the Four Poster Stone Circle lies on a nearby earthen mound. The first ski tows in Britain were installed in Glenshee in the 1950s and the slopes of Britain's largest ski area remain popular today. The village is also one of the main stopping points on the magnificent Cateran Trail, which winds through the glens of Perthshire and Angus for more than sixty miles. There is also mountain-biking, golf and hang gliding available at the Glenshee ski area.

Close to the magnificent scenery of Royal Deeside, the Spittal of Glenshee Hotel is the ideal base for hill-walkers, skiers, golfers and horsemen. It boasts a fine dining restaurant and lively bar. For Aprés-ski - The Spittal Hotel is everybody's meeting place after a day on the hill.  Whether it's a hearty breakfast in preparation for a big day, a relaxing lunch between golf rounds, or dressing up for a special dinner, Damlunzie House Hotel offers everything. For other places to eat see our Cairngorms wine and dine page for more details.

The highest golf course in Britain, Braemar Golf Course, is only a mile or so away, and there are a further ten superb courses within an hour's drive. The walk from Dalmunzie Hotel around the golf course is particularly rewarding. Check out our golf page for more details.

If you don't mind a drive amongst beautiful Highland scenery, why not take in the Braemar Gathering and Highland Games at Balmoral on the first weekend in September? The castle also offers the visitor a great day out from April through until the end of July.

For those looking to explore, Glamis Castle, Scone Palace and Pitlochry are all within an hour's drive, while Royal Deeside and Balmoral Castle are only half an hour away. Get into the hills without the walking, try Braemar Highland Safaris. A comfortable 4x4 vehicle, which can carry up to seven passengers, is used to take you along established mountain tracks which were initially used by the drovers and whisky smugglers to take their products to the southern markets.