Where Stags Roar

07/09/2026

A kingfisher did a fly-by in an iridescent flash of turquoise, and I was quietly watched by a wee deer whilst fly fishing the River Spey for salmon as the sun came up in Newtonmore.

05/09/2026

Promotional shinty film courtesy of Norman Strachan.

05/09/2026

Good luck Badenoch Ladies Shinty Club !!

GAME DAY! 🏆👀

You’re final chance to support us this season as we face ‘Shiel in the Mowi Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup Final.
We hope to hear as many of you as possible pitch side, but if you can’t manage along the match will be live on BBC Alba, iPlayer and BBC Alba’s YouTube channel from 4pm.

04/09/2026

https://www.visitcairngorms.com/things-to-do/adventure-outdoors/walking-hiking/speysideway/

https://www.speysideway.co.uk/route/ =5/-3.92/57.13

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34769973

https://www.visitcairngorms.com/things-to-do/adventure-outdoors/mountain-biking-cycling/cycle/

Did you know that you can follow the Speyside Way on a mountain bike or gravel bike? - these links above give some great info and a route summary for the local section Newtonmore to Aviemore.
From Newtonmore there is a brilliant mixed-use cycle path to Kingussie, then a very quiet B road short section out to Ruthven Barracks, and from there onto the Speyside Way;

Newtonmore to Kingussie (3 miles / 5 km): A smooth, gentle shared-use cycle path providing great mountain views across the valley of Badenoch. It features short pavement and road sections within the villages.
Kingussie to Kincraig (10.75 miles / 17.5 km): Follows broad, well-surfaced trails and forest paths. It takes you past the historic Ruthven Barracks, loops around the edge of the RSPB Insh Marshes Nature Reserve, and continues on to the scenic Loch Insh.
Kincraig to Aviemore (6.75 miles / 11 km): A purpose-built, well-surfaced path through the native birchwoods of the Kinrara Estate. This section is undulating with a few short, steep slopes, wooden boardwalks, and bridges.

There are also lots of really great routes starting from Newtonmore and the surrounding area on Komoot, and take a look at the Bike + Hike section on our www.wherestagsroar.co.uk webiste for our own favourite posted komoot routes locally and other links.

It's much easier following a turn by turn app such as komoot or RideWithGPS, and there are loads of uploaded options for this area!

Bike storage available at all of our award-winning places to stay - see the website for individual property details.

04/09/2026

It's blowing a hooley, but the sun's out and so are the golfers and bowlers 😎

28/08/2026

🐾🥾 A last-minute Cairngorms escape for two (and your four-legged friend!) 🐾

Fancy swapping the everyday for 3 nights in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park? 🌲🏔️

Our beautiful Baltinna West in Newtonmore has a last-minute opening from *Sunday 30th August for 3 nights* — and we’ve reduced the price to just £284 for the full 3-night stay. That’s less than half price now for this gorgeous 4-star, lodge-style cottage.

And we're dog friendly! 🐶 so you can bring your walking companion along and enjoy some truly wonderful adventures together.

🥾 Fabulous walks start right from the doorstep, with the stunning local hills and glens waiting to be explored. After a day out and about come home, put your feet up and light the wood-burning stove (logs included) — perfect for a cosy evening for two. ❤️

The cottage has everything you need for a relaxing getaway:

🔥 Wood-burning stove & logs included
⚡ EV charger
📶 Fast WiFi
🚗 Private off-road parking
🍳 Fully equipped kitchen
🛁 Roll-top bath & separate shower room
🚽 Upstairs WC + second ground-floor WC
🌿 Small enclosed garden — handy for your pup
🍺☕ Just a 2-minute stroll to village pubs and cafés

Whether you're looking for mountain walks, muddy paws, cosy evenings by the fire, or simply some quality time together, this little Cairngorms retreat is ready to welcome you. If you haven't yet walked the 10km village orbital trail then come and do a section, the scenery is stunning.

📅 **Sunday 30th August – 3 nights**
💷 **Just £284**

Book online via our website: www.wherestagsroar.co.uk

🐾 **Pack the walking boots, grab the dog and come and enjoy a little Cairngorms adventure.** 🌲❤️x Dianne (feel free to message me if you have any questions, and our other award-winning places to stay in Newtonmore are also on the website if you need a larger place to stay, or other dates.)
license HI-70023-F

25/08/2026

Just a couple of nights on the west...
We took our wee caravan, but it's also a great day out from here; under two hours (77 miles) from Newtonmore and you pass some stunning scenery on the way - take a look at "Heading West, full day out" in the See+Do tab on our website www.wherestagsroar.co.uk for more info and itinerary ideas.

25/08/2026

The Northern Colletes bee ⬇️ (Colletes floralis) is a rare, sand-burrowing solitary bee that makes its home in the coastal sand dunes and unique machair grasslands of western Scotland.
They are solitary bees, meaning they do not live in hives or have queens and workers. Instead, females dig individual underground burrows up to 26 cm deep in soft sand, though they often nest close together in large groups called aggregations, just like they are where I spotted them here in this wee clip.
In western Scotland, they are most famously found on the islands of the Outer and Inner Hebrides, as well as rare mainland dune systems, closely tied to flower-rich machair, like this 🌸🐝⬇️🎦
Without a queen or large workforce to guard, they have no defensive territorial instincts and are not aggressive.