Craggan Outdoors, an outdoor activity centre with an enviable Speyside & Cairngorms National Park location in the Scottish Highlands, has achieved top level recognition in its first year of new ownership. The centre, which offers easy access to a wide range of fun and challenging activities for people of all ages and abilities, has become Scotland’s top-rated ‘thing to do’ on the worldwide travel & tourism review website, TripAdvisor, where it is also the UK’s top-rated outdoor activity centre.
Craggan Outdoors was also the only outdoor centre to make the three-business shortlist for the ‘Best Visitor Experience’ category of the prestigious Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards. The centre is located 1 mile south of Grantown-on-Spey on the main A95 Grantown-Aviemore road, enjoying access to the world-famous River Spey & views to the Cairngorms & Cromdale Hills. Activities on offer include archery, clay pigeon, climbing & abseiling, golf, gorge walking, high ropes, kayaking, massage, mountain biking, paintball, pony trekking, quad treks, River Spey canoe trips, white water rafting, yoga and a zip wire.
Edinburgh’s Christmas is now well underway with the Winter Wonderland in full swing. The markets are open for business and the Edinburgh Wheel is turning! Buses, bicycles and taxis have now returned to Princes Street for the festive period, and parking is free on selected streets across the city centre. For more information on transport and travelling in Edinburgh, see 
Counteracting the abundance of short-term diets and fitness plans that appear in the media at this time of year, the New Year sees the launch of the inaugural Loch Ness Boot Camp which has been developed to deliver considerable long-term results. Featuring a rigorous itinerary of intensive, adrenaline-fuelled activities, the Loch Ness Boot Camp makes the most of its environment and the outdoor activity opportunities available.
Throughout December 2009, the Original North Pole Express leaves East Tanfield Station and traverses the beautiful countryside of North Durham passing by Causey Arch, site of the oldest existing railway bridge in use, and this year voted North East England’s number one picnic spot. Santa’s Grotto is the final stop on the line where children are guaranteed a present. Pre-booking with 
A striking art exhibition on the 
If this isn’t going to get you into the spirit of Christmas, then probably nothing will. Sprinting Santas can be seen all over the country this month as runners take part in Christmas pudding fun runs up and down the British Isles. Among them are runs at Covent Garden in London (on 5th December 2009), in Middlesborough (6th December 2009), in Chester (13th December 2009) and many other locations. Check with local running clubs for details.
