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Rising high in the heather-clad hills above remote Loch Laggan, forty miles due south of Inverness, the River Spey , Scotland's second-longest river, drains northeast towards the Moray Firth through one of the Highlands' most spellbinding valleys. Famous for its ancient forests, salmon fishing and ospreys, Strathspey describes the broad river valley between the rolling Monadhliath mountains and the ice-sculpted Cairngorm massif. The Cairngorm range, Britain's most extensive mountainous massif, unique in supporting sub-arctic tundra on its high plateau, is scheduled to become Scotland's second national park . Note that Strathspey is distinct from Speyside, located further downstream to the north and famous for its whiskies. Outdoor enthusiasts flock to Strathspey year-round to take advantage of the superb hiking, water sports and winter snows, aided by the fact that the area is easily accessible from both the Central Belt and Inverness by road and rail. Of Strathspey's scattered settlements, Aviemore absorbs the largest number of visitors, particularly in midwinter when it metamorphoses into the UK's busiest ski resort. The village itself isn't up to much, but the 4000ft summit plateau of the Cairngorm is often snowcapped, providing stunning mountain scenery on a grand scale. The planned Georgian town of Grantown-on- Spey makes a good alternative base for summer visitors, with similar facilities and more charm than Aviemore. Further upriver, the sedate towns of Kingussie and Newtonmore are older-established holiday centres, popular more with anglers and grouse hunters than canoeists and climbers. Rather unusually for Scotland, the area boasts a wide choice of good-quality accommodation, particularly in the budget market, with various easy-going hostels run by and for outdoor enthusiasts.
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