We booked a two night romantic break at Fairwinds Hotel at the beginning of April. As two Glaswegians living in London we were long overdue an escape to somewhere far less hectic and much more scenic.

Taking the sleeper train from London to Aviemore was an ideal way to begin the trip, with a short connection to Carrbridge and walk to the hotel. We were greeted warmly even though we arrived before our check-in time and were kindly allowed to drop our bags into our room, which was an early indication of how accommodating and relaxed our time was at Fairwinds.

Strathspey was our spacious and comfortable room on the ground floor and the small galley kitchen came in handy, not that we needed extra food as the ample meals on offer were tremendous. The locally sourced, fresh ingredients used were a real joy for two foodies. From the subtle smoked flavours of the fresh kippers in the morning to the apple crumble at night, we couldn't have asked for better.

The hotel was ideally placed for us to take leisurely or more energetic walks (one of us 19 weeks pregnant), and in a stark contrast to London we spent two and a half hours walking in gorgeous scenery without seeing a single other soul.

It really was a joy and memories of our time here will keep us warm long into the winter months.

Thank you to both Alison and Lindsey for making our short stay so enjoyable, you both deserve a l-o-n-g holiday!

Once again we returned to Fairwinds at Carrbridge for a short break. It was time to shake off the winter blues and it certainly did the trick for us. We always feel as if we are returning to see good friends when we go back as the owners, Lindsay and Alison make their guests so welcome.
We didn't think it possible, but the food just seems to get better and better, I had venison one evening for dinner and it was the most succulent I have ever tasted. My partner had his very favourite, lamb shank which Lindsay always seems to manage to squeeze onto the menu for him. I note that one of the reviewers thought it strange to chose from the dinner menu in the morning. We don't find that a problem to make our choice before we go out for the day. The menu is changed everyday and as Lindsay cooks all the meals from fresh I suppose this cuts down waiting times for guests when they sit down to dinner. The wine list is small with a good choice, I particularly enjoyed the nice Peter Lehmann Shiraz .
The cleanliness of the hotel and the friendly service from the girls was as usual first class and their attention to detail second to non.
Can't wait to return again and sample their excellent hospitality

I booked a "romantic weekend" at the Fairwinds for my wife and I to celebrate our anniversary. I booked having read the tripadvisor reviews so had high expectations. So did the hotel live up to its billing? Well, largely, yes. I'm afraid first impressions of the drive into the hotel grounds are let down by some rather scruffy woods and a boarded up derelict house, not the fault of the owners but just not a very good introduction. Our welcome was warm and after introductions we were asked to choose our evening meal from the dinner menu. My wife found this off putting but it didn't bother me. The menu, however, did. Now you have to remember I had seen the sample menu on their website and read all the good things on Tripadvisor so was expecting something a bit special. We ended up choosing the soup of the day as the other starters were uninspiring but the real problem was with the mains. Salmon, Pork or Chicken stuffed with Haggis. Why Scottish restaurants insist on serving Chicken stuffed with Haggis is beyond me, it's so naff. I suppose the American and English tourists must lap it up but its just so two decades ago. Anyway, contrary as ever that is what I ordered, my wife going for the Salmon. Then up to our room, which was very pleasant, clean and spacious with a nice ensuite with corner bath. However the wash basin in the room did seem a bit weird. We went for a wee walk and stopped in at the local pub, which had a really nice buzz going and served a decent pint. Then back to the hotel for dinner. Which was lovely. The wild mushroom soup was delish and If anyone can make anything stuffed with haggis that I enjoy then they can cook. The wine list isn't vast but most of the favourites are represented, although no Rioja and we ordered the last bottle of Sancerre. Very reasonably priced though. The service was friendly and chatty but none the less efficient for that. I prefer informal dining and fake stuffed shirt obsequiousness gets on my goat, so spot on there. There were two other couples staying and dining that night and we joined them for coffee, all very convivial. The breakfasts at The Fairwinds are superb, with everything you would expect and a bit extra. Just after breakfast we were asked to order dinner and this time the menu was much more to our liking. For our day out in the highlands we visited the Highland Wildlife Park which was interesting and fun and in the afternoon we went for a walk in the Rothiemurchus Estate. Dinner was a treat that night, I had pheasant breast which was excellent and my wife enjoyed her lamb. We had a super weekend at the Fairwinds and the couple of qualms mentioned above were more than made up for. We had an interesting discussion with the other guests who seemed to think that the Scottish Tourist Board were going to downgrade the Fairwinds on their star rating system. Seemingly they don't have all the facilities of a 4 star Hilton, Radisson or whatever. Thank goodness for that I say. If the STB are seriously comparing this kind of personal service which goes above and beyond to ensure guests have a great experience with the corporate indifference of most of the big chains then they are doing Scotland's tourist trade a disservice. Yes, the Fairwinds is quaint, but in the best meaning of that word. The owner/operators should be lauded for their efforts not penalised by officious nobodies. It's a good example of why discerning customers are increasingly ignoring the seemingly arbitrary star rating systems of the STB, AA, RAC etc and doing the research themselves on sites like Tripadvisor. My advice, for what it's worth, is to drive straight past the horrific looking MacDonalds hotel in Aviemore and head for the peaceful retreat of good food and service that is The Fairwinds at Carrbridge.

The Fairwinds is great. It’s a small hotel, I believe there are five rooms in the main building and four chalets (cabins). Our room was in the main house – clean, nicely furnished and a good bathroom. That’s for the American reviewers. It’s a Yank thing – LOL.

Carrbridge makes a really good centralized base for exploring the Scottish Highlands. Day trips east, west, north and south are easy. We went as far north as Wick, exploring along the way, and still made it back to the hotel in time for dinner. The Cairngorms National Park is close by, four miles away in Aviemore, with lots of activities. Also, if you like wildlife, try the Speyside Wildlife Park. We did the evening wildlife viewing from the animal hide – saw pine marten and badgers. Really cool.

Lindsay and Allison, the owners, are great! After nine days, they felt like family. Breakfast was included with the room – cereal, fruit, juice, and made to order hot items. Ask about the kegeree-yum! Lindsay posts the daily dinner menu each morning. Dinner is by reservation only, so don’t forget to book it. Otherwise it’s fish and chips at the Carrbridge Hotel, which I DO NOT recommend – yuck! On our last night in Scotland, we had dinner at the Witchery in Edinburgh, supposedly the best restaurant in the city. In my opinion, it’s overpriced and I enjoyed Lindsay’s cooking much more.

For our first three nights in Scotland, we stayed at the Hilton Grosvenor. It’s a rather tired hotel that needs major renovations. We had a nicer room and stay at the Fairwinds. If you want a relaxing vacation in the Scottish Highlands, I’d recommend the Fairwinds to anyone. If you’re looking for the hustle and bustle of a big city hotel, it isn’t for you.

Chuck Jones
Tallahassee, Florida