The Macdonald Aviemore Resort has benefited from a multi-million-pound investment in recent years, and now has everything that a family trip might require. There is a cinema with the latest movies, a retail outlet that offers luxury fashion brands, an activity centre with a pool, soft play area and multi-activity rooms for babies and so much more. 

 

When it comes to golf, the Macdonald Aviemore Resort is blessed to have the Spey Valley Championship Course. The 18-hole layout, which was designed by Dave Thomas, has played host to the European Challenge Tour on ten occasions, hosting the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge. The course plays through to the Caledonian pine trees and with the backdrop of the mountains.  

 

Accommodation-wise, there is plenty of choice at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort. The venue is the home to three 4-star hotels, with the Highlands Hotel and the Morlich Hotel offering comfort and elegance for couples. The Aviemore Hotel is the family-friendly offering, with rooms that can sleep up to five. There are also 18 Woodland Lodges, which can sleep up to six people. These sit among the Caledonian pines and back on to the Spey Valley Golf Course.  

 

There is also a great gastronomic range at the resort, with a little bit of something for all parties on their visit to Macdonald Aviemore. The Clubhouse provides light bites along with main meals for those who have just finished a round on the Spey Valley Golf Course. The resort also has Giovanni’s Italian, Spey Burger and Aspects, with the latter being the signature eatery on the resort.  

 

 

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The championship golf course at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort – the Spey Valley Course – was designed by world-renowned golf course architect, and former Ryder Cup player, Dave Thomas. It has played host to the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge on the European Challenge Tour for a decade from 2009 to 2018. 

 

Thomas’ Par 72 layout measures more than 7,150 yards from the back tees, with several holes running alongside the gorgeous River Spey. The backdrop of the Scottish mountains and the Caledonian pine forests that the course meanders through makes the Spey Valley Championship Course a proper test, and one you will certainly want to come back to. 

 

The par 5 5th hole is one of the longest holes in Scotland, pushing 650 yards from the back tees. Trees right, heather left and plenty of fairway bunkers dotted along the route to the green, the 5th is a proper golf hole! The 6th then sits next to a lake while the 9th is a quirky little par 4. Only 330 from the back tees, some might take it on. The safe play isn’t all that safe as there is a bunker in the middle of the fairway... 

 

The finishing stretch at Spey Valley is sublime. The par 3 16th hole plays more than 220 yards from the back tees, with water to the front and right for any mishit shots. There are also four bunkers waiting for anything slightly miscued. The penultimate hole is a par 5 offering a birdie opportunity. Perhaps the most spectacular hole on the course is the closer. The two fairway bunkers have been designed to mirror the backdrop of the mountains. Miss those, and you’ve got a chance of finishing strong. 

The Macdonald Aviemore Resort is not just the home to a large hotel. Instead, there are several hotel choices for guests to enjoy a stay, while there is also a selection of Woodland Lodges that back on to the Spey Valley Golf Course. There are three 4-star hotels – the Highland Hotel, Aviemore Hotel and Morlich Hotel – run by the resort. 

 

The Macdonald Highland Hotel has 150 rooms and suites on offer, with a range of Standard Rooms, Deluxe Rooms and Family Rooms available. There is also a small selection of Highlands Suites, offering a separate living area to the bedroom and en-suite bathroom. The Macdonald Morlich Hotel also offers Standard and Deluxe Rooms, along with the Morlich Suites, with the hotel aimed more at couples looking for a romantic getaway. 

 

The Macdonald Aviemore Hotel is the place to take the kids for a family trip, with 100 rooms on offer. The Standard Rooms come equipped with a single bed for those young families with one child. There are also Family Bunk Rooms that provide space for up to five, including two adults. 

 

For a more private stay, the 18 Woodland Lodges nestled among the Caledonian pine forests are the place to stay. These properties all back on to the Spey Valley Golf Course and there is a choice between two- and three-bedroom lodges, allowing the opportunity for up to six guests to stay in the latter.  

On site, there are plenty of activities and places to see and do, especially for those families with young children. There is an indoor swimming pool and flume, while the kids can also enjoy the soft play area and the outdoor play park. There is also the Spey Valley Cinema, Spey Valley Shopping and the Aviemore Ice Rink, the latter being new to the resort.  

 

There is also plenty to do in the local area as well. With the Cairngorms National Park so close to the Macdonald Aviemore Resort, there is the opportunity for cycling, walking and hiking around the beautiful Scottish scenery. Watersports on Loch Morlich are also a terrific way to spend an afternoon, with kayaking, paddleboarding and much more on offer.  

Guests staying at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort will certainly not be short of gastronomic choices. Aspects Restaurant, Giovanni’s Italian and Spey Burger are the three main options at the Aviemore Resort, with the former being the signature eatery at the venue. 

 

There is also the Clubhouse at the Spey Valley Golf Course and the Scottish Steakhouse which is around five miles to the north at the nearby Macdonald Spey Valley Resort. In terms of drinks, The Coffee House and the Laggan Whisky & Cocktail Bar offer suitable spaces for guests to relax with a drink in hand.  

Where is the Macdonald Aviemore?  
The Macdonald Aviemore is the northernmost resort on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. It is situated in the Scottish Highlands, and just outside the Cairngorms National Park. 30 miles to the north is Inverness, while the Scottish capital Edinburgh is 125 miles to the south by road.  

What is the nearest airport and station to the Macdonald Aviemore?  
Inverness Airport is the closest to Macdonald Aviemore, but there are only a few flights each day, both leaving and arriving. Instead, international visitors will land at Edinburgh Airport, which is 120 miles from the Macdonald Aviemore. Edinburgh Airport is the largest in the nation and has flights to most European countries and to North America.  

 

The Macdonald Aviemore resort is less than half a mile from Aviemore Station. The station is on the Edinburgh to Inverness train lines and there are also services down to London Kings Cross and to Glasgow each day.  

What golf facilities does the Macdonald Aviemore offer?  
As well as hosting a championship golf course, the Macdonald Aviemore Resort is also home to a full-length driving range, allowing golfers to practice before a round. There is also a short game area with a practice bunker, along with a putting green by the 1st tee of the Spey Valley Course.  

What are the green fees at the Macdonald Aviemore?  
The price of a green fee at the Macdonald Aviemore changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. There are also stay & play packages available at the resort.  

 

For more information on current green fees at the Macdonald Aviemore, visit their website here. 

What accommodation is on offer at the Macdonald Aviemore?  
There is plenty of choice when it comes to accommodation options at the Macdonald Aviemore. There are three 4-star hotels – the Highlands Hotel, Aviemore Hotel and the Morlich Hotel – on site, along with a choice of 18 Woodland Lodges that are enveloped by the Caledonian pine trees.  

What other resorts are nearby?  
The Macdonald Aviemore is secluded compared to other venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. Meldrum House is the only other resort on the list that is as far north, and it is around two hours to the east of Aviemore. Gleneagles and Murrayshall are also about the same distance away, south of the resort.  

 

  

Book your trip to Macdonald Aviemore with Golfbreaks now.  

  

Visit the Macdonald Aviemore website here.  

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.