Boat of Garten
Coit a' Ghartain
Alert
Boat of Garten – commonly shortened to ‘Boat’ – sits on the banks of the River Spey near Aviemore.
Abundant in nature, the village lives up to its other alternative name, the Osprey Village, as it’s a popular place for bird – and other types of wildlife – watching. The Abernethy Forest RSPB Reserve is located at the nearby Loch Garten (1.5 miles away).
The Speyside Way runs through the village, making nearby towns and villages, such as Aviemore, Carrbridge and Grantown on Spey, easily accessible by foot or bike.
Other local trails hint at the village’s curious heritage. A walk in the surrounding woodlands, for example, reveals Boat of Garten’s Neolithic links in the form of cairns and burial sites.
Originally an agricultural village, Boat of Garten underwent a period of growth in the 19th century. In 1863, the village became the newest destination on the Highland Railway Line, leading to the construction of new homes to accommodate station employees. Thanks to their work, Boat of Garten became a more accessible holiday destination, cherished for its picturesque riverside scenery and fresh air.
But today the area is more than transport links and tourism. Boat of Garten has a thriving community whose work can be seen all around – in the village’s community garden, busy village hall and cycling pump track in the woods, among other ventures. Other amenities include a post office, shop, primary school, restaurants, cycle hire and gallery. From large hotels to boutique B&Bs, there are also numerous accommodation options to choose from.
Boat of Garten – commonly shortened to ‘Boat’ – sits on the banks of the River Spey near Aviemore.
Abundant in nature, the village lives up to its other alternative name, the Osprey Village, as it’s a popular place for bird – and other types of wildlife – watching. The Abernethy Forest RSPB Reserve is located at the nearby Loch Garten (1.5 miles away).
The Speyside Way runs through the village, making nearby towns and villages, such as Aviemore, Carrbridge and Grantown on Spey, easily accessible by foot or bike.
Other local trails hint at the village’s curious heritage. A walk in the surrounding woodlands, for example, reveals Boat of Garten’s Neolithic links in the form of cairns and burial sites.
Originally an agricultural village, Boat of Garten underwent a period of growth in the 19th century. In 1863, the village became the newest destination on the Highland Railway Line, leading to the construction of new homes to accommodate station employees. Thanks to their work, Boat of Garten became a more accessible holiday destination, cherished for its picturesque riverside scenery and fresh air.
But today the area is more than transport links and tourism. Boat of Garten has a thriving community whose work can be seen all around – in the village’s community garden, busy village hall and cycling pump track in the woods, among other ventures. Other amenities include a post office, shop, primary school, restaurants, cycle hire and gallery. From large hotels to boutique B&Bs, there are also numerous accommodation options to choose from.
Alert
Boat of Garten
key
facts
Elevation
220m
Location
NW
Location
Boat of Garten
Discover more about the Osprey Village, including local walks, accommodation, restaurants and more.
Relevant alerts
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There are only 532 capercaillie left in the UK. Over 85% of those birds live in a handful of forests in the Cairngorms National Park.
The species is protected under UK law, which makes it a criminal offence to disturb them whilst they are breeding. Breeding season lasts from 1 April to 31 August. Capercaillie need all our help to survive so please #LekItBe and don't go looking for capercaillie.
Latest update: Some male birds are displaying in prominent places near to other breeding capercaillie to attract the attention of females. Visitors are advised to take particular care as birds may also attack you as their testosterone levels are high. There have already been incidents of people being injured by the birds so please follow the signs in place for your own safety too.
In particular, members of the public are being advised not to use the following paths into Abernethy Forest from Glenmore and Nethy Bridge during early mornings (before 8.30am) over the next few weeks to avoid disturbing breeding capercaillie:
- Ryvoan Bothy to Forest Lodge path
- Vehicle access track to Forest Lodge
- Dell Road to Forest Lodge track
- Forest Lodge to Rynettin path
Additional information:
