Rowan Tree Country Hotel

About Rowan Tree Country Hotel

Rowan Tree Country Hotel looks out over Loch Alvie from a spot three miles south of Aviemore, far enough out to be quiet and close enough that the town's shops, station and ski road access are only a few minutes away. It is family owned and run, and that is the character of the place: small, personal and well informed about what to do locally.

Eleven bedrooms are individually decorated, each with its own layout and outlook, and the emphasis throughout is on warmth and comfort rather than design statements. Practical touches matter here — free wi-fi, on-site parking, electric vehicle chargers and a genuinely pet-friendly policy, which is not universal among Cairngorms hotels of this size.

The restaurant has picked up awards and works largely with Scottish ingredients, cooking each dish to order rather than at volume. Loch Alvie itself is a quiet stretch of water with good birdlife, and the hotel is well placed for Rothiemurchus, Loch an Eilein, the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig and Loch Insh watersports, all within a short drive. The owners are outdoor people and will point guests towards routes and operators, which is useful if you are new to the area.