Carrbridge

Carrbridge or sometimes spelled Carr-Bridge, is a Village in the Highlands of Scotland, 7 miles north of Aviemore, 24 miles southeast of Inverness.

Carrbridge is popular for its Old Bridge built in 1717, oldest stone bridge in the Highlands, Landmark Forest Adventure Park, and Horse Drawn Carriages.

There are a number of Wood Carvings around the Village as it holds the Scottish Open Chainsaw Carving Competition each year in early September? and Porridge Making Championship in early October?

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Camping & Touring Parks in area

The image top is of the main Car Park in the Village, a short distance up the Main Street from the Bridges. There are Wood Carvings at the Car Park and Information Boards for Attractions and Walks in the area.

The Village centre has two Hotels, Cafes, and a few small Shops, with an Artist Studio and an Arts and Crafts shop.

The Old Bridge crossing the River Dulnain is the top attraction in Carrbridge. Known as the Old Packhorse Bridge, or Coffin Bridge, it was built in 1717 to allow funerals to cross the River in all weather to reach Duthil Church. This is claimed to be the oldest Stone Bridge in the Highlands.

There had been a Church at Duthil 2 miles east of Carrbridge since the 1400s. Duthil Church in now home to the Clan Grant Centre. Carrbridge Parish Church was not built until 1909.

The Carrbridge Hotel overlooks the Old and New Bridges, and the Golf Course. This Hotel began as an Inn in 1803 as a stopover for Horse Drawn Coaches.

Carrbridge Golf Course is across the road from the Carrbridge Hotel, opened in 1980.

The Cairn Hotel is also in the Village centre on the Main Street.

Carrbridge Parish Church is a short walk up the Main Street by the main Car Park, built in 1909.

Landmark Forest Adventure Park is at the south end of the Main Street with an Aerial Assault Course, Dinghy Slides, Dinosaur Kingdom with life size moving Dinosaurs, large Kids Play, Optical Illusions, Roller Coaster, real high Wooden Towers, Tarzan Trail, and more.

Carrbridge History

1400s - Clan Grant gained vast areas of land in this area with them building Freuchies Castle 11 miles east of Carrbridge by the Town of Grantown on Spey. Freuchies Castle was later renamed Castle Grant.

1400s - a Church is built at Duthil 2 miles east of Carrbridge as the main Church for the area at that time. This Church contains the Graves and Mausoleums of Grant's of Castle Grant.

1717 - Brigadier-General Alexander Grant funded the building of the Old Bridge at Carrbridge.

1808 - an Inn was built by the Old Bridge as a stopover for people traveling the area in Horse Drawn Carriages.

1800s early - Thomas Telford built a New Bridge at Carrbridge as he built the Highland road network. This Bridge was built next to the Old Bridge.

1829 - heavy rain led to the Old Bridge being severely damaged. The Old Bridge is now preserved as it was after the damage.

1894 - the Railway reached Carrbridge running up from the south.

1897 - the line between Carrbridge and Inverness was completed over a high point known as the Slochd, with the line known as the Highland Main Line. Some Trains have to stop on this high point to cool down, as I found on one trip. Line Information.

1950s - Karl Fuchs set up an Austrian Ski School at Carrbridge, claimed to be the first organized skiing in Scotland.

1970 June - the Landmark Forest Adventure Park opened.

1980 - Carrbridge Golf Course opened.

1980s - a ByPass was built to prevent traffic traveling between Perth and Inverness passing through Carrbridge.

1994 - Carrbridge starts holding the World Porridge Making Championship each year around October.

2002 - the first Scottish Open Chainsaw Carving Competition takes place at Carrbridge, becoming an annual event around September.