Nestled within the Cairngorms wilderness and with easy access to Aviemore, our self-catering lodge and cottages offer the perfect escape for family holidays, retreats and events.
Unwind, stoke your fire, re-connect and breathe deep.
Go barefoot on the lawn, pick a hammock, toast your toes and slow right down.
Allow your ears to ring with silence amongst the trees.
Make yourself at home.
We are a 'Good to Go' venue and have in place all additional measures to make your stay safe and full of freedom and fresh air!
Made, Gathered and Grown from as close to the Dell as possible, our home is yours for this while and we want to make this really easy for you.
We now have our own little Grocer on site which is open Monday - Saturday (via walkie talkie) and is stacked with easy oven meals, delicious wine, fresh sourdough most Fridays, holiday treats and all the essentials. Also a piping hot espresso machine for your morning pick me ups and icy cold wine for sundowners.
You can also pre-order your groceries with 48 hours notice and we can make sure your cottage is stocked for your arrival. Tasty things to throw in the oven, fun meal kits to get the kids involved or grazing platters to share around the fire with a carefully matched wine.
We have brought together some of our favourite local producers, stuff you won't find with the big guys, each showcasing our unique local larder.
The Dell is a peaceful retreat just on the edge of Nethy Bridge, ‘The Forest Village’ - a sleepy, friendly place reached by riverside walk or through the endless trails of the Abernethy Forest. The RSPB Osprey Centre at Loch Garten is just a 10 minute drive, to the north, the wild Moray Coast beaches and to the south, the heart of the Cairngorms. The Dell is an hour from Inverness airport, 20 mins from Aviemore train station and around 3 hours north of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
‘Music is at the heart of all that we do here at The Dell’ ... It’s our rhythm, our soundtrack and the way in which we connect with each other, our guests and our community. Our plan is to continue to bring a regular culture of music and community to our unique Tipi space in the woods. But with the ever increasing costs, and lack of funding from support organisations, we need your help x
Music has been our true tonic over the last little while and we have built a stack of our 'Woodland Wireless' playlists on Spotify to form a connection with the woods, even when you're not able to visit.
Soundscape draws from this library, carefully selecting tracks that stir us and resonate with the landscape surrounding us to take us on a meditative musical journey into the deeper, more hidden trails surrounding the Dell.
Each walk takes around an hour and will be punctuated with birdsong interludes and hot cups.
Only requirements are Premium Spotify account, good headphones and some sturdy footwear.
This is available all year round.
In this hands-on class you'll learn how to make feta (including marinated Persian feta), halloumi and mascarpone with the incredibly talented and very entertaining Kristen Allan. You'll take a deep dive into the story of milk, beginning with life in the soil, how different seasons and type of animal influence it's composition and how to source and select the best quality, local milk for making cheese.
You will receive recipes, notes and take home the cheese made in the class. A delicious lunch will be served and Kristen will share with you a collection of mouth-watering recipes that showcase the cheese we make in the class plus all her marvellous ways to use the leftover whey.
The classes are small and intimate with ample opportunity for questions, one-on-one guidance and all Kristen's tips and troubleshooting tricks. All this can only, develop and strengthen your understanding and serve you well in your home kitchen.
Please get in touch to book
Join the fabulously talented Ellis O'Connor for a two-day art retreat, where creative play meets rest and rejuvenation.
Immerse yourself in a supportive and inspiring environment as we explore mixed-media materials and alternative mark-making techniques designed to ignite your imagination and encourage bold, expressive creation. This retreat is about embracing the process rather than focusing on the outcome—allowing you to experiment freely, make mistakes, and uncover fresh perspectives in your art.
Between sessions, take time to enjoy the serene beauty of the Cairngorms, unwind in the cosy surroundings of The Dell, and connect with like-minded individuals in a nurturing retreat atmosphere. This is your invitation to pause, play, and create—an opportunity to rediscover the joy of making art in one of Scotland's most magical settings.
Both Tuesday and Wednesday's workshops will run from 10.30am - 4.30pm. Lunch is included and we have bed and breakfast rooms available here at The Dell for a price of £90 per person per night or £140 per couple per night.
For more information and to book with Ellis please get in touch