Boat of Garten is a small village and post town in Badenoch and Strathspey, Highland, Scotland. A post town is a required part of all UK postal addresses. ... Badenoch and Strathspey was created in 1975 as a one of the eight council disricts of the Highland local government region of Scotland. ... Location Geography Area Ranked 1st  - Total 30,659 km²  - % Water  ? Admin HQ Inverness ISO 3166-2 GB-HLD ONS code 00QT Demographics Population Ranked 7th  - Total (2005) 213,590  - Density 8 / km² Politics The Highland Council http://www. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic)1 Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II...

The settlement took its name from the nearby ferry over the River Spey. The village as we see it today began with the arrival of the Highland Railway, when the first bridge was built. The village is known as "The Boat" to locals. The River Spey is a river in Scotland that runs 107 miles (172 km) to the Moray Firth at Spey Bay, making it the second longest river in Scotland. ... The Highland Railway was a Scottish railway company which was grouped into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. ...

The village features a fine Golf Course originally designed by James Braid. It is also renowned for the nearby RSPB reserve at Loch Garten. The railway through the village is now preserved as part of the Strathspey Steam Railway. Golf is a sport in which individual players or teams hit a ball into a hole using various clubs, and also is one of the few ball games that does not use a fixed standard playing area. ... James Braid (February 6, 1870 - November 27, 1950) was a Scottish professional golfer, who was one of the Great Triumvirate of British golfers in the early 20th century alongside Harry Vardon and J.H. Taylor. ... The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is Europes largest wildlife conservation charity. ... The Loch Garten Osprey Centre is a nature reserve at Boat of Garten in the Abernethy Forest, Badenoch and Strathspey, in the Highland council area of Scotland, and in the care of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. ... The Strathspey Railway operates a 10 mile (16 km) preserved railway from Aviemore to Broomhill via Boat of Garten, part of the former Highland Railway line which linked Aviemore with Forres. ...

As you enter the village from the west, you pass the village primary school. Many of the children cycle to school along the cycle path next to the main road - this is the Sustrans National Cycle Route 7. Sustrans is a British engineering charity which promotes sustainable transport. ...

Further down the road towards the village is a small bird viewing area that looks across the road to some seasonal lochans. Here, nest the rare Slavonian Grebe. May and June are the best months to watch these birds. Binomial name Podiceps auritus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Slavonian Grebe, Podiceps auritus †, is a member of the grebe family of water birds. ...

As you enter the village, tucked away to the right, is the new village hall, under construction.

Now you pass the village green overlooked by houses from the 1950's on one side and older substantial villas on the other. At the bottom end of the green, is one of the village's two general purpose shops - this is M & B's - an Aladdins Cave of a shop. Also here is the entrance to the year round camp and caravan site, which is very popular in season with tourers. Book ahead!

Across from M & B's is an entrance to the extensive woodland around the village. There are many signposted walks through here.

Close by is a yet to be opened bistro. This was formerly the fishing tackle shop - now sadly closed.

Passing down through the village, lined with substantial stone fronted villas, we arrive at the second village shop and post office. Right next to the Post Office is the present village hall. This will close down when the new hall is opened in late 2007. Cycle Route 7 splits here. An off road route passes SW along Kinchurdy Rd, past the Yard and runs parallel to the steam railway track towards Aviemore. A road option continues down through the village and crosses the river to eventually follow the "back road" to Aviemore via Inverdruie. Aviemore (Scottish Gaelic: An Aghaidh Mhòr) is a tourist resort in the Highlands of Scotland. ... Aviemore (Scottish Gaelic: An Aghaidh Mhòr) is a tourist resort in the Highlands of Scotland. ...

A short distance from the Post Office is the Boat Hotel and the main entrance to the Strathspey Steam Railway. The Strathspey Railway operates a 10 mile (16 km) preserved railway from Aviemore to Broomhill via Boat of Garten, part of the former Highland Railway line which linked Aviemore with Forres. ...

Past the hotel, the road descends past more large houses then arrives at a junction. Straight on lies Milton Loch and a birdwatching hide. Herons are often seen here along with tame geese and ducks. Swans are also a common feature. A little further on is the sawmill, the largest employer in the village. Heron (disambiguation) Genera Ardea Zebrilus Philherodias Tigrisoma Ardeola Bubulcus Egretta Agamia Butorides Tigriornis Tigrisoma Gorsachius Syrigma Zonerodius Nycticorax see also: Bittern Herons are medium to large long-legged, long-necked wading birds of the family Ardeidae, which also includes the egrets and bitterns. ... Swans can refer to: Swan, the bird. ...

Returning to the junction, the road passes under a new railway bridge. Built by Highland Council, this was erected to allow the steam railway line to leave the village and continue towards Grantown-on-Spey. For many years, the steam railway terminated in Boat of Garten. Grantown-on-Spey is a small burgh in the Scottish Highlands founded in 1765, on the River Spey with a population of 3,409 [1]. It lies at the northern edge of the Cairngorm mountains, about twenty miles south east of Inverness. ...

Now leaving the village, you pass the car park entrance to both the steam railway and to the Golf and Tennis Club. Shorly after, the bridge, which replaced the original ferry boat, is crossed. In another half mile, the "back road" is reached, along with a small car park for more popular walks through woodland - this time belonging to the RSPB Abernethy Forest. Turn left here for the Loch Garten Osprey Centre and right for Inverdruie. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is Europes largest wildlife conservation charity. ... Abernethy Forest is a remnant of the Caledonian Forest near Aviemore, Scotland, UK. It is an RSPB reserve, close to Loch Garten Osprey Centre, which is also owned by the RSPB. The forest is home to Scottish Crossbill, Red Squirrel, Wild Cat, Red Deer, Black Grouse, Crested Tit, Osprey and... The Loch Garten Osprey Centre is a nature reserve at Boat of Garten in the Abernethy Forest, Badenoch and Strathspey, in the Highland council area of Scotland, and in the care of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. ...

Coordinates: 57°20′N, 3°44′W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...