Spey Valley Shopping Aviemore

Spey Valley Shopping is positioned in the heart of Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park and offers visitors a wonderful range of luxury items including clothes, home furnishings, food, drinks and presents. A major part of the Macdonald Aviemore Resort, it also includes a coffee house, cinema and restaurant. Leisure facilities also include soft play, a swimming pool and a gym a short distance away for visitors staying at their hotels.

Back in the 80s, I remember the resort looking very different, with an ice rink, large games arcade and circular fountains outside... it was a really fun place to visit near Santa Claus Land, and I also fondly remember the Dalfaber Highland games... It's amazing how much regeneration this area of the Macdonald Aviemore Resort has undergone since then, and is really quite upmarket now.

We often take a look around Spey Valley shopping centre when we visit Aviemore and stay at Scandinavian Village. The items are quite expensive but very high end - it's nice to browse through the products and you can find a bargain sometimes - their beautiful harris tweed purses and wallets were very reasonably priced. They have the largest range of Barbour products in the Highlands if you are feeling flush... I don't think I could see any single item for less than £100! There are plenty of designer brands including Joules, Mayoral, French Connection and Dubarry.

The main counter as you enter has a large display of homemade chocolates which are lovely. The shop floor is circular, with areas segmented for different product types, such as food, kids toys, soft furnishings, clothes etc At Christmas time there is a fantastic section with attractive decorations and festive foods.

Other Macdonald Facilities near Spey Valley Shopping

The Macdonald Spey Valley Resort has a great deal to offer at both of their sites in Aviemore.

The Coffee House

Just next to Spey Valley Shopping is a nice Coffee House with very friendly staff and a good amount of seating available. The main counter has a great display offering pastries, sandwiches and cakes.

Spey Valley Cinema

Attached to Spey Valley Shopping is also a full-sized cinema/auditorium. This is a fantastic facility to have in central Aviemore which we have used a few times whilst staying in the area. We visited for the first time a few years ago and saw Frozen 2... we were blown away by this facility, we expected maybe a small room with 10 seats, but it is a huge facility with state of the art AV systems installed.

When we visited Aviemore in December 2021 there was a good pantomime of Cinderella. The kids loved it.

Giovannis Italian Ristorante

Across from Spey Valley Shopping is an authentic Italian restaurant offering stone-baked pizzas and delicious pasta dishes.

Scottish Steak Club Restaurant

Around a 20 minute walk from Spey Valley Shopping is the Steak Club Restaurant on Dalfaber Drive. This is a smart restaurant with a very Scottish feel with its tartan wallpaper and exposed roof beams in the ceiling. The perfect restaurant for evening meals if you are looking to sample the finest Scottish beef on offer.

Country Club

The Macdonald Spey Valley Resort in the northeast of Aviemore includes a Championship golf course, clubhouse bar and spacious apartments with private bathrooms and a flat-screen TV. This facility also includes a swimming pool, hot tub and sauna.

Free Private Parking

There is a large car park at the shopping centre with good sized spaces. There is also ample room for bus parking in the adjacent field.

Aviemore Ice Rink

Unrelated to the Mcdonald Spey Valley Resort, the Aviemore Ice Rink is located just off the car park. Run by the community-owned Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust, this temporary ice rink is dedicated to raising funds for a new full-sized ice rink in Aviemore.

Conclusion

Spey Valley Shopping is a lovely shop easily accessible from Grampian Road in central Aviemore. Ideal if you are looking for a high-end gift or just fancy coffee and cake in nice surroundings. Highly recommended for your visit to Aviemore while staying at a Macdonald Aviemore Hotel.

Please see my article on the best things to do in Aviemore for more ideas for activities on your visit.