Aviemore Folk Festival
6 December – 10 December 2021
Join us for the first annual Aviemore Folk Festival in December 2021.
Aviemore is a village situated in the Scottish Highlands, nestled in the far west corner of the Cairngorms National Park. A year-round resort, it is home to five of the UK’s six highest mountains, huge forests of ancient native trees, spectacular waterfalls and more wildlife than you can imagine. It is also home to the Cairngorm Brewery, producing both traditional and more contemporary craft ale.
We can’t promise sunshine, or snow for that matter, but we can promise an incredible line-up, a warm bed with en-suite bathroom, delicious food, optional day trips, whisky and gin tasting. There will be indoor concerts, workshops, dancing, mulled wine, craft ale, bagpipes, reindeer visits, Christmas jumpers, secret Santa and even haggis.
Expect the same attention to detail and service that you already associate with a Costa del Folk Festival but with an extra sprinkling of magic. If you are thinking of a low-key sedate festival, forget it! Aviemore Folk Festival in December 2021 is going to be full of amazing experiences, superb music, festive activities and, above all, fun and friendship.
The accommodation has an option to suit everyone. From the Morlich Hotel, which will be the festival hub and host the late-night bar, to the quieter option of the Highlands Hotel or the Aviemore Hotel or the chance to share with friends and enjoy one of the luxury woodland lodges.
For anyone not wanting to make their own travel arrangements, we have put together an inclusive coach package, travelling from Exeter with pick-up points en-route, allowing you to extend your stay either side of the festival.
See you there!
- Four nights Dinner, B&B (checkout Friday after breakfast)
- Hotel or Woodland lodge accommodation
- Full festival pass
- Transfer from Aviemore train station. This is only a few minutes’ walk but, depending on the weather, a mini-bus transfer will be made available.
- Daily concerts & workshops (music starts after dinner on Monday evening through til late evening on Thursday).
- Late night bar & music
- Fully protected for your peace of mind - ABTA No: P7419
- Full time services of the Festival Team
Optional return coach package including dinner, b&b and one night pre and one night post festival. Additional cost of £275pp sharing or £349 solo occupancy. See the coach travel package tab on the website for more info.
Additional overnight stays can be arranged, please ask for details if you would like to extend your stay.
Skerryvore
Twice winners of the Scottish Traditional music’s ‘Live Act of the Year’ Skerryvore represent the best in contemporary Scottish traditional music, with a growing fanbase worldwide and with the promise of much more to come. See more...
Show of Hands
"Returning by popular demand" may be a hackneyed phrase, but it's certainly accurate when applied to Show of Hands. Since our first Costa Del Folk festival in Spain in the Spring of 2014, Show Of Hands has been acknowledged as the act most of our festival-goers want to see again. See more...
Spiers And Boden
Described by The Guardian as ‘the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene’, John Spiers and Jon Boden rocketed onto the scene in 2001. As Spiers & Boden they won a clutch of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards before founding the ground-breaking folk big band Bellowhead which went on to Royal Albert Hall sell-outs, Proms In the Park successes, multiple awards, signing with Universal Records and over 250,000 album sales. See more...
Merry Hell
Multi-award winning Merry Hell offer joyful, uplifting folk-rock, with a message for troubled times.
Their live appearances have won many admirers, a recent review referred to 'every performance a celebration' and they are currently holders the Folking.com Best Live Act Award. See more...
The Shee
Cross-Border folk multi-instrumentalists and festival favourites, The Shee, are an exceptional band boasting powerful and emotional vocal performances and instrumental prowess. Expect slow airs, Gaelic ballads, original songs, high energy tunes, hypnotic riffs, and, of course...clog dancing See more...
A Fistful Of Spookies
Guaranteed to woo, charm, cheer & delight, A Fistful of Spookies are made up of professional singers and choir-leaders from across the UK who have all toured with festival hits The Spooky Men’s Chorale (Australia) and have enough voices to recreate the complete Spooky canon of achingly beautiful and wonderfully daft songs. Magnificent fun! See more...
Mankala
Formed by a multi-national collective of musicians with a common love for African roots music, Mankala’s sound is greatly influenced by a variety of styles… from the joyous sounds of Soukous, Sungura & Mbaqanga music to the hypnotic grooves of Afro-Beat and the Desert Blues…
A high energy pan-African sound with a unique style and a positive message! See more...
Track Dogs
Track Dogs comprise 2 Irishmen, 1 Englishman and 1 American in a band that came together in 2011 to make their unique brand of acoustic music. Featuring a veritable 4×4 of voices and instruments, their style is a dynamic fusion of folk, Latino, Americana & even some bluegrass. See more...
Les Barker
Poet, humorist, and true great English eccentric, Les Barker, has graced UK and global stages for over 45 years. Initially appearing live, mainly with his dog Mrs Ackroyd, he has gone on to collaborate with musicians including June Tabor and Maartin Alcock. Their obvious rapport has made them one of the busiest acts on the folk scene in the guise of their duo work or as the well-loved line-up of Last Night’s Fun. But it is his side-splitting poems and his elevation of the pun to new heights which guarantees an unforgettable if baffling performance See more...
Findlay Napier
As defined in the title of his remarkable 2015 solo debut VIP: Very Interesting Persons (No.2 in the Daily Telegraph’s top dozen folk albums that year), Scottish singer-songwriter (and sometime stand-up comic) Findlay Napier categorically commands musical VIP status. See more...
Nae Plans
‘Nae Plans‘ is the daredevil, off-the-cuff folk show featuring two Scottish folk musicians of the highest calibre. Taking their cue from the spontaneity of the traditional music session, two of Scotland’s finest musicians, Hamish Napier and Adam Sutherland, sit down on stage without knowing what they will play. See more...
Banter
If you are a Costa regular, then this fab trio will be well known to you. Playing great sets and ceilidhs at many of our previous festivals, Banter bring songs of biting social comment with pop beats, irony and ridiculously danceable tunes! See more...
| Aviemore Folk Festival 06 - 10 December 2021 4nts Dinner B&B | |||
| All Prices are per person and include full festival pass | |||
| £60pp Deposit required to secure your place | |||
| Early Booking Price | Price After 31.03.21 | ||
| Twin/Double Room - Morlich Hotel (Sold Out) | £499 | £519 | |
| Twin/Double Room - Highlands Hotel (Sold Out) | £499 | £519 | |
| Twin/Double Room - Aviemore Hotel | £499 | £519 | |
| Deluxe Double - Morlich Hotel (Sold Out) | £519 | £539 | |
| Double Room Solo Occupancy - Morlich Hotel (Sold Out) | £739 | £759 | |
| Double Room Solo Occupancy - Highlands Hotel (Sold Out) | £739 | £759 | |
| Double Room Solo Occupancy - Aviemore Hotel (Sold Out) | £739 | £759 | |
| 3 Bedroom Woodland Lodge (6 person) (Sold Out) | £499 | £519 | |
| 3 Bedroom Woodland Lodge (4 person) (Sold Out) | £619 | £639 | |
| Coach package supplement | |||
| Price Per Person based on return coach travel to Aviemore. The departure point for the coach will be Exeter with pre arranged pick up points en-route + 2 nights DB&B |
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| £275 pp sharing / £349 single room | |||
The Aviemore Hotel
Close to the concert halls and festival hub, the 4-star rooms at the Macdonald Aviemore Hotel all feature a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom with a bath or shower and free WiFi. Some rooms may feature a partitioned area with . Some rooms may have a sofa bed or a pop-up bed.
Within this hotel you’ll find Spey Burger, a contemporary American-style family diner serving burgers, burritos, milkshakes and more. Guests have access to a wide range of dining options across the resort. Other restaurants within a few minutes’ walk include Aspects Restaurant in Macdonald Highlands Hotel and Giovanni’s Italian Ristorante in the Macdonald Morlich Hotel.
Standard Room
Sleeps up to 2 adults. The inviting Standard bedrooms are newly refurbished with neutral tones and luxurious interiors throughout
Each room features:
Free WiFi
Tea/Coffee facilities
Hairdryer
Safety deposit box
Ironing facilities
The Morlich Hotel
Situated right next door to the concert halls, The Morlich Hotel is a contemporary four star hotel which is where the late night bar will be located. So if you plan an early night or prefer a quieter location perhaps opt for the Highlands Hotel or one of the Woodland Lodges
Standard Room
Sleeps up to 2 adults
Each elegantly refurbished standard room is traditionally furnished in purple tones with plenty of space to relax and unwind. Each room offers the option of a King or Twin configuration along with comfortable mattress toppers and soft duvets ensuring a good night’s sleep.
Each room features:
Free WiFi
Tea/Coffee facilities
Hairdryer
Safety deposit box
Ironing facilities
Deluxe Room
Along with the facilities of the standard rooms such as flat screen TV and Elemis toiletries, your deluxe room features additional space to relax and unwind, together with fluffy bathrobes and slippers.
Each room features:
Free WiFi
Tea/Coffee facilities
Hairdryer
Safety deposit box
Ironing facilities
The Highlands Hotel
An excellent choice for anyone preferring a quieter location. The Highlands Hotel is situated less than a few minutes’ walk from the facilities of the Conference centre and concert halls. The perfect choice for dining on site in the McDonald signature ‘Aspects Restaurant’
Standard Room
Tastefully traditional, the rooms at the Highlands Hotel are comfortable and a spacious 226sq ft. Each with the option of a King or Twin configuration along with comfortable mattress toppers and soft duvets ensuring a good night’s sleep.
Each room features:
Free WiFi
Tea/Coffee facilities
Hairdryer
Safety deposit box
Ironing facilities
Woodland Lodges
You’ll find the well-appointed three bedroom woodland lodges nestled amongst the ancient Caledonian Pine forests within the main festival site. The highland lodges combine spacious accommodation with outdoor living complete with cosy wood burning stove.
Each woodland lodge features three bedrooms with three en-suite bathrooms and a small kitchen with sperate living room. Perfect for groups of friends looking for somewhere to socialise together whilst maintaining the freedom to come and go as you please.
Lodge Configuration :
Ground Floor - One king bedroom with WC, bath and separate shower plus a twin bedroom with WC and Shower.
First Floor - One double bedroom with WC & shower
- Beautiful pine forest setting
- Sleep up to 6 people
- 3 bedroom lodges feature wood burning stove & dishwasher
- Galley Kitchen with a 4 ring hob, microwave, fridge, toaster, Nespresso coffee machine, tableware and cutlery
- Storage for bikes, skis etc
- Flat screen TV
- Bed linen & towels provided
- Complimentary toiletries
- Pet friendly lodges available on request & pre-bookable only
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is from 4pm although arrivals from 3pm can often be catered for
Check-out on the day of departure is usually between 10am and 11am
Is there on-site car parking available?
Yes, there is plenty of on-site, free car parking for everyone attending the festival.
Can I travel to the festival in my Camper Van?
Yes, you can travel to the festival in your camper. However, you will not be permitted to stay ‘on-site’ in your camper. You may park on the car-park for the duration of the festival providing you are booked to stay in one of the Hotels on-site.
Room Service
Room service is available 24 hours a day in the Highlands Hotel only
Can I bring my dog?
Well behaved dogs are welcome to stay in the lodges at an additional cost of £15 per night. Any pets must be pre-booked & confirmed.
Pets are not allowed in any of the indoor public areas.
What is the board basis?
The duration of the festival (four nights) is dinner bed & breakfast. There are plenty of on-site and off-site options for lunch.
Can I purchase festival passes only?
The festival is capacity limited and we have contractual obligations with the Aviemore Centre, we are not currently selling individual festival passes. However, if nearer the time, capacity allows festival passes will be released.
| Optional Coach Package - Exeter to Aviemore | ||
| £275pp sharing / £349 solo occupancy | ||
| Additional service station pick-up points can be arranged on request | ||
| Date | Activity | Time |
| Sunday 05 Dec | Coach departs Exeter | 10:00 |
| Pick-up Gordano Services Bristol M5 | 11:30 | |
| Pick-up Gloucester Services M5 North | 12:15 | |
| Pick-up Hilton Park Services (Birmingham) M6 North | 14:30 | |
| Pick-up Lymm Services (Warrington) M6/M56 | 15:45 | |
| Arrive at your overnight hotel in time for dinner | 18:00 | |
| Monday 06 Dec | Depart after breakfast | 10:00 |
| Arrive The Old Blacksmiths Shop Gretna Green | 11:45 | |
| Lunch Stop - 1hr 45mins | ||
| Depart Gretna Green | 13:00 | |
| Arrive McDonald Aviemore Centre | 18:00 | |
| Friday 10 Dec | Depart McDonald Aviemore Centre | 10:00 |
| Arrive Edinburgh - shopping and Christmas Markets | 13:00 | |
| Depart Edinburgh | 16:00 | |
| Arrive at your overnight hotel in time for dinner | 18:30 | |
| Saturday 11 Dec | Depart after breakfast | 10:00 |
| Arrive Lymm Services | 12:30 | |
| Arrive Hilton Park Services | 14:30 | |
| Arrive Gloucester Services | 15:45 | |
| Arrive Gordano Services | 17:00 | |
| Arrive Exeter | 18:30 | |
| The hotels, to be confirmed pre & post festival will be 4* Hotels | ||
| All timings are approximate and final timings will be provided closer to departure | ||
There are several options for getting to Aviemore:
Inclusive Coach Package (extra cost) Please see coach travel package tab
A limited availability option to extend your holiday by a day either side of the festival, spending one night in a 4* Lake District Hotel pre festival and one night on the Scottish border post festival.
Following four nights in Aviemore, the return coach journey will take you via Edinburgh for a visit to the Christmas Markets and onward to your overnight 4* Hotel for dinner bed & breakfast.
Please note: The coach option has limited availability, early booking is recommended.
Rail
Aviemore station (situated directly opposite the festival site) is serviced by trains directly from London via the Caledonian Sleeper train: www.sleeper.scot with options to board at various stations en-route
Or various train options via Edinburgh www.trainline.com
Flights
Fly into Inverness from:
Luton
Bristol
Gatwick
www.easyjet.com
London Heathrow – www.britishairways.com
A taxi from Inverness airport to Aviemore takes approximately 34 mins and will cost around £60. You can pre-book a taxi online if you wish by searching for Aviemore Taxis. We are happy to put you in touch with others travelling on the same flight who may be happy to share a taxi to Aviemore with you.
Alternatively, the bus from Inverness airport to the bus station at Inverness where you can pick up a bus to Aviemore, taking approximately 1hr 55mins
Or maybe hire a car from Inverness airport if you prefer the convenience of getting around under your own steam. www.holidayextras.com
Self Drive
Aviemore is well connected to the rest of the UK via the A9 and the Motorway network should you prefer to drive yourself and take a more leisurely route.
We are happy to help with travel arrangements should you need assistance
The festival will take place within the grounds of the McDonald Aviemore resort. There is a range of accommodation options all with dinner bed and breakfast for the duration of the festival.
Both The *Morlich Hotel, situated right next door to the Conference centre where all the concerts and workshops will take place and the Highland Hotel are on site, with the leisure centre sitting between them.
A short walk from one Hotel to the other with a distance of 190 meters door to door.
*The Morlich Hotel will host the late-night bar so if you prefer a quieter night, maybe select the Highland hotel or the Woodland Lodges (shared with friends) both of which are less than a few minutes’ walk to the concert halls.
Spey Valley Shopping
Take care of all your Christmas Shopping with an exclusive 10% discount for everyone attending the festival.
Whether you're looking for a special gift, a new item for your wardrobe or simply some wine or treats from the delicatessen there is something for everyone all under one roof.
Leisure Facilities
Everyone attending the festival will have full use of the on-site leisure facilities including the large Indoor heated pool.
Dining
There are a few different dining options and whilst breakfast will be served in the hotel where you are staying, your choice of restaurant for your evening meals will be reserved on arrival.
Aspects Restaurant
Aspects restaurant is the McDonald signature eatery located in the Highlands Hotel. Enjoy a choice of great dishes including juicy steaks, fresh wild white fish caught from sustainable sources together with delicious vegetarian and vegan options.
Giovanni’s Italian Ristorante
Giovanni's offers a real taste of Italy, right at the heart of Aviemore. This relaxed informal restaurant serving delicious handmade pizzas alongside authentic pasta & risotto dishes is located on the ground floor of The Morlich Hotel and will be open for breakfast and evening meals throughout the festival.
Spey Valley Food Court
A perfect spot for late morning coffee or lunch, right in the heart of the festival activities.
