For most Scots it is probably no more than a couple of hours away, but the Cairngorms National Park can get overlooked in the quest for a family staycation. Which is a great shame, firstly because there is so much to see and do at any time of year, and secondly because there is an ideal place to stay in the form of the Macdonald Hotel’s Spey Valley resort. We stayed in an apartment at Spey Valley, on the north east fringe of Aviemore. They call it an apartment, but in reality it is more of a two-storey terraced house that was more than big enough for our family of four. Our two girls had the run of the upstairs level, with one large bedroom and a smaller room with bunk beds. They also commandeered the large living room, complete with a conservatory overlooking the Cairngorm countryside. Downstairs, our room was equally large and well equipped. The kitchen and dining area were well stocked with whatever you might need if you were planning to stay on a self-catering basis, although we only really had breakfast there. Instead, we made the most of the various restaurants on offer. First off, we tried the Italian eatery Giovanni’s, at Macdonald Hotel’s Aviemore Resort closer to the centre of town. The heart of the Cairngorms is perhaps not the first place in Scotland you might expect to come across an authentic slice of Italy, so Giovanni’s was a welcome surprise. The food was excellent. All the pizzas are hand-stretched using a sourdough base cooked in a classic wood-burning pizza oven. And you could tell even if the oven wasn’t proudly on display. I recommend the gamberoni alla Siciliana - sauteed, spiced king prawns and capers in an arrabiata sauce. Spey Valley resort boasts a grill restaurant, Dalfaber Bar and Kitchen, which is perfect for those hankering after a steak after a long day of exertion on the golf course or in the hills. There are plenty of other options - truffle macaroni and cheese, for example, or Highland venison casserole - but for me the draw of a Scotch sirloin steak from the grill was always going to be hard to resist, with truffle and Parmesan fries and a peppercorn sauce, followed by sticky toffee pudding. And on our final night we tried out the Highland fish bar, back at the Aviemore Resort, which has a more informal sports bar kind of feel about it. Again, the service was very friendly, and the fish and chips excellent. Spey Valley is renowned for its championship golf course, which meanders through stunning ancient Caledonian pine forests and along the banks of the River Spey. This is a long course so driving around it on a buggy is definitely worth considering. At 635 yards, the fifth is one of the longest holes in Scotland, and the sixth spans a lake that has been adopted as a bird nesting site. This course will appeal to players of all levels. I am an infrequent and pretty poor golfer but I think I can safely say this is the most fun I’ve ever had on a golf course. The landscape is simply stunning and the course was immaculately maintained, with surprisingly fast greens. The weather was grey and overcast on the day when I played, but on a clear day it must be nothing short of magnificent. While I was happily hooking and slicing my way around the course, the rest of the family was making the most of Spey Valley spa’s pool. The Aviemore Resort has a bigger and livelier pool, with a flume, sauna and steam rooms and a wave machine. There’s also a fairly extensive soft play area, if you are into that sort of thing, and even a cinema if the weather isn’t going your way. Fortunately the rain held off on the day we went to Landmark Forest Adventure Park, near Carrbridge, which is packed with activities for children to enjoy. We struggled to peel our eight-year-old away from the water slides, and it was equally difficult to get our five-year-old out of the butterfly house. There are also all manner of treetop trails and challenges, a labyrinth and Dinosaur Kingdom, where you can get up close and personal with life-sized creatures such as Tyrannosaurus Rex, which is even more popular with five-year-olds than butterflies. There is so much to do it is worth setting aside a whole day for Landmark, which brings the added benefit of tired but happy children who have worn themselves out so much it is no problem getting them to go to bed. Back at the resort, the shopping centre is well worth a visit, whether you are looking for luxury clothing brands, spa products, or even just toys for the children. It turns out that, all things considered, for a fun-filled and action-packed family staycation you really need look no further than the Macdonalds resorts of Aviemore. Macdonald Spey Valley Resort Dalfaber Dr, Aviemore PH22 1ST https://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/spey-valley 01479 811244