Q. Any port in a storm? A. Yes, by the glass or bottle!

We've just stumbled across this wee snippet from the Telegraph...here's a precis. It's not always that cold, by the way!

From November, the Cairngorms National Park becomes a winter wonderland, with snow regularly dusting its pine forests and capping its mountains. Britain's strongest gust of wind (194mph) was recorded here on December 19 2008. The park also has the coldest town in the United Kingdom (the thermometer fell to -17F at Braemar on January 10 1982), and last winter it had snow drifts 16ft deep...try the Cross at Kingussie, a restaurant with rooms set in four acres of Cairngorms woodland. A converted 18th-century tweed mill with eight bedrooms, it serves up hearty Scottish cooking by an open fire and there are books and board games in the comfortable lounge. Outside you can spot snow buntings and Cairngorm sparrows when walking in the beautiful Rothiemurchus estate.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/uk/8087577/UK-where-to-go-storm-watching-in-Britain.html

The Cross at Kingussie Restaurant with Rooms www.thecross.co.uk

The Flying Pickets

Last week, amidst a fresh fall of snow and for the second time in recent years, a runaway truck careered across Ardbroilach Road, through our picket fence and down the bank before its journey to the river was fortuitously thwarted by a sturdy tree!

After checking that no-one was hurt, our concern turned to some amusement when we discovered that the truck that had demolished our fence was, er, a fencing contractor's truck!

 The Cross at Kingussie Restaurant with Rooms www.thecross.co.uk

Gold Stars for The Cross

The Cross has struck gold in the VisitScotland quality stakes. In recognition of "its exceptional hospitality and service" it has been awarded four Gold Stars by VisitScotland and is the most recent establishment in the Highlands to have been awarded 'Gold Star' status through the national tourism organisation's Quality Assurance Scheme.

The Gold Star award was introduced by VisitScotland in 2009 to highlight establishments within its Quality Assurance Scheme that strive to exceed customer expectations and which take an innovative and proactive approach to customer care. Gold Stars are accessible to properties of any star grade and the awards recognise those establishments that show commitment to quality and service across the board, from the warmth of welcome to the final farewell.
The Cross is amongst only 74 accommodation providers in Scotland, and only 21 in the Highlands, to have been awarded the coveted Gold Stars.
The Cross at Kingussie Restaurant with Rooms www.thecross.co.uk

THE CROSS AT KINGUSSIE RECEIVES THE AA WINE AWARD FOR SCOTLAND

Photo caption (l - r): Natasha Kaplinsky, host of the AA Hospitality Awards; David Young, owner; Trevor Hughes, sponsor; Katie Young, owner.

The Cross at Kingussie received nationwide recognition recently when it received the Wine Award for Scotland at the AA Hospitality Awards 2009 - 2010. The AA, celebrating the best in hospitality for over 100 years, held the glamorous black-tie ceremony, hosted by Natasha Kaplinsky, at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

David Young, owner of The Cross at Kingussie, received the award in front of a high profile audience of 800 members of the hospitality industry, including world-renowned ‘celebrity’ chefs, prominent hoteliers, hospitality gurus and key industry media. David said: “Most restaurants, especially hotel restaurants, offer wine lists that are a poor second to the food and we’re delighted that The Cross has been recognised as somewhere where the quality of the cooking can be matched with a great bottle of wine at a reasonable price”.

He added, “We work hard at putting together a unique wine list every year. The selections reflect our own tastes and many appear on our list only after we have visited the vineyard ourselves. We hope that the list offers diners the opportunity of trying something new and interesting. Our wines by the glass change regularly, we have, I think, one of the best lists of half bottles and of pudding wines in the UK, and we don’t overlook whisky drinkers either with a range of over 40 premium malts”.

“Of course, none of this would be possible without first class growers, wineries and suppliers who understand and support what we seek to achieve at The Cross and they, too, must take credit for the part they have played in our success”.

The Cross, a converted tweed mill with 8 en-suite bedrooms, is located in the lovely Highland village of Kingussie within the stunning Cairngorm National Park, surrounded by mountains, rivers and lochs. Situated in four acres of riverside grounds - with an abundance of native trees, flowers and wildlife – The Cross combines quality with simplicity and good food with a warm welcome.

AA Hotel Services Group Area Manager Giovanna Grossi said of the award “We selected The Cross at Kingussie for the Wine Award for Scotland because David and Katie’s passion for wines is clearly reflected in the carefully selected value for money list that can be justifiably enthused about and is regularly updated to feature new vintages and interesting additions.”

The Cross has also been awarded three AA Rosettes for the quality of the cooking and is now one of only twenty five restaurants in Scotland to achieve this standard. According to the 2010 edition of the AA’s Restaurant Guide “the food is both fabulous and unfussy in keeping with its surroundings”.

The AA Hospitality Awards recognise and reward the excellent services provided by the UK’s very best establishments and launches the 2010 AA guides to UK hotels and restaurants.

This year, guests at the awards ceremony were treated to a sensational three course gourmet meal prepared by three of the industry’s most highly esteemed chefs - Eric Chavot, Chris Galvin and Gary Rhodes - in conjunction with the Hilton Park Lane kitchen team. The guests also enjoyed a special performance by Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity.

The Cross was named Scottish Restaurant with Rooms of the Year 2009 in February and is once again featured as one of Scotland’s top thirty restaurants in the 2010 edition of the Good Food Guide.

Autumn and Winter Offers at The Cross:

Three-night dinner inclusive midweek breaks from £255 per person
Two-night dinner inclusive romantic breaks from £195 per person (including a bottle of champagne)
Three-night inclusive highland hogmanay package from £490 per person

For more information about the AA Awards go to http://www.aahospitalityawards.com/
For more information about The Cross at Kingussie go to http://www.thecross.co.uk/.