麻豆社

Follow the lives of the people who work and live on the hills around Aviemore as returns for a second series on 麻豆社 One Scotland.

Loch Insh Sailing School

It’s Jonny first year in charge of the sailing school, which he’s been managing since his father died earlier this year. It’s still a family affair as his older brothers Andy and Duncan are also directors of the company, as is mum Sally.

Jonny is fully qualified to teach all the activities at Loch Insh but his real love is windsurfing, and he has travelled all over the world with it. As the summer season hots up it’s time to knuckle down and prove there’s a canny businessman behind the surfer-dude exterior.

Ultimate adrenaline-junkies

They love anything to do with jumping off things, going fast, and getting wet. Mike first came to Cairngorm for the skiing, loved the place, and decided to settle in Aviemore. In order to pay for his passion for extreme adventure he set up G2 Outdoor with Nick, offering canyoning, rafting, canoeing, and the buzz of their Zip Trek Park.

But for Mike and Nick the demands of running a business often conflict with their ambition to just have a good time.

Ski patroller

Ruari works a ski patroller on Cairngorm, and during the summer season he helps out his gamekeeper father Frank on the Kinveachy estate. He’s from Carrbridge, used to be a firefighter in Edinburgh, and loves to spear fish on his days off.

He’s getting married to Adele this summer, and he’s got a little surprise in store for the honeymoon.

Downhill mountain bike junior champion

17 years old Rona has just left Kingussie High School. It was on Cairngorm that she first got her love of riding mountain bikes – as long as it was downhill only that is. She started competitive racing three years ago, and is now one of Scotland’s leading young riders.

At every competition she’s supported by number one fan and Chief Mechanic, her mother Catriona. Her big goal this summer is to compete in the Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup in Fort William – one of the toughest competitive courses in the world.

Head of Operations

Colin has worked on Cairngorm since 1984. He was formally the head of Ski Patrol and for the last five years he has been Head of Operations.

With over 120 staff on the mountain, Colin’s job is to make sure all runs smoothly.

The Strathspey Railway engineers

These two young engineers are among the workers who keep the steam engine rolling as it carries summer tourists from Aviemore to Broomhill and back. Calum’s grandfather was one of the founding members of the Strathspey Railway, and he’s worked his way up from apprentice to fitter-driver.

Tommy also has steam in his blood, having grown up in a house overlooking the railway track. He’s now studying engineering at Inverness College, and working out his apprenticeship on the railway.

Leader of a team of mountain mechanics

Adam has worked on the mountain for over twenty-five years. Sought-after all over the world for his expertise on the huge piste-machines.

It’s Adam’s responsibility to ensure that the major summer programme of maintenance and repair of machinery is completed in time for the winter season.

The piper

Spud's father, Pipe Major Ian Fraser, was a very good piper and played for the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, Spud followed his lead and is now a local celebrity - often greeted by people who remember him fondly from playing at their wedding.

He met his wife on one such occasion and they got married in the church where they met, together they now have a son, Euan, and Spud carries a picture of him around in the bag he keeps his pipes in.

The Dell of Abernethy

Polly went to school on the Black Isle but as her grandparents ran the self-catering operation The Dell of Abernethy, she spent much of her childhood in the area. She and husband Ross took over the running of the business four years ago.

Polly has travelled all over the world, and she and Ross used to run a resort in Fiji. Now they are responsible for a self-catering operation of five cottages, a lodge, regular workshops, weddings and events, organizing the Insider music festival, as well as finding time for their two young sons, Harris and Woody. A lot of plate-spinning this summer!

Fitter

Iain has worked on the hill since 1999 as a Fitter – Iain is part of the fitting team or as they are often referred to - the ‘Grease Monkeys’. He’s a charmer and a joker, as are most of the team.

He’s worked on Cairngorm for almost 15 years and loves the job. Working all hours and in all conditions Iain thrives in the harsh winter environment.