Rumours of Aviemore's absolute awfulness appear to have been greatly exaggerated. This by Guardian™-writing types who, coincidentally, are saying just that just a fortnight before SlyBob decide to pull in and park up for a peek.
Sure, there's a small version of an out-of-town retail park, only this one is in a town, but still plenty of the traditional stone to remind you of somewhere in and around the Scottish Highlands.
Disgraced and dirty-dealing architect John Poulson had a hand in Aviemore's development in the '60s, when the 'St. Moritz of Scotland' was sold to our friends in the north and ski-mad Sassenachs.
A dramatic decline due to easier access to the Alps saw the town transformed, again, and it's the ugly '80s frontage that has got the Guardian™'s typewriters tutting.
It's newer than you might think, then, but only if you've never really thought about it, although some of what could be seen in the '60s remains.
The rest of the road through is lined with single-storey fleshpots and retail because the template for continental ski resorts was adopted for the redevelopment, probably.
MacDonald Hotels and Resorts maintain the main eyesore, but other accomodation providers are available. Several holiday villages look to cater for the authentic, après-ski experience, or a fondue in a bungalow if you'd rather.
There's talk of yet another transformation to revive into something more all-year-round recreational and development opportunities remain.
Despite being best known for the skiing, Aviemore's big problem is now down to the snow, or the fluctuating frequency of it, naturally, with nighttime figures in Fahrenheit into the 40s not favourable to freezing.
They've even resorted to artificial stuff to keep the gargantuan car park on the way up to Cairngorm Mountain from sitting empty in February. Before that, everybody shrugged and stayed in town raiding the dozens of outdoor outfitters, their fingers crossed for tomorrow.
That looks to be today's case with Mountain Warehouse™ doing a particularly brisk trade in discount fleeces, and social distancing about as visible as a hard-packed piste.
Saying that, last season saw enough of it to still be hanging around in early May, but you'll need to head up higher for a glimpse of the 'Gorm'.
Not that high, however, just the footbridge at Aviemore's train station, which looks not a little unlike this from the front.
The railway came relatively late in 1898 meaning Victorian toffs would only enjoy the outdoors for three years until they'd officially be classified as Edwardian hedonists.
The 19:56 to Inverness has been cancelled, and it's way too early for the 21:18 to London Euston, so why are the rails ringing? Something's definitely coming?
Yes, a restored section of the original Highland Railway Line has got a chuff-chuff - thanks Derek - on it, and it choo-choos for 10 miles up into Speyside, when in season.
SlyBob's honestly not that interested in these things, honestly, you'll find they just keep following you round. Well, maybe one of us is and a little bit more than they'd like to admit. I mean, who doesn't enjoy the sight of an LNER Class J94 Austerity 0-6-0ST?
The recreational space over the railway line and next to the River Spey is being put to use by ramblers, cyclists, and the boozehounds on the benches of the Old Bridge Inn.
It's clear there's slightly more to Aviemore, and, outside of the skiing, it's as good a base as anywhere in the area. To keep 'em coming all year round, however, here's a tip for the pen-pushers at City Hall...
Don't throw up a load of glassy, generic gentrification that could just about be anywhere. Well, not unless you want to tear it all down and then try again in another 20 years. Again.