The place where it was Christmas almost every day

Former Santa Claus Land worker Sheila Mackay with Santa in the 1990s

For almost 30 years, Aviemore was Father Christmas' home in the Highlands.

Santa Claus Land and Craft Village opened in 1970s with shops, a grotto and theme park rides.

It closed in 2002 and, over the next 20 years, the site fell into ruin before being demolished. It was recently replaced with a retail park.

But fond memories have not faded of the place where it was Christmas almost every day.

"I was 10 or 11 when we'd climb a 12ft barbed wire fence to get into Santa Claus Land," recalls Mark Allan.

"All the local kids did it. Eventually someone made a hole in the fence to make it easier to get in."

It was the late 1970s, and the heyday of Santa Claus Land, the year-round Christmas-themed park.

Aviemore's Santa Claus Land was open for almost 30 years

Much of Mark's childhood was spent roaming the park with his friend Dougie - after they had sneaked in over the security fence.

"Santa Claus Land was made up of lots of little attractions. I knew every inch of it," says Mark.

"There was pond full of wild birds with a sleigh ride round it, there was pony trekking, a North Pole attraction, crazy golf and a great pets' farm - with a goat that would butt its fence.

"For a young boy it was bit like a dreamland."

Mark Allan fondly remembers a childhood spent running around Santa Claus Land

Opened in 1975, near the centre of Aviemore village, the site had gift and toy shops including one called the Dolls House full of dolls for customers to buy.

The attractions included a ghost train and the veteran car ride that offered visitors a trip around a track in little vintage cars.

A leaflet showing the layout of Aviemore's Santa Claus Land in the 1970s

A Santa Claus Land postcard

Mark says he was lucky to spend his childhood running around Santa Claus Land with his friends.

His mum Veronica Allan, but better known in Aviemore by her school days nickname Monka, also worked at the park.

Her roles included helping to run the toy shop where the park's Santa had his grotto.

Mark says: "My friend Dougie's mum, a lovely lady called Margaret, ran the catering and we would pester her for pancakes."

He remembers the park always being busy, with families from Glasgow and Edinburgh among the visitors.

The veteran car ride was one of the attractions at the Aviemore site

Mark's first job when he turned 16 was at Santa Claus Land.

One of his roles was on the ghost train.

After setting the train off on its way, he would sometimes run to hidden spots along the route and then jump out to scare passengers.

"The ride was scary enough as it was," joked Mark.

"I'd run back to the ticket office and sit there as if nothing had happened."

Families across Scotland were among the visitors

The park's glow-in-the-dark Alice in Santaland attraction

Santa, of course, was the big attraction for families with young children.

Among those stepping into Santa's boots - while the real Father Christmas was busy in the North Pole - was the late George Swinney.

Mark says: "I think he had been in the Navy. He was such a nice man who looked the part.

"In the village, even after he had retired, he was known as Santa George.

"My brother used to cut his grass and help him with his messages (shopping)."

A wishing well at Santa Claus Land

Raymie Mackay, whose mum Sheila Mackay worked at the park and who later himself worked at the site, said growing up in Aviemore was special as a youngster.

"I would finish school and go to Santa Claus Land to meet my mum most days, so it really was Christmas all-year round as a kid," he says.

"Alice in Santaland was especially popular being a glow-in-the-dark ride."

Raymie's favourite place was Santa's house.

He says: "With toys from the floor to the ceiling. Full-size Lego models. A coin operated Hornby train set. And a Scalextric track.

Raymie adds: "And many a penny was thrown into the wishing well hoping for Santa to be good to us."

Raymie Mackay inside Santa's House

About 15 years ago, after it closed, the site was showing signs of decay

Santa Claus Land closed in 2002 and over the following years the site became derelict.

Mark spent time away from Aviemore working and on a return visit to his home village was surprised by the state of the Santa site.

He says: "Coming back one time, Dougie took me on a wee wander of the place.

"I was shocked by how overgrown it had become.

"It was very sad for me to see it in the state it was."

Mark, who now works as a manager on a Highland estate, says he is proud of what Aviemore could offer to families, and that the village continued to be popular with visitors.

The North Pole at Santa Claus Land a few years after the site was closed down

David and Julie Carman used to run the website Auld Aviemore and gathered dozens of stories about the theme park.

They said the park was a huge hit with locals and visitors, but in its final years a lack of investment and competition from low-cost holidays abroad saw the site fall into a "sorry state".

David adds: "But we still have our memories."

Santa Claus Land is long gone, but its lasting legacy includes a street named after it.

Local Highland councillor Bill Lobban says: "Almost all of the site has already been developed as a shopping complex.

"The only thing that remains are great memories and the name Santa Claus Drive."