In reply to drsdave:
If you want a place that's equally convenient for N Cairngorms and Creag Meagaidh, then you want to be in Kingussie or Newtonmore or Laggan, half way between them.
I haven't used most of these because I'm based in Dundee, so I can't tell you much more than the internet can, but depending on your budget you have a lot of options. There are two bunkhouses in Newtonmore, Newtonmore Hostel and Strathspey Mountain Hostel. There's a third bunkhouse on the Newtonmore to Laggan road, Bunkhouse at the Roundhouse. Google shows lots of B & Bs. There are various full-on Scots-baronial hotels around too, many of them desperate for custom because they're not in Aviemore where everybody goes, and because they *look* so expensive that no one dare ask the question. But actually if you do ask, and especially if you ask in advance, *some* of them don't cost much more than a B & B. E.g. the Duke Of Gordon in Kingussie shows up on google at £64 per night, which is no different from a B & B really. And staying in one of those grand Victorian huntin'-and-fishin' hotels is an experience in itself. Shows you another side of Scotland...
I think most of the local hoteliers round there would really love it if visitors were more imaginative about where they stayed--Aviemore gets rammed with the skiing and is all traffic-jams and double-bookings, meanwhile 10 miles down the road the place is deserted and the hotels can barely stay in business. A more even *spread* of the tourist presence would be great for the local economy.
But to repeat, I haven't stayed in these places myself, so can't be sure I'm giving you good tips.
http://www.dukeofgordonhotel.co.uk/
Post edited at 10:07