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Updated August 2024
Cosy wooden cabins, mountains, ancient pine forests, lochs, beaches and reindeer are a few of the magical things that come to mind when thinking of the Cairngorms National Park. As the UK’s largest National Park, the Cairngorms National Park is an outdoor adventure playground, the perfect place for many outdoor activities; watersports, snowsports, hiking, cycling and fishing to name a few.
Established in 2003, the Cairngorms National Park contains one-quarter of Scotland’s native forest, the Caledonian forest which gives you a glimpse into what the Scottish highlands would have looked like thousands of years ago.
The alpine semi-tundra moorland habitat found here in the Cairngorm mountains are similar to what you would find in Norway and Sweden. Wildlife is abundant in this part of Scotland, with reindeer, golden eagles, ospreys, wildcats and many rare and threatened species.
WHERE IS CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK?
Located in the heart of Scottish Highlands, Cairngorms National Park sits in the northeast of Scotland between Fort William in the west to Aberdeen in the east.
The park covers an area of 4,528 km² and home to over 18,000 people living in towns and villages including Aviemore, Kingussie, Nethy Bridge and across the counties of Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland, Moray and Perth and Kinross.
HOW TO TRAVEL TO CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK?
If you are flying to Scotland, the nearest airports to Cairngorms National Park are Inverness for best access to the west, only a 30 minute drive away and Aberdeen International airport with easy access to the east, approximately an hours drive away. If you’re unable to fly to these airports, you can fly to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports where the journey by car takes just over 2 hours 30 minutes to reach the Cairngorms National Park.
There are trains from London including a sleeper train that leaves from London Euston station every day in the evening and you arrive in the morning in the Cairngorms National Park first at Kingussie and then Aviemore.
If you’d prefer to travel during the day from London, you can catch the Azuma train, an electric-diesel hybrid from Kings Cross directly to Aviemore and Kingussie which takes around 8 hours and takes you into the heart of the national park.
There are also other trains to Aviemore and Kingussie that require you to change a couple of times at Edinburgh and Perth. This train passes Lincoln, York, Newcastle, Stirling and Perth with the final destination on the line at Inverness. There is also the option to reach the east of the park by catching the direct train to Aberdeen which takes 7 hours where you can drive, take a bus or cycle into the park.
HOW TO TRAVEL AROUND CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK?
If you are travelling by car, you can follow the A9 from Killiecrankie to Granish on the west side of the Cairngorms National Park. From there take the A95 north to Speybridge and follow the A939 also known as the Old Military road or Lecht road for the ultimate drive with spectacular views of the Scottish Highlands.
This scenic road will take you past the Lecht ski centre at 2090 feet (645m), Corgarff Castle, Glenshee ski centre and Devil’s Elbow. There is more information on these breathtaking roads and what to see below in the section ‘best things to see and do in the Cairngorms National Park’.
Alternatively, it is possible to explore the Cairngorms National Park by train including a unique experience of boarding a traditional steam train on the Strathspey railway from Broomhill to Aviemore. There are also other regular train services in the west of the Cairngorms National Park within the Spey valley between Dalwhinnie and Carr-Bridge.
There are bus routes that connect most of the major towns, however due to the remoteness and mountainous terrain these are limited within the national park. A summer service named the Heather Hopper operates from 7 July till 17 August from Blairgowrie and Ballater. A useful way to check possible routes by bus and train is to visit the traveline scotland website, it gives travel times, departure times and has a journey planner to show you the best possible route to your destination.
The Cairngorms National Park is home to over 64km of off-road cycle routes, including a national cycle route, National cycle route 7 from Glasgow to Inverness, there is also the option to hire electric bikes in Aviemore and Kingussie.
CAMPERVANS AND MOTORHOMES IN CAIRNGORMS
Travelling in your campervan or motorhome in Scotland is a great way to explore and visit the Cairngorms National Park at ease and your own pace. Scotland allows sleeping in your vehicle overnight and is a great location to explore by camper van or motorhome as there are many facilities to dispose of waste properly and fill up water.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code gives us the freedom to explore these incredible wild and rugged landscapes, however, with that privilege comes the responsibility to respect that freedom and protect it for the future. Here are some tips that are worth remembering whilst exploring the park which will help to keep the Scottish landscape wild and protect the wildlife and animals living within it when you visit:
Avoid making noise that disturbs local wildlife and locals
Avoid open fires
Keep dogs under control
Keep a safe distance from wildlife and farm animals
Find quiet places to wild camp
Do not park on sensitive habitats or damage the ground
Always empty your toilet waste in designated areas and not public toilets
Recycle and take all your rubbish with you
Respect the local no overnight parking signs and find alternative parking
Support the local communities by buying local produce
Follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code for fires, right to roam and protect the environment
Leave no trace
The National Park has put together an interactive map and pdf specifically designed to show you local facilities and parking in the area which can help you plan your visit to the Cairngorms.
When is the best time to visit the cairngorms national park?
We visited the Cairngorms in April and were greeted with beautiful snow and as you may know, Scotland can experience all four seasons in one day. Whilst staying in the Cairngorms we can say that we experienced this for ourselves!
One minute it could be snowing and the next the warmth of the sun melts the snow away. You can visit the Cairngorms National Park year round, as there is plenty to look out for and do throughout the seasons. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared for different weather, pack waterproof gear, waterproof footwear and warm layers.
In Spring, the snow starts to melt away and uncovers the heather moorland. It’s a time where wildlife comes to life from the reindeer to ospreys. Longer days means more daylight for exploring the landscape with warmer temperatures makes great conditions for hiking and cycling.
Summer is a time for watersports, hiking, fishing, camping and making the most of those warmer temperatures. With those warmer temperatures you will need to be prepared for the midges and busier locations during the peak season.
Moving into Autumn, as the temperatures get colder and the leaves start changing colour with the added bonus of less visitors and midges. This is also the time of year where you can witness the red deer stag rut and the park regularly experiences an ‘Indian summer’ in Autumn.
In the winter, the park has three ski centres for you to ski or snowboard up on the slopes of Cairngorm mountains or if you’d prefer cosy up to a log fire with the snow falling outside either can make the perfect winter getaway. With this in mind, it is worth being prepared for unpredictable weather, pack a waterproof jacket, sturdy/waterproof shoes, waterproof trousers and warm layers to make the most of the outdoors!
WHAT ARE THE BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK?
Drive the SLOW Snow Roads (A939)
Follow the winding roads along the A939 and take the slow road where you will drive along the Snow Roads for spectacular views of the Scottish Highlands. This scenic drive will take you on a 90-mile journey where you will pass many places you’ll want to stop and take time to soak all the beauty in.
If you start the route from the north in Grantown-on-Spey, you’ll pass the Lecht ski centre at 2090 feet (645m) and once you’ve passed you’ll be greeted with spectacular views of endless mountains. Make sure to stop at the beautiful star-shaped, Corgarff Castle which is set within the remote countryside and used to be a redcoats barracks from 1750.
Carry your journey along the Snow Roads past the Glenshee ski centre and make sure to stop at the Devil’s Elbow, a double hairpin bend on the old road which is now a place where you can park and take in the views of Meal Gorm and Carn Mor.
Prince Albert’s pyramid
An unlikely sight in Scotland is the Prince Albert Pyramid, set within the grounds of the Balmoral Estate. This pyramid was erected in 1982 and built by Queen Victoria in memory of her beloved Prince Albert when he passed. There are 11 cairns in total and Prince Albert’s cairn is the largest, located at the top of a hill, providing spectacular panoramic views.
To get to the pyramid park at Balmoral car park which is next to the Crathie tourist information centre just outside the Balmoral Estate which costs £5 for a car and £10 for a campervan. The path to the pyramid can either be done directly or by a circular route which closes during August and September as this is when the Queen is in residence, however, you can still visit directly from the car park throughout the year. The direct walk to the cairn is a steep climb, make sure to wear sturdy footwear as the footpath can become slippery in wet weather.
Cairngorm Mountain
From Glenmore, follow the mountain road up to Cairngorm mountain resort which a hub of activity where you can spot reindeer grazing the moorland and take the funicular (which plans to reopen in 2023) which is the highest railway in UK to a height of 1097 metres above sea level.
There are year round activities on the mountain with mountain tubing in the summer and ski runs during the winter. Campervans and motorhomes are welcomed to stay the night at Coire na Ciste onsite where you can soak in the views of Glenmore and Loch Morlich. The site welcomes those who have their own facilities including toilets, with 45 pitches and facilities to use fresh water, grey and black water dump, bins and it costs £10 a night to enter the gated access site where you can book online.
Discover wild roaming reindeer
Reindeer were reintroduced to the Cairngorm National Park in 1952 by a Swedish Sami man who noticed that the Cairngorm mountain plateau was the perfect environment for reindeer to thrive. There are over 150 reindeer and are the only free-range herd in Britain and thrive grazing on the pasture in the Cairngorms and are designed to endure cold sub-arctic environments.
You can visit the reindeer with the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd as a group visit where they will guide you to the herd of reindeer at the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre. We were lucky to find the reindeer ourselves whilst walking east from the Cairngorm Mountain car park, they are well camouflaged to the landscape and it was an incredible sight to see them roaming free.
Aviemore
The town of Aviemore is the active centre of the Cairngorms National Park and a great base to explore the area. There are several ski and outdoor shops and was one of the first skiing resorts in Scotland established in 1961. The Strathspey railway runs along here from Aviemore to Boat of Garten and even further. Loch Morlich is a popular spot nearby surrounded by the beautiful Rothiemurcus forest, the remnants of a Caledonian forest with Scots pine and heather moorland.
Green Loch
Visit the Glenmore visitor centre for tips on where to explore the area, there are plenty of walks to do in the area and we would recommend the Green loch (An Lochan Uaine) walk which starts from the visitor centre and if you walk a bit further you will reach Ryvoan which is a traditional Scottish bothy and provides shelter for mountaineers.
A great way to explore the area is by bike, including the circular route around Loch Morlich and loch an Eilein. Loch Morlich has a beach where you can chill for the day or hire a canoe and explore the loch with incredible views of the Cairngorms.
Abernethy Nature Reserve
Thousands of years ago Scotland used to be completely covered in forest, today only 1% of the Caledonian forest remains due to mass deforestation and deer grazing. At Abernathy RSPB nature reserve, you can enter the centre where you pay £5 to enter and watch live cameras of ospreys and white-tailed eagles, there are binoculars to look through and there are also guided walks and talks.
There are walks around Loch Garten and Loch Malachie where you’ll walk through large pine trees and juniper. A project to reconnect the forest is underway where the RSBP are working with landowners to plant new trees and restore the Caledonian forest to its former glory.
Nethy Bridge
A small village in the Spey Valley has a beautiful Telford bridge with three arches that pass over the river Nethy which was built in 1810. Here at Nethy Bridge, you’ll find a cafe and tea rooms, the Abernethy visitor centre, golf course and they host the Abernethy Highland games.
What caught our eye in this village was the quirky cabins and that the village is surrounded by Scots pine. There are several walks you can do in the area including Castle Roy which is abundant in wildlife Capercaillie, pine Martin, red squirrel and wildcat.
Where to stay in the Cairngorms National Park?
PINE MARTEN LODGE
When visiting the Cairngorms National Park, no visit would be complete without staying in a wooden cabin in the woods. Pine Marten Lodge near Nethy Bridge is the perfect place to relax and a great location to explore the National Park, with a hot tub, wood burner and outdoor gas fire pit you’ll be guaranteed to have a great time.
The lodge is kitted with luxury touches, all wood was sourced from local sources and it has a sedum roof which blends it within the landscape. The Spey Valley is renowned for it’s salmon and trout fishing and the Strathspey Railway runs a steam train from Aviemore to Broomhill.
