The best things to do in Aviemore & the Cairngorms

A local’s guide to the best things to do in Aviemore and the Cairngorms National Park – from the funicular and the lochs to the reindeer, the ospreys and the best walks, whatever the weather.

Aviemore is the adventure capital of the Cairngorms, the gateway town for the UK’s largest national park, and the base most people use to explore the lochs, forests, mountains and wildlife around it. After 30 years exploring this corner of Scotland, here are the best things to do in Aviemore and the Cairngorms, for sunshine, snow and everything in between.

Let’s visit Aviemore and the Cairngorms National Park

The Cairngorms National Park is the UK’s largest national park covering over 4500 sq km (over 1100 sq miles) stretching from Blair Athol to Ballater and Glenlivet to Grantown on Spey.

Aviemore might be the national park’s ‘capital’ but the Cairngorms are home to 18,000 people living in the villages of Ballater, Braemar, Grantown-on-Spey, Kingussie, Nethy Bridge, Newtonmore, and Tomintoul.

The Cairngorms National Park is made up of over 150 estates – from the mountainous Mar Lodge to Glenfeshie, the royal estate at Balmoral, whisky at Glenlivet and the forests of Rothiemurchus, along with those managed by the National Trust for Scotland and the Forestry Commission.

The national park contains five of the UK’s highest mountains – and the tallest, Ben Macdui is the second-highest mountain in Scotland – only pipped by Ben Nevis. Cairn Gorm gives the national park its name.

The Cairngorm plateau is the highest and wildest in Britain – despite being called the ‘green hills’ it can snow here all year round and white-out blizzards are common. The Cairngorms even has it’s own famous ‘snow road’ which stretches for 90 miles through the highest parts of the national park.

Much of the park is only accessible by foot or bike, ensuring that the park is a safe home for red squirrels, golden eagles, crested tits, crossbills and, of course, hikers and bikers.

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The best things to do in Aviemore & the Cairngorms

1. Ride the funicular up Cairn Gorm

The Cairngorm Mountain funicular – Scotland’s only mountain railway – carries you up Cairn Gorm to the Ptarmigan station near the summit, the UK’s highest, in a few minutes. There’s a café and viewing terrace at the top, and in winter the mountain is one of Scotland’s main ski centres. The single most popular paid attraction in the area, and the obvious place to start.

2. Walk to Lochan Uaine, the green lochan

Deep in Glenmore Forest, surrounded by huge Caledonian pines, sits the beautiful Lochan Uaine — where the water supposedly takes its green hue from the local fairies washing their clothes in it. The 3.7-mile / 6 km walk up is a lovely, easy one for all the family; carry on to the Ryvoan Pass if you want something longer.

Walk Lochan Uaine.

3. Spend a day at Loch Morlich

Did you know the UK’s highest beach is here in the Cairngorms? Loch Morlich is a huge summer draw – sandy shores, mountain views, and a flat 4-mile circular walk around it. You can sail, windsurf, paddleboard, kayak or canoe from the Loch Morlich Watersports centre.

Walk or cycle Loch Morlich.

4. Explore Loch an Eilein & Rothiemurchus

East of Aviemore, the Rothiemurchus Estate holds 10,000 hectares of Caledonian forest and the gorgeous Loch an Eilein, with a ruined island castle once held by the Wolf of Badenoch. There’s a 4.5-mile circular walk or cycle around the loch – watch for ospreys and red squirrels. The estate also runs the full range of outdoor activities, from bike hire to pony trekking.

Walk Loch an Eilein.

5. Meet the Cairngorm Reindeer herd

The Cairngorms have Britain’s only free-ranging reindeer herd, and you can join a daily guided hill walk to meet and feed them in their mountain home (walks usually start at 11am). A magical hour, and brilliant with children.

You can visit the reindeer in their mountain wilderness.

6. Get up close at the Highland Wildlife Park

The RZSS Highland Wildlife Park is home to polar bears, red pandas, Scottish wildcats and more — a drive-through and walk-round park that’s well worth a half-day, especially with kids.

Visit the Highland Wildlife Park.

7. Watch the ospreys at RSPB Loch Garten

Made famous by BBC Winterwatch, Loch Garten is home to ospreys, crested tits and red squirrels. Go early, stand very still by the feeders, hold out some sunflower seeds, and a coal tit might just land on your hand.

Visit RSPB Loch Garten

8. Ride the Strathspey steam railway

A proper steam-train adventure running 10 miles north from Aviemore through Boat of Garten to Broomhill. Join for afternoon tea or dinner, or hop off and explore at each station.

Ride the Strathspey Steam Railway

9. Let the kids loose at Landmark Forest Adventure Park

Six miles north at Carrbridge, Landmark Forest Adventure Park is the area’s big family day out — treetop trails, a wild water coaster, the Tarzan Trail, towers and a butterfly house, all set in the pine forest. The go-to for a full day with children of any age.

Visit Landmark Forest Adventure Park

10. Step back in time at the Highland Folk Museum

With 30 buildings spanning the 1700s to the 1950s — including a recreated township and a 1930s working croft — the Highland Folk Museum brings Highland life to life. It’s free, open April to November, and featured in Outlander.

Visit the Highland Folk Museum.

11. Visit Ruthven Barracks

Built to house government soldiers fighting the Jacobites, this dramatic ruined fortress is impressive even from the A9. Ruthven Barracks is open all year round and is free to visit. Visit Ruthven Barracks.

12. Taste the whisky (and the beer)

• Dalwhinnie Distillery – Scotland’s highest whisky distillery sits at 1,164 ft (355m) above sea level. Dalwhinnie is a Highland whisky and tours of the distillery run every day throughout the year. The Distillery Tour (£12) includes a 45-minute tour and two drams with a complimentary glass, the Tasting tours (£25) includes 4 single malts. Make sure you try the Distillers Edition – a double sherry casked whisky of loveliness!  Visit Dalwhinnie Distillery.
• Cairngorm Brewery – love beer, then you will love the Cairngorm Brewery who produce real ales, craft beers and lagers in Aviemore. Tours and tasting sessions are available at the brewery.

13. Hit the slopes in winter

Aviemore is the main centre for winter sports in Scotland. The largest ski resort in the UK is at the Glenshee Ski Resort in the Cairngorms National Park, with 22 lifts and 36 runs – check out the huge Glenshee piste map. Other ski centres can be found at The Lecht and Cairngorm Mountain.

14. Try an adventure activity

• Glenmore Lodge – Scotland’s premier outdoor centre, Glenmore lodge offers training courses for the outdoors including winter and summer skills courses – essential if you want to explore the upper reaches of the Cairngorm’s Munros. Visit Glenmore Lodge.

• Watersports at Loch Morlich – fancy going Sailing, Windsurfing, Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP), Kayaking or Canoeing? Well, you can on the beautiful still waters of Loch Morlich. Book your boat at Loch Morlich Watersports.

• Rothiemurcus Estate – offering a full range of outdoor activities (quad biking, off-road driving, clay pigeon, fishing, biking trails, segway, pony trekking, archery) on a beautiful and friendly estate, there is something for everyone at Rothiemurcus Estate.

• Treezone Aviemore – love swinging through the trees? Then check out the aerial assault course at Treezone, Aviemore.

15. Bag a Cairngorm Munro

Fifty-five of Scotland’s 282 Munros sit in the park, including four of the UK’s five highest. Cairn Gorm gives the park its name; Ben Macdui is the second-highest in Scotland. See the dedicated walks section below for routes and a vital safety note.

Map of things to do in Aviemore and the Cairngorms

Download the National Park Map

My favourite walks in Aviemore & the Cairngorms

Beyond the headline lochs, these are the walks I’d send you on — all suitable for a family taste of the park.

• Craigellachie National Nature Reserve (NNR) – A beautiful woodland just outside Aviemore, Craigellachie National Nature Reserve (NNR) has several lochans (small lochs) to explore. The walk around the reserve is around 3 miles and will take roughly 2.5-3 hours to explore all the crags and reach the top of the hill for a great view across Aviemore. Walk Craigellachie National Nature Reserve.
• Farleitter Crag & the Uath Lochans – Hidden away in Glenfeshie are the Uath Lochans and above the lochs is a great view. Wind your way around the lochs before climb up to Farleitter Crag for an incredible view across to the Monadhliath Munros – the grey mountains. Climb Farleitter Crag.
• The Ryvoan Pass – Hike from the Glenmore Lodge to Nethy Bridge along the remote Ryvoan Pass hiking through the beautiful Abernethy Forest and past the Green Lochan. The one-way walk will take you 5 hours and is 9.5 miles in total. There is a bus back from the end of the walk, or prepare for a very long return journey! Walk the Ryvoan Pass.
• The Glen Tilt Circuit  – Starting from Blair Athol, the Glen of Tilt circuit takes you around one of Scotland’s most beautiful glens. The circular walk will take you 5 hours and is 9.5 miles in total.
  Walk the Glen Tilt Circuit.

Looking for a longer walk?

• The Dava Way – From Forres to Grantown on Spey, this one-way 24-mile walk follows the Highland Railway line to Dava. Walk the Dava Way – there is a B&B at Dava if you want to break the walk into two sections.
• Badenoch Way – walk 11 miles one way alongside the River Spey from Ruthven Barracks to near Aviemore through RSPB reserves and forests. Walk the Badenoch Way
• Cateran Way – taking you 64 miles through Perthshire and the Angus Glens, the Cateran Way is a circular walk, best walked in 5 stages. The trail is named after cattle thieves from the middle ages who raided Strathardle, Glenshee and Glen Isla. Walk the Cateran Trail.
• The Deeside Way – on the east side of the national park, the Deeside Way will take you 41 miles from Aberdeen to Ballater. Follow the route by bike or by foot from Ballater to Aboyne and visit the Burn O Vat and Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve. Walk the Deeside Way.

…and for a really big walk…

• The Speyside Way – Follow the River Spey from Aviemore to Buckie on the Moray Firth coast on one of Scotland’s four official walking routes on 65 miles of waymarked paths and tracks. Usually walked north to south, the Speyside way is broken down into 8 sections – within the national park you can walk from Grantown to Aviemore via Nethy Bridge and Boat of Garten. Walk the Speyside Way.
• The East Highland Way – Stretching 82 Miles / 132 KM from Fort William to Aviemore, East Highland Way takes you past Ben Nevis to Newtonmore and along the River Spey to Aviemore where the route joins up with the Speyside Way. The route is best walked in 7 sections over a week-long trip. The East Highland Way is an unofficial route so it is not waymarked. Walk the East Highland Way.

Munro Bagging in the Cairngorms National Park

There are 282 Munros (Scottish mountains over 3000ft) to bag and 55 of them are in the Cairngorms National Park. Four of the Munros – Ben Macdui, Braeriach, Cairn Toul and Sgor an Lochain Uaine are in the top five highest hills in the UK – after Ben Nevis.

Cairn Gorm is one of the most famous Munros in Scotland (and gives the national park its name) and Bynack More one of the most visible in the Park.

Here are some of the more lesser-known Munros to climb:

• The Glenshee 9 – often bagged by beginners in good weather, these Munros have a very high start point – try the Cairnwell and Carn Aosda.

• Dreish and Mayar – climb up the stunning Corrie Fee to the Cairngorm plateau where you can climb to the summits of Mayar and Driesh, a pair of Munros.

• Beinn a Ghlo – made up of three Munros, Beinn a Ghlo can be climbed in one very long day out in the hills.

• Drumochter Hills, near Dalwhinnie – climb up the slopes of Geal Charn for a view over to Loch Ericht to Ben Alder or if you are feeling energetic, you can complete both Munros Geal Charn and A Mharconaich on a round trip.

• Monadhliath Munros – the grey mountain is made up of a series of peaks including The four Munros of Carn Dearg (945m) , A’Chailleach (930m), Geal Charn (926m) and Carn Sgulain (920m)

• Lochnagar – one of Scotland’s best mountains, bagging Lochnagar (otherwise known as the White Mounth Munros) takes you around five high-level circuit Munros above Loch Muick and the dark coire.

Safety note: the Cairngorm plateau is the highest and wildest in Britain — it can snow here year-round and white-outs are common. If you haven’t hillwalked before, or you’re visiting in winter, make sure you have the right gear and conditions you can handle, and check MWIS for the mountain forecast. Winter hillwalking is for the experienced and well-prepared only.

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Aviemore with kids

Aviemore is one of the best family bases in Scotland. For a kids’ day out, combine Landmark Forest Adventure Park, the Cairngorm Reindeer walk, the Highland Wildlife Park, the beach at Loch Morlich, the Strathspey steam railway, and the easy fairy walk to Lochan Uaine.

Aviemore on a rainy day

The weather turns fast up here, so it’s worth having indoor options;

Strathspey Railway – re-opened in 1978, the Strathspey Railway takes you on a steam train adventure north from Aviemore through Boat of Garten to Broomhill along 10 miles of track. Join the train for afternoon tea or dinner, or get off an explore at each station. Prices from £23 return. Book your tickets online at Strathspey Railway.

Highland Folk Museum – with 30 houses from the 1700s to the 1950s, the Highland Folk Museum gives you a taste of life in the Highlands including a 1700s Township (featuring 6 houses) and a 1930s working croft. The museum is free entry and is open April to November. The museum also had a role in the TV series Outlander! Visit the Highland Folk Museum.

Explore the Cairngorms by bike

Whether you like to cycle up mountains or prefer things a wee bit more leisurely, here is how to see the best of the park by bike:

• Like long-distance riding? National Cycle Route 7 takes you from Glasgow to Inverness through the national park
• Mountain bikers will love the purpose-built tracks at the Glenlivet Estate, the Lecht Ski Centre and Laggan Wolftrax.
• Hire a bike and cycle around the gorgeous Rothiemurchus Estate
• More ideas for mountain biking in the Cairngorm

Where to stay in Aviemore & the Cairngorms

For a tiny off-grid log cabin in the woods, I love the Lazy Duck at Nethy Bridge – eco-huts, a quiet campsite and a small hostel. For a warm-hearted luxury B&B deep in the Drumochter Pass, try Balsporran at Dalwhinnie. For the full range, see my where to stay in Scotland guide.

How to get to Aviemore

• By car: via the A9 from Perth/Inverness, or the scenic Snow Road (A93) through the heart of the park.
• By train: direct from Edinburgh, Stirling and the south; the Inverness mainline stops at Aviemore and Kingussie, and the Caledonian Sleeper runs from London.
• By bus: Citylink coaches between Glasgow/Edinburgh and Inverness stop in Aviemore.

Frequently asked questions

Here they are:

Love, from Scotland x