With almost two million visitors each year from all over the world, the Cairngorms National Park has lots to offer tourists.
Here you’ll find 29 things to do in the Cairngorms National Park with something to suit every member of the family.
From thrill-seeking bungee jumping and rollercoaster rides to wildlife and nature pursuits, you can top it all off with a wee tot of whisky from one of the Speyside distilleries.
Let’s take a look at what this area of natural beauty has to offer.
Location
There are around 18,000 people who live in the National Park mostly in the towns and villages.
The National Park covers the areas of Angus, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland, Perth and Kinross.
Some of the larger towns and villages that the park encompasses include:
- Braemar
- Aviemore
- Carr-Bridge
- Boat of Garten
- Grantown-on-Spey
- Kingussie
- Newtonmore
- Glenlivet
- and Blair Atholl
Geography
If you were asked to name the largest National Park in the UK, would you know that it is the Cairngorms National Park?
At 4,528km2 (1,748 square miles), it is bigger than the whole of the country of Luxembourg and over twice the size of its rival National Park, the Lake District.
The Cairngorms National Park has four of the five highest UK mountains within its area, following Ben Nevis in the Scottish Grampian Mountains.
The next four highest are all in the Cairngorms National Park:
- Ben Macdui at 1,309m
- Braeriach at 1,296m
- Cairn Toul at 1,291m
- Sgor an Lochain at 1,258.
The Cairn Gorm Mountain is in sixth place, at 1,244m.
There are also 55 Munros (a mountain over 914m in height) and 9 National Nature Reserves.
Aside from peaks, there are also around 60 lochs within the park.
The lochs (the Scottish Gaelic word for fjords or lakes) are freshwater lakes that are in the mountains and are connected by burns, streams and rivers.
There are three larger rivers within the Cairngorms National Park:
- The River Dee
- the River Don
- the River Spey
History
Although the landscape has long since existed, the Cairngorms National Park was not established as a National Park until September 2003.
In 2008 – It was extended to include Spittal of Glenshee and Blair Atholl and then, in 2010, it extended further into Highland Perthshire and Glenshee.
However, long before the National Park was established, the area has a history dating back thousands of years.
You can step back in time at the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore or visit one of the many castles within the park.
Wildlife
Despite only covering around two percent of the UK, the Cairngorms National Park is the home of a quarter of all the UK’s threatened wildlife, including fungi, plant species, insects and animals.
Some of these species can only be found within the park.
The National Park is home to such diverse and rare wildlife thanks to it having the most high-level mountain landscape within the whole of the UK.
Endangered and rare species that live in the park include the:
- pine marten
- capercaillie
- Scottish wildcat
- osprey
- red squirrel
- golden eagle
- black grouse
- snow bunting
- crested tit
- lapwing
- and dotterel
You can see many of these species in the area’s many nature reserves as well as in the Highland Wildlife Park in Kincraig.
Things to See and Do
The Cairngorms National Park is nature’s playground – for wildlife and people alike.
The area is awash with activities and things to see, so everyone’s guaranteed a good time.
Nature Reserves
The nine National Nature Reserves in the Cairngorms National Park are well worth a visit.
Many of these reserves are home to endangered species.
They are:
- Abernethy – This nature reserve is one of the largest and includes Caledonian pinewood, moorland, mountains and wetlands. Hike around or stop and admire the wildlife before visiting the Explore Abernethy Centre.
- Corrie Fee – This nature reserve was carved out by a glacier and is home to a variety of wild a rare plants and wildlife. There is a well-surfaced path that takes you to a viewpoint at the foot of the Corrie where you can choose to explore further if you wish. The whole Corrie Fee walk is 4.7 miles long.
- Craigellachie – This nature reserve is only a few minutes away from Aviemore. There is extensive birch woodland, lochs fringed with trees, open glades, slopes and a craggy viewpoint from which you can see the Cairngorms in all their glory.
- Glen Tanar – Here, you can explore the typical Scottish Caledonian pine forest and try to spot a crossbill or red squirrel. Along the river, you may also spot some jumping salmon. Hen harriers, osprey, merlin and golden eagles are also frequently spotted from within the nature reserve.
- Glenmore Forest Park – Glenmore is more than just a nature reserve. There are centuries-old forests, beach-edged lochs and rounded summits to explore.
- Insh Marshes – This wetland nature reserve covers 1,000 hectares of the River Spey’s floodplain and it is thought to be the best example remaining in Britain of a river fen system.
- Inverseshie and Inshriach – This nature reserve sits atop the Cairngorm plateau. You can try to spot red squirrels as you explore its many trails through its iconic and peaceful pine forests. There are stunning views of the Cairngorms too.
- Mar Lodge Estate – A National Trust for Scotland site, Mar Lodge offers rocks, pools and 15 Munros! You can try to spot red deer or a pine marten too.
- Muir of Dinnet – Muir of Dinnet is described as a “magical mosaic” and encompasses wetlands, moors and woods. The glacier-gouged landscape has tons to offer the humble visitor. Stand in caverns and listen to water thunder and trickle through cracks in the rocks. There’s also a visitor’s center too
Outdoor Pursuits
The Cairngorms National Park is a great base for many outdoor pursuits thanks to its mountainous landscape.
There’s:
- Bungee jumping in Killiecrankie over the River Garry
- Boating on Loch Insh or Loch Morlich –a pedalo, a paddle board, canoe, kayak and more!
- Skiing and snowboarding on the Cairngorm
- Dog sledding in Aviemore
- Mountain bike trails that go on for miles.
If you’re an adrenaline junkie, there is plenty of choice in the Cairngorms National Park.
Something for the Family
The Cairngorms National Park is a great place to bring little ones.
There are so many attractions that you’ll struggle to cram them all into a week’s break in the park!
Things to do in the Cairngorms for children include:
- The Wildcat Centre in Newtonmore – the treasure hunt with a difference where you can spot the brightly colored Scottish wildcats scattered around the village for a prize.
- The Highland Folk Museum – where you can step back in time and explore what life was like centuries ago.
- The Highland Wildlife Park – where you can drive through the National Park wilderness and see some rare animals in their natural habit as well as others from further afield.
- Zip Wire in Alive – the UK’s first Zip Trek Adventure Park!
- Rothiemurcus Outdoor Activities Centre – the Strathspey Railway steam train ride (just make sure you don’t go on the one day of the month where they have the diesel train and end up disappointed like we did!)
- Nethy Bridge Visitor Centre and Ranger Base where you can find out more about the National Park and enjoy what it has to offer.
- Landmark Forest Adventure Park – a theme park with rollercoasters and more!
Admire the Scenery
If you’re looking for stunning views, you’ll only have to look out of your window.
However, there are a few beauty spots that are also worth a visit.
- The Camera Obscura on the Cairngorm Mountain will give you stunning views over the whole of the National Park.
- Ruthven Barracks, built in the early 1700s, give stunning views over the glen near Kingussie.
- Stargazing at Carrachs, Blairfind Moor or Field of Hope Dark Sky Discovery Site will give you a whole different perspective on the sky at night thanks to the national park’s super dark skies. They’re so dark, they’ve been awarded the status of being an International Dark Sky Park and the area is home to some of the darkest skies in the UK.
- Loch Morlich offers calm waters and a beach even though it’s 300m above sea level! It is the highest beach in the country to have been awarded the Seaside Award by Keep Scotland Beautiful.
Breweries and Distilleries
The area around the River Spey is famous for its whiskies.
There are six distilleries in the Cairngorms National Park and all of them have something different to offer, whether it’s their royal connection, personalized tours or iconic designs.
- Dalwhinnie Distillery – This whisky distillery received a five-star rating from Visit Scotland. It’s famous for its Highland Single Malt. The distillery offers tours each day with knowledgeable guides and has a shop onsite for all your whisky needs.
- Glenlivet Distillery – This distillery produces the famous Glenlivet whisky and has a visitor center.
- Tomatin Distillery – This distillery is 15 miles of from the town of Aviemore and sits at 315m above sea level, making it one of the highest distilleries in the nation. With award-winning whisky and a selection of tour options, you can even bottle your own whisky!
- The Cairngorm Brewery – Offering something different to your Speyside whiskies, the Cairngorm Brewery is situated in the large town of Aviemore and offers a range of beers including traditional Scottish recipes (Wild Cat, Stag and Black Gold) as well as newer, contemporary brews including White Lady, Autumn Nuts and Trade Winds. Pop along to the brewery shop, have a tour, and sample some of these fine ales.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie looking for a bit of snow to do some snowboarding or someone who opts for a bit of birdwatching on the marshes, it has to be said that the Cairngorms National Park has something to offer you.
It’s no wonder it gets so many visitors each year, with over 20% of these coming from overseas!
