The Cairngorms National Park

Established by the Scottish Parliament in 2003, the Cairngorms national park is the result of decades of planning for greater protection of Scotland’s environment and local wildlife. Throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries, various commissions made recommendations and identified four areas, including the Cairngorms, to be designated as national parks in order to help them preserve their heritage value.  

In 2010, the park was further extended to include Atholl and Spittall of Glenshee. Today, it is the UK’s largest national park and welcomes close to 2 million visitors each year. 

The park and its breathtaking sights have served as the backdrop in many films and TV shows, including the Dark Knight Rises (2012), No Time To Die (2019), The Crown (2016 -), Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2006) and Outlander (2014 -).

When visiting the park, it would be a shame to miss out and to not go on a few walks and hikes! There’s no excuse, whether you’re a seasoned hiker or you’ve never set foot on a trail before, now’s the time to start. And arguably, this is the best place for it! We’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite walks to go on around the park. 

The Wildcat Trail is a stunning cyclical route around Newtonmore, going along the banks of the River Spey. The route is very flat and a perfect picturesque trail for beginners or even seasoned hikers who are in the mood for a more simple walk. The trail is waymarked and pretty clear, although the terrain varies as you go from strolling along the river to wandering through wooden glens and open heather moorland. The total distance of the trail is about 6.25 miles and equates to approximately 3 hours of walking. That said, you can also just as easily break up the walk and decide to take on certain sections of it. 

There are 10 different walks and many more trails and paths visitors can choose to take on at Glenlivet Estate. The location is breathtaking, nestled between the Cromdale hills and the Ladder hills and offers some of the most mesmerising views of nature the Cairngorms has to offer. Find out all about the different walks you can go on on the Estate here. 

If you’re an experienced hiker and feeling a little adventurous, why not take on Sgòr Mòr? This sprawling hill is perched between Glen Dee and Glen Luiberg and offers spectacular views of the park. There is no direct or specific laid out path to climb which is why only more advanced hikers should attempt this ascent. Find out more information about the hike and about paths taken by hikers in the past here.

There’s something so special about taking a scenic road trip through some of Mother Nature’s most epic offerings. Taking the time to drive slowly through majestic scenery and pass some beautiful wildlife is an amazing way to enjoy this little piece of the Scottish Highlands. The Snow Roads Scenic Route is just that. It is a 90 mile drive from Blairgowrie to Grantown-on-Spey through some of the most scenic landscapes the eastern Cairngorms have to offer. The road links through some communities within the park that you can stop in, Braemar, Tomintoul and Ballater. 

Be sure to remain vigilant, as the Snow Roads traverse the highest roads in Britain and are often subjected to harsh weather conditions. Make sure you prepare in advance for any eventualities and remember to drive safely! Find out more about the Snow Roads here.

Blessed with an abundance of sprawling lochs, the Cairngorms have an enormous array of watersport adventures you can go on. From kayaking to canoeing to paddle rafting and water boarding, it’s guaranteed fun for the whole family in the heart of some of the UK’s most magical natural sights! 

Loch Insh Watersports offer a range of different water sport activities that you can really tailor to your party’s needs, interests and skill range. 

Spirit of the Spey offer some wonderful canoe rides across the glittering waters of the Spey, perfect for a quieter day out on the river with the family. 

We also love Loch Morlich Watersports for some fantastic kayaking and canoeing days out on the loch. 

By car: 

• This is the best way to get to the Cairngorms. The most popular route to follow is the A9 Highland Tourist Route but there are also many other alternative routes you can take to reach the Cairngorms, read all about them here. 

By Plane: 

• The nearest airports are Inverness and Aberdeen. 

By bus: 

• The CityLink buses offer services from other major cities in Scotland and even London that will take you to the park. 

By train: 

• Trains between London King’s Cross and Inverness stop at either Kingussie or Aviemore stations. Aberdeen is the nearest station east of the park.  

There is a local bus network that operates throughout the park. The buses are operated by Stagecoach. The timetables are available on their website. 

Driving is still the easiest and most reliable way to get around the park.