Cottages in the Cairngorms National Park

Families of all ages will find plenty of ways to enjoy a holiday spent in the naturally stunning Cairngorms National Park. Head over to Aviemore, which is one of the park’s most lively towns, brimming with fun activities and family-friendly attractions. Here you can spend the day visiting Scotland’s only reindeer herd at Cairngorm Reindeer Herd. Feed the calm, gentle reindeer and enjoy up-close encounters with them while the passionate staff tell you fascinating details about the centre. Also, zip over to Landmark Forest Adventure Park where you can spend the day exploring the rides, rollercoaster, climbing wall, and maze in the forest-themed park. There’s an incredible number of fun attractions for children and adults of all ages to discover here.

Unleash your inner adventurer with an incredible selection of adventure sports in Cairngorms National Park. Here you can go white water rafting, horse trekking, or mountain biking. Inquire about tours and excursions with the top-rated adventure activity companies in the park which includes G2 Outdoor, Splash White Water Rafting, and Full On Adventure.

Cairngorms National Park spans an enormous area, and there are some gems you will want to be sure not to miss. Be sure to visit Uath Lochans, which is a little area dotted with small lochs and rolling mountains in the backdrop– it’s one of the best-kept secrets in the park. Another one of the best viewing points in the park is from the summit of Ben Macdui, which is the second-highest mountain in the UK and offers spectacular panoramic views of the mountains.

Walking is one of the best and most popular activities to enjoy in the park, with a countless number of scenic walking trails to choose from. Go for a leisurely and scenic walk to the Falls of Bruar, which is just 0.5-miles in length and leads to two stunning falls and a stone bridge. Enjoy a stunning walk to the summit of Morrone, which one of the easiest summit hikes in the park and offers spectacular views of the surrounding landscapes from the top.

One of the best ways to experience the beauty of the park is with a scenic drive along one of its many majestic rural roads. The Snow Roads Scenic Route is the most popular option for a scenic drive, and for good reason! The 90-mile stretch passes through picturesque towns, unspoilt highland areas, and some of the most magnificent landscapes in the park.

Cycling is a popular activity in the park because it’s one of the best relaxing and scenic activities available. The park is home to some of the best cycling routes in the country: go from Ballater to Aboyne, try the Glenlivet Trail, and explore the Old Logging Way. Traditional bicycles, as well as electronic bikes, are available for hire from various bicycle rental services throughout the region. You can inquire about daily or hourly rates.

There are numerous picturesque towns and villages within the boundaries of the park, but to narrow it down, you won’t want to miss out on these gems. Dinnet is a quaint village known for its fairytale-like buildings, majestic lochs, and waterfall-laden woodlands. Ballater is a Victorian village with an incredibly charming atmosphere as well as a castle, a quaint distillery, and countless historic attractions. Last but not least, don’t miss out on a visit to the idyllic village of Crathie with its stunning riverside location, magical woodlands, and quaint architecture.

Cairngorms National Park is home to numerous lochs, rivers, and bodies of water. If you enjoy water sports, you’ve come to the right place. Launch a kayak, a canoe, or a paddleboard in Loch Insh and Loch Morlich, which are particularly popular among water sports enthusiasts. You can hire water sports equipment and inquire about water sports excursions at Loch Morlich Watersports in Glenmore Forest Park or from Full on Adventure in Aviemore.

The park is home to five distilleries, and you can do a self-guided tour to discover them all. Sip on traditional Scottish whisky and visit the whisky-making facilities at The Snug in Aviemore, at Royal Lochnager in Ballatar, and Cragganmore Distillery in Ballindalloch.