The Cairngorms: Britain's Largest National Park, Wildlife & the Best Walks

Cairngorms National Park covers a great swathe of the eastern Highlands, from Aviemore and Speyside to Braemar and Royal Deeside. Established in 2003 and extended in 2010, it is the largest National Park in the United Kingdom.

Why The Cairngorms Is Special

The Cairngorms are Britain's arctic: a high granite plateau of tundra, snow patches and mountain birds, rising above ancient Caledonian pinewoods, rivers and lochs.

It is one of the best places in Britain for wildlife, and its villages, from Aviemore to Braemar and Ballater, make wonderful bases.

The History of The Cairngorms

The mountains are formed of a great mass of granite, emplaced about 427 million years ago and carved by ice into a high plateau with deep corries. Ben Macdui, at 1,309 metres, is the second-highest mountain in the United Kingdom.

Around the mountains survive some of the largest remnants of the old Caledonian pine forest, at Rothiemurchus, Glenmore and Abernethy.

On Deeside, Balmoral Castle has been a royal residence since the reign of Queen Victoria, which is why the valley is known as Royal Deeside. The park's largest communities are Aviemore, Ballater, Braemar, Grantown-on-Spey, Kingussie, Newtonmore and Tomintoul.

What to See & the Best Walks at The Cairngorms

Walk around Loch Morlich and through the pinewoods of Glenmore and Rothiemurchus, with views up to the Cairngorm plateau. Visit the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre to walk among the herd on the hill.

On Deeside, see Braemar and Ballater and the grounds of Balmoral when open. Experienced walkers can climb to the plateau in settled weather.

Wildlife at The Cairngorms

Mammals include red deer, mountain hares and the only herd of reindeer in the British Isles. The pinewoods are home to red squirrels, crested tits and capercaillie, and ospreys nest in the forests. Please keep to paths in the capercaillie woods in spring.

Gardens, Countryside & Antiques near The Cairngorms

See the Cairngorms National Park listing. The Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig has polar bears and Scottish wildcats, and RSPB Loch Garten in Abernethy Forest is famous for its ospreys.

To the south, Dunkeld is an easy drive down the A9; see our guide to Dunkeld.

The Cairngorms Through the Seasons

Spring brings ospreys back to their nests and capercaillie displaying in the woods. Summer is the time for the high tops. Autumn brings the red deer rut and golden birches, and winter turns the Cairngorms into Scotland's main snow sports area.

Getting to The Cairngorms

Aviemore, Kingussie and Newtonmore are on the Highland Main Line between Perth and Inverness. Buses link Aviemore with Glenmore and the Cairngorm car park.

The Cairngorms: Questions & Answers

Are there reindeer in the Cairngorms?

Yes. The Cairngorms have the only herd of reindeer in the British Isles.

What is the highest mountain in the Cairngorms?

Ben Macdui, 1,309 metres, the second-highest mountain in the United Kingdom.

Our Advice

Our advice: Base yourself in Aviemore, walk round Loch Morlich and through Rothiemurchus, and visit the reindeer on the hill.