Things to Do in the Cairngorms

The Cairngorms National Park is right in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. At over 4,500 square kilometres, it's the largest national park in the UK. It's also home to the widest area of arctic mountain landscape in the UK.

Whether you’re looking for adventure or simply searching for stunning scenery, there's plenty of things to do in the Cairngorms, so read on for our tips for some of the best things to do in the area.

Balmoral castle has been the holiday home of the royal family since 1852. As a private family estate, the stunning turreted castle is open to the public from to July, and closes while members of the royal family are in residence. There's plenty to see, including art exhibitions, a collection of quartz crystals found in the Cairngorms during the 1800s and three acres of formal walled gardens.

Aviemore is one of the Cairngorms’ main towns. There are loads of things to do near Aviemore, making it a great base for your stay in the Cairngorms.

Walk around the Lochs, explore the Craigachlle nature reserve or check out the Cairngorm reindeer herd guided walk, which you can find more information on over on our guide to 5 great walks in Aviemore.

When you’re in the Scottish Highlands, a distillery tour is a must. And with a number to choose from, you needn’t worry about there being things to do in the Cairngorms when it’s raining. You’ll learn the history of making whisky as well as tasting plenty of it and discover the story of Queen Victoria bestowing the royal warrant of approval on Royal Lochnagar Distillery. Choose from this, Glenlivet in Ballindalloch, or Dalwhinnie to the south west.

The area is well known for having some of the best walking opportunities in Britain. And it’s no surprise: five of Scotland’s highest mountains lie within the boundary of Cairngorm National Park. Scenery is a mixture of lochs, open grasslands and remnants of the original Caledonian pine forest including a rare kind of pinewood found only in Scotland and Norway.

Want to walk the highest peak in the park? At 1,309m, Ben Macdui holds that crown. It's the second highest mountain in Britain after Ben Nevis. There are several challenging routes you can take - our favourite is heading to Lochan Buidhe and then south across the frozen landscape to the summit with a return via Cairn Lochan. Whichever way you choose you’re looking at a good seven or eight-hour hike.

Remember though, even in the height of summer the air can be chilly if you’re climbing. Make sure you’re prepared with plenty of fleece layers including warm hats and gloves.

Fancy some winter sports? Cairn Gorm is Scotland’s most popular snow sports destination, with ski runs designed for all levels and abilities of skiers and boarders. As the highest resort in the country, Cairngorm ski conditions tend to be more reliable than at other resorts.

The season lasts from December to April, although this is not guaranteed – the mountain is often forced to close due to high winds. With parking on site and most equipment available to hire, Cairn Gorm is a great place to try out skiing or snowboarding for the first time.