Cairngorms National Park
Cairngorms National Park
5
About
Welcome to the Cairngorms National Park in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. The Cairngorms National Park is the largest national park in the UK and is one of the country's most special and cared for landscapes with a wide variety of traditional and unique villages and communities.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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5.0
246 reviews
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195
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46
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5
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0
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Trip Recommender
Inverness, UK558 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Stunning snow road. One of the best sceneries in my life. Whoever visit Scotland, must visit Cairngorm National Park for a day trip or an over night in Ski Resort.
Beside sightseeing, you can also Hiking, skiing, visiting the castle and a lot more to do.
Defo a life time worth visit.
Beside sightseeing, you can also Hiking, skiing, visiting the castle and a lot more to do.
Defo a life time worth visit.
Written 1 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harry
Bristol, UK49 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
I went to the Cairngorm ski resort base in order to take the Windy Ridge path up to the summit of Cairn Gorm. The climb was a steep ascent towards the beginning and end of the whole climb. The views from the top were simply stunning. Would highly recommend!
Written 9 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John G
Exeter, UK352 contributions
June 2021
Found an itinerary for the Snow Roads Tour on line. Starting at Blairgowrie ,then Braemar, Ballater and Balmoral , Tomintoul and Grantown on Spey. It's a long drive, nearly a 100 miles but the scenery is amazing. It changes constantly and doesn't disappoint. Definitely not a winter trip!
Written 7 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robyn1974
Ely, UK64 contributions
Jan 2023
Stunning, rugged and breathtaking. The Cairngorms has something for everyone whether it’s an adrenaline rush, a romantic break or a family trip with young children to run around.
It’s a place where you can go rain or shine if you love the outdoors.
Winter is our favourite time to go as we prefer the snow. Rather worrying is the lack of snowfall compared to previous years…
Nature and wildlife enthusiasts like ourselves are always in awe so much so that we keep coming back.
It’s a place where you can go rain or shine if you love the outdoors.
Winter is our favourite time to go as we prefer the snow. Rather worrying is the lack of snowfall compared to previous years…
Nature and wildlife enthusiasts like ourselves are always in awe so much so that we keep coming back.
Written 28 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mla
Toulouse, France117 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
We did a short 2.5 hour hike in this magnificent national park. It offers several easily accessible walks or hikes. Magnificent landscapes around several lakes. Incredible trees. It easily rivals American national parks. You feel like you're immersed in a movie set.
Written 8 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HighlandLass24
Baltimore, MD193 contributions
July 2023
If you like mountain scenery, this is worth the drive. I can't speak to hiking, as we drove through, but the scenery is stunning. Mountains and lochs - absolutely beautiful. The towns of Tomintoul and Braemar were nice places to stop for shops and a meal. You won't be disappointed traveling through this area. If you go in late summer, you'll see the hillsides purple with Heather flowers.
Written 16 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AnonymityIsGood
Johns Creek, United States12 contributions
May 2022
We visited this national park on our drive from St. Andrews to Inverness.
We were following Apple Maps for the drive and for unknown reasons it guided us through the park after we started driving (original route only skirted the park on A9).
We are incredibly grateful to the meandering route Apple Maps took us. Every minute of it was worth it. The scenery is spectacular - barren mountains without trees is not something we were used to. This enhances the experience giving you a surreal feeling.
Do pick Apple Maps on your drive and let it get lost - it took us through B roads, single lane road where we didn't see another car for 30+ minutes. This added to the excitement. It did get us to the destination without issues.
We were following Apple Maps for the drive and for unknown reasons it guided us through the park after we started driving (original route only skirted the park on A9).
We are incredibly grateful to the meandering route Apple Maps took us. Every minute of it was worth it. The scenery is spectacular - barren mountains without trees is not something we were used to. This enhances the experience giving you a surreal feeling.
Do pick Apple Maps on your drive and let it get lost - it took us through B
Written 11 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ljctravelers
59 contributions
July 2022
Looked for a different route from Aberdeen. Drive did not disappoint. The beauty of the park's scenery, the sheep and all around a nice drive to end our day of travels.
Wished we had some time to actually spend in the park instead of just driving through but was still very nice area.
Wished we had some time to actually spend in the park instead of just driving through but was still very nice area.
Written 22 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vanessa
Lytham St Anne's, UK4,304 contributions
Sept 2020
Travelled right through the cairngorms on a lovely sunny day. Amazing scenery and worth the three hours it took driving right down through Braemar and Balmoral.
Written 28 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NJChisoxFan
Maplewood, NJ198 contributions
July 2011 • Couples
The Cairngorms are lovely, and we enjoyed driving through them for two days in July. But I really want to tell people about the Frank Bruce Sculpture Trail in Feshiebridge, which we stumbled on quite by chance and now consider one of the most enjoyable attractions in all of Scotland. It's an easy one-mile trail maintained by the Forestry Commission, with twelve of Bruce's magnificent sculptures scattered along the way. It's really special, yet almost totally unknown. Do yourself a favor and check it out. www.frank-bruce.org.uk.
Written 19 August 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there any dog friendly motorhome campsites in the cairngorms open between Christmas and New Year
Written 4 July 2023
Hi, Hubby and I (from Australia) are her in Edinburgh, we are looking at hiring a car for 5 days. I really want to do the walk around Loch Muick. Not sure where to stay and also any other recommendations for a 5 day road trip. Cheers Sue
Written 29 December 2021
jack
Sheffield, United Kingdom
I am doing the NC500 in August and I will be spending 2 days passing through the Cairngorm National Park. I’ve roughly planned out to start at Blairgowrie and travel the snow roads up to Glenmore/Aviemore. Where the best places to wildcamp that don’t involve a trek and having to leave the car over night? Looked on Google maps for some Lochs but can’t really see any suitable parking. TIA
Written 8 July 2021
Hi after Ballater you are out of the villages and into totally open country until Tomintoul.
Once you get on the part of the A939 called the old military road you will be going into the high peak part of the snow roads, so very exposed. A lot of this part is single track roads with passing places so no real places to park overnight.
Probably best to look for somewhere after Tomintoul, this part is bordering forest and I remember some places where you can pull off.
Hope this helps.
Written 9 July 2021
I'm planning to travel to Cairngorms national park from Aviemore. What's the best way, or should I say what's the cheapest way to get there. as I will be heading back to Aviemore bus station to catch my bus back to inverness. Plus I feel a bit indecisive. My time is short since I'm only visiting Aviemore for a day trip and not staying an overnight. What do you recommend for me. rothiemurchus or loch an eilein or loch morlich or Cairngorms national park. I need some help. Thank you
Written 3 June 2021
Hallo,
welchen Ort/ welches Gebiet (Ăśbernachtung) wĂĽrdet Ihr als Ausgangspunkt fĂĽr Wanderungen im Cairngorms National Park empfehlen?
Liebe GrĂĽĂźe
Anke
Written 1 May 2019
Are there public transports within the park? Is it possible to explore the park without a car?
Written 26 December 2018
We had a car, and I did not notice any public bus.
Written 28 December 2018
We are a family of 7 adults and one kid doing a 2 day road trip of Scotland. We plan to spend a day at the cairngorms Park. I was wondering whether it is necessary to take one of the tours or could we just drive around and experience the beauty? Secondly, do we need to take any tickets in advance or could we book them on arrival? Thanks for the help!
Written 1 July 2018
If you have a car, I would just drive around yourself. The tours can get quite expensive. Driving is absolutely fine.
Written 21 July 2018
Hallo, wie sind die Witterungsbedingungen Mitte bis Ende April. Liegt noch viel Schnee? Was kann man dort mit Teenagern unternehmen?
vielen Dank fĂĽr Eure Tipps.
Written 25 June 2018
Good afternoon, I'm doing a car tour of the highlands and I would like to know the road that crosses Cairngorms National Park from Edinburgh to the Elgin region. Is there any map of these routes? thank you
Written 26 August 2017
This has to be the silliest question ever... I visited the Cairngorms a couple of years ago, on my way to Cromarty, and my mates showed me a few places in the park. But I've been dying to have again the most delicious pancakes ever, which I had while going from Aberdeen to Cromarty, I can't recall in which part of the park it was. Any ideas?
I seem to recall a colleague saying they used to be a former pancake factory?! But I'm not 100% sure. It was a big "restaurant", full of people, in the middle of nowhere, with a big parking space. The pancakes were massive, made in front of you while you queued, and served with a delicious icecream. Any help would be much appreciated, as I've been talking to my sis about that place for years and would like to drive her there :D
Written 9 June 2017
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