Cairngorms National Park
Granite plateaux, Caledonian pinewoods and Munros in the Scottish Highlands
Parts of the park around Glenmore, Loch Morlich and Abernethy Forest were burned in a wildfire in July 2026. Some routes may still be closed, so check access before you visit.
The Cairngorms are a huge block of granite, polished by ice into rounded plateaux at 1000–1200 m rather than carved into sharp peaks. Around them lie Caledonian pine forest, the Spey, Dee and Don river valleys, and Britain's only free-roaming reindeer herd.
Things to do
- On footWalk the 19 mile / 31 km Lairig Ghru from Coylumbridge to Linn of Dee
- On footClimb Cairn Gorm and Ben Macdui from the ski centre car park above Aviemore
- On footStroll the 5 mile route round Loch an Eilein in Rothiemurchus Forest
- Try thisJoin a herder-led hill trip from the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre at Glenmore to see the reindeer
United Kingdom · Northeast Scotland Est. 2003 Size 4,528 km² Highest 1,309 m Protected area category: IUCN V