Speyside · Town
Aviemore
A lively base for forests, lochs and mountain routes on the western side of the Cairngorms.
Explore Aviemore →Mountains, forests and Highland villages at the heart of Scotland
Explore Aviemore, Grantown-on-Spey, Kingussie, Newtonmore and Braemar, then head into pine forests, lochs and some of Britain's biggest mountain landscapes.
Highland country on a grand scaleForests, lochs and mountain roads with room to breatheThe Cairngorms reward slower days built around one valley, one forest or one mountain route.
Explore Cairngorms
Choose somewhere to begin
Use the map to explore Highland villages, lochs, forests, mountain gateways and heritage stops across the Cairngorms.
Featured places
Where to go in the Cairngorms
Choose a valley or village base first, then explore the forests, lochs and mountain roads around it.
Speyside · Town
Grantown-on-Spey
A handsome planned town surrounded by forest and the River Spey.
Explore Grantown-on-Spey →Deeside · Village
Braemar
A mountain village surrounded by high peaks and some of Scotland's most dramatic inland scenery.
Explore Braemar →Badenoch · Town
Kingussie
A small Highland town with easy access to the River Spey, Ruthven Barracks and surrounding hills.
Explore Kingussie →Badenoch · Village
Newtonmore
A traditional Highland village with local history, walking and easy access to the central Cairngorms.
Explore Newtonmore →Cairngorms · Lake
Loch Morlich
A freshwater loch fringed by beach and pine forest beneath the Cairngorm mountains.
Explore Loch Morlich →Cairngorms · Landscape
Rothiemurchus
Ancient pine forest, woodland trails and lochs immediately south of Aviemore.
Explore Rothiemurchus →Cairngorms · Landscape
Glenmore
Forest, mountain views and outdoor routes between Aviemore and Cairngorm Mountain.
Explore Glenmore →Royal Deeside · Heritage
Balmoral & Upper Deeside
Estate country, pine forest and mountain roads at the eastern edge of the national park.
Explore Balmoral & Upper Deeside →Choose your kind of day
What is Cairngorms best for?
High plateaux, glens & big skiesMountain Landscapes
Pinewoods, trails & waterForests & Lochs
Aviemore, Braemar & BadenochHighland Villages
Estates, barracks & Highland storiesHistory & Heritage
Easy combinations
Places that work well together
Keep each day within one side of the park. The mountain roads make cross-park journeys slower than they look.
Aviemore, Rothiemurchus & Loch Morlich
A strong western Cairngorms introduction.
- Aviemore for the base
- Rothiemurchus for forest walks
- Loch Morlich for water and mountain views
Kingussie, Newtonmore & Badenoch
A quieter central route with history and Highland village character.
- Kingussie for a practical base
- Ruthven Barracks for heritage
- Newtonmore for village atmosphere and local walks
Braemar & Upper Deeside
A mountain-road day focused on the eastern Cairngorms.
- Braemar for the village
- Balmoral and estate country
- Allow extra time for scenic road stops
Choose one valley and leave room for the weather
The Cairngorms are large, mountainous and slow to cross. Build days around one side of the park rather than trying to connect every famous place.
For a dayChoose Aviemore, Badenoch or Deeside.
For a weekendStay in one base and explore in two directions.
By railAviemore, Kingussie and Newtonmore are useful rail bases.
By carBest for upper Deeside, remote glens and multi-stop mountain routes.
When you know where you are going
Stay · Do · Explore
Choose your valley or village base first, then build the rest of the trip around it.
Keep exploring
Continue towards Perthshire, Speyside or the Highlands
Perthshire, Moray & Speyside, Aberdeenshire and the Scottish Highlands all connect naturally with the Cairngorms.