Big days out in the Cairngorms National Park

Make a day of it

The Cairngorms National Park is the largest National Park in the whole of the UK at 4,528 sq km (1,748 sq miles). It is twice the size of the Lake District National Park and bigger than the whole of Luxembourg. There are many towns and villages within the National Park, home to lots of friendly communities with an amazing choice of places to stay and lots of fantastic things to do!

Here are some fabulous ideas for big days out here in the Cairngorms and surrounding areas. The Badenoch and Strathspey area spanning Grantown on Spey, Aviemore Kingussie & Newtonmmore and smaller villages in between are popular places to stay with a great choice of accommodation, things to do and places to eat, drink and shop. They also very accessible by public transport. A brilliant base to make some day trips from or to!

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Atholl Estates and Blair Castle

Accessible via Train/Bus links | 1 hour from Aviemore, 1 hour 15 from Braemar

You can unleash the family’s adventurous spirit at Blair Castle exploring the vast grounds and nooks and crannies of the castle. There is a wonderful woodland playground with assault course and wooden castle fort set within Diana’s Grove which is home to some of the tallest trees in the country. Discover the ruined kirk, home to magical weddings or a place to play hide and seek!

Hercules Garden is a beautiful walled garden home to sculptures, incredible plants and lots of ducks who make the little islands in the ponds their home. You can feed the gentle red deer, and transform into knights and princesses in the castle ballroom dress up area. Interactive activity sheets are provided to keeps the kids amused while adults immerse themselves in the castle’s history. Look out for regular events suitable for all the family. There is a restaurant on site, a food cabin serving ice cream, cakes and snacks, and lots of picnic benches if you prefer to bring your own lunch. You could even check into the 4 star premier campsite or book a pod for the night to make it an overnight trip.

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Braemar and the SnowRoads

1 hour 20 from Aviemore, 1 hour 15 from Blair Atholl

Traverse dramatic landscapes on the highest public roads in Britain and discover something new at every turn. There is a lot to take in on this route with amazing scenery, scenic art installations, (great photo opportunites) and wee villages to discover. Take your time. There are some narrow parts of the road over the Gairnshiel section which comes out at Crathie, perfect for visiting Balmoral Castle.

The grounds at Balmoral are beautiful and suitable for all ages with acres of space to explore. There is an onsite restaurant and childrens menu available. During May, June and July you can take guided tours of the castle.

Travel further along the side of the River Dee to Braemar, where first to greet you is Braemar Castle which has had a huge face lift and sits grandly on the edge of the village. A visit here will take your through living history where you can learn how the castle transformed from a redcoat garrison to a high society retreat with Royal connections and a host of colourful characters. You can wander round the grounds 7 days a week but check opening times for access into the castle.

The village of Braemar is well worth a wander with a lovely selection of independent shops and cafes. Discover the Braemar Highland Games Centre at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park. The Pavilion’s exhibition tells the story of Highland games and gatherings throughout the ages, celebrating the deep-rooted cultural and sporting traditions of Scotland. Or dine in style with a visit to the incredible Fife Arms, an art lovers paradise. The Hazelnut Patisserie is an absolute must visit with cakes the likes you might find in Paris. Again check opening hours.

After all that history and culture a walk in nature makes a good contrast. The choice of walks here is never ending. The Linn of Dee on the Mar Lodge Estate is a popular starting point for many of the Cairngorms munros or taking on the Lairig Ghru. There is also the little hill of Creag Choinnich (short but steep), overlooking the village and Morrone a corbett also offering great views of the village and surrounds. Then lots of lovely shorter lower level walks on the Mar Lodge Estate and from the village itself.

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Badenoch the Storylands

Accessible via Train/Bus links from the South (Perth) & North (Inverness, Aviemore) | 10 minutes from Aviemore, 1 hour 30 minutes from Braemar, 45 minutes from Blair Atholl

You can find Badenoch, a region steeped in history, in the South western parts of the Cairngorms National Park.

A visit to Badenoch is a brilliant day out for a family with the Highland Wildlife Park, Loch Insh Outdoor Centre, Alvie & Dalraddy Estates and the Highland Folk Museum all within a 15 minute drive.

For those seeking history and culture you can visit the ancient fortresses of Dun da Lamh (dating back to the Picts) and Ruthven Barracks (Jacobite times) and picturesque distilleries such as Dalwhinnie (the highest in Scotland). Download the Badenoch the Storylands app and enjoy the stories of the region at your fingertips, told in a variety of ways including audio, augmented reality re-creations, music, maps and walks. There is a brilliant choice of walks and cycles to explore and take in the landscape and history as you go. The area has its own mountain bike trail centre at Laggan Wolftrax where you can also hire bikes (during weekends and school holidays.)

On a day out to Badenoch there are plenty of places to refuel with a selection of cafes, restaurants, wee shops and galleries.

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Inverness and Loch Ness

Accessible via Train/Bus links | 40 minutes from Aviemore

Inverness is a mere 40 minute drive from Aviemore and there are regular bus and train services making it an ideal day trip from the Cairngorms National Park. Inverness is a small city with the usual shops, bars and restaurants. For a more independent shopping and eating experience take in the Victorian Market.

You can enjoy the UK’s most northerly Botanic Gardens in Inverness, a source of inspiration for horticulturalists. Uncover the many hidden corners, enjoy a leisurely stroll, or you could simply relax and soak in the tranquil atmosphere. Entry is by donation and you can also explore the Tropical House, Cactus House or enjoy a visit to the cafe overloooking the gardens.

Outwith the bustling city centre you can uncover the legend of the Loch Ness Monster with a visit to the centre at Drumnadrochit or a boat trip on the loch itself.

Take a journey back to Jacobite times with a visit to Culloden Battlefield and walk the battlefield now restored to how it appeared to the opposing forces on that fateful day – 16 April 1746.