Campervanning in the Cairngorms

We are ready to give the campervanning community the warmest of Highland welcomes.

Campervanning in the Cairngorms proves a huge hit with visitors every year, with our research showing a significant jump in this holiday choice. Indeed, the amount of UK homes registering a motorhome is increasing by almost 15,000 per year!

It’s not hard to see why campervanning in the Cairngorms is such an attractive option. With so many stunning, scenic routes throughout the National Park, such as the SnowRoads, it’s a magical way to get close to nature and experience the varied landscapes, without even leaving a trace that you were there.

Not only that, the self-contained nature of campervanning can make social distancing natural and easy, offering freedom without compromising on the hospitable welcome the Cairngorms has to offer.  For all these reasons, we’re expecting campervanning holidays to be just as popular this season.

Our spectacularly-located campsites are dotted all over the Park, each offering a unique and unforgettable experience, as well as expert insider knowledge about the local area and fantastic facilities on site. Whether you want to add a Royal touch, or set up camp with a loch, river, woodland or mountain view – you can! For more on our individual campsites and how to contact/find them, click here.

Some local businesses are also offering a special welcome especially for campervanners, too. 

The Rowan Tree Country Hotel & Restaurant, between Aviemore and Kincraig, is now making 2 spaces available in its car park (right) for overnight campervan guests, for example. To take advantage of this offer, visitors book a delicious 3 course dinner at the hotel and the parking space is included in this price (this can be done via its website).

This is just one example of how the Cairngorms National Park is gearing up to welcome campervanners. Another example is the Ciste car park on Cairngorm Mountain, which is now a designated space for campervans. Other steps being taken to support the campervanning community include extra rangers around the Park, who are a fount of all sorts of knowledge, to better signage for facilities and more, clearly marked toilet facilities.

One of the joys of campervanning is the freedom it offers. In order that you don’t miss out on all the area has to offer, from eateries to attractions to walks, we’ve created a special guide with map especially to help our campervanning friends. 

This map is available throughout the Park, as well as available online, and includes useful information such as recycle points, washing facilities, waste disposal and daytime car parks big enough to accommodate larger vans.

If it’s the SnowRoads you are driving in your van, then you’ll also be able to access campervan-specific information via our SnowRoads app too.

Top Tips for Campervanning in the Cairngorms

• Book campsites in advance to avoid disappointment
• If you’re campervanning but not booked into a campsite facility, make use of our many Park campsites, such as Braemar Caravan Park and Camping Pods in the Invercauld Estate, which allow you to use their waste disposal facilities for a small charge. This makes it easy for you, while enjoying your campervan holiday, to also leave no trace and help us protect and sustain our beautiful natural environment
• Use camping stoves, or your van’s own facilities, to cook rather than setting up an open fire, which risks damaging the environment, particularly the ancient Caledonian Pine trees
• Check out the varied towns and villages and local community paths in the Cairngorms National Park, which are full of fantastic cafes, restaurants, pubs and visitor attractions to explore
• One particularly popular route with campervan guests to the Park is the SnowRoads, a spectacular 90 mile winding road full of stunning, dramatic, changing scenery. Traversing this route, you really feel like you’re in true wilderness and can park up and picnic, while taking in the glorious views and the 3 stunning art installations along the way
• If you are not using a formal campsite overnight park in a safe place; avoid passing places, local business car parks, local resident parking and busy spots. Please take note of any signs, especially those saying overnight parking is not permitted
• Stopping overnight in a motorhome outside a formal site is not wild camping as permitted by the Scottish Outdoor Access Code as it takes place in a motor vehicle. A roof tent is also considered as a motorised vehicle. Roadside parking does take place but there is a legal distinction between parking which can take place in laybys or car parks and camping which is not permitted in these locations. If parking in laybys or car parks you must do so in line with the Road Traffic Act 1998 – vehicles may use a designated formal lay-by to rest, including overnight in a motorhome as long as the activity is contained within the vehicle – i.e. no awnings, tables, chairs, cooking etc outside the vehicle. If parking in laybys or car parks you must also comply with any parking conditions displayed including payment of any charges and must be prepared to move your vehicle if necessary. If a layby is already in use, please do not use it. See more information here
• Avoid parking on the verge as this causes damage to both road edges and vegetation. If parking off-road overnight, you should have the permission of the landowner. If it is not clear then park elsewhere
• Ensure you do not block access or entrances and be prepared to move your vehicle if necessary
• We have world class access rights in Scotland. Check out your rights and responsibilities with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC), see here. The Access Code notes that access rights do not apply to motor vehicles
• Check out VisitScotland’s handy video guide to motorhoming in Scotland, below