Cairngorms Tours

About Cairngorms

The Cairngorms National Park is the largest national park in the United Kingdom, covering 4,528 square kilometres (1,748 square miles) — roughly twice the size of the Lake District. Established in 2003, it encompasses the Cairngorm mountain range, Strathspey, upper Deeside, and surrounding areas across five council regions. Two million visitors come each year, yet the park never feels crowded — it is simply too vast. Aviemore is the park's main gateway town, directly on the Edinburgh-Inverness railway line with five or more daily trains. From Aviemore, you can reach the mountains, forests, and wildlife in minutes. The Cairngorm Mountain funicular railway, Scotland's only mountain railway, climbs from 635 metres to the Ptarmigan Top Station at 1,097 metres in under 10 minutes — the UK's highest restaurant sits at the summit with panoramic views across Strathspey. Wildlife is the Cairngorms' great draw. The park hosts one quarter of the UK's rare and endangered species. Red squirrels are abundant — spotted on roughly 90% of visits around Loch Morlich and Rothiemurchus. The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd is Britain's only free-ranging reindeer, seen on guided hill walks. Ospreys nest at Loch Garten each spring (RSPB viewing hide). Golden eagles, pine martens, red deer, crested tits, crossbills, and — for the very lucky — capercaillie all live here. The Highland Wildlife Park near Kincraig houses polar bears, Scottish wildcats, and snow leopards. The Strathspey Railway runs heritage steam and diesel services between Aviemore, Boat of Garten, and Broomhill — 10 miles of scenic railway through the park. Rothiemurchus Estate offers one of the finest remaining fragments of the ancient Caledonian pine forest, with walking, cycling, fishing, and wildlife watching. Loch Morlich, surrounded by forest and backed by mountains, is one of Scotland's most beautiful loch beaches. The park is also whisky country — Royal Lochnagar, Dalwhinnie, and Tomintoul distilleries all sit within its boundaries. Balmoral Castle, the Royal Family's Scottish residence, is on upper Deeside.