Cairngorms
1,938 places worth going to (1,423 in the park, the rest just outside), ranked across 16 interests. For most trips the best base is Aviemore. National park, 4,528 km².
Pick a base
Ranked by the best places within a 30-minute drive, and by trains, buses and boats.- No. 1Aviemoretrain station: Aviemore Rail Station; 4 bus stops within 400 m231 places within a 30-minute drive
- No. 2Kingussietrain station: Kingussie Rail Station; 4 bus stops within 400 m192 places within a 30-minute drive
- No. 3Ballater4 bus stops within 400 m148 places within a 30-minute drive
- No. 4Grantown-on-Spey3 bus stops within 400 m165 places within a 30-minute drive
- No. 5Braemar3 bus stops within 400 m58 places within a 30-minute drive
Things to do
Ranked for any trip.- Motorbike roads20
- Views1,124
- Hikes1,042
- History487
- Food and pubs173
- Family48
- Rainy day36
- Art32
- Unusual stays31
- Camping28
- Bothies25
- On the water14
- Adventure5
- Rides5
- Caves2
- Markets2
- Wild swims2
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CostaFood and pubsNo. 17
Fish ShopFood and pubsNo. 18
The Clockhouse RestaurantFood and pubs
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Bean For CoffeeFood and pubsNo. 24
Blair Atholl Watermill Tea RoomFood and pubsNo. 25
Farquharsons Bar and KitchenFood and pubsNo. 26
The Auld Smiddy InnFood and pubsNo. 27
The Cheese NeukFood and pubsNo. 28
The Highlanders BakehouseFood and pubsNo. 29
The Wild FlourFood and pubs
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Bridge House CafeFood and pubsNo. 35
Brown Sugar CafeFood and pubsNo. 36
Claymore BarFood and pubsNo. 37
MacKenzies Coffee House & GiftsFood and pubsNo. 38
Spey Models and Tea RoomFood and pubsNo. 39
Spider on a BicycleFood and pubsNo. 40
The Bothy BallaterFood and pubsNo. 41
The Lochnagar Indian BrasserieFood and pubsNo. 42
The Old Fire Station Tea RoomFood and pubs
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House of GlenmuickHistory and heritageNo. 71
Grantown MuseumHistory and heritageNo. 72
In Your ElementClimbing and adventure
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Migvie CastleHistory and heritage
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Victoria's RestaurantFood and pubs
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Abernethy Outdoor CentreRainy dayNo. 107
Atholl Country Life MuseumHistory and heritageNo. 108
Aviemore BikesClimbing and adventureNo. 109
Ballater GalleryArt and galleriesNo. 110
Balmoral ExhibitionHistory and heritageNo. 111
Carrbridge Carriage DrivingFamily days outNo. 112
Glen Tanar Equestrian CentreFamily days outNo. 113
Hercules GardenViews and photo spotsNo. 114
Moulin Community GardenViews and photo spotsNo. 115
Ross's Garage - Kincraig WorkshopHistory and heritageNo. 116
Royal Lochnagar DistilleryFood and pubsNo. 117
Sugar BowlFood and pubsNo. 118
The ApiaryFood and pubs
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No. 120Top 10s in the Cairngorms
Top 10 hikes and fells
- Cairn Gorm14 km from Aviemore
- Ben Vrackie35 km from Braemar, just outside the park
- Ben Macdui17 km from Aviemore
- Corrour BothyStay, 19 km from Aviemore
- Braeriach14 km from Aviemore
- Cairn Toul17 km from Aviemore
- Glas-allt-ShielStay, 16 km from Ballater
- Sgor an Lochain Uaine16 km from Aviemore
- Beinn a' Bhùird North Top11 km from Braemar
- Cac Càrn Beag11 km from Braemar
Top 10 pubs and places to eat
- Dalwhinnie Distillery19 km from Kingussie
- Cairngorm Breweryin Aviemore
- Costain Aviemore
- Fish Shopin Ballater
- The Clockhouse Restaurant16 km from Grantown-on-Spey
- Bean For Coffeein Ballater
- Blair Atholl Watermill Tea Room37 km from Kingussie
- Farquharsons Bar and Kitchenin Braemar
- The Auld Smiddy Inn39 km from Braemar, just outside the park
- The Cheese Neukin Kingussie
Top 10 with kids
- Landmark Forest Adventure Park9.5 km from Aviemore
- Carrbridge Carriage Driving7.8 km from Grantown-on-Spey
- Glen Tanar Equestrian Centre11 km from Ballater
- Shorty's Ice Cream Parlourin Ballater
- Miele's Gelatoriain Aviemore
- Aviemore Kart Raceway1.9 km from Aviemore
- Cairngorm Adventure play area12 km from Aviemore
- Cairngorm Alpacas3.7 km from Kingussie
- Cairngorm Reindeer Centre8.8 km from Aviemore
- Highland Wildlife Park5.6 km from Kingussie
Top 10 views and photo spots
- Cairn Gorm14 km from Aviemore
- Ben Vrackie35 km from Braemar, just outside the park
- Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve9.2 km from Braemar
- Ben Macdui17 km from Aviemore
- Insh Marshes National Nature Reserve3.6 km from Kingussie
- Braeriach14 km from Aviemore
- Cairn Toul17 km from Aviemore
- Sgor an Lochain Uaine16 km from Aviemore
- Beinn a' Bhùird North Top11 km from Braemar
- Cac Càrn Beag11 km from Braemar
Top 10 castles and history
- Kildrummy CastleScheduled monument, 22 km from Ballater, just outside the park
- Glenbuchat CastleScheduled monument, 19 km from Ballater
- Blair CastleCategory A listed, 36 km from Kingussie
- Corgarff CastleScheduled monument, 17 km from Ballater
- Balmoral CastleCategory A listed, 11 km from Braemar
- Ruthven BarracksScheduled monument, 1.2 km from Kingussie
- Braemar CastleCategory A listed, 1.1 km from Braemar
- Tomnaverie Stone CircleScheduled monument, 14 km from Ballater, just outside the park
- Drumin CastleScheduled monument, 16 km from Grantown-on-Spey
- Castle RoyScheduled monument, 6.3 km from Grantown-on-Spey
Top 10 theme parks and rides
- Landmark Forest Adventure Park9.5 km from Aviemore
- Aviemore Kart Raceway1.9 km from Aviemore
- Glenshee Ski Centre13 km from Braemar
- MTB & Ski Hire & Mountain Carting12 km from Aviemore
- Wild Water Coaster9.6 km from Aviemore
Top 10 on the water
- Loch Morlich Watersports8.2 km from Aviemore
- Anemone Pool12 km from Grantown-on-Spey
- Balscatcher Pool12 km from Grantown-on-Spey
- Bodie Pool12 km from Grantown-on-Spey
- Hazel Pot12 km from Grantown-on-Spey
- Linn of Tummel43 km from Kingussie, just outside the park
- Loch Insh Watersports10 km from Aviemore
- Loch Insh Watersports BunkhouseStay, 10 km from Aviemore
- Lochy Pool12 km from Grantown-on-Spey
- Pots12 km from Grantown-on-Spey
Top 10 for a rainy day
- Dalwhinnie Distillery19 km from Kingussie
- Highland Folk Museum3.5 km from Kingussie
- Glenesk Folk Museum22 km from Ballater, just outside the park
- Clan McPherson House & Museum4.9 km from Kingussie
- Grantown Museumin Grantown-on-Spey
- Abernethy Outdoor Centre6.5 km from Grantown-on-Spey
- Atholl Country Life Museum37 km from Kingussie
- Ballater Galleryin Ballater
- Balmoral Exhibition11 km from Braemar
- Royal Lochnagar Distillery11 km from Ballater
Top 10 campsites
- Ballater Caravan ParkStay, in Ballater
- Dalraddy Holiday ParkStay, 6.4 km from Aviemore
- Glenshee GlampingStay, 31 km from Braemar, just outside the park
- Aboyne Loch Caravan ParkStay, 17 km from Ballater, just outside the park
- Boat of Garten Holiday ParkStay, 7.5 km from Aviemore
- Braemar Caravan ParkStay, in Braemar
- Clury Croft AirighStay, 8.0 km from Grantown-on-Spey
- Faskally Caravan ParkStay, 44 km from Kingussie, just outside the park
- Glenmore Camp SiteStay, 8.6 km from Aviemore
- High Range Holiday ComplexStay, 1.2 km from Aviemore
Where to stay
60 stays ranked. Prices are not shown: we have no open price data yet.Wild camping: Wild camping is allowed in the Cairngorms under Scotland's right of responsible access: small groups, two or three nights in one spot, with everything carried in and taken away. Fires and barbecues are banned across the park from 1 April to 30 September. Source: Cairngorms National Park Authority, wild camping, checked 2026-10-30.
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Ballater Caravan ParkCampingNo. 4
Dalraddy Holiday ParkCampingNo. 5
Glenshee GlampingCampingNo. 6
Aboyne Loch Caravan ParkCampingNo. 7
Boat of Garten Holiday ParkCampingNo. 8
Braemar Caravan ParkCampingNo. 9
Clury Croft AirighCampingNo. 10
Faskally Caravan ParkCampingNo. 11
Gelder Shiel StableHikes and fellsNo. 12
Glenmore Camp SiteCampingNo. 13
High Range Holiday ComplexCampingNo. 14
Rothiemurchus Camp and CaravanCampingNo. 15
Allt ScheicheachanHikes and fellsNo. 16
Blair Castle Caravan ParkCampingNo. 17
Cairngorms GlampingCampingNo. 18
Castle Roy Overnight ParkingCampingNo. 19
FaindouranHikes and fellsNo. 20
Firbank ParkCampingNo. 21
Glamping In the GormsCampingNo. 22
Glenlivet WigwamsCampingNo. 23
Grantown-on-Spey Caravan ParkCampingNo. 24
Invernahavon Caravan SiteCampingNo. 25
Kingussie Golf Club Caravan ParkCampingNo. 26
Ruigh AiteachainHikes and fellsNo. 27
Ryvoan BothyHikes and fellsNo. 28
Shielin of MarkHikes and fellsNo. 29
The Lazy DuckCampingNo. 30
The Red HouseHikes and fellsNo. 31
The Red House ToiletsHikes and fellsNo. 32
Aviemore GlampingCampingNo. 33
Callater StableHikes and fellsNo. 34
Fords of Avon Refuge HutHikes and fellsNo. 35
Howe of TorbegHikes and fellsNo. 36
Hutchinson Memorial HutHikes and fellsNo. 37
Kingussie camping & aire Croila CroftCampingNo. 38
Laggan CLCampingNo. 39
Laggan GlampingCampingNo. 40
Tarf HotelHikes and fellsNo. 41
Tarland Camping and Caravanning ClubCampingNo. 42
Oakwood Caravan & Camping ParkCampingNo. 43
Allan's HutHikes and fellsNo. 44
Bob Scott's BothyHikes and fellsNo. 45
Braedownie HutHikes and fellsNo. 46
Coyles CottageHikes and fellsNo. 47
DalnashallagHikes and fellsNo. 48
Davy's BourachHikes and fellsNo. 49
DuinishHikes and fellsNo. 50
Gulabin LodgeHikes and fellsNo. 51
Inshriach ("Drake's") BothyHikes and fellsNo. 52
Johnny Gordon's BothyHikes and fellsNo. 53
Loch Insh Watersports BunkhouseOn the waterNo. 54
Loch Wharral BothyHikes and fellsNo. 55
LuibleathannHikes and fellsNo. 56
Muir CottageHikes and fellsNo. 57
Raeburn HutHikes and fellsNo. 58
Red BothyHikes and fellsNo. 59
River Tilt ParkCampingNo. 60
WhitehaughHikes and fellsGetting here
Stops counted from NaPTAN, the national public transport list.- Aviemore: train station: Aviemore Rail Station; 4 bus stops within 400 m
- Kingussie: train station: Kingussie Rail Station; 4 bus stops within 400 m
Base towns are compared by 30-minute drive and walk areas from Valhalla routing over OpenStreetMap. Times from your own home town come next.