A week in the Cairngorms

Stay in Braemar. Day 1: Balmoral Castle, Balmoral Exhibition and Abergeldie Castle; day 2: Braemar Highland Heritage Centre, Braemar Castle and Morrone; day 3: Creag Bhalg near Braemar, Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve and Lui Water, townships 800m to 2780m SE of Derry Lodge; day 4: Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe, Beinn a' Bhùird North Top and Beinn a' Chaorainn; day 5: Cac Càrn Beag, Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn; day 6: Glenshee Ski Centre, 18th century military road and mid-20th century pillbox at Cairnwell, Glenshee and Glas Maol; day 7: Henry Moore Bound To Fail Maquette, Invercauld Bridge and Falls of the Garbh Allt.

Make it yoursstart from your town, pick the month, swap any stop

Day 1 · the Cairngorms

Balmoral Castle Category A listed, 11 km from Braemar
Balmoral Exhibition 11 km from Braemar Next door to the last stop
Abergeldie Castle 8.3 km from Ballater 3 km from the last stop

Lunch: The Highlanders Bakehouse 10 km from Ballater
If it rains: Royal Lochnagar Distillery 11 km from Ballater

Open day 1 in Google Maps

Night 1 · Braemar

3 bus stops within 400 m

Day 2 · the Cairngorms

Braemar Highland Heritage Centre in Braemar
Braemar Castle Category A listed, 1.1 km from Braemar 1 km from the last stop
Morrone 3.3 km from Braemar 4 km from the last stop

Lunch: Farquharsons Bar and Kitchen in Braemar

Open day 2 in Google Maps

Night 2 · still in Braemar

Day 3 · the Cairngorms

Creag Bhalg near Braemar 6.0 km from Braemar
Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve 9.2 km from Braemar 3 km from the last stop
Lui Water, townships 800m to 2780m SE of Derry Lodge Scheduled monument, 9.7 km from Braemar 1 km from the last stop

Open day 3 in Google Maps

Night 3 · still in Braemar

Day 4 · the Cairngorms

Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe 11 km from Braemar
Beinn a' Bhùird North Top 11 km from Braemar 4 km from the last stop
Beinn a' Chaorainn 15 km from Braemar 5 km from the last stop

Open day 4 in Google Maps

Night 4 · still in Braemar

Day 5 · the Cairngorms

Cac Càrn Beag 11 km from Braemar
Cairn Bannoch 11 km from Braemar 4 km from the last stop
Broad Cairn 13 km from Braemar 2 km from the last stop

Open day 5 in Google Maps

Night 5 · still in Braemar

Day 6 · the Cairngorms

Glenshee Ski Centre 13 km from Braemar
18th century military road and mid-20th century pillbox at Cairnwell, Glenshee Scheduled monument, 14 km from Braemar 1 km from the last stop
Glas Maol 15 km from Braemar 3 km from the last stop

Lunch: Cairnwell Cafe 13 km from Braemar

Open day 6 in Google Maps

Night 6 · still in Braemar

Day 7 · the Cairngorms

Henry Moore Bound To Fail Maquette 2.6 km from Braemar
Invercauld Bridge Scheduled monument, 3.6 km from Braemar 2 km from the last stop
Falls of the Garbh Allt Category A listed, 5.1 km from Braemar 2 km from the last stop

Lunch: Gordon's Tea Room & Restaurant in Braemar

Open day 7 in Google Maps

How this plan is made

No one picks these by hand and no one pays to be in them. The planner's rules take the places and roads the Cairngorms's pages rank, for anyone, any month: one town to stay in, and each day its best stop with the best ones close to it, three a day, with lunch nearby and an indoor stop if it rains. Distances are as the crow flies, so the road is longer. Check opening times on each place's page before you go. How the ranking works.

Questions

Where should I stay for a week in the Cairngorms?

Braemar. It is the town with the best stops within 15 km for this trip, so you don't pack up every morning. Braemar: 3 bus stops within 400 m.

What should I do first?

Day 1 is Balmoral Castle, Balmoral Exhibition and Abergeldie Castle: the best stop for this trip, then the best ones within 5 km of it.

Who picked these places?

Nobody. The same rules make every plan from the places and roads the site ranks with one open formula, and no place pays to be in a plan.

How it works, in full