The Cairngorms National Park
The Cairngorms is simply inspiring!
It has something for everyone, from exploring nature and wildlife in the mountains, to adventures in ancient woodlands or taking a dip in one of our freshwater Lochs.
The Cairngorms National Park has spectacular landscapes from wild, high mountains, to heather moorlands, magnificent forests, lowland farms and crofts, wetlands and rivers which wind through the flood plains – as the biggest and most northerly National Park in Britain, it is simply awe-inspiring.
Key activities
Walking , Activity
Set in spectacular scenery there are short low-level walks, longer hikes through woodlands and mountains, multi-day long distance walks and mountain top routes to choose from, where ever you are in the Park.
Wildlife watching , Activity
Come to the Cairngorms to see Scotland’s rare and iconic wildlife for yourself. Keep your eyes peeled for darting red squirrels and soaring ospreys, go out with a guide or watch from a hide – the choice is yours!
Outdoor Activities , Activity
The Park offers something for everyone – water sports, snow sports, incredible walking and cycling routes, plus 12 golf courses. It even has the first permanent bridge-based bungee jump in the UK.
Special qualities
10 reasons why the Cairngorms is a special place
Adventure – Cycling and biking is one of the many ways to explore and discover the sights, nature and wildlife in the Park. All types of cycling are catered for from family-friendly routes, stunning rides on quiet roads to some of the best mountain bike trails in Scotland for all ages and abilities.
Castles & Gatherings – Explore the past by visiting our castles and historical sites, immerse yourself in the culture of the Cairngorms through our local music, ceilidhs and highland games.
Dark Skies – The Tomintoul and Glenlivet area is one of the best places to see a night sky brimming with stars. Some brilliant vantage points and vast horizons have seen the area awarded the prestigious status of International Dark Sky Park and is the most Northerly Dark Sky Park in the world and among the darkest skies in the UK!
Family Fun – The Cairngorms National Park is a world-renowned area where both residents and visitors, especially families, can enjoy an unparalleled range of outdoor recreation opportunities with something for everyone no matter what age, ability or interest.
Food & Drink – Few regions in Scotland encapsulate the traditional and world-famous cuisine of the country as well as the Cairngorms – venison from deer that range across the hills, beef from Highland cattle and hardy rare breeds, salmon and trout from pristine rivers and lochs and whisky from age-old distilleries.
Hospitality – Providing a warm welcome and exceptional experiences to people from near and far is part of our culture in the Cairngorms National Park. Voted one of the top destinations in the world, visitors ‘love this place’.
Landscapes – The Cairngorms National Park is hugely diverse; it is a living, working landscape from the wild high mountains, to the heather moorlands and peatlands, to the magnificent forests, the farms and crofts, and the wetlands and rivers which wind through the flood plains.
Scenic Routes – Whether travelling by bike, car or on foot, there are plenty of places to stop and take in the natural beauty of the landscape.
Stories & Culture – Separated by the great bulk of the mountains, different areas of the Park have their own distinct identity and cultural traditions, but they share deep connections to the same environments. Explore Scotland’s Gaelic language through our place names and unique stories that they tell of the Park.
Wildlife – The wildlife in the National Park is outstanding. It is a stronghold for many rare and endangered species, living in some of our most natural landscapes.
Did you know?
Wild and Wonderful
The Cairngorms is celebrated as a place of wildness. The feeling of being surrounded by wildlife and natural habitats helps us reconnect with nature, and refreshes the mind and body. It is hard to describe the outstanding nature and landscapes of the Cairngorms National Park, its importance for the people who live and work here, the people who visit and enjoy the area and the significance of the wildlife and habitats supported by this special place. This is a place hugely valued by many people as well as wildlife. The Cairngorms is home to a quarter of the UK’s rare and endangered species. It contains Scotland’s largest, most natural habitats and is where the country’s most ambitious, landscape-scale conservation action is taking place. It is home to 18,500 residents and welcomes over 2 million visitors each year.
Plan your visit
Whether you are looking for adventure, fun for the whole family or a break from the everyday – the Cairngorms National Park has a lot to offer so let us help you plan your visit. Situated in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, the National Park is easy to reach by road, rail, plane or bike. We have direct train links to Inverness, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London.
Travelling on a budget
There are many things to see and do in the Park that won’t break the bank and some that are completely free.
A park for all
If you or a family member have accessibility requirements, there are plenty of easy-access paths to enjoy, accessible activities and attractions to visit as well as accessible facilities and services available to you. For more information visit Access for All in the Cairngorms National Park. We look forward to welcoming you to our special place!
Could spending more time among trees be good for us?🌳
Research into forests suggests natural compounds called phytoncides could promote a sense of wellbeing and that time spent in woodlands can help decrease feelings of stress and anxiety.
Forest bathing is the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku - which translates as ‘forest bath.’ It’s all about immersing ourselves in nature. Not to get steps in. Not to reach anywhere. Just to feel, be still and be present.
And our National Parks can certainly help. From pine forests and wooded valleys to ancient trees. Our parks are helping people to slow down and reconnect with the natural world every day.
Have you ever tried forest bathing? Tell us below👇
1. Stanmer Woods - @southdownsnp
2. Whinlatter Forest - @lakedistrictnpa
3. Cairngorms National Park @cairngormsnationalpark
4. North York Moors National Park @northyorkmoors
#Mindfulness #ForestBathing #Wellbeing #NationalParks
Has the rain reached you yet? 🌧️
A change in the weather is making its way across our National Parks. And with it comes a different rhythm to the landscape - changing how our surroundings look, sound and feel.
The sound of rain. The smell of wet earth. The air feeling fresher. Wildlife finding shelter.
What do you notice most when the rain arrives?
#RainyDay #BritishWeather #NationalParksUK
They may look like windmills, but in The Broads National Park, they are actually windpumps.
Rather than grinding flour, they were built to pump water from the marshes, helping to drain the land for agriculture and grazing.
Today, these distinctive structures are part of what makes the Broads landscape so recognisable.
And while this is a story from the Broads, it’s one that can be found across all 15 of our National Parks - landscapes shaped by people finding ways to adapt to live and work within their landscape. Something which still remains the case today.
Did you know that one of these mills is said to be haunted? Comment down below which one you think it is 👇
In photograph order:
📍1. St Benets Mill
📍2. Horsey Mill
📍3. Turf Fen Mill
📍4. Thurne Mill
📍5. Bograve Mill
#NorfolkBroads #NationalPark #Windpumps
✨🌙 Look up!
With a partial solar eclipse taking place tonight across the UK, we’re reminded about how important it is for our dark skies to be protected. Our National Parks are home to some of the best places in the UK to enjoy them, due to low levels of light pollution.
These incredible photos capture another recent celestial phenomenon that has been on display for stargazers and is peaking tonight - the Perseid meteor shower.
The sightings were captured in @northyorkmoors - home to one of the UK’s largest areas of protected dark sky.
🌟Tag us in your eclipse photos across our National Parks. Just be sure to follow safe viewing and photography guidance while you snap!
📷 1. Perseid meteor shower at Skelton Tower by Richard Horsman.
📷 2. Milky Way and Perseid meteor shower at Sutton Bank by Russ Norman.
📍North York Moors National Park #DarkSkies #SolarEclipse #Perseid #MeteorShower
Just goats being goats. 🐐
These incredible animals call the Valley of Rocks in @exmoornp home - scaling walls and cliffs, grazing on the rich meadows and, occasionally, blocking the roads!
They’re a wonderful reminder of why our National Parks are so important, providing a home for such a diverse range of wildlife.
Have you ever spotted one?
📷 Exmoor National Park
#ValleyOfRocks #Exmoor #Goats #NationalPark
Look out for us at the cinema. 🎬🌳
Our latest Wild Spaces episode, screening before selected films, takes you to Northumberland National Park. Their team, alongside farmers, landowners and volunteers, is working together to create healthier, more resilient landscapes through woodland creation and hedgerow planting.
It’s a story of partnership, long-term thinking, and the small actions that can have a lasting impact.
Find out more about the project and watch the episode via the link in our bio. 🔗
@northumberlandnationalpark
#WildSpaces #Northumberland #TreePlanting
💭You might have heard of peatland, but what exactly is it and why does it matter so much?
Peatlands are our natural climate allies. They store vast amounts of carbon, support rare wildlife, improve water quality, reduce flood risk and preserve thousands of years of archaeological and cultural history.
Some of the UK`s most important peatlands are found within our National Parks, making them critical places for tackling the climate and nature crises.
Across the UK`s National Parks, peatland restoration projects are helping damaged peatlands recover, benefiting both nature and people.
📍Dartmoor National Park
#NationalParks #Peatlands #NatureRecovery
Our National Parks tell the stories of the people and places that came before us.
A new Joint Statement on the Historic Environment in the National Parks of England, Scotland and Wales has launched.
Bringing together the 15 National Parks and heritage partners, the statement sets out a shared commitment to protecting the historic places and features that help shape our landscapes.
From ancient monuments and archaeological sites to historic buildings and traces of past generations, our National Parks are home to thousands of years of history.
Together, we’re working to care for these special places so their stories can continue to be discovered, valued and enjoyed for generations to come.
Read the full statement via the link in our bio 🔗
#NationalParks #UKHistory #Heritage
