The Cairngorms is a mountainous National Park which covers an area of 1748 square miles in central Scotland. Accessible from Pitlochry and Blair Atholl in the South and Aviemore in the North-west; there are no roads through the heart of the park other than the A93 via Braemar, which provides access to the Glenshee Ski Centre;  and the Old Military Road which leads to the Lecht Ski Centre. The park comprises 55 Munros (peaks over 300ft tall) with Ben Macdui, the highest being the second highest peak in the British Isles (Ben Nevis, the highest isn't in a National Park, but is part of the Ben Nevis and Glen Coe National Scenic Area.) Carirn Gorm itself is only the sixth highest mountain in the UK, but it is bigger than the whole of Luxembourg.

The Cairngorm National Park could be considered to be the heart of Scotland, both geographically and historically. Home to the geographical centre point of this historic nation and the summer residence of the British royal family, the region's geological formation dates back to more than 40 million years before the last ice age. Much of the land is owned by the National Trust for Scotland, the RSPB and other private landowners.

Skiing is a popular winter pastime with runs at the Lecht, Glenshee and Carin Gorm; Access to the slopes above Aviemore was serviced by a funicular built-in 2000/01. This closed for extended repairs in 2018 and is expected to re-open in early 2023; however, you can still access many of the slopes via T-Bar or Poma during the ski season.

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Top Cairngorms National Park Attractions

The Cairngorms is the largest National Park in the UK and is home to some impressive castles; The impressive 13th century Blair Castle, just outside Blair Atholl is the ancestral home of the Murray Clan and Balmoral needs no introduction as the Scottish residence of the British royal family. Scotland and Whisky are synonymous and the park is home to several distillers; Dalwhinnie and Royal Lochnagar are among the most famous, but if gin is more your thing then a trip to the Balmenach Distillery is worth a visit to pick up a bottle of Caorunn.

As you would expect, the park is home to an abundance of wildlife, but if you're looking for something different then a trip to the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre allows you to meet the UK's only herd of free-ranging reindeer. The park is also home to the geographic centre of Scotland, at a point just outside Newtonmore, the centre itself is a little underwhelming, but is marked with a plaque attached to a large boulder.

Top Cairngorms National Park Campsites