Other Information: Max Group Size: 8 (Min 1) Min Age: 15 Max Age: None Physical Rating: 2/5. One is TreeZone in Aviemore which offers two forest rope obstacle courses for children age 7 and up. However, if you are looking for late-night dining or all-day services, these may not be available, especially in winter, so do plan ahead when it comes to dining, groceries, and fuel. There are also a few other year-round family-oriented attractions in the Cairngorms. I found this blog very useful and interesting and it provides a lot of useful information about visiting the Cairngorms National Park. For more information about the area, we’d recommend checking the Visit Cairngorms and the Cairngorms National Park Authority websites. Rental cars are easy to hire at any of the main airports in Scotland. I’m surprised to see so little snow on the ground though. Also, note the Scottish drinking and driving laws are very strict, so almost all distilleries offer to-go sample cups for drivers and bikers. Grantown on Spey – Jim, Hi Jim, Thanks for taking the time to comment – yes, the Cairngorms is a great place to visit any time of the year. The Cairngorms National Park is a beautiful area of the Scottish Highlands centred on the popular winter resort of Aviemore. Many people don’t associate skiing with the UK, but you can indeed ski in several places in Scotland during the winter! I haven’t made it to the Cairngorms yet, but it looks lovely. Winter ridges of the Cairngorms . 5,637 Followers, 148 Following, 382 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Cairngorms National Park (@cairngormsnationalpark) We were very grateful to our driver guide Sally for all the help in spotting during the day, and the hide was a wonderful spot to spy on some of the local night critters! Welcome to the Cairngorms National Park. The town actually hosts an annual chainsaw carving competition each year! One of my favorite parts of traveling is to get to see new species beyond what typically lives in my backyard (which is a lot, but still, only that which survives in my region.) Although the Loch Garten Osprey Centre run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is not open during the winter months, you can still visit all the nature trails here. The Snow Roads is a 90 mile scenic tourist route that stretches from Blairgowrie in the south to Grantown-on-Spey in the north. As mentioned earlier, the park also has a few local species like the Scottish wildcat, red deer, and capercaillie and there are also some woodland feeders that regularly attract wild red squirrel. For instance, this map covers the Aviemore & Cairn Gorm Mountain area whereas this one covers the Glen Shee and Braemar area. If the Wildcat Centre is open, kids can get a certificate and other prizes for spotting 25 or more of the wildcats. Those on two wheels will want to check out the local cycle paths and mountain bike paths, which range from flat paved family-friendly routes to difficult mountain routes. Dalwhinnie, Royal Lochnagar, Glenlivet, and Tomatin all have visitor centers whereas the rest can still be visited by making an advance booking. The Cairngorms National Park with Aviemore at its centre makes an ideal holiday destination with plenty of opportunities for exploration and adventure.. The pull of the mountains white with snow means that winter sports have always played a big part of life in the Cairngorms. Find out more here . Three of Scotland’s five ski centres are located within the Park –. If so, do you have any places you’d add to this list? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter. Please check your e-mail to confirm your sign up. Cairngorms National Park looks like a winter paradise. Loch Lee, Angus, Scotland. The snow also drives some animals, like deer, out of the mountains to seek more food at lower elevations so winter is a great time to spot them. Hi Katherine, Yes whisky is always a popular option in Scotland as it rarely gets what you’d call hot However, it also doesn’t get super cold either, nothing near Arctic temperatures so it is cold but not super cold if that makes sense. 100,000 Welcomes . Wow, I’ve never even heard of Cairngorms, but it seems just beautiful! The Cairngorms National Park has everything from castles and distilleries to family attractions and outdoor fun… The UK’s largest National Park, in the Scottish Highlands, offers masses of things to do including watersports, snowsports, wildlife watching, and some incredible high and low level walking and cycling routes. If there is a lot of snow on the ground, you can do it just about anywhere outside of the ski resorts in the Cairngorms. If you don't see the confirmation e-mail, please check your spam folder. The Cairngorm mountains provide a unique alpine semi-tundra moorland habitat, home to many rare plants, birds and animals. There is also this 1 day whisky tour of the Cairngorms National Park from Inverness. **Disclosure: We were supported on our trip to the Cairngorms National Park by Visit Cairngorms, who helped us plan our itinerary and arranged some complimentary visits and activities to assist us in writing about our experience as travel writers. This is located in the northeast of Scotland. So check the website or call them before stopping by. Unfortunately the steam train does not operate on any normal schedule during most of the winter and does not run every day. It was a perfect place for a winter getaway! Our group will enjoy exclusive occupancy of this comfortable, ideally-situated lodge, with its shared lounge and meeting area, remarkable views of the Cairngorms landscape, and our own resident chef. The park is a mixture of small towns (there are no large towns or cities within the park) and rural areas so it is easy to find a peaceful spot. If you are interested in self-catering options, we stayed in a lovely self-catering cottage by Seasgair Lodges and they specialize in holiday properties within the Cairngorms. Cairngorms National Park Authority ️ This time of year when the snow falls can turn an already beautiful landscape into something spectacular. The scenery is simply stunning, and if you enjoy the outdoors, the Cairngorms is for you. Finally, there is the Wildcat Experience in Newtonmore where families can go in search of over 100 painted wildcat models hidden all over the village. Local train services are operated by ScotRail or London North Eastern Railway, and you can check the local bus services and routes online (most are operated by Stagecoach). Aviemore, the largest town in the park, is located approximately 30 miles from Inverness, 90 miles from Aberdeen, 130 miles Edinburgh, and 145 miles from Glasgow. Ringed by ancient Scots pine trees, you’ll find the whole setting stunningly beautiful. To enjoy the right of responsible access you have to show care, respect and responsibility. Some of the birds you may see here include the golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, ptarmigan, crested tit, Scottish crossbill, capercaillie, and black grouse. The Cairngorms National Park is home to three ski resorts: CairnGorm Mountain near Aviemore, Lecht near Tomintoul, and Glenshee near Braemar. The herd is now stable a… Photographer's magical missions to capture The Cairngorms on a perfect winter's night ... nights and share the fleeting wintry beauty of the place with those unable to venture into the national park. Aviemore Information Centre. One great way to feel this sense of “getting away” is to find a place to stay that fits with your idea of a peaceful getaway. Enjoy a picturesque hike around a local loch off the tourist trail, complete with mountains framing the banks, pristine strands of ancient Caledonian Pine forest and a ruined castle sitting on a tiny island in its centre. If there is snow and/or ice along the trails you intend to hike, you’ll also want to bring along an ice axe and crampons. Learn how this will shape the future of the Cairngorms National Park. Ballater Information Centre. Thanks for the tour. You can read more about our own personal experience riding the Caledonian Sleeper as it is one of our favorite ways to get from London to Edinburgh and vice versa. I like being able to take care of a few meals on my own and not have to eat out all the time. The park can be traversed via hundreds of miles of footpaths and bike paths, offering visitors the choice of a wide variety of short easy trails to long-distance mountain trails. An 11 mile hike combines these two popular munros, and ski touring is a good way to explore these two mountains during the winter if there is a good snow covering. But a recommended place to start is CairnGorm Mountain as it is the highest, the best known, and offers the most variety to visitors. © 2021 Cairngorms National Park Authority. Given the name, it probably comes as no surprise that these roads can get covered in snow and ice in the winter months which may temporarily close sections of the route or make it unsafe to drive, so do check the local weather forecast as well as the road conditions (the local radio and the Traffic Scotland website are two good places for road and traffic conditions) before setting out. Visitor centers and cafes are great places to stop to ask for recommendations on things to do and to learn about local events. If you are flying into Scotland, Inverness Airport and Aberdeen Airport are the nearest airports to the Cairngorms, although you’ll be able to find bus and/or train connections from any airport in Scotland. The Cairngorms National Park is home to 3 of Scotland’s 5 ski centres – … The Snow Roads are meant to be a scenic route and are a “slow route”, a route that is good for scenic touring but not the best route if you need to quickly get from Point A to Point B. Travelled right through the cairngorms on a lovely sunny day. There is also the Sluggan Bridge, a humpbacked military bridge originally built in the 1760’s (rebuilt in 19th century after a flood). Hi Swati, Thanks for taking the time to comment and glad you found our post helpful in planning your upcoming trip to Scotland! All of the ski resorts have a variety of runs open to both skiers and snowboarders. Small patches of snow may remain in the corries from the previous winter with the promise of new snowfall at any time. If you are hoping to see a couple of Scotland’s more elusive critters, namely the capercaillie or the endangered Scottish wild cat, you are unlikely to see either of these in the wild as both are shy and few in number. Day 5: We head west and a little way out of the national park to the “mountain of the old woman”, Beinn a’ Chaorainn. One of the most popular winter activities in the Cairngorms National Parks is skiing. Was this a dry year, or that’s how winter usually looks there? Winter Skills courses in the Cairngorms Arc Guiding’s Cairngorm Winter Skills courses provide essential training needed to make the transition from summer to winter hillwalking. I would like to do some whisky tasting and also wildlife spotting. The peak in the background is Creag an Leth-choin, which translates as Lurcher’s Crag. However, they do run special services in the winter so do check the schedule if you are interested. Although the Cairngorms give their name to, and are at the heart of, the Cairngorms National Park, they only form … Day 4: Cairngorms National Park Today brings a quintessential Scottish experience – discovering just one of the region’s famed lochs. It has some of the best wildlife habitats in the UK, it is no wonder that it … Where to Stay in the Cairngorms National Park in Winter? Cairngorms National Park entrance sign in winter, largest national park in the British Isles at Badenoch and Strathspey in the Highlands of Scotland. However, the Cairngorms and Speyside has many sheltered glens and snow-holding corries which give us valuable options to make the best of the weather. The snow along with the soft winter light makes for some interesting photography possibilities. Many of the courses here date back to the 19th century and most of them are open year-round. The park has a large upland plateau, and is categorised as a “protected landscape” which allows for limited development within its borders. Aviemore would also be our recommendation for anyone traveling without a car as it has the most public transport connections (trains, buses). You can hire ski guides as well which might be a good idea for those wanting to do backcountry skiing for the first time or those not familiar with the local area. In winter the Cairngorms are excellent for skiing, rock climbing and ice climbing. It’s full to bursting with inspirational people who love winter and know how to thrive through it. Winter in Cairngorms National Park, Scotland. A sparkling gem of the Scottish Highlands, this is a haven for wildlife. So it really depends of course but you are much more likely to experience rain in Scotland in the winter than snow It gets cold but not rarely does it get super cold. Finally, one last snow sport option is dogsledding. Cairngorms National Park is located in northeast Scotland, officially established as a park in 2003. Most have cafés, public toilets, shops, and galleries you can visit. It truly is something that all cultures share, though in different forms. The Cairngorms mountain range became part of Scotland’s second national park (the Cairngorms National Park) in 2003, and is h ome to five of the six highest mountains in Scotland. If you like active outdoor activities and whisky, the Cairngorms offers a good mix of both ~ Jessica. The Cairngorms include 4 of the 5 highest mountains in Scotland’s amidst a massive, sub-arctic plateau which offers some fantastic hill-walking and mountaineering all year round. We share 12 of our favorite things to do in the Cairngorms during the winter below. ~ Jessica. Two of the best known mountains in the park are Cairn Gorm (4,084 ft) and Ben Macdui (4,259 feet) which is the second tallest mountain in the UK and the tallest within the park. From November to February the days are short and the nights long and the weather changeable with the corries and the high arctic plateaux more akin to Iceland and Norway than the Alps. Photographer's magical missions to capture The Cairngorms on a perfect winter's night ... nights and share the fleeting wintry beauty of the place with those unable to venture into the national park. Don't miss out on our exclusive monthly giveaways with lots of fun travel and photography related prizes! When it snows, it is usually gone from the ground in day or two but stays in the mountains until about May. Bicycles can be rented within the park. by Chris Townsend on January 20, 2009 Photo Essays. From our base in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, we may also make excursions in search of red deer and mountain hare – or simply to enjoy photographing the amazing Highland landscape. Scotland is laden with loveable lochs, dreamy mountaintops and verdant countryside, ideal for experiencing in the winter months. Accommodation in the Cairngorms. Note that the hill trip tours are dependent on weather and the location of the herd. A couple of other courses include the Braemar Golf Club which is the highest 18-hole golf course in Scotland (at over 1,200 feet above sea level) and the well-reviewed family-friendly 9-hole Carrbridge Golf Club. The Cairngorms National Park is a winter wonderland for those looking for some fun in the snow, and a popular winter destination for local skiers and snowboarders. Within the UK, the park can be reached by car, regular train (check ScotRail and London North Eastern Railway for service), overnight sleeper train (check the Caledonian Sleeper route and schedule), or bus (check National Express for services). If you are not used to shooting in cold weather and/or wintry landscapes, you can check out our winter photography tips. Winter is a great time to practice your photography. New to skiing, check out our guide to what to pack for a ski trip. You can also check out holiday homes on Booking as well as options on Airbnb which offers a variety of apartments, homes, and private rooms. Carrbridge is best known for its old packhorse bridge dating back to 1717 which is the oldest stone bridge in the Scottish Highlands. Aviemore and Braemar are lively hubs for skiing where you can hire all that you need and relax after a hard day on the slopes. When we visited the Cairngorms National Park in winter, we stayed at a self-catering cottage called Foresters Lodge in Nethy Bridge which is one of a number of properties offered in the Cairngorms by Seasgair Lodges. Looks like there is a ton of stuff to do here and I would definitely be interested to tasting some of the whiskeys! If you are not into skiing (like me) or have kids who are not ready to ski, you might consider sledding (or sledging as they call it in the UK) if there is enough snow on the ground. - cairngorms national park stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images If you are a fan of the cold, powdery white stuff then Scotland is a great place to be in winter. Even in the Highlands it doesn’t “stick” much on the ground typically (as its too warm) and so you mostly see it on the ground only at higher elevations such as on the mountains. mountain hare (lepus timidus) running through snow. You can also spend time learning about the history of this area by visiting some of the historical and cultural sites within the Cairngorms National Park. Popular: Booked by 118 travelers! The Cairngorms National Park is known for being one of the top mountain biking spots in Scotland. But there are also much easier munros to hike such as The Cairnwells, so you can find one suitable for your fitness and time. During the day we saw red squirrels, red deer, a golden eagle, black grouse, red grouse, pheasants, and feral goats. If you are planning to ski here, you can read about Laurence’s experience skiing in the Cairngorms and our recommend skiing packing list. Hi Anda, We don’t get a lot of snow in Scotland, at least not in the Lowlands (souther part of Scotland). I think the chainsaw carvings are fascinating. With over 60 activities taking place across the Cairngorms National Park there is something for everyone, from families to the more seasoned nature lover. If you don't see the confirmation e-mail, please check your spam folder. I think I would probably go in the summer, so that I could do some hiking. Scotland Browse 1,390 cairngorms national park stock photos and images available, or search for cairngorms national park winter to find more great stock photos and pictures. If you are thinking about visiting the Cairngorms National Park in winter, we’ve put together a list of things to do in the Cairngorms during the winter that includes skiing, winter hiking, whisky tasting, exploring historical sites, wildlife watching, and visiting popular family attractions. Before heading to any of the ski resorts in the Cairngorms, be sure to check the weather and snow forecasts first, as high winds, lack of snow, severe weather, or avalanches can cause ski resorts to temporarily close during the winter. Visitcairngorms.com is a great place to start when planning your trip. There is also a herd of over 150 reindeer in the Cairngorms National Park. Chatting with local hosts is a great way to learn more about an area. In the Spring and Summer months you have even more options as there are also many seasonal museums, heritage centers, castles, and outdoor amusement areas that generally re-open around April each year. They now roam the high Cairngorms, after being re-introduced in 1952 by a Swedish herdsman. It is a mountain of contrast. But you can find scenic spots and lovely views of the mountains and lochs from so many spots! Ptarmigan are perfectly adapted to living high up in the mountains in the arctic conditions of the Cairngorms National Park, transforming their camouflage from the grey mottling of the granite to the bright white of freshly fallen snow. The steep corries of the mountains have hosted winter climbers eager to test their skill against the elements and many of Scotlands classic routes can be found here. So there is our list of things to do in the Cairngorms National Park in winter! 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