Skip to content

Culture and heritage

People at the Highland Folk Museum sat at an outside table practising 'waulking the cloth'
Home | The National Park

The Cairngorms National Park is rich in culture both past and present. 

People have lived and worked in the area for thousands of years, and the National Park’s heritage is cared for and celebrated in communities across the Cairngorms, through events, interpretation, storytelling and music. 

  • A group of marching men dressed in kilts and carrying spears
  • Two shinty players training on a frosty pitch at the Dell in Kingussie
  • Three buildings in a rural setting with trees and hills in the background.

    Separated by mountains, communities have their own distinct identities and cultural traditions, but they share deep connections to the land and landscapes of this special place.  

    The past can be explored at our castles and historical sites, but the culture and heritage of the area lives on today in traditional song, dance and the Gaelic place names of the National Park. 

    We work with our partners to safeguard and promote the National Park’s culture and heritage, and to provide opportunities for people to experience and learn about our outstanding historic environment, history and culture.