Accessibility

Despite its remote location, the National Park proudly boasts a significant number of accessible routes, activities and options, ensuring that everyone gets to experience the magic of the Cairngorms.

The list below has information on inclusive and specialist providers locally, many of whom hire out adaptive kit, and some helpful tips on getting about the National Park for disabled visitors.

Kit hire and outdoor activities

Lots of outdoor activity providers in the National Park are kitted out and well equipped to offer fun, safe and adventurous activities for all abilities. If you’re up for an adventure, but have some questions, reach out to a provider below who will be able to give you all the information you need to put your mind at ease, and book you in.

Able2Adventure and Equal Adventure both operate out of Glenmore, near Aviemore, and offer activities like climbing, canoeing, paddleboarding, guided walks, camping and bushcraft.

Access Mhor Cairngorms (part of Able2Adventure) is an adaptive cycle and off-road wheelchair hub, based at the Badaguish Outdoor Centre (also near Aviemore), who offer equipment hire and led rides. They have a variety of adaptive cycles, tricycles, handcycles, off-road wheelchairs and attachments available for half day or full day hire.

Disability Snowsport UK offer adaptive snowsport activities at Cairngorm Mountain and Glenshee, ensuring that nobody misses out on the iconic Cairngorm winters.

Highland Mobility Scooter Hire offer mobility scooter hire, including off-road scooters, and cover the Spey valley area (Aviemore / Glenmore, Grantown-on-Spey, Carrbridge, Boat of Garten and Nethy Bridge).

Adaptive bikes and all terrain wheelchairs at Badaguish David Lintern

Paths and trails

There are many routes in the Cairngorms that are accessible and suitable for people with limited mobility. This includes wheelchair users, families with pushchairs, mobility scooters, people with visual impairments, and anyone who wants an easier walk with no steps or steep slopes.

All the routes in the community paths across the National Park are graded using a simple nation-wide system: accessible, easy, moderate or strenuous. Each route has a terrain description that will specify any steps, gates or barriers to help users choose the path that’s right for them. Routes graded ‘accessible’ have more detailed information and route descriptions.

An “accessible” path will be step free, flattish with gentle slopes and a mostly smooth, firm path surface at least 1.5m wide. They also have plenty of benches to take a breather and enjoy the scenery. There are many of the “easy” grade paths that are likely to be suitable for many people to use to explore the countryside too.

Explore the accessible and easy-access paths in the National Park.

For added reassurance, check out the range of Phototrails in the National Park which give a photographic description of paths and trails.

Places to visit

We’re delighted that Euan’s Guide has shared some tips on places to visit, and the opportunity for visitors to leave reviews. Read Euan’s Guide to the Cairngorms National Park here.

For those seeking to connect to nature, many of our most iconic National Nature Reserves are accessible to a wide range of visitors including Loch Garten, which has accessible toilets and access to the hide to get a glimpse of the beloved ospreys. Find out more on the Loch Garten experience from RSPB Scotland here. 

All terrain wheelchair David Lintern

Transport

Badenoch and Strathspey Community Connexions has a “Where2 Today?” accessible minibus service which can take people to the majority of visitor attractions in the area Monday to Friday.

Advance bookings are necessary for this service, call 01479 810004 in office hours to find out more.

Further information about accessible transport, transport help for older or disabled people, and concessionary travel can be viewed on Transport Scotland’s accessible transport hub.

Toilets and changing places facilities

The National Park has a number of changing places facilities, including the Craig Maclean leisure centre in Grantown-on-Spey, Tisos and Aviemore community centre, and at RSPB Loch Garten, near Boat of Garten. 

Changing Places has a useful map to help you plan ahead, view their accessible toilet map here.