Visiting on a budget

If you’re traveling on a budget, there are many things to see and do in the National Park that won’t break the bank and many activities that are completely free. Here are some suggestions that won’t cost you anything.

Explore the outdoors

Enjoy a walk from your doorstep. There are over 200 miles of waymarked trails around the communities of the National Park, so there is no need to even get in the car. If you want to head further afield there are also numerous upland paths and long-distance routes for you to discover. 

Many of these routes are also fantastic cycle rides if you’ve got a bike with you. There are also some great biking facilities in the National Park, like the pump track at Boat of Garten which provides fun for riders of all ages! There are mountain bike centres at Glenlivet and Laggan, where the trails are free to use but parking charges apply. If you want to brush up on your technique, there are jumps and a skills area in the woods in Grantown-on-Spey.

You can make your walk more of a challenge by turning it into a digital treasure hunt by going “geocaching” – all you need is a handheld GPS, or your smartphone and the geocaching app, then download some co-ordinates of nearby geocaches from geocaching.com and you are ready for your adventure.  

Grab your binoculars and go bird or wildlife watching – you might just see some of our amazing species in their natural habitats. One of the National Park’s nine National Nature Reserves would be a great place to start.

Pack your bucket and spade and spend the day on the beach! Loch Morlich is a popular spot on a hot sunny day with the stunning backdrop of the Cairngorm mountains.  

Join a ranger for a guided walk or family activity. Some of these are free and for others there may be a small charge, but they are always good value for money! 

• A family on a woodland walk Ed Smith

  

  
• Exploring the RSPB visitor centre Rachel Keenan

  

  
• Corrie Fee Luigi Di Pasquale / VisitScotland

  

  

Delve into the past

Discover the heritage of the National Park and explore a historic site for free! There are so many to choose from, such as the old seminary at Scalan in the Braes of Glenlivet, the well-preserved ruins of Ruthven Barracks at Kingussie, the stablised ruined castles of Blairfindy and Drumin at Glenlivet and Castle Roy at Nethybridge. 

There is also the fantastic open air Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore, where you can step back in time and experience life in the Highlands from the 1700s to the 1950s. This is free entry, but parking charges apply.

Experience the delights of the steam railway age at the Strathspey steam railway in Boat of Garten. Here you are welcome to wander onto the old platforms, marvel at the comfort of the old waiting room and wait for the steam train to arrive, a great viewing spot is from the footbridge directly over the line!

Entrance to the Highland Folk Museum James Stevens

Under cover

If you need a rainy-day alternative there are some places to go that don’t have entrance charges.  

There are lots of visitor centres and ranger bases across the National Park with displays, touch tables and activities to while away an hour or so learning about our nature, wildlife and landscapes.

Pop into one of the area’s free-entry museums to discover more about the history of the Highlands in Grantown-on-Spey and Tomintoul, or learn about the history of the famous Braemar Gathering in the Highland Games Pavilion in Braemar.

Places to stay

You can find low-cost accommodation at the many hostels, bunkhouses and campsites across the National Park.  

Find your perfect spot with the VisitCairngorms accommodation finder.

Getting around  

Why not leave the car at home (or your accommodation) and make the journey part of your adventure. You can explore the National Park under your own steam, by foot, bike or public transport, or even take the steam railway between Aviemore to Boat of Garten!  

There are cycle shops across the Cairngorms and all do bike hire, including e-bikes – which are a great way to get around. We’ve got some great off-road routes that link communities and places of interest too. Off-road paths include the Old Logging Way (Aviemore – Glenmore), the Speyside Way (Newtonmore – Kingussie – Aviemore – Grantown - Cromdale and lots of places in-between) and the Deeside Way (Dinnet – Ballater).