Attractions and sightseeing

Scenic beauty is the main attraction of the Cairngorms National Park. Tourists have flocked here since Victorian times, drawn to the region’s clean air, clear waters and mountain views. This is still true today – and for residents too. Paths galore open up countless opportunities for walks and bike rides, stunning viewpoints, lochs to sit beside, wander around or even take a dip in, and woodlands to explore.

But as well as all this inspiring scenery, the National Park is loved for its culture, and for its people. There are dozens of year-round attractions and places to visit, so it’s perhaps no surprise that National Geographic Traveller magazine named it “one of the Top 20 places to visit in the world".

Activity-filled attractions

If you like to fuel your days with adrenaline, you’ll be right at home in the Cairngorms National Park. There’s a top-rated woodland adventure park, high ropes and zip-line courses, tubing, and countless outdoor activity providers for energetic adults and adventurous kids. You could try wild swimming in a loch and warm back up in a sauna, go quad biking or go-karting, or try your hand at traditional field sports. Find out more about​ adventure and the outdoors.

Nature-based attractions

One of the National Park’s most special qualities is its array of iconic and sometimes rare and endangered species, including red squirrels, beavers, raptors, and red deer. Vital conservation work is ongoing to ensure these animals continue to thrive in the National Park.

For the opportunity to glimpse some of these creatures or discover more about them, you can join a private wildlife-watching tour, take part in a nature walk or embark on a guided photography session. There’s also the Highland Wildlife Park where you can see and learn about native and exotic animals, and the conservation work being undertaken to support them.

Throughout the National Park there are numerous wildlife centres and ranger bases where you can discover more about the local landscape, its nature and wildlife and chat to a local expert.

The Snowroads, a 90-mile route that threads through the National Park, offers the opportunity to enjoy the region’s natural landscapes from the roadside, with lots of wildlife spotting opportunities on route.

Find out more about nature and wildlife experiences.

• The Highland Folk Museum Rachel Keenan

  

  
• Highland Wildlife Park Laura Peters

  

  
• Ruthven Barracks James Stevens

  

  

Art and cultural attractions

This area’s landscape has long inspired people to capture its beauty through art in all its forms. The villages and towns of the Cairngorms are full of independent galleries brimming with the resulting crafts, artwork, ceramics and photography. For a more interactive experience, there are ceilidhs and live music to enjoy in venues across the National Park, shinty games to cheer along (some of the sport’s highest-ranking teams hail from this area), Highland games to attend, and food journeys to undertake in the hands of a local chef. And in this famed whisky region, the hardest decision may well be deciding which distilleries to leave out.

Historical attractions

Step back in time at some of the region’s many historical attractions, which offer insight into long-ago eras. Among these are a steam railway and several museums, including The Highland Folk Museum, an open-air museum which leads you on an immersive walk-through decade of life in the Scottish Highlands. The area abounds with historic ​castles and ruins too, like the historic fortification Ruthven Barracks.