Viewpoints

Whether it’s with a cup of tea in hand, from a paddle board, or up a mountain, there are many ways to enjoy the endless views the Cairngorms National Park has to offer. And with Scotland’s ever-changing seasons – sometimes four in a day as well as in a year! – you really won’t get the same view twice. There are stunning panoramas almost everywhere, but here we highlight some of our favourites.

Lochs and rivers

In the east of the National Park, with views fit for a royal, is majestic Loch Muick. The loch lies within Balmoral Estate, eight miles southwest of Ballater, and there’s a car park (payable), toilets and small visitor centre.

Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve also lies on the east side of the Cairngorms. Its Loch Kinnord is teeming with wildlife and offer peaceful views, but the main draw is entering the Burn O’Vat for a close-up of the vast bowl of pink granite that was scooped out by a river flowing underneath glaciers about 20,000 years ago.

The area around Aviemore offers some classic views of the Cairngorms National Park. Uath Lochans, with its little forest-encircled lochs, and the point at which the River Spey flows out of Loch Insh at Kincraig are popular places to visit with a camera in hand.

• Looking out at the view Niven Photography

  

  
• Corrie Fee Luigi Di Pasquale / VisitScotland

  

  
• Uath Lochan Damian Shields / VisitScotland

  

  

Mountains

With ​​58 Munros and countless smaller hills, the Cairngorms is the perfect place to get up high and enjoy the resulting vistas. In the mountain range itself, any one of the peaks is worth the effort, but Ben Macdui, Britain’s second-highest summit at 1,309 metres, and Lochnagar (1,155m) are worth a special mention. Cairngorm Mountain is another hit, that you don't have to be a mountaineer for - admire the outstanding views from the car park or take the funicular railway up to the top station and viewing platforms.

Meall a’ Bhuachaille is a great choice for a first hill walk in the Cairngorms, though it shouldn’t be underestimated – always check the weather and ensure you’re properly equipped. It has the benefit of great paths, and rewards hikers with superb 360-degree views over Abernethy Nature Reserve, Loch Morlich, Glenmore Forest Park and An Lochan Uaine.

Scenic routes

The Cairngorms National Park has numerous scenic roads that take in some of the region’s most iconic viewpoints – and make its beauty accessible to those who aren’t able to head up a mountain. One of the best is The SnowRoads, a 90-mile route which winds from Blairgowrie, south of the Cairngorms National Park, to Grantown on Spey, passing through Braemar and Ballater. Three art installations – Connecting Contours at Glenshee, The Watchers at Cock Bridge, and Still at Tomintoul – encourage you to stop and look at the landscape from a new perspective.

Two other stunning drives – or bike rides – are from Braemar to Linn of Dee, and from Newtonmore to the Centre of Scotland Stone. The route from Braemar gives open views to Mar Lodge and Linn of Dee, a favourite picnic spot of Queen Victoria set in a beautiful pinewood with great views of the Cairngorms. Stopping at the Centre of Scotland Stone supplies views of the River Spey as it descends under the Monadhliath mountains. There are several local legends attached to the stone to debate while you’re there.

For walkers and off-road cyclists, long-distance paths like the Deeside, Speyside and Dava Ways take in changing scenery as they traverse the countryside.