The Cairngorms
The Cairngorms is a high granite plateau in the Scottish Highlands, with pine woods, hill trails and small towns, suited to walkers, skiers and anyone who wants wild ground near a base.
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The Cairngorms is a national park in the Scottish Highlands and the largest national park in the UK. Its high plateau is mostly bare granite and heath, cut by deep glens, with remnants of old Caledonian pine forest in the lower valleys. Snow can lie on the high tops into spring. Two areas draw most visitors: Strathspey, around Aviemore and Loch Morlich, and Royal Deeside, with Braemar and its castles to the east.
The park suits walkers, climbers and skiers, and people who want wildlife and quiet roads more than city sights. Strathspey has more organized activities, while Deeside is quieter and slower. Plan at least three days to fit in one hill day and a drive or two. Late spring to early autumn is the main walking season, and winter brings snow and skiing. Midges are a nuisance in the glens during summer.
The Cairngorms in five
- Leave the fire and barbecue at homeBetween 1 April and 30 September, fires and barbecues are banned across the National Park, and breaking the byelaw can mean a fine of up to £500. Cook on a camping stove, and call 999 if you see a fire.Cairngorms fire byelaw
- Ride the funicular for the view, not the hillCairngorm Mountain's railway reaches the top station at 1,097 m in about 8 minutes. Passengers may not leave the Ptarmigan building onto the mountain, so walkers start from the car park or join a guided walk.
- Pick Strathspey or Deeside as your baseAviemore and Strathspey have the stations, the funicular and the most rooms. Braemar and Ballater on Deeside sit on a separate road, closer to Balmoral and the Braemar Gathering.Where to stay in the Cairngorms
- Go car-free on the Highland rail lineThe park lists stations at Blair Atholl, Dalwhinnie, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Aviemore and Carrbridge. The Aviemore Adventurer bus links Aviemore with Cairngorm Mountain seven days a week.Trains, buses and cars
- Flying into Inverness or Aberdeen? Sort the ETAThe ETA decision usually arrives by email within a day, and can take up to 3 working days. Apply before you book the connecting flight north.UK ETA explained
Things to do in The Cairngorms
See all attractions in The Cairngorms
Need to know
- Airport
- Inverness (INV) or Aberdeen (ABZ); Edinburgh for a longer drive
- Getting there
- Trains to Aviemore; the Caledonian Sleeper lists Aviemore as a stop
- Getting around
- Car for Deeside and glens; bus and rail around Aviemore
- Best base
- Aviemore for transport; Braemar or Ballater for Deeside
- Time needed
- 3 days for Strathspey; 4 to 5 with Deeside
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh4°Low0°Snow on the hillsJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow on the hills
- FebruaryRain16 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low0°Snow on the hillsFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow on the hills
- MarchRain16 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Late snowMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Late snow
- AprilRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low2°Fire ban startsAprilRain
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Fire ban starts
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Long daysMayRain
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JuneRain16 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Longest daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Longest days
- JulyRain18 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Midges, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Midges, busy
- AugustRain17 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Heather, busyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Heather, busy
- SeptemberRain16 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Braemar GatheringSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Braemar Gathering
- OctoberRain17 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Autumn colorOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain18 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low2°Short daysNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Short days
- DecemberRain17 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low1°Snow, short daysDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, short days
Average daily high and low in Aviemore, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in The Cairngorms
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
4
- Feels like
- 2°
- Humidity
- 92%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
The Cairngorms
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today5°2°0%Monday: Fog. High 5°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue6°0°4%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 6°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Wed4°0°2%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 4°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Thu3°1°2%Thursday: Drizzle. High 3°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Fri3°1°10%Friday: Drizzle. High 3°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sat3°-2°14%Saturday: Cloudy. High 3°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Sun3°0°6%Sunday: Cloudy. High 3°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 6%.
Updated 04:43 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Invernessby car or Highland railCulloden and Loch Ness make a city day or a first night before the park.Read the guide
- Blair Atholl and Highland Perthshireby rail or the A9Blair Atholl station sits inside the park, on the southern edge.Read the guide
- Royal Deesideby car over the hills or from AberdeenBraemar, Balmoral and Ballater lie on the eastern side of the park.Read the guide
Before you go to The Cairngorms
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Rules for The Cairngorms, checked
- Fires and barbecues are banned in the National Park from 1 April to 30 September; breaking the byelaw can mean a fine of up to £500.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Cairngorm Mountain railway passengers may not leave the Ptarmigan building for the mountain; guided walks or a walk from the car park are the options.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Highland Wildlife Park admits only assistance dogs; other dogs are not permitted in the park or its car park.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
The Cairngorms FAQ
How many days do you need in the Cairngorms?
Three days covers Strathspey: a funicular or hill day, the Highland Wildlife Park and the steam railway. Add one or two for Deeside, Braemar and Balmoral, which sit on a separate road and reward a night of their own.
Can you visit the Cairngorms without a car?
Yes for Aviemore and Strathspey. The park lists stations at Aviemore, Kingussie, Newtonmore, Carrbridge, Dalwhinnie and Blair Atholl, plus Stagecoach buses and the Aviemore Adventurer. Deeside and the quiet glens are far easier by car.
Can you walk up Cairn Gorm from the funicular?
Not on your own. The operator says railway passengers may not leave the Ptarmigan building for the mountain, but offers guided walks from the top station to the summit. You can also walk up from the base car park.
Are campfires allowed in the Cairngorms?
Not from 1 April to 30 September, when fires and barbecues are banned across the park with fines of up to £500. Outside those months the park still asks visitors not to light fires anywhere, because almost nowhere is safe for one.
Are there midges in the Cairngorms?
VisitScotland says midge season typically runs May to October, mainly in the west Highlands, islands and damp rural areas, and gathers near woodland and water at dawn and dusk. Carry repellent for forest and loch evenings.