Light until 18:10
Aviemore sits right in the middle of the Cairngorms National Park, surrounded by ancient pine forest, lochs and mountains. From here you can walk around Loch an Eilein to its island castle, wander through Rothiemurchus forest, ride the steam railway or head up into the hills, with red squirrels in the woods and ospreys over the lochs in summer.
Every day is worked out stop by stop, with the drive between each place, where to stop for lunch, and what to book before you go. Some are gentle forest walks with a café at the end; others take in a distillery or a longer climb. It's lovely in every season, from summer swims to crisp, snowy winter days. Choose your day and enjoy the Cairngorms.
Day outClose byThe Cairngorm Brewery and lunch at the Cairngorm HotelMore info
Day out5 min driveAviemore, Rothiemurchus and GlenmoreMore info
Day out10 min driveMeall a' Bhuachaille and lunch at the Winking OwlMore info
Day out10 min driveLandmark and Loch Morlich with the kids and the dogMore info
Day out15 min driveThe Cairngorm Mountain Railway and Loch MorlichMore info
Day out15 min driveThe Highland Wildlife Park's animalsMore info
Day out25 min driveRuthven Barracks at sunset and supper in KingussieMore info
A walk30 min driveThe Wildcat Trail walk round NewtonmoreMore info
Day out35 min driveThe Linn of Dee and lunch at the BothyMore info
Day out40 min driveBraemar Castle and lunch in BraemarMore info
A walkClose byThe steam train to Boat of Garten and a walk back to AviemoreMore info
Day out5 min driveA Day in the Cairngorms – Rothiemurchus & Glen MoreMore info
A walk10 min driveA walk to the Green Lochan on the Ryvoan TrailMore info
A walk10 min driveCarrbridge's packhorse bridge and the Carr Plantation walkMore info
A walk15 min driveThe Lettoch Trail walk up the River NethyMore info
A walk15 min driveA walk round Castle Roy and Abernethy Old KirkMore info
A walk25 min driveThe Beachen Orange Trail walk at Grantown-on-SpeyMore info
Day out35 min driveThe Linn of Dee and Braemar CastleMore info
A walk35 min driveA walk to the Falls of Truim and the Centre of Scotland stoneMore info
A walkClose byA walk up Craigellachie above AviemoreMore info
A walk10 min driveA walk from Boat of Garten to Loch GartenMore info
Day out10 min driveLoch Morlich beach and lunch at the Allt Mor CaféMore info
Day out10 min driveLoch Garten's red squirrels and old pinewoodMore info
A walk10 min driveThe Lochside Loop walk at Kincraig on Loch InshMore info
Day out15 min driveBreakfast at Nethy House and the bridge at Nethy BridgeMore info
A walk25 min driveA walk to Loch Gynack from KingussieMore info
Day out25 min driveThe Highland Folk Museum with the children and the dogMore info
A walk35 min driveThe Glenmulliach Viewpoint walk near TomintoulMore info
A walkClose byA walk on the Old Logging Way from Rothiemurchus to GlenmoreMore info
Day out10 min driveOspreys, Castle Roy and the old forest at Loch GartenMore info
Day out10 min driveThe Green Lochan with the dog and lunch at Route 7More info
Day out10 min driveLandmark Forest Adventure Park and lunch in CarrbridgeMore info
A walk15 min driveUath Lochans and Farleitter Crag walkMore info
A walk15 min driveThe Broomhill Trail walk at Nethy BridgeMore info
A walk20 min driveThe Invertromie Trail walk at Insh MarshesMore info
Day out25 min driveSpey Bank Studio and afternoon tea at the Boat Country InnMore info
A walk35 min driveThe Bridge of Avon walk from TomintoulMore info
A walk40 min driveThe River Dee path and a pint at the Flying StagMore info
Day out5 min driveLoch an Eilein Castle and lunch at Ryvoan CaféMore info
Day out10 min driveA floodlit night zip at AlvieMore info
Day out10 min driveThe Zip Trek at AlvieMore info
Day out10 min driveThe reindeer hill trip and lunch at the Pine Marten BarMore info
Day out10 min driveCarrbridge's packhorse bridge and a pint at the Cairn HotelMore info
Day out15 min driveUath Lochans and lunch in KincraigMore info
A walk25 min driveA walk up Creag Bheag from KingussieMore info
A walk25 min driveA walk round Anagach Woods from Grantown-on-SpeyMore info
A walk35 min driveThe Tomintoul Country Walk to Queen Victoria's ViewMore info
Day out40 min driveThe Linn of Quoich and lunch at Gordon's Tea RoomMore infoNot quite it?
Not every day out needs to be a big one. A castle and a café, a walk and lunch, a museum when it rains: one place, somewhere good to eat close by, and the time between worked out.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By train and on foot, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about four and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about five hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By Subway and on foot, about four hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By bus and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

By Subway and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By Subway and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By train and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two hours with lunch.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By Subway and train and on foot, about five hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By boat and on foot, about four hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about four hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By bus and on foot, about five hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about four and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about four hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By train and on foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By tram and on foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about four hours.

By car, about four and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about five and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By bike, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about three hours with Nardini's.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By Subway and on foot, about four hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about five hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By train and on foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.
By car, about two hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about four hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about four hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By car, about four hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

By car, about six hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours, with lunch.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about four hours.
Days out within an hour of where you are staying, nearest first.
Our writers’ own days out, from the places they know best.

A day by car, about 26 miles.

A day by car, about 110 miles.
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A few hours by car.
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A day by car, about 58 miles.
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A day on foot, about 3 miles.
The people we have met along the way, the makers, owners and writers, on the places they love most, in their own words.

“…stroll up to The Birks of Aberfeldy from The Memorial Arch, soaking up the woods and waterfalls that once inspired Rabbie Burns.”
Zanna Wilson, artist and gallerist who runs The Watermill Gallery in Aberfeldy, Perthshire

“My absolute favourite café with the best coffee in town.”
Lorna Freytag, artist and illustrator based in Oban, with a studio overlooking Oban Bay

“The best veggie and vegan breakfast around. Epic cakes and great coffee.”
Shelley Richmond, freelance photographer and creative based in Dervaig, Isle of Mull, who publishes The Isle of Mull Journal

“The breakfasts here are incredible.”
Karen Harvey, owner of Hoos and InHoos, two homeware shops on Great Western Road in Glasgow's West End

“We particularly love doing sections of the Fife Coastal Path, especially through the East Neuk villages of Crail, Anstruther, Pittenweem, St Monans and Elie.”
Joy and Nick, own Airdit, a woodland treehouse stay above St Andrews, Fife

“A visit to the Falls of Foyers is a must.”
Anna Low, co-owns and runs Foyers Lodge, a small boutique hotel overlooking Loch Ness

“I’m a big fan of the Isle of Raasay Distillery.”
Katy Fennema, whisky Ambassador at the Fife Arms Hotel in Braemar, and runs Braemar Highland Experience with her husband Julian

“…amazing panoramas all the way up to the Old Man of Storr.”
Calum Gillies and Leonie, artist Calum Gillies and his wife Leonie run The Exchange, a gallery and coffee spot in the old telephone exchange at Clachan, Isle of Raasay

“The Nethy House Café is a regular spot for lunch or coffee.”
Sarah and Phil, run The Lazy Duck, an off-grid eco-holiday site with cabins, a bunkhouse and a campsite in Nethybridge, Cairngorms National Park

“I would definitely recommend Arthur’s seat in Holyrood Park.”
Kirsty Campbell, knitwear designer from Banchory, Deeside, behind RYVOAN, who knits in her Edinburgh studio

“…the Old Man of Storr, Quiraing and Fairy Pools etc are all incredible natural wonders to see.”
Jennifer Pearson, jewellery designer and founder of ÒR, two creative retail stores in Portree, Isle of Skye

“Exploring the incredible beaches of Oldshoremore, Polin, Achmelvich, Sandwood Bay all within 30-40 minutes drive, all with their unique character.”
Catherine Sinclair, textile designer behind Cove*, who also runs Kylesku Lodges on the north-west coast

“Both are incredible ruined castles on the coastal cliffs and have such interesting history alongside spectacular views.”
Laura (Fernweh), designer and maker of waxed-canvas bags and accessories at Fernweh UK, with a studio at Deemouth Artist Studios in Aberdeen

“Leith hall, Drum Castle and Crathes Castle gardens are all personal favourites.”
Hollie Berries, sustainable florist running Hollie Berries Flower Studio and Cutting Garden in Aberdeenshire

“Blackford Hill is my very favourite spot in Edinburgh.”
Emily Hogarth, papercut artist and illustrator who lives in East Lothian and works for Edinburgh clients, including Hidden Scotland's folklore illustrations

“…head down to the Harbour for Lobster & chips at either ‘The Rocketeer’ or ‘The Lobster Shack’.”
Stephanie Lothian, co-owns The Barn at Williamstone Farm Steadings, a holiday cottage in North Berwick
Two days and more: the days joined up, with somewhere to sleep between.








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Every day out has a Customise button: give it your own name and date, say where you are staying, move or drop a stop, and keep it in your account to share with whoever is coming.