Craigellachie – The Crag behind Aviemore
About 2.8 miles on foot.
Craigellachie is the crag that rises straight behind Aviemore, covered in birch and topped with bare rock.
A steep path climbs through the nature reserve to a viewpoint on its rim, where the village lies below you and the pinewoods of Rothiemurchus and Glenmore run out to the Northern Corries of the Cairngorms. It's about two hours there and back, for walkers who are steady on rough, rocky ground.
- Time
- About two hours: the National Park's Viewpoint Trail, 4.5 km there and back from the south end of Aviemore to the viewpoint on the rim of Craigellachie. A small hill, graded strenuous.
- The path
- Rocky paths with prolonged steep sections, several uneven stages of bare rock and steps; muddy in places after rain.
- Where to start
- A small free car park beside Aviemore Youth Hostel on Grampian Road, at the foot of the path; the village's pay car park is half a mile up the street, beyond the station.
- Set off
- From November to January, set off by 1pm to be down in daylight.
- When to go
- All year in daylight and clear weather. From November to January set off by 1pm. Not in low cloud, snow or ice.
- Dogs
- Under close control.
- Children
- A steep, rocky climb for older children who walk well. The Lochan Trail round Loch Puladdern at the foot of the crag is smooth and short, and suits small children and pushchairs.
- Toilets
- Public toilets in the village, with a charge; none in the reserve.
- Before you set out
- Steep and rocky, and the rim is open to the wind: not for low cloud, snow or ice.
The walk
The path starts at the south end of Grampian Road, Aviemore's main street, beside the youth hostel and about ten minutes on foot from the railway station. A small free car park stands beside the hostel at the foot of the path. If it's full, the village's pay car park is half a mile up Grampian Road, beyond the station. The way into Craigellachie National Nature Reserve is the underpass beneath the A9, and a small loch, Loch Puladdern, lies just inside. The Cairngorms National Park gives its Viewpoint Trail as 4.5 km there and back and allows two hours.
It grades the walk strenuous, with long steep stretches on rocky paths, bare rock and steps, and mud after rain. The climb is through birch woods, then out onto open heather along the rim of the crag. From the viewpoint Aviemore lies below, with the dark pinewoods of Rothiemurchus and Glenmore behind it and the Northern Corries of the Cairngorms on the skyline. "Stand fast, Craigellachie" was the battle cry of Clan Grant. Peregrines and buzzards hunt along the crag. The rim is open to the wind, so take a windproof layer and leave it for another day in low cloud, snow or ice.
From November to January, set off by 1pm to be down in daylight. Keep dogs under close control. The nearest public toilets are in the village, and they take a small charge.
If it rains
The rock is slippery when wet and the view goes in low cloud, so this is not a walk for a wet day. The Lochan Trail at the foot of the crag is the short choice, a smooth 800 metres round Loch Puladdern through the birches.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Park Cottage in Kincraig, 4 miles away. Sleeps 6; next free Fri 23 Oct to Sun 25 Oct.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by sally amazon via Google