Hidden Scotland
Sign in
Cairngorms.
A large gnarled Scots pine stands on a sandy loch beach, straight pine trunks framing the view of the water beyond.

Getting to Cairngorms and around.

The trains, the roads and the high passes

The main transport hubs for the Park are Aviemore in the north and the towns of Royal Deeside in the east. Aviemore has a train station on the mainline between Inverness and the central belt, as well as a bus station. The A9 is the main road providing access to the western and northern parts of the Park, while the A93 serves the eastern side. Aberdeen and Inverness airports are the closest major airports.

A car is the most practical way to explore the vast expanse of the National Park and reach the trailheads for walks and more remote glens. The drive is part of the trip, on scenic routes like the Snow Roads, which connects the towns of Blairgowrie, Braemar, Ballater, and Grantown-on-Spey over some of the UK’s highest roads.

Public transport. Bus services connect the main towns within the Park, such as the Stagecoach service between Aberdeen and Braemar, and Citylink services along the A9 to Aviemore. These are useful for travelling between settlements, but services to the more remote parts of the Park are very limited or non-existent.

Driving and parking. Driving within the Park is a pleasure, but care is needed on smaller rural roads, where you may encounter wildlife like deer. Parking is available at all the main visitor sites, towns, and popular walking spots, though these can get very busy during peak season. In winter, conditions on the high roads like the A93 at Glenshee can be treacherous, and road closures are common. Always check conditions before travelling.

By train and bus

Aviemore and Kingussie are on the Highland main line between Perth and Inverness, with trains from Edinburgh and Glasgow and the Caledonian Sleeper from London.

Citylink coaches along the A9 stop in the same towns, and buses run up Deeside from Aberdeen to Ballater and Braemar.

By road and air

The A9 runs up the west side of the park to Aviemore, and the A93 climbs from Perth over the Cairnwell Pass at Glenshee to Braemar and Ballater.

The nearest airports are Inverness, for Speyside, and Aberdeen, for Deeside.

Getting around

A car makes the most of it, and the Snow Roads route links Braemar, Ballater, Tomintoul and Grantown-on-Spey over high moorland passes that can close in winter.

Buses run from Aviemore up to Glenmore, and there are trails and bikes to hire for the quieter corners.

The Cairngorms are well connected by road, rail, flight, and cycle routes. Inverness Airport and rail services link the region to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London. Once here, local trains and buses connect key towns like Aviemore and Ballater, though a car offers greater flexibility in remote areas. Cycling is also a popular option, with scenic routes stretching across the park.

The park features a remarkable range of landscapes, from rolling glens and ancient Caledonian forests to Scotland’s highest plateaux and 55 Munros (peaks above 3,000 ft). Trails vary from short family-friendly forest loops, such as around Loch an Eilein, to challenging high-level routes. Winter climbers and walkers should note that the Cairn Gorm massif mimics Arctic conditions at the top. Sudden weather changes are common, so navigational skills and preparedness for cold and wind are crucial.

The park is home to red deer, mountain hares, otters, pine martens and red squirrels, and to rarer birds such as golden eagles and ptarmigan. Near Loch an Eilein, birdwatchers often spot crested tits and redstart. The region is also home to the only free-roaming reindeer herd in the UK, reintroduced in the 1950s.

Aviemore is the base for families, with Cairn Gorm for skiing and Landmark Forest Adventure Park a short drive north at Carrbridge, with rides and play areas. The Lecht and Glenshee are the other ski hills. Loops like the Loch an Eilein trail include accessible paths and centres where visitors can learn about local nature. The year's events run from husky rallies in winter to whisky festivals.

Two nights is enough for a walk round Loch an Eilein and a day at Aviemore’s family attractions. A longer stay allows for hillwalking or mountain biking deeper in the park, sampling wildlife trails, and visiting distilleries, historic villages, and quieter glens for a broader experience.

Mobile phone coverage varies; offline maps are useful. Dogs are welcome on many trails, though restrictions may apply in wildlife areas or during high-season nesting. Wild camping is generally allowed under Scotland’s access rights but must follow rules to minimise impact. During winter, train schedules can change due to snow, so checking in advance is recommended. Parking at sites like Cairn Gorm, Loch an Eilein, and ski areas can fill quickly, especially in summer and winter seasons.

Photographs by denisbin, Peter Trimming, Joaquín Martínez and andersonsrestaurant; A Ch, Chris Bryson, charlie just charlie, S Drury, Scott K Marshall, Iain Johnson, Simon Drury and Mike Grant via Google

More of Cairngorms.

A ruined castle sits on a small island in a loch, glimpsed between bare branches and autumn-gold trees on the near shore.See and doReindeer, royal castles and island ruinsA modern black-clad building's covered patio holds a bistro table and chairs, forest rising behind.Eat, drink and shopMountain cafés, Braemar bars and bakeriesA landscape view of Park Cottage in the snow, its windows lit, forest and a white hill behind.Where to stayCottages, farmhouses and estate hideawaysRuined castle on a small loch island beneath low mistHistory and storiesComyns, the Wolf of Badenoch, Jacobites and VictoriaA stone humpback bridge crossing a river, banked by autumn woodland with a bare tree standing pale against the sky beyond.ItinerariesDays we have driven, stop by stopA reindeer with large branching antlers walks along a boardwalk towards the camera, another reindeer following through the moorland grass behind.What is on in CairngormsSomething new from the Cairngorms every day