Cairngorms National Park in Scotland

Scotland is particularly well known for its endless green landscapes, full of beauty and wildlife. It is the perfect place to escape from busy cities and to feel at one with nature. In the northeastern part of Scotland, you can find a true wonder of nature, the largest national park in the British Isles called Cairngorms National Park, which covers an area of 4,528 km2. 

This national park is also the perfect place for walking, cycling, mountain biking, climbing, and canoeing; but the main activity visitors do, is skiing. Cairngorms National Park is the skiing paradise, and it has three different resorts and the majority of the people from the UK come to ski in the Cairngorms. Five of the UK’s highest mountains can be found in this park alongside 55 mountains over 3,000 ft called Monros. You can also find a vast, tundra-like wilderness plateau. If you are a whiskey fan, this is the place where you can try local whiskeys and explore some of the country’s distilleries.

Hit the slopes in Cairngorm

Cairngorms National Park, Aviemore PH22 1RB, UK

There aren’t cities or big towns in Cairngorms, just small towns and rural areas. You can find different bed and breakfast options hotels, hostels, and camping sites. Wild camping is always an option for those who seek adventure and have the suitable gear. Aviemore is the biggest town and main center of the area offering many services including ski hire shops, restaurants, groceries cafes, a train station and different options for accommodation. 

Cairngorms National Park is huge, so I recommend making a list of the things to do and a plan in terms of the itinerary to make the most of the visit. Like every other part in Scotland, you will see plenty of waterfalls, rolling streams, and lochs. There is a beautiful lake hidden in the forest of Rothiemurchus, called Loch An Eilen (which means loch of the island) about 5 km south of Aviemore. In the middle of the loch, on a natural island, are ruins of a small 14th-century castle which was probably built as a place of refuge from thieves and threatening activities. This lake was also voted as the best picnic spot in the UK, and there are different beautiful paths sheltered by ancient pine trees with views of the mountains. Take a walk, make a picnic around the lake, or go cycling and enjoy the green and the animals which live there. 

Loch An Eilen in the forest of Rothiemurchus

Loch an Eilein, Aviemore PH22, Reino Unido

There are a wide range of beautiful places to visit and amazing experiences you can have in Scotland, and Cairngorms National Park has many of them in just one place. Plan your trip and do not miss this wild natural Scottish park, which is only 2 hours away from Edinburgh!