walkhighlands

Aviemore and Grantown: Northeastern Cairngorms


aviemore

This is the best known part of the Cairngorms National Park with two contrasting centres: the modern resort of Aviemore and the fine old town of Grantown-on-Spey. With a huge variety of scenery on offer and alternative villages such as Nethy Bridge and Carrbridge, the area has become hugely popular.

Cairn Gorm itself is only the northernmost high summit on a vast, arctic plateau. This is the snowiest part of Britain; a fragile, challenging wilderness for the fittest. The lower slopes are clothed with the magnificent Caledonian pinewoods of Rothiemurchus and Abernethy, the most extensive original forest remnants in the country. These offering endless walking opportunities at lower levels together with superlative wildlife, from the famous Ospreys of Loch Garten to the elusive Capercaillie.

Accommodation


Walk Grade Distance Time
Craigellachie, Aviemore 2.5km 1 hour
Nethy Bridge riverside and Dell woods 3km 1 hour
Ellan Wood, Carrbridge 3.5km 1 hour
Viewpoints walk, Grantown-on-Spey 5km 1.5 hours
Castle Roy circuit, Nethy Bridge 5.5km 1.5 hours
Loch Morlich 6km 1.5 - 2 hours
Beachen Wood, Grantown-on-Spey 6.25km 1 - 1.5 hours
Loch an Eilein, Rothiemurchus 7km 2 hours
Rothiemurchus Forest and the Iron Bridge 7km 2 hours
Slochd to Carrbridge via Sluggan Bridge 9km 1.5 - 2 hours
Loch Garten and Garten woods 9km 2 - 2.5 hours
River Spey and woodland walk, Boat of Garten 9.75km 2.5 - 3 hours
Anagach Woods and the River Spey, Grantown 11.5km 2.5 - 3.5 hours
Revack Estate forest circuit 4km 1 - 1.5 hours
Torr Alvie and the Duke of Gordon Monument 5.25km 2 hours
Coire an t-Sneachda 6km 2 - 3 hours
Carrbridge and Docharn circuit 7.5km 2 - 2.5 hours
Ryvoan and Lochan Uaine circuit 10km 2 - 3 hours
Ryvoan Pass - Glenmore to Nethy Bridge 14.5km 4.5 - 5 hours
Coire an Lochain 7km 2.5 - 4 hours
Geal-charn Mor, from Lynwilg 12.5km 3 - 4.5 hours
Meall a Bhuachaille and Creagan Gorm 16km 5 - 7 hours
Creagan a' Chaise, Cromdale Hills 16km 4 - 5 hours
Abernethy Forest and Ryvoan circuit 16km 5 - 6 hours
Bynack More from Glenmore Lodge 19.5km 6 - 7 hours
Carn a' Ghille Charr, Cromdale Hills 10.5km 3.5 - 4.5 hours
Cairn Gorm and the northern corries 11km 5 - 6 hours
Geal Charn, from Dorback Lodge near Nethy Bridge 13.25km 3.5 - 4 hours
Ben Macdui and Cairngorm 17.5km 6 - 8 hours
Beinn Mheadhoin via the Shelter Stone 19km 8 - 9 hours
Braeriach, circuit from Whitewell 25.5km 9 - 11 hours
Lairig an Laoigh 29km 8 - 10 hours
Creag Mhor and Loch Avon, from Glenmore 29.25km 8 - 10 hours
Lairig Ghru 30.5km 8 - 10 hours
Cairn Toul - Braeriach traverse 36km 13 hours or 2 Days
The Dava Way 38km 3 stages
The Speyside Way 107km 6 stages

Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is each walkers' responsibility to check it and navigate using a map and compass.