Aviemore and Grantown: Northeastern Cairngorms

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.

Craigellachie, Aviemore 2.5km 1 hour Nethybridge riverside and Dell woods 3km 1 hour Ellan Woods, Carrbridge 3.5km 1 hour Viewpoints walk, Grantown-on-Spey 5km 1.5 hours Castle Roy circuit, Nethybridge 5.5km 1.5 hours Loch Morlich 6km 1.5 – 2 hours Loch an Eilein, Rothiemurchus 7km 2 hours Rothiemurchus and the Iron Bridge circuit 7km 2 hours Loch Garten and Garten woods 9km 2 – 2.5 hours Slochd to Carrbridge via Sluggan Bridge 9km 1.5 – 2 hours Anagach Woods and the River Spey, Grantown 11.5km 2.5 – 3.5 hours Revack Estate forest circuit 5.5km 1.5 – 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 Nethybridge 14.5km 4.5 – 5 hours Coire an Lochain 7km 2.5 – 4 hours Cairn Gorm and the northern corries 11km 5 – 6 hours Meall a Bhuachaille and Creagan Gorm 16km 5 – 7 hours Abernethy Forest and Ryvoan circuit 16km 5 – 6 hours Bynack More from Glenmore Lodge 19.5km 6 – 7 hours Beinn Mheadhoin via the Shelter Stone 19km 8 – 9 hours Braeriach, circuit from Whitewell 25.5km 9 – 11 hours Accommodation in this area: Grantown and Aviemore Hotels and Inns Grantown and Aviemore Bed and breakfast Grantown and Aviemore cottages Cairngorms Hostels Cairngorms campsites