The Highlands of Scotland is a magical place famous for its remote beauty. Stretching from Fort William to the Isle of Skye it encompasses such areas as Inverness, Glen Coe, Loch Ness and the Cairngorms National Park.
We visited the Highlands of Scotland last year and really enjoyed exploring. However, the Highlands of Scotland is so vast it’s impossible to cover it all in one post so I am going to focus on the Cairngorms National Park and what to do in the area.
Activities
The Cairngorms National Park is the largest national park in the UK. It offers a wealth of outdoor activities such as walking and hiking, horseriding, climbing, white water rafting and skiing. You can organise these activities yourself or use an activity company where you can hire equipment such as Cairngorms Activities, or Active Outdoor Pursuits.
This area of the Scottish Highlands is also close to Loch Ness. If you want to go Nessie spotting, you won’t have far to drive, while Glen Coe, a stunning glen of volcanic origins, featured in films such as Skyfall and several Harry Potter movies is just over 60 miles away.
If you enjoy the outdoor life then this is the place to be. Let’s look further at the towns in the Cairngorms and what you can do there.
Towns
There are several small towns in the Cairngorms from Dalwhinnie, Newtonmore, and Kinguisse to Aviemore, the most well-known.
Dalwhinnie’s claim to fame is that it is one of the coldest villages in the UK. The town which is located at the head of Glen Truim is on the west of the Cairngorms National Park. Whilst you are here pop into the local distillery for a taste of delicious Scottish whiskey.
Newtonmore is a friendly village 14 miles away from Aviemore. This small town is in the centre of the Cairngorms National Park. Newtonmore is close to the excellent Highland Folk Museum which is well worth a visit if you are in the area. The Clan MacPherson museum is in the centre of town too. If you want to go on an organised activity then Active Outdoor Pursuits are based here.
Kingussie is a town on the River Spey. Close to Kingussie, there are many activities such as pony trekking, hiking and an 18-hole hillside golf course. It’s a lovely area for a base to go birdwatching or fishing too.
Aviemore is probably the best-known town in the Cairngorms. From here you can participate in a number of outdoor activities including climbing, biking and in the winter, snow sports. The Kinrara distillery is just outside town and is worth a visit for its award-winning gin. The funicular at the CairnGorm Mountain resort has great views of the Cairngorms Mountain range too and is a must-do.
Where To Stay
There are a number of small bed and breakfasts in the area, small and medium hotels, as well as luxury lodges in Aviemore.
The benefit of a Highland luxury lodge somewhere like Aviemore is that you have the space to relax and they come in all sizes from cosy places for 2 to larger properties that are especially good for families. You have the freedom to do what you want when you want, if you want breakfast at 11 then that’s your choice. You also have the benefit of a kitchen to prepare your meals, great to keep costs down, if you are on a special diet or for fussy eaters.
If you are visiting Scotland, it’s worth driving up the Highlands and exploring the Cairngorms. It’s an area of outstanding natural beauty, breathtaking mountains and glens, and amazing outdoor pursuits.
