10 Best hikes and trails in Cairngorms National Park

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Scotland/
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Cairngorms National Park

Best trails in Cairngorms National Park

4.4(28,406 reviews)

Scotland
:
#2 of 2 national parks

Situated around the mountain range of the same name, the Cairngorms National Park is a striking natural landscape. The area is characterized by lakes, rivers, moors, and enormous Munros (mountains above 914 meters in height).

Visitors flock to the park for a variety of activities, including walking, cycling, mountain biking, climbing, and canoeing. The park contains nine National Nature Reserves within its boundaries. As with all large natural areas in the UK, visitors here are sure to see a variety of birds and unique vegetation.

Top trails

#1 - Meall a' Bhuachaille

Meall a' Bhuachaille is easily accessible and has the benefit of great paths to the summit and superb views. This is a chance to experience the beauty and wildness of the Cairngorms. This walk offers great variety, with ancient Caledonian pine forests, lochs, and a windswept ridge. Starting from the Glenmore Visitor Centre near Loch Morlich you will first pass the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre which has daily guided mountainside visits to feed and stroke the UK's only wild reindeer herd. It is...

#2 - Loch an Eilein Loop

This beautiful woodland trail takes you round Loch an Eilein and through the Rothiemurchus Forest. There are great views over the lochan, to the castle on its island. This castle dates to the 13th century and was perhaps once connected by a causeway to the bank. Keep an eye out for wildlife as you make your way through the forest, including red squirrels, and deer. Take care on the rougher sections of this trail, especially in wetter conditions. Appropriate footwear is advised. It is also...

This is a shorter choice of routes that takes in the cairns of Balmoral (see Crathie, Easter Balmoral and Cairns Circular for a longer route, starting at the same trailhead). This trail takes in the cairns of Princess Beatrice, Prince Albert, Princess Helena, Prince Louise, and Prince Leopold, with an optional extension to see Prince Arthur's cairn. There is a fee to enter the grounds in the summer. For more information, please visit https://www.balmoralcastle.com/options.htm. It's a...

#4 - Glen Clova Mayar and Driesh Circular

This is an easy trail to begin with, although when you get to the back of Corrie Fee trail can be a little tricky, stout footwear is advised along here. After this section, the trail becomes easy once again. The start of the trail follows the historic Jocks Road, the history of which is closely entwined with the history of land access rights in Scotland. The views along the Corrie Fee alone are worth the hike but add in the views from both Mayar and Driesh and it makes a truly special day...

#5 - Carn Aosda, Carn a'Gheoidh, The Cairnwell

This route takes in 3 Munros in a single hike. The route starts in the Glenshee Ski Centre and makes its way up to the first Munro, Carn Aosda which requires a short out and back before continuing along the ridge to the furthest Munro, Carn a'Gheoidh. The trail then doubles back to reach The Cairnwell and the final Munro in this hike. The fact that this trail starts at 650 meters above sea level means there is relatively little climbing to be done before you reach your first munro. This...

#6 - Ben Macdui Summit

4.6(441)

•Hard

•10.0 mi

This challenging out-and-back hike will take you to the summit of Ben Macdui, Scotland's second-highest mountain. For a long time it was thought that Ben MAcdui was indeed the tallest, and when it was discovered that Ben Nevis tops be just a few meters, the idea of building a large cairn, so that Macdui could regain its crown as the highest peak, was considered. The summit of this mountain is said to be haunted by the mysterious Grey Man of Ben Macdui, a tall, shadowy figure that is said...

Loch Morlich has a bit of something for everyone. The sandy beach is a great spot to relax, and offers a variety of water sports, the loch is relatively shallow so warms up faster than a lot of other highland lochs, and the wood around the loch are crossed by a number of beautiful trails. The nearby reindeer centre also offers a chance to get close to these beautiful animals, as well as hill days to see Britain's only wild herd, and the visitor centre has information about the Norwegian...

This beautiful woodland is home to red squirrel and deer, as well as a wonderful variety of bird life. Lochain Uaine itself has a stunning green colour to the water, the name itself means Green Lochan in Scots Gaelic. This is a relatively easy walk on well-maintained paths, perfect for a family day out. There are benches by the lochan to sit and enjoy the view, and early in the walk, you will pass the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, where you can see these wonderful animals up close. The...

#9 - Ben Macdui, Stob Coire an t-Sneachda, Cairn Gorm Circular

4.8(515)

•Hard

•11.0 mi

This is a fantastic trail heading up to Ben Macdui, and visiting Stob Coire an t-Sneachda and Cairn Gorm on the back to the trailhead. Not to be underestimated, this trail takes you over very rough terrain and in poor weather conditions this route becomes increasingly difficult to navigate. The weather changes rapidly on these exposed mountains with frequent high winds and low clouds, so please come prepared with the appropriate footwear, warm layers, food and water, and a downloaded...

#10 - Bruar Gorge and the Falls of Bruar

This beautiful trail will take you along the Bruar Gorge and to the Upper Bruar Falls where you will be treated to beautiful views of the river and the distant Cairngorms. First made famous by Rabbie Burns, who visited in 1787 and was so inspired by the beauty of the place who wrote the poem 'Humble Petition of the Bruar Water'. The 4th Duke of Atholl later memorialised Burns by constructing the trail, and viewing platforms, and creating a nature garden. The slight incline can be a...

Showing results 1–10 of 437

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Top Picks in Cairngorms National Park

8 trails

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Trail reviews for Cairngorms National Park

36,381 trailgoers Busiest in May

Gayle Flynn

May 28, 2025•Hiking

Easy to parkNot crowdedBathrooms availableDog-friendlyGreat conditionsGreat views

Lovely walk around the loch with a bar at the end for a refreshing drink. Great views of the Cairngorms .

Loch Morlich

Andy Tindale

May 10, 2025•Hiking

Easy to parkNot crowdedDog-friendlyGreat conditionsGreat views

A relatively simple hike, on the start of the final ascent up Ben Macdui the ground in just boulders but you can follow the cairns to keep to the path. Following the ridge over to cairngorms can look a little sketchy in places and it is a straight drop although I followed a slightly lower path. The final climb up cairngorms is probably the steepest section of the day. It is half steps half boulders but once the hit the cairn by the weather station it is all down hill from there!

Parking: Paid, Large lot

Ben Macdui, Stob Coire an t-Sneachda, Cairn Gorm Circular

Christopher Whetham

May 10, 2025•Hiking

Easy to parkGreat conditionsGreat views

Beautiful trail, it’s a typical Cairngorms hike with the long walk in. Flat and easy to get the legs warmed up, then a long ascent, sometimes steep in places. Easy to follow and well laid out, great hike!

Invermark and Mount Keen

Alexandra Bennett

Apr 22, 2025•Hiking

Easy to parkGreat views

Easy to follow path. Steep in places, but the views across the Cairngorms are worth the effort. Really interesting trail with a number of cairns, the famous Balmoral Pyramid, and statue. Also lots of deer in the woods, which was lovely to see. Easy to park and well sign-posted.

Difficulty: Moderate

Balmoral Cairns

Paul Clark

Apr 6, 2025•Hiking

Easy to parkNot crowdedDog-friendlyGreat conditionsGreat views

Lovely day on a great route, paths are superb all the way as you’d expect in the Cairngorms NP. Most of the route is on a flat ish path then a short, steep pull up to the summit with stunning view around the Cairngorm giants.

Difficulty: Moderate

Linn of Dee and Càrn a' Mahaim

Paul Whalen

Apr 4, 2025•Hiking

Easy to parkNot crowdedGreat conditionsGreat views

Great trio of munros in the southern cairngorms. Easy to find and plenty parking (£5 charge by card/cash) Paths well maintained but the walkout is long and a little boggy.

Conditions: Well maintained

Loch Moraig, Carn Liath, and Càrn nan Gabhar Circular

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Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to hike in Cairngorms National Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Cairngorms National Park is Meall a' Bhuachaille, which has a 4.8 star rating from 1,300 reviews. This trail is 5.4 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,984 ft.

What is the longest trail in Cairngorms National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Cairngorms National Park is Aberdeen to Glasgow Trail. This trail is estimated to be 268.0 mi long.

How many trails are in Cairngorms National Park?

There are 437 trails in Cairngorms National Park. These trails have an average 4.4-star rating from 28,406 AllTrails community reviews.

Which trail has the most elevation gain in Cairngorms National Park?

If you're looking for elevation gain, Cairngorms National Park has you covered. Aberdeen to Glasgow Trail boasts the most elevation gain with 33,763 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Cairngorms Circular, which will get you 25,764 ft of elevation gain.

Are there camping trails available in Cairngorms National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 72 camping trails in Cairngorms National Park and the most popular is Loch Morlich with an average 4.5 star rating from 595 community reviews.

Are there running trails available in Cairngorms National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 311 running trails in Cairngorms National Park and the most popular is Meall a' Bhuachaille with an average 4.8 star rating from 1,300 community reviews.

Are there biking trails available in Cairngorms National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 103 biking trails in Cairngorms National Park and the most popular is Loch Morlich with an average 4.5 star rating from 595 community reviews.