National parks have always been among the most popular tourist destinations for vacationers. They combine the beauty of nature with facilities for activities such as hiking and camping. These parks are children- and family-oriented destinations, and are often frequented by families and other groups. Cairngorms National Park in Scotland is one such place that attracts over 1.4 million visitors annually. As 2013 has been denoted as the Year of Natural Scotland,  £2.31 million has been assigned to support over 25 projects in Cairngorms.These include the improvement of the paths around Glenlivet, Aviemore, Angus Glens and Glenmore. Once these paths have been refurbished, the pleasure of walking through this park will most cedrtainly increase.

cairngorm national park

Things to do in the Cairngorms

Enjoy a Nature Walk

Covering over 38000 square kms., this lovely national park is the largest in the UK, stretching  from the Angus Glens in the south to the Grantown-on-Spey in the north, and Laggan in the west to Ballater in the East. The size of this park can be determined by the fact that it covers over 10 % of Scotland. Walking through these parks is one of the most popular pastimes of the visitors to this park. Flanked by the Dee and the Spey rivers, there are trails which take the walkers through a varied landscape ranging from gardens to dense woods, from craggy hillside to rustling trees, and from river banks to high peaks. The rugged beauty of Scotland is very much in evidence in this upland plateau, with heather moor, sparkling glens, wild tundra on the high peaks of the mountains and some of Britain’s most endangered flora and fauna. Preservation of the environment is one of the most important aspects of this park, and one can see signs of the effort being made to preserve some of the regions special natural resources.

Experience History

There is so much to do at the Cairngorms that even a week does not seem to be enough to enjoy all the attractions. The Drumin Castle, the Mountain Garden and the Speyside centre are beautiful garden centres that offer the visitor a glimpse into the world of superb gardens. The other two castles in this park are the Blair and the Braiemar. These are ancient ruins that  stand as symbols of a long-gone era and as testimony to the resilience of the Scottish culture. The funding will also be used to improve the signages and the visitor sites in the Cairngorms.  There are many visitor attractions here such as the Highland Folk Museum at Newtonmore, and the Highland Pony Heritage Centre.

Take Part in Outdoor Activities

Water sports such as fishing, windsurfing, sailing, and windsurfing can be indulged in at the amazingly clean rivers and lochs in the park. Loch Insh and Lock Morlich have the finest dedicated water sports centres, and the spectacular natural vistas around them just make the experience even more fabulous. The National Park offers a choice of over 12 golf courses with 9 or 18 holes. Excellent clubhouse facilities, superb greens and the stunning natural beauty makes golfing one of the foremost attractions of the Cairngorms. If cycling is your choice of holiday activity, then here you can have access to over 64 kilometres of off-road routes and the National Cycle Network that cuts across this park. The roads are quiet and peaceful, and some of the best mountain cycling trails are also located within the park. The lovely inns and hotels that dot this countryside make it easy for the visitors to rest and enjoy their stay after a busy day.

Fiona writes for LHH Scotland, leading provider of luxury self-catering cottages throughout Scotland.