Photo of the Cairngorms, a National Park in Scotland.

CairngormsPhoto James Montgomerie / Unsplash

Places to explore near Aviemore

Aviemore sits in Strathspey at the foot of the Cairngorms, a Victorian railway village turned outdoor base for Scotland's highest and most arctic mountains. The ancient Caledonian pinewood of Rothiemurchus spreads south from the town, sheltering Loch an Eilein and its island castle. The road climbs past Loch Morlich and its beach to the ski grounds and funicular of Cairn Gorm, while ospreys nest each summer at Loch Garten in the pines to the north-east.

Aviemore sits inside the Cairngorms National Park. 82 places within 25 km — the standouts first, nearest first within each group. 2 are national icons.

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Worth the tripnational icons and local highlights within reach

Photo of the Cairngorm Mountains, a National Scenic Area in Scotland.

The Cairngorm Mountains

National Scenic Area near Aviemore

Britain's high sub-Arctic plateau.

0.1 km NE

Photo of Strathspey Steam Railway, a visitor attraction near Aviemore in the Cairngorms, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Strathspey Steam Railway

Attraction near Aviemore

Heritage steam line running the ten miles between Aviemore, Boat of Garten and Broomhill in 1950s style.

0.6 km S

Photo of Rothiemurchus Estate, a visitor attraction near Aviemore in the Cairngorms, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Rothiemurchus Estate

Attraction near Aviemore

Working Highland estate of pinewood, farm and river near Aviemore offering trails, a farm shop and outdoor activities.

3.6 km SE

Photo of Loch an Eilein, a loch near Aviemore in the Cairngorms, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Loch an Eilein

Loch near Aviemore

A ruined island castle stands in this Rothiemurchus loch, ringed by ancient Cairngorm pinewood and a much-loved shore path.

5.4 km S

Photo of Loch Morlich, a loch near Aviemore in the Cairngorms, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Loch Morlich

Loch near Aviemore

Ringed by Scots pine with a rare mountain beach, this Cairngorms loch lies below the plateau near Aviemore.

7.7 km SE

Photo of Loch Morlich Beach, a beach near Aviemore in the Cairngorms, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Loch Morlich Beach

Beach near Aviemore

Sandy freshwater beach on the shore of Loch Morlich in Glenmore Forest, ringed by pines beneath the Cairngorms.

8.2 km SE

Photo of Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, a visitor attraction near Aviemore in the Cairngorms, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Cairngorm Reindeer Centre

Attraction near Aviemore

Home of Britain's only free-ranging reindeer herd at Glenmore, with guided hill trips to meet the animals.

8.7 km E

Photo of Landmark Forest Adventure Park, a visitor attraction near Carrbridge, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Landmark Forest Adventure Park

Attraction near Carrbridge

Woodland theme park at Carrbridge with water coasters, treetop trails, a tower and adventure play among the pines.

9.4 km N

Photo of Cairngorm Mountain, a visitor attraction near Aviemore in the Cairngorms, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Cairngorm Mountain

Attraction near Aviemore

Ski and visitor area above Loch Morlich with a funicular railway, mountain exhibition and snow-sports slopes.

11.5 km SE

Photo of Uath Lochans, a loch near Kincraig in the Cairngorms, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Uath Lochans

Loch near Kincraig

Cluster of small lochans in Glen Feshie near Kincraig with a short trail to the Farletter crag viewpoint over Strathspey.

12.6 km SW

Photo of Highland Wildlife Park, a visitor attraction near Kincraig in the Cairngorms, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Highland Wildlife Park

Attraction near Kincraig

Drive-through and walk-round wildlife park at Kincraig with polar bears, wildcats and other cold-climate species.

13.1 km SW

Photo: Cairn Gorm, a 1,245m Munro near Aviemore in the Cairngorms, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Cairn Gorm

Munro near Aviemore

Ski-served summit above Rothiemurchus.

14 km SE

Photo: Sgor Gaoith, a 1,116m Munro near Kincraig in the Cairngorms, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Sgor Gaoith

Munro · Marilyn near Kincraig

A Cairngorm Munro whose broad grassy top ends abruptly at cliffs falling to Loch Einich far below

14.1 km S

Photo: Braeriach, a 1,296m Munro near Aviemore in the Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.

Braeriach

Munro · Marilyn near Aviemore

The third-highest mountain in Britain, a huge Cairngorms plateau ringed by deep corries and cut off from the nearest road by a long walk in

14.3 km SE

Photo: Sgor an Lochain Uaine, a 1,258m Munro in the Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.

Sgor an Lochain Uaine

The Angel's Peak, a remote high Cairngorm Munro standing right beside Cairn Toul

16.4 km S · Aberdeenshire

Photo: Ben Macdui, a 1,309m Munro in the Cairngorms, Moray, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Ben Macdui

Munro · Marilyn

Scotland's second-highest mountain.

16.8 km SE · Moray

Photo: Beinn Mheadhoin, a 1,183m Munro in the Cairngorms, Moray, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Beinn Mheadhoin

Munro · Marilyn

A remote Cairngorms Munro whose broad summit plateau is studded with granite tors, the highest needing a scramble to stand on

17 km SE · Moray

Photo: Cairn Toul, a 1,292m Munro in the Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.

Cairn Toul

Munro · Marilyn

The fourth-highest mountain in Britain, a shapelier Cairngorms summit set deep in the range with a long walk in from any side

17.1 km SE · Aberdeenshire

Photo: Derry Cairngorm, a 1,156m Munro in the Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.

Derry Cairngorm

A rough, boulder-strewn Munro deep in the Cairngorms, usually paired with Ben Macdui on the long walk out from Glen Derry

19.2 km SE · Aberdeenshire

Photo: Monadh Mor, a 1,113m Munro in the Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.

Monadh Mor

A broad, flat-topped Munro deep in the Cairngorms, remote enough that the long walk in is most of the day's work

19.3 km S · Aberdeenshire

Photo: The Devil's Point, a 1,007m Munro in the Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.

The Devil's Point

A steep rocky peak above the Lairig Ghru pass in the Cairngorms, its Gaelic name a good deal ruder than the English

19.6 km SE · Aberdeenshire

Photo: Anagach Woods, a viewpoint near Grantown-on-Spey in the Cairngorms, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Anagach Woods

Viewpoint near Grantown-on-Spey

Community pinewoods on the edge of Grantown-on-Spey, with waymarked walks, red squirrels and capercaillie habitat.

20.9 km NE

Photo: Beinn Bhrotain, a 1,157m Munro in the Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.

Beinn Bhrotain

Munro · Marilyn

A big remote granite Munro deep in the southern Cairngorms, above the upper reaches of Glen Dee

21.5 km S · Aberdeenshire

Photo of Highland Folk Museum, a visitor attraction near Newtonmore in the Cairngorms, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Highland Folk Museum

Attraction near Newtonmore

Open-air museum at Newtonmore with reconstructed Highland township, croft and farm buildings across a mile-long site.

21.9 km SW

Photo: Beinn a' Bhuird, a 1,196m Munro near Braemar in the Cairngorms, Moray, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Beinn a' Bhuird

Munro · Marilyn near Braemar

A vast flat-topped Cairngorm plateau with big corries cut into its eastern edge, remote and a long walk from anywhere

23 km SE

Photo of RSPB Loch Ruthven, a nature reserve near Tomatin, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

RSPB Loch Ruthven

Nature reserve near Tomatin

Reedy hill loch reserve south of Inverness, the UK's key breeding site for the rare Slavonian grebe, with a hide.

24.1 km NW

Photo of Deeside and Lochnagar, a National Scenic Area in north east Scotland.

Deeside and Lochnagar

National Scenic Area near Braemar

High granite mountains and old pine woods above the River Dee — big, serious hill country

24.2 km SE

Also nearbygood places nearby, nearest first

Photo along the Speyside Way, a long-distance trail running from Buckie to Newtonmore, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Speyside Way

Scotland's Great Trail

Follow whisky country's river from the Moray coast into the Cairngorms, distillery by distillery.

0.2 km W · Moray & Highland

Aviemore

The busy resort capital of the Cairngorms and a rail town, base for the mountain, Rothiemurchus pinewoods and Loch Morlich.

0.4 km S · Highland

Cairngorm Brewery

Brewery near Aviemore

Aviemore craft brewery founded in 2001, brewing Wild Cat and Stag ales, with a shop and tours.

0.7 km E

Rothiemurchus Farm Shop

Farm & farm shop near Aviemore

Estate farm shop near Aviemore selling Rothiemurchus-reared Highland beef and venison, a deli counter and local produce.

3.6 km SE

Photo of Cairngorms, a National Nature Reserve near Aviemore, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Cairngorms

National Nature Reserve near Aviemore

A National Nature Reserve in Highland.

4.2 km S

Geal-charn Mor

Corbett · Marilyn near Kincraig

A Corbett — a Scottish hill of 2,500 to 3,000 ft.

6.1 km W

Photo of Abernethy, a National Nature Reserve near Nethy Bridge in the Cairngorms, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Abernethy

National Nature Reserve near Nethy Bridge

A National Nature Reserve in Highland.

6.4 km E

Photo of The Boat Hotel, a pub near Boat of Garten in the Cairngorms, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

The Boat Hotel

Pub near Boat of Garten

Station-side hotel bar at Boat of Garten with a wide malt whisky range and real ale beside the steam railway.

7.4 km NE

Boat of Garten

Spey-side village known as the 'Osprey Village' for nearby Loch Garten, and a stop on the Strathspey steam railway.

8 km NE · Highland

Everything else within 25 km (46) — reserves, earthworks & places to check before travelling

Loch GartenLoch9 km NE
Meall a' BhuachailleCorbett9.4 km E
CarrbridgeVillage9.7 km N
Leault Working SheepdogsAttraction9.8 km SW
The Cairn HotelPub9.8 km N
Insh Church (Kirk of Insh)Church10 km SW
Loch InshLoch11 km SW
Nethy BridgeVillage12.8 km NE
Nethybridge HotelPub12.9 km NE
Loch EinichLoch14.1 km S
Bynack MoreMunro15.9 km SE
Carn Glas-choireGraham16.1 km N
Speyside DistilleryDistillery17.3 km SW
The Cairn DistilleryDistillery17.4 km NE
Creag Mhor (Moray)Corbett18 km SE
Carn an FhreiceadainCorbett18.1 km W
The Tipsy LairdPub18.5 km SW
KingussieVillage18.6 km SW
Beinn a' Chaorainn (Aberdeenshire)Munro18.8 km SE
The Duke of Gordon HotelPub18.8 km SW
Geal Charn (Highland, 821m)Corbett19.2 km E
Tomatin DistilleryDistillery19.5 km NW
Dava WayScotland's Great Trail19.8 km NE
Grantown-on-SpeyVillage19.8 km NE
Carn a' MhaimMunro20.3 km SE
Mullach Clach a' BhlairMunro20.4 km S
The Winking OwlPub0.1 km NW
The Cairngorm HotelPub0.5 km S
CraigellachieNational Nature Reserve0.6 km W
The Old Bridge InnPub0.7 km S
The Pine Marten BarPub2.9 km SE
Sauna CairngormsSauna3.8 km SW
Ord BanMarilyn4.6 km S
Loch an Eilein CastleCastleaccess unclear5.1 km S
Kincardine Old ChurchChurch6.8 km NE
GlenmoreNational Nature Reserve7.3 km SE
Invereshie and InshriachNational Nature Reserve8 km S
KincraigVillage8.7 km SW
Alvie Parish ChurchChurch9.9 km SW
Insh MarshesNational Nature Reserve11.6 km SW
Abernethy ChurchChurch12.9 km NE
Duthil ChurchChurch13.1 km N
Mar Lodge EstateNational Nature Reserve13.8 km SE
Beinn Mhor (Highland)Marilyn17.8 km NE
St Columba's Church, KingussieChurch18.9 km SW
Creag BheagMarilyn19 km SW

Ordered by how far each place is worth travelling for, then by distance. Distances are straight-line to the nearest edge of each place — paths wind, of course.