5 Things to do in Aviemore
Aviemore, located in the Cairngorm National Park, is the outdoor capital of the highlands where you can walk in amongst the mountains and forestry, go up the ski slopes and explore nature at its finest.
There are many great things to do in Aviemore, ranging from short walking trails to longer Munro’s or taking part in some watersports. In this guide, we will be sharing 5 of our favourite things to do in Aviemore.
Visit the Green Loch
An Lochan Uaine, also known as the Green Loch, is hidden in amongst the Caledonian pines at the bottom of the mountain Sgor, a short walk from the Glenmore Visitor Centre. The deep turquoise colour of the water gives the Green Loch its name. This colour most likely comes from the algae that is present in the water, as well as the reflection of the surrounding green pine trees.
To get there, we would recommend parking at or nearby the Glenmore Visitor Centre. If you are facing the visitor centre, there is a road to your right that runs adjacent to the main road. Walk along this road, or the forestry pathway that runs alongside it until you reach a gate.
Pass through the gate and the ground underfoot will become a little bit stoney but the views that open up when you pass through here are spectacular. After around a 20 minute walk, you will see a small entrance to your right leading to the Green Loch.
If you are up for walking a bit further, the Green Loch is the start of the walk for Meall a’ Bhuachaille. This corbett is 810m high however, so make sure you are prepared.
Explore The Cairngorm Reindeer Centre
The Cairngorm Reindeer Centre is one of the most popular attractions in the Cairngorm National Park. Located just outside of Aviemore is the centre where you can purchase tickets to see the reindeer in the paddocks or tickets for the hill tour to see them out in the wild on the Cairngorm Mountains.
The Cairngorm Reindeer tours are held in Glenmore in the Cairngorm National Park. Reindeer were re-introduced to the Cairngorm Mountains in 1952, where they were once native after a number of causes had reduced them to extinction in the UK. The Cairngorms is the only sub-arctic habitat in the UK which is why they were brought here to be where they can thrive. Today there are over 150 reindeer in the herd and they have 10,000 acres upon the mountainsides to graze upon.
There are two options to see the reindeer, in the paddocks at the centre or on the hills on a guided hill tour. We would highly recommend, if you are able to, to go on the hill tour as you will have a much more unique experience.
Of course, the other option could be to go hiking yourself and see the reindeer living in the wild, however you are not guaranteed to see them this way.
A ticket for the hill trip includes entry to the paddocks. Prices are below:
Adults (17+) – £22
Students/Seniors – £18.50
Children – £15
Age 2 and under are free.
Watersports at Loch Morlich
This is a hugely popular activity for people of all ages in Aviemore. The beautiful Loch Morlich sits amongst the ancient Rothiemurchas forest and is overlooked by the Cairngorm mountain range. Surrounded by towering mountains and mystical forests, Loch Morlich is the perfect spot for a day out in the sunshine.
Whether you are more inclined to spend your day relaxing on the beach, walking along the water’s edge, or taking the plunge and getting wet, Loch Morlich has it all. The huge range of watersports available includes kayaking, sailing and paddle boarding. For £28 you can rent a two person kayak, all buoyancy aids included.
Walk around Loch An Eilein
Sitting on the outskirts of Aviemore in a small place called Rothiemurchus lies a beautiful loch called Loch an Eilein.
There is a beautiful nature trail following the route around the loch, sheltered underneath the pine trees. This 3 mile walk is mainly flat and suitable for those at a beginner’s level to long walks. Be mindful that some of the walk can be walking over tree roots that are growing out of the ground. Follow the trail around the loch, enjoying the lovely views of the surrounding mountains. What makes this loch unique is the small castle mounted in the middle of the loch. This dates back to…
It is £1.50 per adult to park here and 50p for children. You can pay per car also for £4.50.
There is a large car park and if you are new to the area, you are offered a map and small information guide.
Hike Meall a’ Bhuachaille
Meall a’ Bhuachaille is a mountain in the Cairngorms, located 10km outside of Aviemore in Glenmore. This Corbett sits just short of a munro at a height of 810 metres.
The looped trail is 8.7km and takes around 2-3 hours to complete, allowing you to take in the Cairngorm scenery from a less intimidating mountain to most in that area. There is a lot of different terrain on this walk, however breathtaking views all around.
So there you have it, 5 things to do in Aviemore. If you have visited Aviemore recently, let us know what you thought of it! It is one of our favourite places to visit in Scotland and we would love to hear what you got up to there!
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