Cairngorms, See, and Do

Cairngorms National Park, the largest in Britain

Twice the size of the Lake District, the Cairngorms National Park has more
mountains, forest paths, rivers, lochs, wildlife hotspots, friendly villages, sporting attractions and distilleries than you can imagine.

*Mother Nature dealt the Cairngorms a handful of aces. That’s not fair, but that’s how it is. Five of the UK’s six highest mountains lie inside the park, and there are 55 Munros - mountains over 3,000 ft. There are huge forests of ancient native trees, cascading waterfalls, and more wildlife than you can shake a capercaillie at.

More people come to the Cairngorms for snowsports than at any other resort in the UK. Hillwalkers and rock climbers will never run out of routes to try. There are oodles of top-class mountain bike trails, cross-country skiing trails, pony treks and orienteering courses. Should you be into husky racing, well, you can do that here, too. You can also enjoy some downtime amid the glorious scenery. or make your way along the Malt Whisky Trail?

The areais teaming with wildlife with resident ospreys in the summer and red deer all year round. Red squirrels hop between the tree tops, while if you are patient you will spot otters and beavers down on the lochs.

Major themes of attractions & facilities in the Cairngorms National Park easily accessible from Forces Manor.

• Scenic landscapes, viewpoints & lochs

• Walking trails, hill & mountain routes

• Wildlife & nature reserves

• Forests & woodlands

• Castles, historic buildings & estates

• Distilleries & Scotch whisky experiences

• Adventure, outdoor activities & visitor centres

• Sports and Leisure

• Facilities, visitor / information centres & support services

• Seasonal & special experiences (snow, stargazing, dark skies, etc.)

Catogrised Listings:

1) Distilleries & Breweries

• The Glenlivet Distillery in Tomintoul / Ballindalloch,

see www.theglenlivet.com

• Royal Lochnagar Distillery in Crathie / Ballater,

see www.malts.com/en-row/distilleries/royal-lochnagar/

• Dalwhinnie Distillery in Dalwhinnie

see www.discovering-distilleries.com/dalwhinnie/

• Cairngorm Brewery in Aviemore

see https://www.cairngormbrewery.com/

• The Cairn Distillery in Grantown‑on‑Spey

see www.thecairndistillery.com/

• Kinrara Distillery in Aviemore

see www.kinraradistillery.com/

2) Fishing In the Park

River Spey: A world-renowned river for salmon and sea trout fishing.
Loch Insh, Loch Alvie, and Loch Beag: These lochs offer opportunities for salmon, Arctic char, brown trout, and pike.
Rothiemurchus Fishery: Provides a variety of options including stocked rainbow trout lochs and a "Feed the Fish" experience for younger children.
Alvie & Dalraddy Estates: Features fishing in lochs like Insh, Alvie, and Beag.
Other lochs and rivers: The park has numerous other, more remote lochs and rivers, some requiring long hikes to access.

Important considerations

Permits: You must have a permit to fish in the park. They can often be purchased at local shops, estate offices, or online through sites like FishPal.
Seasons: Fishing seasons vary by species. Always check the specific season dates before you go.
Equipment and guidance: Some locations, like Rothiemurchus Fishery, offer equipment for hire and provide instruction, while others may require you to be fully self-sufficient.
Safety: Be aware that some remote fishing spots may have no mobile phone signal, so it is essential to exercise caution and common sense.
Licensing: A license is required for anyone over the age of 16. There are fees for licenses, with proceeds helping to fund river and lake management.

• Forces Manor Veterans for Fishing in Kincraig

see www.forcesmanor.com

• Cairngorms Fishing Lochs and Rivers

see www.cairngormpark.co.uk/cairngorms_fishing.htm

• Rothiemurchus Fishing in Aviemore

see https://rothiemurchus.net/outdoor-activities-at-aviemore/category/fishing/

• Loch Insh Outdoor Centre

https://lochinsh.com

• Invercauld Estate in Braemar

see https://www.invercauld.estate/fishing/

• Alvie and Dalraddy Estates in Kincraig

see - https://www.highlandsselfcatering.co.uk/activities-at-alvie/