13 BEST Things to do in Aviemore (+ Travel Guide!)
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Need to know the best things to do in Aviemore? You’ve come to the right place! Aviemore is one of my favourite places in Scotland, and here’s just a snippet of some of the highlights…
There’s only one thing I wish I had done differently when I visited Aviemore for the first time.
I wish I had stayed longer!
Aviemore is a small Scottish town located in the North-West of Cairngorms National Park.
It attracts thousands of tourists each year, but still seems pretty secluded and like you’ve found a hidden gem when you arrive!
If you’re an ‘outdoor-sy’ kind of person, Aviemore should be one of the highest places on your UK bucket list.
Whether you’re looking for mountain scenery, scenic hikes, ski resorts, Alpine-style bars, cozy pubs, watersports, sandy beaches, desolate castles, forest trails, or even a field full of reindeer at the UK’s only free-roaming reindeer herd, Aviemore has something for everyone.
This guide is written from my most memorable experiences in Aviemore.
During our epic Scotland road trip, I’d even go as far as to say Aviemore was the highlight.
Walking around Loch Morlich (more on this insane location later) was the most memorable day of our entire summer!
Below I’ve listed all of the best things to do in Aviemore, but if I’m honest, there are hundreds more. Even just driving through Aviemore is an experience.
Visiting Scotland this year? Check out my other guides!
- 7 Day Scotland Road Trip Route & Itinerary (2022)
- Where to Find Highland Cows in Scotland: Highland Cattle
- Fairy Pools Skye Walk: Everything You Need to Know (2022)
- Isle of Skye Guide: Best Things to do on Isle of Skye, Scotland
🗺️ When we were travelling Scotland, we used Take The Slow Road by Martin Dorey to help us decide on our next destination. If you’re looking for more recommendations of Scottish wonders, I also recommend this Scotland guide.
Things to do in Aviemore: The Lowdown
Is Aviemore worth visiting?
Absolutely.
Truly, I couldn’t fault it.
And don’t just take my word for it; Aviemore is a popular tourist destination all year round.
With cold winters perfect for skiing on the Cain Gorm mountain, to mild summers around the lochs, it’s a great place to visit in a couple, individual or with children.
I’d highly recommend Aviemore if it’s your first trip to Scotland. It’s a great base and you can easily spend 4-5 days exploring the Cairngorms.
If you’re still booking flights, I recommend checking lastminute.com for the latest deals. Recently, we were able to save £50 on our flights just by booking through Last Minute!
Where is Aviemore?
Aviemore is a town in the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands, 30 miles south of Inverness.
This Scottish town is located in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, making it the perfect place to enjoy nature at its best.
Need help with your Scotland road trip? Check out my guides here:
- Isle of Skye Guide: Best Things to do on Isle of Skye, Scotland
- 7 Day Scotland Road Trip Route & Itinerary (2022)
- Where to Find Highland Cows in Scotland: Highland Cattle
- Fairy Pools Skye Walk: Everything You Need to Know (2022)
🗺️ My Scotland must-have: I use my Insta Mini 11 to take photos on all of my trips. As they print instantly, they’re perfect for making a scrapbook and writing in all your favourite and funniest memories. I’ve even got my boyfriend joining in on it now too!
Do you need a car in Aviemore?
Absolutely not!
Of course, it’s easier to get around Aviemore with a car, but there are so many options.
There is a heap of bike rental shops such as Aviemore Bikes and In Your Element, which all have pretty decent prices for cycle hire on the day.
Alternatively, you can get around Aviemore by foot (within reason), as Rothiemurcus forest and Loch Morlich are about a 90-minute walk. It might be a bit of a trek, but the scenery is great!
You can also travel around Aviemore via public transport. There is a bus (save the planet, yay!), but it can be quite slow and unreliable. Your best bet is to walk, cycle, hire a car or grab a taxi.
The best things to do in Aviemore can definitely be done by foot, you just need a mode of transport to reach them!
Planning a Scotland road trip? Check out my EPIC 7 day route before you go!
🗺️ Booking hostels? I always use Hostelworld as their deals are usually the cheapest. They also have reviews from other backpackers, and explain the vibe of the hostel (party, chill, social…) so you know exactly what you’re booking.
How to get to Aviemore
- Glasgow to Aviemore:
Aviemore is around a 2.5hour drive from the centre of Glasgow (approx 142 miles). There is also a train that runs direct from Glasgow to Aviemore which takes roughly the same amount of time. Prices start at around £8.
- Edinburgh to Aviemore:
Aviemore is around a 2.5 hour drive from the centre of Edinburgh (approx 130 miles). The train takes a bit longer and lasts on average 3.5 hours. Prices are a bit steeper and can cost over £20.
- Inverness to Aviemore:
Flying direct to Inverness is the quickest way to get to Aviemore. It’s only around 40 minutes by car (approx 30 miles), and there’s a 40-minute train from the centre of town direct to Aviemore too. Aviemore is actually located in the country of Inverness.
🗺️ My world travel must-have: Whilst out during the day, I use a tote bag to hold my belongings like my camera, notebook, purse and Microfibre towel. It’s easier to pack away than a big beach bag, and can be neatly tucked away when you don’t need it!
13 of the Best Things to do in Aviemore
1) Have a beach day at Loch Morlich
When we first visited Loch Morlich, I couldn’t get over the fact we were in the UK and not Canada or the US. It is just picture perfect.
The loch is only small, and is surrounded by the Rothiemurcus forest.
There are a few spots to stop around Loch Morlich, but we found the ‘beach’ to be our favourite.
There’s a watersport hut full of paddleboards, kayaks, and wet suits, an ice cream hut, and a cafe, and not hundreds of tourists, you feel like you’ve stumbled across the cutest hidden gem in Scotland!
If it’s not too cold, enjoy a wild swim (or just dip your toes in and freeze as Tom did). I spent hours swimming around the lake without spending a penny on watersports equipment!
To be even more money-savvy and save extra pennies, take a picnic to enjoy on the beach.
It doesn’t get too busy, so you can bring your mini speakers and a beer to enjoy whilst overlooking the Cairngorm mountain range.
🗺️ My Scotland must-have: If you’re travelling Europe, make sure you pack a Microfibre towel (and this one linked is super pretty too). They make life easier when getting in and out of the water, they’re portable and easy to carry on any kind of day trip. I’ve had mine for years and use it on every beach trip!
2) Walk through Rothiemurcus forest
One of the best things about Aviemore is the Rothiemurcus Forest.
We actually stayed in the Rothiemurcus RV campsite (which I highly recommend, one of the cutest campsites I’ve ever stayed in!) which was nestled in the heart of the forest.
Rothiemurcus is home to different species of wildlife and has hundreds of trails to follow for an easy day out.
Trails can be found from different spots throughout the forest, and our favourites started near Loch Morlich.
You don’t necessarily need hiking boots for Aviemore, but I wore mine the entire time. It made the walks a lot easier (and they look great!) You can buy my favourites here.
3) Stay at the Rothiemurcus campsite
As I previously mentioned, the Rothiemurcus campsite was one of the best parts of us visiting Aviemore.
We ended up needing to book a campsite last minute, so after a quick Google search (which I hate doing, I’d always rather be recommended somewhere), I found the Rothiemurcus site. With a quick email to the front desk, we were all booked in for the night.
At around £20, we had a prime spot in the middle of the forest! The campsite owners had thought of everything; they’d even decorated the trees with fairy lights! It was such a nice touch and we couldn’t have been happier.
The campsite is clean, easy to find and in a perfect location to explore the Cairngorms in.
Wild camping is great to do in Scotland, but when you need a night to top up electricity, I highly recommend the Rothiemurcus campsite. It’s one I’ll definitely be returning to next year!
4) Enjoy Aviemore town centre
Aviemore town centre is surprisingly fun for such a small town. It has a much better atmosphere than any of the other towns we visited in the highlands and has so many restaurants, bars and cafes to visit.
If you’re into hiking and hill walks, you’ll find quite a few outdoors shops to browse through, and even a Waterstones to grab a new book for some quiet time by the loch.
As the area is known for its skiing, the pubs can get relatively busy in the winter.
It’s a popular destination for stag and hen do’s, although we didn’t see any (thankfully!) I’m still promised that even when these events take place, it’s still not a rowdy town. Just a town with a bit of atmosphere!
If you’re someone who doesn’t want the night to end, head to The Vault for after-hours dancing. Even the Glaswegians say it’s a good place for a party!
🗺️ My Scotland must-have: Well, it’s a little more advanced, but if you want to take high-quality photos, make sure you invest in a good camera. This doesn’t have to be thousands of pounds, and our favourite is the Canon EOS 6D Mark II.
5) Go skiing in the Cairngorms mountains
Booking a winter ski trip? Scotland might not be your first thought for skiing, but the Cairngorm Mountain is the most popular UK ski destination.
The Cairngorm Mountain is close to Aviemore and is a popular ski resort. You can do activities such as snowboarding, sledging, skiing, and even dog-sledging.
🗺️ My Scotland must-have: Don’t forget an additional memory card and hard drive for saving your photos on the road!
6) Do a circular walk around Loch Morlich
As Loch Morlich is surrounded by forest and beaches, it’s a great place to spend a few hours walking and exploring the Cairngorms.
Most of the trails are flat and have the opportunity for you to go ‘off road’ and into the forest. If you’d rather stay on the path, the routes are all clearly marked with colours and are really easy to follow.
Our walk around the loch took a couple of hours with lots of stop-offs on the way. It was also a good chance to get Drogo (our drone) and soak in all the scenery. If you have a drone, I’d highly recommend taking it!
🗺️ My Scotland must-have: Solo travelling but still want to take photos? 📸 I’ve found the most perfect adjustable tripod that’s lightweight and easy to set up (you don’t want any awkward moments alone, I know how it feels!)
7) Swim to an abandoned castle in Loch Eilein
Loch an Eilein (loch of the island) is known for its historic castle ruin situated at its centre.
Hundreds of tourists visit the loch every year for some wild swimming and a picnic by the side of the water (it was even voted the number one picnic spot in a Warburtons National Bread week competition).
A short walk from the car park, you’ll find views of the castles and dramatic views o the pine trees and towering mountains.
🗺️ If you’re going to be swimming in the sea or lochs, I’d recommend getting a Syncwire Waterproof Case. I’ve had mine for a few years and I’m able to swim underwater, take photos and videos and keep my belongings safe when I’m in the water!
8) Visit the UK’s only free-roaming reindeer herd
The Cairngorm Reindeer park is home to Britain’s only free-ranging herd of reindeer. They roam the area as visitors can get up close to the friendly animals, which makes a great pic and an even better Christmas card photo!
There are currently around 150 reindeer to meet, and you’re more than likely guaranteed to see them all year round (although it might be a bit of a walk).
The trip to see the reindeer lasts about 2 hours, and although you can’t feed them, you’ll have lots of fun seeing them up close and in their natural habitat!
Find out more about the reindeer visits and events that take place throughout the year here.
🗺️ My world travel must-have: The tap water around the world isn’t always safe to drink, so I use my filter water bottle pretty much every day to keep myself hydrated. I take it everywhere with me, and it works in every country where you can’t drink tap water! You can grab yours here. 🚰
9) Find a spot to go wild camping
If you’re planning a trip to Scotland, wild camping will probably be high up on your list. It’s one of the best things about taking a road trip there – just finding a spot and parking up for the night.
Sometimes we drove around for hours just looking and enjoying all the different secluded spots.
There are a few wild camping spots in Aviemore, with my favourite being near Loch Morlich (shock!). There’s a small car park overlooking the loch which is only around £4 to park in, and it hosts a number of overnight sleepers.
If you’d prefer someone a bit more isolated, drive around through the forest and find a layby or side street, making sure it’s safe to stop and stay overnight (I’ve seen vans in the worst places – don’t let that be you!)
🗺️ My Scotland must-have: A portable power bank. Don’t get caught short and lose your phone battery whilst wild camping in Scotland! If you’re solo travelling, you’re going to rely on it to get you from A to B.
10) Get your adrenaline fix with watersports at Loch Morlich
If you want something to get your adrenaline pumping, hit up Loch Morlich to take part in some watersports.
With the stunning backdrop of the often snow-clad peaks of the northern Cairngorms, you can take part in paddleboarding, kayaking, and surfing for a really reasonable price.
Book and check out the activities here.
🗺️ My Scotland must-have: If you’re travelling Europe, make sure you pack a Microfibre towel (and this one linked is super pretty too). They make life easier when getting in and out of the water, they’re portable and easy to carry on any kind of day trip. I’ve had mine for years and use it on every beach trip!
11) Drink a pint at The Pine Marten Bar + Scran
The Pine Marten Bar and Scran is a small Alpine-style bar at the foot of the Cairn Gorm mountain, in the heart of the national park. A short walking distance from Loch Morlich, we enjoyed a pint in here after a long day of hiking through the Rothiemurcus forest.
It just had a real warm, friendly vibe and was a great spot after a long day of exploring!
Head to the bar on a weekend for live music, or stop off mid-week beer. The bar also has a shop attached for all of your grocery essentials.
12) Enjoy yourself at the breweries and distilleries
A rite of passage for visiting the highlands and Aviemore is to have a few drinks in the local breweries.
The Cairngorms National Park is home to the Cairngorm Brewery and six distilleries: Dalwhinnie, Glenlivet, Tomintoul, Speyside, Balmenach, and Royal Lochnagar Distillery.
Check them out online before visiting as different venues offer different services (learning about the making of the drinks, history etc).
13) Have fun at the Landmark Forest Adventure Park
6 miles north of Aviemore is the Landmark Forest Adventure Park, with attractions like rollercoasters, wild water slides, high rope trails, and the Skydrive.
Not only will you enjoy man-made attractions, but the geographic variety of waterfalls, caverns, caves, and forest makes the park unique and interesting to walk around.
What to pack for Aviemore?
Knowing what to pack for Aviemore is really weather and season-dependent.
In summer (June-August), pack your light clothes but still bring a jacket. Temperatures will only rise to around 15°C, so some kind of layers are still needed (unless you’re British, and 15 degrees is basically a sweaty, hot summer).
Throughout the rest of the year, temperatures are fairly low, with January and February being the coldest 2-3°C average). Being a popular ski destination, brave for the snow and frozen lochs!
There are a variety of things to do in Aviemore depending on the month of the year.
What supermarkets and restaurants are in Aviemore?
Aviemore has a ‘main’ high street which is full of shops, restaurants, bars and supermarkets.
You’ll find a big Tesco for all your food and camp dinner needs, and a Mountain Warehouse, and a ton of other adventure shops for all your hiking needs.
The Happy Haggis is your go-to for fish and chips in Aviemore, and you’ll also find pizzerias, a Subway, Smiffy’s chip shop, Coffee Corner (and the regular coffee stops like Starbucks). Our favourite bar was The Pin Marten Bar and Scran as it has a real ski-adventure feel and atmosphere!
The Old Bridge Inn is great for an authentic British pub experience.
Can you go sledging in Aviemore?
Yep! If you’re heading to Aviemore in winter, the Cairngorm Mountain is the most popular UK ski destination.
The Cairngorm Mountain is super close to Aviemore and is a popular ski resort, with activities such as snowboarding, sledging, skiing, and even dog-sledging.
Is Rothiemurcus dog friendly?
Totally. It’s a real dog-friendly area, and many people will take their dogs for walks around the Lochs.
More things to do in the Cairngorms and the Scottish Highlands
As the Cairngorms is one of the UK’s largest national parks, the fun doesn’t stop at Aviemore.
Although we didn’t have much time to explore a lot of the Cairngorms apart from Aviemore, (I can’t wait to go back already, I’m planning a whole 2-week trip to the Cairngorms next time!) there’s so much else to do in this wonderful area.
If you’re planning a road trip through the Highlands (the NC500 or any other similar route), be sure to check out my detailed itinerary and route planner.
It took us AGES to plan a route, and I wish I had had a route like this when we were planning!
Best Things to do in Aviemore: In a Nutshell
Well, if this blog post hasn’t convinced you to work Aviemore into your Scotland road trip, I don’t know what will.
Aviemore is INCREDIBLE and there are so many things to do in Aviemore.
I know it’s going to be somewhere I return to over and over again, year after year.
It just suits me so perfectly!
Have you got some other things to add to the best things to do in Aviemore? I’d love to hear! Let me know on Instagram or in the comments below!
Happy travelling!
Jennie 😀 x
Other Scotland posts:
- 7 Day Scotland Road Trip Route & Itinerary (2022)
- Isle of Skye Guide: Best Things to do on Isle of Skye, Scotland
- Fairy Pools Skye Walk: Everything You Need to Know (2022)
- Where to Find Highland Cows in Scotland: Highland Cattle
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