The Best Campsites in the Cairngorms: Where to Pitch Up
· Updated
The best base for camping in the Cairngorms is the Aviemore and Loch Morlich area on the western side of the park, where Glenmore Campsite and Rothiemurchus Camp and Caravan Park put you within a few minutes of a beach, ancient pine forest and the highest ground in Britain. For the quieter eastern side, near Balmoral, head for Ballater and Braemar.
The Cairngorms is the UK's largest national park at 4,528 square kilometres, so where you pitch decides your whole trip. This guide names the sites worth booking, tells you what to look for in a Cairngorms pitch, and covers the Scottish rules on wild camping. It is part of our guide to camping in the UK's national parks, from Camping Sites in Britain, where you can compare campsites and caravan parks across the country.
The best campsites in the Cairngorms
The park splits into two camping zones: the busy Speyside side around Aviemore, and the quieter Deeside side around Ballater and Braemar. Most first trips are better on the Speyside side, which has the mountains, the loch and the easiest access.
Glenmore Campsite, Loch Morlich
The pick of the park. Glenmore Campsite is run by Forestry and Land Scotland and sits right on the shore of Loch Morlich, about seven miles from Aviemore, backed by the Cairngorm mountains and surrounded by Caledonian pine forest. You can walk from your pitch to the loch's sandy beach, one of the highest beaches in Britain at roughly 300 metres above sea level.
It is the natural launch point for the high tops. The road climbs from the campsite to the Cairngorm Mountain car park, from where you can reach Cairn Gorm and the plateau leading to Ben Macdui, the second highest mountain in the UK at 1,309 metres. Pitches are a mix of grass and hardstanding, and the woodland setting means shelter but also midges on still summer evenings, so pack accordingly.
Rothiemurchus Camp and Caravan Park, Coylumbridge
The best family choice on Speyside. Rothiemurchus sits at Coylumbridge, on the Rothiemurchus Estate between Aviemore and Loch Morlich, inside the same stretch of ancient pine forest. It is a well run, tidy park with good facilities, hardstanding and grass pitches, and electric hook-ups for caravans and motorhomes.
The draw is the location. You are minutes from Aviemore's shops and the Strathspey steam railway, on the doorstep of the estate's own walking and cycling trails, and a short drive from Loch Morlich and the ski road. If you want forest calm with a village nearby, this is the one.
Aviemore: the main hub
Aviemore is the practical centre of the park and where most trips are supplied. It has the largest choice of shops, gear hire, cafes and the mainline railway station, plus the heritage Strathspey Railway that runs steam services north towards Boat of Garten and Broomhill. Several caravan parks and holiday parks cluster in and around the town, so if you want amenities on tap rather than wilderness at the tent door, base yourself here and drive out to the hills each day.
Ballater and Braemar, on the eastern side
The quieter half of the park, on Royal Deeside near Balmoral. Braemar and Ballater are small Highland villages with campsites and caravan parks that make a calmer, less busy base than Speyside, with grand mountain scenery and far fewer crowds. From Braemar you can drive to the Linn of Dee, a dramatic rocky gorge where the River Dee funnels through a narrow channel, which is also a major starting point for walks into the remote heart of the Cairngorms and the southern approach to the high plateau.
What to look for in a Cairngorms pitch
Three things matter more here than at a lowland site: shelter, midges and road access. Get those right and the rest looks after itself.
- Shelter. This is high, exposed country and the weather turns fast. A pitch with some tree cover or a natural windbreak is worth a lot when a Cairngorm gale comes through, even in summer. Bring proper pegs and guy lines rather than the flimsy ones in the box.
- Midges. The Highland midge is active from late May to mid September, at its worst from June to August on still, humid, overcast evenings near water and woodland. Loch Morlich and the pine forest sites are exactly the sort of sheltered, damp spots midges love, so pack a head net and a picaridin or DEET repellent, and value a breezy pitch.
- Road access. Many of the best sites sit on single track or minor mountain roads. Check the approach if you are towing a caravan or driving a large motorhome, and remember the ski road above Glenmore climbs steeply to high altitude.
- Season and booking. Speyside is busy in the school holidays and over winter for the skiing. The popular sites fill early for July and August, so book ahead rather than turning up.
Typical tent pitch prices at the main Speyside sites tend to run from roughly £20 to £35 a night depending on the site, the season and pitch size, with electric hook-ups extra for caravans and motorhomes. Prices change year to year, so always check the current rate on the site's own booking page before you travel. For a fuller checklist of what separates a good Highland site from a poor one, read our guide to how to choose a campsite in the Highlands.
Things to do from your pitch
The Cairngorms packs more into one park than almost anywhere in Britain. From a Speyside base you have all of it within a short drive.
- Loch Morlich beach. A genuine sandy beach with a watersports centre offering kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding, ringed by forest and mountains. The shallows are cold but the setting is hard to beat.
- Mountain access. Four of the five highest mountains in the UK sit in the Cairngorms. The plateau is serious ground and needs proper kit and navigation, but lower trails through Rothiemurchus and Glenmore forest suit any level.
- The Strathspey steam railway. Heritage steam trains run from Aviemore up the Spey valley, an easy day out and a hit with children.
- Wildlife. The park holds red squirrels, ospreys, capercaillie and reindeer, with the free-ranging Cairngorm reindeer herd based near Glenmore.
- The ancient pine forest. Rothiemurchus and Glenmore protect some of the finest surviving Caledonian pinewood in the country, covered in our guide to the best campsites for exploring ancient woodlands.
Wild camping in the Cairngorms
Wild camping is legal in the Cairngorms, and across most of Scotland, under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. This is a right that campers in England and Wales do not have, and it is one of the great reasons to camp in Scotland. The right covers lightweight, small scale camping for two or three nights, done responsibly and away from houses, roads and enclosed farmland.
Responsibly is the key word. You must take all litter away, keep well clear of buildings and farm animals, avoid lighting fires on peaty ground or near woodland during dry spells, and leave no trace of your pitch. The full rules are set out in the official Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which is worth reading before you go.
One thing to note: the seasonal camping byelaws that require a permit apply within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park (1 March to 30 September), not the Cairngorms. There is no permit scheme for wild camping in the Cairngorms, but the responsible camping principles still apply everywhere. If you are new to it, start with our guide to the best sites for campervanning in Scotland, which covers where you can and cannot park up overnight.
Speyside or Deeside: which side to choose
| If you want | Choose | Base yourself at |
|---|---|---|
| Mountains, the loch and easy access | Speyside (west) | Glenmore or Rothiemurchus |
| Shops, gear hire and the railway | Speyside (west) | Aviemore |
| Quiet, crowds gone, Royal Deeside | Deeside (east) | Braemar or Ballater |
| Remote walk-ins to the high plateau | Deeside (east) | Braemar, via the Linn of Dee |
| A first family trip | Speyside (west) | Rothiemurchus, Coylumbridge |
You can find and compare parks across the area in the Highlands campsites section of our directory, or browse the full campsite listings to plan a wider Scottish trip. A scenic route in is half the fun, so see our pick of the best scenic drives to campsites as well.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to camp in the Cairngorms?
Glenmore Campsite on the shore of Loch Morlich, run by Forestry and Land Scotland, is the standout. It sits about seven miles from Aviemore with a beach, ancient pine forest and direct access to the Cairngorm mountains. Rothiemurchus at Coylumbridge is the best family alternative.
Can you wild camp in the Cairngorms?
Yes. Wild camping is legal across most of the Cairngorms under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, for small groups over two or three nights, done responsibly and away from buildings and farmland. Take all litter home and leave no trace. No permit is required, unlike parts of Loch Lomond.
When is the midge season in the Cairngorms?
Late May to mid September, at its worst from June to August on still, damp, overcast evenings near water and forest. Camp somewhere breezy, carry a head net, and use a picaridin or DEET repellent. An exposed pitch is close to midge free even in peak season.
Do you need to book Cairngorms campsites in advance?
Yes, for July and August and for the winter ski season. The popular Speyside sites around Aviemore and Loch Morlich fill early in the school holidays. Booking ahead is safer than turning up, especially for caravans and motorhomes needing hook-ups.
What is the nearest town for camping in the Cairngorms?
Aviemore is the main hub on the western side, with shops, gear hire, cafes, a mainline station and the Strathspey steam railway. On the quieter eastern side, Braemar and Ballater on Royal Deeside are the nearest villages, close to Balmoral and the Linn of Dee.
How big is the Cairngorms National Park?
It is the largest national park in the UK at 4,528 square kilometres, more than twice the size of the Lake District. It holds four of the five highest mountains in Britain, so pick your base carefully, because driving across the park takes time.
The short version
For a first Cairngorms trip, book Glenmore or Rothiemurchus on the Speyside side near Aviemore, pack for wind and midges, and use Loch Morlich as your launch pad for the mountains. For peace and quiet, head east to Braemar and Ballater instead.
Compare parks and plan the whole trip in our Highlands directory, and see how the Cairngorms stacks up against the rest in our guide to camping in the UK's national parks.
