Collection of Thematic Guides for Exploring Cairngorms National Park in Scotland

Scotland's largest national park with arctic-alpine mountain terrain and ancient Caledonian forest

Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms National Park occupies a remarkable position as the largest national park in the United Kingdom, protecting a landscape of outstanding natural importance and cultural significance. At its heart lie the Cairngorms, a spectacular mountain range whose appearance resembles the Hardangervidda National Park in Norway, featuring a large area of upland plateau above which domed summits rise. These summits, the eroded stumps of once much higher mountains, are crowned with tors—free-standing rock outcrops that stand prominently on the boulder-strewn landscape. The plateau edges feature steep granite cliffs that provide excellent opportunities for climbing and skiing. Unlike typical alpine landscapes, the Cairngorms lack the characteristic U-shaped valleys, instead presenting a more ancient terrain shaped by different geological processes over millions of years. The surrounding lower ground includes the straths and glens that contain the Caledonian forest, the rivers that support Atlantic salmon and other wildlife, and the wetlands such as the Insh Marshes, one of Scotland's largest areas of floodplain mire and fen vegetation. The park's cultural heritage reflects long human interaction with this landscape through agriculture, forestry and recreation, creating the semi-natural environment that distinguishes Scottish national parks from the strict wilderness protection found in other countries.