Walking in Aviemore is a great way to holiday in Scotland and a very good base to have a Hiking holiday in the Highlands, set in the Cairngorm National park, the area has an abundance of walks to choose from.
Walking Aviemore and the surrounding areas provides you with all grades of hiking treks suitable for all types of walking enthusiasts. But before setting off make sure you know all the safety guidelines as these are particularly important if you intend to walk to the higher sections of the Cairngorm Mountains, which include some of highest mountains in Scotland. However as well as high Mountain trails there are some magnificent low level walks signposted in the area. Visiting Loch an Eilean on the Rothiemurchus Estate provides you with an excellent short walk around the Loch with its ruined castle, this gentle walk should take around an hour or so circling the pretty loch, beginning at the end of the B970 just 2 miles south from Aviemore. The visitor centre at Rothiemurchus provides more information on the many woodland trails that surround this area. A longer walk through this fabulous estate, famous for its native woodlands of Caledonian pines and shimmering birch trees starts at the end of Loch Morlich. Cross the river by the bridge and follow the dirt road, turning off after about twenty five minutes and follow the signs to Aviemore. The path guides you through some very beautiful pine woods and flowing burns, and you can divert off to Coylumbridge and Loch an Eilean. Unless you are ready for a 25 mile hike, do not take the dirt track to the Lairig Ghru an old cattle drovers path through a very dramatic cleft in the Cairngorm mountains which will eventually bring you out close to Braemar on the other side of the mountain range.
Another excellent half day walk heads along a well constructed forestry track from Glenmore Lodge heading up towards the Ryvoan Pass, taking in An Lochan Uaine, famously known as the Green Loch that lives up to its name surprising you with colours of grey to turquoise depending of the time of year and the weather. The track narrows once you get passed the Loch and leads Eastwards towards Deeside, so if you don’t want a long trek reverse back and retrace your steps.
The Glenmore Forest Park Visitor Centre by the roadside to the Cairngorm Mountain Range and the turn off to Glenmore Lodge is the starting point for the lovely three hour round trip climb of Meall a Bhuachallie, which offers excellent views and is accessible almost all year round, the Glenmore Information Centre has much more information on the other trails in this part of the forest.
The Speyside Way is a long distance footpath which starts at the Moray Firth coast near Buckie and follows the banks of the River Spey through the lovely heart of Spey Valley Whisky country, this route is now extended to Aviemore. A very nice day trip walking from Aviemore takes you to Boat of Garten and onwards to the Loch Garten Osprey Centre in the Abernethy Forest , you can carry on if you like for a nice walk through the forest to the small village of Nethy Bridge or even further to Grantown on Spey, but this would expand the walk even further, a good choice and a nice change is to head back to Boat of Garten from the Osprey Centre and take the steam train back to Aviemore, or the further option is to head past Nethy Bridge to Broomhill and take the Strathspey Steam Railway back to Aviemore.
There are many more walks around the Cairngorms and you can visit the area for the Aviemore Walking Festival in May, Walking holidays in Aviemore are a fantastic choice to enjoy the scenery that the Scottish Highlands has to offer, and a great way to stay healthy, so get your boots ready pack your rucksack and head off into some of the nicest walks Scotland has to offer.
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