Cairngorm Mountain

The 4,085ft / 1,245m Cairngorm Mountain is 130 miles north of Glasgow and Edinburgh, 11 miles east of Aviemore in the Highlands of Scotland. Regular Buses run between Aviemore and the Mountain. Regular Buses and Trains run to Aviemore.

Cairngorm Mountain is open all year, now with a small charge for the Car Park to help with Maintenance. The Car Park is at about 2,000ft. Postcode: PH22 1RB. Phone: 01479 861 261.

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Camping & Touring Parks in area

Winter Sports catered for are: Skiing and Snowboarding.

Summer Activities catered for are: Guided Walks and Tubing.

Trains to the top Station at 3,500ft / 1,245m were being repaired in 2024, check the website to see if they are running when you visit.

The Car Park at the Bottom Station is popular for Walkers and Hikers going up into the vast range of Mountains here.

In Summer, you are not meant to take the Train to the Top Station then Hike the final 500ft to the Summit of Cairn Gorm to prevent erosion. You are meant to Hike from the Car Park by taking a Trail out to the left, or more popular to the right then up a Ridge Trail. Mountains Guide.

In Winter, in Snow and Ice, you can Hike from the Top Station to the Summit, or now popular is Skinning / Ski Walking, going uphill in Skis with Skins on that can only go one way, then Skiing back down. If Hiking in Snow and Ice, take Ice Grips for your Boots and an Ice Axe or Poles, also Warm and Weatherproof Clothing.

Cairngorm History

1863 - Aviemore Train Station opened as part of the Highland Railway, connecting this remote Town to the rest of the UK.

1891 - Sir Hugh Munroe listed 282 Mountains in Scotland over 3,000ft, with vast numbers of Hikers starting to try and Hike all of these Mountains, known as Monroe Baggers.

Of the 9 Mountains over 4,000ft in Scotland, 5 are in the Cairngorm area, with Ben Macdui being the second highest Mountain in Scotland at 4,294ft, 1,309m.

The other 4 over 4,000ft are around Fort William, 62 miles southwest, including the highest Ben Nevis at 4.409ft, 1,345m.

1947 - Glenmore Lodge by the Cairngorm Mountain opened as an Outdoor Centre, leading to the area becoming a popular Winter Sports destination.

1961 December - a Ski Resort was opened on the Cairngorm Mountain with a Chairlift and Chalet. This led to Aviemore becoming a popular Ski Resort Town, soon with a number of large Hotels, Holiday Parks with Caravans, Lodges, Camping and Touring.

1977 - an automatic Weather Station was built at the Summit of Cairngorm Mountain to monitor Wind Speed and Temperature. Every half hour, you hear a whirring sound as a hatch opens, then a strange instrument pops out.

2001 - the Cairngorm Mountain Railway opened for Tourists, Skiers, and Snow Boarders to travel fast up to the top slopes at 1,097 m / 3,599 ft. The Top Station has a Restaurant and Museum.

2010 - Blizzards covered everything on the Cairngorm Mountain in deep Snowdrifts up to 20ft, leading to workers having to work long hours digging everything out of the Snow.

2018 Feb - the Beast From the East cold spell led to fantastic Skiing conditions, after the road up the Mountain had been cleared by machines, and Train Tracks dug out by hand. There are two sections of the train tracks that often get covered in snow, one close to the bottom, and one close to the top.

2018 March - I visited Cairn Gorm Mountain for Photos. Seemingly, the image bottom right is fairly rare, with Icicles hanging from the Weather Station, taken at the latter stages of the Beast From the East, as seen in the Larger Images.

People I met at the top informed me I had Icicles in my hair as well. Had to Hike up from the Top Station three times before the weather cleared for the Sunny Pics. Pics from the fist two Hikes show what the inside of a Cloud looks like.

2018 Oct - the Cairngorm Mountain Railway was closed awaiting repairs.

2023 Jan - the Cairngorm Mountain Railway began running again but was closed for more repairs in August.