The Cairngorms National Park is home to some of the most breathtaking and magical scenery in Scotland. With its majestic mountains, shimmering lochs, and lush forests, it’s easy to think that the park is best suited for outdoor adventure seekers and hikers. However, there are plenty of adventurous wheelchair accessible things to do in the Cairngorms, and I’m excited to share some of them with you.
I live just over two hours away from the Scottish Highlands, and over the years, I’ve stayed at a few self-catering lodges in the area, including one in Nethy Bridge and the other in Glenshee. (I wouldn’t recommend them as wheelchair accessible, but they worked at the time for my short stay).
This summer, we finally had the opportunity to explore more of what the Cairngorms have to offer, and it turned out to be an incredible adventure. Here’s everything we did during our wheelchair accessible day trip to the Cairngorms National Park.
As a friendly reminder, I use my website to share my personal experiences as a wheelchair user with Muscular Dystrophy. I don’t speak for all disabled people, and what works for me, may not work for you and vice versa. However, I hope this blog post gives you some useful information if you are planning a trip to the Cairngorms.
Wheelchair Accessible Things to do in the Cairngorms National Park
If you are planning an accessible trip, whether it’s a holiday or a day out, read on to discover some wheelchair accessible things to do in the Cairngorms National Park that we enjoyed recently and that you may want to add to your list to make the most of your trip in Scotland’s biggest national park.
1. Cairngorm Mountain Resort: The Funicular Railway
A trip to the Cairngorms wouldn’t be truly complete without a ride on the funicular railway at the Cairngorm Mountain Resort. This unique attraction provides stunning panoramic views of the Grampian Mountains, ancient Caledonian pine forests of Rothiemurchus Estate, and Loch Morlich as you travel from the Base Station to the Ptarmigan Top Station (1,097 m above sea level).
The funicular railway is wheelchair accessible with plenty of space inside to manoeuvre and get into position. The friendly staff placed a threshold ramp to bridge the small gap between the platform and the funicular. There are also wheelchair restraints available, but the ride is so smooth and gentle that I chose not to use them. The journey takes less than 10 minutes.
Once we reached the top station, we enjoyed a lovely lunch at The Ptarmigan Restaurant, which is the UK’s highest restaurant, while taking in the views.
After lunch, we went out onto the upper viewing terrace to soak in more of the incredible views. It was beautiful, and we got lucky with the weather, as it was a sunny, clear day, allowing us to see for miles. But oh my goodness, it was so windy. I could barely speak or move, the wind was so strong. It felt like a mini tornado, haha.
Cairngorm Mountain Resort also has a 270° cinema exhibition, as well as a shop, lifts to each level, and accessible toilets. Carers and companions travel for free, and there is free Blue Badge parking available.
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After seeing your post, and on our way up to the Highlands, we did the funicular and thought it was incredible. Highly recommend. My sister is a wheelchair user, and it was great to see the accessibility. Brilliant!”
Angela – Simply Emma reader
2. An Lochan Uaine: The Green Loch
Nestled in the Cairngorms National Park is the stunning An Lochan Uaine, also known as the Green Loch for its green-turquoise colour. Legend has it that this area is home to fairies, who wash their clothes in the loch, giving the water its beautiful green colour.
The walk to Lochan Uaine led us through the beautiful Glenmore Forest, guided by blue markers along a scenic route less than 2 miles long with ancient Caledonian pines, mountains, and babbling streams.
We initially parked at the Glenmore Visitor Centre and then walked past the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre to start the forest walk. The blue markers led us up a steep, rocky track, which made my wheelchair get stuck, so we decided to walk along the road instead. Cars kept passing by, and we started to wonder whether we were off the blue marker track. We turned around, went back to the car, and drove along the road to explore.
To our surprise, we found the Glenmore Lodge and a gate to the forest. This was great for us. We parked and began our walk to Lochan Uaine. Starting from there helped us avoid the rough forest track that my wheelchair couldn’t handle and the busy road.
The trail was mostly flat but uneven and gravelly in some sections, with a few steep slopes. I managed it in my powerchair, but it was still a struggle and bumpy. The reward was totally worth it!
The view of Lochan Uaine was absolutely stunning and there is an accessible viewing platform to take it all in. There is also a lovely wooden bench with a carved quote, which is a perfect spot to sit and relax for a while.
3. Loch Morlich
If you’re not tired of exploring lochs (is that even possible?), then Loch Morlich is just a short drive from the Glenmore Visitor Centre. This beautiful freshwater loch features a sandy beach and a stunning mountain backdrop.
We parked in the car park and enjoyed the views from our car. Since we arrived later in the day, there were fewer people around compared to earlier when families were having fun and kayakers were out on the water. Loch Morlich is the large loch visible from the Cairngorms Mountain Resort, so it was great to see it up close.
4. The Centre of Scotland Stone
On our way home from our mini road trip to the Cairngorms National Park, we decided to make a pit stop in Glen Truim, near the village of Newtonmore. The reason for our pit stop was to find the geographical centre of Scotland, which is marked by a large boulder.
The stone indicating the centre of Scotland is situated on a patch of grass in a quiet area overlooking Glen Truim. Don’t expect much else apart from breathtaking countryside views and an incredibly peaceful atmosphere.
Additional Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do in Cairngorms National Park
This post only scratches the surface of wheelchair accessible things to do in the Cairngorms National Park, and there are many more I’m excited to explore. I look forward to sharing these with you in future blog posts. In the meantime, you may want to check out the following:
Able2Adventure
Able2Adventure offers accessible outdoor activities and adventure opportunities, including paddleboarding, canoeing, indoor/outdoor climbing, adaptive cycling, and more.
Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle is the summer residence of the Royal Family in Scotland. The castle grounds are open to the public, offering audio-guided tours that showcase the fruit and vegetable garden, flower garden, and landscaped areas such as forests and meadows. The tour also includes a visit to a ballroom located in a side wing of the castle. It’s advisable to check the Balmoral Castle website for opening times, as it is not open year-round.
The Highland Folk Museum
The Highland Folk Museum is an outdoor museum that showcases the historical way of life in the Highlands. It features a section that represents an 18th-century Highland township, along with various buildings from the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as a traditional croft resembling its appearance in the 1930s.
I hope this list of things to do in the Cairngorms helps you plan your accessible trip to the Cairngorms National Park. If you have visited any of these attractions or plan to add them to your list, do let me know in the comments below.
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