25 Secret Hidden Gems in Scotland Off The Beaten Path

2. The Cairngorms

Best for: tackling endless hikes in the UK’s biggest national park

Despite being the largest national park in the UK, the Cairngorms is nowhere near as famous as other big Scottish hiking hotspots (like Glencoe, Loch Lomond, and Fort William).

But it should be:

Here, you’ll find almost 30 peaks of over 1,000 meters (that’s 3,281 feet), along with five of the six highest mountains in Scotland (as you probably know, the nation’s highest mountain is Ben Nevis—and it’s the only one of the six not sitting in the Cairngorms).

Fun Fact: Ben Macdui, the highest Cairngorm peak, has an elevation of 1,309 meters (4,295 feet)… making it only 36 meters (118 feet) shorter than Ben Nevis.

Here’s a massive list of all your hiking options.

Pro Tip: For a compromise of challenging but accessible, the best hike here is Cairngorm itself.

Aside from hiking, other Cairngorm highlights include lochs (including the lovely Loch Avon), welcoming towns (like Pitlochry and Aviemore), lots of winter skiing, the iconic Snow Roads road trip (more on that soon!), and plenty of family-friendly fun (like the much-loved Reindeer Center, and many places to spot stars).