Cairngorms; Highest Mountains, Bonnie Lochs & Ancient Forests

5.0 (one review) 8–9 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

one review

5.0

Red Squirrel — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Cairngorm Mountain Railway — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

We'll head south from Inverness over The Slochd Summit from where we see our first view of The Cairngorm Mountains. We continue on to the Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore where you can discover the history and heritage of The Scottish Highlands.

From here we will enjoy a lovely tour along the quieter back roads of Badenoch & Strathspey. We'll visit Ruthven Barracks before passing through Rothiemurchus and Loch Morlich. Our journey then takes us up to Cairngorm ski area and UK’s highest mountain railway. Experience Cairngorm Mountain and enjoy wonderful panoramic views from UK’s highest restaurant, over 1000 metres up. Back down in Strathspey we can go looking for red squirrels and perhaps Ospreys amid our indigenous Caledonian Pine Forest by Loch Garten and Nethy Bridge. Our tour takes us on to Grantown-on-Spey and, if time allows, we can enjoy an envigorating dram or two on our way home at either Tomatin or the new Cairn Distillery.

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At a glance

Duration: 8–9 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–7
Guide: English
Operated by: Grant Driving Tours; Scotland

What is included

Included

Included: Private transportation
Included: Bottled water
Included: Snacks
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning: Air-conditioned vehicle

Not included

Not included: Cairngorm Mountain Railway; Adult £22.00, Child £12.50 (under 6 free), Family £38.00 - £55.00
Not included: Highland Folk Museum. Admission is free but a donation is requested
Not included: Alcoholic beverages: Whisky tastings at Tomatin can be paid for at the time.
Not included: Lunch

Itinerary

Cairngorms National Park

Passing by

Magnificent views of some of Scotland's highest mountains with the opportunity to travel up the Cairngorm Mountain Railway. We will be travelling through the National Park throughout the day
Highland Folk Museum

one hour Admission included

Step back in time and experience life in the Highlands from 1700s to the 1950s. We have over 35 historical buildings onsite for you to explore and discover how people in the Highlands lived, worked, went to school, enjoyed their leisure time.
Ruthven Barracks

30 min

Ruthven Barracks were built by George II’s government in the early 1700s after the failed Jacobite uprising of 1715. The troops stationed there were to maintain law and order and enforce the Disarming Act of 1716.

The barracks saw action twice. A 300-strong Jacobite attack failed to take the barracks in 1745, but a more heavily-armed attack the next year forced the barracks’ surrender. The Jacobites rallied here after their defeat at Culloden before conceding.
Loch Morlich

Passing by

Loch Morlich enjoys one of the finest settings of any loch in the country. It is surrounded by forests and fringed by beaches, with the stunning backdrop of the often snow-clad peaks of the northern Cairngorms.
Cairngorm Mountain Resort

1 h 30 min Admission not included

Enjoy a breath-taking trip on Scotland’s only funicular railway, the highest in the UK reaching the Ptarmigan building at over 1,097m above sea level.

The 2km funicular railway runs a regular service taking customers to the top of the slopes in around 5 – 8 minutes.

Once at the Top Station you can enjoy a unique visitor experience:

Ptarmigan Restaurant with panoramic views

Cairngorm Gin Bar

Viewing terrace

270 degrees immersive exhibition

Cairngorm Learning Zone with interactive sandboxes

The Shop at the Top serving a wide range of gifts, clothing and local products

NB In order to protect the unique plateau all funicular passengers are not permitted to exit the Top Station to go out onto the mountain
RSPB Loch Garten Nature Centre

one hour

Nestled in Abernethy, the Loch Garten Nature Centre is the perfect spot to experience this amazing forest. Our team are on hand to help with CCTV screens, binoculars and telescopes to help you to get great views. An exhibition, daily talks and family activities ensure there’s something for everyone.
Stop 7

30 min

The town was founded in 1765 as a planned settlement and was originally called simply Grantown after Sir James Grant.[4] The addition 'on Spey' was added by the burgh council in 1898. The town has several listed 18th and 19th century buildings, including several large hotels and serves as a regional centre for tourism and services in the Strathspey region.

The town is twinned with Notre-Dame-de-Monts in the Vendée, Pays de la Loire, France.
Tomatin Distillery Visitor Centre

one hour Admission not included

The Scottish Highlands.

Full of stories, of open arms and warm welcomes.

Full of hidden depths and of the love of families spanning generations.

Full of what matters.

This is our home. This is us. This is our whisky.

Each one a memento of a passion and knowledge that only comes from making whisky over several lifetimes.

Each one a toast to the very landscape in which we live, to our community bonded by shared purpose and in everything we do.

Quite simply, our whiskies reflect us.

Always have and always will.

Tomatin. To what matters.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Ramnee Hotel
The Inch Hotel
Beinn Mhor Lodge
The Lovat
The King’s Highway
Cluny Bank
Rosslyn Villa
Tigh na Sgiath Country House Hotel
Glenmoriston Arms Hotel
Culdearn House
Grant Arms Hotel
The Ben Mhor

and 109 more pickup points

Your Driver / guide will display a board with your name

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Travel and transportation through our beautiful scenery is included in the total time duration of this tour
This tour is not available for cruise ship passengers at Invergordon Cruise Port