Cairngorms
Walks Near Aviemore
65 hills within 40km — 32 Munros, 22 Corbetts, 11 Grahams, . Sorted by straight-line distance.
Aviemore is the gateway to the Cairngorms — the largest area of high ground in the UK. The summit plateau, Lairig Ghru, Ryvoan Pass and dozens of Munros are all accessible from the town. Unlike most Scottish hill bases, Aviemore offers genuine pedestrian access to outstanding walking — the Cairngorm plateau, Rothiemurchus forest and Glenmore can all be reached without a car from the town centre.
ScotRail Inverness–Edinburgh direct line stops at Aviemore (Edinburgh 2h15, Inverness 40 min). Local Stagecoach bus to the Cairngorm ski car park (seasonal timetable — check cairngormmountain.org). The Sustrans cycle route connects Aviemore to Glenmore and Rothiemurchus (6km on traffic-free paths). Most Cairngorm trailheads are 10–20 minutes drive from the town centre.
Top walks near Aviemore
Cairn Gorm summit
The classic Aviemore hill day — Cairn Gorm (1,245m) via the Coire Cas path. Drive or take the ski bus to the car park at 635m, saving 300m of ascent. Allow 4–5 hours return.
14km from Aviemore
Loch an Eilein circuit
One of Scotland's most beautiful forest walks — 6km circuit through ancient Caledonian pines with an island castle. Accessible by cycle or car from Aviemore (5km).
5km from Aviemore
Ryvoan Pass to Ryvoan Bothy
Classic Cairngorm forest and pass walk from Glenmore — green lochan, ancient pines, mountain views into the Lairig an Laoigh. 10km return, low level but atmospheric.
8km from Aviemore
When to go
Aviemore is a year-round destination — the Cairngorms have good walking in all seasons but winter demands experience and equipment. May–September gives the best walking conditions with long daylight. Midges are less severe than the west coast but present June–August in woodland. October–November gives spectacular autumn colour in Rothiemurchus. December–March: the plateau is a serious winter mountaineering environment; lower walks in Glenmore and Rothiemurchus remain accessible and beautiful with snow. Ski season (Jan–March) makes the Cairngorm road busy at weekends.
All hills within 40km of Aviemore
Distance is straight-line (as the crow flies) from Aviemore city centre — not drive or walk distance. Radius: 40km.
Current conditions near Aviemore
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:18
- Sunset
- 21:06
- Civil dawn
- 04:29
- Civil dusk
- 21:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 5 May 2026
Frequently asked questions
- Can I walk in the Cairngorms from Aviemore without a car?
- Yes — Rothiemurchus forest and Glenmore are both accessible by cycle or on foot from Aviemore town centre (5–6km on traffic-free paths). The seasonal Stagecoach bus serves the Cairngorm ski car park. Ryvoan Bothy and the Green Lochan can be reached from Glenmore without a car.
- What is the easiest Munro from Aviemore?
- Cairn Gorm (1,245m) is the easiest access — the ski car park at 635m saves 300m of ascent, making the summit walk 9km return with only 600m of height gain. Meall a' Bhuachaille (901m) from Glenmore is technically a Corbett but gives an excellent hill day accessible from Aviemore without driving to a high car park.
- Is Aviemore good for walking in winter?
- Yes, but choose routes carefully. The lower forests (Rothiemurchus, Glenmore) and the Ryvoan Pass are accessible and beautiful in winter. The Cairngorm plateau above 900m is a serious winter mountaineering environment — whiteout conditions, severe windchill, and avalanche risk. SAIS Northern Cairngorms forecast is essential for any high-level winter walking.
- How far is Ben Nevis from Aviemore?
- Ben Nevis is approximately 100km from Aviemore by road via the A9 and A82 — around 1h30. By ScotRail to Fort William (Caledonian Sleeper or via Inverness) it takes around 3h. Most Aviemore-based walkers focus on the Cairngorm Munros rather than travelling to Ben Nevis.