How much does it cost to travel to Cairngorms National Park?
You should plan to spend around $148 (£119) per day on your vacation in Cairngorms National Park. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $38 (£30) on meals
- $66 (£53) on local transportation
- $139 (£111) on hotels
A one week trip to Cairngorms National Park for two people costs, on average, $2,075 (£1,666). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
-
One Week
Per person
$1,037
£833
-
2 Weeks
Per person
$2,075
£1,666
-
One Month
Per person
$4,446
£3,569
-
One Week
For a couple
$2,075
£1,666
-
2 Weeks
For a couple
$4,150
£3,331
-
One Month
For a couple
$8,892
£7,138
How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Cairngorms National Park cost?
A one week trip to Cairngorms National Park usually costs around $1,037 (£833) for one person and $2,075 (£1,666) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
A two week trip to Cairngorms National Park on average costs around $2,075 (£1,666) for one person and $4,150 (£3,331) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Cairngorms National Park will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.
A one month trip to Cairngorms National Park on average costs around $4,446 (£3,569) for one person and $8,892 (£7,138) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Cairngorms National Park has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Cairngorms National Park expensive to visit?
Prices in Cairngorms National Park are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Cairngorms National Park is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Bressanone or Strasbourg.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Cairngorms National Park Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Cairngorms National Park?
The average Cairngorms National Park trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Cairngorms National Park travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
£111
($139)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
£53
($66)
|
|
Food 2
|
£30
($38)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
£26
($33)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
£4 -
13
($5 - 16)
|
Accommodation Budget in Cairngorms National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Cairngorms National Park is $69 (£56). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Cairngorms National Park is $139 (£111). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Cairngorms National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Cairngorms National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Cairngorms National Park is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $66 (£53) per person, per day, on local transportation in Cairngorms National Park.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$66
£53
How much does it cost to go to Cairngorms National Park? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Cairngorms National Park will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Cairngorms National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Cairngorms National Park can vary, the average cost of food in Cairngorms National Park is $38 (£30) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Cairngorms National Park should cost around $15 (£12) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Cairngorms National Park is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$38
£30
Entertainment Budget in Cairngorms National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Cairngorms National Park typically cost an average of $33 (£26) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$33
£26
Alcohol Budget in Cairngorms National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $10 (£8.41) on alcoholic beverages in Cairngorms National Park per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$10
£8.41
Cairngorms National Park On a Budget
CAirngorms National Park, Scotland
The Cairngorms National Park is an over 1,700 square mile park in the center of Scotland and is home to some of the most beautiful sights in the country. Voted one of the top 20 places to visit in the world by
National Geographic Traveler Magazine, the park features everything from castles to wildlife tours to white water rafting. There is really no bad time to visit the park, as you will always have something to see and do here! In the winter, from late November-March, you can ski the slopes and go on snow treks. Summer, from May-September, is fantastic for walking, hiking, and canoeing.
Sights
The natural beauty of the Cairngorms is a sight to behold; from ancient forests to waterfalls and mountains that were formed by the ice age, the beauty is breathtaking. One of the best places to enjoy the landscapes is at the Wild Mountain Garden on top of Cairngorms Mountain where you'll find incredible, rare, flowers and sweeping views of the surrounding area. The park is also home to quite a few castles and mansions, including Blair Castle, Balmoral Castle, and Braemar Castle. Balmoral is actually a residence of The Queen of England and was considered a paradise by Queen Victoria. If you're a fan of the show Monarch of the Glen, you can visit Monarch Country where they filmed the majority of scenes for the show. Even if you're not familiar with the show, Monarch Country is a lovely place to tour.
Villages
There are quite a few small villages located along the ring road that runs through the park, ranging from larger resort towns with all of the amenities to small villages with just one store. One of the biggest villages is Aviemore, a major resort town and one of the top ski areas in the park. Aviemore is a great basecamp for exploring the rest of the park since it has a number of shops and supply stores to stock up for your adventure. Braemar is a scenic town located in the heart of the park and is the east gateway to the mountains. It is also home to Braemar and Kindrochit Castles as well as shops and restaurants. Kingussie is the capital of the Upper Spey Valley and is one of the best places to start outdoor adventures as there are many companies there to set you up with all the gear you need.
Activities
The Cairngorms are one of the best places in the UK for outdoor fun, with miles and miles of trails and countless lochs and rivers, there is something for everyone. Whether you are a novice walker or a hiking enthusiast, you can select one of the dozen trails to follow based on difficulty level and landscapes. The most popular novice walk is the trail through the ancient and mysterious Caledonian pine forest in Glenmore while the Speyside Way is a more advanced trail that stretches 65 miles. In the village of Kingussie, you'll find all of the resources you need to set up outdoor adventures including horseback riding, whitewater rafting sailing, canoeing, and cycling.
Food and Dining
The majority of restaurants in the park are attached to the inns and hotels and serve mostly Scottish cuisine with lamb and potatoes being the focus of many dishes. The majority of restaurants are in Aviemore where you'll also find more cuisines such as Indian and Italian. Keep in mind that most restaurants that are found away from the ring road tend to be canteen style with limited options, so it may be helpful to bring your own lunch on day trips in the park. What the Cairngorms lack in restaurants, they make up for in distilleries, with a total of 5 distilleries throughout the park. One of the most famous is the Dalwhinnie Distillery which is the highest elevated distillery in the country. You can book tour of all of the distilleries and even walk the whisky trail which connects all of the distilleries.
Transportation
Traveling to the park is easiest via car, bus, or coach as the nearest airports are Aberdeen and Inverness. Once inside the park, you can use the Heather Hopper bus service that runs across the hills from Braemar to Aviemore. There is also the Strathspey Steam Railway and electric lifts throughout the park to help you reach each destination. If you want to find the best hidden gems in the park though, you may need to rent a car as public transport does not reach every part of the park.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.